Best phone 2024: the top smartphones to buy right now

The AI phones are here, however that doesn’t imply they’ve actually arrived. The 12 months’s hottest pattern is trickling right down to cellular tech, however the outcomes to this point are a combined bag, to say the least. Samsung and Google have a whole lot of AI methods on their telephones that don’t actually quantity to a lot but, and Apple is scrambling to catch up. AI actually may very well be the beginning of helpful new ways to interact with our phones! However we’re undoubtedly not there but. Within the meantime, be ready to listen to much more about AI in your subsequent telephone — and mood your expectations.

Lots of people within the US get their telephones via provider offers, and no judgment right here if that’s the route you’re taking — it’s how I purchased mine. Simply ensure you realize what you’re entering into and what number of years you’ll want to remain on that Tremendous 5G Every part Limitless Plus plan to maintain the month-to-month system reimbursements coming.

Should you’re trying to spend rather less and nonetheless get one of the best smartphone on a price range, you could find one thing actually good for below $500. For these suggestions, check out our guide to budget smartphones.

Display: 6.1-inch, 2556 x 1179 OLED, 60Hz refresh charge / Processor: A18 Cameras: 48-megapixel f/1.6 predominant with sensor-shift IS; 12-megapixel ultrawide; 12-megapixel selfie / Battery: Not marketed / Charging: 27W wired, 25W wi-fi MagSafe, 15W Qi2, 7.5W Qi / Climate-resistance ranking: IP68

From a {hardware} perspective, the iPhone 16 (or the 16 Plus) is a simple improve selection. Should you’re switching from an iPhone 13, 12, and even older, these 4 or 5 years of incremental efficiency enhancements add up. However there’s one thing fully new this time round — nicely, two issues: the Motion Button and the Digital camera Management button.

The customizable Action Button, which replaces the mute swap on the left fringe of the telephone, is a hand-me-down from the 15 Professional sequence. You’ll be able to set it to open a specific app, activate the flashlight, or virtually anything you may want on the contact of a button. On the opposite aspect of the telephone is the Digital camera Management, which you should use to launch the digital camera app. With the digital camera open, it acts as a shutter button with a full press, and a lightweight press brings up different publicity choices you’ll be able to modify. Even in the event you solely ever use it to launch the digital camera, it’s fairly helpful, and it frees up the Motion Button.

The iPhone 16 and its bigger 16 Plus sibling use Apple’s A18 chipset, which is in the identical household because the 16 Professional’s processor. That bodes nicely for the telephones staying on the identical software program improve cycle. They’re each slated to get an replace with Apple Intelligence within the fall, which can embrace AI-powered writing instruments and notification summaries in its earliest iteration. However regardless of the similarities, the common 16 fashions lag behind the Professionals in two essential departments: the display screen and the digital camera.

The Professionals include devoted 5x lenses and up to date predominant cameras that perform a little higher in low gentle. And also you’ll solely get a ProMotion show on the Professional fashions; the common 16 contains a slower 60Hz display screen. Mainly each different high-end telephone in the marketplace presents a 120Hz show, in order that’s a disappointment. If these two drawbacks don’t trouble you — and most of the people most likely received’t thoughts them — then the iPhone 16 makes for an awesome improve.

Read our review of the Apple iPhone 16.

Display: 6.3-inch, 1080p 120Hz OLED / Processor: Tensor G4 / Cameras: 50-megapixel f/1.7 predominant with OIS; 48-megapixel ultrawide; 10.5-megapixel selfie / Battery: 4,700mAh / Charging: 27W wired, 15W wi-fi (with Pixel Stand 2) / Climate resistance: IP68

The Android ecosystem has been in search of a telephone just like the Pixel 9 for some time now. It’s simple and unfussy, takes reliably good photographs, and comes with the polished {hardware} you’d anticipate from a high-end telephone. It doesn’t have a devoted telephoto lens, which the equally priced Galaxy S24 does, however the software program is much less quirky than Samsung’s, making for a greater general expertise.

Exterior of zoom capabilities, Google’s Pixel digital camera is simply as dependable as ever. The telephone comes with a Tensor G4 chipset that powers AI options aplenty, each inside and outdoors of the digital camera app. Some are promising and some are worrying, however there’s nothing right here that seems like a real game-changer. Which is okay.

