Best Phone 2024: Top 10 Smartphones Today

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

Samsung has put that high price tag to good use, delivering a superb user experience with no real weaknesses. And there are a catalogue of major strengths, from incredible overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 performance to five distinct camera lenses, each of which more than hold their own.

You still get a gorgeous 6.8-inch AMOLED display and built-in S Pen, yet this is still a two-day phone for many people in terms of battery life.

What’s more, the the software experience is the best it’s ever been, with a slick One UI skin over Android 14 and seven years of both OS and security updates. A selection of genuinely useful AI features are the icing on the cake.

The S24 Ultra’s price and big, bulky design aren’t for everyone. But it’s the most complete smartphone money can buy.

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

Not only does the Tensor G3 chip boost performance, it enables a range of genuinely useful software features. Many of these improve the photography experience, where Google’s advanced processing and capable lenses deliver consistently excellent photos.

Android 14 on the Pixel is the cleanest and most intuitive software on any smartphone, and it’ll now be supported by Google for an incredible seven years. Add in a luxurious, premium build and price that still undercuts the top-tier flagships, and the Pixel 8 Pro is a superb smartphone.

However, it’s not all good news. The battery life and charging could still do with improvement, while the big, heavy design won’t suit everyone.

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

Alternatively, you may want to wait for the Pixel 9 Pro, which isn’t far away.

Xiaomi’s flagships have taken excellent photos for a few years now, but the 14 Ultra takes things to the next level.

It’s the first smartphone that can genuinely replace a DSLR for most people, such is the quality and versatility of the system on offer. It includes four 50Mp rear lenses and a 32Mp selfie camera, all of which take superb photos in basically any environment.

And while expensive, the optional Photography Kit accessory makes the experience even closer to a real camera.

With a gorgeous design, stunning display, great performance and solid battery life supported by 90W fast charging, the 14 Ultra is one of the few phones that justifies its sky-high price tag. However, that also makes it unaffordable for many people, while the HyperOS software experience still isn’t great.

Those two factors prevent it from being higher in this list, but if photography is your top priority, this is the phone to buy.

If you’d rather something more affordable, the regular Xiaomi 14 is nearly as good when it comes to photography.

The iPhone 15 Pro has a collection of small changes that, when combined, represent a significant upgrade.

A new titanium build is durable but noticeable lighter, and there’s also a new customisable Action Button to replace the mute switch. Apple’s A17 Pro chipset is the most capable on any smartphone, and delivers truly stellar performance, while the introduction of USB-C is undoubtedly a step forward.

The 6.1in display is relatively compact by modern phone standards, but it looks excellent and benefits from the 120Hz refresh rate. Battery life is generally solid, though you’ll still have to put up with slow charging speeds.

But despite the missing 5x optical zoom on the telephoto lens, the all-round camera experience is superb. Many apps now support the genuinely useful Dynamic Island, and iOS 17 is just as slick and intuitive as ever.

For most people, the iPhone 15 Pro is the sweet spot in Apple’s 2023 smartphone range.

For a few years now, Google’s A-Series handsets have offered the best value for money in the entire smartphone. However, despite plenty of strengths, the Pixel 8a has been usurped in this regard by the OnePlus Nord 4.

That starts with superb build quality, with one piece of sturdy aluminium extending across the back and sides of the phone. At the front is a gorgeous 120Hz OLED screen, supplemented by strong performance and all-day battery life.

Provided you’re a fan of the design, the compromises here are concentrated around the cameras. There’s no telephoto lens, meaning zoom shots are disappointing, while the ultrawide OnePlus has opted for instead flatters to deceive.

However, if you primarily use the main lens anyway, you won’t be disappointed. And with six years of security updates, the Nord 4’s longevity is almost as good as the Pixel 8a’s.

Overall, it’s the leading choice if you’re in the market for a mid-range phone.

When you think of flip phones released in 2024, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 6 is probably the first one that comes to mind. But while it is worth considering, the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra (known as the Razr+ (2024) in some markets) is a better choice for most people.

The 4-inch, 165Hz outer screen is the main reason for this. Not only is it significantly larger than rivals, you can run any app you like on it without any complicated workarounds. The 6.9-inch, 165Hz internal display is just as impressive, with a crease that’s barely noticeable.

While not quite as good as the best camera phones, the Razr 50 Ultra’s rear cameras can take great shots in a range of environments. However, Motorola has gone for 2x telephoto rather than ultrawide lens, while the internal selfie camera isn’t very good.

But with slick software (despite some cover screen bugs), solid battery life and decent charging speeds, Motorola is onto a winner. The Z Flip 6 is better in some areas, including long software support, but the Razr is a better all-round pick for most people.

The OnePlus 12 is significantly more expensive than the OnePlus 11, meaning it no longer takes the title of best value flagship.

However, it still undercuts most flagships on price, yet delivers everything most people are looking for in a smartphone.

Performance from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset is superb, while the 120Hz AMOLED screen delivers a top-tier viewing experience. Even the main and telephoto cameras, a slight weakness of some earlier OnePlus phones, are now among the best around. However, the wide angle and selfie cameras could still be improved.

Battery life is strong, and it’s nice to see the 100W fast charging is now combined with fast 50W wireless charging.

OnePlus’ OxygenOS skin (now over Android 14) is still excellent, though the commitment to four OS updates and five years of security patches is a step down from the best of Google and Samsung (both seven).

But overall, the OnePlus 12 is a superb smartphone that’s easy to recommend. If you’re looking for a foldable, consider the OnePlus Open instead.

There are two upgrades that make the regular iPhone 15 instantly better than 2022’s iPhone 14. The introduction of USB-C makes the device more versatile, allowing you to easily connect a range of different accessories.

And then there’s the Dynamic Island, the pill-shaped cut-out used to display a variety of useful information – it was previously exclusive to Pro models.

The iPhone 15 is very similar in other areas, but that’s usually not a bad thing. The A16 Bionic chip delivers small boosts to performance and power efficiency, with the latter helping deliver solid batter life.

With slick iOS software and a premium build, it’s the best value iPhone 15 model you can buy. But if a higher refresh rate display or fast charging are important to you, you’ll be better off elsewhere.

Read our full iPhone 15 review

CMF, Nothing’s sub-brand, has previously focused on wearables and audio products.

But its first attempt at a smartphone is an undoubted success, combining a fun look with solid core features and an impressively low price tag – just £209/$199.

Its design is the clear highlight, with a back panel that can easily be swapped out and attachment for a lanyard, kickstand, or card wallet, all of which CMF sells as optional extras. However, even if you don’t care about any of that stuff, the Phone 1 has strong performance and an attractive display, both of which are must-haves on a modern smartphone.

Battery life is decent, while Nothing’s unique take on Android combines a unique look with no bloatware.

The lack of NFC (and so no support for contactless payments) is the biggest potential dealbreaker, while the cameras and water resistance could do with work. Samsung’s Galaxy A15 5G or A15 4G are the cheap phones to get if you value long software support, too.

But as a complete package, the CMF Phone 1 is the best all-rounder in the budget smartphone market right now.

For many people, the S24+ is the sweet spot in Samsung’s Galaxy S24 range. While you miss out on the S Pen support and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (in the UK; US models still get it), it’s still a fantastic phone in its own right.

They Exynos 2400-powered model we tested still offers very good performance, especially when combined with that high-quality 6.7-inch display and premium design. The cameras are good and battery life is excellent.

Other key features from the S24 Ultra do make it here, including the useful AI features, and superb seven years of software updates.

Besides slow charging and a still-premium price tag, there’s very little to dislike here.