Nowadays, there are so many high-quality smartphone alternatives available, which is terrific but might make it difficult to select the one that’s right for you.
We’ve reviewed the greatest smartphone options available, ranging from large-screen Android devices to the most recent iPhone flagship. And to assist you in deciding which option is the best fit for your budget
The best phone for you is out there; it depends on your priorities, which may include the camera, battery life, design, specifications, pricing, and a variety of other factors.
Of course, Samsung and Apple are included, but looking beyond them to Android rivals like OnePlus, Google, Oppo, and Xiaomi may help you find the perfect pocket companion.
Top 10 Best Smartphones In 2024
1. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Without a doubt, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is the Note 20 Ultra’s full-fledged successor in all respects. In spite of its high price, it has the best features and performance of any phone now available.
The design is noticeably unique from the other Galaxy S22 models (i.e., extremely “Note-like”), and it comes with an integrated S Pen stylus that extends capabilities beyond most competitors, particularly in terms of productivity.
Despite the camera hardware having a familiar appearance, Samsung’s improvements make it one of the best systems in any phone right now. It has a 108Mp main shooter supported by an ultrawide and two telephoto lenses at various zoom levels, with the zoom performance being especially good compared to earlier models.
An amazing list of advantages is rounded off by the large 6.8in LTPO AMOLED display’s high WQHD+ resolution and adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz, as well as its superior long-term software support. If you can tolerate its enormous size, it’s a great winner with the best software support in all of Android, spanning five years.
2. iPhone 14 Pro
It’s a happy surprise that the iPhone 14 Pro is such an improvement over the iPhone 13 considering how little the standard iPhone 14 updates the iPhone 13. Even while some of the changes are superficial, it’s difficult to ignore them when the Dynamic Island debuts with such a drastic visual overhaul.
Apple’s renowned screen notch has been reduced to a pill-shaped and circular shape below the top bezel, but the empty space has been filled with black pixels. Animations have been used to have notifications and app updates originate from the space, giving a purpose to the cutouts now present for cameras on most phone screens. It is incredibly ingenious and allows you to always see the weather, timers, music playing, and other information at the top of the screen without opening an app. The phone’s cameras are also very impressive, with the first 48Mp sensor on an iPhone that supports 2x zoom cropping in addition to the 3x telephoto lens and a competent ultrawide. Additionally, Apple has now unveiled an always-on display that, in our experience at least, does not negatively impact battery life while only dimming your lock screen. Although it isn’t a significant improvement over the 13 Pro, new iPhone will feel years ahead of its time if your phone is three or four years old.
3. Google Pixel 7 Pro
Google builds on the significant redesign of the Pixel 6 Pro with the Pixel 7 Pro by enhancing the cameras, display, and battery life. The 7 Pro is the best Pixel to date and a true “kitchen sink” gadget; it’s huge, hefty, and the design may not be to everyone’s taste, but it delivers an incredible Android experience.
The Pixel 7 Pro is the greatest phone option if you don’t like iOS and don’t want the S-Pen of the S22 Ultra, plus it’s less expensive than the two phones listed above it in this list. With Google’s superior software processing, it produces amazing still images that are among the best and most consistent of any phone, making it one of the most pleasant point and shoot cameras you can carry around. Additionally, there are a ton of innovative Pixel-only features available, including the Magic Eraser, which removes undesired people and objects from images, Live Transcribe, which provides audio transcription for deaf people, as well as a large, brilliant display and nearly 2-day battery life. Samsung and Apple outperform Google on this front. Google promises five years of security updates but only three years of Android updates.
But if you prefer playful and customizable phone software, go with the Pixel. The Pixel 7 is a great option if you want a smaller phone, but it does not have the Pro’s 5x telephoto lens.
4. Oppo Find X5 Pro
By every standard, the Oppo Find X5 Pro is a fantastic phone. Oppo backs up its 6.7-inch, 10-bit, 120Hz QHD+ panel, one of the greatest displays on a phone right now, with a 5000mAh battery, 80W wired and 50W wireless charging, and a top-notch camera with 50Mp sensors on both the primary and ultrawide lenses.
The telephoto here has a meager 2x zoom, so you’ll have to make do without a periscopic zoom lens, but the results from all three back lenses are fantastic. A flawlessly sloping camera module that is integrated into the phone’s ceramic casing further distinguishes the appearance.
With all of the aforementioned features plus a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, 256GB of storage, and 12GB of RAM, the Find X5 Pro is also difficult to top in terms of pure performance. It doesn’t come cheap, so you just have to be willing to pay the price.
5. Google Pixel 6a
Even though the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro feature larger, better screens and improved cameras, most people should opt for the $649/£399/€459 6a because it offers greater value.
