1. The list in brief
2. Best for most people
3. Best iPhone
4. Best Samsung
5. Best Pixel
6. Best budget
7. Best value
8. Best alternative flagship
9. Best foldable
10. FAQs
11. How we test
Nailing down the best phone to suit your needs is no easy task in 2024. These days, there are so many great mobile options to choose from, and there are plenty more eye-catching smartphones on the horizon, too.
In this guide, we've compiled a list of the best phones money can buy in the UK, collating specs for each model, along with pros, cons, and links to their full reviews.
The options highlighted below cover a range of prices, so whether you're on a tight budget or have a bottomless supply of cash, you'll find a great phone that fits your particular requirements (however, those in the former camp may be better served by our best cheap phones guide).
If you're after a device from a specific brand, check out our guides to best iPhones, best Android phones or best Samsung phones, while our newly minted best AI phones guide details the devices with the most impressive software.
Quick list
Thanks to its superfast A16 Bionic chipset, 48MP main camera, USB-C port, Dynamic Island cut-out and surprisingly reasonable price, the iPhone 15 is, for us, the best all-round phone on the market right now.
Read more below
The iPhone 15 Pro Max takes everything that's great about the smaller iPhone 15 Pro and supersizes it. You'll get a larger 6.7-inch display, and a superior 5x periscope zoom lens, too.
Read more below
Samsung's latest Ultra phone is a feature-packed behemoth. It's got a titanium design and a 50MP 5x telephoto camera, but crucially, it's also got a whole range of AI capabilities that others can't compete with yet.
Read more below
Boasting the best Pixel cameras to date, the Google Pixel 8 Pro is a photography powerhouse – but we're equally impressed by its trailblazing machine learning features.
Read more below
The Google Pixel 8a is the most accessible route into today's AI-fueled smartphone world, offering a decent chipset and stellar longevity to boot.
Read more below
Despite its age, Apple's iPhone 13 remains a highly capable and reliable device whose ever-diminishing price makes it better value than ever.
Read more below
Load the next two products...
Thanks to its best-in-class display and versatile cameras, the Honor Magic 6 Pro is an excellent flagship option for those prefer to stand out from the crowd.
Read more below
Arguably the best foldable phones in 2024, the OnePlus Open surpasses its big-name rivals by offering a superior design, display, and set of cameras.
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, along with links to their reviews.
The best phone for most people
✅ You want a great iPhone at a great price: The iPhone 15 strikes a nice balance between price and cutting-edge features, which is a rare thing for Apple's standard iPhones.
✅ You want a camera upgrade: Between the excellent portrait photography capabilities and new 48MP main camera, the iPhone 15 offers Pro-style camera specs without demanding that you break the bank.
❌ You like big phones: The iPhone 15's 6.1-inch screen might feel cramped if you currently own an iPhone Pro Max, iPhone Plus, Galaxy Plus or Galaxy Ultra phone.
❌ You want bigger zoom: The 2x optical zoom on offer here is perfectly fine, but it doesn't compare to 3x optical zoom on Apple's latest Pro models (or indeed the standard Samsung Galaxy S23).
For the first time in a long time, Apple's newest base iPhone feels like a great-value product. In fact, the iPhone 15 marks the most significant step up for a base iPhone in several years (perhaps ever), so for most buyers, it's absolutely worth considering against the more expensive Pro models.
The bottom line is this: the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max boast titanium sides, 120Hz scrolling and high-spec zoom photography, but if you're not overly concerned by any of those features, then the standard iPhone 15 offers pretty much everything you could want from a flagship phone, but for significantly less money.
The iPhone 15's 6.1-inch Super XDR OLED display is a sight to behold, its A16 Bionic chipset is plenty fast enough for the average mobile user, and its USB-C port brings a versatility to the iPhone that we haven't seen before. Despite the absence of a Pro moniker, you're still getting a supremely capable 48MP main camera, as well as Apple’s fancy digital screen cut-out, the Dynamic Island, all delivered in a sleek and eye-catching design package.
Apple's standard models have, in recent years, felt like minor upgrades that pale in comparison to their respective Pro-level counterparts. The iPhone 15 bucks that trend by being a genuinely great-value product in its own right.
