INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:

The best Android phones in 2018 are way better than they were a year ago, with more advanced low-light cameras, faster processors and

improved design

Better yet, a few of those phones are available at cheaper prices, too.That has made deciding between the overwhelming number of Android

handsets a seemingly impossible task

The good news is that we're on top of it

It's sort of our job to write brilliant phone reviews.Our official best phones list and best unlocked phones list serve their purpose for

wider audiences, including iPhone lovers, and our ATT plans, Verizon plans, T-Mobile plans and Sprint plans give you the best rates on

service.But there are also plenty of Google-powered phones with Android 8.0 Oreo and eventually Android P that deserve extra focus

You demanded it and you deserve it.1

Samsung Galaxy S9The best smartphone gets even better in 2018Weight: 163g | Dimensions: 147.3 x 68.5 x 8.3mm | OS: Android Oreo | Screen

camera: 8MPAmazingly large 5.8-inch screenThe best display in a phoneImproved low-light camera performanceDesign is identical to S8The best

Android phone in the US right now is an easy pick because it happens to also be the best phone in both the US, and the entire world, for

that matter

It's the Samsung Galaxy S9: the more reasonably sized and slightly more reasonably priced version of the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus.Like last

year's model, it has a stunning 5.8-inch display that fills almost the entire face of the device, ridding you of needless bezels and (for

location and moved it beneath the camera

While not a perfect solution, we'll take it until under-the-screen fingerprint readers arrive.Bixby is better than it's ever been, though

it's still not be the best voice assistant out there

Even so, there's so much else to love about the Samsung Galaxy S9, including its super impressive camera and the fact that Samsung persists

with the 3.5mm headphone jack while resisting current trends, like the notch seen on the iPhone X.Full review:Samsung Galaxy S92

Google Pixel 2Hands down, the best camera on a smartphoneWeight: 143g | Dimensions: 145.7 x 69.7 x 7.8mm | OS: Android Oreo | Screen size:

camera: 8MPBest-in-class mobile photographyDual front-facing speakersFirst in line to get new Android softwareThicker bezels on the non-XL

versionNo 3.5mm headphone jackThe Google Pixel 2 might not seem like a reinvention of last year's model, but there are enough adjustments

and refinements to deem it one of the very best Android phones today.To give a few examples of where the phone stands out, we'd be remiss

not to start with its camera

Its 12.2MP rear-facing camera reaches new heights in mobile photography in terms of low-light captures and gorgeous portraits

It's a cowboy's best friend thanks to its quick draw-friendly nature that captures sharp images without the need to remain still.Camera

aside, the Pixel 2's small form factor makes it easy to hold and the new water resistance finally puts it (mostly, in that it's not IP68

protected) on par with Samsung's S8

From a power perspective, you can't go wrong with the Snapdragon 835 and 4GB of RAM, especially with sweet Android Oreo drizzled on the

top.A bit more expensive than our top option, it's certainly worth considering for those who enjoy stock Android and killer photography

If you're looking for a bigger screen and battery, check out the Google Pixel 2 XL.Read the full review:Google Pixel 23

LG V30A tempting, high-powered packageWeight: 158g | Dimensions: 151 x 75.4 x 7.3mm | OS: Android Nougat 7.1 | Screen size: 6-inch |

camera: 5MPStreamlined design - LG's best yetAbsolutely bursting with fun featuresQuite expensiveCamera quality isn't industry-leadingThe LG

V30 flipped the flagship script when it released, injected with all of the expectedly awesome design and performance, but with features that

many manufacturers have neglected.You'll find a robust camera app here, waterproofing, an FM radio, as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack

Digging in on the last bullet point, LG has built-in a quad DAC, which elevates the listening experience, frankly, pretty far beyond what

most phones can provide.Of course, you'll reap all of the benefits of LG's FullVision display, which almost pushes bezels out of existence

entirely

The V30 features LG's first OLED in a phone in some time and the results are fantastic, providing the tech that users need to watch 2K

content in HDR, as well as the flexibility to pop it in a Google Daydream View headset.The biggest hurdle for the V30 is its price, which at

the time of writing sits around the $800 mark

But for what's on offer, it's one of the best values on the market, doubly so once the price dips down a bit.Read our full review:LG V304

Samsung Galaxy Note 8The best big display on a smartphoneWeight: 195g | Dimensions: 162.5 x 73.6 x 8.6 mm | OS: Android 7.1 Nougat | Screen

camera: 12MP + 12MP | Front camera: 8MPSamsung's best camera x2Lightning fast with 6GB of RAMVery expensiveSomewhat limited battery

capacityTo say that there was a lot of hype surrounding the Note 8's release is an understatement

Given the disastrous launch of the Note 7, Samsung had a lot to live up to, and it took that opportunity and knocked it out of the park.Matt

Swider's review summed it up best:"The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is the best big phone you can buy

