These are the Android brands you’re using now

Just under a year ago, we told you which phones we were using as our daily drivers. The results showed that Samsung was the most popular brand among Android Authority staff, with Google in a relatively close second position.

We’re almost due for a 2021 edition of this poll, but it got us wondering about the phone brands that Android Authority readers are using at the moment. We were particularly interested in what Android phone brands our readers are using. We know a lot of our readers have iPhones (you’re all very welcome here too!), but instead of pitting Android against iOS, we want to know which Android OEMs have earned a place in your pockets.

So, we posted a poll. Here’s how you voted!

Which Android phone brand are you using?

Results

We published the poll on February 2, 2021, and a massive 18,915 votes were tallied as of writing. There’s clearly one manufacturer that stands tall above all else though, and that’s Samsung.

Roughly two-thirds of all Android Authority readers with Android phones are rocking a device by the South Korean brand. Between Samsung’s healthy budget portfolio, well-rounded flagships, and its pledge to offer three versions of Android updates, there are plenty of reasons to hop aboard.

The second-most popular pick was Google, as 18% of respondents said they’re packing a Pixel phone. Google gave us some good Pixels this year, with the Pixel 4a being a budget champion for many. The Pixel 4a 5G also packed many of the extras of the Pixel 5 at a significantly cheaper price.

OnePlus rounded out the podium position, with almost 16% of voters saying they’ve got a device by the BBK-affiliated brand. The company expanded its portfolio in 2020, delivering cheaper phones like the OnePlus Nord, N10, and N100. It also served up the OnePlus 8 series and OnePlus 8T, although a couple of comments point to older flagships still being used.

More reading: The best Android phones worth buying

Motorola (6.78%), Xiaomi (6.6%), and LG (5.5%) were the only other manufacturers to earn more than 5% of the votes each. It’s interesting to note that Motorola and LG are big in North America but have been on the wane in other markets, suggesting that many respondents were from North America.

It’s also worth noting that Oppo, Vivo, and Realme are in fifth, sixth, and seventh places respectively for global market share according to Counterpoint. But none of these brands received more than 2% of your votes, again possibly suggesting many US and Canadian respondents.

Of course, this poll isn’t exactly indicative of the Android smartphone market at large, but it’s still fun to see what readers are using. And the comments also shed more light on specific models.

Comments

• Hassan Saam El-khatib: Google. Only brand I trust. Fast updates, long support, clean software and good camera. Pixel phones are so simple and seamless.
• The Doctor: Samsung all the way. S21 Ultra. S Pen support, best cameras in an Android phone, quick updates…I like Google phones, but if I wanted boring, I’d go to Apple.
• Alex: I currently have a galaxy S10+, but every year Samsung phones become more like Apple (at least hardware-wise) and now with no headphone jack, no external SD card slot, no MST, no edge screen option, and no included charger, my next phone will probably be a different brand.
• Zoid: I’m keeping my OP6 until it dies. Rooted, good processor, headphone jack, good battery, good screen, just the right size for my hands, clean OS (before they decided to ruin it). The only thing it lacks is a SD card slot. Will never own a Samsung – hate the bloat and the UI.
• Eric Welling: Still rocking and enjoying my Oppo Find X2 Pro. Coming from the Huawei P30 Pro I can truly say that Oppo fills the hole that Huawei left behind. In between these phones I had the Samsung S20 Plus 5G for about 2 months, but it is a mystery to me why they are the leader of the smartphone industry. Poor battery life, lagging software and screen, dreadful camera performance and Samsung’s UI is awful.
• actionjksn: I’ve only used LG V series and I am happy with them, I wish they weren’t getting out of the business. I have the V60 now and it’s fast and looks great. I really don’t worry about the updates. I like my DAC audio jack and SD card slot. And the price, wife and I got two V60’s for BOGO at $800 for both.
• AnySmarterIdRunLinux: S8+. Been wanting a new phone for 2+ years but nothing interesting has been released. I think i am finally at the point where i won’t be bothered with updates i don’t want or need so i may just use this until it dies.
• Kevin Hoang: This is the north American smartphone market if you ask this in Asia more likely Xiaomi will just dominate the chart and follow by oppo or Samsung and vivo
• Mawuena Dogbe: Still rocking the Essential Phone over here!
• Chuck: I’m using the Razer Phone 2, but I wish I wasn’t.
• Tony Talks: Using a Oneplus 6T as a secondary device. I didn’t want to but my IPhone 11 Pro is my primary device thanks to its smaller size.
• ProLoveLife: LG G7 One, it’s a decent phone but One UI is a little limited. P.S. Got it as a gift, I wanted the regular LG G7.

That’s it for our poll results article! What phone are you using right now? And are you happy with it? Let us know in the comments below.