Sony coming to the PS5 that should streamline the whole process of wrangling people into a multiplayer game. The new tool will let you invite people into a game even when they aren’t at a console or using the PlayStation app. The system generates a link, via the app, that can be shared anywhere online. When the recipient clicks the link, they will be able to hop into a multiplayer session. You don’t even have to be friends. Easy peasy. That sure beats having to (side-eyes Nintendo.)
The obvious use case scenario here? You meet some people online via social media and want to jump into a game quickly, without having to pass usernames back and forth. Sony says you’ll be able to “start playing together right away.” The tool will also generate a QR code along with the link, which is something PS5 owners are already familiar with when it comes to multiplayer games.
There are some caveats. This feature isn’t coming until later in the year and it’s only for PS5 games. Sony also warns that some titles may require an update before everything works seamlessly. Of course, most PS5 games require a PlayStation Plus subscription to use multiplayer, and those .
Sony has even developed a custom live widget for multiplayer invites in Discord. When you share a link via Discord, the widget automatically refreshes to show whether or not a multiplayer session is active or not, so you won’t jump into an empty lobby to watch tumbleweeds roll by. Just like the forthcoming invite tool, the Discord widget is only available for PS5 games.
Sony
Finally, the company’s working on a related tool that will let people share their PlayStation Network profile on any messaging or social app by generating a link on the PlayStation app, similar to how the aforementioned feature will work. This is also coming later this year.
One thing the Galaxy Z Flip series lacks is a telephoto camera. All the models released so far only feature wide and ultra-wide lenses, but new evidence has emerged to suggest that Samsung might eventually add a third sensor to the back of its future Galaxy Z Flip phones.
A Samsung patent unearthed by GalaxyClub reveals an intriguing Galaxy Z Flip design featuring three rear-facing cameras and a rectangular cover screen that doesn’t have a folder-like notch.
As tempting as it may be to hope that the upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 6 will adopt a zoom camera, all the evidence so far points to the contrary.
In other words, this patent doesn’t seem to reflect the design of the next Samsung foldable flip phone. However, the patent suggests that Samsung is tinkering with the idea of implementing a triple camera setup on future Z Flip models.
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 at the earliest
Interestingly, this patent application was filed in mid-2022 and granted in early 2023. It is not a new design per se, and only time will tell if it will become a reality.
At the earliest, we can speculate that the Galaxy Z Flip 7, which should go on sale in 2025, could have a triple camera setup featuring a telephoto camera. However, it’s too early to be sure. Patent applications don’t always reflect final designs or a company’s real intentions.
As far as the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is concerned, it is expected to feature two rear-facing cameras — a wide and an ultra-wide. And according to early reports, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 could upgrade its primary shooter from a 12MP unit to a 50MP one, ensuring better photos and more advanced camera features.
Other leaks indicate that the Galaxy Z Flip 6 will look more or less the same as the Galaxy Z Flip 5 but boast improved hardware, including a newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. The phone should also ship with Galaxy AI.
Microsoft has unveiled its latest light AI model called the Phi-3 Mini designed to run on smartphones and other local devices, it revealed in a new research paper. Trained on 3.8 billion parameters, it’s the first of three small Phi-3 language models the company will release in the near future. The aim is to provide a cheaper alternative to cloud-powered LLMs, allowing smaller organizations to adopt AI.
According to Microsoft, the new model handily outperforms its previous Phi-2 small model and is on par with larger models like Llama 2. In fact, the company says Phi-3 Mini provides responses close to the level of a model 10 times its size.
“The innovation lies entirely in our dataset for training,” according to the research paper. That dataset is based on the Phi-2 model, but uses “heavily filtered web data and synthetic data,” the team states. In fact, a separate LLM was used to do both of those chores, effectively creating new data that allows the smaller language model to be more efficient. The team was supposedly inspired by children’s books that use simpler language to get across complex topics, according to The Verge.
Microsoft
While it still can’t produce the results of cloud-powered LLMs, Phi-3 Mini can outperform Phi-2 and other small language models (Mistral, Gemma, Llama-3-In) in tasks ranging from math to programming to academic tests. At the same time, it runs on devices as simple as smartphones, with no internet connection required.
Its main limitation is breadth of “factual knowledge” due to the smaller dataset size — hence why it doesn’t perform well in the “TriviaQA” test. Still, it should be good for models like that only require smallish internal data sets. That could allow companies that can’t afford cloud-connected LLMs to jump into AI, Microsoft hopes.
Phi-3 Mini is now available on Azure, Hugging Face and Ollama. Microsoft is next set to release Phi-3 Small and Phi-3 Medium with significantly higher capabilities (7 billion and 14 billion parameters, respectively).
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The best phone for you will be the phone that does everything you need, whether you want something simple and capable like the Apple iPhone 15, or a feature-packed technology marvel like the Galaxy S24 Ultra, our best phone all around to start 2024. No matter what you need, we’ve got recommendations for all of the best phones available right now.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is such a supremely powerful, capable device that we had to make it our top pick, but there is still plenty of room for improvement at the top. We’re loving the latest iOS 17 software found on the best iPhones, including the iPhone 15 Pro Max, our premium iPhone pick. Samsung has a lot to learn when it comes to software.
Still, the Galaxy S24 Ultra earns top marks for its amazing battery life, superior performance, and improved durability, and it does so much more than other phones that it’s almost a class by itself. It can actually replace a laptop computer, and the S Pen is much more than a simple stylus.
In 2023, Samsung and Google set a new standard with promises to support the latest flagship phones for seven years of Android OS and security updates. That’s a major leap forward, and even beats Apple‘s traditional five years of support. We’ll see if Apple tries to match the Android world, and if other Android phone makers can keep up.
The best phones you can buy aren’t just the most expensive flagship phones, though. You can find great performance and excellent cameras on phones that cost hundreds less, like Google’s Pixel 8 Pro and phones from OnePlus. If you don’t care as much about cameras, you can even get a cool foldable phone in the Motorola Razr Ultra for less than a new iPhone.
If you don’t find a model that takes your fancy among the below options, check out our brand-specific rankings instead. We’ve reviewed all the latest handsets, and detailed the best Samsung phones, best iPhones, and best Google Pixel phones elsewhere on TechRadar.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is so much more than just a smartphone that it practically deserves its own category. It’s expensive, complicated, and undeniably the best phone you can buy overall. If you don’t need this much power and capability, keep reading, but if you are looking for a phone that can replace your laptop, and every other phone, look no further. Read more below
A superfast A16 Bionic chipset, USB-C port, 48MP main camera and the Dynamic Island ensure that, for the first time in a long while, Apple’s latest standard iPhone offers cracking value for money. Read more below
If you want a big iPhone and can meet the hefty asking price, then the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s A17 Pro chipset, titanium design and 5x periscope zoom lens make it the best overall choice. Read more below
The Google Pixel 8 Pro is more phone than Google has ever given us. It has the best cameras ever on a Pixel, but it’s the machine learning features like a call screener and magic photo editor that set this phone apart. Read more below
The Pixel 6a was our favorite budget phone, but the Pixel 7 just offers so much more in terms of performance, durability, and camera power that we have to recommend it, especially since it goes on sale so often and is likely to drop further in price. Read more below
The iPhone 13 is still available new from Apple, and it’s the best value you can find on an iPhone. It comes in great color options, and it’s powered by the same chip that’s in the iPhone 14. Apple updates its phones for five years, so this phone has plenty of time left. Read more below
The Motorola Razr Plus is a clamshell foldable triumph. It’s so far ahead of what other clamshell phones offer that there’s barely a flaw that isn’t forgivable. Read more below
The OnePlus Open boasts a superior design, display, and set of cameras to its main competitors from Google and Samsung, making it the best foldable phone available today. Read more below
The best phone in 2024
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
Below, you’ll find full write-ups for each of the best phones in our list. We’ve tested each model extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.
The best overall phone
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
1. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
The best overall phone
Specifications
Release date: January 2024
Weight: 232g
Dimensions: 162.3 x 79.0 x 8.6mm
OS; Expected Upgrades: Android 14 / One UI 6; 7 years of upgrades
Screen size: 6.8-inch
Resolution: QHD+
CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform for Galaxy
✅ You want more than just a smartphone: The Galaxy S24 Ultra gives you more than any other smartphone. It can act as a laptop replacement, a drawing tablet, and an entire camera bag.
✅ You want to feel the future: The Galaxy AI features can sometimes feel magical, especially if you use the language translation and some of the better summary features. There are definitely more AI features to come, so this phone could get better with time.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You don’t need all of that phone: If you don’t need everything and more, you can spend less and still get a great phone. It just won’t be Ultra.
