The Best Phones In 2024: Our Top Smartphones

Because you deserve the best phones that have it all, we put them through rigorous testing and evaluation. The finest smartphones on the market have excellent cameras, the power you need to multitask, and long-lasting battery life. There should be nothing except joy in using these devices.

When it comes to finding the ideal smartphone for your needs and budget, we put hundreds of devices through their paces in the lab and in the real world. To evaluate which camera phone has the finest picture quality, we compare the best models side by side.

You don’t have to pay a fortune to acquire a high-quality product, thanks to a wide range of alternatives at various price points. For less than $500, you can acquire a high-quality mid-range phone with all the functionality you need.

Whether you’re looking for a budget phone or a high-end flagship, our best phones list has something for you. Our testing has given us a list of the best smartphones. Right now, these are the best smartphones.

Table of Contents

The Best Phones Right Now

IPHONE 13 PRO MAX

Our ratings

 5/5

Editor’s choice!

SAMSUNG GALAXY S22 ULTRA

Our ratings

 4.5/5

Highly recommended

IPHONE 13

Our ratings

 4.4/5

Recommended

GOOGLE PIXEL 6

Our ratings

 4/5

–

SAMSUNG GALAXY A53

Our ratings

 4/5

–

IPHONE 13 PRO

Our ratings

 4.6/5

–

ONEPLUS 10 PRO

Our ratings

 4.6/5

–

GOOGLE PIXEL 6 PRO

Our ratings

 4/5

–

ASUS ROG PHONE 6 PRO

Our ratings

 4/5

–

IPHONE SE (2022)

Our ratings

 4/5

–

The Best Phones Review

1. IPHONE 13 PRO MAX

One of the most significant improvements to the iPhone 13 Pro Max is the addition of Face ID. In addition to a new 6.7-inch ProMotion display, the A15 Bionic processor, and a battery life of more than 12 hours in our online browsing test, the A15 Bionic is a powerhouse.

The iPhone 13 Pro Max’s cameras are the best in the business owing to upgraded sensors that capture more light and a new function called Photographic Styles that allows you change the appearance of your photos. There are also new macro and Cinematic modes for video, which allow you to take stunning close-up shots while allowing you to focus on many topics at the same time.

Charging isn’t as fast as it might be. However, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is still the best smartphone on the market.

What we like

What we don't like

2. SAMSUNG GALAXY S22 ULTRA

Power users will love Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Ultra Android phone. With a built-in S Pen and 70% less latency than a Galaxy Note, it’s just like using a tablet. Simply put, the 6.8-inch display is the finest we’ve tested in terms of brightness and color saturation, making this panel both simple to see in direct sunlight and ideal for viewing shows and movies on the go.

The Galaxy S22 Ultra’s camera is another major selling point. For brighter photos without needing to utilize Night mode, there’s a 108MP sensor that lets in more light. And if you use Night mode, you’ll get better photos than the iPhone 13 Pro Max in some circumstances. Add 45W charging and a stylish design and you’ve got a winner. Battery life may be improved, but that’s all.

What we like

What we don't like

3. IPHONE 13

When it comes to camera quality and portability, the iPhone 13 is hard to beat. The ultra-wide camera now catches more of the image, while the primary camera now collects more light. The new A15 Bionic CPU powers the new Cinematic mode for video, allowing you to get Hollywood-like depth of focus in your film.

The 6.1-inch display is brighter, and the top notch is narrower, giving you more screen real estate. We witnessed roughly 10.5 hours of battery life, which is a gain of more than 1.5 hours over the iPhone 12’s battery life. You can’t go wrong with this iPhone at $799 when you include the included 128GB of storage.

What we like

What we don't like

4. GOOGLE PIXEL 6

In light of Google’s decision to equip the Pixel 6 with its own Tensor processor, the Pixel 6 is the greatest Android smartphone you can buy. More crucially, Tensor drives the machine learning-driven experiences that distinguish Google’s phones from the others, even though Snapdragon 888 is found in most of the top Android phones.

