Best Verizon Android phones (April 2017)

With the largest network and an excellent selection of phones, it is no wonder why Verizon is largely considered to be the “top dog” out of all the major U.S. carriers. For those on Big Red’s network, there are quite a few options to choose from, including major flagships that are universally available on all carriers, as well as handsets specific to Verizon only.

Related: Best Verizon prepaid phones

We’ve rounded up the best devices you can get on Verizon’s network. When you make your purchase, keep in mind that Verizon has done away with contract pricing. It’s also worth noting that some of these phones are even cheaper from Amazon, so we’ll try to include the relevant Amazon links if we can find cheaper prices for you. Without any further ado, here are the best Android phones available on Verizon’s network!

Editor’s note – We will be updating this list as more devices hit the market.

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus

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Following a successful launch of the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, Samsung seemed to have a pretty good idea as to what users want in a smartphone. Solid battery life, high-res screens, impressive camera performance and more were all things the company achieved with the 2016 flagships. And while the Note 7 seemed to improve even more in those areas, overheating problems caused the device to enter total recall mode.

Now we get to see what Samsung has in store for us in 2017. It should come as no surprise that the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus feature top-of-the-line specifications, great cameras and an all-new design that’s truly futuristic.

This time around, Samsung included a curved screen on both the S8 and S8 Plus, as well as a unique 18.5:9 aspect ratio that allows for a much more comfortable in-hand feel. The company even ditched its famous physical home button and included on-screen navigation keys (finally). Under the hood, these devices come with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor (or Exynos 8895, depending on the region), 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of on-board storage, and one of the latest versions of Android, 7.0 Nougat.

Samsung even launched a few extra accessories alongside the S8 that you should definitely consider checking out. The new Samsung DeX dock lets you use your S8 as a desktop computer, and there’s also a new Gear 360 camera that allows for shooting video in 4K and live streaming to YouTube. Of course, there’s also a new Galaxy S8-compatible Gear VR headset, complete with a controller for easier navigation.

All in all, the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus are two of the most promising smartphones launching in 2017.

Specs

Samsung Galaxy S8

5.8-inch Super AMOLED display with 2960 x 1440 resolution, 570 ppi
Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 or Octa-core Samsung Exynos 8895 processor (depending on region)
4 GB of RAM
64 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256 GB
12 MP rear camera, 8 MP front camera
Non-removable 3,000 mAh battery
Android 7.0 Nougat
148.9 x 68.1 x 8 mm, 155 g

Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus

6.2-inch Super AMOLED display with 2960 x 1440 resolution, 529 ppi
Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 or Octa-core Samsung Exynos 8895 processor (depending on region)
4 GB of RAM
64 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256 GB
12 MP rear camera, 8 MP front camera
Non-removable 3,000 mAh battery
Android 7.0 Nougat
159.5 x 73.4 x 8.1 mm, 173 g

Buy the Galaxy S8 from Verizon

Buy the Galaxy S8 Plus from Verizon

LG G6

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Throughout 2016, the LG G5 struggled to take on the Galaxy S7, HTC 10 and all the other flagships released that year. It’s not a bad phone, per se, it just lacks the level of polish we normally expect from top-tier smartphones nowadays. The phone would have been more widely accepted if it nailed the modular implementation, but unfortunately the whole module-swapping process was wonky and the three “Friends” that launched with the G5 weren’t all that appealing. With the G6, LG has gone back to the basics.

Certainly the most standout feature on the G6 is its 5.7-inch Quad HD LCD display, with its interesting aspect ratio of 18:9 and rounded corners. It also comes with a Snapdragon 821 processor, 4 GB of RAM, plenty of on-board storage, an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance and dual 13 MP rear cameras. It’s worth noting that not all LG G6s are created equal. For example, the G6 that’s coming to the U.S. is the only variant that supports wireless charging, while the Hi-Fi Quad DAC is exclusive to South Korea and certain markets in Asia. What’s more, the G6 with 64 GB of storage is only available in a handful of markets.

This isn’t a phone that introduces a bunch of gimmicky features that you’ll never use. It’s simply a solid, well-built smartphone that nails the main areas users care most about.

Specs

5.7-inch IPS LCD display with 2880 x 1440 resolution, 564 ppi
Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor
4 GB of RAM
32/64 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256 GB
Dual 13 MP rear cameras, 5 MP front camera
Non-removable 3,300 mAh battery
Android 7.0 Nougat
148.9 x 71.9 x 7.9 mm, 163 g

Buy now from Verizon

Google Pixel and Pixel XL

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Google’s Pixel and Pixel XL are here, and they truly are some amazing smartphones.

