Top Ten Smartphones of 2024
Last Updated on March 24, 2024 by Darron Dennis
Most people go for smartphones that they don’t like, probably because of the lack of information about the smartphones that are out there, there are thousands of smartphones out there. If you aim to find the best smartphone that suits you, then you are in the right place, this post is aimed at providing you with the 10 best smartphones to choose from.
Not minding the reason, you’re looking to buy a new phone; whether you want a phone with a better camera, or you want the best smartphone with more powerful processors for work or gaming, or just that you wish to invest in a new smartphone to keep up with the ever-changing technology trends, you need to have accurate information to guide your search for the best smartphone that suits your needs and lifestyle.
Smartphones have come to help you with virtually every day day, like:
- Make and receive phone calls text messages.
- Take, show, and store pictures and videos.
- Browse the Internet, as well as send and receive e-mail.
- GPS capability for location and navigation.
- Record and play audio and music.
- Display time and date and other functions such as alarm clock, stopwatch, and timer.
- Display weather and temperature information.
- Voice dictation and take notes.
- Virtual assistant using Siri, Google Assistant, or Cortana.
- Access utilities, such as a flashlight, e-book reader, and calculator.
- Gaming
With all this functions from one device, that tells you how important a smartphone is, and getting the best smartphones out there to perform these tasks, and more.
Granted, the smartphone market is certainly not a market you want to navigate without informed guidance. According to the Statista website, about 1.5 billion phones end up in the pockets and purses of end-users each year. Would you risk wading through a heap of a billion smartphones without knowing exactly what you are or should be looking for? In this article, you will get straight-to-the-point jargon-free top ten best smartphone reviews from June 2021 to June 2021.
Although there are other smartphones’ Operating Systems (OS) that power each phone model, the most popular and more integrated OS are Android OS and IOS. Android OS is simply a mobile operating system that was developed by Google (GOOGL) to be primarily used for touchscreen devices, cell phones, and tablets. While iOS is an operating system designed by Apple Inc. Apple iOS devices include iPad, iPod Touch, and iPhone. iOS is the 2nd most popular mobile OS after Android.
Now that we have narrowed it down to the two main operating systems powering most of the best smartphones in the market today, we will now review the best top-ten Android and ios smartphones that are best suited for you according to performance, aesthetic, and price.
Even if you know you want a smartphone, it can be challenging to know where to start. There are different smartphones to choose from, including Windows Phone and Blackberry. In this guide, however, we’ll focus on the two most popular options: the iPhone and Android smartphones.
There are advantages and disadvantages to both, so we’ll try our best to provide the information you’ll need to make the decision that’s right for you.
Table of Contents
BUYER’S GUIDE
Before going for a smartphone there are so many things to have at the back of your mind. You might have the features you want to look out for at the back of your mind, but one or two features are not enough to get a smartphone that best suits you, and will do your everyday job perfectly. These things to consider before getting a smartphone, these points have been divided into parts:
Part one: Pick an Operating system (OS)
Part two: choose a smartphone model
Under Part one:
Learn some basic differences between operating systems.
- iPhone (aka iOS) is known for its ease of use, security, and clean integration with other Apple products.
- Android is associated with its integration of Google services, its ability to be customized, and typically a lower cost.
- If you can, try demoing a device at a store. That will give you a good sense of the interface and feel of each operating system
Determine your price range. iOS phones (iPhones) are typically more expensive than their Android counterparts. Among phone manufacturers, Apple and Samsung are typically among the most expensive (with models ranging from $400-$700 retail), while HTC, LG, and Motorola tend to produce lower-cost options (some low-end smartphones can be acquired for under $100).
- Phones are subsidized when purchased along with a phone carrier contract or sometimes even “free” upon signing. This usually commits you to a 2-year billing plan for the carrier and includes penalties for early cancellation.
