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I didn’t understand theXPan mode on a OnePlus phonewhen I first tried it out. In fact, I didn’t like it at all, and passed it off as a silly gimmick to promote OnePlus’s partnership with Hasselblad, which at the timewasn’t quite living up to expectations.
Recently I’ve been using theOnePlus 13, and think it has one of the best cameras on any OnePlus phone yet, so I challenged myself to give XPan another try. I soon discovered I had been completely wrong about it.
Not a history lesson
Hasselblad and Fujifilm’s XPan camera was first introduced in 1998, when it was the first dual-format 35mm camera you could buy, enabling you to take full 65:24 aspect ratio panoramic photos, in addition to standard format photos. Hasselblad promoted the XPan camera using the tagline, “For a world less square,” and you can read more about its history and impact on its website.
OnePlus entered into a partnership with Hasselblad in 2022 and the OnePlus 9 was the first phone to showcase the pair’s efforts. The XPan mode arrived on it in a software update soon after release, and it is hidden under the More menu in the camera app to this day, if you want to find it for yourself. After that, you can drag it down to the main camera option bar if you’re really keen. I wasn’t keen, but I gave it a shot.
XPan has changed a little for the OnePlus 13. You can shoot ultra-wide 15mm equivalent photos, 23mm wide photos, or 73mm zoomed in photos. It seems to shift away from the “pure” XPan experience, but in doing so it has made the mode more accessible. The interface is unique too, with a custom overlay to give it that unique XPan camera look, plus the screen flashes into a negative when you tap the shutter button, just like if you were taking a “real” photo.
I don’t take panoramic photos very often, and for a start I couldn’t get my head around using the XPan mode. I’mnot the only one, and the more I read,watched, and learnedabout the actual XPan camera, the more I not only discovered how challenging it is to get to grips with the format, but also how rewarding it can be when you experiment with it, and how dramatic photos taken with it can look.
I was getting sucked in.I love this quotefrom photographer Matthias Jambon-Puillet in a piece about XPan cameras, “Cursed to desire one, cursed to break the bank buying one, cursed to realize that you have no real-life use for it.” It’s very true. XPan’s potential is exciting, but there’s no truly obvious use case for XPan mode on the OnePlus 13, as most people will just use the wide-angle camera in the app instead of it. But XPan was calling me, and as I didn’t have to fork out for a real XPan camera to test it, I went out to take photos.
A photo taken using the XPan mode on the OnePlus 13.
Image credit: JJ Davies/ Hasselblad Xpan
I took some, then some more, andmore againas I began to fall for the vision of the world it can create. Get it right, and photos can be gloriously cinematic, serene or moody, or dramatic and exciting. I began to learn how XPan photos require different framing techniques, andlooking at your environment in a new wayto find out if an XPan photo works. It doesn’t work in all situations, just like a 1:1 aspect ratio photo isn’t always right, but when you even partially get it right the result looks very cool indeed.
Should I just use XPan, then?
Image credit: JJ Davies/ Hasselblad Xpan
Should this stop you trying XPan out? Absolutely not. Shoot photos for your own enjoyment as well as for posting on social media. Not everyone will “get” XPan anyway. I’m the first to admit I didn’t get it at all, but I’m very pleased to also say I’ve seen the error of my ways. It’s another reason to get the OnePlus 13, a phone that continues to impress me more than two months into using it every day.
These are the smartphones with the best phone battery life based on our tests
If you had asked me a few years ago what I considered to be the weakness of modern smartphones compared to older phones, I’d have said the battery. When you look at phones from before modern smartphones, the batteries would last days compared to hours of smartphones.
However, we have seen some amazing progress when it comes to modern smartphone battery longevity. There are now smartphones that don’t need to be charged throughout the day and can happily run without issue for more than 16 hours. And the figures to be the case throughout 2025, as the latest top-of-the-line silicon includes power management features among its top benefits.
So far we’ve tested two devices that run onQualcomm’sSnapdragon 8 Elitechipset. Both of those phones — theAsus ROG Phone 9 Proand theOnePlus 13— finish first and second on our list of long-lasting phones. With more Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered phones on the way, we expect the top of our best phone battery life list to get very crowded very soon.
For a phone to even be considered for inclusion on our list of long-lasting devices, it needs to hold a charge for at least 14 hours while surfing the web. Even then, you may not make the cut as the Motorola Razr Plus 2024turned in a time of 14 hours and 10 minutes and just missed cracking the top 15. That’s still pretty impressive, given that the Razr is a foldable device, and those phones have traditionally struggled with battery life.
The test numbers we use in the above chart reflect the results we got when testing each phone at their default setting for a display’s refresh rate. Often, that means a phone can adjust that rate during our test. We believe that using the default setting is the best way to get comparable results, but since we also test at different refresh rate settings to see what impact that can have on battery life, we’ll note in the write-ups below when phones produced significantly different results after adjusting the refresh rate on their displays.
We’ve also adjusted the times of some recently released phones as we’ve had a chance to run additional battery tests on them. The numbers in our battery life rankings reflect averages calculated from multiple tests.
Best phone battery life at a glance (hours:minutes)
Asuscontinues to set the battery life standard with its ROG phones. The latest entry, the ROG Phone 9 Pro pushes things out even further, with the phone posting an average time of 20 hours and 34 minutes on our battery test. That time came with the phone’s display set to an adaptive refresh rate. Locking the screen at its highest refresh rate — 165Hz — did put a hit on battery life, cutting the ROG Phone’s performance by nearly 6 hours. But even that 15-hour, 41-minute time would have put the ROG Phone 9 Pro in 10th place on our best phone battery life list.
