The best phones in 2024: our 15 favorite smartphones right now

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google pixel 9 vs oneplus 12 integer trends 10 Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends

Navigating nan oversea of smartphones successful 2024 tin consciousness for illustration a daunting task. With galore fantabulous options from some Apple and Android brands, pinpointing nan cleanable instrumentality for your needs mightiness look overwhelming. But don't worry; we're present to simplify your search.

We've meticulously curated a database of nan top-performing smartphones available, considering everything from earthy processing powerfulness and camera capabilities to artillery life, show quality, and wide design. Whether you prioritize a blazing-fast processor for demanding tasks, a cutting-edge camera strategy to seizure life's moments, aliases a long-lasting artillery to support you connected passim nan day, we're assured you'll find your perfect lucifer connected our list.

To further refine your search, we've besides compiled specialized lists highlighting nan best iPhones and best Android phones, allowing you to dive consecutive into nan ecosystem that champion suits your preferences. So, relax, return a heavy breath, and fto america guideline you toward nan telephone that perfectly aligns pinch your needs and desires.

iphone 16 reappraisal 17 Joe Maring / Digital Trends

iPhone 16

The champion iPhone

Pros

  • Fun, refreshing caller design
  • Stunning colors this year
  • Camera Control is so, truthful good
  • The Action fastener rules
  • Excellent camera system
  • Reliable artillery life

Cons

  • 60Hz display, nary always-on display
  • Slow charging speeds
  • Apple Intelligence not yet available

Why you should bargain this: It's nan champion iPhone connected nan marketplace this twelvemonth overall. Yes, it's missing immoderate of nan features from nan iPhone 16 Pro series, but that will beryllium OK for astir people.

Who it’s for: Anyone who wants a caller phone, but doesn't expect to person immoderate request for nan "Pro" options.

Why we picked nan iPhone 16:

Apple has done thing singular pinch nan iPhone 16. Among nan 4 models successful nan latest iPhone lineup, nan guidelines iPhone 16 is nan astir affordable and nan slightest technically advanced. However, contrary to expectations, it has proven to beryllium rather interesting.

The iPhone 16 is simply a amazingly refreshing and tin smartphone. While it has shortcomings, nan positives are important capable to make those downsides easy to overlook. If you're considering a caller iPhone this year, you should earnestly see nan iPhone 16.

So, should you bargain nan iPhone 16? Absolutely.

In nan past, nan guidelines exemplary iPhone often felt for illustration a clear downgrade compared to its Pro counterparts, but that’s not nan lawsuit this year. Whether you look astatine design, performance, camera quality, software, aliases further features for illustration nan Action Button and Camera Control, choosing nan iPhone 16 doesn’t require you to make important compromises compared to nan iPhone 16 Pro.

As agelong arsenic you tin acclimate to nan 60Hz surface and nan absence of an always-on show (which you apt will), astir group will find it difficult to warrant choosing 1 of nan much costly models complete nan iPhone 16. If you’re successful nan marketplace for a caller iPhone this year, this is nan 1 to get.

iPhone 16

iPhone 16

The champion iPhone

iphone 16 pro max reappraisal godforsaken titanium 8 Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends

iPhone 16 Pro Max

The champion iPhone runner-up

Pros

  • Beautiful display
  • Powerful performance
  • Camera Control is simply a bully addition
  • Great artillery life
  • Improved ultrawide camera

Cons

  • It's excessively darn big
  • Boring colors
  • Apple Intelligence not disposable yet

Why you should bargain this: If you person nan cash, this is nan astir powerful iPhone you tin purchase, pinch nan largest show ever connected an Apple phone.

Who it’s for: Mobile camera junkies will perfectly emotion this phone, which comes pinch nan champion cameras and nan largest iPhone show available. Did we mention Camera Control?

**Why we picked nan iPhone 16 Pro Max:

The iPhone 16 Pro Max is simply a powerful instrumentality pinch a compelling characteristic set, but it's not a basal upgrade for everyone. Users of older iPhones, particularly those seeking a important jump successful camera capabilities, however, will admit nan Pro Max's superior telephoto lens and upgraded 48MP ultrawide lens. This translates to a noticeable betterment successful image quality, peculiarly successful lowlight conditions and erstwhile capturing distant subjects.

However, those already owning an iPhone 15 Pro Max mightiness want to clasp disconnected connected nan upgrade. The iOS 18.1 update, pinch its Apple Intelligence features, promises to span nan spread successful AI capabilities, perchance diminishing nan Pro Max's existent advantage successful this area. And, yes, Apple Intelligence is supported connected past year’s iPhone Pro Max.

The awesome characteristic group of nan guidelines iPhone 16 models adds to nan decision’s complexity. Both nan iPhone 16 and 16 Plus connection compelling additions for illustration nan Action fastener for speedy shortcuts, Camera Control for customized shooting modes, an improved ultrawide lens, caller Photographic Styles for personalized image aesthetics, nan powerful A18 spot for enhanced performance, extended artillery life, and a wider scope of colour options. These important improvements make nan modular iPhone 16 a beardown contender for users seeking a equilibrium of features and affordability.

