Here is our selection of the best smartphones in 2024, all tested and validated by the Voonze editorial team. Find out which phone to choose according to your budget: high-end, best value for money or cheap.
What is the best smartphone in 2024 ? Currently, the best smartphones on the market are truly cutting-edge devices, managing to perform in all areas… but they come at a high price. To refine your preferences between models, visit our smartphone comparator .
Below you will find a selection of the best smartphones on the market, each with its own specialty .
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra confirms in light of our test that it is the best smartphone of 2024. Find out why it is, according to the editorial staff of Voonze, the best high-end smartphone available.
As usual, it’s the 6.8-inch AMOLED panel that is one of the highlights of the S24 Ultra . In terms of internal power, the S24 Ultra is equipped with the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip and our tests make it one of the most powerful smartphones on the market . In the software part, Samsung has announced 7 versions of Android for the model, making it one of the most durable.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is also the best photo smartphone on the market . To do this, the device has four lenses including a main one with 200 megapixels. A final word on the autonomy of the product. During its test, the S24 Ultra was able to withstand two full days of use without fast charging. Once again, the price of the phone is high, namely 1469 euros, but it is our number one choice in terms of recommendation. To learn more, we also advise you to read our test of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra written by Omar .
Honor Magic 6 Pro
Honor has managed to position itself in this year 2024, with its excellent Honor Magic 6 Pro. The latter has a lot going for it. Starting with a design that does not leave us indifferent. First with a protruding photo block, excellent finishes, IP68 certification and good protective glass on the panel.
The large 6.8-inch Amoled panel offers, according to our measurements, excellent color fidelity, good brightness and 120 Hz refresh. The quality of the photos is also there. With a 50 Mpx wide-angle sensor, a 50 Mpx ultra-wide angle and a 180 Mpx telephoto lens at x2.5, it is, according to our tests, one of the best smartphones for photography thanks to its versatility. The main camera is also capable of automatically adjusting the aperture of its diaphragm according to the lighting conditions.
It is possible to rely on excellent performance thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. It also offers good energy management: you can count on at least two days of use, an excellent score supported by the 14 hours and 51 minutes obtained on our Viser protocol, which makes it one of the smartphones with the best autonomy . With 80 W charging, the phone’s battery also recharges in no time.
We only regret the fact that the brand offers “only” four years of software updates, much less than competitors Samsung, Google and Apple. The fact remains that thanks to its great versatility, it is an excellent model if you are looking for an alternative to the Galaxy S24 Ultra, at a lower price and is one of the best Android smartphones available. To find out everything about the Honor Magic 6 Pro, you can read our detailed review on Voonze.
Google Pixel 9
The new Google Pixel 9 series is expanding with two new models, including an XL iteration. It is the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL that we have chosen to highlight.
In terms of design, the Google smartphone is even more rounded. It is easy to handle with angles that do not hurt the palm. With a beautiful 6.8-inch screen, the Pixel 9 Pro XL offers a great user experience. The 120 Hz refresh rate adapts according to the content displayed for better energy management.
Unsurprisingly, the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL remains the best smartphone for photography . The triple rear lens is very complementary with a stunning x5 zoom. Above all, the contribution of AI makes it possible to enhance each shot. We still regret the Tensor G4 chip, which responds perfectly in almost all uses, except in 3D games. The smartphone is behind devices of the same type.
In the software part, the Pixel Experience is still sober, but increasingly customizable. With still 7 years of updates, it is still one of the most durable smartphones on the market. Its base price is 1199 euros, but according to our test , it is the smartphone that we recommend among the entire range.
Phone 15
However, if you want to buy an iPhone 15, here is everything you need to know. The animation is provided by the new A17 Pro chip. Its good performance makes the iPhone 15 Pro Max one of the most powerful smartphones on the market, particularly thanks to the daily contribution of iOS . The screen of the 15 Pro Max is sublime: it is a 6.7-inch Oled panel, with a definition of 2,796 x 1,290 pixels at 460 ppi.
Are you looking for the best smartphone for video? The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the one to turn to . In terms of battery life, there’s nothing mind-blowing since the 15 Pro Max will last a day and a half, despite the arrival of USB-C . After testing the different models in the new range, the results are clear: the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the best iPhone available in 2024. We still recommend reading our review of the iPhone 15 Pro Max before you get started. Be careful, however, as the two Pro iterations are disappearing from the Apple catalog.