Although the cameras have a 50-megapixel primary lens, the big story is in Tensor, the software that helps power features like Magic Eraser and Motion Mode, which make action images appear more lively. As a last resort, you can always get the Pixel 6 Pro for $899 and get a telephoto lens and a larger display.

That’s a $300 premium over the Pixel 6’s starting price, but it’s also one of the phone’s best features. For a gadget of this caliber, it’s difficult to find a lower beginning price.

What we like

What we don't like

5. SAMSUNG GALAXY A53

When it comes to phones under $500, the Galaxy A53 is one of the finest options, at least until Google’s Pixel 6a is out and we can test its cameras. Even so, the Galaxy A53’s rapid refresh rate and expandable storage will be welcome additions to your smartphone arsenal. In the A53’s pricing range, many phones don’t have a rapid refresh rate and many phone makers are forsaking microSD expansion slots.

Even though the Pixel 5a’s output was superior, the Galaxy A53 was able to keep up with it in our camera tests. The A53’s Exynos 1280 chipset can keep pace with other midrange Android handsets, but battery life is only decent at best. For $449, you get a lot of phone for your money, and the Galaxy A53 only asks for a few concessions in return.

What we like

What we don't like

6. IPHONE 13 PRO

With the 6.1-inch iPhone 13 Pro, you get the power of the iPhone 13 Pro Max in a smaller form factor. The new 3x telephoto zoom camera, 120Hz ProMotion display, and support for ProRes video are all included in this model’s superb features and performance.

We tested the iPhone 13 Pro’s web browsing battery life and found that it lasted more than 11 hours. Please, please, please speed up the charging. You can’t go wrong with this phone when you throw in a better display, a new Cinematic mode for video and some excellent macro photography.

What we like

What we don't like

7. ONEPLUS 10 PRO

OnePlus 10 has the best design, display, and cameras of any OnePlus phone. The Chinese phone maker’s camera is now on par with the Pixel 6 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max.

The OnePlus 10 Pro has a lengthy battery life and top-notch performance. Innovative cooling technology makes it a great gaming phone. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 CPU throttles less than comparable Android phones.

The OnePlus 10 Pro lasted over 12 hours in adaptive 120Hz mode. The Galaxy S22 Ultra is defeated, and the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max follow close behind. The 65W charger can recharge the phone in 30 minutes. This costs $899.

What we like

What we don't like

8. GOOGLE PIXEL 6 PRO

Galaxy S22 Ultra is a high-end Android phone that costs over $1,000. Introducing the Google Pixel 6 Pro — the company’s most powerful and effective smartphone to-date. Google’s Pixel 6 boasts a new look and an in-house processor. Tensor is a chip-based AI/ML system.

The Pixel camera is included in subscriptions. The telephoto lens on the Pixel 6 Pro offers 4x autofocus. Wide-angle selfies may be taken thanks to the front-facing camera’s zoom. The battery life of the Pixel 6 Pro is terrible. An obsolete 5G modem may be to blame.

Google’s Pixel 6 Pro is among the first smartphones to receive Android updates.

What we like

What we don't like

9. ASUS ROG PHONE 6 PRO

The Asus ROG Phone 6 has a number of features designed to please the most demanding mobile gamers, regardless of whether or not you think you need a gaming-focused smartphone. ROG Phone 6 Pro is the best-performing Android phone to date (at least until more devices using Qualcomm’s newest silicon come around). It has 4GB of RAM and a Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 system-on-chip.

Even with an adjustable refresh rate that allows it to scale up to 165Hz, the ROG Phone 6 still lasts the longest in our battery test, clocking in at 15.5 hours on a single charge on our difficult battery test. ROG Phone 6 does an excellent job of managing its huge 6,000 mAh battery while still delivering an excellent gaming experience. If you don’t want to have your battery die in the middle of a gaming session, this is the phone for you.