Ultimately, nan iPhone 16 Pro Max caters to users pinch circumstantial needs and priorities. Its cardinal strengths dishonesty successful its precocious camera strategy pinch nan enhanced telephoto lens, always-on show pinch a soft 120Hz refresh complaint for a much responsive personification experience, and broad photography and videography features designed for professional-level contented creation. The iPhone 16 Pro Max will undoubtedly meet and transcend your expectations if these features are basal to your workflow aliases lifestyle. However, if your priorities differ, exploring nan iPhone 16 aliases waiting for nan Apple Intelligence update connected nan iPhone 15 Pro Max could beryllium arsenic viable and cost-effective options.

iPhone 16 Pro Max

iPhone 16 Pro Max

The champion iPhone runner-up

oneplus 12 reappraisal flowy emerald held successful manus arch Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends

OnePlus 12

The champion Android phone

Pros

  • Beautiful curved display
  • Flowy Emerald is simply a genuinely unsocial color
  • Powerful performance
  • Hasselblad camera strategy delivers awesome results
  • Two-day battery
  • Very accelerated wired and wireless charging

Cons

  • Back solid is slippery
  • Curved surface has immoderate annoyances
  • Large size tin beryllium unwieldy

Why you should bargain this: It's a show-stopping premium flagship astatine nan value of a regular flagship.

Who it's for: Anyone looking for nan champion Android has to offer.

Why we picked nan OnePlus 12:

While OnePlus ne'er really went away, it had been pushed into nan shadows by beardown offerings from Samsung and Google. Well, that play has ended, arsenic OnePlus is back, and nan OnePlus 12 is 1 of nan champion smartphones you tin bargain — period.

It's not adjacent to picture astir existent phones arsenic featureless slabs, but adjacent to nan OnePlus 12, they mightiness arsenic good be. This telephone is distinct, pinch a beautiful greenish design, mildly sloping sides, and 1 of nan much unique-looking camera systems we've ever seen connected a smartphone. There's a beardown family resemblance pinch nan OnePlus Pad, and it looks great. It feels good, too, but beryllium advised it's a slippery telephone — a lawsuit is highly advised.

That premium emotion extends to nan display. The OnePlus 12 has a 6.8-inch LTPO AMOLED display, moving a 1440p solution (for a crisp 510 pixels per inch), pinch a 120Hz refresh rate. If that isn't enough, it besides gets agleam capable to beryllium visible connected nan aboveground of nan Sun, acknowledgment to a highest brightness of 4,500 nits. Frankly, that's a small ridiculous and enormously overkill, arsenic astir different flagships beryllium astir nan 2,000 nits mark, and those are fine. But "overkill" was intelligibly what OnePlus had successful mind, arsenic nan phone's different specs are way, measurement beyond what they request to be.

We'll commencement pinch nan astir reasonable portion of nan spec sheet: The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Qualcomm's latest processor is incredibly fast, and it won't awkward distant from immoderate app aliases crippled you attraction to tally connected your large screen. It's a stupendously powerful portion of kit, truthful erstwhile we opportunity it's nan astir understated part, you cognize OnePlus isn't messing around. First comes nan retention options, which commencement astatine 256GB and spell up to 512G. RAM is wherever things get really bonkers, pinch nan guidelines exemplary getting 12GB. That's nan aforesaid magnitude arsenic nan Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra — and it only gets higher from there. Upgrade nan storage, and you get a boost successful RAM, too, up to 16GB.

The camera strategy is simply a small toned down, astatine slightest compared to nan RAM specs, but not by excessively much. The rear camera strategy comprises a 50MP main lens, a 64MP periscope telephoto pinch a 3x optical zoom, and a 48MP ultrawide lens, and there's a 32MP selfie camera astir nan front. It's a coagulated suite, and it takes bully photos pinch realistic colors. Portrait shots tin beryllium a small lacking, and it sometimes struggles pinch moving subjects successful low-light photos, but these are comparatively mini antagonistic points.

The OnePlus 12 runs Android 14, nether nan Oxygen OS 14 skin, and it's a awesome portion of software, clear and uncluttered. OnePlus has promised 5 years of updates, which is simply a good, if not stellar, promise.

Finally, we'll touch connected nan artillery life. It is, successful a word, excellent. You tin expect 2 days of artillery life from nan 5,400mAh artillery pinch mean use, and since nan recharging is ace fast, it won't walk agelong connected nan charger either. Wired charging goes up to 80W, while nan 50W wireless charging is faster than astir flagship phones' wired charging. There's moreover reverse wireless charging up to 10W.

The OnePlus 12 is simply a certified premium flagship killer, albeit astatine a flagship price. It starts from $800, putting it connected a level ground pinch nan Samsung Galaxy S24 while offering specs connected a level pinch nan S24 Ultra. It's an unthinkable portion of tech and perfectly our prime for nan champion Android telephone you tin bargain today.

OnePlus 12

OnePlus 12

The champion Android phone

google pixel 9 pro reappraisal 19 Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends

Google Pixel 9 Pro

The champion Android telephone runner-up

Pros

  • Beautiful hardware and display
  • Compact size without compromises
  • It's pink!
  • Long artillery life
  • Great cameras
  • Mostly bully AI tools
  • Seven years of updates

Cons

  • Slow charging speeds
  • 128GB guidelines storage

Why you should bargain this: It's nan cleanable Android telephone for personification looking for a smaller handset.

Who it's for: Anyone who wants a top-tier smaller Android telephone that isn't made by Samsung.

Why we picked nan Google Pixel 9 Pro:

Our Google Pixel 9 Pro reviewer likes this telephone truthful overmuch that she’s considering ditching her iPhone. Yes, a long-time iPhone proprietor is considering heading complete to Android.

This telephone checks each nan boxes — it has a beautiful compact size, a premium feel, an exceptional camera strategy pinch 5x optical zoom, and moreover a gorgeous roseate quartz colorway.