Do note, though, that Apple's upcoming Apple Intelligence features will be limited to iPhones running the A17 Pro chip or newer. In other words, you'll need to go for the iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max (or wait for the iPhone 16) if you're keen to own a future-proofed AI iPhone.
Read our iPhone 15 review
The best iPhone
✅ You want the biggest and best iPhone: Objectively-speaking, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the best (read: most technologically advanced) iPhone ever made.
✅ You want the most powerful phone: Apple's A17 Pro chipset is more powerful than anything else you'll find on the market right now.
✅ 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.
❌ You want the best mobile zoom camera: The iPhone 15 Pro Max's telephoto lens is impressive – but Samsung's 10x optical zoom on the Galaxy S23 is 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.
If you're looking for the best iPhone money can buy in 2024, then the iPhone 15 Pro Max is objectively the best choice. The 6.1-inch iPhone 15 Pro may offer better value for money, but you'll get slightly superior camera tech from Apple's latest 6.7-inch behemoth, which makes it the on-paper iPhone champion.
In addition to that periscope zoom lens – which marks the first of its kind on an iPhone – the iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts a supremely capable 48MP quad-pixel main lens and a 12MP ultra-wide lens, so mobile photographers won't be left wanting for versatility.
On the design front, the iPhone 15 Pro Max packs an excellent 6.7-inch Super XDR OLED screen (with ProMotion), a beautiful titanium chassis and a USB-C port (another first for an iPhone). Apple's A17 Pro chipset delivers mobile gaming performance that's comparable to some high-end PCs, and it'll also ensure that the iPhone 15 Pro can run Apple Intelligence features when they launch later this year.
All told, then, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the most technologically advanced iPhone Apple has ever made – but you'll have to pay handsomely for the privilege of owning one (at least $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,199), and Samsung's similarly priced Galaxy S24 Ultra actually has slightly better cameras. Note, too, that the inevitably-even-better iPhone 16 Pro Max is tipped to launch in September this year.
Read our full iPhone 15 Pro Max review
The best Samsung phone
✅ You want the world's most versatile smartphone: The Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts more features than any other smartphone. On top of being a great phone, it can double as a laptop, a drawing tablet or even a traditional camera.
✅ You're ready to embrace AI: Samsung's Galaxy AI features, especially Circe to Search and Live Translate, can feel magical. There are definitely more AI features on the way, too, so this phone could get better with time.
❌ You don't need so many features: As above, the Ultra offers everything and more. But if that's not what you need, you're betting off spending less elsewhere.
❌ You prefer elegance and simplicity: Samsung's mobile software is starting to show its age, especially when compared to newer and simpler phones like the elegant iPhone 15 Pro (which runs Apple's excellent iOS 17).
You'd be forgiven for mistaking the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra at first glance, but Samsung's latest all-singing, all-dancing flagship does boast some subtle differences. For starters, its 6.8-inch display is now flat, and the aluminium used in the chassis of its predecessor has been replaced by a lighter titanium alloy.
Under the hood, a bespoke version of Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset provides enough power to juggle a gazillion apps and run console-quality games, not to mention Samsung's new suite of Galaxy AI features, which range from photo editing tools to live, two-way call translation. Crucially, there's also no chipset disparity across regions with the Galaxy S24 Ultra (unlike its siblings, which are equipped with an Exynos chip in certain markets).
On the topic of cameras, the S23 Ultra's 200-megapixel wide sensor returns on the S24 Ultra, but the former's 10MP 10x telephoto camera has been replaced by a 50MP 5x zoom periscope camera. In layman's terms, that means you'll get more detail at the expense of pure optical zoom with the S24 Ultra (but with the ability to crop into 10x, that doesn't result in much compromise).
Unsurprisingly, the Galaxy S24 Ultra costs a small fortune – but if you want the best, you have to pay for it. And this is indisputably the best Samsung phone (nay, the best Android phone) you can buy today.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review
The best Pixel phone
✅ You regularly take bad photos and videos: Pixel's latest flagship can retrospectively edit 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: The Pixel 8 Pro will last longer than any other Android phone; it'll keep receiving updates until 2030.
✅ You want help answering calls: The phone's call screening feature is genuinely great; it gives you a quick, written transcript of what your caller wants before you decide to answer.
❌ Your friends all have iPhones: If you're keen to be part of the crowd, Apple's iOS 17 update makes a strong argument for sticking with the same phone everybody around you is buying.