Yes, the big battery inside the ROG Phone 9 Pro helps provide multi-day battery life. But the 5,800 mAh power pack has some help from the power-efficientSnapdragon 8 Elitechip running the show. This chipset figures to power a lot of top Android phones coming out in the next year, so the ROG Phone 9 Pro’s battery performance is an exciting preview of what to expect even if you’re not necessarily inclined to get a gaming phone.
On the charging front, support fot 65W means you can top off the ROG Phone 9 Pro’s battery quickly. In our tests, we got a drained phone to a 74% charge after 30 minutes. Combine that charging speed with the epic battery life, and you’ll never need to worry about a gaming session cut short.
2. OnePlus 13 (19:45)
The first major flagship phone released in 2025 also delivers impressive battery life, as the OnePlus 13 approaches the 20-hour mark on our battery test. Certainly, the 6,000 mAh power pack plays a big role in that longevity, but like the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro, the OnePlus flagship reaps the benefits of the Snapdragon 8 Elite and its more efficient performance.
You’ll also get blazing fast charging speeds — 80W in in the U.S. and 100W in other parts of the world. Using an 80W charger in our testing, we got a drained OnePlus 13 up to a 92% charge after 30 minutes. Wireless charging is fast, too, with the OnePlus 13 supporting 50W wireless speeds.
3. Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro (18:48)
The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro has been surpassed by its successor, even if the older phone’s 18 hour, 48 minute time on our test still impresses. If you can find the phone at a discount, the ROG Phone 8 Pro is still a good gaming option when you don’t want battery life concerns interrupting your gameplay.
While the ROG Phone 9 Pro made a big lead ahead of the ROG Phone 8 Pro’s time, this model improved on its successor by just 16 minutes on our test. Of course, the ROG Phone 8 Pro did that with a smaller battery than its predecessor, making its result look even more impressive.
Like the ROG Phone 9 Pro, you get a 65W charger with the ROG Phone 8 Pro, and charging results were similar — 71% on a drained phone after 30 minutes of charging. By 50 minutes, the phone was completely charged. So you’re never really out of the game with this long-lasting phone from Asus at your side.
4. OnePlus 12R (18:08)
TheOnePlus 13Ris on its way, but for now, the OnePlus 12R delivers the best battery life of any midrange model. If you need to squeeze even more battery life out of the phone, you can adjust its refresh rate, as that produced a result a few minutes shy of the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro’s pace, which was the standard back when we tested the 12R last year.
A chunky 5,500 mAh battery helps this phone last throughout the day and then some on a single charge, but credit should also go to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, which powers many of the other devices on our best phone battery life list.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 may be an older chipset, especially with Snapdragon 8 Elite phones now emerging, but that’s what allows OnePlus to offer the 12R at such a low price, particularly in the U.S. You can buy a $499 model with 128GB of storage in the U.S., while the OnePlus 12R starts at $599 for 256GB of storage in other parts of the world.
Even with that lower price, the OnePlus 12R doesn’t skimp on OnePlus’ trademark fast-charging. With 80W wired charging speeds in the U.S., we got the phone to a 96% charge after 30 minutes. Don’t expect wireless charging, though.
5. iPhone 16 Pro Max (17:17)
Additional testing dropped the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s average time from its high of 18:06 to 17:17, but don’t be disappointed by that. This is still the longest-lasting phone Apple has ever offered.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max not only features a larger battery, but the A18 Pro silicon running the show exhibits excellent energy efficiency. TheiPhone 16 Proalso runs on an A18 Pro chipset, and it just missed making our list even though it has a much smaller battery than the Pro Max.
Despite reports that 45W charging might be possible the iPhone 16 Pro Max is limited to 30W charging speeds, which helps it get to a respectable if not overwhelming 55% charge after 30 minutes.
6. OnePlus 12 (17:05)
The OnePlus 12 gives way to the OnePlus 13, not only as the latest flagship phone from the phone maker but also in terms of battery life. It may finish 2.5 hours behind its successor on our battery test, but the OnePlus 12’s time of 17-plus hours is nothing to readily dismiss — this is a long-lasting phone that makes the most of its 5,400 mAh battery and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. Curiously, locking the display’s refresh rate at 120Hz adds another half-hour or so to the test result, instead of the default adaptive setting.
Unlike the OnePlus 12R and 13R, the OnePlus 12 offers wireless charging, which makes its welcome return to OnePlus’ flagships. Wired charging supports 80W speeds in the U.S., compared to 50W wireless speeds.
7. Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra (17:01)
At this point, it would be a surprise if Asusdidn’tproduce a long-lasting phone. The Zenfone 11 Ultra joins the last two ROG Phones in dominating our battery life rankings. In the case of the Zenfone 11 Ultra, the phone average just over 17 hours on our battery test with its 6.78-inch display set to an automatic refresh rate. In some test runs, the Zenfone got very close to the 18-hour mark, so count on all-day battery with this device.
Even better, the Zenfone 11 Ultra’s appeal goes beyond endurance and gaming, as Asus has equipped the phone with an especially bright and colorful display. We appreciate how a 6-axis gimbal boosts the stability of the phone’s 50MP main camera, even if we wish that the photo-processing capabilities were a little more refined. You can enjoy 65W wired charging, too, though you will need to provide your own charger to take full advantage of that feature.
8. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (16:45)
Meet the longest-lasting Samsung flagship phone we’ve ever tested — at least until the Snapdragon 8 Elite-poweredGalaxy S25models arrive later this month. The Galaxy S24 Ultra finished 15 minutes shy of the 17-hour mark, beating out last year’s flagship phone from Motorola by nearly an hour. While the Galaxy S24 Ultra finished 2.5 hours ahead of the best performing iPhone 15 model, the iPhone 16 Pro Max has since come along to take the S24 Ultra’s long-lasting flagship crown.
Samsung didn’t increase the battery size in the Galaxy S24 Ultra — it remains at 5,000 mAh. So we have to credit the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset powering the phone for its excellent efficiency. It’s also worth noting we recorded that time with the S24 Ultra’s adaptive refresh rate turned on, so the Qualcomm chipset does a great job managing power.
Charging speeds remain at 45W, but we managed to get a 71% charge after 30 minutes using a 45W USB-C charger. Samsung doesn’t include such a charger with its phone, so if you want top charging speeds, you’ll need to pick up this accessory on your own.
9. iPhone 16 Plus (16:29)
The iPhone 15 Plus wowed us last year by offering 14 hours and 14 minutes of battery life — exceeding the performance of the iPhone 15 Pro Max in the process. While the iPhone 16 Plus finished behind the iPhone 16 Pro Max, it did gain a considerable boost to its longevity over its predecessor.
Specifically, the new model posts a 2 hour-plus gain in our battery test, which is pretty impressive for a phone that already held out a long time on a charge. Credit is likely split between the improved power efficiency of the A18 chipset inside the iPhone 16 Plus and the fact that Apple equipped the phone with a bigger battery. (Just how big, Apple hasn’t said, but expect that information to come out, once people get a chance to teardown the phone.)
As for charging, you’re looking at regaining 55% in 30 minutes, which matches the charging results we recorded with Apple’s more expensive Pro models.
10. Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus (15:58)
The Galaxy S24 Plus lasts about an hour less than the slightly larger Galaxy S24 Ultra on a charge, though if you turn off the adaptive refresh rate on the Plus, you wind up with Ultra-like longevity. Even finishing just shy of 16 hours with the adaptive refresh rate turned on is an excellentresult for a phone with a 4,900 mAh battery and a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. (At least in North America — S24 Plus models in the rest of the world use Exynos 2400 silicon.)
Charging speeds haven’t changed from the Galaxy S23 Plus, as the S24 Plus charges at 45W wired. With a compatible charger, we got a drained Galaxy S24 Plus to a 72% charge in 30 minutes, similar to what we saw with the S24 Ultra.
11. Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 (15:01)
Motorola’s G series phones have a strong reputation for lasting a long-time on a charge. The best of the bunch from this year’s batch of G series updates is the Moto G Stylus. It lasted a little more than 15 hours on our test, and that was with the 6.7-inch display’s refresh rate alternating between 60Hz and 120Hz. Turn off that default feature, and you can push that average time to 15 hours and 55 minutes.
The Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) gives you more than just a massive battery and fast 30W charging speeds. It comes with a built-in stylus that’s useful for scribbling notes or sketching on the phone’s display. The Moto G Stylus may lack some processing muscle and its cameras are passable at best, but for less than $400, you get a bright display, a stylish design and all the battery life you could ask for.
12. CMF Phone 1 (14:47)
There’s a lot about the CMF Phone 1 from Nothing that will take you by surprise, whether it’s the low price or the handset’s modular design that lets you attach different cases and accessories to its back. But high on the list of welcome surprises is just how long this phone can last on a charge.
In our testing, the CMF Phone 1 was able to scroll the web continuously for 14 hours and 47 minutes. It achieved that average with its display locked on the default High setting, which supports a 120Hz refresh rate. Go with the Standard setting that turns off the faster refresh rate, and you can squeeze more batter life out of the CMF Phone 1, as we managed to get results that topped 15 hours.
Nothing includes support for 33W wired charging, which helps a drained phone get up to 62% capacity after 30 minutes. All this comes in a phone that costs less than $300 — a very good bargain for a long-lasting device with more than a few tricks up its sleeve.
13. Moto G 5G 2024 (14:36)
One of the least expensive entries on our best phone battery life list, the Moto G 5G (2024) proves once again that Motorola’s G series of budget phones can be counted on to last a while on a charge. In this case, the latest edition of the Moto G 5G lasted more than 14.5 hours — and that time was recorded with the phone’s 6.6-inch display set to its automatic refresh rate that can scale up to 120Hz.
A fast-refreshing display and long battery life underscore the value of the Moto G 5G, which costs just $199. You’ll make some trade-offs for that price — mostly in processor speed and photo quality — but longevity isn’t something you need to worry about sacrificing.
14. Nothing Phone 2a (14:28)
With the arrival of the CMF Phone 1, theNothing Phone2a is no longer Nothing’s least expensive option nor its longest-lasting device. And yet, the Nothing Phone 2a is still a battery champion, thanks to the tandem of a 5,000 mAh power pack and a MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro chipset that helped it turn in a time of 14 hours and 28 minutes on our battery testing. Turning of the default adaptive refresh rate, and going with the High setting improves the time to 15 hours.
Fast-charging is something you typically don’t find on cheaper phones, and yet the Nothing Phone 2a can charge at 45W with a wired connection. For less than $350, that’s an impressive set of power management features.
15. iPhone 15 Plus (14:14)
The iPhone 16 phones may offer Apple’s latest and greatest hardware, but don’t overlook the iPhone 15 Plus from a year ago if you’re in the market for an Apple phone but don’t want to pay top dollar. The iPhone 15 Plus lasted longer than both the newer iPhone 16 Pro (just barely) and theiPhone 16on our battery test, and it’s available for the same $799 that Apple charges for the iPhone 16. Not bad if you want a bigger screen and don’t mind missing out on Apple Intelligence features.
