The antagonistic Androids are most commonly associated with Dragon Ball Z, but their origins go all the way back to the original Dragon Ball. Androids 17 and 18, as well as Cell, are essential characters in the sequel series, but Android warriors were first introduced in the Red Ribbon Army saga. Androids disappeared for a lengthy hiatus following the original series and were pretty much forgotten until their apocalyptic return in Dragon Ball Z.

The Dragon Ball franchise has introduced plenty of Androids. Granted, some of these Androids might not be 100% canonical, but they're still worthy of examination among the rest. There's enough variety among the Androids in Dragon Ball Z, Super, and even the original series, to prompt healthy debate over which mechanical creation is the best Android in Dragon Ball.

Updated on January 16th, 2024, by Sage Ashford: This list has been updated to include more information regarding Dragon Ball's most powerful Androids.

20 Red Ribbon Army Androids Served As Gero's Early Experiments

Dragon Ball fans are well-acquainted with Androids 16 through 20, but their numbers indicate they were hardly the first models in this scientific process. Dr. Gero went through quite the trial-and-error process when creating Androids for the Red Ribbon Army. Many of his designs that precede Android 16 were failures.

A few exceptions exist, but most of the early series Androids were unsuccessful. The earliest of these Androids remain a mystery. They were likely humanoid in appearance but suffered setbacks in regard to their battle power. These Androids were likely prone to malfunctions and weren't worthy of salvaging, but the lessons learned from these failures were crucial to Gero's later creations.

19 Major Metallitron Was A Battery-Powered Titan

The very first Android Dragon Ball introduced was Major Metallitron. The Red Ribbon Army created Major Metallitron, although Dr. Gero is unlikely to be involved, since Metallitron is not part of the numbered series. Metallitron is Goku's second challenge in Muscle Tower and a tough enemy to beat.

Goku blows off Metallitron's head with a Kamehameha, but the Android keeps on going. Metallitron is actually the first enemy that Goku faces that isn't easily defeated by a Kamehameha. This proves the Android's strength, but that power is limited because Metallitron runs on batteries. After he loses power, he's easily defeated.

18 Android 8 Represented Dr. Gero's First Successful Android

Android 8 enters the picture not long after Major Metallitron's debut. Android 8 is apparently the first success story in the Android line, though the celebration is short-lived. Android 8 refuses to fight Goku due to his kind and caring nature. In response, Ninja Murasaki threatens to detonate the bomb inside Android 8 unless he attacks.

Goku saves Android 8 from detonation, then takes care of Ninja Murasaki and the Android's bomb. Android 8 protects Goku, proving that Androids are not beyond redemption. Furthermore, Android 8 is incredibly physically strong and durable. He shields Goku from bullets and takes on Major Metallitron, hinting he's even stronger.

17 Android 19 Gained Energy By Stealing From Others

Future Trunks first travels to the past to warn Goku and company about two dangerous Androids, 17 and 18. However, this timeline proves to be slightly different, and these heavy hitters are preceded by an artificially enhanced version of Dr. Gero, as well as his fully mechanical creation Android 19.

Both Androids 19 and 20 are inferior ki-absorption models, but Android 19 is a particularly tough opponent, especially if he gets close enough to make contact with his target. Android 19 is strong enough that it takes someone as strong as Super Saiyan Vegeta to defeat him.

16 Dr. Gero Even Experimented On Himself To Become A Perfect Being

Dr. Gero's cybernetic Android 20 form, much like Android 19 before him, belongs to the ki-absorption model. This means that Dr. Gero is reliant on other people's energy for most of his attacks. However, this doesn't mean that he's powerless on his own.

Android 20's strength and durability prove to be quite the challenge for Krillin, Tien, and Yamcha. Android 20 even takes a direct hit from Goku in his base form and exhibits little to no damage. However, Android 20 is still inferior to some of his other creations. In fact, Piccolo easily takes on Android 20 after he removes his weighted clothing.

15 Imperfect Cell Is Made Up Of DNA From The Mightiest Fighters Ever

Another Android that Future Trunks is completely oblivious toward is Cell, Dr. Gero's greatest creation. Cell is the first Bio-Android and the only Android in Dragon Ball capable of possessing ki. Cell is made up of the most powerful warriors' DNA, which elevates him to a deadly status, even in his Imperfect state.

