Best Android Phones For Students

As a student, it can be overwhelming when looking to buy all your tech gadgets for your studies, especially when you don’t know which features to look out for. This blog provides all the information on the best Android phones specifically beneficial for students preparing for study. We list all the different features as well as information on affordability. Keep reading to find which Android phone is best for you.

The Best Androids For Students

Here are our top choices for the best Android phones for students who are wanting to boost their studies and social life. Take a look to see whether any of these mobile phones catch your eye!

Google Pixel 8a

✅OS: Android 14, with 7 years of updates

✅Battery: 4492mAh

✅Storage: Up to 256GB

✅RAM: 8GB

✅Chipset: Google Tensor G3

✅Display: 6.1 inches

✅Resolution: 1080 x 2400 pixels

✅Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 3

✅Camera: 64MP (wide) 13MP (ultrawide)

✅Brand new retail price: From £499

✅Refurbished price: From £400

The Google Pixel 8a is one of our top picks for a reason. Upon its release, it was priced at £499 which was £50 more than last year’s Pixel 7a but it’s worth it. The Pixel 8a has an updated rounded shape especially noticeable on the corners and looks great in the bold colours it’s available in. It still has the recycled aluminium camera bar across the back of the phone and also comes with two modes of authentication: Face ID and fingerprint sensor. We think this is great as you’ll have a couple options to choose from instead of just being limited to Face ID like iPhone users.

With a smooth 120-Hz screen you’ll be sure to have a seamless scrolling experience when playing games or streaming your favourite movies and let’s not forget the Google Tensor 3. Although it’s not the fastest processor in the industry, it is still more capable than older chips and you’ll definitely feel the difference.

It is also worth noting that the battery isn’t the best in comparison to its competitors, but there are various ways you can ensure that you maximise the battery life of your Android as soon as you get it. This Android device supports wireless charging, but the thing we’re most excited about is the fact that it will be supported for 7 years which is unheard of within the mid-range smartphone market, especially those under £500.

For those students who enjoy the latest AI tools, you’re in luck! The much talked about Circle To Search and Google’s Gemini AI chatbot tool is available on the Pixel 8a but these AI integrations don’t stop there. The Pixel 8a is also equipped with AI photography tools including an astrophotography mode, tools to unblur images, magic editor and the magic eraser. The feature that has gained the most attention is the “best take” which gives you the opportunity to cherry pick the best takes and combine it to make the perfect picture.

Samsung A54 5G

✅OS: Android 13, upgradable to 14, One UI 6.1

✅Battery: 5000 mAh

✅Storage: Up to 256GB

✅RAM: 6GB

✅Chipset: Exynos 1380

✅Display: 6.4 inches

✅Resolution: 1080 x 2340 pixels

✅Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 5

✅Camera: 50MP (main) 12MP (wide) 5MP (macro)

✅Brand new retail price: From £449

✅Refurbished price: From £200

The Samsung A54 5G is another great choice for students who want a device that offers reliability. To kick things off it has a large 5000 mAh battery and supports expandable storage of up to 1TB which is great especially with it being one of the last remaining phones to support the use of a microSD card.

It also has an octa-core processor, providing enough power for daily use as well as light gaming on its 6.4 inch screen, perfect for the busy student life. Rest assured, with an IP67 water resistant rating, you won’t need to worry about spilling a few drinks on it during a messy night out! The Samsung A54 does not lack in the design department, it has a glossy back frame and metallic-style edging which is actually made of plastic.

Samsung Galaxy S22+ 5G

✅OS: Android 12, upgradable to 14, One UI 6.1

✅Battery: 4500mAh

✅Storage: 128GB

✅RAM: 8GB

✅Chipset: Exynos 2200

✅Display: 6.6 inches

✅Resolution: 1080 x 2340 pixels

✅Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+

✅Camera: 10MP (wide)

✅Brand new retail price: From £999

✅Refurbished price: From £275

Last but not least we have the Samsung Galaxy S22+ 5G which is a fantastic Android phone for students on a budget because you can grab this for under £300! It includes a 50-megapixel main sensor that will bring some fantastic improvements to the colour and clarity of photos.

If you’re considering buying this phone, then you should know that it’s mainly for people who prefer phones with large screens, but do not want a device that’s huge and a nightmare to fit into a pocket or small bag. The Galaxy S22+ is the perfect compromise, allowing you to enjoy a larger screen for streaming and scrolling without the faff, smaller than the Galaxy S21 which was 6.7 inches. A cool feature included is the Vision Booster which is designed to adjust the screen brightness and overall lighting around you. Basically to put this into perspective, this is Samsung’s version of Apple’s ‘True Tone’ feature! Design wise, it comes with meta and frosted glass giving it a more premium feel similar to the iPhone 13 Pro.

Takeaway

We hope that you found at least one of these options a good fit for your student life because there’s something for everyone in this list, ranging from screen size of the Android phone with the best battery life to get you through the day. You also shouldn’t forget that all of these devices can be purchased as refurbished mobile phones for a much lower price from one of our retail partners. Alternatively, check out our Best iPhones For Students blog if you’re still wondering which mobile phone to get. And remember, to save even more on your phone, always sell your old phone for the best price at Compare and Recycle.

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