You would possibly have already got a good suggestion of which smartphone you wish to be your subsequent one. However with extra stable choices obtainable now than ever earlier than, the selection is not all the time so cut-and-dry. If you need an iPhone, your decision-making course of is a bit simpler (and you have model new ones to think about now, too). If you happen to’re an Android individual, you have got much more choices to select from — together with foldables — and extra inquiries to reply earlier than you spend any cash. At Engadget, we overview telephones usually and have examined dozens over time. Whether or not you’ve had your eye on certainly one of our present high picks, certainly one of Samsung’s Galaxy S24 telephones or one other gadget, we’re right here that will help you determine which is the perfect cellphone to purchase this 12 months.
Editor’s notice (September 2024): Apple simply introduced the most recent iPhones and we’ll replace this information as soon as we have given the brand new handsets the complete overview therapy.
Android or iOS?
While you’re looking for the perfect smartphone, it turns into clear that every OS has its professionals and cons. Apple’s tight-knit ecosystem makes it tremendous simple to share knowledge between iPhones, iPads and Macs or seamlessly hand-off cellphone calls or music from one gadget to a different. On the identical time, you’re successfully locked in, as providers like Apple Messages aren’t obtainable on different platforms.
As for Android, there’s a a lot wider vary of handsets from firms like Google, Samsung, Sony and extra. Nonetheless, Android telephones don’t take pleasure in that very same size of software program assist and infrequently have decrease trade-in values. Briefly, there’s no flawed reply. Nonetheless, it would be best to take into account how your cellphone will slot in with the remainder of your units. So except you’re actually fed up with one OS and prepared to be taught one other, it in all probability doesn’t make a variety of sense to change from an iPhone to an Android cellphone (or vice versa) – particularly if everybody else in your family is utilizing the identical platform.
Cameras
Since your cellular phone usually pulls double responsibility as your main digital camera, determining what sort of photograph instruments you need is essential. These days, virtually each cell phone can take an amazing image in vivid gentle. However in order for you an extended optical zoom, you’ll in all probability should improve to a dearer gadget.
Mid-range phones usually solely have two rear cameras (a main wide-angle lens and a secondary ultra-wide digital camera) and may typically wrestle in low-light conditions. Every cellphone maker additionally has numerous options that could be a greater match on your model, with Apple providing 4 completely different colour presets on the most recent iPhones, whereas Google’s Pixel 9 Professional comes with neat instruments like devoted lengthy publicity and Motion Pan modes.
Will you get mmWave 5G or Wi-Fi 7?
The excellent news is that in 2024, most telephones have a minimum of Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6e and assist for some form of 5G connectivity. Nonetheless, in order for you the quickest wi-fi speeds attainable, it’s going to value you just a little further. For instance, on sure networks, mmWave 5G gives as much as gigabit obtain speeds, much less latency and higher bandwidth. However mmWave 5G additionally requires extra subtle (and pricier) modems, which implies assist for it’s usually lacking on cheaper units.
On the intense aspect, mmWave 5G isn’t as broadly obtainable as different variations of 5G, so relying on the place you reside and what community you’re on, you will not be lacking out on a lot proper now in the event you purchase a cellphone that doesn’t assist it. It’s an analogous state of affairs for Wi-Fi 7, which is accessible on some high-end handsets just like the Galaxy S24, however more durable to seek out on cheaper units. Wi-Fi 7 additionally requires you to have a compatible router, so except you want it or have a particular use case in thoughts, the dearth of assist for mmWave 5G or Wi-Fi 7 shouldn’t be a dealbreaker when on the lookout for a brand new cellphone.
Different options to think about
As a result of not everybody agrees on what makes the perfect cellphone, it’s best to take into consideration another specs that could be further vital for you. Cellular players will nearly definitely respect the 120Hz refresh charges you get on telephones just like the Samsung Galaxy S23 or the Apple iPhone 15 Professional. Alternatively, if lengthy battery life is vital, you’ll in all probability wish to go along with a bigger iPhone or an Android cellphone with a battery that’s between 4,000 and 5,000 mAh in measurement. In the meantime, if you end up juggling a variety of units, it may be very nice to have a cellphone that helps reverse wi-fi charging, which on Samsung telephones even permits you to recharge the corporate’s Galaxy Watches.
Photograph by Cherlynn Low / Engadget
Learn our full iPhone 15 Pro Max review
Display screen measurement: 6.7-inch | Storage capability: As much as 1TB | SIM assist: Twin eSim | Battery Life: About two days
The modifications to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max could seem small when thought of on their very own, however collectively they add as much as greater than the sum of their elements. For the iPhone 15 Professional Max, specifically, the smaller, lighter titanium construct means it could be throughout the realm of consideration for a lot of buyers for the primary time. It’s now not sharp and hefty like a weapon, however nonetheless has one of many longest-lasting batteries available on the market.