Charging speeds are less impressive, though you could say that about most iPhones. A half-hour of charging refilled the phones battery to just 39%.
You can increase your internal storage on these Android phones.
Whether you carry your media library with you, shoot a lot of 4K videos, or are looking to download a few movies ahead of a long commute, having a phone with expandable storage is essential for lots of users.
Thankfully, plenty of options are still available, although most of them are budget phones or mid-rangers with a few compromises here and there. Still, you might be surprised by the quality of the phones I’ve gathered for this guide. Some of these devices may even come with features you didn’t expect, such as 3.5mm headphone jacks and 120Hz displays.
For thebest Android phoneswith expandable storage, all you need is a stellar microSD card and you’ll be all set to store as much data on your device as needed. With theright memory card, you can even store your apps on the external storage.
Main camera:50MP, ƒ/1.8, EIS, 79-degree FoV, Ultra XDR
Front camera:16MP
Battery & charging:5,000mAh, 33W wired charging
Water and dust resistance:Dust and splash resistant
Reasons to buy
+Bright and beautiful AMOLED display +Hardware can be customized +Quick processor +Three years of software updates +Excellent cameras
Reasons to avoid
-No NFC -5G support isn’t great in the U.S. -No headphone jack
Expandable storage has been relegated mainly to budget-tier phones in the past few years which normally means boring designs with disappointing performance, but withNothing CMF Phone 1, you can get microSD expansion in a phone with a flashy and unique design, great cameras, solid performance, and a nice AMOLED display. With a MediaTek Dimensity 730 SoC you’d be forgiven for thinking performance will struggle, but performance is solid with little lag, and even solid gaming performance. It’s not the fastest chip you can get, but it’s more than powerful enough for average day-to-day usage.
The main 50MP camera on the back and the 16MP front camera both punch above their weight with a responsive app and overall good quality. The battery is also good at 5,000mAh with quick 33W charging. The phone is also set to receive two Android updates with three years of security updates, which is solid for this price.
One thing to keep in mind, especially if you’re in the U.S., is that this phone isn’t really designed for the Big Three carriers, but will work on T-Mobile if you don’t mind a few connection drops here and there. The problem is, that the phone just doesn’t support all of the bands common in North America and is more suited to the European market. Still, if you’re looking for something unique and have a carrier using T-Mobile, the CMF Phone 1 is an impressive device.
+6.5-inch 90Hz AMOLED screen +Samsung’s usual five-year promise regarding updates +5,000mAh battery with 25W fast charging +Decent main camera
Reasons to avoid
-So-so performance -Lacks any IP rating
Craving that signature Samsung look and feel but can’t afford much? Don’t worry, the Samsung Galaxy A25 5G is a fine choice when hunting for phones with expandable storage. The Galaxy A25 gives you a FHD+ Super AMOLED panel that measures 6.5 inches wide and has an impressive 120Hz screen refresh rate.
Now this is nearly an entry-level device, but it has just enough going for it that it sits a notch above that banner. For instance, theSamsung phoneis kept alive by a gigantic 5,000mAh cell. You also get a headphone jack and a 50MP main camera, even though it doesn’t hold a candle against the photographic capabilities of the Galaxy S series of Samsung phones.
You get the Exynos 1280 chipset from the oldGalaxy A53 5G, which is okay for everyday usage and light multitasking but stutters during intensive gaming sessions. Still, if you must have acheap Samsungwithin a very tight budget, the A25 5G is a decent option.
+Nice 120Hz OLED screen +Solid camera performance for the price +Outstanding battery and fast charging +Comfortable feel with vegan leather
Reasons to avoid
-Only water-repellent, no IP rating -One platform update -Fingerprint sensor can be slow
TheMoto G Stylus 5G (2024)is a popular budget phone thanks to its solid performance with a Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 SoC paired with 8GB of RAM. This phone has a nice AMOLED display with up to 120Hz refresh rate and 1,200 nits of peak brightness so you can see it outdoors. This phone comes with a 5,000mAh battery pack that can charge at up to 30W wired and 15W wireless.
The camera system is also solid with a 50MP main shooter and a 13MP ultrawide camera. You can take some nice pictures in good lighting, but keep an eye on storage. You can get it with either 128GB or 256GB of storage, so expanding this phone with a microSD card will be a must for some. It also has a 3.5mm headphone jack so you may also want the storage to hold your favorite music so you can save some data.
This phone ships with Android 14, and its performance is solid, however, Motorola is only planning to give this phone a single Android version update. With phones from Samsung and Google offering much longer support, it’s a bit disappointing that Motorola is sticking to just one. Still, if you don’t mind the older operating system, strong 5G band support makes this a great phone to bring to other carriers.
Memory & storage:12GB RAM, 256GB or 512GB, expandable
Main camera:48MP wide,12MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto
Front camera:12MP
Battery & charging:5,000mAh, 30W wired charging
Water and dust resistance:IP65/IP68
Reasons to buy
+The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is still fast +Strong sub-6 5G support +Water and dust resistant IP65/IP68 +Large 5,000mAh battery with 30W charging
Reasons to avoid
-Expensive -Software support could be better
Memory card expansion and 3.5mm headphone jacks have become all but extinct in high-end Androids. Good thing Sony doesn’t seem to be bothered by what the rest of the industry is doing and has release the Xperia 1 V with both. This phone comes with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC that was common in flagships from 2023, but it’s still plenty powerful for any app you’ll find on the app store. It’s got 12GB of RAM and ships with 256GB of built-in storage.
