The Android Authority Best of 2026 Awards: All the winners so far!

Google didn’t reinvent its A series formula in 2026, but it didn’t need to. The Pixel 10a takes everything we loved about last year’s winner, sands down the rough edges, and remains the best $500 Android phone you can buy.

The rear camera now sits completely flush, the display is brighter at 3,000 nits with thinner, symmetrical bezels, and charging is faster both wired and wireless. The 5,100mAh battery remains a standout, easily handling long travel days, while Satellite SOS and seven years of OS and security updates add plenty of peace of mind.

Sure, the Tensor G4 chipset and 8GB of RAM carry over from the Pixel 9a, so a few advanced Pixel features are missing. Still, few phones under $500 match the 10a’s mix of reliable cameras, great battery life, and Google’s polished software, making it one of the best Android phones for the money.

Nothing’s mid-rangers have long been fun to look at but tricky to buy in the US. The Nothing Phone 4a Pro changes that as the first A series phone to officially go on sale stateside, and it’s a stylish debut.

Swapping the transparent back for an aluminum unibody and a larger Glyph Matrix, the 4a Pro is Nothing’s slimmest phone yet. It pairs a bright 6.83-inch 144Hz display with a dedicated 3.5x telephoto camera, a rarity at this price, while strong battery life and 50W wired charging outpace most $500 rivals. Nothing OS also remains one of our favorite Android skins.

Ultrawide and zoom shots can be inconsistent, there’s no wireless charging, and three years of OS updates trail Google and Samsung. US buyers should check carrier band support, too. But if you want a mid-range phone with genuine personality, the Phone 4a Pro is hard to beat.

Samsung’s A5x series is the backbone of its mid-range lineup, and the Galaxy A57 5G delivers the essentials in a remarkably premium package.

At 6.9mm thin and 179g, with Gorilla Glass Victus Plus front and back and an upgraded IP68 rating, it feels far pricier than it is. The 6.7-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED display is bright and vibrant, the main camera is reliable, battery life comfortably lasts a full day, and Samsung’s six-year update promise keeps it current well into the next decade.

The Exynos 1680 can run hot under sustained load, the secondary cameras are weak, and there’s no wireless charging. At full price, it also sits close to stronger alternatives, so it’s best picked up on sale. Do that, and it’s one of the best Samsung phones you can buy.

Motorola makes plenty of affordable phones, but the Moto G Power (2026) is the one we’d actually tell friends to buy.

It builds on what worked last year with a tough, highly water- and dust-resistant body, clean Pantone finishes, and battery life that easily carries you through the day. The ultrawide camera is also better than you’d expect at this price, giving you more flexibility than most budget rivals.

The chipset is showing its age, wireless charging is gone, and Motorola’s software support remains limited. Still, at $299.99, the Moto G Power (2026) is a dependable, no-nonsense phone that covers the basics without fuss.

If longevity and affordability matter more than speed, Samsung’s cheapest phone remains hard to ignore. The Galaxy A17 5G costs just $199.99, yet it’s backed by an update commitment that puts many pricier phones to shame.

Samsung has also refreshed the design, and battery life is good enough to see most users through a full day. Add One UI’s deep customization options, and you have an approachable first Android phone that will stay secure for years.

There are clear compromises: performance is sluggish even under light loads, charging is slow, and the cameras offer little flexibility. Buy it for its software support and endurance, not its speed, and the Galaxy A17 5G makes a sensible starter phone.

Most budget phones chase brighter, glossier screens. The TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro goes the other way, and it’s all the better for it.

Its 6.9-inch, 120Hz NXTPAPER 4.0 display has a matte, paper-like finish that’s easy on the eyes, and a dedicated NXTPAPER button flips between eye-comfort modes, including a high-contrast monochrome option for reading. Under the hood, you get a MediaTek Dimensity 7300, a 5,200mAh battery, a stabilized 50MP main camera, and support for TCL’s T-Pen stylus.

It won’t win any benchmark contests, but for readers and anyone who spends hours staring at their phone, the NXTPAPER 70 Pro is a refreshingly different budget pick at $329.99.

Motorola took its time with its first book-style foldable, but the Razr Fold was absolutely worth the wait.

It’s comfortable and stylish in the hand, its displays are fantastic, and two-day battery life is almost unheard of in this category. The cameras are surprisingly excellent, multitasking tools make good use of the large inner screen, and seven years of Android updates finally put Motorola on par with the best in the business.

The dedicated AI Key and Moto AI features miss the mark, and the charging setup can be frustrating. But as a complete package, the Razr Fold is one of our favorite foldables of 2026 by some stretch.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is Samsung’s most refined book-style foldable yet.