❌ You prefer elegance and simplicity: The Samsung software is really showing its age, especially against newer and simpler phones like the elegant iPhone 15 Pro running iOS 17, which is sociable and fun, not confusing.
The bottom line
📱 The Galaxy S24 Ultra takes smartphone features to the extreme. You won’t find a more capable, adaptable, and clever device for any price, but that price is mighty steep. If you don’t need everything, you can keep reading, but if you want the best phone, the best cameras, and the best overall, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is the phone to beat. ★★★★½
Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra takes smartphone features to the extreme, then keeps going. It’s a top-performing phone, the best phone you can buy overall in so many ways. It has better battery life and performance than the iPhone, more versatile cameras than any other Android, and it packs features we don’t see in smartphones these days, like the Samsung DeX desktop environment.
Design: The differences between the Galaxy S24 Ultra and last year’s phone are subtle but significant. The S24 Ultra is a big slab of phone, now more flat than before, and that makes it easier to see in bright light and easier to use, especially with the S Pen. Unfortunately, it’s still a gigantic device, and titanium didn’t help Samsung shed weight.
Display: You won’t find a better all-around display on a smartphone than the bright OLED screen on the Galaxy S24 Ultra. You can find a bit brighter, a bit faster, but the anti-glare finish helps in bright light, and Samsung’s display is colorful and sharp for every task.
Camera: Samsung has done more work behind the scenes on its Galaxy S24 Ultra cameras than on the spec sheet, and the results pay off with better images in every setting. Portrait and landscape photos are much better, but even zoom shots have been improved, though we do miss that extra 10X zoom.
Performance: If you need the fastest phone, this is the one to buy. In our benchmark tests and real world gaming and photo editing, the Galaxy S24 Ultra was the fastest phone we’ve ever used, even beating the iPhone 15 Pro, which is a first for Android phones since Apple starting baking its own chipsets.
Battery life: You can easily use the Galaxy S24 Ultra for two days of normal use, and it lasted through a full day of intense usage with no trouble. The battery hasn’t gotten any bigger, Samsung is just better at managing power on this phone than ever before.
Value for money: The Galaxy S24 Ultra is more expensive than last year, and you don’t get a lot more for the money, but what you get is a big deal. Samsung promises seven years of software updates, including major Android OS updates, and that makes this phone a better value than any Samsung Galaxy Ultra to come before.
Even more than last year, with fewer deals to find, but you get the best when you pay for it.
★★★☆☆
Design
It looks like last year, but the screen is flat which makes it less reflective, but also sharper. Just as heavy, even with titanium.
★★★★☆
Display
You won’t find a better display on a smartphone worth buying, and the anti-glare finish really helps outdoors.
★★★★★
Camera
Better camera performance all around, even if the spec sheet looks a bit suspicious. Still the best, most versatile camera system.
★★★★★
Performance
Performance that can top an iPhone 15 Pro, for the first time in recent memory putting Android ahead of Apple.
★★★★★
Battery life
Better power management this year means the Galaxy S24 Ultra has some of the best battery life we’ve ever seen on a smartphone.
★★★★★
The best phone for most people
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
The best phone for most people
Specifications
Weight: 171g
Dimensions: 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.80mm
OS: iOS 17
Screen size: 6.1-inch
Resolution: 2556 x 1179
CPU: A16 Bionic
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB
Battery: 3,349mAh (unofficial)
Rear camera: 48MP (wide) +12MP (ultra-wide)
Front camera: 12MP
Reasons to buy
+
Dynamic Island retires the notch
+
Smooth design and soft-feel, color-infused rear glass
Reasons to avoid
–
No zoom lens
–
No macro capabilities
Buy it if
✅ You want an affordable iPhone: The iPhone 15 strikes a nice balance between price and cutting-edge features, so you don’t feel like you’re missing out.
✅ You want a camera upgrade: Between the new 48MP main camera and some excellent portrait photography capabilities, the iPhone 15 offers strong camera specs for the price.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You want a bigger phone: The iPhone 15’s 6.1-inch screen might feel cramped if you currently own a Pro Max or Plus.
❌ You want bigger zoom: The 2x optical zoom on offer here doesn’t quite compare to 3x optical zoom on the iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S23.
The bottom line
📱 If you’re not bothered by titanium sides, 120Hz scrolling or high-spec zoom photography, then the standard iPhone 15 offers pretty much everything you could want from a flagship phone, but for significantly less money. ★★★★½
Apple’s iPhone 15 marks the most significant step up for a base iPhone in several years, earning its place as the best value phone money can buy today.
Design: The iPhone 15 does what the iPhone 14 did not: it moves the base model forward with a refreshed chassis design, a brand-new (and eye-catching) rear glass panel, and a compatibility-improving USB-C port.
Display: The iPhone 15’s 6.1-inch Super XDR OLED display is bright and responsive, however, as on the iPhone 14, its refresh rate is locked to 60Hz. You do get Apple’s Dynamic Island this time around, though.
Camera: There are still just two lenses on the back of the iPhone 15, but one of them is vastly improved over the iPhone 14. The 12MP ultrawide is basically the same, but the main camera is now the same 48MP lens that you’ll find on the excellent iPhone 14 Pro (and indeed the iPhone 15 Pro).
Performance: The iPhone 15 uses the iPhone 14 Pro’s superfast A16 Bionic chipset, which should provide more than enough power for most iPhone owners (for context, the latter was the most powerful handset of 2022).
Battery life: The iPhone 15 is rated for 20 hours of video playback, 80 hours of audio-only, and a 50% recharge in 30 minutes with the optional 20W charger. In our testing, we were able to use the phone casually for a full day.
Value for money: In recent years, Apple’s standard models have felt like minor upgrades that pale in comparison to their respective Pro-level counterparts, but the iPhone 15 bucks that trend by being a genuinely great value product.
✅ You want the biggest and best iPhone: The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the most technologically advanced iPhone Apple has ever made, period.
✅ You want the most powerful phone: Apple’s A17 Pro chipset is more powerful than anything else on the market, so much so that you’re able to play console-quality games on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
✅ You want a versatile camera system: In addition to its 5x optical zoom capabilities, the iPhone 15 Pro Max features the smartest portrait photography tech around.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You want the best mobile zoom camera: The addition of 5x optical zoom on the iPhone 15 Pro Max is welcome, but the 5x camera on the Galaxy S23 is arguably better.
❌ You need fast charging: The iPhone 15 Pro Max offers reassuringly-solid battery life and functionally-fine charging, but rivals from every angle offer much faster speeds.
The bottom line
📱 When it comes to iPhones, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the best of the best. But you’ll have to pay handsomely for the privilege of owning one, and Samsung’s similarly priced Galaxy S24 Ultra has slightly better cameras. ★★★★½
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is indisputably the best iPhone money can buy right now, so for Apple fans with a bottomless supply of cash, this is the top choice. The smaller iPhone 15 Pro is also an exceptional handset that’s worth considering if you prefer its more practical 6.1-inch size, but since the larger iPhone 15 Pro Max offers a 5x periscope zoom lens, the latter phone is the objectively superior device.
Design: As with its smaller sibling, the iPhone 15 Pro boasts a gorgeous titanium design that can withstand unwelcome drops more effectively than its predecessor. The addition of a USB-C port and configurable Action button makes this a more versatile device, too.
Display: The iPhone 15 Pro Max packs an excellent 6.7-inch Super XDR OLED screen (with ProMotion), which is unchanged from the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Camera: In addition to that aforementioned 5x periscope zoom lens – which marks the first of its kind on an iPhone – the iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts a 48MP quad-pixel main lens and a 12MP ultra-wide lens, making it the most capable and versatile iPhone yet for mobile photographers.
Performance: Apple’s all-new A17 Pro chipset delivers mobile gaming performance that’s comparable to some high-end PCs (yes, really). Along with the iPhone 15 Pro, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the most powerful phone on the market.
Battery life: The iPhone 15 Pro Max managed 28 hours of mixed-use in our testing, with the phone recharging to 50% in just over 30 minutes. That’s pretty good going for a phone of this size and power, but others charge faster.
Value for money: As with the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is an exceptionally expensive handset that can never truly be considered good value for money. That said, you’re still getting a whole lot of phone for the price.
✅ You’ve taken a lot of bad photos and videos: The Pixel 8 Pro can fix whatever photos you have in your Google Photos library, even if you took them with a different phone in the past.
✅ You’re a die-hard Android fan forever and ever: Good news, Android fan, this phone will last longer than any other Android. If you want an Android that will get updates in 2030, this is the first.
