The smartphone market in 2024 is highly competitive, with top brands like Apple, Samsung, Google, and OnePlus offering impressive flagship devices packed with cutting-edge features and capabilities. Here are some of the most popular and well-received smartphones of the year:
Table of Contents
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Widely regarded as the best Android phone of 2024, the Galaxy S24 Ultra builds on Samsung’s reputation for premium hardware and innovative features.
Here are more details on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra flagship smartphone:
Display and Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra features a massive 6.8-inch QHD+ (3216 x 1440) Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. It uses advanced LTPO technology to adjust the refresh rate from 1-120Hz based on the content for better battery efficiency.
This brilliant display gets incredibly bright at up to 2,600 nits of peak brightness, making it easily viewable even in direct sunlight. It supports HDR10+ and has a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio for vibrant colors and true blacks.
The display is protected by Corning’s latest Gorilla Glass Victus 2 which provides enhanced scratch and drop resistance. Samsung has also applied an anti-fingerprint coating.
For durability, the S24 Ultra has a premium titanium frame that is both lightweight and robust. The back is reinforced with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 as well.
Powerful Performance
Powering this beast is the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset built on an efficient 4nm process. This is an overclocked version customized exclusively for Galaxy phones.
The chip is paired with a staggering 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 1TB of ultra-fast UFS 4.0 storage. This ensures exceptional performance for gaming, video editing, and demanding multitasking.
To prevent throttling, Samsung has implemented a new Dual Cryo-Velocity vapor chamber cooling system to effectively dissipate heat.
The S24 Ultra also supports the latest WiFi 7 and 5G (sub-6GHz and mmWave) connectivity standards for ultra-fast data speeds.
Versatile Camera System
The Galaxy S24 Ultra gets a serious camera upgrade with a versatile quad camera setup on the rear:
- 200MP f/1.7 main camera with multi-directional PDAF, OIS
- 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera
- 50MP f/3.4 5x optical telephoto with OIS
- 10MP f/2.4 3x optical telephoto
This setup enables impressive 50MP high-resolution photo capture, up to 10x optical zoom range, and enhanced low-light performance.
The cameras use Samsung’s latest AI multi-frame processing, HDR capabilities, and a new ProVisual engine to produce vibrant, detailed photos and videos in most lighting conditions.
On the front is a 12MP f/2.2 selfie camera housed in a punch-hole cutout.
S Pen Functionality
Continuing the legacy of the Galaxy Note line, the S24 Ultra comes with Samsung’s signature S Pen stylus tucked into the bottom of the phone.
The new S Pen supports air gestures for controlling the phone remotely as well as on-screen handwriting and drawing with precision on the fully flat display.
Other Notable Features
- 5,000mAh battery with 45W wired and 15W wireless charging
- Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor
- Stereo speakers tuned by AKG
- Samsung DeX desktop mode support
- IP68 dust/water resistance
- Android 14 with Samsung’s One UI 6 and 4 years of updates
With its brilliant display, blistering performance, versatile camera system, S Pen capabilities, and durable design, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra aims to be the ultimate premium Android flagship of 2024. Its combination of cutting-edge hardware and AI-powered software features make it a true powerhouse for mobile productivity and creativity.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Apple’s flagship continues to impress with its polished iOS 17 software experience and relentless performance.
Design and Display
The iPhone 15 Pro Max features a premium titanium design that is both robust and lightweight. It has an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.
The massive 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display is one of the best on any smartphone. It uses LTPO technology to enable a ProMotion adaptive refresh rate from 1-120Hz for smooth visuals.
With a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, HDR support, and 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, the display delivers vibrant colors, true blacks, and excellent visibility even in bright sunlight.
The Dynamic Island interactive notch area provides a new way to access controls and receive alerts without interrupting your view.
Powerful Performance
At the heart of the iPhone 15 Pro Max is Apple’s latest A17 Bionic chip, built on a 4nm process. This powerhouse features:
- A new 6-core CPU with 2 high-performance and 4 high-efficiency cores
- A 5-core GPU for impressive graphics capabilities
- A 16-core Neural Engine for accelerated machine learning and AI tasks
Combined with up to 1TB of super-fast storage and up to 8GB of RAM, the A17 Bionic delivers unrivaled performance for gaming, video editing, and multitasking.
Camera System
The iPhone 15 Pro Max gets a versatile triple camera system on the rear:
- 48MP quad-pixel main camera with sensor-shift OIS
- 12MP ultra-wide camera with 120° field of view
- 12MP 2x telephoto camera with sensor-shift OIS
This setup enables 48MP high-res photo capture, 6x optical zoom range, improved low-light performance, and advanced video capabilities like 8K recording.
The front camera is a 12MP sensor with autofocus and 4K Cinematic mode video recording.
Battery Life and Charging
Despite its large display, the iPhone 15 Pro Max provides impressive battery life thanks to the power-efficient A17 chip and optimizations in iOS 17.
You can expect over 14 hours of video playback or all-day mixed usage on a single charge. An Extreme Battery Saver mode can extend runtime further.
The phone supports 30W wired fast charging to quickly top up the battery. It is also compatible with MagSafe wireless charging.
iOS 17 and Features
On the software side, the iPhone 15 Pro Max runs the latest iOS 17 which brings new customization options, improved messaging features, and enhanced privacy controls.
Other notable features include Face ID, 5G connectivity, Crash Detection, Emergency SOS via satellite, and an all-new Action mode for smooth video capture.
With its brilliant display, blistering performance, versatile cameras, long battery life, and seamless iOS integration, the iPhone 15 Pro Max aims to deliver a true flagship experience. It combines cutting-edge hardware with Apple’s refined software and ecosystem for a premium smartphone experience.
