Best phones of 2024: Expert reviewed - Faizanhub
DETAILS
Title | Best phones of 2024: Expert reviewed - Faizanhub |
Country | USA, UK, Japan, Germany, PK |
Words | 1.6k-6k |
Language | English |
By | Faizan Pro |
Description:
We've reviewed the best phones (both iPhones and Androids) and found the top picks to satisfy power users, budget shoppers, folding enthusiasts, and more. Whether you're looking for a high-end phone or an affordable option, we've checked out the best from Apple, Samsung, Google and more.
Content:
What's the best phone right now?
From the Apple 15 series and the Samsung Galaxy S24 series to the Google Pixel 8 Pro and the foldable Galaxy Z Flip 5, you have an endless number of options to choose from when shopping for a new smartphone. The phones on this list differ when it comes to size, price and features, but they have a few things in common. The best phones of 2024 have fast processors and vibrant screens to make Netflix shows look great. They can also take great photos and last at least a full day on a single charge. But you don't need to pay $1,000 to get a great phone. Budget-friendly phones like the Pixel 7A also offer smooth performance at a wallet-friendly price.
Every phone on this list has been thoroughly reviewed and tested, and you'll find options across iPhone and Android to fit different needs and budgets.
Which phone is best for most people?
The best phone for iPhone fans is the $799 iPhone 15. It has one of Apple's latest processors, the A16 Bionic chip found in last year's iPhone 14 Pro, which means it should support new software features for years to come. The iPhone 15 has the best balance of camera performance and features (like Dynamic Island) that will feel new to those coming from older iPhones to satisfy most people.
Our favorite Android pick right now is the Samsung Galaxy S24.
For more information, read our guide to help you find the best phone for your needs and check out our tips on how to buy a new Apple iPhone or Android phone and where to find the best phone deals.
The best phones of 2024
$799 from Apple
Benefits
USB-C port for super easy charging
Colorful matte design
An advanced camera that can automatically take people and pets photos
Dynamic Island brings much better performance
Evil
No display is always on
The Find My Friends feature only works with other iPhone 15 phones
A discounted iPhone 14 Pro could be a better value
The Galaxy S24 offers a long visual zoom
Screen size
6.1 inches or 6.7 inches (Plus)
The processor
Apple A16 Bionic
Cameras
48-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 12-megapixel (selfie)
Colors
Blue, pink, yellow, green, black
$799 from Apple
The best iPhone for most people
iPhone 15
With Dynamic Island, a USB-C port for super easy charging and an improved camera with high resolution and cool zoom, the iPhone 15 is a significant upgrade for those with older iPhones. It feels like a stripped-down version of the iPhone 14 Pro, which makes Apple's entry-level iPhone 15 feel like a huge leap forward from last year.
The iPhone 15 has two size options: the 6.1-inch iPhone 15 and the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Plus. They work on the same chip as the iPhone 14 Pro, the A16 Bionic, which should bring significant performance improvements to those who had an iPhone a few years ago. These phones also have Apple's second-generation wide-range chip, which enables a new feature that makes it easier to find friends or family members in a crowd.
Last year's iPhone 14 Pro might be a better choice if you can still get it from third-party sellers at a discount, especially since it has a dedicated telephoto lens, but the iPhone 15 is the most exciting upgrade Apple's iPhone has seen in years. . Read our iPhone 15 and 15 Plus review.
The best premium Android phone
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
With a sharp 5x zoom, a new fast processor and a large standard display and 100x digital zoom, the Samsung "Ultra" phone remains the top choice for mobile photographers who want more screen real estate. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is also one of the first phones to feature new Samsung Galaxy AI features, including tools to quickly translate messages and calls and Circle to Search, a new touch that lets you launch a Google search for almost anything by drawing. circle around. Like the previous two generations, the Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with an embedded S Pen for those who like to jot down notes or doodling. Perhaps best of all, Samsung has committed to updating these devices with new versions of Android for seven years, meaning they shouldn't feel outdated anytime soon.
However, there are a few important downsides to consider. At $1,300, this phone is expensive, so be sure to check for trade-in discounts if you plan to upgrade. At that high price, I was hoping Samsung would add more Galaxy AI features specific to the Ultra - perhaps some that take advantage of the S Pen. Galaxy AI is the same across all Galaxy S24 devices, and it's coming to the Galaxy S23 lineup soon, so you don't need to splurge on a high-end Samsung phone if you care about those features. . Read our Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review.
2 style="text-align: left;">The highest price for iPhones
Apple iPhone 13
The $599 iPhone 13 is still a great phone. If you're thinking of buying an older iPhone to save money, the iPhone 13 is the best choice for most people.
It has a lot in common with the iPhone 14, considering that both phones are powered by the same A15 Bionic processor and have a 12-megapixel camera system. The iPhone 14 processor has an additional GPU core, but those who primarily use their phone for gaming, social media, checking email and watching video probably won't mind.
The iPhone 13, like the 12 before it, is defined by its square-sided design. It supports 5G charging, MagSafe and has cameras that are compatible with those from the high-end iPhone 12 Pro Max of 2020.