❌ You want the absolute best cameras: Despite the Pixel 8 Pro's undeniable photographic prowess, nothing beats the Galaxy S24 Ultra for camera capabilities and quality.
❌ You are a journalist or reporter: The summary tool on the Pixel 8 Pro is factually inaccurate, and its camera editing tools may create awkward questions around credibility.
At the time of writing, Google's Pixel 8 Pro is the best Pixel phone yet. It packs some serious camera upgrades that will satisfy both pro and amateur photographers, while its AI-focused Tensor G3 chipset delivers (surprise!) an AI-focused user experience that you won't get from any other phone (except, perhaps, the newly announced Galaxy S24 and its siblings).
In fact, Google is so confident in this phone’s performance that it's promising an unprecedented seven years of major updates; again, prior to the release of the Galaxy S24 range, that was longer than any other phone maker was willing to support its phones. In that regard, the Pixel 8 Pro is a trailblazer.
In terms of its design, the Pixel 8 Pro is more rounded on the corners than its predecessor, and its display is flatter, too. This makes it much easier to hold, while also giving you a better view of your content.
The Pixel 8 Pro's display, though, is its standout feature. Google has even endowed the phone's screen with its own branding: Super Actua. What does that mean, exactly? Well, 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 (sorry, Apple fans!).
On the photography front, some photos taken on the Pixel 8 Pro look better than those taken on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, but night pics and low-light images, in particular, aren't as good on the Pixel. That said, 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 (that is, until the Galaxy S24 range arrived).
It's worth bearing in mind that the Google Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro are slated to release on August 13, so you may want to hold fire on purchasing the Pixel 8 Pro right this second. After that August 13 date, the Pixel 8 Pro will likely drop in price, and you may even want to consider Google's newer models instead.
Read our full Google Pixel 8 Pro review
The best budget phone
✅ You want a Pixel 8 without the price tag: Unless you're dead set on the Pixel 8's more premium design, the Pixel 8a is an equally impressive phone.
✅ You want to try AI on the cheap: The Pixel 8a doesn't lose out on its siblings' best AI features, making it the cheapest route into Google's AI ecosystem.
✅ You want a cheap phone with longevity: Google's seven-year update commitment to the Pixel 8a is unmatched in this price range.
❌ You need serious performance: You can find better performance for less, like the OnePlus 12R, but you won't get all the Google goodies with it.
❌ You need versatile cameras: Don't be fooled by the 64MP sensor, the Pixel 8a can only produce 16MP images. They look good, but there aren't a lot of options.
❌ You really need a seven year phone: In seven years this phone will get Android updates, but if you need a phone that will actually perform well for that long, buy the fastest thing possible.
If you're looking to save money on a smartphone but don't want to compromise on future-facing features, Google's latest (and cheapest new) Pixel model, the Google Pixel 8a, is a stellar choice in 2024.
In essence, this phone offers all of the best AI features boasted by its flashier siblings, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, in a slightly less premium-feeling package.
All three phones share the same Tensor G3 processor and, remarkably, the same Google promise of seven years of Android OS updates, which means you needn't stress about having to replace the Pixel 8a just a few years after buying it.
You'll have to settle for a 6.1-inch screen, which may pain fans of larger phones, but the good news is that this 6.1-inch display is the same vibrant and bright 'Actua' panel as you'll find on the front of the Pixel 8.
The cameras, too, are impressive. The Pixel 8a balances color and light effectively, and even though it lacks the detail and zoom power of more expensive phones (not least the more expensive Pixel phones), most people will be more than satisfied with the Pixel 8a's camera performance.
We're less enamoured with the Pixel 8a's battery life. It's a marked improvement on the Pixel 7a's battery life, but that's not saying much. You'll still get around a day of use, which will be fine for most use cases, but if you're after a longer-lasting phone with super fast charging, look elsewhere.
Read our full Google Pixel 8a review
The best value phone
✅ You own an even older iPhone: If you're not fussed about owning the latest iPhone, but need to upgrade from a now-outdated model, the iPhone remains an excellent (and affordable) option in 2024.
✅ You need good battery life: If you need a smartphone that’s capable of lasting a full day (by which we mean 12 hours or more), opt for this iPhone over older and cheaper models.