Google Pixel 8 Pro
Google’s latest flagship showcases the company’s advancements in AI and computational photography.
Display
The Pixel 8 Pro features a massive 6.7-inch QHD+ (3120 x 1440) LTPO OLED display with a silky smooth 120Hz refresh rate. The LTPO technology allows the refresh rate to dynamically adjust from 1-120Hz based on the content for better power efficiency.
This Super Actua display gets incredibly bright at up to 1,700 nits of peak brightness, making it easily viewable even in direct sunlight. It supports HDR with a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio for vibrant colors and true blacks.
The display is protected by Corning’s latest Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and has a layer of anti-fingerprint coating.
Performance
Powering the Pixel 8 Pro is Google’s latest Tensor G3 chip, custom-built for AI and machine learning capabilities. This 5nm octa-core processor is paired with the new Mali-G720 GPU and up to 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM.
The Tensor G3 allows for advanced on-device AI processing for features like Magic Editor photo unblurring, Best Take smart capture, and real-time voice transcription.
For storage, you get up to an ample 512GB of superfast UFS 4.0 flash storage.
Camera System
The Pixel 8 Pro gets a serious camera upgrade with all-new sensors and lenses:
– 50MP Samsung GN2 main camera with f/1.85 aperture, 82° field of view, OIS
– 48MP Sony IMX789 telephoto with 3.5x optical zoom, OIS
– 12MP Sony IMX381 ultrawide with 125° field of view, autofocus
– 12MP front camera with autofocus
Google’s advanced computational photography and AI allow features like Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, 8K video recording at 30fps, astrophotography, and more.
Battery and Charging
The Pixel 8 Pro packs a large 5,300mAh battery that provides over 24 hours of use on a single charge with typical usage. But it also has an Extreme Battery Saver mode that can extend battery life up to 72 hours.
For charging, it supports 30W USB-PD fast charging to get hours of use from just a 30-minute top-up. Wireless charging is also supported.
Software
On the software side, the Pixel 8 Pro runs Android 14 out of the box with the latest Pixel UI and AI-powered features. It will also receive 5 years of OS and security updates from Google.
Other features include an in-display fingerprint sensor, Face Unlock, IP68 water/dust resistance, stereo speakers, and 5G (sub-6GHz and mmWave) connectivity.
With its stunning display, powerful Tensor chip, versatile AI-enhanced cameras, all-day battery, and clean Pixel software experience, the Pixel 8 Pro aims to deliver a premium flagship experience with an emphasis on Google’s latest AI innovations.
OnePlus 12
OnePlus continues to offer premium flagship experiences at more affordable prices with the OnePlus 12.
Display and Design
The OnePlus 12 features a large 6.7-inch QHD+ (3216 x 1440) AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate for silky smooth visuals. It uses LTPO technology to adjust the refresh rate dynamically based on content for better power efficiency.
The display is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and has a peak brightness of 1,300 nits, making it easily visible even in direct sunlight. It also supports HDR10+ and has a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio for vibrant colors and deep blacks.
The phone has a premium aluminum frame sandwiched between Gorilla Glass 5 panels. Despite the large screen, it maintains a relatively compact footprint thanks to its curved edges and slim 8.7mm thickness.
Performance and 5G
Powering the OnePlus 12 is the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset built on a 4nm process. It’s paired with up to a staggering 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512GB of blazing-fast UFS 4.0 storage.
This flagship silicon provides exceptional performance for gaming, multitasking, and demanding apps. The phone also supports the latest WiFi 7 and 5G (sub-6GHz) connectivity standards.
To ensure sustained peak performance, OnePlus has implemented a new Dual Cryo-Velocity vapor chamber cooling system to dissipate heat effectively.
Camera System
The OnePlus 12 has a versatile triple camera setup developed in partnership with Hasselblad:
– 50MP Sony IMX890 main camera with OIS, f/1.8 aperture
– 48MP ultrawide camera with 115° field of view
– 32MP 2x telephoto camera with OIS
The cameras use multi-frame HDR, AI scene detection, and Hasselblad color calibration to produce vibrant, detailed photos in most lighting conditions. Video can be captured at up to 8K 24fps or 4K 60fps with HDR.
On the front is a 32MP selfie camera housed in a punch-hole cutout.
Battery and Charging
The phone packs a large 5,000mAh battery that provides all-day battery life even with heavy usage. But its standout feature is charging speed:
– 100W wired SuperVOOC charging can fully charge in just 25 minutes
– 50W wireless AirVOOC charging is supported with the proprietary wireless charger
Other Features
Other notable features include an in-display fingerprint sensor, dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, and OnePlus’ signature alert slider for custom notification control.
The OnePlus 12 runs OxygenOS 14 based on Android 14, providing a clean, smooth, and customizable software experience with 4 years of updates promised.
With its powerful hardware, versatile cameras, rapid charging, and clean software, the OnePlus 12 aims to provide a premium flagship experience at a relatively affordable $799 starting price compared to rivals. Its combination of performance, features and value make it an attractive option in 2024’s flagship Android space.
Other notable mentions include the foldable Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 and Z Flip5, the compact but powerful ASUS Zenfone 10, and the affordable yet capable Google Pixel 7a.
Bottom Line
With advancements in processing power, AI capabilities, camera systems, and cutting-edge display and design technologies, the top smartphones of 2024 cater to a wide range of needs and budgets – from premium flagship experiences to more affordable mid-range options. Brands continue to push the boundaries of innovation to capture market share in this highly competitive space.