The best phone gives you what just what you need, without the junk. You can find powerhouse phones that can do everything, but the best phone overall will be the phone that gets everything right without making you pay for more phone than you'll use.
We've just finished our reviews of all the latest Google Pixel phones, and the Pixel 9 Pro is the best Android you can buy, but Samsung is still a strong competitor with the best camera phone we've seen all year, the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Of course, Apple has new iPhones on the way next week, so check back soon once we've gotten time to complete an in-depth review of the rumored new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models. Will they be our new favorite phone overall? We'll need time to tell.
The new Pixel 9 Pro Fold is one of our new favorites, so look for it soon on our list of the best foldable phones. We have also reviewed all of the best Samsung phones, and the best iPhones we've seen, up until the iPhone 16 launch. If you want to save some money, check our list of the best budget phones, which is growing rapidly.
📱Phil Berne is one of the pre-eminent voices in smartphone reviews, having been a professional reviewer since the Palm Treo 700 and BlackBerry Pearl days. He has reviewed hundreds of smartphones, including the best iPhone, Galaxy, and Pixel phones. He worked as an internal phone reviewer for Samsung Mobile, and is the Senior Editor for Reviews and Buying Guides.
The Best Phones
The Apple iPhone 15 is a fantastic phone all around, with software that is intuitive and fun to use, and all of the advanced features you need, like tap payments and more. Will the iPhone 16 top this one? We'll find out soon.
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The Google Pixel 9 Pro comes with a fantastic new design and AI features that work so well, they can be scary. With great cameras and improved durability, this phone is our new Android fave.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is like having a full camera bag in your pocket. No other phone camera is so versatile, and you'll be amazed by this phone's moon photos and food pics.
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If you need a serious camera phone with the best video quality, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the only iPhone with 5X zoom. It shoots professional-strength photos and videos.
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If you need an iPhone to last a few years, the iPhone 13 has great cameras, all of Apple's latest iOS software, and full compatibility with a ton of cases and accessories.
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The Pixel 8a is a bargain phone with a premium processor, photos that look almost good enough to fool a pro, and a sleek design that matches the best Pixel phones.
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OnePlus builds flagship killers, and the 12R has a great screen and a generous battery. We got better battery life from this phone than any other phone we've tested in the past few years.
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If you need an iPhone that can last all day and then some, the iPhone 15 Plus has the best battery life of any iPhone we've tested so far. Will an iPhone 16 Plus last longer? We'll find out soon!
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The Galaxy Z Fold 6 gives you more of literally everything, including a foldable inner screen that is as big as a tablet, and performance that will blow away the competition. This is the best of everything Samsung makes.
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The best phone in 2024
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Below, you'll find in-depth details about each of the best phones on our list. We've tested each model extensively, so you can be sure to trust our recommendations.
The best iPhone overall
✅ 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.
❌ You want Apple Intelligence: If you want the upcoming Apple AI features, you'll need a Pro model or better.
❌ You want bigger zoom: The 2x optical zoom on offer here doesn't quite compare to 3x optical zoom on the iPhone 15 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S24.
📱 The iPhone 15 has all of Apple's best software features, and that's what makes iPhone owners happy. You get great hardware that will last years, without paying too much for extra cameras and titanium you don't need. Plus, this one comes in better colors than the Pro iPhone. ★★★★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.
Read our full iPhone 15 review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Apple is finally giving you more for you money. | ★★★★☆ |
| Design | The curved edges and smooth, color-infused glass make this a most modern iPhone. | ★★★★☆ |
| Display | Losing the notch and gaining the dynamic Island is a net poisitive, as is the lovely and now brighter screen. | ★★★★☆ |
| Camera | A big main camera leap is paired with some truly impressive computational photography. | ★★★★☆ |
| Performance | It's hard to ask for more than the A16 Bionic, unless you need the very best of the best. | ★★★★☆ |
| Battery life | Decidedly battery life. | ★★★★☆ |
The best Android overall
✅ You want to create a lot of stuff using AI: The Google Pixel 9 Pro has tons of AI features to be creative. You can make your own images, tweak photos, write stories and messages, and plenty more.
✅ You want an assistant to take notes for you: Google AI can listen to your calls and take notes later, so you don't have to grab a pen when the doctor or the dog-sitter starts giving you detailed instructions.
❌ You're worried about AI: The Google Pixel can listen to your calls and make deep fake images that will fool most people. If you're worried about AI, this phone won't help.