- Some carriers also charge a monthly ‘device fee’ to make up for little or no upfront cost on your smartphone
- Consider the devices and software you already own. If you already own a tablet or computer, you will experience the best level of integration with its services and software by getting a phone with matching developer support (for example, Apple computers and iPads are often cross-compatible with iPhone apps). Nevertheless, note that any phone can connect to, and function with, almost any computer operating system.
- If you are a heavy MS Office or Google user, you will have the best integration and support using an Android phone (although note that both Microsoft and Google produce their most popular apps for the competing operating system as well).
Determine which features suit your needs. Each operating system has some proprietary features, while basic features like email, web browsing, and maps will be available on all systems.
- iOS/iPhone has exclusive features like Siri, fingerprint scanning, FaceTime chat, and iCloud support.
- Android has Google Now, home screen widgets for customization, and allows third-party app installation (meaning you can download programs from the internet and install them outside of the Play Store ecosystem). Most Android phones today also have fingerprint sensors, cloud storage for pictures, and support the use of Google Drive for documents and cloud storage.
Consider which apps you want to use. Many popular applications (e.g. Google Maps, MS Office, and Apple Music) are offered across all operating systems, however, there are some apps (e.g. iMessage, Facetime, and Google Now) that are exclusive to their respective platform. Check the app store associated with each option to make sure the apps you want are accessible (Apple, Google Play).
- In general, if a popular app is not offered on a competitor’s operating system, there is a strong chance that an alternate app exists which is functionally quite similar.
- Your app purchases are linked with your store account. You will be able to transfer your purchases to any future phones as long as they use the same operating system.
Choose an operating system. For most people, the deciding factor will be personal preference. Those looking for a simple interface and a secure system will tend to like iOS-backed iPhones, while those looking for more custom options and lower cost, in general, will likely prefer Android phones.
Under part two:
Pick a carrier. Most carriers will offer a range of phone options across operating systems (no OS is specific to a carrier). Major carriers often subsidize phones or offer different payment plans and contract combinations to reduce the up-front cost of smartphones.
- Some carriers, like T-Mobile, allow you to forego a contract while paying off the phone as part of your monthly costs. Canceling your service early will force you to pay the remainder of the phone’s costs at once.
- Unlocked phones are phones purchased outside of a carrier and thus not linked with a phone service contract. They are more expensive but allow you much more flexibility if you ever need to switch phone carriers.
- If buying an unlocked phone, make sure to double-check that the model is compatible with your specific carrier’s network. Most carriers have a webpage where you can check compatibility with your phone model’s ID information, (for instance Verizon, or AT&T).
Pick a carrier. Most carriers will offer a range of phone options across operating systems (no OS is specific to a carrier). Major carriers often subsidize phones or offer different payment plans and contract combinations to reduce the up-front cost of smartphones.
- Some carriers, like T-Mobile, allow you to forego a contract while paying off the phone as part of your monthly costs. Canceling your service early will force you to pay the remainder of the phone’s costs at once.
- Unlocked phones are phones purchased outside of a carrier and thus not linked with a phone service contract. They are more expensive but allow you much more flexibility if you ever need to switch phone carriers.
- If buying an unlocked phone, make sure to double-check that the model is compatible with your specific carrier’s network. Most carriers have a webpage where you can check compatibility with your phone model’s ID information, (for instance Verizon, or AT&T).
Pick a phone service and data plan that works for you. Phone service carriers will usually offer a wide range of prepaid monthly plan options for phone minutes, texts, and data over the cellular network.
- You may be able to cut monthly costs by not purchasing a data plan at all, but this means you won’t be able to access the internet from your phone if not on wifi.
Pick a screen size. Screen size is measured from corner to corner diagonally. Ultimately, screen size is a matter of preference. Smaller screen phones may fit better in your pocket and are often cheaper. Larger displays may be preferable if you plan to watch a lot of videos.
- iPhone offers the “SE” series for compact phones and the “Plus” series for an extra-large screen.
