The best Android phones available in Australia

The best value, best budget, best camera, and best brand Android phones you can own.

Best Android phone
Google Pixel 8 Pro
Google Pixel 8 Pro
4.8 out of 5 stars
4.75
🔥 Save 25% $1699
$1299
Processor
Google Tensor G3
RAM
12GB
Resolution
QHD
Best cheap Android phone
Moto G53 5G hero
Motorola Moto G53
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.25
🔥 Save 27% $329
$240
Processor
Snapdragon 480+
RAM
4GB
Resolution
HD
Best mid-range Android phone
Pixel 7a product image
Google Pixel 7a
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
From
$749
Processor
Google Tensor G2
RAM
8GB
Resolution
FHD+
Best foldable Android phone
Galaxy Z Fold 5 device
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3
From
$2497
Processor
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
RAM
12GB
Resolution
QHD
Best Samsung Android phone
Galaxy S23 Ultra green
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.25
🔥 Save 22% $2249
$1747
Processor
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
RAM
12GB
Resolution
QHD
Nathan Lawrence
Nov 22, 2023
Icon Time To Read6 min read

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If you buy an iPhone, you’re locked into an ecosystem that’s comfortably restrictive by design in terms of what you can and can’t do with your smartphone. And the upgrade path between generations is straightforward. When it comes to Android, though, there’s a wealth of options on a more open platform that covers multiple plans and budgets.

This page is designed to guide you through all of your Android options and offer some great picks based on specific categories of interest. Though if you're a Samsung fan with eyes on the latest Galaxy handsets, we've got a guide to the best Samsung phones too. Of course, if you are in the market for a shiny new Android phone, you’ll want to match it with the best Prepaid or best SIM-only mobile plan.

Let's get into it.

Category
Product
Price [RRP]
Availability
Screen size
Refresh rate
Main camera
Rating
Icon Star Full  LightBest Android phone
🔥 Save 25% $1699
$1299
6.7-inches120Hz50MP wide angle lens + 48MP telephoto lens + 48MP ultrawide lens
4.8 out of 5 stars
4.75
Icon Star Full  LightBest cheap Android phone
🔥 Save 27% $329
$240
6.5-inch120Hz50MP main camera + 2MP depth sensor
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.25
Icon Star Full  LightBest mid-range Android phone
From
$749
6.1-inches90Hz64MP wide + 13MP ultrawide
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
Icon Star Full  LightBest foldable Android smartphone
From
$2599
6.2-inch + 7.6-inch120Hz50MP wide lens + 12MP ultrawide + 10MP telephoto
3 out of 5 stars
3
Best Samsung phone
🔥 Save 22% $2249
$1747
6.8-inches120Hz200MP main sensor, 12MP ultra wide-angle lens + 10MP telephoto lens + 10MP telephoto lens
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.25

Google Pixel 8 Pro

Best Android phone

Google Pixel 8 Pro
Google Pixel 8 Pro
Our Rating
4.8 out of 5 stars
4.75
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
4
Design
4 out of 5 stars
4
Camera
5 out of 5 stars
5
🔥 Save 25% $1699
$1299
pro Tensor processor
pro AI-enahnced camera
con Shorter battery life than you'd expect
con Not as competitive as it once was

Pricing and availability only accurate as of last page update.

The Pixel 6 Pro was our top pick for Android smartphones in 2021, the Google Pixel 7 Pro picked up the baton in 2022 and the Google Pixel 8 Pro builds on that legacy in strong fashion this time around. Where it's predecessor favored practical premium inclusions like water resistance, 5G connectivity, a 120Hz screen, additional RAM and a bigger battery, this year's Google flagship comes with a bucket of new AI-enhanced tricks that promise to help it get smarter over time.

If you're in the market for an Android phone and don't fancy paying the high price attached to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, then the Pixel 8 Pro is a more than worthy alternative. It's a phone with everything you need plus the promise of seven years of support from Google.

Processor
Google Tensor G3
Display6.7-inch AMOLED, 120Hz
RAM12GB
Storage128GB
Battery5,050mAh
Rear camera50MP wide angle lens + 48MP telephoto lens + 48MP ultrawide lens
Front-facing camera10.5MP (f/2.2) wide lens
Connectivity5G, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
PortsUSB Type C port
icon-expertise

How we review smartphones

Here at Reviews.org, we don’t do long, exhausting technical spec lists and benchmarks. Our rankings are pulled from a five-star rating decided by the writer of each review.