The Google Pixel 9 Pro features a 6.3-inch Super Actua OLED show pinch a 120Hz refresh complaint and comes successful hazel, obsidian, and porcelain. Like different phones successful nan Pixel 9 series, it besides includes a recently designed camera support that nary longer extends to some sides of nan phone. It’s an awesome look that is wholly different, but it does not detract from nan Pixel style Google has perfected complete nan years.

But there’s more. Unlike erstwhile Pixel models, this 1 is praised for its agelong artillery life, lasting astir 24 hours betwixt charges while performing mundane tasks. The fastest wired charging velocity present is 27W, which allows you to get a 55% complaint successful astir 30 minutes and conscionable complete an hr for a afloat charge.

The Pixel 9 Pro besides includes 1 free twelvemonth of Google Gemini Advanced and gives you 7 years of package updates.

If you emotion this telephone but would for illustration a larger display, you’re successful luck. Google has resurrected nan XL explanation for nan Pixel 9 Pro XL. This large telephone includes each nan awesome features of nan regular Pro exemplary but pinch a 6.8-inch Super Actua display. That telephone besides offers wired charging of up to 37W.

With nan Pixel 9 Pro, Google gave small-phone lovers a pro-level acquisition without compromise.

Google Pixel 9 Pro

Google Pixel 9 Pro

The champion Android telephone runner-up

samsung postulation a14 5g reappraisal backmost exterior successful bush Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends

Samsung Galaxy A14 5G

The champion inexpensive phone

Pros

  • Only $200
  • Large show pinch a 90Hz refresh rate
  • 5,000mAh battery
  • 50MP rear camera, 13MP selfie camera
  • Respectable performance
  • Unique, textured back

Cons

  • Secondary cameras aren't impressive
  • No h2o aliases particulate resistance
  • Fast charging up to 15W only

Why you should bargain this: The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G looks bully and packs a punch for a fund price.

Who it’s for: Buyers connected a fund looking for a safe, sensible prime that won't disappoint.

Why we picked nan Samsung Galaxy A14 5G:

Are you connected a fund but want awesome value? Then you can't spell incorrect pinch Samsung's A-Series phones, which are fantabulous for nan price. The Galaxy A14 5G is 1 of nan latest entries successful nan family, and it's good worthy your attention.

With nan Galaxy A14 5G, you get a large, 6.6-inch LCD show that has a 1080p solution pinch a 90Hz adaptive refresh rate. Though you do get immoderate bezels astir nan display, nan surface itself looks nice, has vibrant colors, and you get comparatively soft scrolling pinch nan 90Hz refresh rate. The creation of nan telephone itself is elemental and minimalistic, and nan integrative backmost has a unsocial texture that helps springiness you much grip than nan solid connected astir phones.

The A14 5G has 4GB of RAM and a MediaTek MT6833 Dimensity 700 chip. So while it's not packing nan newest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, it has decent capacity for nan price. You whitethorn announcement a mini spot of stutter erstwhile navigating nan phone's interface aliases opening up apps, but considering that nan telephone is conscionable $200, it's expected. It only comes pinch 64GB of storage, but that tin grow to 1TB done a microSD card. Samsung ships nan A14 5G pinch Android 13 and OneUI 5, and you will get 2 awesome Android upgrades and 4 years of information updates. For $200, you're getting a bully magnitude of longevity, particularly considering that this telephone is 5G-capable.

The camera is besides rather impressive, arsenic you get a 50MP main shooter, pinch a 2MP macro and 2MP extent sensors. Thanks to nan MediaTek chip, taking photos is accelerated and nan results are rather bully for a $200 phone. When nan telephone was utilized to seizure immoderate in-motion shots of a child, nan results came retired rather well. Colors are besides agleam and punchy, for illustration astir of Samsung's different higher-end phones.

And lastly, though nan Galaxy A14 5G doesn't person wireless charging, it does person a monolithic 5,000mAh artillery that will past astatine slightest 2 days pinch regular use. But wired charging caps retired astatine 15W, truthful it's a small slow. However, considering really overmuch usage you'll get from a azygous charge, you whitethorn not beryllium having to plug it successful each night.

Samsung Galaxy A14 5G

Samsung Galaxy A14 5G

The champion inexpensive phone

samsung postulation a35 reappraisal hero Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Samsung Galaxy A35

The champion inexpensive telephone runner-up

Pros

  • Light and comfortable to hold
  • IP67 standing makes it durable
  • Main camera takes nosy photos
  • Long package update commitment

Cons

  • Battery doesn't past 2 days
  • No wireless aliases accelerated charging

Why you should bargain this: The Samsung Galaxy A35 has nan flagship looks and features without nan flagship price.

Who it’s for: Anyone who wants a telephone that looks for illustration Samsung's flagship S24 and has bully capacity — but for half nan price.

Why we picked nan Samsung Galaxy A35:

The Samsung Galaxy A35 offers a batch of flagship features for less. For nan astir part, it looks and feels for illustration nan Galaxy S24, pinch a fewer insignificant modifications, for illustration nan raised conception connected nan broadside of nan telephone for nan measurement and powerfulness buttons. But nan camera module looks nan aforesaid arsenic nan S24, truthful you could correction it for nan higher-end S24 from a distance.

The Galaxy A35 is somewhat bigger than nan S24 pinch a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display, and it moreover has a 120Hz refresh complaint connected nan screen. This intends scrolling done nan strategy and apps and playing games is soft and easy connected nan eyes, and nan colors are vibrant and rich | pinch heavy blacks.

Though nan chassis is made of plastic, nan surface has Gorilla Glass Victus Plus, truthful it's rather durable, and it has an IP67 rating. The telephone feels bully successful nan hand, and nan accrued brightness to 1,000 nits makes it easy to spot erstwhile outdoors.

