We take the latest Apple iPhone and the best Android phones currently out there and handpick the best smartphones for the productivity junkies, photo/video enthusiasts, and those who needs a phone that is easy on the pocket.

There are now tens of smartphones in the market and it is sometimes challenging to decide the best, especially if Androids are preferred to iOS. That’s why at ZDNET we’ve sorted through all the information, and put the hard facts together for you. Within the last year, I’ve used and compared all the new flagship phones from Apple, Samsung – which launched the Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 recently, Google, OnePlus, and more to come up with this list of the very best smartphones you can get today.

Which is the current best mobile phone?

After weeks of testing dozens of devices, and considering all sorts of qualities, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra stands out as the best all-around phone for its dynamic and bright screen, long-lasting battery, and wide array of special functions, some of which are handled by Samsung’s new generative AI model.

Best phones of 2024 Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Pros

+ Brightest display one can get on this slim platform of smartphone.
+ Reliable quad-camera setup
+ It’s a great advantage since battery life is still one of the best in its class.
+ The technology of AI brings added value to features.

Cons

– More expensive than some laptops that are part of the premium category.
– No Qi2 magnetic charging
– Can be impractical for some especially where there is a case

Review: Although, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

The difference in display protection means the S24 Ultra is more glare-free than ever, which ZDNET reviewer Jason Hiner suggested:”provides its screen to be more eye friendly than the iPhone 15 Pro Max and other flagship smartphones.” The same Reddit contributors agree with Hiner including the one who stated that he really thinks “the anti-reflective glass is noticeable on this.

On the internals, it has better Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Chipset for graphics and AI; 12GB RAM which is higher than the last year’s 8GB, and 2,600 nits of peak brightness, a change from the last year’s 1,750. As for the new camera system, the major improvement is in the 50MP telephoto lens with Optical 5x zoom. And as Hiner said, the outcome is allowing for clearer and less noisy images and an overall Camera system that can pull more light into the camera system than ever before.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Tech Specs

iPhone 15 Pro Max Best iPhone overall

Pros

+ Using the ‘action’ button, the firm gains customizable capabilities.
+ Better ergonomics, which a lighter device offers.
+ Worked as a companion to the new Apple Intelligence features.
+ High-quality picture through the 5X zoom camera.

Cons

– It could also be better if battery life for a single charge can be lengthened.
– That is why, in comparison with the Apple-branded cases, further improvements
are required.

Review: Although, iPhone 15 Pro Max

The iPhone 15 Pro Max also has new 5x zoom camera lens, equivalent to 120mm in terms of focal length of a mirror less or DSLR camera. The far-distance capturing and enhanced low light of the new camera system has been so consistent that the iPhone 15 Pro Max has turned out to be my first choice when it comes to video shootings at product unveils events. Finally, a new Action button takes place of the mute-switch toggle of earlier iPhones and let customize shortcuts easily and the apps the consumer frequently requires such as launching the camera with a press-and-hold.

And finally, the A17 Pro chip became the last improvement of the year, which means the iPhone 14 Pro model has a better graphic display as compared to the previous year. Indeed, several Best Buy customers have stated that the iPhone operates even better, with one remarking, “No glitches have come up in the several weeks I’ve had the phone. Every improvement made on previous iPhone models has been adopted on iPhone 15 Pro Max with the vendor’s charging consumers more of their money for it, with the new device’s starting price now set at $1,199. Also, the device is built with a base storage capacity of 256GB.

iPhone 15 Pro Max Tech Specs

Google Pixel 8a | Best budget Android phone

Pros

+ Great camera quality with features like CAB and Night mode.
+ Smart functions such as Google Assistant, and Call Screening.
+ Optimization of battery usage coupled with the long battery.

Cons

– Most of the storage alternatives and exclude expandable memory through micro SD.
– May come with mid-grade processor which poses a downside in operations that require a higher-grade processor.

Review: Google Pixel 8a

Of course, you can’t expect a miracle from a phone at this price point, down to the absence of a telephoto lens in the camera and slow charging through the wired means, 18W. That said, during my time with Pixel 8a I equally found it equally good to perform various subject and style and the wireless charging add up to cover the loss of time which takes few minutes more than all other flagship smart phone to be charged. The major disadvantage of the 8a is charging speed and with only 18W, it is slower than most devices, as some of the users in Reddit have noted.

Google Pixel 8a Tech Specs

Nothing Phone 2 Best design Android phone

Pros

+The clear transparent veneer at the back with programmable LED lighting options.
+Stock Android experience, or as close to it as possible depending on the version of the software you choose.
+Good showing achieved with a mid-range to high-end graphics processing unit contender.