Google Pixel 8a
The brand new Pixel series from Google is positioned right from the start as the champion of value for money . In terms of design, the format has been slightly reworked with more rounded edges to make it easier to hold. Even if the edges are asymmetrical, the overall experience is excellent and it is one of the smartphones with the best value for money .
This starts with some good improvements in the touch screen. The 6.1-inch panel benefits for the first time from a maximum refresh rate of 120 Hz. It is possible to choose between 60 and 120, which means that it is not adaptive. In the series of measurements that we carried out, the peak brightness is at 1320 nits. In terms of colorimetry, we noted a temperature of 6560K which is very close to reality.
On the photo part also the Google Pixel 8a , the dual rear sensor is of good quality. It is the same configuration as that present on the Pixel 7a with better image processing thanks to the contribution of the Tensor G3 chip. The main sensor of the phone is difficult to fault with good sharpness and excellent transcription of details. Even in terms of colorimetry, the Pixel 8a is excellent.
The cherry on the cake is that the software part with the Pixel Experience is very complete. The artificial intelligence functions and the 7 years of Android updates offer the smartphone one of the best user experiences in the long term. In our opinion, it is the best smartphone in terms of quality/price ratio and an excellent investment. To learn more, read our review of the Google Pixel 8a .
If you want a slightly more powerful smartphone for photography without spending too much, the Google Pixel 7a is an option to consider. Now available at 399 euros, the smartphone offers excellent everyday performance and in particular a superb camera. It only suffers from four years of Android updates to be a full recommendation. Our review of the Google Pixel 7a is available to read if you are hesitant.
Placed lower on the range, the recent Galaxy A35 is sold at 399 euros and embodies a beautiful example of balance. We like its pretty, slightly flashy design with a glass back, IP67 certification and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+.
The 6.6-inch Super Amoled panel with a maximum refresh rate of 120 Hz is very well made. One UI 6 is here and brings its legendary fluidity and simplicity to the Samsung phone . Four years of Android updates are planned, a nice promise at this price.
The Exynos 1380 home chip (+ 6 or 8 GB of RAM depending on the version) provides very solid performance and you can comfortably play all your favorite titles on this model. It is even one of the most powerful in its category.
The camera itself is rather balanced: it provides nice shots, without going overboard. The battery life is also good, without being exceptional (a day and a half), with a 25 W recharge.
To sum up, the Galaxy A35 is a paragon of balance. It has no major flaws and performs on all fronts: for less than 400 euros, it is a good choice. For all the details on our opinion, go to our test of the Galaxy A35 .
Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 4G
The new Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 4G is intended to be in line with the Redmi range with a cheap smartphone with an attractive technical sheet. According to our comparisons, it is the best smartphone under 200 euros available on the market.
The handling is of quality, the smartphone even offering an IP54 certification. Its screen is a 6.67-inch Oled panel with an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. Our measurements revealed a fairly faithful color temperature and overall a good experience for this price range.
In terms of the proposed autonomy, we found a full day going hand in hand with a 33W charge. The latter allows the smartphone to be at 100% in one hour. The power of the Snapdragon 680 chip allows the smartphone to offer varied uses without being flamboyant in gaming.
As expected for this price range, the camera is less powerful if you expect high-level performance. At less than 200 euros, our review of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 4G will convince you that it is, in our opinion, one of the best entry-level smartphones.
The Voonze editorial team tests many smartphones without any of them being included in our selection. You couldn’t find a device that suits you? Here is a small potpourri of excellent phones, but which did not manage to stand out enough in our eyes.
- The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is the new flagship of the Xiaomi catalog. Thanks to a high-end technical sheet, it offers superb everyday performance. The main strong point of this device is housed in the camera. The partnership with the specialist Leica allows the 14 Ultra to deliver high-quality shots with a high level of detail. Via the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the measured performances are among the best smartphones on the market. The only problem? For 1499 euros, the manufacturer only offers 4 years of Android updates.
- The Nothing Phone 2(a) is launching into a very competitive market by targeting the quality/price ratio. In order to convince, the smartphone is based on some of the manufacturer’s fundamentals, starting with an attractive design. Among our panel of measurements, the touch screen is particularly efficient in displaying colors and brightness. The overall user experience is excellent, particularly thanks to the NothingOS 2.5 software which allows a high level of customization. The phone is available from 350 euros, but be aware that its standby time is mediocre.
