![\"Samsung](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Samsung-logo-at-CES-2025-Stock-photo-3.jpg\"\/ "\\"Samsung"){kind=logo}
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Edgar Cervantes \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n
Samsung is the biggest smartphone manufacturer in the world, and for good reason. It has a global reach through various distribution channels, offers great phones<\/a> at just about every price point, and promises long-term software support for most of its handsets. Over the years, it has also positioned its brand as reliable, trustworthy, and to a point, even premium, convincing people to part with their money.<\/p>\n However, no company is perfect. Samsung phones are generally among the most expensive on the market, their flagship series falls behind some of its competitors when it comes to features like fast charging, and pushing out the latest software updates often takes more time than we\u2019d like. Pair that with various issues over the years, including the infamous Note 7 fiasco, and it\u2019s understandable why some consumers would rather stay away.<\/p>\n But if not Samsung, then which brand should you buy and why? What does each one offer that Samsung doesn\u2019t, and where does it fall short? Let\u2019s take a look at five brands I recommend if you\u2019re looking for a Samsung alternative.<\/p>\n Which phone brand would you consider switching to from Samsung?<\/p>\n 1233 votes<\/p>\n Google Pixel<\/p>\n 39%<\/p>\n OnePlus<\/p>\n 19%<\/p>\n Motorola<\/p>\n 13%<\/p>\n Sony<\/p>\n 6%<\/p>\n Nothing<\/p>\n 7%<\/p>\n I’d never switch from Samsung<\/p>\n 15%<\/p>\n Google Pixel<\/p>\n Ryan Haines \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n As someone who has been a Pixel user for years<\/a>, Google\u2019s phones are the first alternative I recommend. There are a few key reasons for this, including a lengthy seven-year software support promise, unique AI-powered features, and fast software updates. Pixels get the latest version of Android<\/a> on day one, while Samsung users often have to wait months for the same update.<\/p>\n The software is also cleaner and comes with less bloatware \u2014 a problem that\u2019s only getting bigger on Samsung devices. The high-end Pixel 10 series can rival Samsung\u2019s Galaxy S25<\/a> phones on just about any level, and there\u2019s also the Pixel 9a, which is arguably the best phone you can get for around $500. Regardless of which you choose, you can expect a fantastic camera experience, something Pixels have always been known for.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t want to miss the best from Android Authority?<\/strong><\/p>\n There are downsides to the Pixel lineup, of course. The selection of phones is limited compared to what Samsung has on offer. The latest Pixel lineup consists of just a handful of devices, with the cheapest one costing $500. If you want more options, especially in the budget category, Pixel is not the phone brand for you.<\/p>\n OnePlus<\/p>\n Joe Maring \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n I was a OnePlus user for years<\/a>, having bought and used three of their phones. While the brand doesn\u2019t have the same appeal to me personally anymore, that doesn\u2019t mean it doesn\u2019t have great phones on offer.<\/p>\n One of the main benefits of switching to OnePlus is the money you\u2019ll save, as its phones are generally cheaper than Samsung\u2019s. For example, the OnePlus 13<\/a> launched at around $900, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra<\/a> starts at $1,300. Despite the price disparity, you still get much faster charging on the OnePlus, which is one of the features I always enjoyed. You can get it from 0 to 100% in about 30 minutes, while the S25 Ultra needs around an hour.<\/p>\n Pricing and charging are just two benefits. Most OnePlus devices come with an Alert Slider on the side, allowing you to switch your phone to silent or vibrate mode quickly. I used this feature all the time and dearly miss it on my Pixel. The software \u2014 OxygenOS \u2014 is also brilliant, with unique features like the ability to perform a task, like opening an app or turning on the flashlight, with a simple gesture on the screen while it\u2019s turned off.<\/p>\n When it comes to cons, software updates are the biggest one. OnePlus\u2019 high-end phones get just four years of OS updates compared to the seven you get with Samsung\u2019s premium handsets. The cameras are usually a step behind what Samsung offers, and in my experience, there\u2019s a slightly bigger chance of encountering a hardware issue. The company is also based in China, which may be a concern for some due to privacy considerations.<\/p>\n Motorola<\/p>\n Ryan Haines \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n Motorola isn\u2019t as popular as it once was, but it\u2019s a great Samsung alternative, especially at certain price points. Its G-series phones offer fantastic value for money, and you can choose between devices like the\u00a0G Power (2025)<\/a>, which is all about battery life, the\u00a0G Stylus (2025)<\/a>, which comes with a built-in stylus, and many others.