Best smartphones of 2024

As 2024 comes to an end, it is time to look back and assess the smartphone releases that took place this year. While stalwarts like Apple, Samsung, and Google led the charge in AI innovation, tech outfits like Oppo, OnePlus, and Vivo also stepped up their game to bridge the gap. Despite AI dominating most of the headlines around smartphone releases, incredible strides were also made in terms of hardware, cameras, and processors. Let’s take a look at the top 10 smartphones to come out in 2024.

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Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Key Specs

Samsung has a reputation for putting out the most complete and powerful smartphone as the top-spec model in its Galaxy S series every year. This year’s Galaxy S24 Ultra continues the tradition. This smartphone has very few peers that can match its raw performance. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra puts up incredible benchmark numbers and backs them up in everyday performance. Its extravagant rear camera panel comprises not 3 but 4 lenses – a 200MP primary shooter, 12MP ultrawide lens, 10MP telephoto lens, and 50MP periscope telephoto lens. The S24 Ultra is one of the few flagship smartphones that still rocks a stylus. Read our review of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Pros

• Unique form factor
• Excellent cameras
• Powerful performance
• S Pen

Cons

• Lacks fast charging

Buy on Amazon for Rs 1,21,999

iPhone 16 Pro Max

Key Specs

The iPhone 16 Pro Max belongs in the upper echelon of smartphones released in 2024. It marks the debut of Apple Intelligence, the AI suite of features from Apple. There are some hardware upgrades on offer too – the smartphone now comes with a dedicated button for camera controls. This button acts as a shutter and can also be used to change the exposure, depth, zoom, style, and tone. The 6.9-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED display has a 120Hz refresh rate and can reach 2,000 nits in High Brightness Mode. The smartphone packs the new 3nm Apple A18 Pro chipset under its hood. Its rear camera panel comprises a 48MP primary shooter, a 48MP ultrawide lens, a 12MP periscope telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, and a TOF 3D LiDAR scanner.

Pros

• Brilliant display
• Powerful chipset
• Apple Intelligence

Cons

• Pricey

Buy on Amazon for Rs 1,44,900

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

Key Specs

Google’s top-spec Pixel 9 Pro XL was one of the best smartphones to come out in 2024. When other smartphones played it safe with their design language, Google reinvented the Pixel’s rear panel, trimming the camera visor to a bar. The smartphone is flatter with minimal curves around the corners. It draws power from Google’s new in-house Tensor G4, which is a respectable chipset. Pixels are known for their exquisite cameras and the Pixel 9 Pro XL upholds that reputation. Its rear camera array packs a 50MP primary shooter, a 48MP periscope telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, and a 48MP ultrawide sensor. The 5,060mAh battery pack lasts an entire day with ease. Read our Google Pixel 9 Pro XL review to know more about the smartphone.

Pros

• Clean design
• Smooth display
• AI features

Cons

• Lacks fast charging

Buy on Flipkart for Rs 1,24,999

OnePlus 12

Key Specs

There are several reasons why the OnePlus 12 belongs on this list. Its 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED display has a 120Hz refresh rate and can reach a peak brightness of 4,500 nits. It packs the flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC under its hood. The 9140 mm² VC cooling system dissipates the heat quickly and keeps the internal temperature in check during high-intensity tasks like gaming and video editing. OnePlus 12’s cameras are tuned by the photography giant Hasselblad. The round camera cutout at the back features a 50MP primary shooter, a 64MP periscope telephoto lens, and a 48MP ultrawide sensor. The 5,400mAh battery pack supports 100W fast charging, which is pretty impressive. Check out our review of the OnePlus 12.

Pros

• Good software experience
• Great cooling system
• Fast charging

Cons

• Lacks IP68 rating

Buy on Amazon for Rs 64,999

iQOO 13

Key Specs

The gaming specialist iQOO 13 is the newest entry in this list. iQOO’s preference for year-end launches gives it the advantage of equipping its smartphones with next year’s flagship processors. The iQOO 13 is powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite, which will feature in most flagship smartphones in 2025. While the smartphone’s design language is consistent with its recent predecessors, the LED indicator around the camera ring is one of the finer touches in the newest model. The Supercomputing Chip Q2 plays a vital role in enhancing the gaming experience. The 7K Ultra VC cooling system keeps the device cool at all times, no matter how demanding the task at hand is. Lastly, the 6,000mAh battery pack inside this device is one of the biggest units we’ve ever seen on a smartphone. It supports 120W wired charging, which is an added bonus.

