Best smartphone 2024: We put the top Android and Apple phones to the test

As the cost of living keeps rising, choosing the right smartphone – and not paying more than you need to – is more important than ever. Happily, in 2024 you can get nippy performance, impressive battery life and a fantastic camera without having to spend a fortune.

We’ve painstakingly assessed and reviewed all the best smartphones on the market, putting each one through the most comprehensive testing process in the UK. We’re constantly updating entries for this list – last year alone, we tested around 50 new handsets – so you can be sure that our recommendations are informed and up to date.

You can read more about our rigorous testing process below, or jump straight to our buying guide, which covers all of the main features to keep in mind when choosing your new smartphone. Otherwise, read on to see our picks of the best phones from Samsung, Apple, Google and more.

Want to learn more? Jump to the buying guide

Best smartphone: At a glance

How we test smartphones

We thoroughly test every phone that comes into our labs, with a number of benchmarking methods. We typically start with CPU and GPU processing, using the Geekbench 5 and GFXBench applications found in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store; these provide us with a set of standardised scores which we use to compare rival handsets.

Each phone’s screen is then tested using DisplayCAL software and a display colorimeter. This gives us a precise reading of the screen’s maximum brightness and contrast, and how good it is at reproducing colours; again, we use this to objectively identify which phones have the best displays.

Next up is battery life. Here we use our in-house video rundown test, which displays a looped video with flight mode enabled and the screen set to a standard brightness of 170cd/m2 – and times how long it takes the battery to go from full to shutdown.

Finally, each phone’s cameras are put to the test in a variety of shooting scenarios, including scenic shots, low-light and indoor photography, plus rapid video panning in a range of modes.

READ NEXT: Best budget smartphones

The best smartphones you can buy in 2024

1. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Best smartphone overall

Price when reviewed: £1,249 | Check price at Amazon

• Great for… exceptional telephoto cameras and unrivalled battery life
• Not so great for… shoppers on a budget

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra gets almost everything right. Yes, it’s very expensive, but for the price you get unparalleled performance with blistering speeds from the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy processor. The S24 Ultra also has the best battery life that we’ve measured on any smartphone to date.

All of that power comes encased in a sturdy and wonderfully tactile titanium frame, which feels as sturdy as any iPhone. And Samsung’s latest generation of phones debuts Galaxy AI, which adds smart features such as generative fill for rotated images, frame interpolation for video, and circle to search. For more details on Galaxy AI, read our full review (linked below); in summary, we found the convenience and efficacy of features on offer to be very impressive.

Top it all off with a robust camera suite that surpassed our already high expectations, a bright and beautiful QHD+ display and a new S Pen stylus and there’s no doubt about it – if you have the money, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the best smartphone you can buy right now.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review for more details

Key specs – Processor: Octa-core 3.39GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy; Screen: 6.8in, 3,120 x 1,440; Camera: 200MP, 50MP (5x zoom), 10MP (3x zoom), 12MP (wide); Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB; Operating system: Android 14

2. Motorola Moto G54 5G: Best budget buy

Price when reviewed: £149 | Check price at Amazon

• Great for… impressive performance and striking display
• Not so great for… long-term support and night photography

Motorola makes some excellent budget phones, and the Moto G54 5G might just be its best yet. The display is particularly impressive, hitting a level of colour accuracy and contrast in our testing that’s unusual in this price range. Performance punches well above its weight too, with CPU scores rivalling handsets that cost a lot more.

The camera works well in good lighting conditions, producing natural-looking images with a good tonal balance and plenty of detail – but it can struggle a little in low light. We were also disappointed to note that Motorola hasn’t committed to future OS updates beyond Android 14, so you shouldn’t expect to get any major new features after this year’s release.

Even so, the Moto G54 5G is a great deal. It has one of the best displays of any budget smartphone, strong performance and a solid main camera – for a ridiculously affordable price.