✅ You want a receptionist to answer your calls: The call screening feature really works (if you can find it), and it gives you a quick, written transcript of what your caller wants before you decide to answer.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ Your friends all have iPhones: With iOS 17, Apple is making a compelling argument for sticking with the same phone everybody around you is buying.
❌ You want the absolute best cameras: While the Pixel 8 Pro is impressive, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max is a serious upgrade, nothing beats the Galaxy S24 Ultra for camera capabilities and quality.
❌ You are a journalist or reporter: The camera editing tools on the Google Pixel 8 Pro may create questions about credibility from the shots it makes, and the summary tool is factually inaccurate.
The bottom line
📱 The Google Pixel 8 Pro is the best Pixel that Google has ever made, and it represents Google’s vision for the future of mobile technology, though that vision does seem a bit clouded and unfocused at times. It has a fantastic display that’s bigger and brighter than its competitors at this price, and the photography features, bolstered by Google’s machine learning, are unmatched. ★★★★
The Pixel 8 Pro is Google’s most ambitious Pixel yet, with some serious camera upgrades that will satisfy even pro photogs, and a Tensor G3 chipset custom built to run Google’s machine learning features. Google is so confident in this phone’s performance that it is promising an unprecedented seven years of major updates, longer than any other phone maker supports its phones, currently.
Design: The Pixel 8 Pro is more rounded on the corners, and more flat on the display. This makes the phone easier to hold, while also giving you a better view of your content. The finish is lovely, and the colors are more classy and inviting than unusual and modern. This is the nicest Pixel phone Google has made so far, which is good because it has largely made the same phone three times now.
Display: The Pixel 8 Pro display is a standout feature this year, and Google has even endowed it with its own branding: Super Actua. The Pixel 8 Pro can reach 2,400 nits at peak brightness, and still pumps out 1,600 nits when you aren’t in direct sunlight. In almost every way, the Pixel 8 Pro display beats that of the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Camera: Compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, some photos looked better when shot with the Pixel 8 Pro, but others, especially night pics and low-light images, looked better taken with the iPhone. That’s surprising, but there are still some reasons for Google to brag. Only the Pixel 8 Pro has Magic Editor, which combines generative AI with Google’s Magic Eraser to fix and change images with a little too much ease.
Performance: In terms of raw performance, pushing games and graphics to new heights, the Pixel 8 Pro does just fine, but it won’t win any competitions. It handled all of my favorite games and ran high-resolution videos smoothly, but everything looked better on phones like the iPhone 15 Pro or Android phones like the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Battery life: The Pixel 8 Pro had no trouble lasting through a full day of use. That should come as no surprise, since it has a larger battery than either the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus or the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max. Google really packed in the biggest cell it could fit, and you’ll need to buy a gaming phone to find bigger.
Value for money: Google can be liberal with discounts, especially around the sales season. More than with any other brand, I recommend waiting for a deal when you’re considering a Pixel phone, because as good as the phone is now, it feels like an even better buy for a few hundred dollars or pounds less.
More expensive than last year, but still competitive compared to other Android phones, especially with longer software support.
★★★★☆
Design
The same old look, now refined with a matte finish and nicer colors. It’s the nicest Pixel yet, but the Pixel look is getting stale.
★★★★☆
Display
The standout feature on the Pixel 8 Pro, this bright and sharp display is just as good as the iPhone 15 Pro Max, and maybe better.
★★★★★
Camera
Great all-around camera features, with some unique AI editing tools that are more like Photoshop creation than photography. Still, undeniably good pics.
★★★★☆
Performance
Good enough performance for now, but it’s unclear if this phone will live up to Google’s seven-year promise, or if Android will cut corners to fit into the Pixel 8 Pro in the future.
★★★☆☆
Battery life
Excellent battery life thanks to a very large cell inside and solid power management keeping that bright display under control.
★★★★☆
The best budget phone
(Image credit: Future / Philip Berne)
The best budget phone
Specifications
Release date: October 2022
Weight: 197g
Dimensions: 155.6 x 73.2 x 8.7mm
OS: Android 13
Screen size: 6.3 inches
Resolution: 1080 x 2400
CPU: Google Tensor G2
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB
Battery: 4,355 mAh
Rear camera: 50MP (main) +12MP (ultrawide)
Front camera: 10.8MP
Reasons to buy
+
Relatively compact size
+
Clean software
Reasons to avoid
–
Poor battery life
–
Slow charging
Buy it if
✅ You want a budget phone that stands out: Not everyone will love the camera bar, but Google has created something that’s undeniably different to anything else on the market, and that’s no easy task (without it also looking terrible). The Lemongrass finish is equally divisive, but if you want an eye-catching phone with substance, the Pixel 7 delivers.
✅ You’re a creative mobile photographer: If you rely on your phone’s camera for more than snapping pics of a fancy dinner or your receipts (it’s good for those too), the Pixel 7 comes with some creative photo capture modes and editing features that allow for some amazing results; it also just takes great pictures.
✅ You like Google’s assistive features: Whether you rely on accessibility, or just like the idea of being able to dictate to your phone, have it read content back to your and the like, the Pixel 7 has the feature set and hardware to make your life easier in lots of little ways, and it’s set to get better over time.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You want a compact phone: Sure, Google has slimmed down the bezels, but the Pixel 7 still feels like a sizeable phone (remember, it’s a similar size to XL Pixel phones of old). The Pixel 7a may be a better option if you want a pocketable rocket.
❌ You shoot a lot of video: Google has improved the Pixel line’s video quality, and Cinematic Blur is an ambitious new addition, but you’ll still have to do a lot of work if you’re looking to become the next Roger Deakins (Google him). Video is otherwise better year-on-year, but Samsung and Apple still have the edge here.
❌ You need a lot of storage: One of the most basic issues with the Pixel 7 is storage. The options of 128GB or 256GB aren’t exaclty generous by today’s standards when the phone’s main rivals offer up to 512GB and beyond.
The bottom line
📱What the Pixel 7 offers – from its distinct design to its creative and capable camera and intelligent user experience – make it a great value-for-money flagship buy. The user experience feels polished, the AI-supported features are unique and competent, and the promise of more functionality via forthcoming ‘feature drops’ mean this Pixel is only likely to get better with time. ★★★★
While you might expect the Pixel 7a would be our budget phone pick, Google has given the Pixel 7 such good discounts throughout the past year that it is worth paying more, though you may not have to. Even though the Pixel 6a is still on sale at a great low price, for better durability, wireless charging, and much better photography, the Pixel 7 is worth spending just a bit more to buy.
Design: The Pixel 7 looks like the Pixel 6 and the Pixel 8, but there are different color options every year, and we like the lemongrass hue offered for this phone. The camera bar is metal and tinted depending on the color you buy, and it has a great look for a budget device. Plus, it is rated IP68 for water resistance, which is a huge improvement over the previous model.
Display: The Pixel 7 has a Full HD+ resolution and 20:9 aspect ratio, and it runs at up to 1000 nits in normal use, and can push to 1400 nits at its peak (25% brighter than that of the Pixel 6’s display) for better visibility in bright surroundings.
Camera: With the Pixel 7 you’re getting the same 50MP main camera as the Pixel 7 Pro, as well as a similar 12MP ultra-wide. You also get the same 10.8MP punch-hole selfie snapper, plus 4K video recording up to 60fps and support for 10-bit HDR video capture for better colors, brightness and contrast. But hardware is only one part of the puzzle here and it’s the phones image processing and camera software that plays a big part of the Pixel photography experience.
Performance: The Pixel 7 doesn’t have the raw power to match phones powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chip, such as the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. However, the difference isn’t likely to be all that significant in real-world use. All in all, while it may not have the raw horsepower of an iPhone or newer Galaxy, the Pixel 7 can hold its own, especially where AI tasks are concerned.
Battery life: The 4,355mAh battery in the Google Pixel 7 may sound large, but we wish it was bigger, especially as it’s technically a capacity reduction compared to the 4,614mAh battery inside its predecessor. We had no trouble getting the phone to last all day, and ended most days at around 15%, with usage including streaming, gaming, and extended TikTok sessions.
Value for money: Don’t buy this phone for the full suggested retail price. Google and Amazon both offer deals on this phone often, and you can buy it for less than $449 / £449 / AU$749 often. Amazon sold this phone for that price more than two months of the last year. Get the best deal on the best budget with a little patience.
Great functionality and nice hardware in a standout design at a good price.
★★★★☆
Design
An eye-catching design that’s a subtle evolution on the Pixel 6 that can still turn heads.
