Best Android phones: What should you buy?

Updated 10-18-16: We've updated our recommendation for best Phablet (5.5 inches or greater) to the excellent Pixel XL. We haven't yet reviewed the standard-size Pixel, but one of the two is a likely candidate for best overall phone. The Android universe is teeming with options, from super-expensive flagship phones, to affordable models that make a few calculated compromises, to models expressly designed for, say, great photography. Chances are that whichever phone you buy, you'll keep it for at least two years. So choosing the best Android phone for you isn't a decision you should take lightly.