Read our full Motorola Moto G54 5G review for more details

Key specs – Processor: Octa-core 2.2GHz MediaTek Dimensity 7020; Screen: 6.5in, 2,400 x 1,080; Camera: 50MP, 2MP (macro); Storage: 256GB; Operating system: Android 13

3. Google Pixel 8: Best phone for pixel-perfect photos

Price when reviewed: £629 | Check price at Amazon

View deals at Mobiles.co.uk

• Great for… tremendous camera capabilities and extensive software support
• Not so great for… long-range shots

Google’s eighth-generation Pixel phone is an Android tour de force. It undercuts rivals on price, yet easily surpasses them when it comes to photographic performance. In our test shoots its dual cameras convincingly beat the competition in terms of clarity, detail and colour reproduction. The only downside is the lack of an optical zoom – for that you’ll need the Pixel 8 Pro (see below).

Even outside of photography, the Pixel provides a slick experience: in our opinion, there’s no better showcase of the latest Android 14 operating system, and Pixel phones are usually the first to get new OS and software enhancements as they become available. Whether you’re a keen snapper or simply after the very best that Android can offer, the Pixel 8 won’t disappoint.

Read our full Google Pixel 8 review for more details

Key specs – Processor: Octa-core 3GHz Google Tensor G3; Screen: 6.2in, 2,400 x 1,080; Camera: 50MP, 12MP ultrawide; Storage: 128GB, 256GB; Operating system: Android 14

4. OnePlus 12: Best-value premium phone

Price when reviewed: £799 | Check price at OnePlus

• Great for… fantastic performance and extensive battery life
• Not so great for… not the highest IP rating and minor photo overprocessing

Flagship phones don’t necessarily need to cost four figures and the OnePlus 12 is the proof. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset keeps up with the best in the business for CPU performance and even manages to outperform most with its smooth gaming results. Battery life is some of the best, too, lasting for nearly 30 hours in our testing.

Camera performance is mostly excellent, with the main lens shooting crisp and detailed images in good lighting and low-lighting alike, The new 3x optical telephoto camera feels like a solid upgrade over the OnePlus 11’s 2x portrait shooter.

As for flaws, some images felt a little overly processed in places, and the IP65 rating is slightly lower than rivals – most of which have the belt-and-braces IP68 rating. Other than these, the OnePlus 12 is a fully featured flagship that offers serious value for money.

Read our full OnePlus 12 review for more details

Key specs – Processor: Octa-core 3.3GHz Snapdragon 8 Gen 3; Screen: 6.82in, 3,168 x 1,440; Camera: 50MP, 64MP (3x zoom), 48MP (ultrawide); Storage: 256GB, 512GB; Operating system: Android 14

5. Apple iPhone 15 Pro: Best iPhone

Price when reviewed: £899 | Check price at John Lewis

• Great for… blisteringly fast performance and gorgeous design
• Not so great for… stylish colour options

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro doesn’t bring much that we haven’t seen in previous iPhone models – but that’s no problem when the baseline was so high to begin with. The 6.1in OLED display is as beautiful as ever, and it’s paired here with a new titanium frame that feels both premium and rugged in the hand.

The new A17 Pro chipset is blisteringly fast: in our CPU tests it outpaced the fastest iPhones from previous generations, as well the standard iPhone 15. Battery life is some of the best Apple has ever managed, and thanks to the new USB Type-C port you can top up your charge more quickly than ever.

We do have a few minor gripes. For one, the available finishes are all rather restrained and sober – why can’t a “Pro” phone also be fun? The camera hardware is also basically the same as on last year’s iPhone 14 Pro, but photos still look fantastic, and now you get the versatility of the new action button. In all, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro is a subtle but positive improvement on an already terrific formula.

Read our full iPhone 15 Pro review for more details

Key specs – Processor: Hexa-core 3.78GHz Apple A17 Pro; Screen: 6.1in, 2,556 x 1,179; Camera: 48MP, 12MP (3x zoom), 12MP (wide); Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB; Operating system: Apple iOS 17

6. Motorola Razr 50 Ultra: Best compact folding phone

Price when reviewed: £1,000 | Check price at John Lewis

• Great for… first telephoto camera on a flip phone and gorgeous design
• Not so great for… slower performance and fewer software updates than Samsung

It was a tight race but the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra edges ahead of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 to be the best compact foldable for this year. The 4in cover screen is the largest on any flip phone to date, and is still compatible with any app you choose, while the camera suite adds the UK’s first telephoto lens on a flip phone. Whether capturing zooms or portraits, this 2x shooter is dynamic and detailed, with brilliant colour reproduction.

