The iPhone 16 series announced at Apple’s iPhone event looks awesome, but if you want a smartphone that offers more flexibility, extra customization, and wider a range of choices, Android phones are fantastic alternatives. One of the biggest advantages of going with an Android is the sheer variety available, catering to different needs, whether you’re a gamer, a professional, or someone looking for a smartphone on a budget.
For gamers, the ASUS ROG Phone 7 is hard to beat. If you’re looking for a work phone, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is a fantastic choice. For those who want a reliable smartphone without breaking the bank, the Google Pixel 8 Pro offers great value.
TL;DR – These Are the Best iPhone Alternatives in 2024
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra - Best all-around
- Google Pixel 8 Pro - Best camera
- OnePlus Nord N30 5G - Best budget
- Motorola razr+ - Best foldable
- Asus Zenfone 9 - Best small
- Motorola ThinkPhone - Best for business
- Asus ROG Phone 8 - Best gaming
Choosing an Android over an
iPhonecan also mean more customization options. Android’s open nature allows you to tweak and personalize your phone to fit your exact needs, from changing the home screen layout to choosing from a wide range of apps and widgets. Plus, with so many manufacturers to choose from, you can find an Android phone that perfectly suits your taste and budget.
1. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Best All-Around iPhone Alternative
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Enjoy a massive 6.8-inch AMOLED screen on a phone packing a processor with enough brawn to run multiple apps, edit videos, game, and power the stunning cameras.
Product Specifications
Screen size
6.8 inches
Rear cameras
4
Front cameras
1
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 (third generation)
Battery life
5,000mAh
Storage
256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Starting price
$1,299.99
PROS
Incredible performance
Exceptional camera system
CONS
Titanium makes the device big and heavy
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is a fantastic Android phone that truly stands out as a great alternative to an iPhone. One of the most impressive aspects of the Galaxy S24 Ultra is its stunning display. The phone boasts a large, vibrant AMOLED screen with a high refresh rate, making everything from browsing to gaming incredibly smooth and visually striking.
Under the hood, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 3rd Gen processor, delivering lightning-fast performance that can handle anything you throw at it. If you enjoy taking photos on your smartphone, then there’s a lot to love about the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s camera system. With its advanced quad-lens setup, including a powerful telephoto lens and ultra-wide capabilities, you can capture stunning photos and videos in any setting. The camera software is loaded with features to enhance your shots, from AI scene optimization to pro-level manual controls.
For those who value productivity, the S24 Ultra’s integration with the S Pen offers a unique advantage. You can take notes, draw, or navigate your device with precision, adding a layer of functionality that’s perfect for both work and play.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is a powerful, feature-packed smartphone that offers a lot of what makes the iPhone great, plus a few extras that make it a standout choice in its own right. If you’re looking for a high-performance device with a beautiful display, excellent cameras, and a host of features designed to make your life easier, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is an Android phone that deserves serious consideration.
2. Google Pixel 8 Pro
Best Camera iPhone Alternative
Google Pixel 8 Pro
Enjoy a sharp, bright display and an impressive triple camera system on a phone ready to take on everyday tasks, handy AI functions, and gaming.
Product Specifications
Screen size
6.7 inches
Rear cameras
3
Front cameras
1
Processor
Google Tensor G3
Battery life
24+ hours (72 with Extreme Battery Saver)
Storage
128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Starting price
$999
PROS
Long security/software support
Premium look and feel
CONS
Camera system doesn’t live up to the iPhone 15 Pro
The Google Pixel 8 Pro offers great value for money, especially if you value a seamless and pure software experience. Built by Google, this phone integrates perfectly with all of Google’s services, making it an ideal choice for those who rely on tools like Google Photos, Gmail, and Google Assistant in their daily lives.
One of the most remarkable features of the Pixel 8 Pro is its exceptional camera system. Google has a reputation for delivering some of the best smartphone photography, and the Pixel 8 Pro continues that tradition. Its camera setup, combined with Google's advanced computational photography, allows you to capture stunning photos in any condition. Whether you’re shooting in low light, taking portraits, or capturing wide-angle landscapes, the Pixel 8 Pro produces images that are sharp, vibrant, and true to life.
