To no one’s surprise, you can also find Alexa built into certain Android phones. It makes sense since Alexa seems to be everywhere you look — Amazon’s voice assistant is in speakers, displays, and even microwaves! Amazon has a collection of what it calls “Alexa Built-in Phones” to highlight these devices, and these are our favorites — including the OnePlus 8 as our top overall pick.
Best Overall: OnePlus 8
Looking at all of the Alexa Built-in phones currently available, the one that stands out as the best overall option is the OnePlus 8. The OnePlus 8 is an incredibly capable flagship Android phone through and through, but it manages to cost a fair amount less than similar phones from Samsung and Apple.
The OnePlus 8 initially impresses with its display, which is a 6.55-inch AMOLED panel with a buttery smooth 90Hz refresh rate. It’s powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 processor, along with up to 12GB of RAM. You also get up to 256GB of storage, a 4,300 mAh battery, very capable cameras, and OnePlus’s excellent 30W wired charging.
We do wish that the OnePlus 8 offered wireless charging and an official IP rating for water-resistance, but otherwise, this stands out as a top-notch device that’s worthy of your time and money.
Pros:
- AMOLED 90Hz display
- Flagship performance
- Stunning design
- Solid rear cameras
- OxygenOS is fast and feature-rich
Cons:
- No wireless charging
- Doesn’t have water-resistance rating
Best Overall
OnePlus 8
- $799 at Amazon
This is the one to get
Thanks to its excellent display, performance, and design, the OnePlus 8 is the best Alexa Built-in phone you can buy.
Best Alternative: Moto G7
If the OnePlus 8 costs a bit more than what you were hoping to spend on a new Alexa phone, we’d recommend turning your attention towards the Moto G7. It’s less technically impressive in virtually every way, but it provides a reliable Android experience at an even better price.
The Moto G7 has a sleek glass design, giving it a nice premium feel despite the affordable sticker price. A 6.2-inch Full HD+ display ensures all of your apps, games, and more look sharp and colorful, and the dual 12MP + 5MP rear camera combo takes pretty good photos all things considered.
You get a great software experience on the G7, which is now running Android 10. Motorola’s software goodies are here, too, including Moto Display and Moto Actions (allowing you to chop the phone to enable its camera and twist it to launch the camera app). And, just like the OnePlus 8, the Moto G7 has hands-free Alexa support and works on all four major U.S. carriers.
We aren’t so keen on the lack of NFC with the Moto G7, but as far as mid-range Android phones go, it’s one of the best ones out there.
Pros:
- Build quality is great
- Large and colorful display
- Cameras are pretty decent
- Works with AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon
- Alexa access is hands-free
Cons:
- Doesn’t have NFC
Best Alternative
Moto G7
- $200 at Amazon
Don’t like the OnePlus 8? Check this out
A lower-cost alternative to the OnePlus 8 is the Moto G7 — offering a well-rounded overall package with a super low price.
Best Flagship: OnePlus 8 Pro
The regular OnePlus 8 strikes a great balance of offering a flagship Android experience for a good price, but if you want an even better version of that phone and have a few more dollars to spend, consider buying the OnePlus 8 Pro.
The OnePlus 8 Pro is very similar to the OnePlus 8, though it comes with a few key upgrades. Most notably is the display, which has an even smoother 120Hz refresh rate and is a bit larger at 6.7 inches. You also get upgraded cameras and a larger 4,510 mAh battery, which are all great upgrades to see. And, to tie the whole thing together, the OnePlus 8 Pro delivers 30W wired and wireless charging, along with an IP68 rating to protect against dust and water.
Inventory for the OnePlus 8 Pro does tend to be quite limited, so if you don’t see any in stock when you go to buy, give it a couple of days and try again.
Pros:
- 120H display is incredible
- Super-fast wireless charging
- IP68 dust/water-resistant
- Top-notch specs
- Clean, powerful software
Cons:
- Expensive
- Stock tends to be limited
- Might be too similar to less expensive OnePlus 8
Best Flagship
OnePlus 8 Pro
- From $899 at Amazon
High-end goodness
There’s no doubt the OnePlus 8 Pro is an expensive phone, but if you can afford, it’s difficult to overlook.
Best Underdog: Sony Xperia 1
Should you be in a position where money isn’t an object, and you want the best that Alexa built-in phones have to offer, look no further than the Sony Xperia 1. Sony phones don’t get a lot of attention in the U.S., but if you have a bit of extra cash to spend, it’s worth a look.
The Sony Xperia 1 has a tall 21:9 display with a large 6.5-inch size and full 4K resolution. Hands-down, this is one of the best smartphone displays you can find. It has rich colors, razor-sharp crispiness, and the aspect ratio lends itself wonderfully for watching movies.
Another big win for the Xperia 1 is its camera offering. You get a combination of three sensors, including a 12MP primary camera, 12MP telephoto camera, and 12MP ultra-wide camera. In short, photos taken with the Xperia 1 look incredible. Colors are great, the dynamic range is excellent, and it handles difficult shooting situations just fine.
Internally, the Xperia 1 is a beast. It has a Snapdragon 855 processor, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of expandable storage, and a 3,300 mAh battery. The lack of wireless charging is a bummer considering how expensive the Xperia 1 is, but other than that, this is an outstanding phone from head to toe.
Pros:
- Downright gorgeous display
- Triple cameras are fantastic
- Buttery performance
- Long battery life
- IP68 water-resistance
Cons:
- Lacks wireless charging
- Expensive
Best Underdog
Sony Xperia 1
- $950 at Amazon
Only for those who aren’t on a tight budget
Have more cash to spend? The Xperia 1 is a really powerful flagship that does a lot to justify its steep cost.
