Pixel phones are known for having top-tier cameras, a clean ‘stock’ Android operating system, and also getting new Android updates as early as possible. If these traits sound like something you want, you’ve come to the right place.
If you’re looking for a phone to buy, you have plenty of good Pixel options. Whether you go for the latest and greatest Pixel 5 or something a little older, these are good phones thanks to using the cleanest version of Google’s Android operating system, and typically offering top-end cameras in a smaller and easier build than the competition.
Google doesn’t put out that many handsets each year, compared to many other companies but it can still be hard working out which of its phones are for you. Knowing whether to go for a ‘standard’ size or an XL model is one option, as well as knowing whether to opt for a flagship model or one of the cheaper A-series devices like the new Google Pixel 4a 5G.
Next up for this list is the Google Pixel 6, which the company has confirmed will be launching in ‘fall’ this year alongside a Pro-tier sibling. We’re also expecting the Pixel 5a, which the company has confirmed will be launching around August, though some leakers seem dubious that handset will ever hit the market.
If all that doesn’t appeal, and you’re merely looking for Android phones in general, then we’ve got a guide for the best Android phones too. The guide you’re reading is for smartphones that were actually made by Google, not just running Google’s software.
With so many options to choose from, we’ve ranked all the Pixel phones currently available. We’ve considered everything from the original Google Pixel right up to the Google Pixel 5, but we’ve only featured the very best of the bunch – the ones you should actually buy.
We’re expecting the list to change frequently as Google releases more Pixel phones so check back regularly for the latest updates to the rankings.
Best Pixel phones at a glance
- Google Pixel 5
- Google Pixel 4a
- Google Pixel 4 XL
- Google Pixel 3 XL
- Google Pixel 4
- Google Pixel 4a 5G
- Google Pixel 3
- Google Pixel 3a
Best Pixel phones
The Google Pixel 5 might drop some advanced features compared to its predecessor, but it means you get a simplified phone that still does everything you could want, and at a competitive price. The standout feature is easily the Pixel 5’s camera software with a plethora of different editing tools and plenty of ways to create better imagery from your snaps.
The phone also offers superior battery life than before thanks to the backup plan of the Extreme Battery Saver feature which claws things back to the very basics when you’re running low.
It’s those little things combined with the clean Android interface of the Google Pixel 5 that makes it an appealing proposition at an attractive price. Just keep an eye out for that slightly slower processor than the competition and the removal of Soli – Google’s touch-free gesture control system. They’re small sacrifices for an otherwise good smartphone.
Read our full Google Pixel 5 review
The Google Pixel 4a is the company’s affordable take on the Pixel 4, with a few corners cut from the Pixel 4 in order to get the cost lower.
It has a single rear camera, a plastic body, and a physical fingerprint sensor, all traits of cheap phones, but if you don’t want all the top features of the Pixel 4 you likely won’t mind those compromises.
In addition it’s a pretty small phone, and given how rare sub-6-inch-screen phones are in 2020, that might be enough to sway some.
Read our full Google Pixel 4a review
The Google Pixel 4 XL used to top our list of the best Pixel phones – until the Pixel 5 debuted – and it also avoids some of the pitfalls its non-XL sibling had.
The Google Pixel 4 XL has a top-end camera, high-quality display, two selfie cameras, and a few neat features designed just for the Pixel 4 range like Soli, offering touch-free gesture controls.
Sure, the phone is a bit behind in a few ways – its chipset was slightly dated even at the time of release, its battery is rather small, and it doesn’t have as much storage as some phones. But its strengths outweigh its weaknesses and that’s why it’s so high in this list.
Read our full Google Pixel 4 XL review
The Google Pixel 3 XL is one of the oldest phones on this list, but it’s more affordable than some of the others as a result, which is why we can recommend it to you.
The Pixel 3 XL has a great camera as we’ve come to expect from Pixel phones, but it also has a high-quality screen and, slightly unusually for a Pixel phone, a long-lasting battery too. It was a great phone when it came out, and it still is, even though it’s getting on a bit now.
The phone has been discontinued, but if you can find it somewhere it’s definitely worth considering.
Read our full Google Pixel 3 XL review
We were initially disappointed by the Google Pixel 4, but after using it for a while we can concede that it’s a great phone with a few big issues.
The Google Pixel 4’s battery life just isn’t up to snuff, and there’s no fingerprint scanner. This means you’re forced to use facial recognition to unlock the phone, which is certainly temperamental.
If you can look past these issues though, you’re left with a phone with a beautiful FHD+ 90Hz display, a top-end camera and fantastic image optimization software, and a design that makes it super easy to grip.
Like the Pixel 4 XL, this handset isn’t perfect, but depending on what you’re looking for it might be good for you.
Read our full Google Pixel 4 review
The Google Pixel 4a 5G won’t set the world on fire with some slow performance issues and a bit of a hit-and-miss camera experience but its admirable battery life and clean Android build that endears us so much to all things Google certainly helps.
If you’re looking for a mid-range option in the Google Pixel family, the Google Pixel 4a 5G is the one for you. It uses the same chipset as the Pixel 5 although scores lower in benchmarks, but its reliable battery life (somewhat unusual in a Pixel phone) makes up for the performance issues.
Simply put, the Google Pixel 4a 5G is a perfectly fine phone. It doesn’t stand out particularly but it works well, offering mostly what you need as well as that all-important 5G connectivity.
Read our full Google Pixel 4a 5G review
The smallest Pixel phone on this list is the Google Pixel 3, released alongside the Pixel 3 XL higher on this list.
The Google Pixel 3 gives you the company’s camera hardware and UI software in a small frame, so you can easily use one hand to take pictures, scroll through social media, or play games.
It’s one of the oldest phones on this list, so you can get it at a discount from its original price, but it might not last as long and has slightly outdated hardware compared to the others higher on this list.
But if you don’t need cutting-edge hardware or all the newest tech, it could be a good option for you.
Read our full Google Pixel 3 review
When the Google Pixel 3a launched alongside the 3a XL it kicked off the Pixel a-series, as there wasn’t a Pixel a or Pixel 2a. It introduced to phone fans the concept of Pixel phones with reduced features and missing specs, but the same clean Android software and impressive camera capabilities.
The Pixel 3a may have a plastic body, single front-facing camera and lesser chipset than the standard Pixel 3, but its lower price more than makes up for that.
The Pixel 3a won over phone fans, which is likely why we got a 4a, and although the Pixel 4 and 4a are newer and don’t cost a huge amount more than the 3a, some buyers might still prefer the older device.
Read our full Google Pixel 3a review
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