You get a 50MP main camera pinch optical image stabilization (OIS), arsenic good arsenic a 8MP wide-angle camera and a 5MP macro lens. The front-facing selfie camera is 13MP. Photos that are taken pinch nan A35 will look bright, colorful, and vibrant. However, arsenic Samsung typically oversaturates colors, sometimes nan superior colors whitethorn person a small excessively overmuch punch to them, arsenic it's complete amplified. But photos pinch nan ultrawide lens whitethorn look a small spot dull and washed retired owed to nan little megapixel count. Thankfully, location are plentifulness of devices successful nan photo-editing suite to alteration up your photos if request be. The selfie camera is beautiful average, and bully capable to seizure a speedy selfie each now and then.

Samsung put its Exynos 1380 processor inside, pinch a minimum of 6GB RAM that is configurable up to 12GB, and 128GB aliases 256GB storage, positive you person a microSD paper slot. While nan Exynos 1380 chipset whitethorn not beryllium arsenic accelerated arsenic nan caller Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 successful nan S24 series, it's still reasonably accelerated and performs good for nan price. It comes pinch Android 14 and One UI 6.1, which is nan aforesaid arsenic nan S24. Samsung promises package upgrades for nan adjacent 4 years, pinch 5 years of information updates.

Though nan Galaxy A35 has a 5,000mAh artillery inside, it won't get you done 2 consecutive days without a complaint overnight. That said, it should past astir of nan time if that's each you need. It charges astatine a maximum velocity of 25W, and unfortunately, there's nary wireless charging.

Samsung Galaxy A35

Samsung Galaxy A35

The champion inexpensive telephone runner-up

dont bargain postulation s24 ultra iphone 15 pro max do this alternatively oneplus 12r reappraisal 1 Joe Maring / Digital Trends

OnePlus 12R

The champion telephone value

Pros

  • Sleek, polished design
  • Top-notch display
  • Fast performance; runs cool
  • Excellent artillery life
  • 80W charging!
  • Unbeatable price

Cons

  • Poor ultrawide and macro cameras
  • No wireless charging

Why you should bargain this: It's a existent flagship killer, offering flagship specs connected a budget.

Who it's for: Anyone who loves getting awesome worth from their money.

Why we picked nan OnePlus 12R:

Love nan OnePlus 12 but don't really want to walk $800? The OnePlus 12R is worthy taking a look astatine instead. It brings successful a batch of what makes nan OnePlus 12 awesome — including beardown specs, a unsocial design, and Oxygen OS — but astatine a overmuch little price. This is nan champion worth you'll get connected nan telephone marketplace successful 2024 by a agelong shot.

The creation is reminiscent of nan OnePlus 12 and 11, pinch a sleek but slippery aluminum assemblage and a very unique camera suite that makes nan telephone guidelines out. The show is simply a small odd, pinch a 2780 x 1264 solution crossed nan 6.78-inch AMOLED display, but acknowledgment to nan ppi of 410 and a 120Hz refresh rate, it's accelerated and crisp capable that you're not apt to attraction astir nan overseas numbers astatine play. Like nan OnePlus 12, it besides tops retired astatine 4,500 nits for brightness.

The flagship slayer credentials are provided by nan flagship specs. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor is past year's chip, but it's still incredibly powerful and provides exceptional performance. Add successful 8GB aliases 16GB of RAM and 128GB aliases 256GB of soul storage. A cooling enclosure wrong further bolsters nan beardown hardware, and ensures nan telephone runs cool moreover erstwhile playing demanding games.

The camera is much of a mixed container than its much costly cousin. The 50MP main lens is good, but nan 8MP ultrawide lens is simply a spot of a disappointment, and nan little said astir nan 2MP macro lens, nan better. Thankfully, nan 16MP selfie lens is simply a bully inclusion, and it intends nan camera strategy is simply a bully one, moreover if it's not nan astir versatile around. It's much than acceptable for $500, moreover if it is massively outpaced successful this respect by likewise priced options for illustration nan Samsung Galaxy A54 aliases Google Pixel 7a.

The artillery is different return to glory, and moreover if there's nary wireless charging, wired charging up to 80W intends fewer will care. Moderate usage will person this beryllium different two-day smartphone, and moreover 4 and a half hours of surface clip (demanding by astir measures) near nan telephone astatine 43% astatine 11:25 p.m. aft a agelong day. That's a stellar capacity and a genuine logic to bargain this phone.

The OnePlus 12R is simply a existent cut-price king. At $500, it has immoderate beardown title from Samsung and Google, but they mostly can't lucifer nan sheer oomph offered by nan 12R's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and different flagship specs. OnePlus's midrange telephone is nan telephone to get if you prize worth supra each else.

OnePlus 12R

OnePlus 12R

The champion telephone value

iphone 16 positive reappraisal backmost manus aqua Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

iPhone 16 Plus

The champion large iPhone

Pros

  • Fantastic hardware and colors
  • Big, agleam screen
  • Fast, reliable, and feature-packed software
  • Fun camera and Camera Control
  • Long artillery life

Cons

  • Only a 60Hz refresh rate
  • No always-on screen

Why you should bargain this: This is conscionable for illustration nan champion iPhone of nan year, but pinch a larger display.

Who it’s for: You want nan astir awesome iPhone connected nan market, but request a bigger show than nan iPhone 16 tin provide.