The essential factor is that the Pixel 9 has the fitting stuff the place it counts. It’s simple to make use of, and a number of the Pixel sequence’ persistent issues like poor thermals and buggy software program appear to be below management on this era. The 9 Professional is a worthwhile improve if you need that telephoto lens and a barely nicer display screen, however in any case, the Pixel 9 seems like a top-notch system, in and out.

Read our full Google Pixel 9 review.

Display: 6.8-inch, 1440p, 120Hz OLED / Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 / Cameras: 200-megapixel predominant with OIS; 50-megapixel 5x telephoto with OIS; 10-megapixel 3x telephoto with OIS; 12-megapixel ultrawide; 12-megapixel selfie / Battery: 5,000mAh / Charging: 45W wired, 15W wi-fi / Climate resistance: IP68

Samsung’s maximalist S-series Extremely telephone kind of exists in its personal stratosphere. The place else are you going to discover a telephone with 4 rear cameras and a built-in stylus? The S24 Extremely stays an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink telephone, and regardless that it’s each bit as feature-packed as final 12 months’s mannequin, it feels just a bit much less particular than the S23 Extremely did.

The aforementioned Galaxy AI options are right here, in fact, however they’re nothing to jot down residence about simply but, they usually’re out there on the S23 sequence, too. The S24 Extremely’s beginning value went up, too — now $1,299 reasonably than $1,199. And the optical 10x zoom lens is gone, changed by a 5x zoom with extra megapixels and in-sensor cropping to get to 10x. It’s principally effective, however man, there was one thing cool a couple of true 10x zoom on a telephone.

All that mentioned, the S24 Extremely can’t be beat in the event you’re in search of the easiest Android telephone — price and dimension be damned. The 6.8-inch show now comes with anti-glare remedy that does a unbelievable job of slicing reflections and maintaining the display screen snug to make use of outdoor. The telephone handles heavy processing duties with out a downside, and the digital camera system is normally good and infrequently sensible, particularly with 3x portrait mode photographs. And there’s an S Pen! Have you ever ever seen a fancier technique to make a to-do record?

Extremely devotees doubtless received’t have an issue stomaching the value hike this 12 months thanks in no small half to Samsung’s beneficiant trade-in offers. For everybody else, it’s greatest to consider the S24 Extremely like some other dear gadget — a fantastic, splurge-worthy system if nothing however the very best will make you content.

Read my full Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review.

Display: 6.1-inch, 1080p OLED, 120Hz / Processor: Tensor G3 Cameras: 64-megapixel f/1.89 with OIS; 13-megapixel ultrawide; 13-megapixel selfie / Battery: 4,492mAh / Charging: 18W wired, 7.5W wi-fi / Climate-resistance ranking: IP67

It’s exhausting to beat the Pixel 8A on sheer ROI. For $500, you get an excellent price range telephone that comes with seven years of OS and safety updates; most telephones at this value will solely see a handful of OS upgrades, if that. The 8A additionally comes with a very good digital camera that covers the fundamentals. It’s not as fancy because the Pixel 9 or 9 Professional, however it received’t stop you from capturing that once-in-a-lifetime shot.

The Pixel 8A offers a whole lot of different stuff you wouldn’t essentially anticipate from a $500 telephone, like wi-fi charging and an IP67 ranking for resistance in opposition to full water immersion. After all, you’ll be able to’t have all the things. The 8A’s again panel is matte plastic reasonably than glass, sadly, and its 6.1-inch 1080p display screen isn’t one of the best in its class (see the OnePlus 12R).

There are different telephones out there for below $500 price contemplating, a lot of that are coated in our information to the best inexpensive phones. However in the event you’re in search of absolutely the most worth you may get from a $500 telephone, then look no additional than the 8A.

Read my full review of the Google Pixel 8A.

