Samsung phones are excellent, but they’re not the only game in town. If you’re looking for cleaner software, faster charging, better bang for your buck or niche features like a headphone jack, there are several brands offering up competition without the might-as-well-have-been-kissing-your-sister sense of compromise.
The reports from analysts like IDC and Counterpoint Research keep it clear the Android market is alive and well, as innovation is spread across multiple OEMs. Here are five brands to keep an eye on, and why you might want to skip Samsung on your next upgrade.
- Google Pixel: day-one Android extras and AI smarts
- OnePlus: a fast, massive-value marathon brand with blistering charging
- Motorola: clean Android and budget to foldable value
- Sony Xperia: for purists who still want ports and control
- Nothing: great design, clean software and unique alerts
- Also worth a look overseas: Xiaomi, Redmi, and Poco
- Bottom line: skipping Samsung doesn’t mean settling
Google Pixel: day-one Android extras and AI smarts
If you prioritize faster, less-cluttered software, Google’s Pixel line is the most Samsung-like alternative. On day one, Pixels get Android updates as well as ongoing software support for the most recent models and security features like the Titan M2 chip.
Google doubles down on computational photography and helpful AI. The latter features, including Call Screen, Recorder’s transcription and advanced photo tools are often cited as reasons reviewers and camera testing outfits like DxOMark rank Pixels at or near the top. The Pixel 8 series, for instance, combines reliable cameras with solid battery life and the 8a has a smaller version for value hunters.
The trade-offs: fewer hardware options than Samsung and a design cadence that emphasizes software innovation over spec-chasing. If you love having dozens of configurations and ultra-high-end zoom hardware at your disposal, Pixel’s narrower range may feel restrictive.
OnePlus: a fast, massive-value marathon brand with blistering charging
OnePlus nabs one for performance-to-price, and ludicrously fast charging. Its flagships typically undercut Samsung on price and sport top-of-the-line chipsets, liquid 120Hz LTPO displays and SUPERVOOC charging that can rocket you from near empty to full in about 30 minutes, according to lab tests by outlets such as GSMArena.
OxygenOS is light, fast and customizable, and the Alert Slider is still one of the few genuinely useful bits of hardware we rarely see elsewhere. For power users, you’d be hard pushed to beat the smooth UI, powerful haptics and easy top-ups.
Where OnePlus lags behind Samsung, though, is longevity and cameras. Software support has gotten better, but it can’t always keep up with Android’s longest timelines, and camera tuning, while better than years past, doesn’t mean the company is always as consistent in low light or zoom.
Motorola: clean Android and budget to foldable value
Motorola’s strength is breadth and simplicity. Its G series delivers dependable battery life and nearly stock My UX on the cheap, with choices that graft on a pen or massive batteries without bloatware. In the US, Counterpoint’s market trackers see Motorola as a top-three Android pick most of the time on the strength of prepaid and midrange wins.
Motorola makes its own clamshell foldables that consistently undercut Samsung’s Flip on price. The Razr line combines slippery hardware with a surprisingly useful outer display and an equally light software skin that a lot of users like.
Downsides consist of a patchy update schedule across its product range and cameras that are more “good enough” than class-leading. If you want the best long-term software commitment, be sure to check certain models’ support windows before buying.
Sony Xperia: for purists who still want ports and control
Sony builds phones for enthusiasts. Flagship-quality features that others ditched in the dust include a 3.5mm headphone jack, expandable memory via microSD card, a side-mounted fingerprint reader and a dedicated two-stage camera shutter button. The 21:9, 4K-class displays and Alpha-inspired camera apps deliver manual controls film-makers will go ga-ga for.
The performance and construction are top-notch for its class, and video capture ranks among the best in a compact with natural colors as well as robust profiles. Battery warranty tools also can lengthen life by controlling the rate and depth to which a battery is discharged.
The catch is price, limited carrier availability in some areas, and a shorter update horizon than the leaders as mentioned in several of the reviews.
Sony rewards users who seek control and expandable storage, but it’s not pursuing mainstream volume.
Nothing: great design, clean software and unique alerts
Nothing is aimed at those buyers who are looking for fresh design and scaled-down software sans flagship prices. And the screen on the back, called the Glyph Interface, isn’t just for show: It can display notifications for incoming calls and messages, your charging status or contact-specific notices. Nothing OS remains as lean and fast under the hood with thoughtful animations, and light preloads.
Latest phones feature a great camera for the price, extended battery life and regular feature updates based on community feedback.
What reviewers consistently appreciate is the day-to-day responsiveness and that clean look which takes it away from the pack.
Support timelines are not quite toward the top of the Android heap yet, and carrier compatibility could be different depending on where you live. If you’re comfortable buying unlocked and want something that offers a break from the slab-of-glass norm, Nothing is a smart play.
Also worth a look overseas: Xiaomi, Redmi, and Poco
If you don’t live in the US, Xiaomi is a major player with aggressive pricing and huge lineups under the Redmi and Poco sub-brands. It’s typically one of the top global vendors, according to research houses such as Canalys and IDC. Software skins may not be for everyone, but there is no denying the value of the hardware.
Bottom line: skipping Samsung doesn’t mean settling
Skipping Samsung doesn’t mean settling. Pick Google for day-one Android and AI smarts, OnePlus for speed and fast charging, Motorola for clean value and cheap foldables, Sony for ports and pro controls, Nothing for standout design with a light hand on software. Match the brand to your priorities, and you may find yourself puzzled as to why it took so long for you to switch.