It’s wonderfully lightweight and much easier to open, while the new anti-reflective inner display makes a huge difference in everyday use. Top-tier performance and a great 200MP primary camera round out a phone that feels every bit the flagship.

Charging speeds are disappointing for a $2,099.99 device, the telephoto camera is weak, and Samsung’s foldable software features haven’t moved much. Even so, if you want the most polished big-screen foldable money can buy, this is it.

Xiaomi’s latest foldable is a seriously compelling alternative to Samsung’s wide-screen Z Fold 8 (which narrowly missed a win in this category).

Its passport-style design feels softer and less boxy when unfolded, with a 5.38-inch cover screen and a 7.58-inch inner display in a 2:1 aspect ratio. It’s also Xiaomi’s first flagship powered by its in-house XRing O3 chip, and the Leica-branded camera system pairs a 200MP main sensor with 50MP ultrawide and telephoto lenses, the latter a feature Samsung’s Fold lacks.

Global availability is still to be confirmed, but if you can get your hands on one, the Xiaomi 18 Fold is one of the most exciting foldables of the year.

We saw some incredible camera phones launch in 2026, but few push mobile photography as hard as the OPPO Find X9 Ultra.

Its camera system is arguably the most versatile on the market, capable of excellent results across focal lengths and conditions. OPPO backs that up with robust battery life, extreme performance, and a wonderful design that makes the phone a pleasure to carry.

It’s expensive, it’s fast charging relies on a proprietary standard, and its interface borrows heavily from Apple. Still, for anyone who wants a no-holds-barred flagship built around the camera, the Find X9 Ultra is hard to top.

For photographers and videographers, especially those who love to zoom, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra stands above most rivals in image quality.

Its camera setup is simply amazing, and Xiaomi’s optional camera accessories turn it into an even more capable shooter. Beyond photography, it’s a superb all-around flagship, with two-day battery life and super-fast universal charging that doesn’t lock you into proprietary bricks.

HyperOS still ships with too much bloat, some AI features feel questionable, and it doesn’t come cheap. But if image quality is your top priority, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra belongs at the top of your shortlist.

The vivo X300 Ultra hits it out of the park for anyone who treats their phone as a primary camera.

Its unique camera system is mostly fantastic, and enthusiast-grade video capture offers more options than most rivals. Impressive battery life, a bright screen, and 1TB of storage in Europe make it a capable creative tool away from the desk, too.

That camera bump is ultra-thick, the phone is heavy, sustained performance disappoints, and it’s incredibly expensive. Yet few phones can match the X300 Ultra’s camera performance, making it one of 2026’s most capable camera phones.

Samsung’s Ultra tablets have long set the bar for big-screen Android, and the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra keeps that crown firmly in place.

Its massive 14.6-inch, 120Hz AMOLED display is ideal for creative work and entertainment, while the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 provides plenty of power, and the 11,600mAh battery keeps it going. The S Pen comes in the box, which isn’t the case for many rivals (cough Apple cough) and Samsung promises seven OS upgrades and seven years of security updates.

At $1,399.99 before you add a keyboard, it’s a serious investment. But if you want the most capable Android slate available, it’s still the best Android tablet for power users.

The Tab Plus Gen 2 is without doubt Lenovo’s most unique tablet in what was a year of great tablets from the company.

This 12.1-inch tablet features a whopping nine-unit JBL speaker system with four tweeters, three woofers, and two passive radiators tuned by Dolby Atmos. That same speaker sits in a chunky circular module on the back that doubles as a 360-degree rotating kickstand, allowing the tablet to stand in portrait or landscape, hang from a hook, and even work as a standalone Bluetooth speaker for your phone.

That speaker module makes it thick and heavy, the Dimensity 7400 is strictly mid-range, and Lenovo only promises updates through Android 18. But at $399.99, with a Clear Case included in the US, the Tab Plus Gen 2 is one of the best tablets you can buy if you want something that can also blast out your tunes.

Not every tablet needs to be a glossy entertainment powerhouse. The TCL NXTPAPER 11 Plus is built for reading, note-taking, and long sessions that won’t tire your eyes.

Its NXTPAPER matte display is outstanding, the 3:2 aspect ratio is comfortable for documents and books, and the premium design feels far more expensive than its $249.99 price. TCL’s software is also clean and thoughtfully designed.

TCL’s software update commitment remains unclear, but as an affordable tablet that doubles as an e-reader, the NXTPAPER 11 Plus offers excellent value.