Cell's first form is around the same level of strength as Android 16, and the two are evenly matched in battle. It isn't until Imperfect Cell absorbs Android 17 that he properly defeats Android 16. Taking this into consideration, and the fact that Imperfect Cell has to use trickery to absorb 17, he's likely weaker than Android 16.

14 Android 16 Had Incredible Power But Limited Himself By Being A Pacifist

A gentle-natured artificial fighter, Android 16 turns out to be more of a hero than a villain. Android 16 has a fascinating backstory because he's made in the image of Dr. Gero's son, a fallen soldier in the Red Ribbon Army. Dr. Gero designed Android 16 out of guilt and grief for his boy, which is partly the reason behind 16's non-hostile programming.

Android 16 is an incredibly strong and gifted fighter with an artificial body that has an unlimited energy source. This feature means that Android 16 will never lose his stamina, strength, or power. This perk is not the same thing as being invincible, and Cell in his Semi-Perfect and complete forms still beats Android 16.

13 Android 15 Proves Androids Contain More Power Than They Look At A Glance

Super Android 13 is an entertaining Dragon Ball Z movie that activates three more of Dr. Gero’s evil Androids, models 13, 14, and 15. The heroes take on this trio of mechanical threats independently, and the tiny Android 15 appears to be the weakest of the lot.

That said, Android 15 can execute numerous encoded algorithms, including the highly dangerous "Goku Termination Program." However, Vegeta ultimately defeats Android with a single punch while he’s in Super Saiyan mode. Vegeta doesn’t have to do much more when he defeats Android 19, who’s supposed to be a more inferior model.

12 Android 14 Relies On Brute Strength To Fight His Opponents

Android 13 is the only one who amounts to much in Super Android 13, and only after he’s absorbed his fallen fighters’ circuitry so that he can evolve into Super 13. Android 14 looks like he could be the strongest Android of the trio, but his ancient warrior look turns out to be more style than substance.

Android 14 crosses paths with Future Trunks as Vegeta and Goku take on the other two. Trunks swiftly slices through Android 14 with minimal effort. However, Future Trunks has also taken down some mighty fighters with just his sword and made it look like child’s play.

11 Semi-Perfect Cell Surpasses Gero's Other Creations Without Being Complete

Cell's power level immediately doubles after he successfully absorbs Android 17. With this newfound strength, Cell becomes much more of a threat than in his previous form. However, this form is called "Semi-Perfect" for a reason, and it poses a minimal challenge for stronger characters, like Super Saiyan Second Grade Vegeta.

Semi-Perfect Cell uses his upgraded strength to apprehend and absorb Android 18 with ease. Absorbing Android 18 elevates Cell's strength to even more frightening heights, but he's still able to handle most of the Z-Fighters in his Semi-Perfect form.

10 Super Android 13 Surpasses Androids And Super Saiyans Alike

Androids 14 and 15 are flashy foes, but the real Android juggernaut to come out of the Dragon Ball Z movies is Super Android 13. In his standard form, Android 13 chooses Goku as his opponent rather than Future Trunks or Vegeta, which speaks to a certain level of strength and arrogance on his part.

Android 13 actually has more in common with Cell than any other Android. He's able to boost his strength through the absorption of other Androids. Super Android 13 is supposedly stronger than Meta Cooler, which also makes him one of the most powerful DBZ Androids.

9 Perfect Cell Can Adapt To Even The Strongest Opponents

Perfect Cell is the intimidating result of Dr. Gero's creation absorbing both Androids 17 and 18. Perfect Cell receives a drastic boost, which makes him one of the strongest fighters that anyone has faced. He can also trigger the Z-Fighters' strongest moves, regenerate lost mass, and reproduce powerful tiny versions of himself.

Perfect Cell also possesses a self-destruct maneuver, one that he is powerful enough to recover from. It temporarily seems like no one could top Perfect Cell's power, but a Super Saiyan 2's debut finally humbled this artificial antagonist.

8 Arale Norimaki Relies On The Power Of Gag Anime Strength

Dragon Ball is Akira Toriyama's greatest claim to fame, he's also known for creating Dr. Slump. This gag series follows its titular scientist and his Android daughter, Arale Norimaki. Arale is technically the world's first successful Android, and Toriyama occasionally finds ways to work her into the more action-centric Dragon Ball franchise.