★★★★☆
Display
90Hz for a flagship is behind the curve but the screen looks great otherwise.
★★★½☆
Performance
The Tensor G2 chip does what it’s meant to well, even if it doesn’t compare to mainstream competition..
★★★★☆
Cameras
No optical zoom, and some features need work, but it’s hard to take bad photos with this phone.
★★★★☆
Battery life
Battery life lives up to Google’s claims, but faster charging would have been nice.
★★★½☆
The best value phone
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
6. Apple iPhone 13
The best budget phone
Specifications
Release date: September 2021
Weight: 174g
Dimensions: 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.7mm
OS: iOS 17
Screen size: 6.1 inches
Resolution: 1170 x 2532
CPU: Apple A15 Bionic
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 128GB / 256GB / 512GB
Battery: 3,240 mAh
Rear camera: 12MP (main) +12MP (ultrawide)
Front camera: 12MP
Reasons to buy
+
Strong battery life
+
Powerful internals
Reasons to avoid
–
No 120Hz screen
–
No Ceramic Shield on rear
Buy it if
✅ You own an even older iPhone: If you own an iPhone 12, the iPhone 13 likely isn’t for you, as there’s not enough that’s new here to merit the upgrade – but if you own an older iPhone, such as an iPhone 8 or iPhone XR, there’s plenty to be excited about.
✅ You need good battery life: The battery life on the iPhone 13 is a big step up over what we’ve seen from previous iPhone models. If you need a smartphone that’s capable of lasting a full day on a full charge, opt for this iPhone over older and cheaper models.
✅ You wants lots of power: The iPhone 13 is a powerful smartphone, and it’s one of the most capable handsets we’ve ever used. If you need lots of power you’ll get that here, without having to step up to the iPhone 13 Pro.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You want to keep it more than three years: Apple updates its phones for around five years, so this phone should get updates through iOS 20, we hope, but not longer than that.
❌ You want the best iPhone cameras: The iPhone 13 has great cameras for a phone in its price range, but you can get higher resolution and better imaging from newer iPhones, and cheaper Androids will also give you better photos.
❌ You want the most affordable phone: The iPhone 13 may be one of the most affordable members of this list, but it isn’t that cheap in the grand scheme of things. There are many more affordable Android phones out there – or you could look at the iPhone SE if you want to stay in Apple’s stable.
The bottom line
📱The iPhone 13 isn’t a game changer for Apple’s series of smartphones, but it’s an important iteration that offers better battery life, a better processor and an upgraded camera setup than iPhones that have gone before it. If you’re looking for a fast and capable smartphone, and don’t need the extra features of the pricier Pro model, this is a top choice. ★★★★½
Previously, iPhones haven’t been synonymous with strong battery life, but during every day of our testing we’ve been hard-pressed to run the iPhone 13 out of juice. Apple has finally cracked it when it comes to battery life, and it’s now far better than it has been on previous iPhone iterations. But that’s not to say the iPhone 13 skimps on power with the A15 Bionic chip and its accompanying 4GB of RAM easily capable of handling modern games and multitasking apps.
Design: The iPhone 13 features a flat-edge design, which debuted with the iPhone 12 range. That means the design is a touch more angular than the rounded finish of previous iterations, but the phone is still comfortable to use one-handed. iP68 water and dust resistance should mean the iPhone 13 can survive a sudden downpour or a trip to the beach,
Display: The display on the iPhone 13 is 6.1 inches, with a resolution of 2532 x 1170. It’s a Super Retina XDR OLED display made by Apple, and it makes for a clear and bright image – the brightness has been improved on the iPhone 13, and it can hold its own against other smartphones in direct sunlight.
Camera: You’ve got two cameras on the rear: a 12MP wide camera with an aperture of f/1.6, and a 12MP ultrawide camera with a f/2.4 aperture and a 120-degree field of view. Just be aware the lack of a telephoto camera means you’ll be limited on optical zooming options for photos.
Performance: Apple has made another big step up here, but it’s most noticeable in benchmarking results. The everyday experience is largely the same, but it’ll be a marked step up from much older iPhone models. The A15 Bionic chipset is teamed with 4GB of RAM, and that’s enough to keep it running at full tilt.
Battery life: During our testing time, the iPhone 13 made it through every day with enough charge in the tank to keep going for at least another couple of hours. This isn’t the best battery life you’ll find in a smartphone – many Android alternatives will be able to last longer – but this is a big step up for Apple from previous iPhone models, and it’ll make the iPhone a more compelling option for many potential buyers.
Value for money: The iPhone 13 is the cheapest iPhone model you can buy that doesn’t have the old Home button, and it’s still quite a powerful and capable phone, with some of the best power management ever in an iPhone. It isn’t cheap, and you can find Android phones cheaper, but Apple treats every iPhone like the best iPhone, giving them all the same great software update features.
✅ You want a unique Android: If most phones in this list are fighting and playing catch up with each other, OnePlus goes its own way with unique features such as super-fast charging.
✅ You want to save on a premier flagship: OnePlus gives you a dynamite screen and great performance for less than many competitors, with cool deals running all the time.
✅ You like the unique look: If you want a phone that stands out, the OnePlus 11 looks more like the big Chinese flagships your friends haven’t seen yet.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You ever get your phone wet: The OnePlus 11 isn’t water resistant beyond a good splash. You can’t take it into the pool for photos, and won’t want to drop it in the sink.
❌ You want a versatile camera: The OnePlus 11 essentially has an array of portrait lenses. It can’t handle telephoto zoom, and doesn’t do a great job on close-ups, either.
❌ You need a carrier deal: OnePlus has good deals online, but you won’t find this phone at your local carrier in the US, which means you won’t find a deal paired with a contract.
The bottom line
📱 The OnePlus 11 is super fast, with a dazzling display that really pops with color. The interface is a lighter touch on Google’s Android than Samsung’s One UI, while adding useful features. If you’re into shareable photography, the OnePlus 11 delivers a unique camera experience that can be unpredictable and limited, but that results in amazing shots when it delivers. ★★★★
The OnePlus 11 returns to the company’s roots, delivering premium performance and a few impressive specs while trading other features for a price cut versus the big name competitors. That means the OnePlus 11 is cheaper than the flagships from Samsung and Apple, and OnePlus doesn’t confuse its lineup with Pro and Plus versions, either. It’s got everything OnePlus does well, and it works great.
Design: The OnePlus 11 is a slim phone, with a glossy finish if you buy the green color. The camera array dominates the back and will stand out among iPhones and Galaxys. Sadly, the phone isn’t IP68 rated for water resistance. The phone keeps the popular mute switch to silence the noise in a hurry.
Display: The display on the OnePlus 11 really pops. The AMOLED screen can refresh up to 120Hz, and the smooth rate is noticeable playing fast games with tons of particle effects. It supports both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ for color accuracy. It could be brighter, but it’s otherwise fantastic.
Camera: The Hasselblad-branded camera setup on the OnePlus 11 isn’t for everyone. We managed to grab some amazing portraits, and landscape photos looked excellent, but photos had a distinct look and feel to them. The camera can’t handle versatile shots like distant zoom or macro close-ups.
Performance: The OnePlus 11 was the first phone we tried with the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 platform, and though its rival at the time, Samsung’s Galaxy S23, is a hair faster, the difference isn’t noticeable except in benchmark numbers. The OnePlus 11 is snappy and efficient, doing a great job with games and apps alike.
Battery life: Battery life is decent in its own right, but when it comes to charging it’s a champion. With the included (!) charger, you can fill the battery in less than 30 minutes. It’s even faster outside of the US, where higher voltage rules. There’s no wireless charging, though.
Value for money: Like the best OnePlus phones of the past, the OnePlus 11 offers great performance for a solid value. It isn’t the cheapest flagship on this list, but for the money you get a huge screen, unique cameras, and other standout features you won’t find elsewhere.
Slippery and glossy, without the water resistance we require.
★★★☆☆
Display
Huge, sharp, colorful, and bright.
★★★★★
Camera
Unique style and great color for portraits, but lack the versatility of competitors.
★★★★☆
Performance
Smooth performance wherever you look.
★★★★★
Battery life
Big battery and fast charge means we didn’t mind the lack of wireless charging.