✅ You wants lots of power: Ignore its age; the iPhone 13 remains a supremely capable handset thanks to the longevity of Apple's A15 Bionic chipset.
❌ You intend to keep it for more than three years: Apple typically updates its iPhones for at least five years, but there's no guarantee that the iPhone 13 will remain supported beyond 2026.
❌ 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 models. Cheaper Androids will also give you better photos.
❌ You want the most affordable phone: The iPhone 13 is among the most affordable phones on this list, but if you're happy to settle for the cheapest possible iPhone, the still-supported iPhone SE is slightly cheaper.
Apple's penchant for longevity means that its 2021 base model, the iPhone 13, remains a top-tier choice in 2024 for anyone in need of a reliable, no-frills iPhone.
In fact, despite its age, Apple's standard iPhone 13 is pretty much the same phone as the iPhone 14, but cheaper. Their designs are identical, their cameras are (almost) identical and their chipsets are separated by just one generation – which, in Apple terms, means next to nothing.
Specifically, the iPhone 13 features a flat-edge design that's still comfortable to use one-handed, while its IP68 water and dust resistance rating should ensure it survives the odd sprinkling of rain or shower water.
On the front, you'll find 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a resolution of 2532 x 1170, which in layman's terms means: a very clear and bright screen. There are two cameras on the back: a 12MP wide camera (f/1.6) and a 12MP ultrawide camera (f/2.4), though if you're a keen zoom photographer, this phone's lack of a telephoto camera may frustrate you.
Power-wise, the iPhone 13 uses Apple's still-strong A15 Bionic with 4GB of RAM, which is enough to run all manner of typical mobile tasks without issue. Under the hood, a 3,227mAh battery will keep things ticking over for at least 12 hours, so you needn't worry about being left in the battery life lurch with the iPhone 13. All told, then, this is a great-value choice for anyone in need of a basic iPhone upgrade.
Read our full iPhone 13 review
The best alternative flagship phone
✅ You want a feature-packed Android flagship that stands out from the crowd: The Magic 6 Pro boasts enough bells and whistles to be considered a long-term alternative to comparable flagships from more established mobile brands.
✅ You want the best mobile display: The Magic 6 Pro’s cameras are strong, but its eye-friendly display is what really sets the phone apart from the competition.
✅ You're a keen mobile photographer: At the time of writing, the Magic 6 Pro’s 180MP telephoto sensor is the largest of its kind, and the phone's 50MP wide lens uses an adjustable aperture (f/1.4-2.0), the likes of which you won't find on many other camera phones.
❌ You want a conventional-looking phone: The Magic 6 Pro is a bona fide head-turner, but its unconventional design won’t be for everyone.
❌ You want AI tools: If you're someone who's excited by the prospect of recomposing images after taking them, you may be dissapointed by the Magic 6 Pro's lack of generative AI editing tools.
When we say the Honor Magic 6 Pro is the 'best alternative flagship phone', we mean it's among the most impressive new flagships produced by a company that isn't Apple, Samsung or Google. To put it another way: this is a phone for those who don't care about the clout of brand names.
The Magic 6 Pro's display is big and bright, its cameras are some of the most versatile we've ever tested and its large battery ensures you get at least a day and a half of use before needing to reach for a charger. The phone's unconventional design will surely divide opinion, but we didn't use the word 'alternative' lightly.
On the display front, the Magic 6 Pro uses an absolutely gorgeous 6.8-inch LTPO OLED screen that offers a crisp 2800 x 1280 resolution and a fast refresh rate of up to 120Hz. Honor has its implemented eye-friendly dimming technology on this phone, too, which supposedly reduces eye strain and improves the quality of your sleep.
The phone packs a giant 5,600mAh battery that yields well over 12 hours of battery life with heavy usage. If you’re more of a casual user, you’ll get closer to a day-and-a-half of juice from the Magic 6 Pro, and charge times are seriously quick (though, as with most other flagship phones these days) you don't get a charger in the box.
Housed in the phone's Panerai-style rear bulge is a supremely capable 50MP wide lens, a 50MP ultrawide lens, and an almighty 180MP periscope telephoto lens with 2.5x optical zoom. These are cameras to rival the best from Apple and Samsung, and the Magic 6 Pro offers a rival-beating 50MP front-facing camera, too.