The bigger handset additionally will get a brand new 5x telephoto digital camera that helps it catch as much as flagships on the Android aspect, which have had zoom lenses for years. Although Apple doesn’t outclass the competitors on pictures, it’s definitely closed the hole and also you’ll discover nice cameras on each the Professional and Professional Max. Additionally they have up to date portrait results and modifying instruments, so pictures is improved whether or not you’re capturing faraway topics or one thing simply in entrance of you.
Each iPhone 15 Pro fashions have the brand new Motion Button and USB-C charging, the latter of which can be extra significant in a few years when the world presumably ditches Lightning finally. The Motion Button, in the meantime, takes the usually unused mute slider and offers you the choice of mapping a continuously used shortcut to it, so you’ll be able to shortly launch the digital camera, flashlight, voice recorder or magnifier. Having this some ways to configure the Motion Button means it’s much more helpful to extra folks than a easy toggle for silencing your cellphone.
This 12 months’s A17 Professional chip not solely brings wonderful efficiency, however its six-core GPU additionally permits console-level gaming and hardware-accelerated ray tracing for real looking lighting results. Later this 12 months, you’ll be able to dig into titles like Resident Evil Village and, in early 2024, Murderer’s Creed Mirage on the iPhone 15 Professional and Professional Max. You’ll additionally get a second-generation extremely wideband chip for improved precision object location, and reverse USB charging so you’ll be able to energy up your equipment in a pinch.
When you think about all these options as a complete, the iPhone 15 Professional and Professional Max usually are not only a stable improve from their predecessors, they’re additionally among the many finest telephones round. – Cherlynn Low, Deputy Editor
- Smaller and lighter than earlier Professional Maxes
- Helpful zoom cameras
- USB-C is the best way of the longer term
- Lengthy-lasting battery
- Reverse charging through USB-C
- Motion button is difficult to succeed in on the bigger handset
- Boring colours
Learn our full Google Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL review
(Pixel 9 Professional) Display screen measurement: 6.3-inch | Storage capability: As much as 1TB | SIM assist: 1x nano SIM, 1x eSim | Battery Life: 24+ hours
Lastly, a smaller Pixel Professional. Google’s Pixel sequence has lengthy been top-of-the-line Android telephones round, with the Professional mannequin being the superior model. Nevertheless it was all the time just a little too huge and too cumbersome for these of us who’ve smaller palms or need our telephones to slot in our pockets. Cue the Pixel 9 Pro, which is the littler model of the Pixel 9 Professional XL. As an alternative of a comparatively giant 6.8-inch display like that on its larger sibling, the usual Professional has a 6.3-inch show that’s simple to maneuver. No extra worrying about dropping your Pixel Professional simply since you fumbled whereas making an attempt to succeed in the highest of the display!
Higher but, with the Pixel 9 Professional, Google hasn’t sacrificed any key function to get to the smaller measurement, that means you may discover the identical digital camera setup and efficiency in each handsets. The one actual variations are the display measurement, battery and charging speeds, because the non-XL mannequin recharges at a barely slower price. However the Pixel 9 Professional can also be a lot longer-lasting than the XL, notching nearly 25 hours on our battery check.
These distinctions apart, the Pixel 9 Professional lineup is our favourite Android cellphone due to its top-notch digital camera efficiency, intriguing AI options and a common grown-up vibe. Whereas earlier Pixel flagships had a colourful, blocky design that felt recent, this 12 months’s units really feel stable and refined. And, dare we are saying it, nearly like iPhones. With out the digital camera bars, they’d be fairly exhausting to inform other than Apple’s telephones.
Presumably as a result of it is grown up a lot over time, however the Pixel telephones now value the identical as iPhones. The Pixel 9 Professional and iPhone 15 Professional each begin at $999, and although a few of us have come to think about Google’s handsets because the extra competitively priced possibility, this 12 months’s mannequin could be adequate to justify a premium value. If you happen to nonetheless need one thing from the Pixel 9 household however do not wish to pay $1,000, the bottom Pixel 9 remains to be a stable handset for most individuals. However because it stands, the Pixel 9 Professional is the perfect Android handset cash should buy. — C.L.