Google finally cracked the Wear OS formula with the Pixel Watch 4, but the Pixel Watch 5 took it to the next level with iterative polish.

Bigger batteries push the 45mm model to up to 40 hours with the always-on display, storage doubles to 64GB, and the brighter 3,000-nit AMOLED panel is easier to read outdoors. Google has also expanded its health toolkit with blood pressure pattern tracking, more accurate sleep tracking, dual-frequency GPS, and Breathing Emergency Detection, all tied together by Gemini Intelligence.

The Watch GT 7 Pro is HUAWEI’s most polished sports watch yet.

A nano-tech ceramic bezel and titanium-alloy frame give it a luxurious, scratch-resistant build, while battery life stretches to up to 21 days of light use. HUAWEI has also expanded its sports smarts, adding skiing and snowboarding modes with turn and G-force detection, offline maps for over 3,000 resorts, cycling climb planning, and a new Physical Readiness score.

Regional availability and app support vary, but if you want a stylish smartwatch that goes weeks between charges, the Watch GT 7 Pro is hard to beat.

Garmin’s Fenix line has long been the go-to for serious adventurers, and the  raises the bar again.

The Fenix 9 Pro is Garmin’s first Fenix line watch with a titanium case, and the 51mm model also debuts Garmin’s first 1.5-inch AMOLED display, peaking at 3,000 nits. Built-in satellite, LTE, and SOS support mean it works without a phone, while a faster map engine, 64GB of storage, and a flashlight with a new night-vision-friendly green mode make it a complete backcountry companion.

Starting at $1,099.99, it’s a serious investment, but the Fenix 9 Pro is the ultimate tool for athletes and explorers who want one watch for everything.

Thermal imaging used to require expensive, dedicated hardware. The RISION Magic Pro turns your phone into a thermal camera with a simple USB-C connection.

Plug it into a smartphone, tablet, or Windows device, and you can spot heat leaks around windows, check electrical connections, or find a hidden pipe behind a wall. It’s a genuinely useful tool for DIYers, homeowners, and tinkerers alike.

At $219, it’s a niche accessory, but for anyone who has ever wanted thermal vision on demand, the Magic Pro is a clever addition to your kit.

Physical keyboards on phones are back, and the Clicks Power Keyboard is the most flexible way to get one.

It snaps onto any magnetic phone via MagSafe or Qi2, slides up to reveal clicky, backlit keys, and doubles as a 2,150mAh power bank. It connects over

Bluetooth to up to three devices, so it works just as well with a tablet, TV, or computer.

Typing takes some getting used to, but for anyone who misses tactile keys, the Clicks Power Keyboard is a fun and useful accessory.

The INIU SnapGo Air proves magnetic power banks don’t have to be bulky.

It packs 10,000mAh into a body just 13.8mm thick, with a premium metal build and a soft-touch finish. Qi2.2 support delivers 25W of wireless charging to compatible phones, while the built-in USB-C cable offers 45W wired charging and makes recharging the bank itself a breeze.

At $54.99, it’s a slim, fast, and affordable companion for any magnetic phone.

Great design often means sweating the details you never notice, and the HUAWEI FreeBuds Neo are a perfect example.

HUAWEI reshaped each bud using ear-fit data, and at around 4.8g apiece, they’re light enough to forget you’re wearing them. They come in four striking finishes, Stellar Silver, Nebula Pink, Ice White, and Starry Black, and the compact design doesn’t compromise on features, with adaptive noise canceling, spatial audio, and dual-device connections across Android, iOS, and Windows.

At £119.99, the FreeBuds Neo prove that thoughtful, comfortable design doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 finally sees Samsung bring the wide-style book foldable to the mainstream.

Its wider form factor turns the inner screen into a fantastic canvas for videos, while the overall design remains compact enough for everyday carry. Strong performance, good battery life, and a long update policy make it as practical as it is striking.

Its IP rating is weak for the price, and there’s no telephoto camera, S Pen support, or Flex Mode. But as a fresh take on what a foldable can look like, the Fold 8 is one of the year’s best-designed devices.

Pool robots rarely win design awards, but the Beatbot AquaSense X rethinks the whole experience.

Its AstroRinse Cleaning Station backflushes the robot’s filter and sends debris into a disposable bag that can last up to two months, so you rarely have to touch it. HybridSense AI Vision identifies dozens of debris types, and a single cycle covers floors, walls, the waterline, and the surface.

It’s a premium purchase, but the AquaSense X is a pool cleaner designed around the owner, not just the pool. It was also a CES 2026 Innovation Awards honoree.