World Top 10 best Smartphones to buy in 2024

Best Smartphones of 2024:Top 10 best Smartphones to buy in 2024

The best phone gives you what you need without the extra junk. You can find powerful phones that can do it all, but overall the best phone is one that does everything right without paying more than you need to.

We just finished reviewing all of Google’s newest Pixel phones, and the Pixel 9 Pro is the best Android-based phone you can buy, but Samsung is still a strong contender for the title of best camera phone we’ve seen all year. Ultra

Of course, the new iPhones from Apple will be unveiled next week, so check back here later as soon as we have time to examine the rumored new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models in detail. Will this be our new favorite phone overall? Time will tell.

The new Pixel 9 Pro Fold is one of our new favorites, so look for it on our list of the best foldable phones soon. We’ve also reviewed the best Samsung phones and the best iPhones ahead of the iPhone 16. If you’re looking to save, check out our fast-growing list of the best budget phones.

Below, you’ll find detailed information about each of the best phones 2024 on our list. We’ve thoroughly tested each model, so you can be sure you can trust our recommendations.

 Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra - Overall

If money is no object, the S24 Ultra is the best smartphone you can buy right now.

Samsung has made good use of this high price, delivering an excellent user experience with no real downsides. There’s a hugely powerful catalogue, from the incredible performance of the overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor to five different camera lenses, each more than capable of their own.

You still get a gorgeous 6.8-inch AMOLED display and a built-in S Pen, but this is still a phone that will last two days for most people in terms of battery life.

In addition, the software experience is the best ever, with One UI running Android 14 and seven years of OS and security updates. The selection of truly useful AI features is the icing on the cake.

The S24 Ultra’s price and big, bulky design won’t suit everyone. But this is the most complete smartphone for the money.

Discipline

Pros

Performance at its best

Excellent, versatile cameras

Very good battery life

Smart AI features

Seven years of updates

Pros

Cons

Expensive

Big and bulky

Only 45W charging

Today's best price:

$1,174.99 at Amazon

Google Pixel 8 Pro – Best for most people

The Pixel 7 Pro was already a great smartphone, but the Pixel 8 Pro takes things to the next level.

The Tensor G3 chip not only boosts performance, it also provides some really useful software features. Many of these features enhance the photography experience, with Google's advanced processing and capable lenses delivering consistent images.

Android 14 on the Pixel is the cleanest, most intuitive software on any smartphone, and now Google will provide seven years of excellent support. Add to that premium, premium design and a lower price than the top-tier flagships, and the Pixel 8 Pro is a great smartphone.

But it's not all good news. Battery life and charging still need improvement, and the bulky and heavy design won't suit everyone.

If the latter is a problem for you, the regular Pixel 8 is better. But there are other differences between them.

Instead, you'll want to wait for the not-so-distant Pixel 9 Pro.

Pros

Luxurious build quality

Incredible cameras

Useful software features

Seven years of updates

Cons

So-so battery life

Slow charging

Big and heavy

Best Prices Today:

$624 at Amazon

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra 

Pros

Excellent photography

Vegan leather design

Beautiful curved display

Immaculate performance

90W fast charging

Cons

Expensive photography suite sold separately

HyperOS hybrid software

Xiaomi's flagship phones have been taking great photos for years, but the 14 Ultra takes things to the next level.

This is the first device that can truly replace a DSLR for most people, and the speed and accuracy of the system it offers. It includes four 50MP rear cameras and a 32MP selfie camera, all of which take fantastic photos in almost any situation.

And while the optional Photography Kit software is expensive, it brings the image quality closer to that of a real camera.

With a beautiful design, stunning display, excellent performance, long battery life, and 90W charging, the 14 Ultra is one of the few phones that lives up to its high price. However, that also puts it out of reach for many people, and the HyperOS software experience is still not good enough.

These two features aren’t high on this list, but if style is your top priority, this is the phone to buy.

If you’re looking for something more substantial, the regular Xiaomi 14 offers an almost equally large screen.

iPhone 15 Pro – Best iPhone

Pros

Excellent cameras

Superb display

USB-C port

Cons

Slow charging

Missing Pro Max 5x optical zoom

Best Prices Today:

$899.99 at Best Buy

The iPhone 15 Pro has a number of small changes that add up to a significant improvement.

The new titanium construction is strong but noticeably lighter, and there’s a new customizable action button for touchscreen control. The Apple A17 Pro chipset is the most powerful yet, offering flagship-level performance, and USB-C charging is an undeniable step up.

The 6.1-inch display is relatively small by modern phone standards, but it looks great and has a 120Hz refresh rate. Battery life is generally better, though you’ll still have to deal with faster charging speeds.

But despite the lack of 5x optical zoom at the top of the lens, the camera’s viewing quality is excellent. Many apps now support the genuinely useful Dynamic Island, and iOS 17 is as fast and intuitive as ever.

For most people, the iPhone 15 Pro is the standout product in Apple’s 2023 smartphone lineup.