The Pixel 8 Pro also shines in terms of its software experience. Running on the latest version of Android, this phone offers a clean and uncluttered user interface, free from the bloatware you might find on other devices. Google’s regular updates mean you’ll always have the latest features and security enhancements, often before other Android phones. Plus, with features like the enhanced Google Assistant and the new AI-powered tools, the Pixel 8 Pro can help you get more done with less effort.
Powered by Google’s own Tensor G3 chip, it delivers fast and responsive performance, whether you’re multitasking, gaming, or streaming. The phone is designed to handle the demands of modern apps and services, ensuring a smooth experience no matter what you’re doing. And with its incredible battery life, you won’t have to worry about running out of juice halfway through the day.
3. OnePlus Nord N30 5G
Best Budget iPhone Alternative
OnePlus Nord N30 5G
For $300, you get a phone running on a mid-range Snapdragon 695 processor and 8GB of RAM ready to take on all your everyday tasks.
Product Specifications
Screen size
6.7 inches
Rear cameras
3
Front cameras
1
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G
Battery life
Up to 13 hours
Storage
128GB
Starting price
$300
PROS
120Hz display
Good camera
CONS
No IP rating
Looking for a wallet-friendly alternative? The OnePlus Nord N30 5G is a speedy and powerful Android smartphone that features a sharp 6.7-inch LCD display and a triple rear camera system for crisp and clear photography, and up to 13 hours of battery life per charge – all for $300.
One of its drawbacks is it only comes in one model with 128GB of on-board storage. But it does come with an expansion slot for up to an additional 1TB of storage, but you’ll need a microSD card for that. While it doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles, the OnePlus Nord N30 5G – which comes in Chromatic Gray – is a stable and dependable smartphone at a very affordable price.
4. Motorola razr+
Best Foldable iPhone Alternative
Motorola razr+
The Motorola razr+ is a foldable phone with 6.9-inch inner display and 3.6-inch outer display.
Product Specifications
Screen size
6.9 inches (3.6 inches outer display)
Front cameras
1
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ (first generation)
Battery life
Up to 15 hours
Storage
256GB, 512GB
Starting price
$1,000
PROS
External screen
Portable
CONS
Older processor
Although the iPhone is the best-selling smartphone in the world, there are things that it simply can’t do when you compare it to Android phones – namely fold in half. Foldable smartphones are all the rage and the Motorola Razr+ is leading the pack with its flip phone-like design.
When unfolded, the smartphone features a 6.9-inch P-OLED display with a single front-facing “selfie” camera. However, in the middle of the phone, there’s a clever hinge design that makes it possible to fold and close like a flip phone from the early 2000s. When folded, it features an additional outer 3.6-inch display for the time, date, notifications, and more, as well as a dual rear camera system for photos and videos. It’s really a marvel!
The Motorola Razr+ comes in three colors, including Viva Magenta, Infinite Black, and Glacier Blue.
5. Asus Zenfone 9
Best Small iPhone Alternative
Product Specifications
Screen size
5.9 inches
Rear cameras
2
Front cameras
1
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ (first generation)
Battery life
Up to 13 hours
Storage
128GB, 256GB
Starting price
$700
PROS
Small and portable
Bright AMOLED screen
CONS
No wireless charging
Nowadays, smartphones are getting bigger and bigger. However, manufacturers like Asus are making high quality Android models for people who want smaller phones. Enter the Asus Zenfone 9, a smartphone that doesn’t give up modern features for size.
The phone sports a brilliant 5.9-inch Super AMOLED display that’s sharp and buttery smooth. It also has an impressive battery life for its size that’s up to 13 hours per charge (the smaller the phone, the smaller the battery). Meanwhile, it features a dual camera system and can capture video with an 8K resolution at 24FPS. Not bad for such a small phone!
The Asus Zenfone 9 comes in three colors, including Midnight Black, Moonlight White, and Starry Blue.
6. Motorola ThinkPhone
Best for Business iPhone Alternative
Product Specifications
Screen size
6.6 inches
Rear cameras
3
Front cameras
1
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ (first generation)
Battery life
Up to 16 hours
Storage
128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Starting price
$700
PROS
Water resistant
Solid performance
CONS
Average cameras
Let’s get down to business! The Motorola ThinkPhone is perfect for business use. In fact, Motorola, which is owned by Lenovo, specifically designed the smartphone to be the ideal companion for the Lenovo ThinkPad family of laptops – which are popular with enterprise users. The phone itself features a 6.6-inch P-OLED display, up to 16 hours of battery life per charge, and a triple rear camera system.