★★★★☆
The best clamshell foldable
(Image credit: Future / Philip Berne)
The best clamshell foldable
Specifications
Release date: June 2023
Weight: 184.5g
Dimensions: 170.8 x 74 x 7mm open; 88.4 x 74 x 15.1mm closed
OS: Android 13
Main screen size: 6.9 inches
Resolution: 1080 x 2640 pixels
Cover display size: 3.6 inches
Resolution: 1056 x 1066
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1
RAM: 8GB / 12GB
Storage: 256GB / 512GB
Battery: 3,800mAh
Rear camera: 12MP (wide) + 13MP (ultrawide)
Front camera: 32MP
Reasons to buy
+
Huge cover display is actually useful
+
Cool vegan leather and unique colors
Reasons to avoid
–
Not water resistant enough
–
Too expensive for what you get
Buy it if
✅ You’ve been waiting for phones to get cool again: If you’ve been telling yourself “I’ll buy a new phone when there’s a reason to buy something new,” you now have that reason.
✅ You want a small phone but need a big screen: The Motorola Razr Plus is the thinnest flip phone when folded shut, and has the biggest display when open. It’s bigger on the inside than the others, and you don’t need to be a Time Lord to appreciate the magic.
✅ You aren’t addicted to your iPhone: Seriously, what’s stopping you from buying a cool phone? Are you really addicted to blue bubbles and the Dynamic Island? Try something cooler, I promise you’ll like it.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You need a great camera phone: The Motorola Razr Plus has forgivable flaws, but the cameras aren’t among them. They’re pretty lousy for regular photos, although selfies benefit from using the main lens.
❌ You’re going to get it wet: The Moto Razr Plus is more dust resistant than other flip phones, but less water resistant than the Galaxy Z family devices, which can take a dunk.
❌ You want to totally unplug and hang up: Unlike other flip phones, the Razr Plus doesn’t go to sleep when you hang up. It’s often even more fun when it’s closed, but wait for the base model Razr if you appreciate the joy of tuning out.
The bottom line
📱 The Motorola Razr Plus / Razr 40 Ultra is a major evolutionary step for smartphones, going beyond what any previous flip or foldable has offered. With the screen open, it’s surprisingly thin, with a huge display. When it’s closed – and you start using apps on the external screen – you’ve got an entirely new device, different from anything you’ve used before. It’s not perfect, but it’s so far ahead of what other phones offer that there’s barely a flaw that isn’t forgivable. The Motorola Razr Plus is a winner – and if you want to get excited about phones again you need to check it out. ★★★★½
The Motorola Razr Plus (or the Razr 40 Ultra outside the US) is more than just the best foldable phone you can buy (as far as flip phones go); it’s an entirely new category of smartphone, offering more than any handset before it. With the phone shut, it’s a compact miniature communicator, a pocket mirror, and a palm-sized map. This is the phone that finally justifies folding a display in half, and it makes you wonder when the rest of the best phone makers will catch up.
Design: When folded, the two halves of the phone smack together like pursed lips, with a gentle curve around the edges that still manages to cleave together in a sealed crease. Perhaps it’s the Viva Magenta hue that adds to this impression. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, by comparison, seems boxy and square. The Razr Plus shows no visible gap when closed, unlike every competing flip phone that came before it.
Display: This is the first flip phone that isn’t paying lip service to the cover screen. This isn’t a screen that’s just for checking the weather or simple notifications, and neither is it there to just show cute animations. This is the real deal. You can run full apps on this display. That said, if the Motorola Razr Plus didn’t have the great external display it would still be a standout for its big folding internal screen
Camera: All around, this phone has all the hallmarks of a low-quality camera. In photos of flowers, the camera blew out red tones until the details were mostly gone. Taking photos in the woods, stems and leaves in the background were either unnaturally blurry or digitally oversharpened, with deep black lines dividing objects.
Performance: If all you care about are benchmark scores, the Motorola Razr Plus won’t be the phone to pick. Thankfully, real-world performance tells a different story than I expected from the specs, and even though this phone uses the same platform as last year (or perhaps because it does), it performs better than the previous Razr, and better than you’d expect.
Battery life: Motorola has done the best it could in fitting a large battery inside the thin folding shell of the Razr Plus. It’s even managed to fit a larger battery into the folding frame than you’ll find in the iPhone 15 Pro, though Apple manages power slightly better. We couldn’t quite make it through a full day on a full charge with the Motorola Razr Plus, though that’s probably because the phone was just so much fun to use.
Value for money: The Razr Plus is expensive, but it’s the first clamshell foldable phone that we’d recommend to anyone and everyone, not just people asking about flip phones, or folks who want the coolest new thing.
Design looks and feels more ‘normal’ that other foldables
+
Best cameras on any foldable phone
Reasons to avoid
–
Not as feature-packed as the Galaxy Z Fold 5
–
Whoa, that’s a big camera bump
Buy it if
✅ You’re ready to try a foldable phone: Excellent design choices make this the only tablet foldable worth considering. It feels like a normal phone when closed, unlike the Galaxy and Pixel Folds.
✅ You want quality photography: The Open boasts the best cameras on any foldable phone, putting it on a par with the best camera phones. It can’t beat the iPhone 15 Pro Max at everything, but it wins a few rounds.
✅ You want an imposing display: This phone has truly brilliant displays all around; it’s brighter than almost any other phone you can buy, with a nearly-invisible crease.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You’re on a budget: At £1,599, this is one of the most expensive Android phones on the market. At the very least, look for deals before you buy.
❌ You want a sleek and slim phone: The thickness of the OnePlus Open, especially at its big camera bump, is the foldable’s biggest shortcoming versus the best flat phones.
The bottom line
📱 The OnePlus Open is the only big foldable phone that doesn’t feel like a compromise. It looks and feels like a normal phone, and the camera is the best you’ll find on any foldable. There are some missteps – the performance and battery life could stand some improvement – but the Open is better than the rest, and the best part is that it costs a lot less (although you’ll still pay handsomely for the privilege of owning one). ★★★★½
The OnePlus Open is the newest phone on this list, and we consider it to be among the best foldable phones (if not the best foldable phone) money can buy right now. Sure, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 offers myriad more special features, and the Google Pixel Fold utilizes the power of Android in a way that only Google-made phones can, but in almost every other department, the OnePlus Open is the best there is.
Design: For us, this the first tablet foldable phone that simply feels right. All the ‘Folds’ that came before feel wrong being too narrow or squat. The Open, however, hits the design sweet spot, and it’s the most important improvement OnePlus could have made to the foldable form factor. If you’re paying twice as much for a phone, you shouldn’t feel like it’s the wrong size half the time. Display: The two displays on the OnePlus Open are a marvel to behold, and both of them are just as good as the flagship phone or tablet they’ll replace in your collection. The cover display is 6.3 inches, with LTPO 3.0 technology that can slow down to 10Hz for a low-power, always-on mode. The inner display is a huge 7.82-inch screen with a variable 1Hz to 120Hz refresh rate, which has almost the same screen area as an iPad Mini (2021).
Camera: On every other foldable phone, the size limitations of the fold-in-half design have resulted in cameras that range from inferior to downright awful. The OnePlus Open has the best cameras of the bunch, and comes close to being as good as the best flat camera phones, closer than any foldable we’ve used so far.
Performance: The OnePlus Open uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, so it’s as powerful as other flagship phones using that same processor, like the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. Sure, faster chipsets now exist, but you’ll have absolutely no trouble juggling multiple applications on this phone. Mind you, its gaming performance doesn’t compare to the best Android phones on the market.
Battery life: The OnePlus Open can last you a full day, if you’re judicious with your usage. With a two-cell design the Open has an overall battery capacity of 4,805mAh, which is some 200mAh below other foldables. But with some smart power management features, OnePlus can get sold battery life out of these cells without needing to make the phone bigger and bulkier.
Value for money: At $1,699, this is not a cheap phone, but that price is still some $100 less than the starting price of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Google Pixel Fold. What’s more, OnePlus is offering a deal for the full life of the OnePlus Open that gives you at least $200 off if you trade in any phone.
It’s expensive, but it’s the cheapest tablet foldable, while still giving you more screen inside and out.
★★★★★
Design
Excellent design choices make this the only tablet foldable worth considering. It feels like a normal phone when closed, unlike the Galaxy and Pixel Folds.
★★★★★
Display
Brilliant displays all around, brighter than almost any other phone you can buy, with a nearly-invisible crease.
★★★★★
Camera
The best cameras on any foldable phone, and on a par with the best camera phones. Can’t beat the iPhone 15 Pro Max at everything, but it wins a few rounds.
★★★★☆
Performance
Solid performance to drive the two displays, but gaming isn’t as impressive, as it can’t beat the base-model iPhone 15.
★★★★☆
Battery life
Good battery life and super-fast charging, but it could use a bit more power to last all day, every day.
★★★☆☆
FAQs
What is the best phone in 2024?