The best feature of the iPhone 13 is its large battery which, in our tests, lasted 4.5 hours more on a single charge than the iPhone 12, and almost 3 hours longer than the latest iPhone 14.
The 13 also has Cinematic mode, which is a video version of Portrait mode, with iOS 17. The iPhone 13 received a 2021 CNET Editors' Choice Award. Just remember the iPhone 13 doesn't have satellite connectivity for emergency services other than cellular service and collision detection, both of which are available on the iPhone 14 and 15 series. Such features can be important to consider when buying a phone for your child. Read our Apple iPhone 13 review.
The best flagship for high performance at a low price
OnePlus 12
If fast charging, powerful performance and having a big, bright screen are most important to you in a phone, check out the OnePlus 12. The new OnePlus phone can go from empty to full in less than 30 minutes thanks to its 80W US charger. , a benefit that can come in handy if you have a long day ahead and forget your charger. It's powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, which feels fast and zippy whether you're playing games or just navigating the interface. The OnePlus 12's 4,500-nit brightness also makes it perfect for outdoor use, as its screen is noticeably brighter than rivals like the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
There is room for improvement when it comes to the camera. While the photos taken on the Plus 12 are decent, CNET's Andrew Lanxon found night photos to be too dark and described the optical zoom as "very hit or miss." It is also worth noting that the OnePlus 12 receives four years of software updates. That would be fine by 2023 standards, but Google and Samsung now offer seven years of Android updates, keeping those devices fresh and relevant for a long time. Read our OnePlus 12 review.
A great little iPhone
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
The best budget Android phone
left;">Google Pixel 6A
The Pixel 6A impressed CNET's Lisa Eadicicco last year with its attractive design and Tensor processor, which allowed it to inherit many of the same features as the Pixel 6 but at a lower price. Now, Google has dropped the price to $349, making it an even better value.
The Pixel 6A has a 6.1-inch screen, making it the same size as the Pixel 7A and slightly smaller than the Pixel 7. While it lacks the new features the Tensor G2 needs, it still has a lot to offer for the price. With the Pixel 6A, you get Google-specific features like Face Unblur, which sharpens a person's face in blurry photos, and Real Tone, which gives a more accurate skin tone to photos. Read our Pixel 6A review.
Other phones we have tested
The $450 Samsung Galaxy A54 5G proves that you can get a solid phone for a very reasonable price. It packs a 6.4-inch display, an octa-core processor that provides enough power for everyday essentials (including light gaming) and a camera that does a decent job of handling your snaps out and about. Its 128GB storage will be enough for most people, and those who need more space can expand it with microSD cards up to 1TB in size.
The $1,400 Sony Xperia 1 V keeps all the best features of previous Xperia 1 phones, such as a high-refresh 4K display, expandable storage, high-quality cameras with eye-tracking autofocus, a 5,000-mAh battery, a shutter button dedicated headphone jack, all wrapped up in Sony's beautiful, practical design. The phone is packed with many quality-of-life improvements for the target audience of creative types like photographers, filmmakers, musicians and gamers who want unique control over the content they create. Its $1,400 price tag keeps this phone out of reach for most consumers.
The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro is a $1,200 gaming phone that takes almost every feature to the extreme. It has a 5,500-mAh battery, a 6.78-inch AMOLED with high refresh rate and touch sampling rate, 65W wired charging and even a removable fan back door to keep the phone's Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip as cool as possible. The software is optimized and designed for ease of play including touch-sensitive areas on the sides of the phone that double as shoulder buttons for games.
Show moreThings to consider when buying a new phone
Choose the most important feature: Is it screen size? Camera quality? Battery life? This will help narrow down your choices. Phones like the iPhone 15 Pro Max or the Galaxy S23 Ultra cost more than $1,000, for example, but the larger batteries will last most people a day and a half to two days on a single charge.
Don't be put off by $500 to $700 phones: You can get a great phone that does almost everything a more expensive flagship model can do for a fraction of the price. Google's Pixel 8 (starting at $699) packs a great camera, bright screen and exceptional AI features, but the $499 Pixel 7A has many of the same key specs and comes at a lower price.
Shop Black Friday: Look for sales and deals around the holidays, especially Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday.
Consider last year's models: When a new phone is introduced, stores and carriers discount their older phones to sell existing stock.
See the phone in person: It's worth going to the store and trying out a potential phone. You may love or hate the way it looks and feels.
Decide on Android or iPhone: Do you have multiple iPhone apps and Apple subscriptions? Attach the iPhone. If you're invested in Android apps, you might want to stay on that side of the fence. If not, it's easy enough to switch platforms.
Budget for a case and screen protector: Phones sold today last longer than phones from a few years ago, but it's still a good idea to protect your phone with a case to keep it in top condition.
Show moreHow we test phones
We test every phone in real-world conditions, focusing on its features, design, performance, cameras, battery life and overall value. We write what we found in the first review that is updated from time to time when there are new software updates, or to compare it with new phones from competitors such as Apple, Samsung, Google and OnePlus.
