Best phones 2024: top picks from Apple, Google, Samsung and more

Display size: 6.7-inch | Resolution: 2796 x 1290 pixels | Processor: A17 Pro chip | Cameras: 48MP wide, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP 2x telephoto, 12MP 5x telephoto | Battery: 4,441mAh | Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB | Weight: 221g

iOS fans who don’t mind splashing out should buy the iPhone 15 Pro Max – it's one of the best smartphones ever. If you want speed, it's super fast. If you want a fantastic camera, it's capable of professional-looking shots. If you're after a crisp display, this OLED is about as clear as they come.

We really like the Dynamic Island too. It's a virtual display at the top of the screen that can be used to control your media and see information from apps without opening and closing them. Another positive is the new USB-C port – you can now use the same cable for more of the gadgets in your house.

The drawbacks to the iPhone 15 Pro Max are limited, especially if you're already an iOS user. If you're moving from an Android, it'll be a nuisance to transfer your data across to an iPhone and the system will take some getting used to.

Apart from that, the most significant problem is the fact that it's one of the biggest phones on this list, and the camera bump is also huge. You could also consider the iPhone 15 Pro if you like the idea of this phone, but want something a little smaller.

Display size: 6.8-inch | Resolution: 3120 x 1440 pixels | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy | Cameras: 200MP wide, 12MP ultrawide, 50MP periscope, 10MP telephoto | Battery: 5,000mAh | Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB | Weight: 232g

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is a bit of an overachiever in the smartphone space — the best Samsung phone right now boasts a big OLED screen, a top-of-the-range processor and an advanced camera system. It's hardy too, thanks to the new titanium frame, scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Armor glass and IP68 waterproof rating.

The battery life is stronger than the iPhone 15 Pro Max, and it comes with a stylus housed in the body, both of which make it a great choice for productivity.

On the flip side, Samsung's version of Android is cluttered with annoying bloatware that you won’t find on Google's Pixels. There are lots of cool features and settings to play around with, but you'll need to find them first!

Similar to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is a massive device – it's more like a mini tablet than a smartphone. You certainly won't be able to use it one-handed.

Display size: 6.1-inch | Resolution: 2,556 x 1,179 pixels | Processor: A16 Bionic chip | Cameras: 48MP wide, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP 2x telephoto | Battery: 3,349mAh | Storage: 128GB/256/512GB | Weight: 171g

If the idea of a huge phone puts you off, you should buy the iPhone 15 instead because it has a smaller 6.1-inch screen. You do miss out on features like the always-on display and increased refresh rate, but it looks good and you still get the Dynamic Island.

Elsewhere on the phone, the camera setup is fantastic, although you won't get a dedicated telephoto lens as you would with a pricier iPhone. In our iPhone 15 review, we described the camera's results as quite "neutral", giving you more creative control than some of the AI-heavy Androids listed here.

The lack of variable refresh rate and always-on display are the main issues we have with the phone. As well as that, the battery life isn't as good as elsewhere, but it'll still get you through an entire day before it needs charging.

Display size: 6.2-inch | Resolution: 1,080 x 2,400 pixels | Processor: Google Tensor G3 | Cameras: 50MP wide, 12MP ultrawide | Battery: 4,575mAh | Storage: 128GB/256 GB | Weight: 187g

We're big fans of the Google Pixel 8, it's the best Pixel phone for most people because it's well-priced and it's a lot smaller than the Pro. It's a much more pocket-friendly handset without compromising on the sleek design and Google's iconic camera bar across the back.

One of the best things about the Pixel 8 is its camera. It uses the same main lens as the Pro model and is undoubtedly one of the best camera systems you'll find at this price point. You'll be able to snap fun, vibrant shots and there are lots of editing tools to make them look picture-perfect.

What's the catch? Unlike the Pro, there's no telephoto lens so the camera zoom won't blow you away, and you'll miss out on some features like Video Boost to enhance your videos. We were also disappointed to find that there's no expandable storage, although that's true of most of the phones on this list.

Display size: 6.1-inch | Resolution: 1,080 x 2,400 pixels | Processor: Google Tensor G2 | Cameras: 64MP wide, 13MP ultrawide | Battery: 4,385mAh | Storage: 128GB | Weight: 193.5 g

Not everyone is willing to spend upwards of £500 on their next smartphone and that's why the Google Pixel 7a is a top pick. This affordable handset has an RRP of £449, but you can regularly find it for less than that.

