1. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra – Best overall
If 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.
You still get a gorgeous 6.8-inch AMOLED display and built-in S Pen, yet this is still a two-day phone for many people in terms of battery life.
What’s more, the the software experience is the best it’s ever been, with a slick One UI skin over Android 14 and seven years of both OS and security updates. A selection of genuinely useful AI features are the icing on the cake.
The S24 Ultra’s price and big, bulky design aren’t for everyone. But it’s the most complete smartphone money can buy.
2. Google Pixel 8 Pro – Best cameraPixel 7 Pro
the Not only does the Tensor G3 chip boost performance, it enables a range of genuinely useful software features. Many of these improve the photography experience, where Google’s advanced processing and capable lenses deliver consistently excellent photos.
Android 14 on the Pixel is the cleanest and most intuitive software on any smartphone, and it’ll now be supported by Google for an incredible seven years. Add in a luxurious, premium build and price that still undercuts the top-tier flagships, and the Pixel 8 Pro is a superb smartphone.
However, it’s not all good news. The battery life and charging could still do with improvement, while the big, heavy design won’t suit everyone.
If the latter is an issue for you, the regular Pixel 8 is a better bet. But there are a few other differences between them.
3. iPhone 15 Pro – Best iPhone
The iPhone 15 Pro has a collection of small changes that, when combined, represent a significant upgrade.
A new titanium build is durable but noticeable lighter, and there’s also a new customisable Action Button to replace the mute switch. Apple’s A17 Pro chipset is the most capable on any smartphone, and delivers truly stellar performance, while the introduction of USB-C is undoubtedly a step forward.
The 6.1in display is relatively compact by modern phone standards, but it looks excellent and benefits from the 120Hz refresh rate. Battery life is generally solid, though you’ll still have to put up with slow charging speeds.
But despite the missing 5x optical zoom on the telephoto lens, the all-round camera experience is superb. Many apps now support the genuinely useful Dynamic Island, and iOS 16 is just as slick and intuitive as ever.
For most people, the iPhone 15 Pro is the sweet spot in Apple’s 2023 smartphone range.
4. Google Pixel 7a – Best value phone
The Google Pixel 7a takes all the best parts of 2022’s Pixel 6a – great camera, solid performance, several years of software support – and improves it with a better 90Hz screen and more premium design.
It’s a little more expensive at $499/£449, but this is still one of the best value phones you can buy considering you really don’t lose much for this price compared to the Pixel 7 Pro. With a smaller 6.1in display, the Pixel 7a is also much easier to use and pocket than many of the larger phones on this list, plus it has the same Tensor G2 chipset as the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro.
The 64Mp main camera is truly exceptional. There is no better phone camera for still images at this price, and barely any better at any price. You can also buy the phone in playful blue and coral colours, or stick to white or black if you prefer.
The charging is very slow, and the added wireless charging was unreliable in our testing. But if you want an Android phone with five years of software support that’s a good all-rounder with an incredible camera – here you go.
5. OnePlus 12 – Great all-rounder
The OnePlus 12 is significantly more expensive than the OnePlus 11, meaning it no longer takes the title of best value flagship.
However, it still undercuts most flagships on price, yet delivers everything most people are looking for in a smartphone.
Performance from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset is superb, while the 120Hz AMOLED screen delivers a top-tier viewing experience. Even the main and telephoto cameras, a slight weakness of some earlier OnePlus phones, are now among the best around. However, the wide angle and selfie cameras could still be improved.
Battery life is strong, and it’s nice to see the 100W fast charging is now combined with fast 50W wireless charging.
OnePlus’ OxygenOS skin (now over Android 14) is still excellent, though the commitment to four OS updates and five years of security patches is a step down from the best of Google and Samsung (both seven).
But overall, the OnePlus 12 is a superb smartphone that’s easy to recommend. If you’re looking for a foldable, consider the OnePlus Open instead.
6. iPhone 15 – Best value
There are two upgrades that make the regular iPhone 15 instantly better than 2022’s iPhone 14. The introduction of USB-C makes the device more versatile, allowing you to easily connect a range of different accessories.
And then there’s the Dynamic Island, the pill-shaped cut-out used to display a variety of useful information – it was previously exclusive to Pro models.
The iPhone 15 is very similar in other areas, but that’s usually not a bad thing. The A16 Bionic chip delivers small boosts to performance and power efficiency, with the latter helping deliver solid batter life.
With slick iOS software and a premium build, it’s the best value iPhone 15 model you can buy. But if a higher refresh rate display or fast charging are important to you, you’ll be better off elsewhere.
