Your Guide to the Best Phones of 2024 – Cutting-edge Features, Performance Powerhouses, and Trendsetting Designs Await!
As we begin the year 2024, the majority of the major manufacturers will likely release new phones in the beginning of the next year. The new Galaxy S24 range, which includes real-time call translation and other generative AI technologies, was unveiled by Samsung to start the year.
The best phones of 2024
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Pros
- Most complete smartphone experience money can buy, with AI built in
- Reliable quad-camera setup
- 256GB base storage leads the competition
- Integrated S Pen stylus for enhanced functionality
Cons
- Phone can be unwieldy for some, especially with a case
- Fast charging is still capped at 45W
- Pricier than most Android phones
Specifications for the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor; 6.8-inch display; storage options up to 1TB; rear cameras with 200MP primary, 12MP ultrawide, 50MP telephoto (5x), and 10MP telephoto (3x); front camera with 12MP; battery life of 5,000mAh.
The S24 Ultra is the most expensive phone available, and Samsung is the first to fully embrace AI with its recently launched Galaxy S24 series. Numerous generative capabilities are brought to the device by the new Galaxy AI model embedded in it. These include real-time translations of phone calls, the ability to perform image-based Google searches by circling an object on the screen, AI-assisted transcription and photo editing, and a Chat Assist feature that can determine the appropriate tone for a message.
The S24 Ultra, like its predecessor the S23 Ultra, comes equipped with a sturdy 5,000mAh battery and a big 6.8-inch AMOLED display. Despite costing $100 more than the S23 Ultra, the phone’s improvements make the $1,299 price increase worthwhile: Unlike last year’s aluminum frame, the S24 Ultra is composed of a lightweight yet sturdy titanium frame and is equipped with Corning’s latest Gorilla Armor technology. It is notably more durable, feels lighter in the hand, and has increased grip.
iPhone 15 Pro Max
Pros
- Action button brings new customizability
- Lighter, more comfortable form factor
- Brighter screen for better outdoor use
- 5X zoom camera for high-quality shots
Cons
- Battery life could be longer
- Apple-branded cases, especially the FineWoven, need to be better
Specifications of the iPhone 15 Pro Max: A17 Pro processor; 6.7-inch display; up to 1TB of storage; 48MP primary, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto (2x), and 12MP telephoto (5x) rear cameras; 12MP front camera
Everything a high-end flagship smartphone should have is included in the new iPhone 15 Pro Max, including a sharp 6.7-inch AMOLED display for all your media consumption needs and, of course, mobile work.
In addition to being considerably lighter in the hand due to its titanium construction rather than stainless steel, this year’s model differs from all previous Pro Max models in both appearance and feel. As ZDNET Editor-in-Chief Jason Hiner pointed out in his review, this makes using the iPhone 15 Pro Max substantially more pleasant.
The USB-C connector on the iPhone 15 Pro Max is another noteworthy innovation. In specifically, it allows for faster data transfers and charging, allows you to charge other devices from your iPhone, including the Apple Watch, and connects to an external 4K monitor. For those in the business of creating content, these advantages are revolutionary.
Google Pixel 8 Pro
Pros
- Quality cameras all across the board
- Plenty of useful AI features
- 5,050mAh battery with LTPO display
- Priced to undercut the larger iPhone and Samsung Galaxy
Cons
- Stock Android can feel too minimal
- Capped at 30W fast charging
- Costs $100 more than last year’s model
Features of the Google Pixel 8 Pro include: The Google Tensor G3 processor, 6.7-inch display, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB of storage are available. The rear cameras are 50MP primary, 48MP ultrawide, and 48MP telephoto, while the front camera is 10.8MP.
Regarding camera performance, it’s hard to go wrong with any of the three major players’ flagship devices (Apple, Samsung, and Google). You might have a preference for one brand over another based on features and color temperature. However, Google’s Pixel camera system is usually the most well-liked by customers, with the most recent Pixel 8 Pro continuing to be a champion for both instant capture and post-processing.
With a 50MP primary lens, a 48MP ultrawide lens that is noticeably better at taking macro and close-up photographs, and a 48MP telephoto lens for longer-range photography, this year’s model boasts a dependable triple lens arrangement. There are now a number of Pro settings on the Pixel 8 Pro that let you adjust exposure and shutter speed, among other parameters, if you’d prefer even more precise control over the camera quality.
OnePlus Open
Also Read : 6 Best Instant Cameras to Buy In 2024!
Pros
- Lightest and thinnest foldable design
- Intuitive multitasking and productivity features
- 65W fast charging will spoil you
- 16GB RAM and 512GB of storage is the base level
Cons
- $1,699 is still pricey, even if it undercuts the competition
- No IP68 rating and wireless charging support
Features of the OnePlus Open: The device is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, two display sizes (6.3 and 7.8), 512GB of storage, three rear cameras (48MP primary, 48MP ultrawide, and 64MP telephoto), and two front cameras (32MP outer and 20MP inner).
Thanks to the combined efforts of nearly every manufacturer, including Google with its Pixel Fold, Motorola with its Razr series, and OnePlus with the OnePlus Open, the number of foldable phones available this year compared to 2022 has essentially quintupled. Although Samsung has long held the title of greatest foldable device, I’m awarding the OnePlus Open the top spot this year.
The OnePlus Open achieves the ideal weight-to-size ratio, in contrast to its rivals. The phone unfolds into a tiny slate of visual goodness, and when folded, it is just as light as an iPhone Pro Max. OnePlus makes excellent use of the 7.8-inch display by providing some of the most user-friendly multitasking capabilities I’ve tested, such “Open Canvas”. You may use it to open up to three apps at once, and when you touch into one, the other app or apps will tuck themselves to the side so they will be available for use when needed.
