I dont have a go-to Android phone recommendation, and that worries me
Summary
I wouldnt blame anyone whos stuck between upgrade options — its tricky to narrow down which device is right for you, especially if you arent already baked into Google or Samsungs respective ecosystems. On cheaper phones, youre dealing with an overwhelming amount of preloaded ad content, while flagships see delayed software upgrades that fall short of what we should expect from an OEM in 2024. Factor in some questionable hardware choices over the past two years (no wireless charging on its 2023 lineup; continuing to use curved displays on the OnePlus 12) and its hard not to see the brand as behind the times. But when it comes time for everyday users — not necessarily AP readers, but your parents and friends and loved ones — to buy a new smartphone, I find it challenging to point someone in the right direction, even with all of my experience reviewing these devices. My Twitter feed has been filled with iOS users experiencing mobile emulators for the very first time this week, and honestly, its great seeing more people try out something weve grown accustomed to ages ago.