Smartphones are communication devices or tools that have grown into productivity, entertainment and connectivity hubs in a world where technology changes very quickly. 2024 is just around the corner, and the market seems overrun by new cutting-edge products in smartphones, which will change everything. Fortunately, we here at BGR have the ultimate guide to the best smartphones of 2024 that will help you make an informed purchasing decision regardless of your preference. Whether you are hunting for a new-bezel-free flagship, a high-performance mobile gaming beast, or budget-friendly gadget, you may find good piece to hand in to audience here.
1. 2024 Smartphone Trends Summary
1.1 Display Technologies Innovations
The year of 2024: your phone gives you more vivid and immersed experiences than ever before. These improvements include high-refresh-rate screens, OLED technology and dynamic HDR to bolster visual experiences not only for gaming but also streaming and other uses. There will even be models that come with foldable displays, giving them an extra degree of adaptability.
1.2 Improved Camera Systems
Certainly, camera tech remains a big trend. As we all know, smartphones currently offer better multi-lens systems, low-light performance and camera-related features through AI. But with the high-resolution sensors and very nice zoom capabilities we see now in mobile devices, how well does mobile photography hold up?
1.3 Improved Performance and Battery Life
The software is standardized to match other 2024 smartphones that can help in boosting the speed and efficiency; it has been working on reducing longer load times. Along with battery technology, these devices promise better battery life and faster charging — one of the most basic yet frequently frustrating parts of using a smartphone.
1.4 AI and Machine Learning Integration
AI and machine learning always improve the experience. These innovations are proving to make your smart phone even more user-friendly, from smarter virtual assistants to improved app performance and security features.
2. Top Smartphones of 2024
2.1 Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Overview:
The 2024 flagship of Cupertino giant Apple: the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The incredible hardware lands in an extraordinary body that embodies some new features beyond just refined performance, a top-notch camera experience, high-quality display and astonishing build materials.
Key Features:
Display: 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with ProMotion at 120Hz
A18 Bionic chip for incredibly fast and efficient performance
Camera System: Triple 48MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide, and 12MP telephoto lenses; advanced Night mode and ProRAW capabilities
Battery: Talk time goes up to 28 hours, fast charging is improved and there’s MagSafe support.
New features for iOS 18 with improved customization and enhanced privacy capabilities.
Pros:
Ceramic shield and stainless steel. Premium build.
Excellent camera performance, especially in low light.
Full Apple Ecosystem Integration
Cons:
Expensive, so a big outlay.
Can’t be customized as much as some Android devices
2.2 Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Overview:
With a real powerhouse machine in Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, that combines top-notch performance with an impressive set of cameras and versatile display technology.
Key Features:
Screen: 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X | 120Hz refresh rate, WQHD+ resolution
Exynos 2400 or Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (USA) for top-tier performance.
Main Camera: 200MP (7mm) Lens, 12MP (15mm) UltraWide lens,10 Megapixel Periscope Telephoto Lens and 10 Megapixel Telephoto Lens
Battery : 5000mAh battery with fast charging, wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.
Software: Android 14 with Samsung One UI 6 for increased customisation and features.
Pros:
State-of-the-art camera system, great zoom, ultra-high resolution.
The color accuracy and deep blacks are just stunning.
Highly customizable via One UI
Cons:
For some, the bulky design may not be to their liking.
For some users, the premium pricing can be a barrier
2.3 Google Pixel 8 Pro
Overview:
Google Pixel 8 Pro, which once again offers the perfect Android experience Google apart from being the market leader in terms of artificial intelligence, is made with camera-centric smart phones included.
Key Features:
Screen: 6.7-inch LTPO OLED, QHD+, 120Hz
Google Tensor G3 chip, AI/ML processing-focused.
Camera System: 50MP main sensor, 48MP ultra-wide and 48MP telephoto lenses with advanced computational photography.
Battery: 5100mAh battery with fast charging and wireless charging dimensions—171.6 x 82.8 x 9 mm; weight—for 200 g
Mobile OS: Android 14 (with unique Pixel features and updates)
Pros:
Advanced AI-powered camera features.