What we like

What we don't like

10. IPHONE SE (2022)

For the iPhone SE (2022), you’re getting a lot for your money. Even the most expensive Android phones can’t keep up with the newest iPhone’s performance at $429. A 15-core A15 Bionic processor drives the SE, making it a tiny beast.

Nevertheless, it utilizes a repurposed iPhone 8 chassis. So, you’ll have big bezels, but the Touch ID home button will be handy. The outdated look and lack of Night mode will not be to everyone’s taste. Because the new iPhone SE lacks this feature, it doesn’t rate as highly as it should. Because of this, Verizon’s Ultra Wideband network is not available to you, as well.

If you’re looking for a smartphone around $500, the iPhone SE (2022) is a great option. Both the Pixel 5a and the iPhone 7 Plus are excellent choices for those on a tight budget. Other than that, there is a $499 iPhone 11 LTE-only version.

What we like

What we don't like

How To Pick The Best Phones

Android or iPhone? Which operating system do you prefer, Android or iPhone? In terms of pricing, size, and style, Android phones provide a wider range of options than Apple’s iPhones. iPhones, on the other hand, provide faster software upgrades, higher-quality games and applications, and superior security and privacy features. iPhones.

Android or iPhone? Do you prefer an unlocked phone or one from a cellular service provider? Buying a new phone in the United States is almost exclusively done through a cellular provider. However, an unlocked phone provides you the opportunity to buy the gadget without a contract and then bring it to the service provider of your choice.

Screen size: To begin your search for a large phone, start with a display size of at least six inches (150 millimeters). 6.5 to 6.8-inch phones are the largest. Go for one of the finest compact phones with a screen under 6 inches if you’re looking for something that’s easy to operate with one hand.

Cameras: If you’re looking for cameras, don’t be concerned by the megapixel count. As an alternative, compare the photos taken by different phones’ cameras and seek for features like Night Mode that improve the quality of the photos taken in low light. See also our roundup of the top photography phones.

Battery life: How long is the battery good for? Most of the time, the longest battery life can be found in phones with bigger batteries (measured in milliamp hours, or mAh). That’s why we do our own battery testing here at the shop

Is Apple Or Samsung Better For You?

When it comes to deciding between two good smartphone alternatives, personal preference is nearly always the deciding factor. In this case, it’s no different.

Apple’s seamless user experience and closely connected ecosystem are the primary reasons why most people buy iPhones. iPhones are more reliable when it comes to tasks like making and receiving phone calls, capturing videos, navigating the operating system, and going online.

Because Samsung has an open platform from which you may customize and personalize your phone, it’s the ideal alternative for smartphone users. Although Samsung flagships are more attractive in style and have better cameras, they also provide a better user experience because of the One UI skin.

How We Test For The Best Phones

Before making our best phone list, a smartphone must do well in a variety of tests that we undertake on each model. Some of these tests are carried out in our laboratory, while others are carried out in the real world.

The Geekbench 5 and GFXBench synthetic tests are used to assess graphics performance. These tests allow us to compare the performance of iPhones and Android devices in a fair and objective manner. Using the Adobe Premiere Rush software, we timed a real-world video converting test on each phone.

We conduct lab tests to determine the brightness of a phone’s display (in nits), as well as the color saturation of each screen (DCI-P3 color gamut). Higher numbers are desirable in certain situations. Each panel’s color accuracy is evaluated using a Delta-E rating, where lower numbers indicate better color accuracy, and a score of 0 indicates flawless color reproduction.

The Tom’s Guide battery test is one of our most important tests. As long as the screen brightness is set to 150 nits, we run web surfing tests over 5G or 4G. A phone that lasts 10 hours or more is considered good, and anything above 11 hours is considered the best phone battery life.

Finally, we put the finest smartphones to the test in the real world by taking shots outside, inside, and at night in low light to see how they stack up against their competition. You may see side-by-side comparisons in our assessments of landscapes, cuisine, portraits, and other subjects.