Available in either green or black, this is a sleek phone with three cameras on the back. It has a 48MP main cameras with a 12MP telephoto and 12MP ultrawide camera playing backup. Another rarity this phone ships with is a 3.5mm headphone jack. Headphone jacks aren’t necessarily a budget feature and many of the best Sony headphones ever made use a wire, so it’s nice that Sony has kept it around.
Software support could be better on this phone, though it has been updated to Android 14 already. Sony’s phones are often targeted at creators, and if you want to get high-quality video off of your memory card in a hurry, you’ve also got a USB-C 3.2 port with 5Gbps speeds supported.
+Three years of security updates +Superb 50W wired fast charging +120Hz LCD screen feels good +Great build quality
Reasons to avoid
-108MP camera is gimmicky -Only one major platform update
Like so many of the best budget Android phones, theOnePlus Nord N30 5Gsports the 6nm Snapdragon 695 5G chipset. You can insert a microSD card in the slot and add more storage in a jiffy. It’s an oldie, but a goldie.
The Nord N30 5G has a lot of neat features, but the coolest one of them all is the 50W SUPERVOOC charging. Now that’s an incredibly fast charging speed that you certainly won’t find on any other phone with expandable storage.
The 108MP camera sounds amazing, but it’s actually more of a buzzword. As per our testing, the picture quality could be better. You will appreciate the snappy 6.27-inch 120Hz IPS LCD display though.
OnePlus only promises one OS update for this model, but you get three years of guaranteed security updates. Since Android 15 is on the horizon, you won’t get anything beyond Android 14 on the Nord N30. But the phone is still a worthwhile purchase in 2024.
+Low cost or free with a plan +Large 5000mAh battery with 30W charging +Support for 5G on T-Mobile +Repairable with parts at iFixit
Reasons to avoid
-Fairly slow SoC -Not Android 14
HMD, the company that makes Nokia phones, has stayed focused on budget-friendly Androids and it continues to make some of the cheapest new phones available. The G310 is exclusive to T-Mobile carriers in the United States and comes in at well under $200. The Snapdragon 480+ 5G chipset not only gives the phone enough power for social media and messaging apps but also full 5G connectivity on T-Mobile’s sub-6 5G network.
It has a 50MP main camera on the back for decent pictures in well-lit environments. and a 5,000mAh battery that can easily make it to the end of the day. The screen is also a plus with a 6.56-inch IPS LCD running at up to 90Hz. If you like music, you’ve got a 3.5mm headphone jack as well as Bluetooth. You can even repair this phone withparts available at iFixit.
Keep in mind that this phone is only designed to work with T-Mobile, so bringing it to a Verizon or AT&T-based carrier likely won’t work out. Still, for the low price, this phone is a good fit for T-Mobile.
How to choose
With most of thebest Android phonesmoving away from expandable storage, you might think the format is becoming a dying breed, but don’t panic just yet. There are still plenty of great phones with microSD support, though the vast majority of them are budget offerings. Grab some of the best microSD cards, and you’ll be able to expand your storage with ease.
While its limited availability and carrier support mean its not the right pick for everyone, the CMF Phone 1 is a surprisingly great phone, especially when your remember it’s $200. The phone has a quick MediaTek SoC, a strong camera, and solid battery life. With three years of updates planned with two Android updates, this phone punches above its weight in several categories.
In terms of full-blown flagships that offer expandable storage, you’re out of luck with the latest releases. You won’t find a microSD slot in the Galaxy S24 lineup or the Pixel 9 series. You’re better off with mid-range value phones such as the Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) or the OnePlus Nord N30 5G. You’ll find the internals to be solid in both phones, pushing out smooth performance consistently. Both devices are great hits in the camera and battery departments, too.
Not everyone that wants expandable storage is shopping for acheap Android phone. The Sony Xperia 1 V is an expensive phone that’s hard to recommend over the like of Samsung Galaxy and OnePlus, but it’s one of the few high-end phones to keep the memory card expansion around. It also has a 3.5mm headphone jack making it a strong pick for content creators, or headphone enthusiasts.
In the last year, I’ve taken up a new, rewarding hobby with astrophotography. Today’sbest phonesmake it easier than ever before to get breathtaking shots of the night sky, which is why I want to share my favorite shots from each of the flagship phones I’ve tested throughout the year.
These include theiPhone 16 Pro Max,Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra,Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, andOnePlus 12— many of which top batterymap’sbest camera phonesguide. They’re there for many reasons, but I will agree that the quality of images for astrophotography requires more than just the physical hardware. Plus, there’s a certain level of patience needed to get just the right images.
Most people don’t even know that these flagship phones are capable of capturing stuff besides the moon, stars, and constellations. As you’ll see, I’ve been able to image other deep space objects with their telephoto cameras — like nebulas and even some galaxies. Here’s all of my favorite shots.
Before I dive into it, I captured all the astrophotography images with each phone on separate occasions. Since astrophotography requires the phones to be extremely still with their long exposure, often upwards of 30 seconds, it’s not feasible for me to capture the same targets with each device. That’s why the images are from different days.
Secondly, it’s worth investing in a tripod and phone holder to capture astrophotography with phones. I’d recommend keeping them as close to the ground as possible because sometimes a slight gust of wind can ruin a shot. And finally, you’ll want to use the timer function to eliminate any shake when you’re hitting the shutter button.
