Top 5 Best Smartphones 2024

 

Top 5 Best Smartphones 2024

• Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
• IPhone 16 pro max
• Google pixel 9 Pro
• One plus 12
• IPhone 16

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

The iPhone 16 stands out as the iPhone to beat in 2024 – it’s the core model that delivers both a satisfying feature set and a more approachable price point compared to the Pro. While the Pro-exclusive 120Hz display is sorely missed, the iPhone 16 makes up for it with a crisp Super Retina OLED and an impressive telephoto camera, finally bringing a 2x zoom lens to the standard model. Camera Control, which lets you open and control the camera app with a customizable button, is a bit fiddly but adds flexibility.

Battery life is another win; thanks to the efficient A18 chip and a slightly larger battery, we’re comfortably getting through a full day, possibly even stretching to midday on day two. Software-wise, iOS 18 brings some slick, if incremental, updates. Customization options for Control Center and lock screen controls feel like a fresh step forward, even though the highly anticipated Apple Intelligence hasn’t arrived yet – a feature we wish wasn’t tied to a future update.

Overall, the iPhone 16 is an enticing pick for anyone eyeing Apple’s latest. It packs essential upgrades while leaving some Pro exclusives untouched – but, frankly, this model already hits the sweet spot for price and performance. Unless you’re set on a high refresh rate or are sold on the yet-to-arrive AI features, this iPhone nails it. Apple’s strategic tweaks here make the iPhone 16 the clear value champ.

IPHONE 16 PRO MAX:

iphone 16 pro max

 We believe the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra stands at the top of the tree. Clad in Gorilla Glass Armor and set in a titanium frame, it feels both premium and rugged in the hand. Its sizeable 6.8-inch AMOLED display is a treat for the eyes, and the switch from curved edges to a flat panel is a welcome change. That makes it a perfect match for the bundled S Pen stylus, enhancing productivity.

Speaking of productivity, we appreciate the genuinely helpful on-device AI capabilities, which make multitasking smoother than ever. Performance is outstanding, thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 CPU running at speeds unmatched by any rival. The Ultra simply breezes through every app, task, and game we throw at it.

The top-spec S24 also features an overhauled zoom camera, with a higher pixel count sensor and 5x optical zoom that excels in low-light situations compared to last year’s model. While the 200MP main camera, 12MP ultra-wide, and 10MP 3x zoom remain unchanged, competitors have caught up, and in some cases, surpassed Samsung in picture quality. Still, the differences are minimal.

GOOGLE PIXEL 9 PRO

3rd best smartphone 2024

The Google Pixel 9 Pro sets a new standard for Pixel smartphones, offering cutting-edge tech wrapped in a new, more premium design. For those of us who’ve craved a smaller device without compromising on performance, this new Pro model is a game-changer, blending the best camera tech, AI smarts, and an exceptional battery, into the more compact 6.3in size. The Actual display is a standout, offering incredible brightness and vibrant colors, even outperforming the iPhone 15 in direct sunlight. Paired with a 120Hz refresh rate, every swipe is buttery smooth. As expected, the camera system is top-tier, especially the upgraded 48MP ultrawide and periscope telephoto lenses. AI-driven tools like Magic Editor make editing photos effortless, while new features like ‘Add Me’ let you appear in group shots post-capture.

ONE PLUS 12

Delivering killer specs at a competitive price point, we think the OnePlus 12 hits another home run—though perhaps not quite as far out of the park this time, due to a price hike compared to last year’s model. Its all-screen frontage still fits the modern mold, and the tactile matte back adds a premium feel. The display itself is outstanding, with dynamic refresh rates ranging from 1 to 120Hz, ensuring smooth performance across the board.

LATEST FLAGSHIP DEVICES FROM MANUFACTURERS AND COMPARISM

PRICING:

The iPhone 16 and Galaxy S24 lineups include seven phones. The entry-level iPhone 16 and Galaxy S24 with 128GB of storage are both $799, while the most expensive models are the $1,599 iPhone 16 Pro Max and the $1,659 Galaxy S24 Ultra—both with 1TB of storage.

Here are the starting prices for each phone:

Apple iPhone 16, $799; iPhone 16 Plus, $899; iPhone 16 Pro, $999; iPhone 16 Pro Max, $1,199

Samsung Galaxy S24, $799; Galaxy S24+, $999; Galaxy S24 Ultra, $1,299

Adding more storage increases the price of each device. In dollars and cents, the iPhone 16 and Galaxy S24 series are relatively close, though Samsung charges the most for its 1TB model.

Controls

All of this year’s iPhones feature a customizable action button and a new, small touchpad called Camera Control, which is in addition to the standard power button and volume rocker. Camera Control is aptly named as it lets you control camera functions with a tap or slide. Some advanced features are slated for a future update.

The S24 Ultra is the only device in the S24 lineup that includes an S Pen stylus, which allows you to jot down notes. If dedicated buttons or a stylus garage excites you, you will have an easier time choosing a device.

The iPhone 16, like the iPhone 15 before it, no longer supports physical SIM cards and must be activated with an eSIM. However, the Galaxy S24 series supports both a physical SIM and eSIM. Typically, eSIM installations require a few taps of a screen, while a physical SIM requires a paper clip. Some find the latter more convenient than the former.

Display

All phones have high-resolution, pixel-dense OLED displays for crisp, detailed pictures in vivid colors. Let’s focus on the key differences. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus use a panel with a fixed 60Hz refresh rate and do not feature an always-on display. Always-on displays have been a feature of many Android devices for several years and are helpful for glanceable information like time and notifications.

The more expensive 16 Pro models have screens with variable refresh rates ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz (what Apple calls ProMotion), allowing for smoother animations and a power-efficient always-on display. Meanwhile, every Samsung Galaxy S24 model features adaptive refresh rates of 1Hz to 120Hz and an always-on display.

Apple’s iPhone 16 lineup maxes out at 2,000 nits at its peak, while all the S24 phones reach a brighter 2,600 nits. These bright screens are capable of overcoming strong external light, which is great on a sunny day.

Both companies offer a variety of screen sizes, so there is a device to fit every hand. The Galaxy S24’s 6.1-inch display is the smallest, while the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max has the largest at 6.9 inches. Please take a look at our charts for all the display details.

Since every Galaxy S24 features a variable refresh rate and exceeds the iPhone 16 in brightness, Samsung gets the win here.

Speed: Turbo Thrusters or Super Chargers

We have yet to benchmark the iPhone 16 series, but historically, Apple-made processors outperform the latest from Qualcomm. The entire Galaxy S24 line is powered by the same chip, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy. It handles the most demanding tasks easily, which makes for an excellent overall experience no matter which model you get.

Apple says its new chips are built for Apple Intelligence, and the successors to the A16 Bionic and A17 Pro are a huge leap forward. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus use the Apple A18 processor, while the more powerful 16 Pro and Pro Max put the A18 Pro processor to work. Both offer improved CPU and GPU performance compared with the A16 Bionic and A17 Pro chips, which were already outstanding in their performance.

Benchmarks tell only so much of the story. In the real world, responsiveness and results are key. The newest iPhones are banking on Apple Intelligence to separate them from the pack, and how well they perform will impact perception. We’ve found that Galaxy AI, Samsung’s suite of AI tools, provides useful productivity boosts and fun features that make the S24 enjoyable to use. If Apple Intelligence works like the demos, it could give Apple a leg up here over Samsung (and maybe even Google).

On the gaming front, Apple says the iPhone 16 is capable of running console-level games, while the Galaxy S24 series makes short work of even the most resource-intensive games.