Best Smartphones 2024 – Forbes Vetted

Camera: 48MP wide, 12MP 5x optical zoom, 48MP ultrawide, 12MP front | Processor: Apple A18 Pro | Display: 6.3-inch LTPO OLED 120 Hz | Battery: 3,582mAh | Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | RAM: 8GB

Pros:

• Top-tier performance in a compact package
• Stunning display
• Tons of helpful camera features like the new Camera Control

Cons:

• Expensive
• Gamers may prefer the larger screen to the iPhone 16 Pro Max

This year’s new Pro model of the iPhone received some big upgrades. It gets a stronger, better chip in the form of Apple’s A18 Pro, and it’s arguably the best-performing smartphone chip out there right now. It also has an absolutely stunning display that can range between 1Hz and 120Hz and can get both extremely bright and extremely dim, down to 1 nit. That’s perfect for use at night in the dark when you don’t want to bother a partner or affect your eyes too much.

The iPhone 16 Pro offers a number of new camera tricks, too. There’s the new Camera Control on the side of the phone that lets you use a physical button to quickly take photos and easily swipe between settings. Perhaps even more important are the upgrades to Apple’s Photographic Styles, which now let you edit styles even after taking a photo. It’s a bit technical as to why this is better than using a filter, but the basic gist is that when you use a Photographic Style, you’re editing the original data captured by the phone when you took the photo, rather than a photo that might already have styling applied to it. 

What our editors say: In her iPhone 16 Pro review, consumer tech editor Rebecca Isaacs says, “In testing [the iPhone 16 Pro], I loved it. As a mostly Android user, it’s great to press the button and have all of the editing features I love at my literal fingertip… I live with cats, who usually only give me a moment to snap a cute photograph… and the Camera Control helped me capture those fun moments quickly. It took me a couple of days to get the hang of the button.”

Camera: 12MP wide, 7MP selfie | Processor: Apple A15 Bionic | Display: 4.7-inch, Retina IPS LCD, 750 x 1,334 resolution | Battery: 2,018mAh | Storage: 64GB | RAM: 4GB

Pros:

• Powerful enough for casual users
• Fingerprint reader for easy device unlock
• Long software support

Cons:

• Battery life is not great
• Single rear-racing camera

The iPhone SE is the perennial “small phone” competitor. Rather than just making a midrange phone, Apple packed some punch into its diminutive iPhone offering. The Apple Bionic A15 processor is very fast, and it’s that processor that ensures that the iPhone SE will have a long support life, receiving operating system updates for years to come. It’s our top pick for the best smartphone for kids, but it’s also powerful enough to please their adults.

The iPhone SE is also the last remaining iPhone with TouchID, Apple’s fingerprint sensor. FaceID has come a long way and is a really good biometric unlock mechanism, but TouchID keeps those who prefer the fingerprint reader happy.

The iPhone SE only has a single rear-facing camera, and it’s not very good. It can capture good photos when the lighting is good and your subjects are still, but overall, it’s not a shining example of Apple’s photographic excellence. But you get everything else associated with Apple, including the ecosystem support, meaning the iPhone will work just as well with your MacBook as an iPhone 15 or 16.

What our writers say: Apple expert David Phelan also reviewed the iPhone SE at its launch and says, “This is the perfect my-first-iPhone and will bring lots of people who’ve tried Android and want to see what all the Apple fuss is about across. That’s down to two things: It offers astonishing performance, and it’s available at a very low price.”

Camera: 50MP wide, 48MP 5x optical zoom, 48MP ultrawide, 42MP front | Processor: Google Tensor G4 | Display: 6.3-inch LTPO OLED 120Hz | Battery: 4,700mAh | Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | RAM: 16GB

Pros:

• Stunning build quality
• Smooth and refined software that includes Google Assistant
• Excellent camera with helpful features

Cons:

• Google Tensor G4 is only fine

Google’s self-built smartphones have been getting better and better, and the Google Pixel 9 Pro revealed at the Made By Google August 2024 event is a perfect embodiment of that. The Pixel 9 Pro is stunningly well-built, offering a sleek design and durable build quality. It also has a great camera, with a triple camera array that can make for versatile and detailed photography, and includes a 48MP 5x telephoto camera for high-quality zoomed shots. The display on the phone is absolutely stunning, offering a fast refresh rate for a smooth feel and a very high peak brightness of 3,000 nits, ensuring that it’s easy to see the screen even when you’re outdoors in direct sunlight.