Our editors might share different, unique opinions on the best smartphones available. But we all believe that, for the everyday consumer, the most important factors are value for money and user experience.

Motorola Moto G53

Best cheap Android phone

Moto G53 5G hero
Motorola Moto G53
Our Rating
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.25
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
4
Camera
3 out of 5 stars
3
Design
4 out of 5 stars
4
🔥 Save 27% $329
$240
pro Affordable 5G
pro Two-day battery life
con Low resolution screen
con So-so camera

Pricing and availability only accurate as of last page update.

 Even if it's far from compact and loses some marks for iffy camera performance, Motorola Moto G53 5G packs in an enormous amount of bang for buck. Despite an asking price of less than $400, the thrifty device comes with 5G connectivity, a surprisingly premium form-factor, snappy performance and two days of battery life.

While it can't compete with flagships like the iPhone 15, this more modest take on what 5G smartphones should offer (and how much they should cost) is easier to live with than you might expect. When it comes to this budget-friendly Android handset, it makes a powerful case that cheap doesn't have to mean compromised.

Processor
Snapdragon 480+
Display6.5-inch HD+, 120Hz
RAM4GB
Storage128GB
Battery5000mAh
Rear camera50MP main camera + 2MP depth sensor
Front-facing camera8-megapixel
ConnectivityWi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1
PortsHeadphone jack, USB Type-C port

Google Pixel 7a

Best mid-range 5G phone

Google Pixel 7a
Our Rating
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
Performance
3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5
Design
4 out of 5 stars
4
Camera
3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5
From
$749
pro Compact form-factor
pro Premium perks and features
con No expandable storage
con No telephoto lens camera

Pricing and availability only accurate as of last page update.

Back in 2022, Reviews.org’s Fergus Halliday came away with plenty of nice things to say about the Pixel 6a.  In his review of the device, he found that "the aesthetic character, confident camera hardware and powerful processor make it incredibly easy to recommend."

His recent assessment of the Pixel 7a 5G was similarly enthusiastic.

"The Google Pixel 7a is Google's best affordable flagship since its first one. With a cutting-edge processor, capable camera, distinct design and better-than-bearable battery life, it's a phone that ticks all the boxes at an incredibly competitive price."

While Google's strength in the premium segment has waxed and waned over the years, its Pixel A devices have dominated the mid-range market ever since their introduction and this year's Google Pixel 7a is another strong instalment in that saga.

Processor
Google Tensor G2
Display6.1-inch, OLED, 90Hz
RAM6GB
Storage128GB
Battery4385mAh
Rear camera64MP wide + 13MP ultrawide
Front-facing camera13MP
ConnectivityWi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, 5G
PortsUSB Type-C port

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

Best foldable Android phone in 2023

Galaxy Z Fold 5 device
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
Our Rating
3 out of 5 stars
3
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
4
Design
5 out of 5 stars
5
Camera
4 out of 5 stars
4
From
$2,497
pro Foldable screen
pro Flagship specs
con Expensive
con In-display camera

Pricing and availability only accurate as of last page update.

If the Galaxy Z Fold 3 proved that the third time was the charm and the Galaxy Z Fold 4 built on the bold refinements made by the manufacturer's third-generation flagship foldable smartphone with cutting edge specs and an much better camera camera, this year's Galaxy Z Fold 5 consolidates those gains in strong form.

The competition in the foldable space is heating up, but the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a healthy reminder that Samsung are still leading the way when it comes to mainstream foldable smartphones.

Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Display7.6-inch, AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+
RAM12GB
StorageStarts at 256GB
Battery4400mAh
Rear camera50MP (f/1.8) wide lens, 10MP (f/2.4) telephoto lens, 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2) lens
Front-facing camera10MP (f/2.2) lens, 4MP (f/1.8) in-display camera
Connectivity5G, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
PortsUSB Type-C

Snapdragon versus Exynos

In Australia, we get the less desirable end of the stick when it comes to processors inside Samsung’s flagship smartphones. The S21+, for instance, has an Exynos 2100 CPU instead of the beefier Snapdragon 888 5G CPU that’s part of the same phone in the US.