- Nice digital camera options and improved telephoto digital camera
- A 12 months of Gemini Superior without spending a dime
- Unimaginable battery life
- An attractive, vivid display that’s simple to make use of open air
- Tensor G4 runs cooler than its predecessor
- Slower charging speeds than the XL
- Not the perfect cellphone for gaming
David Imel for Engadget
Learn our full iPhone 13 review
Display screen measurement: 6.1-inch | Storage capability: As much as 512GB | SIM assist: 1x nano SIM, Twin eSim | Battery Life: As much as 13 hours
Our earlier decide right here was the $429 iPhone SE, however spend the additional $170 on the iPhone 13 and also you get some important upgrades. Most notable is a far much less dated design, with flat sides, Face ID and an edge-to-edge show. The 6.1-inch OLED panel is far bigger than the SE’s 4.7-inch LCD display, but the gadget as a complete is simply 0.33 inches taller and solely marginally thicker. That show is best in each method — brighter, sharper, extra vivid and extra sturdy besides.
The iPhone 13 additionally helps MagSafe, not like the SE, plus it begins with twice as a lot storage at 128GB. As an alternative of the SE’s single-camera setup, the 13 has a superior dual-camera system with a devoted ultra-wide lens. Across the entrance, there’s a sharper selfie digital camera that helps 4K video. Battery life is longer, too. — Jeff Dunn, Senior Reporter, Shopping for Recommendation
- Trendy design
- Digital camera efficiency remains to be completely stable for many
- Ditto for processor, show and battery life
- Two generations outdated
- Lightning port
- 60Hz refresh price
- No telephoto lens
Photograph by Sam Rutherford / Engadget
Learn our full Google Pixel 8a review
Display screen measurement: 6.1-inch | Storage capability: As much as 256GB | SIM assist: 1x nano SIM, 1x eSim | Battery Life: Shut to twenty.5 hours
Google’s A-series Pixels have lengthy been a few of the finest midrange telephones available on the market. However now with the addition of a Tensor G3 chip, the Pixel 8a helps the identical highly effective and versatile AI features you get on Google’s flagship telephones together with wonderful cameras, a stunning 120Hz OLED show and nice battery life. The gadget additionally comes with creature comforts like IP67 mud and water resistance and handy (however gradual) 7.5-watt Qi wi-fi charging. However most significantly, beginning at $499, it could be top-of-the-line offers available on the market. — S.R.
- Colourful 120Hz OLED show
- Robust battery life
- Wonderful cameras
- Nice worth
- Sluggish wi-fi charging
- Thick bezels
Photograph by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
Learn our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 review
Display screen measurement: 7.6-inch (essential) 6.3-inch (folded) | Storage capability: As much as 1TB | SIM assist: 1x nano SIM, 1x eSim | Battery life: As much as 23 hours
Whereas we’d have preferred to see some extra drastic design modifications, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 stays one of the crucial versatile and well-rounded examples of a giant, premium foldable cellphone. Its new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip delivers sturdy efficiency and improved power effectivity whereas its Enhanced Armor Aluminum chassis is noticeably lighter than earlier than (and a bit extra sturdy too). There’s additionally a brand new ultra-wide angle digital camera sensor and a boatload of AI-powered options scattered all through the cellphone. Plus, the Z Fold 6 stays one of many few foldables with native stylus assist, although you’ll have to pay further for certainly one of Samsung’s S Pens. Maybe the largest draw back is that Samsung’s newest flagship now prices $100 greater than its predecessor.
If you happen to do not want issues like stylus assist and care extra about “normal” options like digital camera high quality, take into account the brand new Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold. We take into account it to be the best foldable phone general available on the market proper now, due to its refined design that is simpler to carry and use, its stable efficiency, exceptional battery life and wonderful digital camera chops. — S.R.
- Tremendous vivid and colourful show
- Even lighter chassis
- Nice battery life
- Native stylus assist
- Much more costly than earlier than
- Similar essential digital camera because the earlier two Z Folds
- S Pen not included
- Charging speeds could possibly be quicker
Photograph by Mat Smith / Engadget
Learn our full Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 review
Display screen measurement: 6.7-inch (essential) 3.4-inch (entrance) | Storage capability: As much as 1TB | SIM assist: 1x nano SIM, 1x eSim | Battery life: As much as 23 hours
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 6 has an upgraded digital camera and a bigger battery than its predecessor. These two specs alone make the most recent Galaxy flip-phone a extra tempting possibility, within the face of rival flagship telephones. The leap from a 12-megapixel to 50MP digital camera means you’ll be able to select to seize extra element, or crop in for, successfully, a digital zoom. The entrance display has loads of house for framing your selfie pictures, and a brand new Auto-Zoom function means it might probably even body unsupervised group pictures for you. Images is augmented by Samsung’s improved AI photograph modifying instruments, which is far simpler to make use of.