Pros

• Powerful chipset
• Excellent for gaming
• Bypass charging

Buy on iQOO.in for Rs 54,999

Vivo X100 Pro

Key Specs

The Vivo X100 Pro featured one of the best camera systems we’ve seen on a smartphone this year. We reviewed the smartphone as soon as it was released and were blown away by its stunning portrait shots. Vivo’s collaboration with Zeiss yields great results on this smartphone. The 1-inch sensor for the 50MP primary shooter lets in a lot of light and produces detailed results in a wide range of lighting conditions. The 50MP telephoto lens has 4.3x optical zoom. The smartphone packs a 5,400mAh battery pack which supports 100W fast charging. The MediaTek Dimensity 9300 chipset under its hood puts forward a strong performance.

Pros

• Excellent cameras
• Fast charging
• Clean design

Buy on Flipkart for Rs 89,999

Oppo Find X8 Pro

Key Specs

Released at the tail end of 2024, the Find X8 Pro smartphone from Oppo towers over its peers with its exceptional photography skills, fast processor, and ultra-smooth display. The smartphone features a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and 4,500 nits of peak brightness. It is powered by MediaTek’s 2025 flagship chipset – Dimensity 9400. The circular camera cutout on the back panel has 4 50MP sensors – primary shooter, ultrawide lens, 3x optical zoom lens (periscope telephoto), and 6x optical zoom lens (periscope telephoto). The 5,910mAh battery pack supports 80W fast charging.

Pros

• Amazing cameras
• Great build
• Fast processor

Buy on Flipkart for Rs 99,999

iPhone 16

Key Specs

The base variant in the iPhone 16 series has a lot of things going for it. For starters, it features a vertical camera array instead of the diagonal setup from the yesteryears. A 40MP primary shooter and a 12MP ultrawide lens make up this camera array. Up front, the smartphone houses a 12MP selfie camera inside the Dynamic Island. The 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display can reach 2,000 nits in High Brightness Mode. Like its Pro siblings, the base variant also gets a Camera Control button. Powered by the Apple A18 chipset, this smartphone is equipped to run Apple Intelligence.

Pros

• Apple Intelligence
• Exciting design
• Camera Control

Buy on Amazon for Rs 77,400

Xiaomi 14

Key Specs

Over the years, Xiaomi has proved that it can hang with the heavyweights like Samsung, Google, and Apple. Xiaomi 14 is yet another reminder of that. Its compact form factor, clean design, and powerful processor make it one of the best smartphones of the year. The 6.36-inch LTPO OLED display has a 120Hz refresh rate and can hit 3,000 nits of peak brightness. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC produces rock-solid gaming and everyday performance. The 3 50MP sensors for the primary shooter, ultrawide lens, and telephoto camera produce brilliant results. On top of that, the 4,610mAh battery pack supports 90W fast charging. Read our review of the Xiaomi 14 to find out why it is one of the most underrated smartphones of the year.

Pros

• Clean design
• Powerful processor
• Good cameras

Buy on Amazon for Rs 49,999

Google Pixel 9

Key Specs

The vanilla Google Pixel 9 is significantly pricier than its Pixel 8 series counterpart, but it offers some important upgrades. The 6.3-inch OLED display now packs an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor which works at a very rapid pace. The design language of the smartphone is identical to its Pro siblings. It features a camera bar across the flat back panel. The curved edges complement the smartphone’s flat panels. Known for its camera magic, the Pixel 9 features a 50MP primary shooter and a 48MP ultrawide lens. The 4,700mAh battery pack supports 27W wired charging. Read our review of the Google Pixel 9 to know more about the smartphone.

Pros

• Updated design
• Ultrasonic fingerprint sensor
• Good cameras

Buy on Flipkart for Rs 79,999

Honourable Mention: Samsung Galaxy S24

Key Specs

The Samsung Galaxy S24 is one of the best compact smartphones to come out in 2024. Well, as compact as a smartphone can get in 2024. Its 6.2-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display has a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 2,400 nits. However, unlike its Ultra sibling, the Galaxy S24 base variant is powered by Samsung’s in-house Exynos 2400 processor. The vertical camera array at the back features a 50MP primary shooter, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens, making it one of the rare base variants of a flagship series to pack a telephoto camera. Read our Samsung Galaxy S24 review to find out how the smartphone fared in everyday use.

Pros

• Smooth display
• Clean design
• Telephoto lens

Buy on Amazon for Rs 68,635

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Final Thoughts

These are our picks for the 10 best smartphones to be launched in 2024. Stay tuned for our year-end lists for the best midrange and flagship alternative smartphones as well. Think there’s a device that deserves to be on this list? Give it a shout-out in the comments!