- Android phones come in a wide range of sizes: there are smaller budget models such as Moto G or Galaxy S Mini, higher-end models like the Galaxy S or the HTC One series, and oversized models like Galaxy Note or Nexus 6P.
Check the storage space. A phone’s storage (usually listed in gigabytes or GB) is a measure of how many files (photos, videos, apps) it can store at any one time. Storage space strongly affects the price of the smartphone so consider how much you’re likely to need before settling on a phone model.
- For example, storage space is the only difference between a 16GB iPhone 6 and 32GB iPhone 6,
- 16GB is estimated to hold about 10,000 pictures or 4000 songs — but keep in mind that your phone storage must also accommodate all your downloaded apps
- Some Android phones (but not all) support storage expansion with the purchase of a microSD card. iPhones do not support storage expansion after purchase.
Consider camera quality. Although smartphones are known for taking high-quality photos in general, the actual picture quality will vary quite a bit between brands and models. The best way to measure camera quality in a phone is to search for sample pictures online taken with that smartphone model or to demo the camera yourself.
- While manufacturers often advertise a camera’s megapixel count, features like ISO, low-light performance, brightness, and noise reduction are equally if not more important to consider.
- Most modern smartphones come equipped with front and rear-facing cameras and flash and will support third-party add-ons (such as lens attachments).
- iPhones are well known for their high-quality camera hardware/software
Consider phone battery life. Battery technology is improving steadily so newer phones tend to have longer battery life, however, your usage habits are what really dictate how long the battery lasts. Talking on the phone, gaming, and using phones outside of the wifi range will all drain a battery more quickly.
- Average smartphone battery life can range anywhere from 8-18 hours.
- Most flagship Android models will not support replaceable batteries. iPhones do not support replaceable batteries on any model.
- Some newer Android phones utilize a quick charge technology to help recharge their large batteries faster (e.g. Samsung Galaxy S series or Motorola Droid Turbo series). Manufacturers claim phones with quick charge can achieve 50% charge in about 30 minutes.
Processors: Components like the version of the Operating System, Bloatware, UI, etc, determine the output of a smartphone’s processor. For heavy users who perform online image/video editing, play heavy games, or video streaming on their phones, then smartphones with Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 or Snapdragon 820/821 are perfect for you. On the other hand, light users will be just as happy with smartphones running on Mediatek processors.
TOP TEN PHONES:
With all those points in mind, let’s dive into the business for the day, choosing a smartphone that will serve you. The top 10 smartphones that will serve you
| NAME | FEATURES | WHERE TO BUY |
iPhone 11 Pro |
Weight: 226g
Dimensions: 158 x 77.8 x 8.1 mm OS: iOS 13, upgradable to iOS 13.3 Screen Size: 6.5 RAM: 6GB/8GB Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB Battery: 4200 mAh Front Camera: 32 MP Rear Camera: 40MP + 20MP + ToF |
GET IT NOW |
| iPhone 11
|
Dimensions: 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm
OS: iOS 13 Screen Size: 6.1 RAM: 4GB Storage: 64/128/256GB Battery: 3110 mAh Front Camera: 12 MP Rear Camera: 12MP Wide-Angle + 12 MP Ultra-Wide-Angle |
GET IT NOW |
| Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus
|
OS: Android 10
Screen size: 6.9 RAM: 12GB/16GB Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB Battery: 5,000 mAh Front Camera: 40 MP + 40 MP Rear Camera: 108 MP wide + 48 MP periscope + 12 MP ultrawide + 0.3 MP TOF |
GET IT NOW |
