2024 is upon us, and new phones are already being announced left, right and centre.
The smartphone market moves fast, and there’s seems to be almost no break between launches these days. So how can you possibly decide which is the best choice for you?
Your first decision will be between an iPhone or Android phone – both are included here. Then, how much are you willing to spend? Maybe a budget or mid-range phone will offer everything you’re looking for.
But if you’re looking for the absolute best of the best, you’ve come to the right place. It’s extremely difficult to whittle down the hundreds of phones we review each year to just 10, but that’s exactly what we’ve done here.
We can easily recommend all of the handsets below, but each is ranked ‘best’ for something. Whether you’re looking for great cameras, performance, design or simply value for money, there’s something that will appeal to you.
Google, Apple, Samsung, OnePlus, Motorola and Xiaomi are all represented here. Nothing, Nokia, Realme, Asus, Huawei, Vivo, Honor and Sony miss out, but you will find them in other smartphone best picks.
At the bottom of the article, you’ll also find detailed buying advice.
Best smartphone 2024
1. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra – Best overall
money is no object, the S24 Ultra is the best smartphone you can buy right now.
Samsung has put that high price tag to good use, delivering a superb user experience with no real weaknesses. And there are a catalogue of major strengths, from incredible overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 performance to five distinct camera lenses, each of which more than hold their own.