Objectively speaking, the best phone in 2024 is either the iPhone 15 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, but both devices excel in different areas. The former is the world’s most powerful phone, while the latter boasts the best mobile cameras on the market. The OnePlus Open is also the best tablet foldable in 2024. If you’re not keen on paying the eye-wateringly high asking prices of any of those phones, though, the iPhone 15 is our current pick as the best phone for most people.
How to choose the best phone for you
The first thing you need to decide when buying a new smartphone is how much you want to spend. The smartphone market varies dramatically, from very high-end handsets that cost well over four-figures, to much cheaper phones that can be found for only a few hundred. We have options on our list at both ends of the price spectrum.
Once you’ve decided how much you want to spend, you should decide whether you want to try one of the best Android phones or go for one of the best iPhones. Often, the platform decision has more to do with your work, your friends and family and what they use to share photos and messages, and what sort of computer or devices you already own.
Now that you’ve settled on your price and platform, you should decide on the cameras. Are you a serious photographer looking for a serious camera? Or do you like to take easy photos that are fun to edit and share? Phones with more lenses and higher megapixel counts demand more, but offer versatility; simpler phones with a 12MP limit tend to do the work for you.
If you’re looking for something outside the norm, we have plenty of unique options, as well. There are phones with a built-in pen for writing, and phones that fold in half to be more compact. There are large phones, small phones, and Max-sized phones. We have phones with space-level zoom, and phones that specialize in touching portraits.
No matter what phone you choose, you can be sure that we’ve thoroughly tested and vetted every phone on this list, and we know you’ll be satisfied with any of these devices in your pocket.
How we test
We’ve only included phones on this list that we’ve thoroughly tested, and our testing regiment is deep and detailed. We test every aspect of a phone that you might use from day-to-day, then we dive deeper to discover all of the hidden features.
We test phones for battery life and charging, speed and performance, and especially for camera capabilities. We make sure that phones deliver on their manufacturer’s promise. If it says a phone can charge in 30 minutes, we break out the stopwatch.
We’ve seen every phone around, so we have a good idea of how each model stacks up to one another. We use both iPhone and Android, from the most expensive models to the most affordable, so we know what you’re getting, no matter what you pay. We make sure the phones deliver what we’d expect for the cost.
Once we’re done, we don’t stop. We keep updating our reviews as we learn more, and as the phones are updated. Our reviews are always fresh, so check back before you buy to make sure you’re getting the latest opinion on the best phones you can buy.
Google has announced that Circle to Search will roll out to its older and mid-range Pixel devices starting from March 27. Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced the AI feature is coming to “more Pixel and Samsung phones, foldables and tablets.”
Several older Samsung devices should also receive Circle to Search beginning this week via an update to One UI 6.1. As reported by Android Central, this will include last year’s Galaxy S23 series. Both Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5, as well as the Galaxy Tab S9 series of tablets, will receive Circle to Search too.
It’s unlikely that older phones from the Pixel 5 line or any further back will get the feature as OS support for these models has ended.
To use Circle to Search, all you need to do is press and hold the home button to activate an overlay that lets you use your finger to circle the element you want to search for. The AI-powered search should then identify what’s been circled, and provide relevant search results for that subject.
It’s good to see Google not holding its cutting-edge AI features back from older and more affordable devices, and allowing more Pixel users to get their hands on Circle to Search without forcing them to upgrade.
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For whatever reason, Samsung has been avoiding Android’s seamless update feature for the past eight years now. Not anymore! The Galaxy A55 is the first Samsung phone to use Google’s seamless update feature, and it will likely come to more Galaxy phones soon.
Seamless updates work by installing an update to a secondary system partition instead of the primary one, and then booting from that secondary partition the next time the device is restarted. The primary and secondary partitions are essentially switched upon reboot, and this is a process that is repeated every time a new software update is available.
Today, the Galaxy A55 became the first Samsung phone to receive a seamless Android update, consisting of a new security patch. Incidentally, this is also the first firmware update for the Galaxy A55, and we’re guessing future updates will be just as seamless.
Users can and will be able to tell that their Galaxy phones are installing a seamless update judging by the new split progress bar. It consists of two sections named “Downloading and installing…” and “Verification.” We were also able to confirm seamless updates are present via the use of Android’s developer tools.
The first reboot after a seamless update might take up to 90 seconds to finish — or at least, it did on our Galaxy A55 — but there are no more update processing loading screens and spinning cog-wheels that lock you out from using the phone for a few minutes.
Support for seamless updates requires two system partitions and, therefore, more storage space, but on the Galaxy A55, it doesn’t look like the storage space available to the user is affected in any way compared to Galaxy phones without seamless updates.
They have only been around for a matter of weeks, but Samsung Galaxy S24 smartphones are already on sale for record-low prices in the Amazon Big Spring Sale. Perhaps you’ve been waiting for a solid deal on the top-end Galaxy S24 Ultra, which usually starts at $1,300 for a version with 256GB of storage. That variant is currently $150 off at $1,150.
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra has dropped to its lowest price to date of $1,150.
We gave the Galaxy S24 Ultra a score of 89 in our review. We found it to be very expensive (this sale helps mitigate that!) and the design and lack of Qi 2 support were drawbacks. However, we appreciated the camera upgrades and felt the S24 Ultra delivered great performance and offered terrific battery life. It often had a 50 percent charge remaining after 24 hours of regular use, thanks to the large battery and power efficiency gains afforded by the new processor.
One other major thing the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset powers is a host of on-device generative AI (GAI) features, the big selling point for the Galaxy lineup this year as Samsung tries to compete with Google Pixel devices on that front. An interpreter mode can translate languages during calls, while the Chat Assist tool can check the grammar, spelling and tone of your messages before sending them. There are also AI-powered options for image editing and search. While the AI tools more or less work as expected, we felt that they’re not quite as polished as Google’s versions. Nevertheless, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is our pick for the best premium Android phone.
The Galaxy S24+ is also $150 off. That too marks a record low for a version with 256GB of storage — the handset currently costs $850. Like its smaller sibling, the S24, the S24+ earned a score of 87 in our review. We appreciated the battery life and (for the most part) the GAI tools, though we felt that low-light photography performance was somewhat lacking.
The prices of several other Samsung products have dropped as part of the Amazon Big Spring Sale. Those who prefer foldables may be more interested in the Galaxy Z Flip 5. Again, that’s $150 off at $850 for 256GB of storage. However, it’s $50 more than the lowest price we’ve seen for the handset thus far.
Amazon’s Big Spring Sale officially begins this Wednesday, but as with all such sales, a number of deals went live early, including on Google’s latest Pixel smartphones. The 128GB-capacity Pixel 8 Pro is 25 percent off, which deducts $250 from the list price and brings the handset to $749. That beats the all-time-low price we saw for Black Friday last November. Larger capacity models are seeing discounts as well, with all three colors that Amazon carries included. If you’d rather buy direct, you can get the same discount from Google’s online shop, which also has the Google-exclusive Mint color.
Google
The latest generation of Google’s Pixel phones are 25 percent off as an early deal before of Amazon’s Big Spring Sale.
A similar discount goes to the 128GB Pixel 8 which is 29 percent off and down to $499 instead of $699 at both Amazon and from Google. Again, that’s the lowest price we’ve tracked and the discounts extend to the larger capacity models. We named the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro the best Android smartphones on the market thanks to their speedy chips, brighter screens and improved cameras. Plus the suite of AI-enabled tools are more than just gimmicks and actually help you out with things like search, taking better photos and a more capable Google Assistant. Perhaps the best part is Google’s commitment to seven years of software support, which means these phones can stay in your pocket for far longer than the average mobile.
As for the difference between the two phones, the Pro model has a larger screen at 6.7 inches versus the Pixel 8’s 6.2 inches. The Pro also has a screen with a 400-nit higher peak brightness, more RAM and a third, telephoto camera. Both have the same chip and many of the same AI tools.
Those looking for an even steeper deal should check out the Google Pixel 7a, which is also down to a record-low price of $374 at both Amazon and Google. We not only named this the best mid-range Android phone in our guide to smartphones, it’s also the splurge pick in our budget Android guide.
Aside from who’d win in a fight between Elon Musk and the ghost of Steve Jobs, the question I’m asked most is how to find the best budget-friendly smartphone.
Samsung
As an insufferable early adopter/power user, I’m used to spending $1,000-plus on my daily addiction, but you don’t have to get a great capable phone in 2024. This time around, our top picks cost between $100 and $300, so we truly mean cheap. (In fact, our picks undercut my go-to recommendation of the Pixel 7A, which is hovering above $400.)