❌ You want the absolute best cameras: While the Pixel 9 Pro is impressive, nothing beats the Galaxy S24 Ultra for camera capabilities and quality, not even with Video Boost.
❌ You want a bigger Pixel 9 Pro: If you want this same exact phone, I mean exactly the same cameras and everything, only bigger ... get the Pixel 9 Pro XL.
📱 The Google Pixel 9 Pro is a huge departure from the past few years of Pixel design, and I love the changes. It looks sleek and modern, and it features more AI tools than you could imagine. Google's AI can have a conversation, fix your photos, or fake an insurance scam. Maybe don't do that last thing. ★★★★½
The Google Pixel 9 Pro is a whole new look for the Pixel family, but it keeps the recent Pixel heritage of new AI features, outstanding cameras, and the brightest and most colorful displays you'll find on any smartphone. It's not just a whole new look for Pixel, there's a lot going on that you need to check out, even if you just want to be wary of what's coming.
Design: The Pixel 9 Pro gets rid of the old camera bar for a newer, raised camera pill that is sleek, rounded, and very modern. The Pixel is more durable this year, with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and back for the best scratch and crack protection. The Pro and the Pro XL are identical, except for the bigger size, so pick your phone according to your comfort.
Display: Google continues to quietly dominate smartphone displays with the Super Actua screen on the Pixel 9 Pro. It's the brightest screen you'll find, and it looks fantastic. It also uses LTPO technology to refresh between 1-120Hz, so it works as an Always-On display without draining too much power. You won't find much better, especially if you need to take photos in bright sunlight. The Pixel 9 Pro display can handle it.
Camera: Photos looked fantastic from the Pixel 9 Pro, and video looked even better after it got an AI upgrade using Video Boost. There are still better camera phones for image quality and features, but the Pixel 9 Pro gives you a perfect starting point, and then you can jump into Google Photos for exclusive AI editing tools you'll only find on the Pixel phone.
Performance: The Pixel 9 pro lags behind all of the competition in terms of raw performance, and unfortunately that lag rears its head in the real world. I saw slowdowns and stuttering when I tried to do everything at once, even though my Galaxy S24 Ultra can handle everything and more. I hope this phone really lasts sevent years of Android updates, but the future is unclear.
Battery life: Battery life on the Pixel 9 Pro was solid, but it isn't the best around. I had no trouble getting a full day of use from my phone, but I wish it had faster charging in case I needed to top up. The Pixel 9 Pro XL charges faster than other Pixels, if you want that benefit, but otherwise I have no battery complaints, only wishes for next year.
Value for money: The Pixel 9 Pro seems a bit expensive, especially considering performance can lag behind the competition. Still, with a free year of Google One AI Premium, which includes 2TB of cloud storage, the deal looks a bit sweeter. Keep an eye out later in the year for price drops, there are usually discounts on Google phones near the holiday season.
Read our full Google Pixel 9 Pro review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Value | It’s a great phone all around, but performance lags significantly versus other phones in this price range, so maybe wait for a discount or a bundle deal. | 4 / 5 |
| Design | Excellent new design; the biggest change to Pixel phones in four years. Fantastic materials and a more modern look. | 5 / 5 |
| Display | Google offers the best smartphone screens around on the Pixel 9 Pro, and it’s surprising the company doesn’t crow louder. Super-bright – be careful to not overheat. | 5 / 5 |
| Software | With a grain of salt and a sense of humor, the AI stuff is A-Okay. Google avoids bad AI stereotypes, and gives us a nice glimpse of the future for mobile AI. | 4 / 5 |
| Camera | Fantastic cameras rival the best camera phones you can buy. Great new features, including Add Me for AI group photos. Camera settings are too difficult to manage. | 5 / 5 |
| Performance | Performance lags significantly, both in benchmark testing and the real world. This phone lags if you push too hard, and Google wants you to push too hard. Seven years ahead? We’ll see. | 3 / 5 |
| Battery | Solid battery life beats the iPhone, and the phone has no trouble lasting all day. You’ll want to use the cameras, so pack an extra charger, but if you’re careful this phone lasts no problem. I wish the charging was as fast as Google makes it seem. | 4 / 5 |
The best Android camera phone
✅ 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.
❌ 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 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.
Read our full Galaxy S24 Ultra review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 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. | ★★★★★ |