However, where the phone really shines is with its “Ready For” app that lets you stream video for meetings on-the-fly, unified notifications, copy-and-paste, drag-and-drop files — all across Motorola ThinkPhone and Lenovo ThinkPad. It also has a wide range of management and security apps that work with Lenovo laptops.
7. Asus ROG Phone 8
Best iPhone Alternative for Gaming
Asus ROG Phone 8
Impressive gaming phone running on a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and 12GB of RAM offering air triggers, advanced cooling, and a stunning display.
Product Specifications
Screen size
6.78 inches
Rear cameras
3
Front cameras
1
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 (third generation)
Battery life
Up to 13 hours
Storage
256GB
Starting price
$1100
PROS
Excellent gaming performance
Incredible battery life
CONS
Limited IP rating
The Asus Rog Phone 8 is hands-down designed for gamers. Not only do the specs support this, the phone also comes with built-in AirTrigger controls, enabling gestures like Dual Action, Lift, and Press. The Asus Rog Phone 8 features AI-enhanced software for gamers, too, alongside its 165Hz refresh rate and 2,500-nit screen.
While you do get all the perks of other iPhone alternatives, like a decent camera system, solid battery life, and a 3rd-gen Snapdragon 8 processor, not many smartphones come packaged quite like the Asus Rog Phone 8 does. Boasting a customizable RGB ROG logo, enhanced thermal efficiency, and 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, there’s no wonder this is the phone for gamers.
What to look for in an iPhone alternative in 2024
While the iPhone is the most popular smartphone brand, more than half of the phones on the planet are Android devices. People seem to like Android’s open platform instead of Apple’s rigid ‘walled garden’. Android gives its users the opportunity to customize their experience with various themes, wallpapers, launchers, and apps.
Heck, there are more apps available to download through the Google Play Store than with the Apple App Store. In fact, you’re not even limited to the Google Play Store for apps. You can use the Amazon Appstore, Samsung Galaxy Store, Aptoide, and others for different types of app utilities and experiences.
With more and more people flocking to Android, it may seem tough to pick a great iPhone alternative.
Phone Size and Design
One of the best things about iPhone alternatives is they come in various shapes and sizes. Apple is pretty set with making phones that are about 6 inches in size. However, you can find Android phones that are bigger at 7 inches or smaller at 4 inches. It’s really up to you on which size fits your hands better, or how much screen real estate you want.
In fact, there are a number of smartphones that are foldable like the Motorola Razr+. You can choose to have a small design in your pocket or purse, but then fold them out to be bigger when they’re in use. Now that’s something you can’t do with an iPhone.
Storage Capacity
For the most part, Android smartphones start out with 128GB of on-board storage, which is the same as the iPhone 16. However, there are many Android phones that are built-in with a microSD card expansion slot for even more storage up to an additional 1TB.
A general rule of thumb when it comes to Android is you can get more for less. This means you can get more storage options, memory, power, screen sizes, features, megapixels, and cameras than your average iPhone for less money.
Price
Speaking of money, Android smartphones are often less expensive than iPhones, with prices starting as low as $50 for bottom-of-the-barrel picks like the BLU C5L. There’s no shortage of cheap Android phones out there. However, you can get a good quality wallet-friendly smartphone like the OnePlus Nord N30 5G starting at $300. Compare this to Apple’s budget phone, the iPhone SE, which starts at $429.
On the high end, you can get a totally maxed out Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 with 1TB of on-board storage for a whopping $2,160.
Additionally, if you consider that you can get more features with an Android phone than an iPhone, then you’re actually getting more bang-for-the-buck. For example: The Samsung Galaxy S23 goes for about the same price as the iPhone 14, but you get a three camera system and 8GB of memory with Samsung, compared to a two camera system and 6GB of memory with Apple.
Overall, if you’re looking for an iPhone alternative, there are plenty of great Android smartphones out there for different types of people and use cases. For most people, however, the Samsung Galaxy S23 or Google Pixel 7 Pro are the best picks. Samsung has the premium design for speed and style, while Google has the better camera for sharper and more natural photos. In fact, the Google smartphone will most likely get the upcoming Android 14 software update sooner than Samsung, so that’s something to consider too.