Display: 6.3-inch, 2622 x 1206 OLED, 120Hz refresh charge / Processor: A18 Professional Cameras: 48-megapixel f/1.8 with sensor-shift IS; 12-megapixel 5x telephoto with OIS; 48-megapixel ultrawide; 12-megapixel selfie / Battery: Not marketed / Charging: 27W wired, 25W MagSafe wi-fi, 15W Qi2, 7.5W Qi / Climate-resistance ranking: IP68

Like all 4 iPhone 16 fashions, the 16 Professional gained the brand new Digital camera Management, however it received one other essential replace, too: a 5x telephoto lens. Within the 15 sequence, that longer telephoto lens was reserved for the larger Professional Max mannequin. This time round, it’s on the smaller Professional, too, making it an awesome possibility for somebody who desires to improve with out upsizing their telephone.

Just like the Professional Max, the iPhone 16 Professional makes use of an A18 Professional chipset designed to help Apple Intelligence, which can begin rolling out within the fall of 2024. The primary replace will embrace issues like notification summaries and the brand new glowing-border Siri UI, which Apple centered its launch occasion on. However don’t expect anything radical — at the least at first.

Exterior of AI, the 16 Professional is a reasonably iterative replace. The brand new Digital camera Management makes it simpler to launch the digital camera and get proper to taking photographs, and it additionally frees up the Motion Button in the event you had been utilizing it as a digital camera shortcut. The display screen is a bit of greater at 6.3 inches in comparison with 6.1 inches, regardless that the telephone is mainly the identical dimension. You’ll be able to document 4K video at 120fps now. And the brand new Photographic Kinds, which can be found on all iPhone 16 fashions, allow you to take extra management over your photographs than ever.

There’s nothing right here that somebody with an iPhone 15 Professional ought to improve for, however it’s an all-around stable system that can please Apple devotees, particularly those that favor a telephone that isn’t too massive.

Read our full Apple iPhone 16 Pro review.

Display: 6.7-inch, 1080p, 120Hz OLED internal display screen; 3.4-inch, 720p, OLED cowl display screen / Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 / Cameras: 50-megapixel f/1.8 predominant with OIS; 12-megapixel ultrawide; 10-megapixel selfie (internal display screen) / Battery: 4,000mAh / Charging: 25W wired, 15W wi-fi / Climate resistance: IP48

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 isn’t essentially the most enjoyable flip telephone you should buy proper now; that may be the 2024 Motorola Razr Plus. However enjoyable solely goes to this point, and the Z Flip 6 is the extra dependable system of the 2. In relation to the system you utilize day in and time out, reliability counts for lots.

Motorola’s tackle the fashionable flip telephone embraces nostalgia with cute animations and a mode that sends the entire system again to the early 2000s. The Z Flip 6 lacks this type of allure, however you do get an up to date cowl display screen UI that’s extra customizable than the Z Flip 5’s. The Flip 6 additionally comes with seven years of software program updates, which matches one of the best software program insurance policies in the marketplace. The {hardware} will most likely give out lengthy earlier than the software program, truthfully.

That’s the opposite aspect of the flip telephone coin: long-term sturdiness is iffy. Positive, the Flip 6 is constructed to resist full water immersion, however it nonetheless doesn’t have any formal mud resistance. For that motive, it isn’t a telephone I’d suggest to simply anybody.

That mentioned, the Z Flip 6’s outer display screen does turn out to be useful. You are able to do lots with the prebaked widget choices out there to make use of, and in the event you’re just a bit adventurous, you’ll be able to run any app you need on the little display screen. Beginning a Strava exercise or sending a fast textual content is a cinch, which is a giant a part of the enchantment of a flip telephone. Simply, you realize, maintain this telephone away from the seaside.

Read my full review of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6.

Display: 8.0-inch, 2076p, 120Hz OLED internal display screen; 6.3-inch, 1080p, 120Hz OLED cowl display screen / Processor: Tensor G4 / Cameras: 48-megapixel f/1.7 predominant with OIS; 10.8-megapixel 5x telephoto with OIS; 10.5-megapixel ultrawide; 10-megapixel selfie (cowl display screen); 10-megapixel internal selfie digital camera / Battery: 4,650mAh / Charging: 21W wired, 7.5W wi-fi / Climate resistance: IPX8

It’s exhausting to convey simply how good the Pixel 9 Professional Fold is to make use of. It’s the primary book-style folding telephone that absolutely delivers on the promise of a foldable: it’s a pill while you want it and a daily telephone while you don’t.