Cons

– Availability may be initially limited to the certain geographical region only.
– Unfortunately, battery might not be the one that boasts the best quality on the market.
– It does not have easy wireless charging system that other competitors offer.

Review: Nothing Phone 2

The new flagship-feature of the Phone 2 to which Nothing gives the name of Glyph Interface, is an implementation of led strips at the back side of the phone which lights up in various patterns according to the type of notification. The concept is another subtle way of taking advantage of the see-through rear side allowing users to look at their phone screens less.

Of course, such an approach to design can be qualified as rather daring. The Nothing Phone 2 comes at the price we can see it costs 549 USD, and it is way cheaper compared to the most flagships that are available on the market right now such a Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus or One Plus 12 and so on Clothing savvy design freaks and fashionistas will love this charming package.

Nothing Phone 2 Tech Specs

The Asus ROG Phone Pro 8.

Best gaming Android phone

Pros

+ High performance while gaming with the best of processors and graphic processing unit.
+ High refresh rate AMOLED display for the graphics to pop and the action to be smooth.
+ The next is cooling system for the maximum protection during hours of intense gaming.

Cons

-Costlier than other flagship smart phones in the market.
-Wider and thicker as compared to other smartphone available in the market.
-Some may get less frequent software updates than their rivals in the industry and market.

Review: Asus Rog Phone pro 8

The last model also includes a variety of AI tools, such as the wallpaper generator based on the chosen theme. Gaming enthusiasts can leverage on X Sense 2 that is installed on the phone. 0, It is an AI backed feature designed to learn your in-game behavior in order to execute your actions for you or in this case assist you in picking up objects in Genshin Impact as you continue to play the game. I tried some of these AI functions at the CES show in January this year, and was pleased with how Asus had integrated the AI part into the phone’s OS.

Though, potentially the most critical improvement to the year’s ROG Phone which is quite peculiar to ponder upon is the bundled Aero Active Cooler. At the physical level, it is what looks like a cooling fan that is clicked to the back of the device’s cover. When is switched on, a small vent which is on the body of the phone opens to let out heat from inside the phone. Additional buttons are also provided with the idea that you will be able to get more inputs while immersed in a game; the cooler also works as a subwoofer to boost audio output.

Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro Tech Specs

What is the best phone currently?

For out pick for the best overall phone, our selection goes to the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. He, however, stated that it is equipped with all aspects of a smartphone that comprising a large display, four cameras capable of taking 200MP photos and 8K video, up to 1TB storage, built-in S Pen for writing and drawing, among others powered by a 5,000mAh battery system. Below is how S24 Ultra stands in relation to our other selections.

Smartphone Specifications

Hence, which is the right phone for you?

The process of selecting a phone is somewhat difficult. But at least it’s a list of your ideal characteristics, which can be helpful in order to at least start crossing people off the list. In this case first consideration should be given to the battery life for it to support at least a full day operation besides having LTE and Wi-Fi.

Lest you end up spending a fortune or presenting a gadget your teen will misuse, your first pivot to the smartphone market is going to be a slightly limited one. Taken this into consideration, if you are a content creator or any other creative personnel then you may need a phone with good front and reel camera for posting pictures and shooting videos for your Instagram and other social media accounts.

Which phone is the number one best phone?

Highlighting the following elements is pertinent; Presently, the best phone in the market is the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra with almost everything that one would expect in a mobile computing tool. That is a large and vibrant display to work with, generative AI features to experiment with, and a quad-camera system that nothing on the market competes with the new Ultra flagship that Samsung has to offer.

For how long is a phone battery supposed to last?

The average phone battery allows for about 22 hours of usage and is perfect for; using while commuting, travelling for work, and using at home in the evening. But the overall figure falls in the middle, actual use time differs from phone to phone on the basis of model and type of job for which phone is being used. For instance, new iPhone 15 Pro Max is characterized by the battery life of up to 29 hours. But you’ll most certainly get less than that if you spend hours forwards, backwards, sideways, sideways on the social media or streaming videos and music.

How much ROM should a mobile phone contain?

Currently, most smartphones come with a basic internal storage of 128GB, which will suffice the need of an average user, who downloads apps and music, takes photos and records videos. Though, if one belongs to the mobile or the creative category, he/she will require extra storage space. It is common that many smartphones had enhanced expandable storage up to 512 GB or 1 TB , besides, what you can do is just synchronize your smartphone with your favorite cloud storage solution in order to jettison local storage space.