What telephones do the Android Authority group use? (2024 Version)

From ASUS and Apple to Samsung and Xiaomi, we try a great deal of telephones yearly. However after all of the testing is completed, what are the telephones we truly use as our major units or every day drivers?

We ballot the Android Authority group yearly to seek out out which telephones we use as every day drivers, going all the best way again to 2018 and with our final ballot happening in 2022. Nicely, it’s that point once more, and we’ve requested our group members in regards to the telephones they’re utilizing as their major units as we start 2024.

The outcomes

As traditional, we’ll share outcomes by each cellphone mannequin and model. You possibly can view the charts beneath for a fast look earlier than we head into the devoted breakdown.

This is perhaps the primary every day driver ballot the place Samsung isn’t the preferred producer amongst Android Authority group members. As an alternative, Google takes dwelling the highest spot, accounting for ~47% of all telephones (seven).

The Pixel 8 Professional proved to be the preferred Pixel amongst group members, with 4 folks utilizing this cellphone. This was adopted by the Pixel 7 Professional (two) and the Pixel 6 Professional (one). The truth is, the Pixel 8 Professional and the Pixel 7 Professional have been the one telephones to seem twice or extra.

Tech reviewers typically reside in a little bit of a bubble owing to our entry to the newest devices, so it’s not a shock to see a number of Pixel 8 Professional fashions right here. However it’s nonetheless fascinating to see that the vanilla Pixel line and mid-tier Pixel A sequence weren’t represented right here. It’s additionally price noting that the Pixel Fold didn’t make an look both.

Pixel-toting Android Authority group members typically praised the model’s digital camera high quality, unique Pixel options, updates, and design (particularly the Pixel 8 Professional’s design). These customers additionally typically complained about gradual charging, mediocre battery life, and poor reception.

Options Editor Rita El-Khoury echoed the charging grievance about her Pixel 8 Professional and felt it might’ve been improved in a number of extra areas:

I’d’ve cherished a quicker charger, a greater fingerprint reader, and a few additional digital camera pizzazz. Lots of it feels very iterative in comparison with the Pixel 7 Professional.

Senior Editor C. Scott Brown famous that individuals who had a lot older Pixels ought to take one other have a look at them:

Should you’ve scoffed at Pixels through the years, you actually ought to give them one other shot. Issues have considerably modified ever because the Pixel 6. If all of your expertise with Pixels is from earlier than that cellphone, it’s like an entire new line now.

Each Managing Editor Ollie Cragg and I’ve the Pixel 7 Professional and we each solely advocate getting this cellphone if it’s on sale. That’s as a result of Pixel 8 Professional’s enhancements.

Samsung handsets and iPhones have been tied for second place, with two folks utilizing Galaxy units and two folks utilizing iPhones.

AA contributor Jonathan Feist makes use of the Galaxy S23 as his every day driver, including that he’s additionally acquired a Galaxy S20 as his work gadget. In the meantime, search engine optimization specialist Tina Sieber is rocking a Galaxy A52s 5G.

Jonathan cited the Galaxy S23’s pace, quantity, measurement, show, and digital camera when requested what he favored in regards to the handset.

In the meantime, Tina particularly pointed to Samsung’s prolonged replace pledge for her A52s:

For units launched since 2021, Samsung gives 5 years of updates, which implies much less digital waste attributable to safety issues.

On the Apple facet of issues, contributor and audio reviewer for SoundGuys (our sister audio web site) Jasper Lastoria is utilizing an iPhone 13, whereas Senior Author Aamir Siddiqui is utilizing an iPhone 15 Professional Max.

Aamir famous that he just lately switched to the iPhone from the OnePlus Open. He defined that he “actually actually favored” the OnePlus foldable however needed to swap to an iPhone as he needed to make use of an Apple Watch. Apart from the Apple Watch help, Aamir additionally praised the iPhone’s prolonged battery life and “dependable” app ecosystem.

Jasper stated he favored the iPhone 13’s compact measurement, speedy efficiency, the supply of unique apps, and the shortage of bloatware.

Google, Samsung, and Apple might have accounted for the lion’s share of units on the group, however 4 different manufacturers additionally made single appearances this yr.

Maybe probably the most fascinating producer to seem on the checklist is HUAWEI, as Senior Author Andy Walker’s 2019-era P30 Professional made one other look in our every day driver ballot. This was the final HUAWEI flagship cellphone with Google integration earlier than the US commerce ban kicked in.

Andy particularly pointed to the P30 Professional’s nice digital camera high quality, respectable endurance, and “good” measurement. He did lament that the battery life wasn’t pretty much as good because it was, the chipset was beginning to present its age, and that software program updates left him wanting.

I’ve had this cellphone for ages and by no means felt the necessity to improve, till this yr. There was no want — this cellphone did all the pieces I might need. Nonetheless, I believe it’s now time to search for one thing newer now that put on and tear is turning into an element.

