Picking the best Android phones not only requires us to look at the design, features and specs but the software and user interface play a big role as well. That helps your phone feel snappy and quick. What makes this process difficult is the massive number of phones available on the Android platform. From affordable to foldable, the choices are just too many.
Since I am looking at the best smartphones based on Android, I mostly decided to stick to flagships, so I expect to pay handsomely for most smartphones on this list. That does not mean that you won’t find any affordable phones here. If you’re looking for more budget-conscious options, then check out the best phones under AED 2000 list or even the best phones under AED 1000 guides.
And if taking great photos is a priority for you, check out the best camera phone guide, which shares quite a few mobiles from the ones I’ve picked for this one. You’ll see a list of pros and cons for each smartphone, a quick summary and a check price button.
Best Android phones in UAE for 2024: Top phones if you don’t want an iPhone
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
While it doesn’t look like a huge upgrade from last year’s Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, Samsung has made all the right changes with the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, starting with the new 200-megapixel camera that takes highly detailed and beautiful shots during the day or night.
Key Features of Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- A new 200-megapixel camera that takes highly detailed and beautiful shots during the day or night.
- Less curved display makes the phone fit better in your hand
- Faster processor with more RAM and Storage
- Bigger battery and faster charging
Screen: The Galaxy S23 Ultra has a 6.8-inch OLED display with 1440 x 3088 pixel resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. If that sounds familiar, it is the same as last year’s model. However, the S22 Ultra still has the best screen of all smartphones we’ve looked at, so you’re not losing out on anything. Having said that, I think Samsung could have pushed the refresh rate on the S23 Ultra to 144Hz to continue its dominance.
Performance: The Samsung S23 Ultra is powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, which makes it the fastest Android phone currently available. But it doesn’t stop there, as these processors are custom-made “for Galaxy” with faster clock speeds on the GPU and performance core. That means the entire Galaxy S23 range will still be faster than other phones equipped with this chipset.
Camera: While the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has an identical camera layout to its predecessor, you now get a new 200MP sensor with excellent performance. Photos taken at full 200MP resolution can crop quite clearly into distant objects. Nighttime photography has also improved with beautiful low-light shots, and so has the performance of the video camera. You still have the highly versatile zoom lenses at 3x and 10x and ultrawide. The selfie camera has dropped from 40MP to 12MP but brings dual pixel technology for better selfies.
Battery Life: The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has the same 5000mAh battery capacity as last year’s S22 Ultra; however, with a more efficient chipset, you are getting a lot more out of it. It lasted almost two days on a full charge with moderate usage, which involved a fair bit of camera and 5G usage. Charging speeds of 45W on wired at 15W on wireless are good but far from industry-leading numbers from other phones in this roundup.
Motorola Razr 40 Ultra
Motorola is going after the high-end segment of the foldable flip market by competing against companies like Samsung and Oppo. The Motorola Razr 40 Ultra is a sexy flip phone with a massive 3.6-inch cover display that almost covers the entire front display and is the largest on any foldable flip phone.
Key Features of Motorola Razr 40 Ultra
- Massive front screen is almost a phone by itself
- Fast 165Hz screen with 1080 x 2640 resolution
- Good low-light 12MP f/1.5 camera along with a 13MP camera Ultrawide
- Large 4,200 mAh battery with fast 30W charging
Screen: Foldable phones have two screens- the main internal one and a smaller external one. Until the Razr 40 Ultra’s release, the external screens were tiny and meant more for showing notifications. However, Motorola shattered this concept and made entire front of the flip phone a screen- a change that was as glorious as when we first see screens stretching to bezels.
Performance: The Razr 40 Ultra does not have the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, however, the phone feels plenty fast with the Gen 1 model powering it. The super fast 144Hz refresh rate on the screen makes it butter smooth and unless you’re playing the latest high-end games, the phone is fast enough.
Camera: The Razr 40 Ultra has the best camera that Motorola has put on its flip phones. But that’s not saying a whole lot as this is one area where the Razr is still behind competing devices from Samsung and Oppo. It takes good shots during the daytime but struggles in lower lit conditions. Besides the primary sensor, there’s also an Ultrawide camera that can also take macro shots.
Battery Life: The Razr 40 Ultra comes with a sizeable 4,300mAh battery that is plenty for a flip phone. As with most flip phones, you’re mostly powering the external display so battery consumption isn’t as high. You’ll easily get a full day’s worth of use out if it. The phone does support fast 30W charging as well as wireless charging to top it up.
Nothing Phone (2)
Nothing made quite an impression with its first phone that stood out in a sea of generic phones with its glyph lighting and a good UX. While the first phone focused on mainstream specs and pricing, the company decided to turn the heat up with Nothing Phone (2) by equipping it with a high-end processor and increasing the price with it.
Key Features of Nothing Phone (2)
- Moves from mainstream to high-end
- Glyph lighting is still innovative and cool
- Upgraded camera for better photos
Screen: The display on Nothing Phone (2) is flagship level with a 6.7-inch size with 1080 x 2412 resolution and 1600 nits brightness. It’s LTPO tech that allows you to adjust refresh rates between 1-120Hz. There’s also 10-bit colour support along with Always-on capabilities- it’s almost everything you need from a flagship display.