| Huawei P30 Pro
|
OS: Android 9.0 Pie, EMUI 9.1
Screen Size: 6.47 RAM: 6GB/8GB Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB Battery: 42OOmAh Front Camera: 40MP + 20MP + 8MP + ToF Rear Camera: 32 MP |
GET IT NOW |
| Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus
|
OS: Android 9.0
Screen Size: 6.3 RAM: 8GB Storage: 356GB Battery: 3500 mAh Front Camera: 10 MP f/2.2 Rear Camera: 12 MP f/1.5-2.4 + 12MP f/2.1 + 16MP f/22 |
GET IT NOW |
| Huawei P30
|
OS: Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10.0; EMUI 10
Screen Size: 6.1 inches, 91.3 cm2 (~85.8% screen-to-body ratio) RAM: 6GB/8GB Storage: 64GB/128GB/256GB Battery: 3650 mAh Front Camera: 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8″, 0.8µm Rear Camera: 40 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/1.7″, PDAF, Laser AF 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), 1/4.0″, PDAF, Laser AF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide), PDAF, Laser AF |
GET IT NOW |
| OnePlus 7T Pro
|
OS: OxygenOS / Android 10
Screen Size: 6.67 RAM: 8GB/12GB Storage: 256GB Battery: 4085 mAh Front Camera: 16MP F/2.0 Rear Camera: 48MP f/1.6 + 8MP f/2.4 + 16MP f/2.2 |
GET IT NOW |
| Oppo Reno 10x Zoom
|
OS: Android 9.0 (Pie)
Screen Size: 6.6 RAM: 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM Storage: 256GB 8GB , 256GB 12GB Battery: 4065mAh Front Camera: 16MP f/2.0, 26mm (wide) Rear Camera: 48MP f/1.7, 22mm (wide) |
GET IT NOW |
| Samsung Galaxy Note 10
|
OS: Android 9.0
Screen Size: 6.3 RAM: 8GB Storage: 256GB Battery: 3500 mAh |
GET IT NOW |
| OnePlus 7T
|
OS: Android 10.0; OxygenOS 10.0.7
Screen Size: 6.55 RAM: 128GB/8GB Storage: 256GB Battery: 3800 mAh Front Camera: 16 MP f/2.0, 25mm (wide) |
GET IT NOW |
Best camera: iPhone 11 Pro
Best Android: Samsung Galaxy S20 Pro
Best way to avoid a notch: OnePlus 7T Pro
Best iPhone: iPhone 11
Best big phone: Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus
Best value OnePlus: OnePlus 7T
Best all-rounder: Samsung Galaxy S10 and Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus
iPhone 11 Pro
The iPhone 11 Pro sits at the top of Apple’s current phone line-up along with its larger iPhone 11 Pro Max sibling. For the extra cash you get a Super Retina XDR display, a triple-camera array on the back and higher-end materials. So is this enough to warrant the now overused Protag?
Apple has seriously improved its photographic output with the iPhone 11 Pro – and, in many ways, with the iPhone 11 – which now holds its own among the best phone cameras out there. Packing three distinct 12-megapixel cameras, the iPhone 11 Pro is the first iPhone to feature an ultra-wide-angle lens (13mm equivalent, f/2.4). You also get a standard lens (26mm, f/1.8) and a 2x telephoto lens (52mm, with an improved maximum aperture of f/2.0).
| PROS | CONS |
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iPhone 11
Apple has seen what most people want from the iPhone 11. Unless you’re a complete sucker for an OLED display, or particularly want the zoomed telephoto lens, it isn’t much you’re missing out on by not getting the Pro model. Especially when you consider the over £300/$300 saving you’re making. If you’re coming from an iPhone XR you might want to wait a year and see what the 2020 iPhone brings. However, if you’re updating an older iPhone then you’ll notice the vast array of improvements to camera, battery life and overall design straight away.
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Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus
It’s hard to ignore the S20’s hefty 5,000mAh battery which helps in no small way to keep your smartphone alive for as long as you want it to even with heavy-duty use. It’s hard to find any fault in what the S20 Ultra offers, and it’s hard to find a smartphone in 2020 that’s able to beat it in any of the key departments that matter and will matter by of 2024.