Once you master these techniques, you simply need to switch to their respective night modes and select the longest exposure time.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
If you’re going to shoot astrophotography with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, I’d recommend switching to its Pro Mode and manually setting the shutter speed and ISO. In the first shot of the gallery below, I do like how the overall image is brightened to see the details in the tree’s branches, but the sky itself is a bit overexposed given how dark it looks in real life. Still, I love all the twinkling stars it’s able to capture.
In the second astrophotography image with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, I used Pro Mode to try and capture M42: The Great Orion Nebula. This is one of my favorite shots because the night sky is properly exposed, with less of the banding effect of the night shot one. And since I used a longer exposure, it manages to keep the noise down by shooting at a lower ISO.
And finally, there’s the last closeup shot of the Great Orion Nebula with the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s 50MP telephoto with 5x zoom. While I could’ve maxed it out 100x zoom, I chose not to in order to preserve the details. I think it does an excellent job of defining the gases that are coming from the nebula, which with the naked eye just looks like an ordinary twinkling star — but the S24 Ultra captures it in greater detail.
Apple’s flagship is a low light beast, and these astrophotography snapshots I captured with the iPhone 16 Pro Max proves that. Starting with its 48MP main camera, it’s the only flagship phone I’ve tested this year that can capture a galaxy. With it pointed straight up into the air, I was able to capture M31 Andromeda Galaxy — complete with its wispy trails. You’ll have to look very close in the first image below, but it’s there.
Next up, I want to point out how it captures The Great Orion Nebula with its 12MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom. I surmise that the clearer skies above me that evening attributed to what’s arguably my favorite astrophotography shot with these flagships, mainly because the nebula is better defined.
For my last pick, it’s the shot of M45 The Pleiades — which on that night was right above my garage. There’s a lot I love about this photo because not only are the seven main stars of the cluster visible with the main camera, but the colors of the leaves on the tree remain true-to-life.
OnePlus 12
Even though its flagships have often underperformed against its main rivals in the low light department, I will admit that the OnePlus 12 can get some respectable looking astrophotography images. The first one I tried getting of Jupiter in the night sky is a perfect example, especially when I was contending against the strong moonlight from the Moon. The overall shot may look underexposed compared to the brighter captures of the other phones here, but enough to give it a realistic look.
The second image in the gallery below is of M45 The Pleiades, which initially I thought was captured by its 64MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. But for some reason it stuck with the 50MP main camera, which I suspect is simply due to the low light conditions. Given how effective OnePlus leverages pixel binning here, I think it still pulls off an excellent shot.
Going back to M42 The Great Orion Nebula, the OnePlus 12’s main camera again captures an image that’s more underexposed, but it doesn’t have the banding effect that I tend to see with the night modes on other phones.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
There’s a reason why I saved the Pixel 9 Pro XL for last. Out of all the phones I’ve tested, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is my favorite for astrophotography. Not only does it have an excellent 48MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom, but there’s a dedicated astrophotography mode that pushes the exposure to 4 minutes — resulting in a neat timelapse video to complement the image it captures. The first shot of M45 The Pleiades below shows a few rolling clouds overhead, while still showing the movement of M45.
With an unobstructed view of Jupiter, I love how this shot from the Pixel 9 Pro XL’s main camera also manages to expose some of the nearby stars. If you look to the south-east, there’s the Great Orion Nebula — while the seven stars of The Pleiades are visible to the north-east.
In order to better show off its telephoto capabilities with astrophotography, I pointed the Pixel 9 Pro XL towards the Great Orion Nebula and used its 5x optical zoom for a closer look. Needless to say that I’m astounded by what it sees, unlike my own eyes that merely see the famous star cluster as a smudgy blob in the sky. Not only is Orion’s Belt clearly captured in the 5x zoom photo, but I really love how the nebula itself is exposed.
The OnePlus 12 has only recently received Android 15 via its first stable OxygenOS 15 update. However, OnePlus has now started issuing a fresh OxygenOS 15 update that adds new AI features and other changes.
(The OnePlus 12 will soon gain new AI features globally.)
Hardly any time has passed since OnePlusbrought Android 15to theOnePlus 12, which arrived as OxygenOS 15.0.0.204, 15.0.0.205 and 15.0.0.206 for OnePlus’ European, North American and Indian software development channels, respectively. For context, the OnePlus 12 remains its most recent flagship outside of China. The company treats fans in its home market to the newer OnePlus 13 though, which contains various upgrades over its predecessor.
Typically, OnePlus would not follow up on a major software release for a while, particularly when it comes to a device like the OnePlus 12, a last-generation flagship. However, a second OxygenOS 15 build has now arrived with a whole heap of changes not present in those that OnePlus distributed at the start of the month.
Please note that OxygenOS 15.0.0.305 is only being offered across OnePlus’ Indian software branch for the moment. With that being said, the company hopes to offer equivalent updates next week in other markets. On top of that, one must have already updated their OnePlus 12 to Oxygen OS 15.0.0.206 before being offered OxygenOS 15.0.0.305.
At any rate, the latter introduces in-house AI Notes and AI Retouch software, which OnePlus has described in the changelog below. Moreover, the new update adds the option of sharing live photos with nearby iOS devices, a version of which Oppo recently showcased for itsFind X8 series global launch. Furthermore, OnePlus has fixed an issue that caused some apps to crash unexpectedly. Please see the full changelog below for more details.
Introduces the Enhance clarity feature to enhance the clarity of cropped, distant, or low-quality photos.
Introduces the Unblur feature to restore details, colors, and lighting in blurry photos, making it easier to capture those precious moments of your pets, children, and more.
Introduces the Remove reflections feature to effortlessly remove glass reflections for clearer, more authentic photos through windows.