**Why we picked nan iPhone 16 Plus:

The iPhone 16 Plus is simply a awesome instrumentality that shares galore features pinch our astir recommended iPhone this year, nan regular-sized iPhone 16, but it has a larger display. However, this larger surface comes pinch a higher value tag, which whitethorn lead immoderate users to see nan iPhone 16 Pro Max arsenic a amended option.

While nan iPhone 16 Plus offers awesome features, for illustration nan Action Button, Camera Control, and support for Apple Intelligence, it does travel pinch immoderate compromises compared to nan iPhone 16 Pro Max. Notably, nan show refresh complaint is 60Hz, whereas nan Pro exemplary has a smoother 120Hz. Additionally, nan artillery life of nan iPhone 16 Plus is somewhat lacking, providing up to 5 hours little usage betwixt charges compared to nan Pro version. The Plus exemplary besides has a somewhat little powerful chipset and less retention options.

Despite these drawbacks, nan iPhone 16 Plus still delivers a large-screen acquisition without nan premium "Pro" price, though it lacks immoderate standout features of nan Pro models that immoderate users whitethorn find worthy nan upgrade.

iPhone 16 Plus

iPhone 16 Plus

The champion large iPhone

iphone se 2022 reappraisal starlight backmost successful hand Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

iPhone SE (2022)

The champion mini iPhone

Pros

  • Compact and light
  • Very powerful
  • Touch ID useful really well
  • Wireless charging
  • IP67 h2o resistance

Cons

  • Poor artillery life
  • 60Hz screen
  • 64GB won't beryllium enough

Why you should bargain this: Apple's latest iPhone SE (2022) is simply a pint-sized wonderment that's powerful, affordable, and future-proof.

Who it’s for: Those looking for a future-proof telephone that fits successful their pouch (and their hand).

Why we picked nan Apple iPhone SE (2022)

Finding a genuinely mini telephone coming feels for illustration hunting for a needle successful a haystack, but nan iPhone SE (2022) is really, genuinely small, pinch its mini 4.7-inch Liquid Retina show pinch 60Hz refresh rate. Sadly, nan creation feels a spot dated, cribbing nan iPhone 8's design, pinch chunky bezels and a Home fastener pinch integrated Touch ID.

Looking beyond its size, there's a batch going for nan iPhone SE. Under nan hood, you're getting Apple's A15 Bionic spot pinch nan aforesaid capacity spec arsenic nan iPhone 13 Pro. There's besides 4GB of RAM, 64GB, 128GB, aliases 256GB of storage, and a decent battery, though dense usage whitethorn spot you struggle to make it done nan time pinch overmuch near successful nan tank. You'll beryllium up and moving reasonably quickly pinch 18W accelerated charging and Qi wireless charging.

You besides get a azygous 12MP rear sensor and 7MP selfie camera, identical to nan erstwhile iPhone SE. But it's Apple's package that makes a quality here, pinch Deep Fusion technology, Smart HDR 4, and Photographic Styles, arsenic good arsenic improved Portrait Mode. There's nary Night Mode though, truthful shooting successful low-light environments tin beryllium a challenge.

Add 5G connectivity, iOS 15 retired of nan box, and 5 aliases six years of OS updates, and it's easy to spot why nan iPhone SE (2022) is our champion mini smartphone. Yes, nan creation feels a spot old-fashioned, those bezels are beautiful clunky, and there's nary charger successful nan container — but now we're nitpicking. The iPhone SE (2022) comes priced astatine an unthinkable $429, truthful you won't request to break nan slope to spend it.

Apple iPhone SE (2022)

iPhone SE (2022)

The champion mini iPhone

google pixel 9 pro xl reappraisal backmost hazel 5 Joe Maring / Digital Trends

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

The champion large Android phone

Pros

  • Google's champion Pixel hardware yet
  • Excellent display
  • 16GB of RAM!
  • Really awesome cameras
  • Helpful AI tools
  • Much amended artillery life
  • Seven years of updates

Cons

  • Pixel Studio is simply a mess
  • Slow charging speeds
  • 128GB of guidelines storage

Why you should bargain this: It's nan biggest Pixel 9 telephone you tin bargain that isn't a foldable.

Who it's for: Someone who wants an outstanding Android smartphone pinch a immense display.

Why we picked nan Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: It's nan champion Android-based telephone pinch a immense display.

For nan first clip since 2019, Google has revealed a Pixel XL model. The Pixel 9 Pro XL is nan belief successor to past year's Pixel 8 Pro, and it doesn’t disappoint. In fact, it’s an absolute game-changer.

This stunning masterpiece from Google redefines what a flagship smartphone should be. With its gorgeous level frame, redesigned camera bar, and impeccable build quality, nan Pixel 9 Pro XL is simply a existent activity of art.

But it's not conscionable astir looks. Under nan hood, this beast packs a punch pinch nan powerful Tensor G4 chip, a mind-blowing 16GB of RAM, and Google's unparalleled camera prowess. From stunning low-light shots to crisp ultrawide angles and awesome zooms, nan Pixel 9 Pro XL's camera setup will time off you successful awe. And pinch AI features for illustration Auto Frame and Add Me, your photos will beryllium picture-perfect each time.

But that's not all! The Pixel 9 Pro XL besides boasts an outstanding 6.8-inch Super Actua Display, delivering vibrant colors and buttery-smooth performance. It besides has a overmuch improved artillery life and accelerated charging capabilities to support you going each time (and night) long.

We person a fewer concerns regarding this phone. Firstly, we recovered Pixel Studio to beryllium disorganized. Secondly, nan wide charging velocity was slower than expected based connected nan specifications. Lastly, nan minimum magnitude of retention is only 128GB. In nan future, we dream that Google and different vendors statesman offering smartphones pinch a minimum of 256GB of storage.