Best for Audiophiles: LG G8
The LG G8 came and went without much fanfare when it was released in 2019, but now that some time has passed and its price has come down, it’s a much more interesting option.
LG designed the G8 to be a flagship phone, and by most accounts, it holds up pretty well for 2020 standards. You’re getting a 6.1-inch OLED display with a resolution of 3120 x 1440, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855 processor, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of expandable storage, and a decently-sized 3,500 mAh battery. The dual rear cameras aren’t as good as what you’ll get on the Xperia 1, but the G8 also costs substantially less.
Audiophiles will be especially interested in the LG G8, as it features a Hi-Fi Quad DAC with its 3.5mm headphone jack. This is a port so many companies are keen on getting rid of, but on the G8, LG makes it one of its best features. Adding to that sentiment, the G8 has Meridian tuning, Qualcomm’s aptX HD audio codec, and support for MQA.
On the Alexa side of things, the G8 boasts hands-free access so you can talk to the virtual helper without having to lift a finger.
Pros
- Sleek design
- High-res OLED display
- 3.5mm headphone jack with Hi-Fi Quad DAC
- Flagship performance
- Alexa is hands-free
Cons
- LG is bad at software updates
- Only works on AT&T and T-Mobile networks
Best for Audiophiles
LG G8
- $400 at Amazon
Your ears will thank you
Not only does the LG G8 have a headphone jack, but it’s outfitted with a Hi-Fi Quad DAC for top-notch audio. Yes, please.
Best Battery Life: Moto G7 Power
There are a lot of features/specs to keep in mind when buying a new phone, but above all else, battery life is one of the most important. No matter how good a phone’s display, processor, or cameras are, it doesn’t matter if you can’t get through a full day of your normal use before needing to refuel. Enter the Moto G7 Power.
For the most part, the G7 Power is a pretty typical mid-range smartphone. It has a mid-tier processor that’s fine for everyday tasks, a 6.2-inch HD+ display, and a single 12MP rear camera. What helps this phone stand out is its gigantic 5,000 mAh battery. Motorola says that’s enough endurance to get through 2.5 days on just one charge, making this one of the Android battery champs. If you’re frequently on the road or away from a power source, the G7 Power is a great fit.
Another massive benefit of the Moto G7 Power is that it works on all U.S. carriers. This includes AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, and any prepaid MVNOs that also use those towers. You can also invoke Alexa at any time by double-pressing the power button, and Motorola’s software experience is clean and easy-to-navigate.
Pros:
- Huge 5,000 mAh battery
- Dual cameras
- Motorola’s great software
- Expandable storage
- Compatible with all major carriers
Cons:
- Bulky, plastic design
Best Battery Life
Moto G7 Power
- $180 at Amazon
It refuses to die
The Moto G7 Power is a road warrior’s dream. With a 5,000 mAh battery, you can expect two days of use on just one charge.
Best with a Stylus: LG Stylo 5
Samsung’s Galaxy Note phones are beloved by folks all around the world, mainly because of the included stylus. If you like the idea of a stylus-touting phone but don’t have the kind of cash for a Note, the LG Stylo 5 is worth a look.
As the name suggests, the Stylo 5 comes with a free stylus that can be hidden inside the phone when you aren’t using it. You can use the stylus for handwriting notes, drawing pictures, or just navigating the phone in general. You get a roomy 6.2-inch display to do this, along with a good-looking Full HD+ resolution of 2160×1080.
An NFC chip is included for Google Pay, allowing you to pay at stores using the Stylo 5 for easy, contactless transactions. This is something you won’t find on the Moto G7 or G7 Power, which is something to keep in mind if you’re a big Google Pay fan. We also love that LG allows you to expand the Stylo 5’s storage up to an impressive 2TB. And, for invoking Alexa, just do a quick double-press of the power button.
The presence of just one (unimpressive) 13MP camera is a downer, as is the plastic design. Even so, the LG Stylo 5 stands out as an original and enticing budget option.
Pros:
- Built-in stylus
- Well-built
- Large 6.2-inch display
- NFC for Google Pay
- Storage can be expanded to 2TB
Cons:
- Just one camera
- Plastic back
Best with a Stylus
LG Stylo 5
- $200 at Amazon
Doodle the day away
A stylus is an excellent addition to any phone, and the Stylo 5 is the only one on this list to come with one built right into it.
Bottom line
The lineup of Alexa built-in phones is greater than ever, but above everything that’s on offer, the one we recommend the most is the OnePlus 8. Between its features, specs, and price, there’s just so much to like.
It all starts with the phone’s hardware, which is among the nicest on offer in 2020. The 90Hz AMOLED display is a joy to look at, performance is blazing-fast for any and all tasks, the cameras take great pictures, and battery life is top-notch. Pair that together with OxygenOS, which gives you tons of features and a clean user interface, and you end up with a fantastic package.
We don’t consider the OnePlus 8 to be a “cheap” phone, but when stacked up against similar devices, it does manage to give you a nearly identical experience for less money. That’s something we’ll always be able to get behind, and that’s what makes it our pick for the best Alexa Built-in phone.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Joe Maring is Android Central’s Senior Editor and loves talking about all things Android (just ask the drawers full of phones in his office. He also goes to Starbucks way too often and can often be found with some sort of latte in his hands. Have a hot tip or want to say hey? Reach out on Twitter @JoeMaring1 or send an email or [email protected]!