AI Notes
Introduces the new AI writing suite which includes the continue writing, polish, and optimize style AI writing features to assist you in drafting and enhancing content, unleashing your creativity in an instant.
Introduces the Format feature to organize scattered information into well-organized content to make it more visually appealing and easier to read.
Introduces the Clean up feature to remove filler words from voice notes to make sentences more coherent while retaining the original audio.
Communication & interconnection
Now you can easily share live photos with iOS devices nearby.
Improves the stability and expands the compatibility of Bluetooth connections.
System
Contacts can now be switched to a floating window.
Photos can now recognize boarding passes and add them to Google Wallet.
Apps in large folders can now be displayed in 3 × 3 grids.
Fixes an issue that might cause some apps to crash.
Fixes a display issue where some app icons might overlap with other elements when pulling down the Quick Settings in the Photos app after restarting the phone.
Integrates the November 2024 Android security patch to enhance system security.
OnePlus has released more details of the OnePlus 13 ahead of the launch later this week. The new official teasers cover communication features such as Bluetooth, network signals, NFC, etc.
The OnePlus 13 will have better communication features. (Image source: OnePlus)
OnePlus is gearing up for the launch of the OnePlus 13 which is scheduled for October 31 in China. Ahead of the launch, it has been posting details of the phone’s features such as the display. More details have now surfaced about the phone, covering features such as connectivity and audio performance.
According to new teasers shared by OnePlus, the OnePlus 13 will come with what it calls ‘Super Signal Engineering 2.0’ which seems to be an updated version of the OnePlus 12’s Smart Link technology. OnePlus says the feature brings enhancements to Bluetooth and network signals.
Like the OnePlus 12 , the OnePlus 13 will have Bluetooth 5.4. However, OnePlus claims that its new flagship has a Bluetooth range of 400 meters and can cover an area of 100m2, thus allowing users to enjoy a strong connection when streaming audio even when their phone is not nearby.
The OnePlus 13 will have improved communication features. (image source: OnePlus)
The improved communication features also extend to connection to cell towers. With a new subway mode, users can expect to see a reduction in lags or buffering when using streaming apps or making video calls during train rides.
In addition, the OnePlus 13 is also confirmed to have 360° communication antennas, multi-function NFC which doesn’t require users to tap specific sides of their phone against a payment terminal, and a USB 3.2 Gen 1 port. OnePlus has also revealed the upcoming flagship will have updated stereo speakers, and an AI-assisted 4-mic call noise reduction.
It will also have an infrared blaster for controlling compatible electronics, and users will be able to easily add a device’s remote by simply taking a photo of the remote. The phone will automatically recognize the remote from the image and add it to your list of remotes.
In addition to the above, the OnePlus 13 will also launch with an upgraded display, the new Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, up to 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, 100W fast wired charging, 50W fast wireless charging, and an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner.
OnePlus 13 will launch on October 31 in China (Image source: OnePlus)
The OnePlus 13 now has an official launch date. This new flagship phone will launch in China on October 31, after the Snapdragon 8 Elite is announced. Besides this, the company has also confirmed three color options for the phone.
After weeks of teasers and leaks, the OnePlus 13 finally has an official launch date. The company will be fully unveiling its new flagship phone on October 31 in China. It’s still unclear when the phone may make its global debut, but it’s likely set for early 2025.
Besides the Chinese launch date, OnePlus has showcased its new flagship phone in three different colorways: White Dawn, Blue Moment, and Obsidian Secret. They are the same as the ones that were spotted in the hands of the gamers at the Peacekeeper Elite event.
Among these three colors of the OnePlus 13, the White Dawn looks similar to the Glacier White variant of its predecessor. The Blue Moment, on the other hand, is said to be the first in the industry to feature “baby skin” texture. It offers a skin-like feel to the touch, and it also has a dual-tone design, with the camera island being white and the rest of the body being blue.
As for the Obsidian Secret, OnePlus says that it comes with an “ebony wood grain” textured finish. This finish gives the black colorway a sleek outlook. Unlike previously speculated, the company didn’t showcase any other colorways than these three. There isn’t a green color variant yet as well, which is something that the last few predecessors came with.
The company has also yet to share the full specs of the OnePlus 13. However, according to previous reports, it will feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite, up to 24 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage, a 6,000 mAh battery, 100W wired charging, and IP68 and IP69 ratings. Other than that, OnePlus recently confirmed 50W magnetic wireless charging support and BOE X2 display.
OnePlus is a Chinese technology company that primarily makes smartphones. The co-founders — Pete Lau (CEO) and Carl Pei (Director) — started the company in late 2013 (Pei, however, has now left the company to start his own called Nothing). Lau and Pei formerly worked for another Chinese technology brand, OPPO — a BBK Electronics subsidiary.
What does OnePlus offer?
As stated earlier, OnePlus primarily creates Android smartphones. In its early days, it was known for making high-powered phones with unique design elements and low prices. We saw this in its first phone, the OnePlus One, which had a starting cost of just $300.
As the brand attained more footing in the industry, it slowly raised its prices. In 2023, its standard flagship phone of the year — the OnePlus 11 — launched with a $699 price tag. However, that’s still competitive, especially considering the Google Pixel 8 Pro is $300 more and the starting price of a Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus is the same.
OnePlus differentiates itself from the competition by approaching its design and software from a somewhat minimalist perspective. The company’s smartphones are always simple and elegant, focusing heavily on usability. Its software — known as Oxygen OS — used to be frequently heralded as one of the best Android skins ever made. This praise was usually based on how fast, smooth, and bloat-free the software was.