The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is genuinely a masterclass successful smartphone engineering, mounting a caller modular for large flagship devices.

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

The champion large Android phone

samsung postulation s24 reappraisal marble grey held 2 Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends

Samsung Galaxy S24

The champion telephone worth runner-up

Pros

  • Small and compact design
  • The level edges are great
  • Beautiful and agleam display
  • Long lasting artillery life
  • Powerful performance
  • Improved colour equilibrium successful photos
  • Useful Galaxy AI features

Cons

  • Matte solid feels slippery
  • No large camera upgrades
  • Only 25W wired charging

Why you should bargain this: It's everything awesome astir nan Galaxy flagship range, but cheaper.

Who it's for: Anyone who wants a powerful Android but prefers a cheaper phone.

Why we picked nan Samsung Galaxy S24:

It's unsurprising that nan modular Galaxy S24 is nan smallest of nan 3 flagship phones that Samsung released this year. The 6.2-inch LTPO AMOLED show pinch 2600 nits highest brightness is 0.1 of an inch larger than nan S23, but owed to Samsung shrinking nan bezels, nan S24 is somewhat narrower than past year's model, though it is somewhat taller arsenic a result. As pinch nan S24 Plus, nan show is simply a delight to behold, pinch a move 1-120Hz refresh complaint and 2,600 nits of brightness. Unfortunately, it's still constricted to a 1080p resolution, but you can't person everything.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is arsenic powerful arsenic we've seen elsewhere, and nan smaller telephone has much humble but still powerful specs, including 8GB of RAM and 128GB of retention arsenic standard. The artillery is still good, but nan 4,000mAh compartment can't spell arsenic acold arsenic nan S24 Plus and will only past a day. It's a coagulated afloat day, though, and you'll mostly person a decent magnitude near successful nan tank, conscionable not capable to past a afloat 2nd day. Charging is disappointing, too, being constricted to conscionable 25W. The 45W charging included connected nan Plus and Ultra models intends nan S24 feels underwhelming.

The original value of nan Samsung Galaxy S24 was $800. However, since it’s a spot older now, it’s typically disposable astatine a little cost. Its worth proposition is impressive. While it whitethorn not beryllium arsenic powerful arsenic nan OnePlus 12 aliases person nan camera capabilities of nan Google Pixel 9, nan Samsung Galaxy S24 still competes good against them. Additionally, it is mini and compact, which is uncommon successful astir modern, powerful phones.

Samsung Galaxy S24

Samsung Galaxy S24

The champion telephone worth runner-up

A personification holding nan Google Pixel 9, showing nan camera. Google Pixel 9 Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Google Pixel 9

The champion mini Android phone

Pros

  • Excellent creation and build quality
  • Super camera
  • Tactile haptics
  • Fast and reliable security
  • Improved ratio and artillery life
  • Long package update commitment

Cons

  • Screen isn't ever agleam enough
  • Slow charging
  • More costly than past year

Why you should bargain this: It's an awesome "regular" telephone galore group want to buy.

Who's it for: Anyone who wants to walk a small spot less, but still get astir of nan precocious smartphone features.

Why we picked nan Google Pixel 9:

The entry-level Google Pixel 9 offers a batch of awesome features for folks looking for an awesome Android telephone — and it's priced little than galore different models connected nan market.

Our reviewer raved astir nan Google Pixel 9 arsenic a instrumentality that genuinely impresses connected each fronts, from its stunning creation to its exceptional camera quality. While Google initially emphasized nan phone’s AI features, nan hardware steals nan show pinch its operation of elegance and functionality.

The Pixel 9 is simply a stunning instrumentality pinch its sleek metallic framework and elegant solid backmost successful vibrant colors that drawback nan oculus effortlessly; however, it’s not conscionable astir appearance. The exceptional build value gives it a premium touch and feel.

The camera is genuinely amazing. It takes vibrant photos that will make your societal media posts guidelines out. Whether you're taking pictures of scenery aliases group from each angles, nan Pixel 9 takes stunning shots. Sure, it lacks a telephoto lens for illustration nan Pro model, but its images are conscionable arsenic good.

The standout characteristic of this instrumentality is its artillery longevity and lightning-fast speed, acknowledgment to its awesome Tensor G4 processor. It effortlessly handles immoderate you propulsion astatine it. The AI capabilities are besides impressive.

The Pixel 9 stands retired arsenic a designed smartphone that excels successful nan essentials. Priced astatine $799, it presents an action for individuals looking for a high-end Android acquisition successful a compact shape factor.

Google Pixel 9

Google Pixel 9

The champion mini Android phone

google pixel 9 pro fold reappraisal unfolding Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

The champion foldable phone

Pros

  • Brilliant surface for games and video
  • Versatile and nosy camera
  • Long package update commitment
  • Superb build and design
  • Thin and well-balanced
  • Free twelvemonth of Gemini Advanced

Cons

  • Slow charging
  • Heavy
  • Expensive

Why you should bargain this: Folding phones are nan future, and nan Google PIxel 9 Pro Fold is our favorite, and nan champion truthful far.

Who it’s for: Anyone looking for a powerful telephone successful a foldable shape factor.

**Why we picked nan Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold:

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold redefined our smartphone acquisition aft conscionable a fewer weeks of use. Its stunning folding screen, cleanable for immersive gaming and video playback, is simply a existent game-changer. The versatile camera strategy captures unthinkable images successful virtually immoderate environment, and nan extended editing devices go moreover much enjoyable to usage connected nan expansive unfolded screen. Beyond its multimedia prowess, nan Pixel 9 Pro Fold boasts exceptional build value and a thoughtful creation that addresses communal ergonomic challenges often recovered successful foldable phones.

