You may have already got a good suggestion of which smartphone you wish to be your subsequent one. However there are extra stable choices obtainable now than ever earlier than, making the choice not as cut-and-dry because it was. Whereas the choice is a bit simpler if you need an iPhone, there’s even sufficient variation between these new fashions that you could have to consider it longer than you anticipated. When you’re an Android particular person, you’ve got much more choices to select from — together with foldables — and extra inquiries to reply earlier than you spend any cash.
At Engadget, we evaluation telephones commonly and have examined dozens over time. Whether or not you’ve had your eye on one in every of our present prime picks, one in every of Samsung’s Galaxy S24 telephones, a low cost telephone or one other gadget, we’re right here that can assist you determine which is the perfect telephone to purchase this yr.
Android or iOS?
Once you’re looking for the perfect smartphone, it turns into clear that every OS has its execs and cons. Apple’s tight-knit ecosystem makes it tremendous straightforward to share knowledge between iPhones, iPads and Macs or seamlessly hand-off telephone calls or music from one gadget to a different. On the identical time, you’re successfully locked in, as companies 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 get pleasure from that very same size of software program help and sometimes have decrease trade-in values. Briefly, there’s no incorrect reply. Nonetheless, you’ll want to contemplate how your telephone will slot in with the remainder of your units. So until you’re actually fed up with one OS and prepared to study one other, it most likely doesn’t make quite a lot of sense to change from an iPhone to an Android telephone (or vice versa) – particularly if everybody else in your family is utilizing the identical platform.
Cameras
Since your cellphone typically pulls double obligation as your main digital camera, determining what sort of photograph instruments you need is vital. These days, virtually each cell phone can take an awesome image in shiny gentle. However if you’d like an extended optical zoom, you’ll most likely should improve to a dearer gadget.
Mid-range telephones typically solely have two rear cameras (a main wide-angle lens and a secondary ultra-wide digital camera) and might typically battle in low-light conditions. Every telephone maker additionally has varied options that is perhaps a greater match in your model, with Apple providing 4 totally different coloration presets on the newest 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 at the very least Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6e and help for some type of 5G connectivity. Nonetheless, if you’d like the quickest wi-fi speeds doable, it’s going to price you a little bit further. For instance, on sure networks, mmWave 5G presents as much as gigabit obtain speeds, much less latency and higher bandwidth. However mmWave 5G additionally requires extra refined (and pricier) modems, which suggests help for it’s typically lacking on inexpensive units.
On the intense facet, 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 telephone that doesn’t help it. It’s an analogous state of affairs for Wi-Fi 7, which is offered on some high-end handsets just like the Galaxy S24, however more durable to search out on cheaper units. Wi-Fi 7 additionally requires you to have a suitable router, so until you want it or have a particular use case in thoughts, the shortage of help for mmWave 5G or Wi-Fi 7 shouldn’t be a dealbreaker when in search of a brand new telephone.
Different options to think about
As a result of not everybody agrees on what makes the perfect telephone, you need to take into consideration some other specs that is perhaps further vital for you. Cellular avid gamers will nearly definitely admire the 120Hz refresh charges you get on telephones just like the Samsung Galaxy S24 or the Apple iPhone 16 Professional. Alternatively, if lengthy battery life is vital, you’ll most likely wish to go together with a bigger iPhone or an Android telephone with a battery that’s between 4,000 and 5,000 mAh in measurement. In the meantime, if you end up juggling quite a lot of units, it may be very nice to have a telephone that helps reverse wi-fi charging, which on Samsung telephones even permits you to recharge the corporate’s Galaxy Watches.
Picture by Cherlynn Low / Engadget
Learn our full iPhone 16 Professional and iPhone 16 Professional Max evaluation
Display screen measurement: 6.3-inch | Storage capability: As much as 1TB | SIM help: Twin eSim | Battery Life: About in the future
Similar to final yr, if you’d like the perfect iPhone expertise, you need to get an iPhone 16 Professional or iPhone 16 Professional Max. Not solely is there not a lot of a leap between the 2 with regards to digital camera array or normal efficiency, however these handsets will get all the advantages of Apple Intelligence — on prime of the useful customizations that comes with iOS 18.