We could argue all day about which phone is OnePlus’ best ever, but few would argue that the OnePlus 9 Pro would be a strong contender. Even today, it has one of the best cameras we’ve ever seen on a OnePlus phone and has many features modern OnePlus phones lack, such as wireless charging and a full IP68 rating.
Thanks to the phone being older, you can find this used for incredibly cheap, with prices as low as $300. To sweeten the deal, the phone has one more Android upgrade scheduled, so you’ll get Android 14 at some point in 2024.
In 2016, OnePlus released the first “T” phone: the OnePlus 3T. This phone looked exactly like the OnePlus 3 launched earlier that year but had a few spec upgrades. This started the trend of OnePlus refreshing its flagship phone line in the second half of the year. The most recent “T” series flagship phone is the OnePlus 10T. This phone trumps the OnePlus 10 Pro with a more powerful (and less power-hungry) processor in the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1. It also charges at a ridiculous 160W. It looks very similar to the 10 Pro, however.
OnePlus revealed the very first phone in its new Nord line in 2020. Known simply as the OnePlus Nord, the phone featured many classic OnePlus flagship design elements and specs while dialing back a few aspects to keep the price lower. Since then, the company has launched multiple Nord phones in two different tiers.
The Nord 3 launched in 2023 and is the latest numbered flagship model in the line. However, OnePlus also uses the “T” system for Nords, so the OnePlus Nord 2T is out there as well.
Meanwhile, the Nord “N” series started with the Nord N10 and Nord N100. Globally, these act as the cheapest ways to enter the OnePlus ecosystem. However, these phones are simply rebranded copies of OPPO phones. The Nord N300 and Nord N30 are the newest in the family.
The Ace series
The OnePlus Ace series is where the company dumps realme clones — and even clones of its own phones — in specific markets.
Case in point, the first Ace phone was the OnePlus Ace, which is only available in very select countries (China, mostly). It is a carbon copy of the realme GT Neo 3, with virtually the same spec sheet. Interestingly, the GT Neo 3 was also the launching point for the OnePlus 10R, making the lineup incredibly confusing.
The OnePlus Ace Racing Edition followed, which was also a rebranding effort. The OnePlus Ace Pro, meanwhile, looks just like the OnePlus 10 Pro and OnePlus 10T but is decidedly cheaper.
The most recent phone in this lineup is the China-only OnePlus Ace 3. This is essentially a rebranded OnePlus 12R.
The flagship numbered series
Since the OnePlus 12 is the flagship phone from the brand in 2024, it features top-of-the-line specs, including the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. It also has the newest and most innovative features from the brand, which strongly align with flagship trends of the year. Notably, the OnePlus 12 also features wireless charging, a feature with which OnePlus has had a strenuous relationship. For years, none of its phones had wireless charging. Then, it finally released a phone with it: the OnePlus 8. Then it took the feature away again, and now it’s back once more.
Regardless, we expect the OnePlus 12 to be the company’s best non-foldable phone in 2024. If you’ve got the cash and want the best OnePlus has to offer, this is it.
The “R” variants
OnePlus introduced the “R” series in 2021 with the debut OnePlus 9R. At first, “R” phones were trimmed-down versions of the main numbered phone (in this case, the OnePlus 9) exclusively for the Indian market. In 2024, though, OnePlus is taking the “R” line to a broader audience, with the OnePlus 12R being the first to launch in the United States and India.
The Open series
Samsung still owns the foldable phone market globally, but that doesn’t mean other companies aren’t throwing their own foldable phones into the ring. In the case of OnePlus, it launched its very first foldable phone in October 2023 with the OnePlus Open.
The Open is a lot like the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the Pixel Fold in that it opens like a book. This allows it to exist either as a “normal” smartphone or a small tablet, depending on your needs at that particular moment. So far, OnePlus has not launched a clamshell-style foldable like the Galaxy Z Flip
What sets OnePlus apart from competitors?
A limited lineup Although OnePlus often releases more smartphones each year than it did in the year prior, its lineup is still downright tiny compared to many of its competitors.
OnePlus has a smaller roster . This enables the company to focus more on its devices than some of its competitors. This is a similar strategy to the one adopted by Google, which also releases a very small selection of phones each year. Unfortunately, as OnePlus gets bigger, its roster is also growing. Time will tell if it keeps its roster manageable or if it becomes another Samsung.
Aggressive pricing One of the most contentious topics amongst fans is how OnePlus has raised its pricing over the years. While it’s true that OnePlus phones are more expensive now than ever, the brand’s overall pricing strategy is still competitive. It’s just not releasing flagship-tier phones for $300 anymore — as it did in its early years.
When you compare OnePlus phones to the bigshots — especially Samsung and Apple — it’s plain to see that OnePlus offers a lot for sometimes hundreds of dollars less. For example, the OnePlus 9 had many similar specs to the Samsung Galaxy S21 yet cost $80 less. Even the OnePlus 9 Pro — which was very analogous in specs and features to the Galaxy S21 Ultra and the iPhone 12 Pro Max — started at $929, significantly less than those phones. The OnePlus 10 Pro was the exact same price as the Google Pixel 7 Pro, which was heralded as an amazing price for what you get. And, in 2023, the OnePlus 11 was just $699, hundreds of dollars less than its main competitors.
Worldwide availability While it’s easy for anyone to walk into a store and buy a Samsung smartphone, that’s not the case for many other brands. Xiaomi, realme, OPPO, and many other Chinese smartphone makers have zero presence in the United States, for example.
