The best phones to buy in 2024
The Best Smartphone 2024
1. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
2. Google Pixel 8 Pro
3. Apple iPhone 15 Pro
4. Google Pixel 7a
5. OnePlus 12
6. Xiaomi M14
7. Apple iPhone 15
8. Motorola Razr 40 Ultra
9. Samsung Galaxy A15 5G
10. Eer Magic 6 Pro
Your buying guide for the best phones in 2024
The smartphone market moves quickly and there seems to be almost no break between launches these days. So how can you decide which is the best choice for you?
Your first decision will be between oneiPhone of Android phone – both are included here. How much are you willing to spend? Maybe one offers budget- of mid-range phone for everything you are looking for.
But if you're looking for the very best of the best, you've come to the right place. It's extremely difficult to narrow down the hundreds of phones we review every year to just ten, but that's exactly what we've done here.
We can easily recommend all the handsets below, but they are all rated 'best' somewhere. Whether you're looking for great cameras, performance, design or simply value for money, there's something to appeal to you.
Samsung, Google, Apple, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Honor and Motorola are all represented here. Nothing, Nokia, Realme, Asus, Huawei, Vivo and Sony are missing, but you will find them in the best picks from other smartphones .
Beste smartphone 2024
1. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra – Beste overall
Plus points
Performance of the highest level
Excellent, versatile cameras
Very good battery life
Smart AI features
Seven years of updates
Cons
Duration
Big and bulky
Charging still only 45W
Best prices today:
$1,144.99 at Amazon
If money is no object, the S24 Ultra is the best smartphone you can buy right now.
Samsung has put that high price tag to good use and delivers an excellent user experience with no real weaknesses. And there's a catalog of key strengths, from incredible overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 performance to five different camera lenses, each more than holding its own.
You still get a beautiful 6.8-inch AMOLED display and a built-in S Pen, but this is still a two-day phone in terms of battery life for many people.
Plus, the software experience is the best it's ever been, with a slick One UI skin over Android 14 and seven years of both OS and security updates. A selection of really useful AI features is the icing on the cake.
2. Google Pixel 8 Pro – Best camera
Plus points
Luxury build quality
Incredible cameras
Useful software features
Seven years of updates
Cons
So-so battery life
Slow charging
Big and heavy
Best prices today:
$749 at Amazon
The Pixel 7 Pro was already an excellent smartphone, but the Pixel 8 Pro takes things to the next level.
The Tensor G3 chip not only improves performance but also enables a range of really useful software features. Many of these improve the photography experience, with Google's advanced processing and capable lenses consistently delivering excellent photos.
Android 14 on the Pixel is the cleanest and most intuitive software on any smartphone, and has been supported by Google for a whopping seven years now. Add to that a luxurious, premium build and price that's still below top-tier flagships, and the Pixel 8 Pro is a fantastic smartphone.
3. iPhone 15 Pro – Beste iPhone
Plus points
Excellent cameras
Beautiful display
USB-C port
Cons
Slow charging
Missing Pro Max 5x optical zoom
Best prices today:
$999 at Apple$999.99 at Best Buy
The iPhone 15 Pro has a collection of small changes that, combined, represent a significant upgrade.
A new titanium construction is durable but noticeably lighter, and there's also a new customizable action button to replace the mute switch. Apple's A17 Pro chipset is the most capable on any smartphone and delivers truly great performance, while the introduction of USB-C is undoubtedly a step forward.
The 6.1-inch screen is relatively compact by modern phone standards, but looks excellent and benefits from the 120Hz refresh rate. Battery life is generally solid, although you'll still have to put up with slow charging speeds.
But despite the missing 5x optical zoom on the telephoto lens, the all-round camera experience is fantastic. Many apps now support the really useful Dynamic Island, and iOS 16 is as smooth and intuitive as ever.
4. Google Pixel 7a – Phone with the best value for money
Plus points
Phenomenal camera for the price
Excellent Google software
Strong performance
Water repellent
Cons
Slow charging
Wireless charging is unreliable
Not as fast as the Pixel 7
Only 90 Hz display
Best prices today:
$374 at Amazon
The Google Pixel 7a takes the best parts of Pixel 6a from 2022 – great camera, solid performance, several years of software support – and improves on it with a better 90 Hz screen and a premium design.
It's a little more expensive at $499 / £449, but this is still one of the best value phones you can buy as you really aren't losing much at this price compared to thePixel 7 Pro . With a smaller 6.1-inch screen, the Pixel 7a is also much easier to use and put in your pocket than many of the larger phones on this list, and it has the same Tensor G2 chipset as the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro.
The 64Mp main camera is truly exceptional. There's no better phone camera for still images at this price, and barely better at any price. You can also buy the phone in playful blue and coral colors, or you can stick to white or black if you prefer.
5. OnePlus 12 – Great all-rounder
Plus points
Elegant, distinctive design
Gorgeous screen
Fast wired and wireless charging
Great main and telephoto cameras
Cons
Average wide-angle and selfie cameras
More expensive than OnePlus 11
Limited water resistance
The OnePlus 12 is significantly more expensive than theOnePlus 11 , which means it no longer holds the title of best value for money flagship.