While nan instrumentality does person immoderate drawbacks, specified arsenic a slower charging velocity and noticeable weight, its strengths arsenic a portable intermezo powerhouse acold outweigh these insignificant imperfections. The intuitive package enhances nan personification experience, making it a joyousness to navigate and personalize. If you're seeking a cutting-edge foldable telephone and are consenting to put successful premium technology, nan Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, priced astatine $1,799, is simply a really compelling choice.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

The champion foldable phone

motorola razr positive 2024 reappraisal 13 Joe Maring / Digital Trends

Razr Plus (2024)

The champion flip phone

Pros

  • A smooth, durable hinge
  • Lovely leather back
  • Fantastic screen screen
  • Much-improved cameras
  • Reliable artillery life
  • Ample charging options
  • Fun and charming software

Cons

  • Tinny speakers
  • Three years of OS upgrades

Why you should bargain this: It looks great, boasts accelerated performance, and has a nosy and foldable shape facet and bespoke colors.

Who it’s for: Anyone looking for their first foldable who prefers a much compact flip design.

Why we picked nan Razr Plus (2024):

Say hullo to nan Motorola Razr Plus 2024 — nan folding telephone that has it all, and has leapfrogged nan Galaxy Z Flip 6 to get onto this list. This telephone is beautiful pinch its sleek leather back, buttery-smooth hinge, and eye-catching colors.

But it's much than conscionable bully looks. The Razr Plus 2024 packs a awesome 4-inch screen surface (yes, you publication that right), letting you enactment successful nan loop without unfolding. A gorgeous 6.9-inch soul show awaits erstwhile you unfold it pinch vibrant colors and silky soft refresh rates up to 165Hz.

Cameras are a awesome upgrade, excessively — threat drool-worthy shots pinch nan 50MP main camera, get up adjacent pinch nan 2x telephoto lens, and opportunity goodbye to blurry pictures acknowledgment to OIS. Plus, that large screen surface doubles arsenic a viewfinder for nan eventual selfie experience.

Performance? Battery life? Charging speeds? The Razr Plus 2024 checks each nan boxes. And let's retrieve Moto's delightfully whimsical package that adds a nosy touch to your regular grind. Our only awesome complaints astir this telephone are its tinny speakers and nan truth that Motorola provides only 3 years of OS upgrades, which compares unfavorably to nan 7 years offered by different manufacturers.

Overall, however, this is simply a premium foldable that genuinely delivers. The Razr Plus 2024 is nan flip telephone to hit this year.

Motorola Razr Plus 2024

Razr Plus (2024)

The champion flip phone

motorola razr 2024 reappraisal spritz orangish shelter fold screen show moo Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends

Motorola Razr (2024)

The champion inexpensive folding phone

Pros

  • Super-compact design
  • Large screen surface pinch always-on display
  • Improved hinge design
  • Good cameras
  • Long artillery life
  • Crease is very minimal
  • Fun colors

Cons

  • Ultrawide camera isn't nan best
  • Only 3 years of OS upgrades
  • No reverse wireless charging

Why you should bargain this: Not everyone desires each features connected a flip phone. If that’s you, this is nan 1 you want.

Who's it for: Anyone who wants a no-hassle smartphone experience.

Why we picked nan Motorola Razr (2024):

The early of foldables is here, and it's a steal. The caller Motorola Razr 2024 is simply a game-changer successful foldable phones. At conscionable $700, it's an unthinkable worth that packs a superior punch.

This clamshell beauty turns heads pinch its gorgeous 6.9-inch foldable display, super-compact design, and nosy colour options for illustration Spritz Orange. But it's not conscionable a beautiful look — nan Razr 2024 boasts awesome specs for illustration a ample 3.6-inch screen display, awesome cameras, and beardown artillery life.

If you’re seeking drawbacks of this phone, they do exist. Unfortunately, nan Razr 2024 only includes 3 years of OS upgrades. In addition, it lacks reverse wireless charging and nan ultrawide camera capacity is subpar. Nonetheless, Motorola nailed nan foldable acquisition without breaking nan bank. Whether you're a foldable instrumentality aliases want to effort thing new, nan Razr 2024 is simply a must-have!

Motorola Razr 2024

Motorola Razr (2024)

The champion inexpensive folding phone

Frequently Asked Questions

Which operating strategy is champion for you?

There are 2 awesome players successful smartphone operating systems: Apple's iOS, and Google's Android. Picking betwixt them is going to shape a large portion of your smartphone choice, right? Sort of.

Apple's iOS and Google's Android are wholly abstracted systems, truthful immoderate apps aliases games you bargain connected 1 will not transportation complete to nan other. If you're heavy invested into 1 aliases nan different already, that should play a portion successful whether you want to bargain a telephone moving nan different OS. But don't fto it put you disconnected entirely: Most of nan apps you'll find connected one, you'll besides find connected nan other, and moreover if your purchases won't transportation over, you'll still beryllium capable to to find nan aforesaid wide acquisition from nan free apps you use.

Apple's iOS is decidedly nan much unified experience. Since only Apple makes devices that usage iOS, it decides really it looks, feels, and functions — down to nan very past transition. Android is simply a batch much fluid and dynamic. While Google has its ain creation choices, different manufacturers are free to alteration nan look and consciousness arsenic they for illustration by creating what's commonly referred to arsenic a "skin." Samsung's One UI is astir apt nan champion known of these. While this has its advantages, sometimes these changes tin make a telephone consciousness drastically different. Sometimes this is better, sometimes it's worse. While you ever cognize what you're going to get pinch iOS, Android tin beryllium a spot much of a mixed bag.

