The Best Flagship Smartphones of 2024

Usually, Google releases either Pro or XL models. But in 2024, the company decided to combine these consoles and expanded the flagship line with a third model - Pixel 9 Pro XL. As the name suggests, this is a large smartphone with a 6.8-inch screen and a weight of just over 220 g for lovers of large displays that are convenient for watching videos and playing games. The screen fully meets these goals - a high-quality OLED sensor with a resolution of 2992x1344 pixels, support for HDR10 + and an adaptive image refresh rate from 1 to 120 Hz. Despite the screen size, the phone itself fits comfortably in the hand (although it does not fit into small pockets). The matte glass from which the back panel is made feels expensive and does not slip in your hands, but a case still does not hurt. By the way, it is not included in the package, as is the charger. The main camera block is made in the form of an interesting horizontal oval insert - thanks to the original design, Google smartphones are recognizable and stand out from the competition. True, this block protrudes 3 - 4 mm above the surface, but this problem, unfortunately, is inherent in many modern gadgets.

Basically, people buy Pixels for the sake of “pure” Android without unnecessary shells and excellent cameras, and Pixel 9 Pro XL provides all this. A pleasant bonus is the extension of support - the manufacturer promises to update the OS for 7 years, that is, the smartphone is guaranteed to receive Android 21. As for the cameras, they are traditionally among the best. The main one combines three modules (50 + 48 + 48 MP) with optical image stabilization and the ability to shoot 8K video at 30 frames per second. The resolution of the pumped-up selfie camera has been increased to 42 MP. Moreover, the proprietary artificial intelligence Gemini helps to improve the quality of photos. In general, both cameras shoot perfectly in almost any conditions, both day and night. And this is confirmed by the results of testing by DxOMark specialists: at the time of writing, the Pixel 9 Pro XL ranks 2nd in the ranking of the best camera phones (158 points), and the front camera is in the top five (148 points).

The flagship is based on the proprietary Tensor G4 processor. Despite Google's claims of increased flow Rate, it still falls short of competitors like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. For comparison, its result in the AnTuTu benchmark is more than 1.3 million points, while the main competitors from Samsung and Apple have much higher scores - about 1,800,000. However, for most users, this will not affect the ease of use - the flow Rate is sufficient, although not excessive, like in modern flagships. You can play demanding games, although throttling and heating are not excluded.

As for autonomy, on average, one charge of the 5060 mAh battery lasts for a day and a half. The battery supports wired charging with a power of 37 W, wireless charging at 23 W and wireless reverse charging for recharging other gadgets from the smartphone. In general, the speed is far from record-breaking - even iPhones have higher charging power.

Additional useful features include an under-screen fingerprint scanner, support for satellite communications for sending messages, a built-in thermometer for measuring temperature, and IP68 water protection, which allows short-term immersion under water.

When choosing a smartphone, buyers are mainly guided by the design, screen, cameras, fast processor and good battery life. The Samsung flagship has all of this at the highest level - after all, it is not for nothing that this is the most pumped-up model in the top line of Galaxy S24. The appearance of the Ultra version is the same as in the last few years: a sharp rectangular shape, flat edges, a main camera with modules located separately, and a miniature front camera cut into the screen. We can only note the updated materials: the frame is made of durable titanium, the back panel is made of Gorilla Glass Victus 2, and the screen is protected by scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass Armor. The latter has an additional polarizing layer that reduces glare on the screen. Add to this a 6.8-inch display with a peak brightness of 2600 nits and a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz - and you get an excellent screen that is as comfortable as possible for reading and normal use outdoors in direct sunlight.

Inside, there is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor with Adreno 750 graphics and 12 GB of RAM. There is no point in describing anything here - this is one of the most powerful platforms today, the flow Rate reserve of which will definitely last for 5 - 6 years, or even more. The smartphone is capable of running demanding games at maximum settings, easily copes with multitasking and "heavy" applications. The cooling system does its job well - the case only slightly heats up during games. It also has everything you need for comfortable everyday use: Wi-Fi 7, NFC chip for contactless payment for purchases, stereo sound from AKG. The 5000 mAh battery provides one and a half to two days of battery life and supports wired charging with a power of 45 W, wireless charging at 15 W and wireless reverse charging with a modest 4.5 W.

The camera also corresponds to the flagship level. The main one combines four modules: 200, 50, 12 and 10 MP. There is one front camera - 12 MP. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is deservedly one of the best camera phones, providing clear, detailed pictures with correct color rendering and a good zoom, allowing you to photograph distant objects.