It also captures superior telephoto and bokeh-rich photos with its new dual-lens array, and it clocks in faster with 6GB of RAM.There a

price to pay, however

It takes a lot of finger-stretching to reach the outer edges of the screen, and costs more money than any previous Note phone

wrapped into one

It makes quite an entrance

OnePlus 5A genuine flagship killerWeight: 153g | Dimensions: 154.2 x 74.1 x 7.3 mm | OS: Android 7.1 Nougat | Screen size: 5.5-inch |

camera: 16MPSuper-slick performanceAffordable priceNot water resistantStill 'only' 1080p displayFor some, the OnePlus 5 is the best Android

phone around - and to be fair, they have a point

The Chinese firm has improved on 2016's OnePlus 3 and 3T to deliver a slicker design, dual-cameras round the back and a whole heap of

power.The AMOLED display is bright and vibrant, despite still 'only' being 1080p, and the fingerprint scanner is fast.The lack of a microSD

card, and a battery which doesn't last more than a day may put some off, but considering the price you're paying the OnePlus 5 is fantastic

value for money.Read the full review: OnePlus 56

Google Pixel XLA super-sized pure Android experienceWeight: 168g | Dimensions: 154.7 x 75.7 x 8.5mm | OS: Android Oreo | Screen size:

camera: 8MPStreamlined Android softwareStill one of the best phone cameras aroundPeculiar design choicesNo stereo speakers or

waterproofingThe Google Pixel XL offers up a pure Android experience on a bigger, higher resolution display than its brother, the Pixel.The

clean, slick interface is a joy to use, while the 12MP snapper round the back delivers some quality shots.A fingerprint scanner not only

keeps the Pixel XL secure, it also uses gestures to give you easier access to the notification bar - saving you from overstretching your

thumb to the top of the screen.The price is on the steep side, it doesn't have stereo speakers and isn't waterproof

But this is a premium flagship device that's powerful in every other way, including being VR-ready for the Google Daydream View VR

headset.Read our full review:Google Pixel XL7

Moto Z2 ForceMotorola's modular phone, refinedWeight: 143g | Dimensions: 155.8 x 76 x 6.1 mm | OS: Android Nougat | Screen size: 5.5-inch |

camera: 5MPThin, shatterproof designPowerful and capable with modsWeaker batteryNot waterproofThe Moto Z2 Force might seem like a relatively

safe option if you're on the hunt for a flagship smartphone, but in many ways, it's a big step ahead of the competition

This is all thanks to its MotoMods, which broadly expand its capabilitiesfor a price.Stocked with dual rear-facing cameras, the Snapdragon

835 and a crisp OLED display checks all of the boxes, but can be supplemented with Motorola's lineup of mods, giving this phone the ability

to project TV shows and movies onto a wall, print out Poloroids, take stellar shots with a Hasselblad add-on and game with its GamePad, to

name a few.These innovative mods range in price and can add up to be quite an expensive endeavor, but there's really no other phone that can

match the eloquence with which Moto has executed on its modular vision

However, the phone beneath this one is encroaching on Moto's territoryRead the full review:Moto Z2 Force8

Essential PhoneA refreshing, yet divisive debut smartphoneWeight: 185g | Dimensions: 141.5 x 71 x 7.8 mm | OS: Android Nougat | Screen size:

camera: 8MPStriking designImpressive amount of tech packed withinAccessory port needs to prove itselfA total fingerprint magnetThe Essential

Phone is a striking debut effort from one of the creators of Android

Bezel-free displays are all of the rage, and before the iPhone X took the feature mainstream, it was (and still is) the PH-1 on the Android

side of things that comes the closest to eliminating bezels without compromising design.Aside from its looks, which could be talked about at

length, Essential's first phone packs in plenty of power for the price, which was recently reduced to a more palatable $499.While it lacks

the waterproofing, headphone jack and OLED display seen in other options on this list, it packs in enough unique qualities to set it apart

Case in point: its accessory port

Someday, this may catch up to the success that Moto has seen with its MotoMods, but it has yet to show its potential.That said, it very well

could

But even if mods aren't your main motivator, there's plenty of reasons to hop on the Essential train

Its titanium-infused chassis, stock Android software, impressive screen and 128GB default storage are huge selling points.Read the full

review: Essential Phone9

HTC U11A wildly impressive phone - in a sea of wildly impressive phonesWeight: 169g | Dimensions: 153.9 x 75.9 x 7.9mm | OS: Android 7.1

Rear camera: 12MP | Front camera: 16MPGreat cameraExcellent audio performanceEdge Sense is half-bakedScreen slightly dimHTC squeezes itself

into sixth place on our best Android phone list with the gorgeous HTC U11.It has a 5.5-inch 2K display, which makes watching video gorgeous,

strength under-the-hood with 4GB of RAM and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset, and squeezable sides (yes, really!) allowing you to quick

launch apps.The camera technology is still a big focus for HTC though

A 12MP sensor may not sound like much, but it makes some gorgeous images on the back and there's a 16MP front-facing camera to capture your

selfies too.Read the full review: HTC U1110

LG G6An outdated, but nevertheless solid optionWeight: 163g | Dimensions: 148.9 x 71.9 x 7.9mm | OS: Android 7 Nougat | Screen size:

camera: 5MPGreat screenWater-resistant bodyOlder chipsetExpensive for what is itThe LG G6 is a top Android smartphone, with an excellent

premium design, lovely QHD display and clever dual camera setup round the back giving you plenty to play with and enjoy.However, some odd

choices to go with lower-spec performance and not upgrade the camera in a meaningful way while still charging a high price stops the LG G6

power, from the camera to the battery to the general snappiness of the handset, rippling through this phone.Better yet, it's cheaper than

ever in the US

You can pick it up for as little as $399 brand new.Read the full review: LG G68