Regular software and security updates, along with stock Android experience.
Offers great value for the price given the premium features it presents.
Cons:
Not available in all countries.
Not as tweak-happy as other Androiders
2.4 OnePlus 12 Pro
Overview:
OnePlus has been a top choice among customers who want high-end performance and task flow without having to spend the premium prices that most competitors ask for, with the OnePlus 12 Pro readying itself to fulfill this demand.
Key Features:
Display: 6.7 QHD+ Fluid AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate
Chip: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for class-leading power blended with efficiency
Triple-lens system: 50MP main sensor, 48MP ultra-wide and 32MP telephoto lenses
Battery Life: 4600mAh battery with Warp Charge 100 extremely fast charging.
OS: OxygenOS based on Android 14, named for its fast experience and numerous personalization alternatives.
Pros:
Wrap-upBest in class performance; improved fast-charging capabilities.
Excellent bang-for-your-buck for a flagship.
OxygenOS ExperienceCustomizability
Cons:
Jun 08, 2018 Camera performance may not quite match the very best.
Not available in all areas
2.5 Xiaomi Mi 13 Ultra
Overview:
The Xiaomi Mi 13 Ultra is for those of you with a lot of thirst for performance, tall camera capabilities, in addition to a broad display.
Key Features:
Screen: A 6.73-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of WQHD+ and a refresh rate of 120Hz
CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for great performance
Cameras: 50MP main lens, 50MP ultra-wide lens, 50MP telephoto lens and finally 50MP periscope telephoto lenses.
Battery life: 5000mAh battery, with fast charging (15W) and wireless charging, reverse wireless charging.
OS: MIUI 15 on top of Android 14, Highly customizable OS.
Pros:
Ultra-versatile, high-res camera system
Vibrant colors and sharp resolution, impressive display quality.
It offers top performance in a price class.
Cons:
The only drawback is the MIUI interface on which it runs, which sometimes does not appear as neat and well arranged as some other interfaces.
Not all of the options are available outside certain regions.
Comparing Key Aspects
1. Display Quality
That’s the iPhone 15 Pro MaxReview: bleed color accurate and eye-searing with new ProMotion technology for a smoother scroll.
Galaxy S24 Ultra: Excellent display quality with great color reproduction and high refresh rate.
Pixel 8 Pro: Great display with good colors and smooth performance.
OnePlus 12 Pro: Great smoothness with true colors at a slightly lower price.
Mi 13 Ultra: Awesome Display with high resolution and brightness.
2. Camera Performance
The best cameras in smartphones, with no compromises! (With the flagship models like iPhone 15 Pro Max)
The Galaxy S24 Ultra: Best in zoom and high-resolution photography.
Pixel 8 Pro : Great AI-driven photography features and computational photography.
OnePlus 12 ProBest performance, but not as polished as the others.
Mi 13 ultra: A complete camera system with a high-resolution and good performance.
3. Battery Life and Charging
iPhone 15 Pro Max: Power pill battery and graphene-informed fast charging, MagSafe support.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Big battery with ultra-fast and wireless charging!
Versatile battery capacity featurePixel 8 Pro: Comparable fast and wireless charging
OnePlus 12 Pro: The phone supports fast charging with Warp Charge 100 but offers a slightly lower battery capacity.
Mi 13 Ultra: Long-lasting juice & charging versatility
4. Software Experience
And one more model: iPhone 15 Pro Max with iOS 18 in the Apple ecosystem.
Samsung has been running the competition with its One UI since inception and now with Android 14, we can probably expect more customisations than ever before available on the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro: Pure Android experience with timely updates & unique features.
OxygenOS (Android 14) by OnePlus is the smooth and highly configurable OS.
Mi 13 Ultra: MIUI 15, which is large and feature-packed yet difficult to learn.
Conclusion
Performance, camera quality, display technology and price are key factors for picking out the right smartphone in 2024 The top models for this year — the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, Google Pixel 8 Pro, OnePlus 12 Pro and Xiaomi Mi 13 Ultra—all perform differently based on a variety of set parameters.