Google has been criticized a little for the performance of its Tensor chips, and the Tensor G4 doesn’t quite match the likes of Qualcomm and Apple’s best processors. But most will find that it’s easily able to handle everything they can throw at it right now, delivering fast load times and handling multitasking with ease. And you’ll get that much-loved Pixel software experience, which is scaled back, limited in bloatware and puts all of the Google services that you likely use front and center. There are even some new apps for the Pixel 9 series, many of which are based on AI. For example, the Pixel 9 Pro comes with one year of Google Gemini Advanced for free, allowing you to use the new Gemini Live feature that lets you have a natural-feeling conversation with Google’s AI assistant. Some users may want to upgrade to the Pixel 9 Pro XL  for its larger display, even though it costs a bit more. However, if you’re looking for the best Android can offer right now, then the Pixel 9 Pro is it.

What our editors say: Isaacs also tested and absolutely loved the Pixel 9 Pro in her review, noting that “if you’re looking for a great camera, it’s worth investing in this phone, even at the $999 price. Content creators should especially appreciate the camera features like Magic Editor enhancements and the upgraded selfie camera.”

Camera: 50MP wide, 8MP ultrawide | Processor: Mediatek Dimensity 7020 | Display: 6.7-inch LCD 120Hz | Battery: 5,000mAh | Storage: 128GB | RAM: 8GB (Up to 1TB with MicroSD card)

Pros:

• Huge battery life
• Great price
• Supports wireless charging

Cons:

• Cameras aren’t the best
• Too many pre-installed apps

You don’t have to spend $1,000 to get a great Android phone. The Motorola Moto G Power 5G is an excellent smartphone for the money, offering solid performance and a massive battery life at a much lower price than much of the competition. The battery life is particularly impressive, though that’s characteristic of the Moto G Power over the years. The new 2024 Moto G Power offers the ability to charge wirelessly, which makes charging up that huge battery easier. 

There are some trade-offs involved to reach this $200 price. The phone has a dual-camera array; however, it’s not as versatile as some others, lacking a telephoto camera and not being able to capture quite as much detail as more expensive phones. Additionally, the phone ships with extra apps that you don’t necessarily need. You’ll want to uninstall the bloat or organize it in a way that isn’t too intrusive. That said, those are relatively small issues to contend with in exchange for significant cost savings. And while the camera isn’t amazing, it’s also not terrible, so you should still be able to get some solid shots.

What our writers say: Christian de Looper, one of the writers of this guide, loves the Moto G Power’s long battery life. “When you reach lower price points, you really just need to get the basics right, and the Moto G Power does so. It performs well enough, but more importantly, it has excellent battery life that will allow users to keep their phone running through the day without issue. Some might even be able to stretch it to a second full day of use.”

Camera: 200MP wide, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x optical zoom, 50MP 5x optical zoom | Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Display: 6.8-inch LTPO AMOLED 2X 120 Hz | Battery: 5,000mAh | Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | RAM: 12GB, 16GB

Pros:

• Fabulous, versatile cameras
• Incredible battery life
• 7 years of software updates

Cons:

If you want the best photographic chops you can find on a smartphone, consider the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Samsung has long been leading the charge in smartphone photography and optics due mostly to the four camera sensors on the back of its Ultra line. Those cameras include a 200-megapixel main camera and a 50-megapixel 5x optical sensor that replaces the old 10x optical sensor.

That change is controversial, because on paper, it seems like a step back. In reality, the larger sensor allows a photographer to capture even more detail at 10x zoom with zero loss by cropping in on the sensor. The larger sensor can collect more light which leads to better performance at night as well. Add to that the already impressive array of other cameras that this phone carries, and it’s hard to find a photographic scenario the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra cannot handle.