A man holding an iPhone 14 Pro outdoors on a distant hillEmergency SOS has been released in the iPhone 14 series and we got to test the feature to see how it works.Kevin Heinz/CNETPictures
\
e="clear: both;">Photography is the focus of many phones these days, so we take photos and videos of various subjects in various settings and lighting conditions. We try any new camera modes, such as the Action mode that started with the iPhone 14 line, or the Unblur image tool that was launched with the Google Pixel 7 series.
Battery life
Battery testing is done in a variety of ways. We test how long the phone lasts on a typical day of use and note how it performs during intensive sessions of video calls, media streaming and gaming. We also evaluate video playback, as a simple, repeatable measure of pure battery life, which is not always included in the first review but is sometimes added later in the review.
Performance measurement
We use benchmarking apps to measure each phone's performance, alongside our own experts using the phone to review it. Most notable is how the graphics and animations look. Are they smooth? Do they slow down or stutter? We also look at how quickly the phone switches between landscape and portrait orientation, and how quickly the camera app opens and is ready to take a photo.
alpine-green-iphone-13-pro
We also check every phone we review for basics like calling.Kevin Heinz/CNETWe do processor heavy work
It cannot be denied that, in the last five years, smartphones have been out of control. Apple now offers Plus and Max-sized iPhones, Samsung has a "top" beast, and Google has a foldable device that opens up to 7.6 inches. At the other end of the spectrum sits the Asus Zenfone 10, a device that deviates from the norm in favor of ergonomics and interior comfort, and the decision pays off.
Compared to its predecessor, the Asus Zenfone 9, which I called "an alternative iPhone Mini for Android lovers," the new model has a compact 5.9-inch AMOLED display, all the power you would need in a modern phone thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen chipset 2, with two capable cameras on the back.
Review: Asus Zenfone 10
Battery life on the Asus held up surprisingly well, too, with my review unit recording nearly two days of use before hitting 0%. Other small but important details to note include a 3.5mm earphone jack on top, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, and a textured back cover that looks and feels great in the hand. If you're planning to buy the Zenfone 10, many Reddit users suggested "get the 512GB version because there's no SD card space," which I fully agree with.
Asus Zenfone 10 Specifications: Screen size: 5.9 inches | Storage: Up to 512GB | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Panel type: AMOLED | Color: Black, Blue, Hazel, White, Red | Battery life: 4,300mAh | Water and dust resistance: IP68
We choose the best phone overall the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. It features everything you could want in a smartphone including a large display, four cameras capable of shooting 200MP photos and 8K video, up to 1TB of storage, a built-in S Pen for writing and drawing, and a 5,000mAh battery that powers the system. . Here's how the S24 Ultra fares with our top picks.
Best phone model
Price
Storage
td>Screen size
Battery size
Processor
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
$1,299
Up to 1TB
6.8 inches
5,000mAh
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
< strong >iPhone 15 Pro Max
left;">Google Pixel 6A
The Pixel 6A impressed CNET's Lisa Eadicicco last year with its attractive design and Tensor processor, which allowed it to inherit many of the same features as the Pixel 6 but at a lower price. Now, Google has dropped the price to $349, making it an even better value.
The Pixel 6A has a 6.1-inch screen, making it the same size as the Pixel 7A and slightly smaller than the Pixel 7. While it lacks the new features the Tensor G2 needs, it still has a lot to offer for the price. With the Pixel 6A, you get Google-specific features like Face Unblur, which sharpens a person's face in blurry photos, and Real Tone, which gives a more accurate skin tone to photos. Read our Pixel 6A review.
Things to consider when buying a new phone
How we test phones
Pictures
e="clear: both;">Photography is the focus of many phones these days, so we take photos and videos of various subjects in various settings and lighting conditions. We try any new camera modes, such as the Action mode that started with the iPhone 14 line, or the Unblur image tool that was launched with the Google Pixel 7 series.
Battery life
Performance measurement
alpine-green-iphone-13-pro
We do processor heavy work
Review: Asus Zenfone 10
We choose the best phone overall the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. It features everything you could want in a smartphone including a large display, four cameras capable of shooting 200MP photos and 8K video, up to 1TB of storage, a built-in S Pen for writing and drawing, and a 5,000mAh battery that powers the system. . Here's how the S24 Ultra fares with our top picks.
Best phone model | Price | Storage td> | Screen size | Battery size |
Processor |
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | $1,299 | Up to 1TB | 6.8 inches | 5,000mAh | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
< strong >iPhone 15 Pro Max |
$1,099
Up to 1TB
< td>6.7 inches
4,323mAh
A17 Bionic
< /tr >Google Pixel 8 Pro
$999
< p> Up to 1TB6.7 inches
5,050mAh
< p>Google Tensor G3OnePlus Unlock
$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
Nothing Phone 2a
$349
128GB
6.7 inches
5,000mAh
MediaTek Dimensity 7200
OnePlus 12
$799< /p>
Up to 512GB
6.8 inches
5,400mAh< /p>
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
Asus Zenfone 10
$699
Up to 512GB
5.9- inch
4,300 mAh
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
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