Final Thoughts On Best Phones

The iPhone 13 Pro Max is the best phone you can purchase right now, according to our tests. There’s no better camera on a smartphone than this one’s 120Hz display. All of these features are included in the latest version of the camera. In our tests, the battery lasted more than 12 hours. If you prefer a smaller 6.1-inch display, the iPhone 13 Pro is a wonderful alternative.

But if you don’t want to pay more than $799 on a phone, Apple has the $799 iPhone 13. The A15 Bionic chip and lengthy battery life make it the greatest value in flagship phones at the present, with a brighter display than the iPhone 12 and better wide and ultra-wide cameras that are a step ahead of Android phones.

In our tests, the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s display is the brightest and most vibrant we’ve ever seen, with a S Pen that is 70% quicker than before and considerably enhanced camera performance. The Galaxy S22 is a more affordable variant of the Galaxy S series, allowing you to experience many of the same wonderful features as the Ultra and the Galaxy S22 Plus, but at a lower price point.

The OnePlus 10 Pro is a fantastic upgrade from OnePlus that continues the photography enhancements that began with the OnePlus 9 series. Android aficionados should not ignore this amazing device. Nonetheless, the Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro might be a superior option for camera enthusiasts.

If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative, you might want to hold off on purchasing the Pixel 6a until it’s released later this month. As of now, the $449 Samsung Galaxy A52 and the $429 iPhone SE are the best options for a cheap smartphone under $500.

Read our review on Jabra Elite 85t offers outstanding noise cancellation and audio quality.

FAQs for Best Phones

Q: What are the Best Phones currently available in the market? A: The Best Phones refer to top-rated and highly recommended smartphones known for their exceptional features, performance, and user experience. These phones offer cutting-edge technology and cater to a wide range of user preferences.

Q: What features should I consider when looking for the best phones? A: When choosing the best phones, consider features such as display quality, camera capabilities, processing power, battery life, storage capacity, software updates, connectivity options, and overall user satisfaction.

Q: Which operating systems do the Best Phones use? A: The Best Phones are available with various operating systems, including iOS (Apple), Android (Google), and occasionally others like HarmonyOS (Huawei). The choice of operating system depends on personal preference and ecosystem compatibility.

Q: Can the Best Phones handle demanding apps and games? A: Yes, the best phones are equipped with powerful processors, ample RAM, and advanced graphics capabilities, allowing them to handle demanding apps and games with ease and smooth performance.

Q: Do the Best Phones have high-quality cameras? A: Yes, the best phones often feature high-quality cameras with advanced imaging technologies. They offer excellent photo and video capabilities, including features like multiple lenses, optical image stabilization, night mode, and enhanced computational photography.

Q: Are the Best Phones water and dust resistant? A: Many of the Best Phones come with water and dust resistance ratings, providing protection against accidental splashes, rain, and dust particles. The level of resistance may vary, so check the specifications of each phone.

Q: Can I expand the storage on the Best Phones? A: Some of the Best Phones offer expandable storage options through microSD card slots, allowing you to increase the available storage capacity. However, not all phones have this feature, so check the specifications of the specific phone model.

Q: Do the Best Phones support 5G connectivity? A: Yes, many of the Best Phones support 5G connectivity, enabling faster download and upload speeds and smoother streaming experiences. However, network availability may vary depending on your location and carrier.

Q: How long is the battery life on the Best Phones? A: The battery life of the Best Phones varies depending on factors like usage patterns, screen brightness, and app usage. However, many of these phones offer all-day battery life and support fast charging or wireless charging for added convenience.

Q: Can I use the Best Phones with my current carrier? A: Most of the Best Phones are available as unlocked devices or carrier-specific versions. Unlocked phones are compatible with a wide range of carriers, but carrier-specific versions may be optimized for specific networks. Check the compatibility of the phone with your preferred carrier before purchasing.