- The Realme C67 is an entry-level phone that has a real asset: its battery life. During our test, it was put, like the others, through our ViSer endurance protocol. The result is simple: it is the best of all with a score of 17 hours and 42 minutes. In terms of charging, the C67 supports 33W to go from 0 to 100% in 1h15. This is possible thanks to good energy management, particularly via Realme UI. At a price of 219 euros, be aware that the phone forces some concessions in terms of photography and display.
- The OnePlus 12R unveiled by the Chinese manufacturer offers a high-end experience for a more contained price. As always, it is the performances that are highlighted on the smartphone, starting with the performances. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip allows you to benefit from an interesting power gain for many tasks and gaming. The two-day battery life in mixed use is complemented by a 100 W charge to go to 100% in 24 minutes. We regret two elements, first the 3 years of Android updates, as well as a too limited photo experience. At a price of 699 euros, the OnePlus 12R is still a good investment.
- The CMF Phone 1 represents the entry-level iteration of the manufacturer Nothing. The ambition of this inexpensive smartphone is to offer a real concept with several accessories for everyday use. The internal power as well as the touch screen allow it to play on the field of smartphones under 500 euros. A few flaws are to be noted such as the absence of NFC, an anomaly on the market, as well as a somewhat slow charge. If these two elements do not put you off, for 239 euros the CMF Phone 1 is a good deal.
- The Honor Magic V3 . If you are looking for the best foldable smartphone on the market, look no further. From the design point of view, this one is a real success, especially compared to Samsung. It offers excellent photo quality as well as great performance. We can regret software monitoring below the 7 years offered by Samsung as well as a starting price of 1999 euros, out of budget for many people.
Why trust Voonze to choose your new smartphone?
For several years, our editorial team has been testing dozens and dozens of smartphone references. The models highlighted in this selection are first chosen thanks to their test score, but not only. The smartphones presented here meet different needs.
At Voonze, we test more than a hundred smartphones each year and therefore have solid experience in this area, which allows us to compare and be able to guide you precisely. If you want to know our testing approach on Voonze , here it is detailed . On the program, we have in particular a protocol to test the battery of the phone with the ViSer software and we put it to the test on different types of use. Screen, photo, performance, everything is scrutinized in order to give you a detailed and as objective opinion as possible.
Which mobile phone to choose in 2024: our advice
What are the main purchasing criteria for a new smartphone? Price, technical specifications, battery life or even photos, Voonze lists some decisive elements before making your choice.
How to choose the best smartphone for you?
Design, screen, battery life, performance and photo quality are all important elements, in addition to price, to consider when buying a new mobile phone. The most important thing will be to determine what are the essential criteria for the use you are going to make of it. Keep in mind that there is no product that is perfect in all respects, but by combining the right criteria, you will find the right one. To help you, we have put together a small practical step-by-step guide to choosing the right phone .
What is the best phone for photos?
Many users pay particular attention to the camera on their smartphone, and for good reason: what could be more practical than a phone to immortalize your favorite holiday moments? To understand how a camera works on a mobile, you have to consider the aperture, definition, sensor size, software processing, etc. To find your way around, you can consult our complete explanatory file , but also our guide to the best photo smartphones on the market .
What is the right screen size for a smartphone?
Today, large screens are particularly popular, much to the chagrin of some users. Fortunately, there is always something for everyone, and thanks to numerous design developments, phones can accommodate larger screens in moderate formats. Compact smartphones may interest people with small hands, but they are becoming increasingly rare. Those who prefer large sizes will be delighted and will be able to turn to the many large smartphones available on the market.
What is the most reliable phone brand?
Samsung , Xiaomi , OnePlus , Nothing, Google, Apple? The user experience varies greatly depending on the brand of smartphone in our hands. The interface may be different from one manufacturer to another, but so are the compatible applications, certain features and the quality of customer service. It is nice to get attached to a brand and its ecosystem, but it is also tempting to take a look at the competitor to see if the grass is greener elsewhere.
What is the best phone for a budget of €300?
Of the few models that we were able to test in our selection of the best cheap smartphones , it is the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 4G which comes out with this honorary title.
Which smartphone has the best value for money?
In our selection, the smartphone with the best value for money is the Samsung Galaxy A35 . In particular thanks to its great performance and a large number of Android updates.