Many top models have similar characteristics, so manufacturers try to hook the buyer with something special. In this case, Samsung is counting on the capabilities of artificial intelligence. Recently, AI has flooded the information space, so it is not surprising that smartphone manufacturers are keeping up with the times. AI in the Galaxy S24 Ultra is useful, but still an additional, not the main function. It will help translate audio, highlight objects in photos, format text and summarize what is written in Samsung Notes. It is clear that Samsung is just "getting going", so we expect even more interesting features in the future.

In addition, the advantages of the model include the good old S Pen stylus with a special hole in the smartphone body for storing and charging it, as well as an extended support period - the manufacturer promises to update the flagship's operating system for 7 years.

The 2024 flagship with the incomprehensible name Xperia 1 VI meets with a completely understandable and familiar corporate design with an elongated rectangular body and a width reduced to 74 mm. The company abandoned the 4K screen, which became a controversial innovation of Sony several years ago, and instead added just a good display with a size of 6.5 " with a resolution of 2340x1080 pixels, a frequency of 120 Hz and an aspect ratio of 19.5: 9 close to the standard indicators. Quite wide frames remained at the top and bottom - it looks wild for a modern top model, but opponents of frameless screens and "waterfalls" will be satisfied. Moreover, it is much more convenient to play on a screen without cutouts. The back panel is made of structured matte Gorilla Glass Victus, which skillfully disguises itself as plastic. It does not look premium at all, but fingerprints and dirt are not visible. Of course, there is full IP68 water protection.

Another controversial decision is the fingerprint scanner, located in the side button. Top (and even cheaper) smartphones have long switched to under-screen scanners, but Sony continues to do things differently. Most likely, this solution will also appeal to some, especially lovers of classic, familiar things. But what is definitely worthy of praise is the presence of a slot for a microSD memory card (up to 1.5 TB) and a 3.5 mm audio jack for regular wired headphones. These little things have become a real rarity for modern smartphones, especially in the middle and high price segments, although sometimes they are sorely lacking.

Sony itself produces sensors for cameras, so it is not surprising that the Sony Xperia 1 VI uses everything native: a 1 / 1.35-inch Sony Exmor T sensor with a resolution of 48 MP, an ultra-wide-angle Exmor RS with 12 MP and a 12 MP telephoto camera with the ability to smoothly adjust the optical zoom from 3.5x to 7.1x. The camera was developed in collaboration with the German company ZEISS, which specializes in optics. In general, the photos are detailed, with moderate sharpness and without noise. Sony is careful in processing, so the pictures are distinguished by their maximum naturalness and naturalness. However, with the use of zoom, the detail drops noticeably, and in this the smartphone is significantly inferior to most competitors. But the camera can shoot video in 4K at 120 frames per second, which very few devices can boast of. And there is also a separate camera shutter button on the case.

The model is equipped with a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and a cooling system to cool this "beast". Reviewers complain about strong throttling in stress tests, although the temperature does not rise to high levels. In terms of normal use, there are no problems: the system works stably and allows you to comfortably play games even at maximum settings.

Another strong point of the gadget is its autonomy: one charge of the 5000 mAh battery is enough for a day and a half of active use or even several days of moderate use. Charging can no longer be called fast in modern realities - 30 W looks rather modest against the background of 80, 100 and 120 W. The battery gains 50% in 30 minutes, and a full charge takes about 1.5 hours. There is also wireless and wireless reverse charging. But keep in mind that the phone's package is modest even by today's standards - there is nothing in the box except the device itself and documentation. If many have already gotten used to the lack of a charger, then Sony will definitely surprise them with the lack of a cable. There is no paper clip either, although it is not needed - the tray for SIM cards and a memory card is easily pried off with a fingernail.

The top flagship of Xiaomi primarily focuses on its photo capabilities. The main camera takes up the lion's share of the back panel and protrudes significantly above the surface. As a result, the device itself turned out to be quite massive, thick and weighty. The manufacturer draws a parallel with professional cameras in the design of the camera: a large round block in which the sensors are located resembles a camera lens, it even has the same ribbed edges. But what is much more interesting is not how this camera looks, but what it can do. The Chinese company finally did not chase a large number of megapixels and added 4 modules with the same resolution - 50 MP each. It is based on a 1-inch Sony LYT-900 sensor with a variable aperture from f / 1.63 to f / 4.0. The other cameras have the same sensor - Sony IMX 858, but perform different tasks. This is a telephoto camera, a periscope and an ultra-wide lens with a viewing angle of 122 °. There is optical stabilization, the ability to shoot 8K video (30 frames per second), 120x digital zoom and Leica filters, since the Xiaomi 14 Ultra camera was developed in collaboration with this company.

In general, the camera confirms the smartphone's flagship title: it shoots equally well both during the day and at night, produces detailed photos, excellent portraits, clear macro shots and high-quality video with good sound and effective stabilization. Despite this, the model does not occupy a leading position in the DxOMark rating, but only enters the TOP-20. If you do not rely on tests, the gadget, in any case, will become an excellent camera phone for shooting photos and videos for a personal archive and social networks.