The iPhone 16 Professional and 16 Professional Max have barely totally different sizes this time round: 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches, respectively. Other than that that means you’ll should shell out cash for a brand new case in the event you improve, it received’t make an excessive amount of of a distinction in common use. The most important {hardware} variations that you just’ll completely discover are the Digital camera Management button and the Fusion Digital camera. The previous is a brand new facet button that has contact and strain sensors, making it simpler to not solely launch the Digital camera app however management issues like publicity if you’re truly taking pictures. As we found in our testing for the iPhone 16 Professional evaluation, it’ll take a little bit of getting used to at first. However total, the Digital camera Management button is a web optimistic that shutterbugs will admire.
The brand new Fusion Digital camera sports activities a quicker quad-pixel sensor, amongst different enhancements, and permits for 4K video at 120 fps in Dolby Imaginative and prescient and “zero shutter lag.” The latter means you’ll have the ability to truly seize the second if you press the button, slightly than the second proper after it. The Fusion Digital camera additionally helps new options like Photographic Types, that are enjoyable enhancements which might be much more customizable than common filters.
Elsewhere, the brand new A18 Professional chipset supplies glorious efficiency for each the iPhone 16 Professional and 16 Professional Max, plus help for Apple Intelligence. Whereas in years previous, there would have been a big distinction within the Professional and Professional Max digital camera arrays, this yr that hole isn’t as noticeable. The place you will note main beneficial properties with the Professional Max is battery life — it’ll final two days (like its 15 predecessor), whereas the usual 16 Professional has simply full-day battery life. Solely you possibly can determine if that’s price ponying up the additional $200 for the Max, however regardless, each the Professional and Professional Max handsets provide stellar efficiency, glorious images chops, enhanced customization with iOS 18 and (quickly) the total host of Apple Intelligence options. — Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor
- Quick digital camera with prime quality video seize
- Photographic kinds are efficient and fairly
- Good customizations obtainable all through
- Comparatively quick battery life
- Digital camera Management is not excellent
Learn our full Google Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional XL evaluation
(Pixel 9 Professional) Display screen measurement: 6.3-inch | Storage capability: As much as 1TB | SIM help: 1x nano SIM, 1x eSim | Battery Life: 24+ hours
Lastly, a smaller Pixel Professional. Google’s Pixel sequence has lengthy been among the finest Android telephones round, with the Professional mannequin being the superior model. Nevertheless it was all the time a little bit too huge and too cumbersome for these of us who’ve smaller fingers or need our telephones to slot in our pockets. Cue the Pixel 9 Professional, 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 straightforward to maneuver. No extra worrying about dropping your Pixel Professional simply since you fumbled whereas attempting 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 take a look at.
These distinctions apart, the Pixel 9 Professional lineup is our favourite Android telephone due to its top-notch digital camera efficiency, intriguing AI options and a normal grown-up vibe. Whereas earlier Pixel flagships had a colourful, blocky design that felt recent, this yr’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 arduous 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 price 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 consider Google’s handsets because the extra competitively priced choice, this yr’s mannequin is perhaps adequate to justify a premium value. When you 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. — Cherlynn Low, Deputy Editor
- Nice digital camera options and improved telephoto digital camera
- A yr of Gemini Superior without cost
- Unimaginable battery life
- A fantastic, shiny display that’s straightforward to make use of open air
- Tensor G4 runs cooler than its predecessor
- Slower charging speeds than the XL
- Not the perfect telephone for gaming
Picture by Billy Steele / Engadget
Learn our full iPhone 15 evaluation
Display screen measurement: 6.1-inch | Storage capability: As much as 512GB | SIM help: Twin eSim | Battery Life: As much as in the future
Our earlier choose right here was the iPhone 13, however that mannequin is not being offered at Apple. Now, in the event you’re trying to save a little bit (just a bit) money and nonetheless get an iPhone, your greatest guess is the iPhone 15. Sure, the iPhone 14 remains to be hanging on within the lineup, but it surely depends on a Lightning port for wired charging. It’s 2024, and we suggest your subsequent telephone — no matter how a lot you spend — have a USB-C port.