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The parent company blocked access to all its other adult entertainment websites.
You’ll have to get your kicks elsewhere, Texas. Pornhub is now inaccessible in the state, after the US Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit ruled Texas can enforce its age-verification regulations for porn websites. If you try, you’ll be met with a message: “Dear user, as you may know, your elected officials in Texas are requiring us to verify your age before allowing you access to our website.” As you might have guessed, Texas now tops the list of states for VPN searches as its residents look for a workaround to access their favorite adult content.
What’s next for Android and the company’s AI products.
Google
Google revealed the date for this year’s I/O conference in really annoying fashion. It asked folks to complete a tedious logic puzzle. Once enough people finished all 15 levels and got a marble to its destination repeatedly, they got the date.
The keynote will give us a look at upcoming Pixel and Android features — and maybe a bit of hardware. Please?
Next, the company plans to test relighting its Raptor engine in space.
SpaceX
The third time’s the charm as SpaceX attempted another test of its Starship rocket. The Starship launched at 9:25AM ET on Thursday morning. Shortly after launch, it completed the hot-staging separation from its Super Heavy Booster, and the Starship successfully ignited the second-stage Raptor engines. While SpaceX said both the booster and Starship were going to return to Earth at “terminal velocity,” thus making any recovery of them impossible, it looks like Starship didn’t make it to splashdown, breaking up on re-entry (according to initial data).
You might have an idea of which smartphone you want to buy next. But there are more options than ever before that are solid — plenty of companies are making stellar handsets nowadays, at similar prices, all with comparable feature sets. That said, the choice isn’t always cut-and-dry. If you know you want an iPhone, your decision-making process is a bit easier. If you’re an Android person, you have even more options to choose from and more questions to answer before you spend any money. At Engadget, we review phones regularly and have tested dozens over the years; so far for 2024, our top picks remain the same as they were last year, with Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro and Google’s Pixel 8 handsets sitting at the top of the list. Whether you’ve had your eye on them, one of Samsung’s new Galaxy S24 phones or another device, we’re here to help you decide which is the best phone to buy this year.
Android or iOS?
When you’re searching for the best smartphone, it becomes clear that each OS has its pros and cons. Apple’s tight-knit ecosystem makes it super easy to share data between iPhones, iPads and Macs or seamlessly hand-off phone calls or music from one device to another. At the same time, you’re effectively locked in, as services like Apple Messages aren’t available on other platforms.
As for Android, there’s a much wider range of handsets from companies like Google, Samsung, Sony and more. However, Android phones don’t enjoy that same length of software support and often have lower trade-in values. In short, there’s no wrong answer. However, you will want to consider how your phone will fit in with the rest of your devices. So unless you’re really fed up with one OS and willing to learn another, it probably doesn’t make a lot of sense to switch from an iPhone to an Android phone (or vice versa) – especially if everyone else in your household is using the same platform.
Cameras
Since your cell phone often pulls double duty as your primary camera, figuring out what kind of photo tools you want is key. Nowadays, practically every mobile phone can take a great picture in bright light. But if you want a long optical zoom, you’ll probably have to upgrade to a more expensive device.
Cherlynn Low / Engadget
Mid-range phones often only have two rear cameras (a primary wide-angle lens and a secondary ultra-wide camera) and can sometimes struggle in low-light situations. Each phone maker also has various features that might be a better fit for your style, with Apple offering four different color presets on the latest iPhones, while Google’s Pixel 8 comes with neat tools like dedicated long exposure and Action Pan modes.
Will you get mmWave 5G or Wi-Fi 7?
The good news is that in 2024, most phones have at least Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6e and support for some kind of 5G connectivity. However, if you want the fastest wireless speeds possible, it’s going to cost you a little extra. For example, on certain networks, mmWave 5G offers up to gigabit download speeds, less latency and better bandwidth. But mmWave 5G also requires more sophisticated (and pricier) modems, which means support for it is often missing on less expensive devices, even those like the unlocked version of the Pixel 8.
On the bright side, mmWave 5G isn’t as widely available as other versions of 5G, so depending on where you live and what network you’re on, you may not be missing out on much right now if you buy a phone that doesn’t support it. It’s a similar situation for Wi-Fi 7, which is available on some high-end handsets like the Galaxy S24, but harder to find on cheaper devices. Wi-Fi 7 also requires you to have a compatible router, so unless you know you need it or have a specific use case in mind, the lack of support for mmWave 5G or Wi-Fi 7 shouldn’t be a dealbreaker when looking for a new phone.
Other features to consider
Because not everyone agrees on what makes the best phone, you should think about any other specs that might be extra important for you. Mobile gamers will almost certainly appreciate the 120Hz refresh rates you get on phones like the Samsung Galaxy S23 or the Apple iPhone 15 Pro. Alternatively, if long battery life is important, you’ll probably want to go with a larger iPhone or an Android phone with a battery that’s between 4,000 and 5,000 mAh in size. Meanwhile, if you find yourself juggling a lot of devices, it can be really nice to have a phone that supports reverse wireless charging, which on Samsung phones even lets you recharge the company’s Galaxy Watches.
Photo by Cherlynn Low / Engadget
Screen size: 6.7-inch | Storage capacity: Up to 1TB | SIM support: Dual eSim | Battery Life: About two days
Read our full review of the iPhone 15 Pro Max
The changes to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max may seem small when considered on their own, but together they add up to more than the sum of their parts. For the iPhone 15 Pro Max, in particular, the smaller, lighter titanium build means it might be within the realm of consideration for many shoppers for the first time. It’s no longer sharp and hefty like a weapon, but still has one of the longest-lasting batteries on the market.
The larger handset also gets a new 5x telephoto camera that helps it catch up to flagships on the Android side, which have had zoom lenses for years. Though Apple doesn’t outclass the competition on photography, it’s certainly closed the gap and you’ll find great cameras on both the Pro and Pro Max. They also have updated portrait effects and editing tools, so photography is improved whether you’re shooting faraway subjects or something just in front of you.
Both iPhone 15 Pro models have the new Action Button and USB-C charging, the latter of which will be more meaningful in a couple of years when the world presumably ditches Lightning at last. The Action Button, meanwhile, takes the often unused mute slider and gives you the option of mapping a frequently used shortcut to it, so you can quickly launch the camera, flashlight, voice recorder or magnifier. Having this many ways to configure the Action Button means it’s far more useful to more people than a simple toggle for silencing your phone.
This year’s A17 Pro chip not only brings excellent performance, but its six-core GPU also enables console-level gaming and hardware-accelerated ray tracing for realistic lighting effects. Later this year, you can dig into titles like Resident Evil Village and, in early 2024, Assassin’s CreedMirage on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. You’ll also get a second-generation ultra wideband chip for improved precision object location, and reverse USB charging so you can power up your accessories in a pinch.
When you consider all these features as a whole, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are not just a solid upgrade from their predecessors, they’re also among the best phones around. – Cherlynn Low, Deputy Editor
Pros
Smaller and lighter than previous Pro Maxes
Useful zoom cameras
USB-C is the way of the future
Long-lasting battery
Reverse charging via USB-C
Cons
Action button is hard to reach on the larger handset
Read our full review of the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro
The last two generations of Pixels offered a ton of value, combining smart features with solid hardware. But on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, Google has done some serious leveling up thanks to its new Tensor G3 chip, brighter displays, upgraded cameras and a range of useful AI tools. Peak brightness now sits at 2,000 or 2,400 nits, depending on the model, while still producing realistic colors. And that’s while actually seeing battery life increase between 20 to 25 percent compared to last year’s devices.
The Pixel 8’s cameras also take in more light, so your photos and videos look even better. And with the arrival of features like Best Take and Magic Editor, there are even more ways to create the perfect shot. The Google Assistant is also more capable now due to newfound abilities like more accurate voice typing, the ability to summarize or read new articles aloud and proofreading your texts. But, perhaps most importantly, with Google committing to seven years of software support – longer than pretty much any other Android phone on the market – the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are in it for the long haul. – Sam Rutherford, Senior Reporter
Pros
New Actua display
Genuinely useful AI features
Tensor G3 chip
Seven years of software support
Cons
$100 more than previous model
$999 at Google
Photo by Sam Rutherford / Engadget
Screen size: 6.1-inch | Storage capacity: Up to 128GB | SIM support: 1x nano SIM, 1x eSim | Battery Life: Close to 18 hours
Read our full review of the Google Pixel 7a
The $500 Pixel 7a delivers everything we look for in a great affordable phone. New features include a faster Tensor G2 chip, a smoother 90Hz display and for the first time on one of Google’s A-series phones: support for wireless charging. And with a refreshed design with IP67 water resistance, it looks and feels like the standard Pixel 7 but for $100 less. You also get great support thanks to five years of security updates and at least three OS upgrades. The phone’s only shortcomings are rather small and include a lack of a dedicated zoom lens and no support for mmWave 5G (unless you purchase a slightly more expensive $550 model from Verizon). – S.R.