Motorola Razr Plus
Pros
- Large cover screen is a phone in and of itself
- Incredibly compact
- First dust-resistant foldable
- Form factor lends itself to creative camera features
Cons
- Battery is just good enough for a day of use
- Repair solutions remain up in the air
- Undeniably more fragile than the typical slab phone
Features of the Motorola Razr Plus: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor; 3.6- and 6.9-inch displays; 256GB of storage; 12MP primary and 13MP ultrawide cameras on the back; 32MP front camera
Flip phones have returned with a (somewhat) triumph, despite the fact that younger adults and teens are choosing the less intelligent model between the two. With the Motorola Razr Plus, the traditional phone is back. In my comprehensive review, I called it “a return to form, modernizing a classic flip phone into one of today’s best foldables.”
Motorola installed the new Razr Plus with a 3.6-inch display on the outside of the phone. The external display essentially functions as a smaller, secondary phone in addition to being a viewfinder for the rear camera. You may use the same applications and services that you can on the internal 6.9-inch panel, such as texting, calling, seeing TikToks, and gaming. Although there are a few obstacles to overcome, it is possible to accomplish the same with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5.
Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
Pros
- Competitively priced at under $450
- Large and bright 120Hz AMOLED display
- Long-lasting 5,000mAh battery
- Up to five years of software updates
Cons
- Plastic body can feel cheaper than glass
- Front-facing camera is just passable
- Exynos processor still lags behind Qualcomm
Features of the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G: 6.3-inch display, Exynos 1380 processor, 128GB of storage, three cameras on the back (50MP primary, 12MP ultrawide, and 5MP macro), and a 32MP front camera
Unbelievably, the Galaxy A53 5G, a budget-friendly smartphone with a smooth-scrolling screen, a dependable battery, and up to five years of software support, was Samsung’s best-selling model last year, not one of its S-series or foldable models. At a price of just $449, the gadget easily defeated Apple’s own mid-range phone, the iPhone SE, as well as its more expensive rivals.
The A54 5G of this year checks all the boxes of its predecessor while adding a few small but helpful improvements. For example, the battery still has a substantial 5,000mAh capacity, the unit is driven by an Exynos 1380 CPU, and the display is still a massive 6.4-inch panel that climbs up to 120Hz refresh rate, but now shines at 1,000 nits of brightness (from 800 nits). Although it’s not as much as the Exynos chip from the previous year, it’s still a jump.
OnePlus 11
Pros
- Snappy and smooth performance
- 100W fast-charging (80W in the US) with charger in the box
- Premium build quality for the price
- Competitive main camera for photos
Cons
- Storage and RAM configuration is limited to 128GB/256GB
- No wireless charging
- No IP68 rating for water and dust resistance
Features of the OnePlus 11: Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2; Display: 6.7 inches; Storage: Up to 256GB; Rear cameras: 32 MP telephoto, 48 MP ultrawide, and 50 MP primary; Up to 16 MP in the front
Having a phone that charges slowly can be really annoying, particularly if you’re constantly on the go. Because of this, when it comes to charging speed, the OnePlus 11 beats Apple, Google, and even Samsung, creating its own unique category. The most recent model has excellent 100W SuperVooc rapid charging, or 80W in the US.
In comparison, the maximum charging power for the most expensive iPhone 15 Pro Max is 30W, while the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has a 45W maximum. According to ZDNET’s testing and comparisons, the OnePlus 11 outperforms both of those devices in terms of battery life, taking at least an hour to go from 0% to 75%.
Asus Zenfone 10
Technical specifications of the Asus Zenfone 10: 5.9-inch screen; processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2; storage: up to 512GB; kind of panel: AMOLED; color: black, blue, hazel, white, red; battery life: 4,300mAh; water and dust resistance: IP68
Features of Asus Zenfone 10: CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2; Display: 5.9 inches; Storage: Up to 512GB; Rear cameras: 13MP ultrawide and 50MP primary; Front camera: 32MP
Without question, cellphones have gotten progressively bulkier over the last five years. The “Ultra” beast from Samsung, the 7.6-inch foldable from Google, and the Plus and Max-sized iPhones from Apple are all available today. At the opposite end of the spectrum is the Asus Zenfone 10, a gadget that bucks convention in favor of ergonomics and comfort in the hand, and the choice is wise.
What is the best phone?
Our pick for the best phone overall is the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. It features everything you could want from a smartphone including a large display, four cameras that can shoot 200MP photos and 8K video, up to 1TB of storage, a built-in S Pen for writing and drawing, and a 5,000mAh battery powering the system. Here’s how the S23 Ultra fares with the rest of our top picks.
| Best phone model | Price | Storage | Screen size | Battery size | Processor |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | $1,299 | Up to 1TB | 6.8 inches | 5,000mAh | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max | $1,099 | Up to 1TB | 6.7 inches | 4,323mAh | A17 Bionic |
| Google Pixel 8 Pro | $999 | Up to 1TB | 6.7 inches | 5,050mAh | Google Tensor G3 |
| OnePlus Open | $1,699 | 512GB | 6.3 inches and 7.8 inches | 5,000mAh | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| Motorola Razr Plus | $999 | 256GB | 3.6 inches and 6.9 inches | 3,800mAh | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 |
| Samsung Galaxy A54 5G | $449 | 128GB | 6.4 inches | 5,000mAh | Exynos 1380 |
| OnePlus 11 | $699 | Up to 256GB | 6.7 inches | 5,000mAh | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| Asus Zenfone 10 | $699 | Up to 512GB | 5.9-inch | 4,300mAh | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen |
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