The rest of the specifications are also cranked up to the max. The 6.73-inch AMOLED display with a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz and support for HDR10+, Dolby Vision and DC Dimming fully satisfies the needs of even the most demanding users, providing sufficient brightness, rich colors and comfortable use without flickering and excessive strain on the eyes. The proprietary Xiaomi Shield Glass protective glass on top of the screen is highly durable and resistant to scratches and damage. The stereo speakers are loud, with clear bass. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor copes with any load without overheating - this is also due to the dual-circuit liquid cooling system. Thanks to this, the smartphone scored more than 2 million points in the AnTuTu benchmark - although this is not a record figure, it is quite high compared to competitors.

The 5000 mAh battery guarantees a whole day, or even a day and a half of battery life. Of course, it would be nice not to charge the smartphone every evening, but the situation is brightened up by fast charging - 90 W via a wire or 80 W wirelessly. As a result, a full charge takes 33 or 46 minutes, respectively. In addition, there is wireless reverse charging, with which the device can charge other gadgets.

Special attention should be paid to the little things that are missing from most modern flagships. The under-screen fingerprint scanner can not only identify the owner, but also measure the pulse. Traditionally, Xiaomi added an IR port - a thing that is far from the most necessary, but some may find it useful for remote control of equipment. Two-way satellite communication allows you to make calls and send messages in places where there is no mobile coverage, but it does not work everywhere. But what is really useful is the complete package. The manufacturer did not skimp, unlike other companies, and put everything you need for a smartphone in the box: a case, a protective film (already glued to the display) and a charger.

Apple smartphones are traditionally chosen because of their status, prestige and the “apple” ecosystem — simply put, if you have an Apple Watch, MacBook, AirPods and it’s time to replace your old iPhone, there’s a 99% chance you’ll choose the iPhone again for the sake of the familiar operating system and gadget bundle. That’s why Apple is in no hurry to innovate, redesign and introduce new features — it already has its own stable audience. Despite the fact that the iPhone 16 Pro Max follows this principle and largely copies its predecessor, it is still one of the top smartphones on the market with high flow Rate, an equally high price, long-term support and the best specifications.

The model is the largest iPhone in history at the time of release — the screen size has increased to 6.9 ". At the same time, the frames have decreased, so the dimensions of the smartphone are plus or minus similar to its predecessors and fit quite comfortably in the hand. The device looks solid and expensive, primarily due to the materials: the frames are made of titanium, the display is protected by durable Ceramic Shield glass, and the back panel is covered with matte glass that does not collect fingerprints and does not slip. As usual, the screen here is very good: it is a Super Retina XDR panel with a resolution of 2868x1320 pixels, peak brightness of 2000 nits, refresh rate from 1 to 120 Hz, support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. Simply put, the screen provides good quality and resolution of the picture in any conditions. A recognizable design feature is the Dynamic Island cutout for the 12 MP front camera and the Face ID sensor, which can change its size and shape depending on the content displayed.

Inside, there is an Apple A18 Pro processor, which easily “pulls” heavy applications and games and practically does not heat up. Increased productivity and speed are necessary not only for beautiful numbers, but also for the new functions of Apple Intelligence artificial intelligence, which are integrated directly into iOS. AI should help process photos, edit texts, translate audio and is the main innovation of Apple in 2024. However, this is only the initial stage, so we hope that in a couple of years Apple Intelligence will expand its capabilities and show its full potential.

Apple also bets on the smartphone camera. In order to remain in the list of the best camera phones, iPhones do not need 4-5 modules and 200 MP. The iPhone 16 Pro Max received a triple main camera, which includes a 48 MP main Fusion Camera sensor, an ultra-wide lens with the same resolution and a 12 MP telephoto lens. You can take macro shots, portraits, photos indoors, outdoors or at night, zoom in on objects, shoot 4K video - the result is worthy and commendable. This is confirmed by DxOMark specialists: they gave the camera 157 points, which allows the device to take 4th place in their rating (at the time of writing).

If there are no surprises with the photo and video capabilities, then Apple has worked on the controls and added the Camera Control button on the side edge. It allows you to perform various tasks: turn on the camera, take a photo, change settings, etc.

The rest of the flagship's specifications are less interesting, but no less important: 8 GB of RAM, support for satellite communications (though it only works in some countries), an NFC chip for contactless payment for purchases via Apple Pay, an Action Button for programming various actions, IP68 water protection, and a 4685 mAh battery with support for 45 W wired charging and 25 W wireless charging. Naturally, the package remains modest and does not include a charger.