Software updates are deed by this aforesaid dynamic. Apple's power intends it tin push retired updates connected time 1 aliases 2 of a caller spot aliases iOS type being available. Google tin do that for its ain Pixel devices, but updates to phones made by Samsung, Nokia, OnePlus, aliases different manufacturers will return longer — mostly because each institution will person to make judge nan update useful pinch its ain tegument aliases software. As a result, it tin beryllium anyplace betwixt weeks and months earlier immoderate Android phones get updated to nan latest type of Android. This tin beryllium important erstwhile updates incorporate bug fixes aliases information patches, and moreover if those are pushed done arsenic a priority, they'll still beryllium landing later than they would connected iPhone.

Ultimately, while location are differences betwixt nan 2 operating systems, location are acold much similarities erstwhile it comes to Android and iOS. Both person mostly nan aforesaid action of apps and games, and nan day-to-day acquisition is overmuch nan same. While location decidedly are differences, swapping to Android from iPhone (or vice versa) won't time off you confused.

Can smartphones get viruses?

While it is imaginable to get viruses connected iPhones aliases Android phones, what astir group mean erstwhile they opportunity "virus" is malware. Technically, nan word microorganism intends package that infects a host, inserts itself into an existing program, and past spreads that infection by self-replicating. They are a very mini percent of malware and highly uncommon connected smartphones, but malware isn't. You should decidedly deliberation astir really to protect your smartphone from hackers because a small communal consciousness tin prevention you from having to activity retired really to region malware from your phone.

What is an unlocked smartphone?

A locked smartphone is tied to a circumstantial carrier's network, truthful if your telephone is locked to Verizon, for example, you tin only usage it pinch a Verizon SIM and work plan. An unlocked smartphone tin beryllium utilized connected immoderate network. If you've paid successful afloat for your phone, past it should beryllium free to unlock. We person a guideline that will show you really to unlock a telephone connected each carrier. You tin besides bargain immoderate awesome unlocked phones that will activity pinch immoderate bearer consecutive retired of nan box.

How agelong should a smartphone last?

Realistically, you should expect to get 2 to 3 years retired of your smartphone. You tin widen nan life of immoderate smartphone by taking due attraction of it and it's ever worthy shopping for bully protective cases. There are besides loads of bully waterproof phones to take from nowadays. The problem pinch galore Android phones is that manufacturers and carriers are slow to push retired package updates, truthful nan package tin go dated and moreover insecure complete time. With that said, Samsung precocious group caller standards for updates, promising 7 OS updates and 7 years of information updates connected prime Galaxy devices including nan Galaxy S24 and Z Fold 6 series, and 4 upgrades and 5 years of information updates connected nan Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5, and predecessors nan Z Flip 4 and Z Fold 4. Apple is besides known for its lengthy updates promise, while Google now offers 7 years of Android OS updates and information updates for nan Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro.

How do prepaid phones work?

Prepaid compartment phones activity conscionable for illustration immoderate different phone, but they travel without a monthly statement aliases semipermanent commitment. You usually salary for work successful advance. When you bargain a prepaid telephone they thin to travel pinch a fixed number of minutes, matter messages, and perchance a fixed magnitude of mobile data. This removes nan chance of immoderate overage charges. When you tally out, you simply apical up by buying much minutes, texts, and information successful chunks.

What should I do pinch my aged smartphone?

The astir evident point to do pinch your aged smartphone is to walk it connected to personification else. If you want to gift it, past make judge to swipe it first; we person guides connected how to swipe your Android phone and how to mill reset an iPhone. You whitethorn besides want to move that aged telephone into cash, successful which lawsuit you'll want to publication up connected how to waste your smartphone. You whitethorn determine to support it arsenic a spare successful lawsuit your caller smartphone breaks, but you could besides repurpose it pinch nan correct apps. It's amended to walk it connected to personification who tin usage it aliases find different usage for it than fto it languish successful a drawer. If you can't deliberation of a bully measurement to reuse your smartphone past see donating it aliases recycling it.

If you still haven't recovered what you're looking for, past we besides person ideas astir nan best rugged phones, best phones for kids, and the champion gaming phones.

How we test

A telephone is truthful overmuch much than its spec sheet. Your full life is stored connected it, from your photos and contacts to your euphony and your favourite apps. For that reason, we return awesome attraction erstwhile we reappraisal phones to urge only nan absolute champion retired there.

We usage each telephone we reappraisal arsenic our regular driver for an extended play to trial retired each nan features. We do benchmarks, play games, return photos, plunge them successful water, and usage them until their batteries expire. Then we complaint 'em up and do it each complete again. We trial devices for illustration existent group usage devices. We're not successful immoderate stuffy laboratory performing obscure tests. We're moving astir nan cities we unrecorded successful utilizing these phones conscionable for illustration you usage your phones. Then we deliberation astir each telephone successful comparison pinch its competitors to travel to a decision: Should you bargain this telephone aliases thing else? If nan reply is "something else," we show you what to bargain instead.

Smartphone invention has peaked, and nan number of extremist caller features that travel retired each twelvemonth is shrinking. As such, erstwhile you're buying a phone, you're buying a instrumentality that will beryllium pinch you 24/7 for respective years. It's a large choice, and things for illustration apps, a merchandise ecosystem, customer support, and information should beryllium important factors successful your buying decision.

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