Not only are they the first phones to ship with the Google Assistant on board, they also come with plenty of exclusive software features and some of the best smartphone cameras in existence.

Under the hood, they sport some killer specs, too. Both devices have an AMOLED display, a Snapdragon 821 processor, 4 GB of RAM, plenty of on-board storage and long-lasting batteries. The overall design of these phones may not be the most unique, but they do feel like premium phones through and through.

There are a few things about these phones that will turn some people away, though. For starters, they only sport an IP53 rating for dust and water resistance, meaning they’re not nearly as waterproof as the Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge. There are ways around that, but none that will make the devices truly waterproof. Plus, since this is a Verizon model, you’ll have to deal with a small amount of bloatware (though you will be able to uninstall it), you won’t be able to unlock the bootloader, and Verizon will be handling all Pixel and Pixel XL software updates (though the company swears it won’t delay them).

Of course, you’ll be able to buy these devices through the Google Store and activate them on Verizon’s network. Doing so will allow you to take advantage of an unlockable bootloader, software updates from Google, and access to Verizon’s HD Voice and Wi-Fi Calling.

If you’re in the market for a new flagship Android phone and don’t mind spending over $650, you should buy the Pixel or Pixel XL… these are two of the best Android phones out there.

Specs

Google Pixel

5.0-inch AMOLED display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, 441 ppi
Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor
4 GB of RAM
32/128 GB of on-board storage, no microSD expansion
12.3 MP rear camera, 8 MP front camera
Non-removable 2,770 mAh battery
Android 7.1 Nougat
143.8 x 69.5 x 8.6 mm, 143 g

Google Pixel XL

5.5-inch AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 534 ppi
Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor
4 GB of RAM
32/128 GB of on-board storage, no microSD expansion
12.3 MP rear camera, 8 MP front camera
Non-removable 3,450 mAh battery
Android 7.1 Nougat
154.7 x 75.7 x 8.6 mm, 168 g

Buy the Google Pixel from Verizon Buy the Google Pixel XL from Verizon

Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge

See more Galaxy S7 photos | See more Galaxy S7 Edge photos

The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge aren’t the biggest and best Samsung phones anymore, but they’re still worth your attention. While they don’t offer removable batteries, Samsung included expandable storage on both handsets in case the 32 GB of on-board storage isn’t enough. Samsung mostly stuck to the same design this time around, though they did shrink down the camera bumps on the back and made the devices a little thicker to make room for larger batteries.

In terms of specs, these are some great smartphones. They come with Quad HD Super AMOLED displays, Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processors, 4 GB of RAM, great 12 MP rear-facing cameras and run the latest version of Android. Instead of featuring the same screen sizes this time around though, Samsung kept the S7 at a smaller 5.1 inches, while the S7 Edge has been bumped up to a larger 5.5-inch panel.

Specs

Samsung Galaxy S7

5.1-inch Super AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 577 ppi
Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
4 GB of RAM
32 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 200 GB
12 MP rear camera, 5 MP front camera
Non-removable 3,000 mAh battery
Android 7.0 Nougat
142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9 mm, 152 g

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 534 ppi
Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
4 GB of RAM
32 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 200 GB
12 MP rear camera, 5 MP front camera
Non-removable 3,600 mAh battery
Android 7.0 Nougat
150.9 x 72.6 x 7.7 mm, 157 g

Buy the Galaxy S7 from Verizon Buy the Galaxy S7 Edge from Verizon

LG V20

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The V20 is basically the phone for power users. It has a a big Quad HD display, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 processor, plenty of RAM and on-board storage, dual 16 MP rear-facing cameras, and a removable 3,200 mAh battery. Of course, the unique Second Screen makes a return this year, along with the addition of Quad DAC, military standard durability, and it’s already running Android 7.0 Nougat.

If top-of-the-line specs and an impressive feature set is what you’re looking for, you can’t go wrong with the V20.

Specs

5.7-inch IPS LCD display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 513 ppi
- Secondary display: 2.1-inch IPS LCD display with 160 x 1040 resolution, 513 ppi
Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
4 GB of RAM
32/64 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256 GB
Dual 16 and 8 MP rear cameras, 5 MP front camera
Removable 3,200 mAh battery
Android 7.0 Nougat
159.7 x 78.1 x 7.6 mm, 174 g

Buy now from Verizon

How did you like our list? Do you have any other suggestions? If so, feel free to voice your opinion in the comments below!

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