We referred to as the iPhone 15 the “most substantial replace to the common iPhone in years” in our iPhone 15 evaluation. Whereas the general design and show had been acquainted, the largest upgrades got here within the digital camera array and the adoption of the Dynamic Island. You’ll get a 48-megapixel essential shooter with a quad-pixel sensor that’s able to taking higher photographs in dim lighting. You can too apply portrait mode settings after taking pictures with this method, as an alternative of getting to decide on it earlier than taking a shot. We noticed noticeable enhancements in pictures taken on the iPhone 15 when in comparison with these taken on the iPhone 14, notably in low-lighting situations, so that you’re getting a greater digital camera system total. As for the Dynamic Island, it’s a carry-over function from Professional-level iPhones that’s genuinely helpful right here.
The iPhone 15 runs on Apple’s A16 Bionic chipset, and efficiency is as we anticipated — stable, with only a few cases of working heat throughout day by day use. The smartphone has Apple’s signature “all day” battery life, and we’ve seen it final a little bit longer than that in our testing. Whereas we perceive that $700 isn’t precisely a “midrange” value, we imagine the iPhone 14 and iPhone SE, which are available at $600 and $429, respectively, current too many compromises to be price the fee. When you’re dead-set on getting an iPhone however wish to spend as little as doable, future you may be grateful that you just spent the additional cash on the iPhone 15. — V.P.
- Upgraded digital camera
- Stable efficiency
- Dynamic Island is useful
- USB-C charging
- Total design is getting stale
- No high-refresh price show
- USB-C is restricted
- Colours are underwhelming
Picture by Sam Rutherford / Engadget
Learn our full Google Pixel 8a evaluation
Display screen measurement: 6.1-inch | Storage capability: As much as 256GB | SIM help: 1x nano SIM, 1x eSim | Battery Life: Shut to twenty.5 hours
Google’s A-series Pixels have lengthy been among the greatest 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 glorious cameras, a beautiful 120Hz OLED show and nice battery life. The gadget additionally comes with creature comforts like IP67 mud and water resistance and handy (however sluggish) 7.5-watt Qi wi-fi charging. However most significantly, beginning at $499, it is perhaps among the finest offers available on the market. — Sam Rutherford, Senior Reporter
- Colourful 120Hz OLED show
- Robust battery life
- Glorious cameras
- Nice worth
- Sluggish wi-fi charging
- Thick bezels
Picture by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
Learn our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 evaluation
Display screen measurement: 7.6-inch (essential) 6.3-inch (folded) | Storage capability: As much as 1TB | SIM help: 1x nano SIM, 1x eSim | Battery life: As much as 23 hours
Whereas we’d have preferred to see some extra drastic design adjustments, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 stays one of the crucial versatile and well-rounded examples of an enormous, premium foldable telephone. 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 telephone. Plus, the Z Fold 6 stays one of many few foldables with native stylus help, although you’ll have to pay further for one in every of Samsung’s S Pens. Maybe the largest draw back is that Samsung’s newest flagship now prices $100 greater than its predecessor.
When you do not want issues like stylus help and care extra about “commonplace” options like digital camera high quality, contemplate the brand new Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold. We contemplate it to be the greatest foldable telephone total available on the market proper now, due to its refined design that is simpler to carry and use, its stable efficiency, outstanding battery life and glorious digital camera chops. — S.R.