However, it still undercuts the price of most flagships yet delivers everything most people look for in a smartphone.
The performance of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset is fantastic, while the 120 Hz AMOLED screen offers a top-level viewing experience. Even the main and telephoto cameras, a slight weakness of some previous OnePlus phones, are now among the best around. However, the wide-angle and selfie cameras can still be improved.
Battery life is strong and it's nice to see that 100W fast charging is now combined with 50W fast wireless charging.
OnePlus' OxygenOS skin (now above Android 14) is still excellent, although its commitment to four OS updates and five years of security patches is a step down from the best from Google and Samsung (both seven).
6. Xiaomi 14 – Best cameras
Plus points
Incredible photography
Impeccable performance
Super fast charging
Beautiful screen
Cons
Annoyances of HyperOS software
Could be a fingerprint magnet
For most people, the Xiaomi 14 is the best device the Chinese company has ever made. The starting price of £849 undercuts many rivals, but offers a top-level user experience in many areas.
That includes the cameras, which take some of the best photos we've ever seen on a smartphone. With high-quality main, ultra-wide-angle, 3.2x telephoto and selfie lenses, it's also impressively versatile.
Other key strengths include the great performance of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, a beautiful 120Hz AMOLED display and a fast 90W charger included in the box. Battery life is also solid.
Although Xiaomi's software experience has a new name, HyperOS is frustratingly similar to its predecessor MIUI.
7. iPhone 15 – iPhone with the best price-quality ratio
Plus points
Versatile USB-C
Convenient dynamic island
Good performance
Value for your money
Cons
Display only 60 Hz
Slow charging
Best prices today:
$829 at Apple$829.99 at Best Buy
There are two upgrades that immediately make the regular iPhone 15 better than the iPhone 14 from 2022. The introduction of USB-C makes the device more versatile, allowing you to easily connect all kinds of different accessories.
And then there's the Dynamic Island, the pill-shaped recess used to display a variety of useful information – this was previously exclusive to Pro models.
In other areas, the iPhone 15 is very similar, but that's usually not a bad thing. The A16 Bionic chip delivers minor improvements in performance and power efficiency, with the latter contributing to solid battery life.
8. Motorola Razr 40 Ultra/Razr I – Best foldable phone
Plus points
Great outdoor display
IP52 water resistance
Good battery life
Cons
Older chipset
Not the best cameras
Best prices today:
$999.99 at Amazon
If you think about flip phones released in 2023 the Galaxy Z Flip 5 from Samsung is probably the first one that comes to mind. But while it's worth considering, the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra (known as the Razr+ in some markets) is a better choice for most people.
The 3.6-inch, 144Hz outdoor screen is the main reason for this. Not only is it significantly bigger than the competition, you can also run any app you want on it. The internal 6.9-inch, 165Hz screen is just as impressive, with a crease that's barely noticeable.
Despite two screens and a hinge, the Razr 40 Ultra feels impressively durable, and you also get an IP52 rating for water and dust resistance. Add in solid battery life and a premium design, and you've got a great foldable device.
9. Samsung Galaxy A15 5G – Best budget phone
Plus points
Sleek design
Solid main camera
Excellent battery life
Smooth playback of 90 Hz
Cons
Slow performance
No IP water resistance rating
Relatively slow charging
Best prices today:
$159.94 at Amazon
Samsung isn't just about flagship phones and foldables; the company also makes some very good budget devices. And the £199/$199.99 Galaxy A15 5G is the best proof of this.
While the design isn't quite S24 level, it's certainly inspired by Samsung's flagships, and looks almost as good. The 5,000mAh battery also delivers excellent battery life, despite having a decent 90Hz OLED display.
The A15 5G doesn't have a world-class camera system by any means, but the 50MP main lens on the back is surprisingly good for such a cheap phone.
One UI is also a big reason to buy the Galaxy A15 5G over non-Samsung rivals: it's slick and intuitive. And three years of Android OS updates is enough for most people.
Performance isn't great, there's no official water or dust resistance and charging is limited to 25W, but these are trade-offs worth making when you spend so little and get so much.
10. Honor Magic 6 Pro – Fantastic cameras
Plus points
Excellent main, telephoto and selfie cameras
Good performance
Excellent battery life
Secure 3D face unlock
Cons
A disappointing ultra-wide camera
Messy software
Duration
If great cameras and a striking design matter most to you, then the Honor Magic 6 Pro is the phone to get.
With the exception of a disappointing ultrawide, this is one of the best camera systems on any smartphone. The variable aperture main lens makes it the best we've ever seen in low light, while the 2.5x telephoto offers excellent zoom options.
The rear camera module is a core part of Honor's bold design, which feels both unique and incredibly premium. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 makes the performance stand out too, with many people able to get two days of use on a single charge.
It's also the first Android phone to properly match Apple's Face ID, with secure 3D face unlock that works even in the dark.
However, the ultra-wide camera is not the only compromise. Honor's MagicOS software still feels cluttered and overwhelming at times (despite solid AI features), and it doesn't come with a charger to take advantage of the 100W speeds.
Written By MrAdviser
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