With the asking price, you receive the same Google Tensor chip as the iPhone 6 and 6 Pro, giving you performance on par with flagship models. This A-series Pixel is fast; older models were not.
You only get a screen with a 60Hz refresh rate, slow 18W charging, and a plastic back that readily scratches. Additionally, the main camera is only 12.2 MP, the same as the Pixel 5, as opposed to the 50 MP camera in the Pixel 6.
Apart from that, this is a great price for a device that offers three years of Android OS updates and five years of security updates, which is near to the entire Pixel experience.
6. iPhone 14
Even though the iPhone 14 is essentially an iPhone 13 with a new moniker, it is cheaper and not as good as the iPhone 14 Pro. The only notable improvements over the 13 are a barely noticeable upgrade to the main camera and the incredibly impressive Action Mode for stabilizing videos.
The bottom line is, don’t upgrade from an iPhone 13; otherwise, this is the most popular iPhone at the moment. It also has car crash detection, which you will hopefully never need. Although it lacks a telephoto lens, it boasts amazing performance, a long battery life, and excellent cameras.
Like always with Apple, iOS is a very solid operating system with the highest build quality in the industry. A repair may be made at any Apple Store, and you’ll receive software updates for around five years. The iPhone 14 Plus has a bigger screen and more battery life, but we like this smaller model more.
7. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
Samsung has designed the Z Flip 4 an all-day phone with the same primary and ultrawide cameras as the Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus in order to solve the Z Flip 3’s shortcomings with poor battery life and average camera performance for the price.
It means that for a price comparable to a flagship slab smartphone, this is the best foldable phone currently available. We are unable to test the Flip’s durability, but Samsung claims it will last for at least 200,000 open and close motions, or roughly five years of average use. Durability concerns regarding the display’s durability and the crease in it still exist.
Because of the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset’s increased energy efficiency and better battery life, you no longer need to recharge the Flip every two hours. Although 256GB storage may be preferable for a little extra money, 8GB RAM is more than sufficient. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor is another feature we adore. This is essentially an S22 that folds down to half its size and has a better processor.
8. Vivo X80 Pro
The X80 Pro from Vivo is a phone with an outstanding camera that can compete with the finest models from Apple, Samsung, and Google.
Four back lenses are powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 CPU, with a fantastic 50Mp sensor serving as the primary lens. Every lens benefits from Vivo’s V1+ image processing technology, and the telephoto lens has gimbal stabilization to improve zoom shots’ quality. The feature set is quite comprehensive, and the low-light photography is excellent. You now have a powerful camera in your pocket if you combine those features with the great video settings that have cinematic-wide aspect ratios and a film-like grain. Since the phone is large, you’ll have to make do with a 6.78-inch AMOLED display. It has a QHD+ resolution and a 120Hz LTPO (variable refresh rate). The phone’s irritating software and absence of Gorilla Glass, which is known to protect against cracks and scratches on the front and back, are drawbacks. However, if you want a high-end camera on the back of your phone, this is another step forward for Vivo and something you should give serious consideration.
9. Motorola Edge 30 Ultra
The Edge 30 Ultra pleasantly surprised us because hardly many Motorola phones these days, especially at the top end, catch our attention. It’s among the greatest smartphones of 2022 and a good purchase if you desire a 144Hz OLED, a feature that is typically reserved for flashy gaming phones.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset provides outstanding performance, and the phone is incredibly comfortable to handle because to the rear glass’s matte satin-like finish and gently curved design. Perhaps the finest feature of all is the consistent two-day battery life, which is better than that of the other phones in this comparison.
The Edge 30 Ultra is a strong Android option when 125W super fast wired charging with the charger in the package is added. Three years of software upgrades is approximately adequate, but the camera falls short and isn’t completely waterproof.
10. OnePlus 10 Pro
If you live in the US and have few other high-end Android options, the OnePlus 6T is a good substitute for models like the S22 or Pixel 6 series.
The 10 Pro has core specs to compete with anything its rivals offer, and we generally like the sleek design too, though not everyone does. It has a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor and quick 80W wired charging. As one of the most customizable Android skins available, Oxygen OS software has undergone a recent cosmetic overhaul, but you can still tamper with it to truly personalize this phone.
Despite Hasselblad’s assistance, the phone’s camera system continues to be its main drawback and what distinguishes it from the more expensive but similarly equipped Oppo Find X5 Pro.
Don’t get us wrong, the rear triple sensor setup is impressive, but flaws, particularly in exposure, only serve to remind us that it’s not among the best of the best, which makes it a little harder to recommend. This is true even though OxygenOS user experience is excellent and battery life is among the best of any flagship currently available.