In our Pixel 7a review, we said "the cameras, battery life, performance and charging specs are every bit as good as what you're getting on more 'expensive' Pixel phones like the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro".

As this is a cheaper device, you make some sacrifices. The bezels are a bit thicker than the flagships, and the handset is a few grams heavier too. But generally speaking, you get a lot for your money in the Google Pixel 7a.

Display size: 6.7-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 2640 pixels | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Cameras: 12MP wide, 12MP ultrawide | Battery: 3,700mAh | Storage: 256GB/512GB | Weight: 187g

Flip phones are back! They provide a more compact alternative to the usual smartphone slate. A few brands have come up with their own, but the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 undeniably takes the crown.

Samsung's clamshell design has a small cover display on the outside and opens up to reveal a foldable display on the inside. Despite being so small, this phone still gives you a solid camera setup, quick system navigation and a big bright screen hidden away inside.

While Samsung's foldable display technology is some of the best, there are still question marks over how long the screen will last before it starts encountering problems. We would expect it to be fine until around the three-year mark at the very least, but we can't make any promises.

Display size: 6.7-inch | Resolution: 2412 x 1080 pixels | Processor: Mediatek Dimensity 7200 Pro | Cameras: 50MP wide, 50MP ultrawide | Battery: 5,000mAh | Storage: 128GB/256GBGB | Weight: 190g

If you're the type to go against the grain, the Nothing Phone 2a has a pretty unique transparent design with cool Glyph lights to jazz it up. But it's not all about style, there's plenty of substance too.

The display is a beauty, the battery life is superb and the Nothing OS is super simple to navigate. The best part? It only costs £319 at the time of writing.

So what's the catch? You will have to accept that the cameras aren't going to deliver in the same way as an iPhone or a Pixel, you won't get as many years of software updates and some features are missing as well, like wireless charging.

Display size: 6.7-inch | Resolution: 1344 x 2992 pixels | Processor: Google Tensor G3 | Cameras: 64MP wide, 48MP ultrawide, 48 MP telephoto | Battery: 5,050mAh | Storage: 128GB/256GB | Weight: 213g

The Google Pixel 8 Pro tops the camera charts largely because of its AI processing and editing capabilities. If you want a phone that can point and shoot with impressive results, you’ll get the best and most interesting photos from this flagship.

In comparison to the standard Pixel, the Pro's camera has a few more features such as Video Boost and Zoom Enhance. You'll also get a separate 5x telephoto lens for snapping objects which are further away. To add to that, this flagship is quick to navigate, taking complex AI features in its stride, like Live Translate or GBoard's Smart Reply.

There aren't many negatives to this phone, although the slippery design means you will absolutely need a case for it. Some features also seem a little unnecessary, like the temperature sensor.

Display size: 6.2-inch | Resolution: 2,340 x 1,080 pixels | Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy | Cameras: 50MP wide, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto | Battery: 4,000mAh | Storage: 128/256/512GB | Weight: 167g

The Samsung Galaxy S24 is a stunning smartphone. It's sleek and not as bulky as other devices. Plus the flat sides make it feel secure to hold.

We love using the screen, it's so bright that you can still see it under bright sunlight. And the camera system is among the best you can find at this price.

If you're someone who makes regular use of your phone camera's zoom, the S24 is the top choice because it has a dedicated telephoto lens, as opposed to digitally cropping from the main camera like the Pixel 8. That in itself is a huge win.

Faults are hard to come by in Galaxy S series smartphones. They all suffer from the complicated One UI Android skin with tonnes of unnecessary apps and features, but in saying that, it's quite easy to look past especially if you're already accustomed to Samsung’s smartphones.

Display size: 6.46-inch | Resolution: 2,700 x 1,224 pixels | Processor: Qualcomm QCM6490 | Cameras: 50MP wide, 50MP ultrawide, 50MP selfie | Battery: 4,200mAh | Storage: 256GB | Weight: 212g

The Fairphone 5 is the best repairable phone you can currently buy. It's a modular device made up of several building blocks. If it breaks you can very easily fix it by taking old parts out and putting new parts in. Adding to that, Fairphone promises software updates up until around 2032.

In our Fairphone 5 review, we said "the display is great, it's fast enough, its cameras are good enough for most shots and videos, and you get tons of storage", but it's worth considering that in comparison to other similarly priced phones, it's also "not as premium, water-resistant or capable of as much in the camera, battery and performance departments".