Arale is incredibly strong when she shows up in the original Dragon Ball. Her gag appearance in Dragon Ball Super proved she could hold her own against both Vegeta and Goku. Furthermore, her strength as a gag manga character meant she would always be powerful enough to fight anyone in the series.

7 Android 21 Follows The Same Design Ethos As Perfect Cell

Akira Toriyama has created some original Dragon Ball characters for certain video game installments, many of which are a part of the franchise's canon. Android 21 made her debut in the popular fighting game, Dragon Ball FighterZ, and is one of the more recent examples of this phenomenon.

Like Cell, Android 21 is a Bio-Android built from the cells of the universe's strongest warriors. Dr. Gero also uses Majin Buu's cells to modify and enhance his wife, Vomi, who just happens to be Android 16's mother. This makes for a compelling origin story that justifies Android 21's existence and makes her feel like a natural discovery.

6 Evil Android 21 Absorbs Cell To Reach A Level Even The Z Fighters Fail To Match

Android 21 experiences a painful schism that divides her into two halves, and the evil side of her personality asserts more control. Evil Android 21 is substantially stronger than her kind-hearted version, which also means that she's radically stronger than most of Earth's Z-Fighters.

After absorbing Cell, Evil Android 21 becomes far more powerful than most other Dragon Ball characters. Even the joint efforts of Earth's greatest heroes fall short. Evil Android 21 even manages to hold off Goku's Spirit Bomb, the totemic attack that successfully destroys every other Dragon Ball villain.

5 Android 18 Has Grown More Powerful Even After Having A Family

Android 18 is nearly identical to her brother, and not just because they are twins. Both Androids have infinite energy cores and immense strength. Android 18 becomes a more prominent player than her brother in Dragon Ball after she begins a family with Krillin.

Fans could have assumed that Android 18 was her brother's superior, especially since Toriyama had previously hinted that 17 might have a programming flaw in his power core. Both Androids are vital participants in the Tournament of Power, but Android 18's empathy and love for Krillin leads to her earlier elimination.

4 Android 17's Unlimited Amounts Of Energy Make Him Difficult To Stop

Android 17 doesn't get to reach his full potential during his original Cell Saga appearance. As such, the Android 17 from Dragon Ball Z would rank way below Perfect Cell, but the Android 17 of Dragon Ball Super is a hero of Universe 7 and the grand winner of the multiversal Tournament of Power.

Like his sister and Android 16, Android 17 is an unlimited energy model, so he lacks a ki signature because of his internal energy core. This power core — along with Android 17's enhanced cybernetic strength, durability, and artificial flight — makes him one of the strongest fighters in all of Dragon Ball.

3 Super 17 Merges Two Versions Of Android 17 To Create A Being Equal To A Super Saiyan 4

Dragon Ball GT remains a contentious sequel series, and it has only become increasingly irrelevant following Dragon Ball Super’s success. Dragon Ball GT returns to a lot of familiar ideas, but one of their more interesting experiments involves a super-powered upgrade of Android 17.

In Hell, Dr. Gero teams up with Machine Mutant scientist, Dr. Myuu. Their combined brilliance and the malevolent fusion of Android 17 and Hell Fighter 17 results in Super 17. Super 17 is enough of a threat that Goku needs to turn to both Super Saiyan 4 power and his rarely used Dragon Fist maneuver to get the job done.

2 Gamma 1 And 2 Are The Creations Of Dr. Gero's Grandchild

Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero returns to the series’ roots with the emergence of Red Ribbon as its central threat. Red Ribbon is responsible for most of the Androids that appear in Dragon Ball. However, the work of Dr. Hedo, Gero’s grandson, goes beyond anything they’ve previously accomplished.

Gamma 1 and 2 look radically different from the previous humanoid Android models, but they also carry unprecedented power. Their speed, strength, and style are off the charts, and it’s likely that any future Androids will follow their model and not Gero’s past creations.

1 Cell Max Had All The Strength Without Intelligence

Cell Max reveals himself as the final foe in the franchise’s most recent feature film, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. Cell Max is built from the same blueprints as the original Cell, but Dr. Hedo applies significant upgrades to the procedure.

Akira Toriyama has revealed that Cell Max’s power would surpass Broly when his incubation period reaches completion. Even in his unstable and ferocious state, Cell Max is still on the level of Orange Piccolo and Gohan Beast — and exponentially stronger than any other Android. Even Gamma 2’s self-destruct sacrifice barely makes an impact on Cell Max.