<\/p>\n Motorola has a great \u2014 and cheaper \u2014 alternative to the Z Flip 7.<\/p>\n Then there are its foldables. If you like the clamshell design of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 but find it too expensive, Motorola has a compelling option. It\u2019s called the Motorola Razr (2025)<\/a>, and it\u2019s an affordable foldable that launched for several hundred dollars less than Samsung\u2019s equivalent. The software experience on all Motorola phones is also a major plus, as it\u2019s very clean and close to the stock Android found on Pixel phones.<\/p>\n However, the software update promise is far from great. You get up to five years of updates on only a few select phones, while the rest have to make do with three or fewer. If you typically replace your phone within that time frame, it\u2019s less of an issue, but you\u2019ll get stuck on an old Android version if you plan to use it for longer. Furthermore, if a top-tier camera experience is what you\u2019re after, Samsung still offers more in that department.<\/p>\n Sony<\/p>\n Robert Triggs \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n Sony is an interesting brand that may appeal to a specific type of user. What sets it apart is that many of its phones still include a headphone jack and a microSD card slot \u2014 two features that are more or less non-existent on flagship phones from Samsung, Google, and other major brands.<\/p>\n Sony\u2019s phones, like the high-end Xperia 1 VII<\/a>, also sport a side-mounted fingerprint scanner and a dedicated physical camera shutter button. The software experience is slick and fast, Sony\u2019s build quality and designs are excellent, and the video quality on its flagships is among the best in the industry.<\/p>\n However, there are issues to be aware of that limit Sony\u2019s mainstream appeal. The software promise is not great, with the company\u2019s flagships only getting four major Android upgrades. The camera system, particularly for still photos, isn\u2019t as point-and-shoot-friendly as competitors, requiring more manual tweaking to get the best results. The lineup is also quite limited, and the phones tend to be on the expensive side. Still, many are willing to overlook these issues for the benefits of a headphone jack and expandable storage.<\/p>\n Nothing<\/p>\n Ryan Haines \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n Nothing was co-founded by the same guy who co-founded OnePlus, so it\u2019s no surprise that the two brands have a lot in common. This includes a clean, bloat-free software experience and a price point that generally undercuts Samsung.<\/p>\n The brand targets a younger crowd first and foremost, as evident by its design language that definitely stands out. It\u2019s a far cry from the simple lines we\u2019re used to from Samsung, with phones featuring the \u201cGlyph Interface\u201d on the back \u2014 a series of customizable LED light strips that can be used for notifications, charging status, and more \u2014 or the newer Glyph Matrix<\/a>, which is a monochrome micro-LED display.<\/p>\n Nothing’s unique design may scare some people away.<\/p>\n As with most other brands on this list, software updates are a bit of an issue. The most you\u2019ll get is five years of OS updates, which is less than what Samsung and Google offer. The unique design may also scare some people away, and the brand is still not as recognized as Samsung or even OnePlus. But if you\u2019re up for something different that won\u2019t break the bank, Nothing is worth considering.<\/p>\n These are five of the best brands to look at if you\u2019re not a Samsung fan, although there are plenty of others out there. Xiaomi, for example, is the third-biggest manufacturer in the world, and it has a smartphone that fits just about any budget. I didn\u2019t include it here since it\u2019s not officially available in the US. Still, its phones are affordable, powerful, and a great option if you live elsewhere \u2014 though its software experience leaves a lot to be desired.<\/p>\n Did I miss a brand that you think deserves a spot on this list? Let me know in the comments.<\/p>\n![\"Google](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Google-Pixel-10-Pro-XL-hero.jpg\"\/ "\\"Google")
<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/oneplus-13-back-blue-leather-hero-feature-scaled.jpg\"\/ "\\"oneplus")
<\/p>\n![\"Motorola](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Motorola-Moto-G-Stylus-2025-rear-panel.jpg\"\/ "\\"Motorola")
<\/p>\n![\"Sony](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Sony-Xperia-1-VII-camera-bar.jpg\"\/ "\\"Sony")
<\/p>\n![\"Nothing](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Nothing-Phone-Glyphify-maze-close-up.jpg\"\/ "\\"Nothing")
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