Motorola additionally made an look for the primary time in years, as our common smartphone reviewer Ryan Haines determined to stay with the Motorola Razr Plus after he completed testing it:

Truthfully, I like with the ability to use the duvet display screen for nearly all the pieces I want. I don’t normally unlock the cellphone to reply to a textual content or e mail, and it helps to chop down on my time spent scrolling social media.

Ryan did, nonetheless, observe that the battery life and cameras “aren’t nice.” He added that the cellphone was a “extra enjoyable gadget” than the Galaxy Z Flip 5 however that Motorola additionally must refine the hinge.

Offers Editor Matt Horne has been a OnePlus fan for some time now, and he’s rocking the OnePlus 10 Professional into 2024. He particularly praised the Warp Cost performance for fast top-ups. Nonetheless, he famous that battery life was “fairly meh” and that digital camera high quality is usually a disappointment in some conditions (particularly low-light scenes).

Lastly, Managing Editor Bogdan Petrovan is utilizing the OPPO Discover X5 Professional as his every day driver smartphone. He favored the cellphone’s design, “pretty polished” software program, and battery life. Sadly, he discovered that digital camera picture high quality was typically “disappointing.”

Different takeaways

• Two folks stated they wouldn’t advocate their telephones to readers, specifically Jasper (iPhone 13) and Andy (HUAWEI P30 Professional). Jasper stated the digital camera was worse than his outdated P30, whereas additionally pointing to different points like the usage of a Lightning port, a gradual refresh fee, and a few iOS annoyances. Andy pointed to the ageing chipset, lack of software program updates, and diminished battery life.
• All units on this checklist characteristic OLED screens, however just one has a normal 60Hz refresh fee. That might be the iPhone 13. Apple actually must get with this system.
• Just one foldable cellphone makes the checklist this yr (the Razr Plus).
• Six out of 16 telephones lack UWB help, specifically the P30 Professional, Razr Plus, OnePlus 10 Professional, the OPPO Discover X5 Professional, Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G, and Samsung Galaxy S20.
• Solely certainly one of these telephones packs a 3.5mm port: the Galaxy A52s 5G.
• Two telephones on the checklist help reminiscence playing cards. The Galaxy A52s 5G helps microSD playing cards whereas the P30 Professional helps HUAWEI’s bizarre NM card commonplace.
• The typical battery capability is ~4,580mAh. Apple’s iPhones, the Razr Plus, and Samsung’s Galaxy S23 and S20 dragged this common down.
• 25% of those telephones lack a telephoto digital camera. No, we didn’t rely the Galaxy S20’s 64MP “telephoto” digital camera, which was truly a 1x digital camera that used hybrid zoom.
• It seems that Chinese language manufacturers accounted for 25% of all telephones utilized by the group.
• Three telephones on the checklist lack eSIM help, specifically the Galaxy A52s 5G, the OnePlus 10 Professional, and HUAWEI P30 Professional.

In relation to our subsequent smartphone buy, the largest selection was “Nothing.” We don’t imply the cellphone model, both, as 20% of our group members merely don’t plan to purchase a cellphone any time quickly. Tina Sieber stated she’s holding on to her Galaxy A52s 5G till “a minimum of 2026.”

4 group members talked about that they’re trying ahead to a Pixel cellphone of some sort, specifically a Pixel 8 entry, a Pixel 9 sequence cellphone, or a Pixel Fold 2. Bogdan additionally talked about that he “actually” wants to modify to a Pixel handset in some unspecified time in the future, with out naming a particular gadget.

Two folks stated they’re eyeing foldable telephones as a possible future buy and one particular person stated they’re ready for Flip units. Jonathan stated he likes the thought of foldables however must see enhancements to {hardware} high quality earlier than biting the bullet. In the meantime, Jasper needs to see higher cameras on foldables earlier than he buys one. Ryan Haines particularly talked about that he’s ready for the subsequent batch of flip telephones.

Two group members have been eyeing a Galaxy gadget as their subsequent potential buy. Andy stated the S23 Plus appeared like his good cellphone however would wait till the Galaxy S24 sequence launch to make up his thoughts. In the meantime, Rita stated she’s eyeing the S24 Extremely as she’s at all times eager to see what Samsung has up its sleeve.

In the meantime, Aamir and I each eyed a number of units. He’s searching for the OnePlus 12, Xiaomi 14 Extremely, and Xiaomi 14 Professional. In the meantime, I’m maintaining a eager eye on the Xiaomi 14 Extremely and vivo X100 Professional Plus.

Lastly, Head of Testing and Information Science Robert Triggs stated he’s trying ahead to OPPO’s subsequent gadget (ostensibly the Discover X7 sequence) as a result of the cameras are “sizzling.” Presumably, that’s a technical time period.