Samsung’s Z Fold series feels a little too narrow and cramped in its closed configuration, and the unique Pixel Fold was too cumbersome and heavy to make use of comfortably. The 9 Professional Fold is lighter, and utilizing its 6.3-inch outer display screen feels mainly like utilizing a standard telephone, which is a giant win.

That’s actually the theme of the Pixel 9 Professional Fold: it simply feels regular. However there are a few decidedly not-normal issues to think about: value and sturdiness. The 9 Professional Fold prices $1,799 — mainly the going charge for a book-style foldable however nonetheless some huge cash for a telephone.

And long-term sturdiness is unclear, particularly provided that that is solely Google’s second folding telephone. It’s rated to resist full water immersion, however as with all foldable, mud is a priority, so that you’ll need to take a bit of further care with this system. All that mentioned, somebody with the abdomen (and pockets) for the 9 Professional Fold will discover it a really rewarding system.

Read my full Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold review.

Display: 6.7-inch, 1080p, 120Hz OLED / Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 / Cameras: 50-megapixel F/1.9 predominant with OIS; 50-megapixel ultrawide; 32-megapixel selfie / Battery: 4,700mAh / Charging: 45W wired, 15W wi-fi / Climate resistance: IP54

The Nothing Telephone 2 isn’t for everybody, however for the proper of individual, it’s an excellent various to the Galaxies and Pixels of the world. It’s a style-driven system, from the dot-matrix-inspired UI to the flashing gentle strips on the again panel. Will its distinctive {hardware} and software program options enable you to take again your consideration span as Nothing claims? Eh, most likely not. Largely, it’s only a cool-looking gadget and a thoughtfully designed system.

The Telephone 2 is provided with a Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset, which is a barely older however nonetheless very succesful processor. Its 6.7-inch, 1080p display screen helps a quick 120Hz high refresh charge, and its lowest 1Hz refresh charge permits it to supply an information-rich always-on show. The digital camera system is sweet, although not fairly as constant because the Pixel 7’s. There’s wi-fi charging, quick 45W wired charging, and an all-day battery.

That’s the entire excellent news. The unhealthy information is that it’s solely rated IP54, that means it’s not absolutely dustproof, and it’s solely proof against splashes reasonably than full immersion in water. Most different telephones at this value provide a full IP68 ranking, and a few cheaper midrange telephones, just like the Pixel 8A, nonetheless embrace IP67 water resistance. The Telephone 2 additionally lacks official help for Verizon’s community, which guidelines it out for lots of people within the US.

There’s the Glyph Interface, too — these lights on the again of the telephone. It’s a neat concept with some attention-grabbing functions in the event you make investments a bit of time in tweaking it. You’ll be able to flip it over to silence notifications while you want a while to focus and handpick sure “important” alerts to gentle up the Glyph. Personally, I discover it much less useful than a standard focus mode and even the Telephone 2’s always-on show. However others would possibly discover it helpful, and if nothing else, it seems to be neat.

The Telephone 2 isn’t your best option for sheer worth — the Pixel 8A is a a lot better deal. It’s not your best option for somebody who simply desires a telephone to get them via their day with minimal problem. But it surely’s undeniably totally different, and in the event you’re in search of one thing outdoors of the unusual with a sure visible enchantment, then it’s a worthy candidate.

Read my full Nothing Phone 2 review.

• The Samsung Galaxy S24 is a bit of fussier to make use of than our general decide for one of the best Android telephone, however it’s nonetheless a stable performer and features a telephoto lens, which only a few of the “primary” flagships do. At this level, it’s additionally the smallest high-end telephone you should buy within the US, if that’s your factor. (It’s my factor.)
• The 2024 Motorola Razr Plus is a pleasant flip telephone with tons of nostalgic vibes, with a giant cowl display screen that’s helpful for accessing fast duties with out opening the telephone. However Motorola’s monitor document for well timed software program updates isn’t nice, making it exhausting to totally suggest the Razr Plus.

Replace, November seventh: Adjusted pricing.