- Tremendous shiny and colourful show
- Even lighter chassis
- Nice battery life
- Native stylus help
- Much more costly than earlier than
- Similar essential digital camera because the earlier two Z Folds
- S Pen not included
- Charging speeds might be quicker
Picture by Mat Smith / Engadget
Learn our full Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 evaluation
Display screen measurement: 6.7-inch (essential) 3.4-inch (entrance) | Storage capability: As much as 1TB | SIM help: 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 newest Galaxy flip-phone a extra tempting choice, within the face of rival flagship telephones. The leap from a 12-megapixel to 50MP digital camera means you possibly can select to seize extra element, or crop in for, successfully, a digital zoom. The entrance display has loads of area for framing your selfie photographs, and a brand new Auto-Zoom function means it might even body unsupervised group photographs for you. Pictures is augmented by Samsung’s improved AI photograph modifying instruments, which is way 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 skim open air.
The design hasn’t modified a lot and a concentrate on new AI software program and methods comes at the price of restricted cowl display utility, but it surely’s nonetheless as pocketable as ever and remains to be probably the most mainstream foldable but. — Mat Smith, Editor, UK Bureau Chief, Publication
- Higher cameras
- Longer battery life
- Enjoyable generative AI methods
- Dearer than its predecessor
- Design is sort of equivalent to final yr
- Restricted front-screen utility
- Sluggish charging
Different smartphones we have examined
Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely
For its newest super-premium telephone, Samsung gave the S24 Extremely 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 photos and transcribe recordings. And if you tack on the perfect show obtainable on a telephone right now and a built-in stylus, you’ve got a really compelling flagship handset. Sadly, beginning at $1,300, the S24 Extremely is a bit too costly to suggest to anybody with out deep pockets.
OnePlus 12
Whereas the OnePlus 12 wasn’t capable of unseat the newest Pixel, it’s price mentioning as a result of it presents highly effective specs for the cash. It contains a speedy Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, an enormous and shiny 6.8-inch, 120Hz OLED display and the perfect battery life we’ve seen on any telephone to this point. OnePlus additionally introduced again help for wi-fi charging for the primary time in a number of generations, together with a superb (however not nice) IP65 ranking for mud and water resistance. And although its large digital camera module appears a bit ungainly, its pictures 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 may be difficult, it largely comes all the way down to how you propose on utilizing the gadget. All the greatest 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 could wish to contemplate paying for a tool on the upper finish of the worth spectrum. That can get you higher total efficiency, higher-quality cameras and a telephone that may final for a few years. When you don’t use your telephone for all the pieces, you could possibly compromise on efficiency and further 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 most effective funds telephones obtainable now will often compromise on total efficiency, design, digital camera prowess and further options to maintain prices down. On the flip facet, the costliest telephones can have highly effective processors, triple-camera arrays and even flip or fold designs. Most individuals will discover a telephone that matches their wants someplace in the course of that extensive value vary — we’ve discovered that many of the greatest smartphones obtainable proper now price between $500 and $1,000.
What are you able to do on a smartphone?
Smartphones are primarily small, moveable computer systems that allow you to do issues like examine e mail, browse social media, comply with map instructions, make contactless funds and extra. That is all on prime of the fundamentals like making telephone calls and texting, which we’ve come to count on 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 right now as simply as moveable, if no more so, as compact cameras.
How lengthy do smartphones final?
Smartphones can final years and individuals are holding on to their telephones longer now than ever earlier than. Software program updates and battery life are two of the largest elements that may have an effect on telephone longevity. Apple guarantees 5 years price of software program updates for its newest iPhones, and Google guarantees the identical for its Pixel telephones. Samsung telephones will get 4 years price of Android updates from the time they launch. As for charging speeds and battery life, your telephone can deteriorate over time as you utilize and recharge your telephone frequently.
Current updates
September 2024: Up to date to incorporate the newest iPhone 16 fashions and a brand new midrange iPhone prime choose.
September 2024: Up to date to incorporate an editor’s be aware in regards to the newest iPhones and to say the Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold within the “greatest foldable telephone for multitasking” part.