It’s also hard to know where to start with the Galaxy S20 Ultra, because Samsung has really gone to town here, from the 100x digital zoom on the rear camera to the huge 6.9-inch AMOLED display you get around the front. It’s the priciest of the S20 models, and it shows both in its premium look and feels and in its performance.
| PROS | CONS |
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Huawei P30 Pro
The Huawei P30 smartphone is the best bet for a photography enthusiast who is also a welcomed member of the Android family. Granted there are other smartphones of 2024 touting impressive kits for photography buffs such as Google’s Pixel range of phones, specifically the latest and greatest Pixel 3 XL, as these devices have become famous for their excellent camera systems.
But Huawei P30 sports a finger-licking quad-camera system that mostly outperforms Google’s range of smartphones mentioned above. Don’t forget the phenomenal 5x optical and 10x hybrid zoom are unlike anything you’ve used before and allows you to capture photos that you simply wouldn’t be able to get with any other smartphone.
| PROS | CONS |
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Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus is the big-screen phone to beat – it offers an incredibly immersive display, along with strong performance and long battery life. The back of the Galaxy Note 10 Plus is just as captivating as the front, especially if you opt for the Aura Glow color, which reflects all the colors of the rainbow depending on how the light hits the glass back. If you want something similar but a little smaller.
| PROS | CONS |
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Huawei P30
What’s this? Another Huawei phone in the top 15? Your eyes do not deceive you, the Huawei P30 really is sixth in our best phone rundown.
It has a smaller screen than the P30 Pro and makes do with just the three rear cameras (rather than four) and maximum zoom of 30x, but it’s still a great Android phone.
The Huawei p30 was Tested in a controlled environment and certified to be splash, water, and dust resistant in specific situations (meets requirements of classification IP53 as described by the international standard IEC 60529).
Water and dust-proofing are not permanent, and resistance may decrease as a result of normal wear over time. Do not charge the phone when it is wet or in moist environments. Refer to the manual for cleaning and drying instructions.
Submersion in liquid and the resulting damage is not covered by the warranty. IP53 is splash, water, and dust resistant and was tested under controlled laboratory conditions with a rating of IP53 under IEC standard 60529. Splash, water, and dust resistance are not permanent conditions and resistance might decrease as a result of normal wear.
| PROS | CONS |
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OnePlus 7T Pro
There are loads of things to like about the OnePlus 7T Pro. It has one of the best screens we’ve ever used on a phone, costs considerably less than some of its competitors, and runs a fantastic version of Android.
It’s also fast and is right up there with the iPhone 11 Pro in terms of pure speed. That’s partly down to the high-end Snapdragon 855+ and numerous gigs of RAM, and also because of the slick 90Hz 6.7-inch Fluid AMOLED display. This refreshes at 90fps, rather than the 60fps you’ll find on most phones, making everything feel so much smoother. Once you’ve gazed at this screen it’s hard to go back to anything else.
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Oppo Reno 10x Zoom
The phone’s availability is still comparatively limited, but if it’s offered in your market, it’s certainly worth giving a shot. Oppo isn’t afraid to innovate and do things its way – a risky strategy that has often backfired, but it’s paid off handsomely with the Reno 10x zoom.
| PROS | CONS |
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Samsung Galaxy Note 10
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 delivers epic battery life and a super-bright screen in a phenomenally compact design.
| PROS | CONS |
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OnePlus 7T
The OnePlus 7T improves upon the last-gen version of the handset with a 90Hz refresh rate screen, some camera improvements, and faster charging. There are tons of other minor improvements, and it all makes up for a more refined and reliable overall smartphone. The 7T is an excellent low-cost flagship.
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Conclusion
From our review above of the top best smartphones out there, two smartphone comes on top, Iphone 11pro, and Samsung Galaxy s20 Plus. these two phones though cosy much, but they are sure to give value for your money