While everyday use may feel mostly similar, Snapdragon is a speedier performer in terms of screen resolution and refresh rates, plus it boasts better battery life.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Best Samsung Android phone

Galaxy S23 Ultra green
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Our Rating
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.25
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
4
Design
5 out of 5 stars
5
Camera
4 out of 5 stars
4
Save 22% $2,249
$1,749
pro S-Pen stylus
pro Samsung-made display
con Expensive
con Camera quality can't compete with Apple or Google

Pricing and availability only accurate as of last page update.

While the Pixel 8 Pro has Samsung's latest flagship beat when it comes to delivering bang for buck, it's difficult to make the case that the Galaxy S23 Ultra isn't the brand's best when it comes to Android smartphones. A sleeker refreshed design and the return of the S-Pen stylus as an integrated accessory rather than an add-on are likely music to the ears of consumers disheartened by the recent demise of the Galaxy Note series.

In many respects, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is a new Galaxy Note in all but name. It might shirk away from competing with Google and Apple when it comes to camera quality, but it has both beat when it comes to offering performance for power users.

If last year's Samsung Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22+ seemed a little underwhelming to you, that's probably because Samsung saved their best for this year's Galaxy S23 Ultra and that tech was worth the wait.

Processor
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Display6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display HDR10
RAMStarts at 8GB
StorageStarts at 256GB
Battery5000mAh
Rear camera200MP main sensor, 12MP ultra wide-angle lens + 10MP telephoto lens + 10MP telephoto lens
Front-facing camera12MP
ConnectivityWi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, 5G
PortsUSB Type-C port

Importing versus buying local 

You can bypass the Snapdragon vs Exynos debate entirely by importing a US-spec Samsung Galaxy S21+ smartphone. The catch there, though, is it might end up costing you more after you’re done with the currency conversion, shipping costs, and import taxes. Plus, you’re flying without a warranty.

That said, one of the other perks of buying overseas or on importing outlets like Amazon AU means you can also access Android phones that aren’t sold by telcos or at retail in Australia like OnePlus smartphones. OnePlus makes popular and powerful Android phones that tend to come with dual SIM card slots as standard.

Best phone buying guide

What to look for when comparing phones

Like most gadgets, it's rare for any phone to have it all. Thankfully, Australian consumers have a decent amount of choice when it comes to finding a smartphone that has the features and specs that matter to them.

The best place to start when trying to work out which phone to buy is size. Modern smartphone screens range from around 5.9-inches to 6.8-inches in size, and the form-factor involved typically affects other aspects of the product. For example, a larger phone can fit in a larger battery or more camera hardware.

If you care about things like long-battery life or better smartphone photography, then you'll want to start your search towards the big-screen end of the market. If having something a little more pocket-friendly is preferred, then your choices become a little more limited. Still, there are a lot of options out there when it comes to finding your next phone, so deciding on a size is a great way to narrow them down.

The other big question that consumers looking to decide on their next smartphone will want to consider is whether or not they want a device that runs on iOS or Android.

iOS is Apple's mobile operating system and is found in all iPhones. Android is Google's equivalent, and is responsible for powering basically everything else in the market.

While device manufacturers like Samsung and Motorola each offer their own spin on Android, Apple has complete control over the iOS ecosystem. For some users, this can be a blessing while others may chafe against the limitations and additional costs involved with it.

It's usually easiest to stick with whatever operating system you're most familiar with, but those tired of Apple's walled garden approach to mobile computing may benefit from switching to Android. These days, crossing over from one ecosystem to the other isn't nearly as mentally taxing or time consuming. Both Apple and Google have gone out of their way to make it easy as possible, for obvious reasons.

Still haven't found what you're looking for?

Nathan Lawrence
Written by
Nathan Lawrence
Nathan Lawrence has been banging out passionate tech and gaming words for more than 11 years. These days, you can find his work on outlets like IGN, STACK, Fandom, Red Bull and AusGamers. Nathan adores PC gaming and the proof of his first-person-shooter prowess is at the top of a Battlefield V scoreboard.

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