OnePlus Nord 4 is the best budget phone

Pros

Average building

Great deal

Excellent powerful camera

Battery life

Six years of security development

Cons

App design

Ultra-wide camera is great

No telephoto lens

Best prices today:

£429 at OnePlus

Google's A-series phones have offered the best value for money for a few years now. However, despite some health improvements, the Pixel 8a falls short in this department compared to the OnePlus Nord 4.

It all starts with the stunning build quality and solid aluminium body that wraps around the back and sides of the phone. On the front is a beautiful OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, powerful specs and a battery that lasts all day.

If you're a design fan, all the comparisons here are about the cameras. There's no telephoto lens, which means zoom shots are stunning, while OnePlus' ultra-wide lens is a gimmick instead.

However, if you mostly use the main lens anyway, you won't be disappointed. And with six years of security updates, the Nord 4's readability is almost identical to the Pixel 8a's.

It's usually the first choice if you're looking for a mid-range phone.

Motorola Razr 50 Ultra/Razr+ (2024) – The Best Foldable Phone

Pros

Incredible outdoor views

Notable camera improvements

Software capabilities

Battery life

Cons

Competitors offer extended software support

Can get very hot

Internal camera is not very good.

When you think of foldable phones coming in 2024, the first thing that comes to mind is likely to be the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6. But while it’s worth considering, the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra (known as the Razr+ (2024) in some markets) is the best option for most people.

The main reason for this is the 4-inch external display with 165Hz. Not only is it large enough for employees, but it also allows you to run any software on it without any major limitations. The 6.9-inch, 165Hz internal display is just as sharp, with a barely noticeable notch.

While not all camera phones are great, the Razr 50 Ultra’s main camera takes great photos in a variety of conditions. However, Motorola has gone with 2x zoom instead of a super-snapshot, and the built-in selfie camera isn’t very good.

But with great software (though there are some glitches in the screenshots), terrific battery life, and excellent charging speeds, the Motorola is a winner. The Z Flip 6 is better in some ways, including its support for long apps, but the Razr is the best all-round option for most people.

OnePlus 12 – Great all around

Pros

Beautiful and reliable project

Great scenario

Fast wired and wireless charging

Main and macro cameras

Cons

Wide-angle central camera and selfie camera

More expensive than the OnePlus 11

Water pressure drop

Best price today:

$699.99 on Amazon

The OnePlus 12 is significantly more expensive than the OnePlus 11, which means it won’t be the most expensive flagship phone.

However, it’s still priced lower than most flagship phones but offers everything most people look for in a smartphone.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor performs excellently, and the 120Hz AMOLED display offers top-notch image quality. Even the great cameras and phones, which were a slight downside to some previous OnePlus phones, are now among the best ever. However, the wide-angle and selfie cameras could still be improved.

Battery life is solid and it's good to see that 100W fast charging and 50W fast charging are included with the shipping.

OnePlus' OxygenOS theme (plus Android 14 now) is still pretty good, though having four OS updates and a five-year warranty is a step down from the best from Google and Samsung (two and seven).

But overall, the OnePlus 12 is a great smartphone and easy to recommend. If you're looking for one, consider the OnePlus Open.

CMF Phone 1 – Best Finance Phone

Pros

Green Unique Design

Seamless OS

Strong Performance

Luxurious Accessories

Cons

No NFC

Water and Dust Resistance

Smart Cameras

CMF, an unremarkable brand, previously specialized in headphones and audio accessories.

But its first attempt at a smartphone was undoubtedly a success, combining competitive looks with solid basic specs and a price tag of Rs 209/$199.

The design is simple, with an easily replaceable back cover that attaches to a holder, a cradle, or a card holder – all of which CMF sells as accessories. However, even if you don’t care about any of these features, the Phone 1 has the performance and attractive screen that a modern smartphone requires.

Battery life is good, and the unique Android Nothing display combines good graphics with a lack of bloatware.

The lack of NFC (and therefore no contactless payment support) is the biggest contract limitation, while the cameras and waterproofing do their job well. The Samsung Galaxy A15 5G or A15 4G are budget phones worth buying if you also value long-term tech support.

But as a full-fledged option, the CMF Phone 1 is a leading option in the budget smartphone market.

Samsung Galaxy S24+ is the best all-round Device

Pros

Great show

High efficiency

Useful AI features

Incredible battery life

Seven new years

Cons

There is no S Pen support.

There is no microSD support.

Still very expensive.

For many, the S24+ is a sweet spot in the Samsung Galaxy S24 lineup. If you like the S Pen and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 support (in the UK, US models still get it), it's still a great phone in its own right.

The Exynos 2400 model we tested still delivers great performance, especially when combined with the high-quality 6.7-inch display and HD design. The cameras are good and the battery life is good.

Other key features of the S24 Ultra are on display here, including useful AI features and seven years of impressive software development.

Aside from the snappy packaging and reasonable price, there's not much to like here.