With an A15 Bionic chip and iOS 15, the latest Apple iPhone SE is possibly the most powerful phone you can find for under $450. Sure, it has a dated design, but some folks might actually appreciate the retro look. The best thing about the iPhone SE is its home button: It’s the only new iPhone to have Touch ID. And though it only has a single rear camera, the SE still takes solid pictures. If you can get over the small, low-res screen, the iPhone SE will serve you well. It’s also really the only sub-$500 option for iOS diehards.
If you’re open to considering Android and want to spend less than $400, consider something from Samsung’s Galaxy A-series or the OnePlus Nord N20. Those looking to spend even less can check out the Moto G Power – just be prepared to compromise on features like display and cameras at these lower price points. – C.L.
Read our full review of the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro
Thanks to a new suite of sensors including a 50-MP main cam, a 48-MP ultra-wide and a 48-MP telephoto camera with a 5x zoom, the Pixel 8 Pro shoots sharper and more detailed pics than ever. Tack on Google’s excellent HDR+ processing, its class-leading Night Sight mode and features like Action Pan, and you get a smartphone that can capture high-quality images in practically any situation. But what pushes the Pixel 8 Pro to the top is its latest batch of AI-powered editing tools. Best Take allows you to pick the best expression for each person’s face from a selection of images. Meanwhile, Magic Editor makes it super simple to remove distracting subjects, recompose your shot, or move things around, with AI helping to fill in any holes. For video, Audio Magic Eraser can drastically cut down on ambient noise from wind, traffic and other sources. Between upgraded hardware and sophisticated machine-learning tools, the Pixel 8 Pro is the complete package for capturing photos and videos. – S.R.
Pros
New Super Actua display
Genuinely useful AI features
Tensor G3 chip
Seven years of software support
New temperature sensor
Much improved battery life
Configs now go up to 1TB of storage
Cons
$100 more than previous model
Face Unlock setup can be a little tricky
$999 at Google
Photo by Sam Rutherford / Engadget
Screen size: 7.6-inch (main) | Storage capacity: Up to 256GB | SIM support: 1x nano SIM, 1x eSim | Battery Life: Almost 20 hours
Read our full review of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
While Samsung didn’t make a ton of changes to the Z Fold 5, it’s still the best big flexible phone on the market. As before, you get native stylus support, IPX8 water resistance (good for dunks of up to five feet for 30 minutes) and of course, a stunning 7.6-inch main display. New for 2023 is a faster Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, improved brightness, expanded multitasking capabilities and most importantly, a completely redesigned hinge. Not only does Samsung’s new Flex hinge eliminate the gap between the two sides of the phone when it’s closed (to help keep dust out), it also makes the phone thinner (down to 13.4mm from 15.8mm), which is a nice change for what was already a somewhat bulky device. The biggest issue remains its price: Samsung’s latest flagship foldable remains exorbitantly expensive at $1,800. — S.R.
Pros
New Flex Hinge
No more gap
Improved performance
Additional multitasking gestures
Great battery life
Brighter main screen
Cons
Very expensive
S Pen comes separately
Unchanged cameras
Still rather bulky
$1,500 at Walmart
Photo by Cherlynn Low / Engadget
Screen size: 6.7-inch (main) | Storage capacity: Up to 512GB | SIM support: 1x nano SIM, 1x eSim
Read our full review of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
If you’re shopping for a foldable in the US, you actually have choices now. The clear winner of that race in the flip-phone category, though, continues to be Samsung. While Motorola’s Razr+ gave the Galaxy Z Flip series some serious competition, it still wasn’t good enough. With this year’s Z Flip 5, Samsung brought a larger external display that’s more functional than previous generations. You’ll have to jump through a few hoops to enable full-sized apps and maximize the experience on that screen, but once you do, the Flip 5 realizes its potential.
This year, Samsung also updated the hinges on its Z series, using a new dual-rail structure that’s supposed to better diffuse impact than before. It also creates a water drop-shaped crease that the company says results in less stress on the screen, which should improve overall durability. Even if your Flip does break, Samsung is better positioned to handle repairs than any other foldable maker in the US, since it’s the most established player here.
The Flip 5 also has superior cameras compared to the Moto Razr+, delivering richer, more saturated colors in daylight. Of course, don’t expect flagship-level pictures from any flip-style foldable. The Flip 5 pales in comparison to the likes of the latest iPhone or Pixel in low light, but for the most part, its pictures will be good enough for Instagram. Plus, you’ll have a lot more fun snapping selfies or group photos with a foldable, since it can act as its own tripod when flexed and you can see yourself in the external display. And don’t forget Samsung’s handy open-palm gesture that triggers a camera timer, which will make capturing stills or videos much easier from a distance.
When it’s time to kick back on your couch, the Flip 5 also delivers. It has the fastest processor on a foldable and a vibrant internal screen that refreshes at up to 120Hz for smooth scrolling and animations. It doesn’t have the longest battery life, especially when compared to non-folding flagships like the Galaxy S23. But if you don’t mind charging your phone whenever you’re near an outlet, and a flipping foldable is on your shopping list, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the best foldable with this form factor. — C.L.
Pros
Useful external screen
Compact when folded
New hinge enables gapless design
Cons
A lot of settings to dig through to maximize use
Short battery life compared to typical Android phones
$800 at Amazon
Other smartphones we’ve tested
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
For its latest super-premium phone, Samsung gave the S24 Ultra a more durable titanium frame, faster performance thanks to a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip and a much longer battery life. The company also tweaked its longest telephoto lens with a 5x optical zoom so it’s more usable in a wider range of situations. But the biggest upgrade is a new full suite of AI tools, which includes the ability to proofread texts, edit images and transcribe recordings. And when you tack on the best display available on a phone today and a built-in stylus, you have a very compelling flagship handset. Unfortunately, starting at $1,300, the S24 Ultra is a bit too expensive to recommend to anyone without deep pockets.
OnePlus 12
While the OnePlus 12 wasn’t able to unseat the latest Pixel, it’s worth mentioning because it offers powerful specs for the money. It features a speedy Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, a big and bright 6.8-inch, 120Hz OLED screen and the best battery life we’ve seen on any phone to date. OnePlus also brought back support for wireless charging for the first time in several generations, along with a good (but not great) IP65 rating for dust and water resistance. And even though its huge camera module looks a bit ungainly, its photos are surprisingly sharp. But the best thing is that, with a starting price of $800, the OnePlus 12 costs $200 less than a Pixel 8 Pro or a similarly specced S24+.
FAQs
How do I know which smartphone is the best for me?
While choosing the best smartphone can be challenging, it mostly comes down to how you plan on using the device. All of the best phones available now get the basics right — you’ll be able to make calls, text and access the internet without many hiccups. If your smartphone is your most used gadget, you may want to consider paying for a device on the higher end of the price spectrum. That will get you better overall performance, higher-quality cameras and a phone that will last for many years. If you don’t use your phone for everything, you may be able to compromise on performance and extra perks and spend less on a still-capable handset.
How much is a smartphone?
Smartphones range in price from $300 to over $1,500. The best budget phones available now will usually compromise on overall performance, design, camera prowess and extra features to keep costs down. On the flip side, the most expensive phones will have powerful processors, triple-camera arrays and even flip or fold designs. Most people will find a phone that fits their needs somewhere in the middle of that wide price range — we’ve found that most of the best smartphones available right now cost between $500 and $1,000.
What can you do on a smartphone?
Smartphones are essentially small, portable computers that let you do things like check email, browse social media, follow map directions, make contactless payments and more. This is all on top of the basics like making phone calls and texting, which we’ve come to expect in all modern cell phones. Smartphones have also mostly replaced compact cameras thanks to their high-quality, built-in shooters, and the fact that most smartphones today as just as portable, if not more so, as compact cameras.
How long do smartphones last?
Smartphones can last years and people are holding on to their phones longer now than ever before. Software updates and battery life are two of the biggest factors that can affect phone longevity. Apple promises five years worth of software updates for its latest iPhones, and Google promises the same for its Pixel phones. Samsung phones will get four years worth of Android updates from the time they launch. As for charging speeds and battery life, your phone can deteriorate over time as you use and recharge your phone on a regular basis.