But the Galaxy S24 Ultra is the most expensive phone you can buy that doesn’t fold in half. If you have a phone to trade in that can reduce the price. In return, you’ll receive one of the top smartphones out there with a powerful processor, speedy RAM, AI integrations and top photo capabilities. Plus, the brand promised seven years of software and security updates at its January 2024 Samsung Unpacked event.

What our editors say: Tech editor Isaacs tested the device and loved the cameras, saying, “By far, the AI integrations, which include analyzing your photos and optimizing them even before you snap them, were my favorite features on this device. I snapped shots of the Winchester Mystery House at night on both the S23 Ultra and S24 Ultra and compared them in real-time. The Nightography looks much clearer and more focused, with high detail and more vivid coloring compared to the S23 Ultra’s lens.”

Camera: 48MP wide, 10.8MP 5x optical zoom, 10.5MP ultrawide, 10MP front (x2) | Processor: Google Tensor G4 | Display: 6.3-inch OLED 120Hz (external cover), 8-inch LTPO OLED (internal folding) | Battery: 4,650mAh | Storage: 256GB, 512GB | RAM: 16GB

Pros:

• Stunning displays
• Ultra-thin build
• Capable cameras

Cons:

• Tensor G4 performance could be better
• Expensive

Early foldable phones may have been a little unreliable, but these days they’re refined and incredibly well-built. The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a perfect example. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold solves one of the biggest issues associated with foldable phones: thickness. The device is the thinnest foldable phone you can buy in the U.S. right now, and it’s really not that much thicker than a traditional bar phone when folded up. That’s pretty impressive and means that you won’t necessarily notice the extra weight when it’s in your pocket. Even better is the fact that the phone has two stunning displays on it, with the interior screen measuring a generous 8 inches and able to range between 1Hz and 120Hz for a smooth feel. 

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold gets all the other Pixel features you would expect too. It has Google’s scaled-back take on Android software, and while the camera isn’t quite as good as the other Pixel 9 Pro phones, it’s still versatile and able to capture well-lit and detailed shots. Generally, anyone looking for a foldable phone for productivity or media consumption will absolutely love what’s on offer with the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

What our writers say: Smartphone contributor Christian de Looper fell in love with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold when testing it. “The Pixel 9 Pro Fold may not be quite as powerful as the Galaxy or OnePlus foldable phones out there, but the software experience more than makes up for it, and the build quality is nothing short of stunning.”

Camera: 50MP wide, 50MP 2x optical zoom, 32MP front | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 | Display: 6.9-inch LTPO AMOLED 165Hz (interior), 4-inch LTPO AMOLED 165Hz (cover) | Battery: 4,000mAh | Storage: 256GB | RAM: 12GB

Pros:

• Folds up for portable build
• Solid performance
• Comes in fun colors

Cons:

Some foldable phones can unfold into a tablet-sized device, which is great for productivity, but what if you just want something a little more portable? In that case, it’s worth going for the Motorola Razr+, which works like a normal phone when it’s unfolded but can also fold into half its size to allow for more portability. One of the best things about this phone, in particular, is the fact that it has a stunning cover screen that stretches from edge to edge, interrupted only by the two cameras in the bottom right-hand corner. It’s a great look and helps make the phone look more modern than other flip-style foldables. That stunning design is helped further by the fun colors, including the hot pink.

There are other things to love about the phone too. It has flagship-tier performance, a relatively large battery and can capture vibrant and detailed photos. The phone is missing an ultrawide camera, so it’s not quite as versatile as the triple camera arrays available on some other phones, but some prefer a telephoto camera over an ultrawide. While the phone is a little expensive, you get a lot for the price, and anyone who wants a flagship-level phone that’s slightly more portable than the rest should consider the Motorola Razr+.

What our writers say: Melissa Perenson, who tested the Motorola Razr+ for Forbes Vetted, loved the design on offer by the phone and its cheaper sibling, the standard Motorola Razr, noting that “both feel like they’re more expensive than they are.”