7. Motorola Razr 40 Ultra/Razr+ – Best foldable phone
When you think of flip phones released in 2023, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 5 is probably the first one that comes to mind. But while it is worth considering, the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra (known as the Razr+ in some markets) is a better choice for most people.
The 3.6-inch, 144Hz outer screen is the main reason for this. Not only is it significantly larger than rivals, you can run any app you like on it. The 6.9-inch, 165Hz internal display is just as impressive, with a crease that’s barely noticeable.
Despite two screens and a hinge, the Razr 40 Ultra feels impressively durable, and you also get an IP52 rating for water and dust resistance. Throw in solid battery life and a premium design, and you’ve got yourself a great foldable.
However, it’s not without compromise. The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset is now two generations out of date, while the cameras are a step down from the absolute best Android has to offer. But neither should be dealbreakers for most people.
8. Samsung Galaxy A14 – Best budget phone
Samsung isn’t all about flagship phones and foldables – the company also makes some very good budget handsets. And the £150/$179 Galaxy A14 is the best evidence of this.
While not quite S23-level, the design is certainly inspired by Samsung’s flagships, and it looks almost as good. The 5000mAh battery also delivers excellent battery life, although that’s due in part to a basic 6.6in Full HD 60Hz panel.
Performance and cameras are the obvious downgrades compared to more expensive phones, but MediaTek’s Helio G80 chipset is still fine for everyday usage. And in good lighting, you’ll still be able to get good photos from the 50Mp main rear lens
Samsung’s One UI is also a big reason to buy the Galaxy A14 over rivals – it’s slick and intuitive. Slow charging and no 5G are the other main compromise, but this is still a great budget buy.
If you really want 5G, the Galaxy A14 5G is also available for £219.99/$199.99, but it’s not just the connectivity that’s different there.
9. Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus – Goldilocks Android phone
The Galaxy S23 Plus is a great choice if you don’t want a truly enormous Samsung phone with a pen (S23 Ultra) but do want a decent size display, top battery life and an excellent five years of software support.
We found the phone performed excellently in testing and comes equipped with three capable rear camera lenses without the bulk of other triple-camera phones out there. The design is a little plain, sure, but once you’ve got it in a case then you won’t mind anyway. The software takes more tweaking to get it to your liking compared to Pixel phones, but Samsung’s OneUI is more customisable than Google’s version of Android.
The phone feels premium in aluminium and glass, the display is truly excellent with good outdoor visibility.
and if all this seems great apart from it being to big for you then fear not – there’s also a regular Galaxy S23 that has a smaller display.
However, you may want to consider the newer S24+ or even regular S24.
10. Xiaomi 13 Pro – Most versatile cameras
We’ll say it up top – this phone would be higher in this chart if Xiaomi’s MIUI software was better and more pleasant to use than it currently is. It’s a shame, because the Xiaomi 13 Pro has some of the most accomplished hardware in the smartphone world.
It’s one of the first phones you can buy outside of China that has a 1in camera sensor, tech that is hotly tipped to level-up smartphone cameras in the next couple of years, but Xiaomi got there early doors. In our testing, the larger sensor area takes in more light, resulting in sensational low light photography and a level of detail not found on smaller sensors. Throw in a capable 50Mp telephoto sensor and a 50Mp ultrawide and you’ve got a great set up, despite the large camera bump.
The phone runs the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, powering through every task with ease, and it has great battery life to boot. It’s also worth considering the more expensive Xiaomi 13 Ultra, but that’s overkill for most people.
Now, if it weren’t for that pesky software…
Read our full Xiaomi 13 Pro review
Your buying guide for the best phones in 2024
When choosing a phone you should consider these things: build quality and design, display, performance, cameras, battery life, software and value for money.
Generally speaking, a flagship phone in 2024 will start at around £700/$700 but can cost over $1,000/£1,000 in some cases. On contract, you’re looking at between £30 and £50-per-month on average in the UK but you can spend a lot more if you want an expensive phone and lots of mobile data.
In the US you can often find very good contract deals on phones, better than in the UK and Europe.
It’s worth noting that while this list highlights the best smartphones available right now, that doesn’t explicitly mean flagships (even though they do feature heavily here). There are entries that cross over with our mid-range and budget phone round-ups too, but earn their place here based on the capabilities and quality on offer in relation to their price.
Buying a phone outright will usually give you the best value, but we appreciate finances in the real world don’t always accommodate such big one-off purchases. If you can, you’ll obviously need a SIM card and plan, as well as the phone. If you don’t already have one, check out our best SIM-only deals.