The Z Flip 6 now has a strong Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, so it’s simply as highly effective because the S24 Extremely and Z Fold 6. Unfold the principle display and also you’ll discover one which’s brighter than ever (as much as 2,600 nits). Samsung says that is its brightest foldable show but, making it simpler to make use of and browse open air.
The design hasn’t modified a lot and a concentrate on new AI software program and tips comes at the price of restricted cowl display utility, nevertheless it’s nonetheless as pocketable as ever and remains to be essentially the most mainstream foldable but. — Mat Smith, Editor, UK Bureau Chief, E-newsletter
- Higher cameras
- Longer battery life
- Enjoyable generative AI tips
- Dearer than its predecessor
- Design is nearly equivalent to final 12 months
- Restricted front-screen utility
- Sluggish charging
Different smartphones we have examined
Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely
For its newest super-premium cellphone, Samsung gave the S24 Ultra a extra sturdy titanium body, quicker efficiency due to a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip and a for much longer battery life. The corporate additionally tweaked its longest telephoto lens with a 5x optical zoom so it is extra usable in a wider vary of conditions. However the largest improve is a brand new full suite of AI instruments, which incorporates the flexibility to proofread texts, edit pictures and transcribe recordings. And whenever you tack on the perfect show obtainable on a cellphone as we speak and a built-in stylus, you have got a really compelling flagship handset. Sadly, beginning at $1,300, the S24 Extremely is a bit too costly to advocate to anybody with out deep pockets.
OnePlus 12
Whereas the OnePlus 12 wasn’t in a position to unseat the most recent Pixel, it’s value mentioning as a result of it gives highly effective specs for the cash. It contains a speedy Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, a giant and vivid 6.8-inch, 120Hz OLED display and the perfect battery life we’ve seen on any cellphone to this point. OnePlus additionally introduced again assist for wi-fi charging for the primary time in a number of generations, together with a great (however not nice) IP65 score for mud and water resistance. And although its large digital camera module appears a bit ungainly, its images are surprisingly sharp. However the perfect factor is that, with a beginning value of $800, the OnePlus 12 prices $200 lower than its largest opponents.
FAQs
How do I do know which smartphone is the perfect for me?
Whereas selecting the perfect smartphone might be difficult, it largely comes all the way down to how you propose on utilizing the gadget. All the finest telephones obtainable now get the fundamentals proper — you’ll have the ability to make calls, textual content and entry the web with out many hiccups. In case your smartphone is your most used gadget, you might wish to take into account paying for a tool on the upper finish of the value spectrum. That may get you higher general efficiency, higher-quality cameras and a cellphone that can final for a few years. If you happen to don’t use your cellphone for all the pieces, you might be able to compromise on efficiency and additional perks and spend much less on a still-capable handset.
How a lot is a smartphone?
Smartphones vary in value from $300 to over $1,500. The very best funds telephones obtainable now will often compromise on general efficiency, design, digital camera prowess and additional options to maintain prices down. On the flip aspect, the most costly telephones can have highly effective processors, triple-camera arrays and even flip or fold designs. Most individuals will discover a cellphone that matches their wants someplace in the midst of that vast value vary — we’ve discovered that many of the finest smartphones obtainable proper now value between $500 and $1,000.
What are you able to do on a smartphone?
Smartphones are basically small, transportable computer systems that allow you to do issues like test electronic mail, browse social media, comply with map instructions, make contactless funds and extra. That is all on high of the fundamentals like making cellphone calls and texting, which we’ve come to anticipate in all trendy cell telephones. Smartphones have additionally largely changed compact cameras due to their high-quality, built-in shooters, and the truth that most smartphones as we speak as simply as transportable, if no more so, as compact cameras.
How lengthy do smartphones final?
Smartphones can final years and persons are holding on to their phones longer now than ever earlier than. Software program updates and battery life are two of the largest components that may have an effect on cellphone longevity. Apple guarantees 5 years value of software program updates for its newest iPhones, and Google guarantees the identical for its Pixel telephones. Samsung telephones will get 4 years value of Android updates from the time they launch. As for charging speeds and battery life, your cellphone can deteriorate over time as you utilize and recharge your cellphone frequently.
Latest updates
September 2024: Up to date to incorporate an editor’s notice in regards to the newest iPhones and to say the Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold within the “finest foldable cellphone for multitasking” part.
August 2024: Up to date to incorporate the Google Pixel 9 Professional.
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