Performance: Nothing Phone (2) is based on the older Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor which was an interesting choice. It’s not the fastest processor but other than gaming, you won’t really feel it being slow either. You can buy the phone with 8GB or 12GB RAM and if you like having multiple apps open, we suggest 12GB.
Camera: The overall camera experience on the Nothing Phone (2) is good and its down to the combination of hardware and software. The 50MP Sony IMX890 sensor is excellent for taking photos in most lighting conditions and Nothing adds all the camera modes you’d expect such as Motion Photo, Portrait, Macro and Panorama modes. The front camera is 32MP and lets you take good selfies and videos.
Battery Life: Nothing has packed a 4,700 mAh battery on Phone (2) which should last you all day under normal usage. You get fast 45W charging along with 15W wireless charging that will get you juiced up quickly. The phone also supports wireless reverse charging for providing power to your earbuds or other accessories.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
Samsung is taking a slow and steady approach to the Galaxy Z Fold series where there are iterative updates every year to refine the foldable phone. This time around, the hinge is getting attention and you finally have the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 folding flat. There are also some good changes to the user interface but those trickle down to the older models as well.
Key Features of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
- Better hinge with flat-folding
- Faster performance with the latest processor
- Tweaked user interface
Screen: The screen hasn’t really received much of an upgrade on the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and remains pretty much the same as the Z Fold 4. We’re still fans of the inside screen but the external screen is starting to look a bit dated with the tall and narrow aspect ratio. The larger internal screen supports the S-Pen stylus, but it’s not included and needs to be purchased separately.
Performance: Samsung updates Galaxy Z Fold 5 to the newest one available at launch which in this case is the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2. You get the same memory and storage options as last year, which are 12GB RAM and 256GB to 1TB storage, though Samsung is using the newer and faster UFS 4.0 storage. You also get 5G and dual SIM support, Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6E.
Camera: The cameras on last year’s fold were strictly ok, and Samsung has rightly improved upon that. The main camera is now 50 MP f/1.8, a big improvement over last year’s 12 MP model, especially in nighttime photography. You also get the ultrawide camera and an improved zoom lens to shoot at 3X. The selfie camera is still under the display and not the best.
Battery Life: There’s not much change in battery tech on the Galaxy Z Fold 5 from last year’s model or the year before it. You still have a 4400 mAh battery with 25w wired charging and 15w wireless charging.
Best Android phone 2023 FAQs
Why are there so many Samsung devices on this list?
Samsung makes really good Android phones which is why it occupies four slots in this list.
Which phone has the best camera?
The iPhone 14 Pro Max is currently our pick for the best camera phones list.
Which Android phone has the best camera?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Google Pixel 7 Pro have amazing cameras.
What is the best small Android phone?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 is an excellent small phone, along with the Xiaomi 12.
What matters most in a smartphone screen?
Most new phones have an OLED screen which can produce excellent colours and black levels. You also want a high refresh screen that’s 120Hz or higher. And finally, get a screen with a peak brightness of 1000 nits or more because you live in Dubai.
iOS vs Android, which OS is right for you?
We can debate for days and write pages but won’t come to the right answer. Some people will prefer iOS, while others like Android more.
How much RAM and storage does a phone really need in 2023?
For a flagship phone, 8GB RAM is good enough, but 12GB is better. If you store your data in the cloud, 128GB is sufficient, but if your budget allows, go for 256 GB.
What Is the Best Cheap Android Phone?
The Samsung Galaxy A33 5G is our favoutite cheap phone under $260 dollars (AED 1000), but there are plenty of other good phones on that list too.
What is the current Huawei phone Google situation?
Although Huawei continues to use Android as the operating system, it can’t use Google Mobile Services such as the Play Store or GMail. It is building its own set of services and app store called App Gallery.
Which phone is best to buy in UAE?
Ideally, you would want to buy a phone that is on our list of best phones in UAE, which includes phones from brands like Apple, Samsung and Huawei.
Is the Asus ROG phone good?
Yes, the Asus ROG phone is great, especially if you’re into gaming. However, they’re not officially released or easily available in the Middle East, which is why I don’t have them on this list.
Is the Google Pixel phone available in the UAE?
The Google Pixel is a great phone Google makes but one that isn’t officially available in the UAE. However you can buy one through online retailers such as Amazon.
Does the Google Pixel phone work in the UAE?
Yes- but with restrictions. Even though Pixel phones are capable of 5G, they haven’t received validation from local telcos and thus only run in 4G/LTE mode in the UAE.
Does Samsung provide updates for their phones?
Samsung is one of the best at providing updates for your smartphones- in fact, they offer a longer update cycle than Google’s own phones.
Which brands make the best Android phones?
Considering how many Samsung phones are on this list of best Android phones, I would say Samsung is the brand that makes the best Android phones.
Bottom Line – What Android Phone Should You Pick?
In conclusion, choosing the best Android phone can be a daunting task, but we covered the top options available on the market today. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Galaxy Z Fold 4 are both excellent choices for those who want the latest and greatest in technology, with impressive features and performance that set them apart from other devices. Meanwhile, the Xiaomi 12 and the Google Pixel 7 Pro are also strong contenders, offering premium features and great value for money.
Ultimately, the right choice will depend on your personal preferences, needs, and budget. However, with the information provided in this guide, we hope that you will feel confident in your decision.