Read our full Honor Magic 6 Pro review
The best foldable phone
✅ You're ready to try a foldable phone: The OnePlus Open is the only tablet foldable that doesn't feel totally unwieldy. In fact, it feels like a normal phone when closed, unlike the Galaxy and Pixel Folds.
✅ You want an imposing display: This phone's display is brighter than almost any other screen on any other phone you can buy right now. And the crease? Nearly invisible.
✅ You want quality photography: The OnePlus Open boasts the best cameras of any foldable phone. You don't buy a foldable for the cameras, but you'll be more than satisfied with the photography specs on offer here.
❌ You're not looking to spend big: Let's be real: this is one of the most expensive Android phones on the market. At the very least, look for deals before shelling out on the Open's £1,599 RRP.
❌ You want a sleek and slim phone: Despite feeling like a regular phone, the OnePlus Open is much thicker than most modern-day handsets.
Disclaimer (11/07): Samsung announced the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 on July 10, and either of these two phones could oust the OnePlus Open as the best foldable phone in the UK. We've currently got both models in our testing labs, so they're not yet eligible for inclusion in this guide, but their existence is worth bearing in mind as you consider the below entry.
The OnePlus Open is indisputably one of, if not the best foldable phone money can buy right now. Sure, the Google Pixel Fold utilizes the power of Android more effectively, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 offers plenty more special features, but in almost every other department, the OnePlus Open trumps the competition (the Honor Magic V2 runs a close second, mind you).
Put simply, this was the first tablet foldable phone (before the Magic V2) that simply felt right. When closed, the Galaxy is too narrow and the Pixel too squat, but the Open 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 (and you will be, at £1,599), you shouldn’t feel like it’s the wrong size half the time.
Versus the competition, the OnePlus Open is a better size when closed, and it’s easier to open, too. But OnePlus also added something to the Open that no other foldable phone maker has dared: exceptional cameras.
The size limitations of other phones' fold-in-half designs have resulted in cameras that range from average to downright terrible. Not so with the OnePlus Open, which comes close to being as good as the best flat camera phones around.
Read our full OnePlus Open review
FAQs
What is the best phone in 2024?
Objectively speaking, the best phone right now is either the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max, but both excel at different things. The former boasts the best mobile cameras on the market, while the latter is the world's most powerful phone. If you're not looking to pay their stratospheric asking prices, though, the iPhone 15 is our current pick as the best phone for most people, while the OnePlus Open is the best foldable phone.
How to choose the best phone for you
Depending on the way you use your smartphone, there are likely to be one or more aspects of a device that are important to you.
If you want a hardy smartphone, you should check whether it has an IP rating – this will dictate how protected it is against dust and moisture. Also consider its material – ceramic is very fragile, as is glass, but plastic and metal can be more protective.
If you stream a lot, you might want a good-looking display. Bigger, up to 6.8 inches, might be useful for you, as will a resolution over 1080p. Refresh rates of 90Hz or 120Hz also ensure that motion looks smoother.
Battery life can be a pain for people, though capacity doesn't always dictate how long a mobile lasts. A phone needs to last at least a day to be useful for most people, though some go up to two days.
Charging speed is also important, and anything of 65W or up is good, though some phones now offer over 120W. The best phones power up in under an hour, and some even take less than 30 minutes.
Camera quality is hard to convey through a specs list, so you'll have to rely on our analysis and testing to see how good they are – but it's always useful to find a camera phone with multiple lenses and modes.
How we test
Every phone on this list was subjected to a full TechRadar review, and therefore our entire testing process. The core part of this process involves using the phone as our own for one week or more. We slot our SIM card in, use the device for social media, entertainment, photography and other normal tasks.
This is so we can emulate how you'll use the device if you buy it. It helps us understand all the quirks of a phone that you don't notice if you just leave the device in a lab and test it. Of course, we do some lab tests, too, for some direct comparison.
So, we'll game and we'll do benchmark tests to work out how powerful a phone is; we'll time a phone when it's charging but also just work out how powering fits into our morning routine; we'll test how long a phone takes to run down, but also just handle it day-to-day for a long period of time.
Our main areas of focus in our review are the phone's design, display, cameras, performance, software and battery life, though of course its price is also important for our final judgement.
Not found the best phone yet?
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