Performance is better than last year, with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 proving nice and nippy, but the Galaxy is still well ahead in this regard. Equally, the Razr can’t match Samsung’s seven years of software support, only offering three years of OS updates and four of security patches. Even still, considering the price difference, the Razr 50 Ultra is much better value for money and the best flip phone around.

Read our full Motorola Razr 50 Ultra review for more details

Key specs – Processor: Octa-core 3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3; Screen: 6.9in, 2,640 x 1,080 (cover: 4in, 1,272 x 1,080); Camera: 50MP, 50MP (2x zoom); Storage: 512GB; Operating system: Android 14

7. Google Pixel 8a: Best mid-range smartphone

Price when reviewed: £499 | Check price at Amazon

• Great for… phenomenal cameras and extensive software support
• Not so great for… lagging charging speeds and minor price bump

The Google Pixel 8a isn’t just the best phone in its price range, it’s one of the best you can get right now at any price. Performance punches well above its weight, with the same Tensor G3 chipset as the standard Pixel 8, yielding class-leading scores in our testing. The cameras are flagship quality, too, with the 64MP main lens capturing exceptional dynamic range and beautiful colours.

Perhaps best of all, the Pixel 8a gets the same seven years of software support as its bigger siblings, a level that is simply unheard of at this price. Speaking of which, the Pixel 8a is £50 more expensive than its predecessor but when you take the above and throw in a flawless OLED display and support for Google’s Gemini Nano AI, it more than earns the extra money, offering the best phone you can get for under £500.

Read our full Google Pixel 8a review for more details

Key specs – Processor: Octa-core 3GHz Google Tensor G3; Screen: 6.1in, 2,400 x 1,080; Camera: 64MP, 13MP (ultrawide); Storage: 128GB, 256GB; Operating system: Android 14

8. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: Best book-style folding phone

Price when reviewed: £1,799 | Check price at Samsung

• Great for… tighter design and brighter displays
• Not so great for… even more expensive and still no S Pen bundled in the box

The price is still exorbitant but if you want the best all-round book-style foldable phone that money can buy, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 is the way to go. The design is more polished than last year, now with sharper corners, a lighter 239g build and a robust IP48 dust and water resistance rating.

Performance is exceptional, matching the Galaxy S24 Ultra in our CPU and GPU tests, and the shorter, wider displays are more comfortable to use, and go brighter than before, too. The cameras are mostly unchanged but, even still, images are some of the best on any foldable, with excellent colours and a wealth of detail.

The lack of a bundled S Pen stylus feels like a missed opportunity and the price keeps creeping up. Even with a couple of flaws in play, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 delivers the best overall foldable experience right now.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 review for more details

Key specs – Processor: Octa-core 3.39GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3; Screen: 7.6in, 2,160 x 1,856 (cover: 6.3in, 2,376 x 968); Camera: 50MP, 10MP (3x zoom), 12MP (ultrawide); Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB; Operating system: Android 14

9. Motorola Moto G13: Best dirt-cheap smartphone

Price when reviewed: £89 | Check price at John Lewis

• Great for… cheap as chips and solid battery life
• Not so great for… weak backup cameras and only a 720p display

For a competent smartphone that costs less than £100, nothing is better than the Motorola Moto G13. Performance is quite good for the price, drawing close to £200 phones in our benchmarks, and battery life is better still, lasting just under 20 hours in our standard looping video test.

The main camera is also much better than you’d expect from such a cheap phone. It captures decent detail in good lighting and produces strong colours, but the 2MP macro camera and 2MP depth sensor aren’t particularly exciting. The display is only 720p, so not as sharp as other smartphones, but it still has its perks, most notably an above-average contrast rate and a slick 90Hz refresh rate.

If you’re looking to hit the core trio of battery life, camera quality and performance for as little cash as possible, the Motorola Moto G13 is the best fit for your needs.

Read our full Motorola Moto G13 review for more details

Key specs – Processor: Octa-core 2GHz MediaTek Helio G85; Screen: 6.5in, 1,600 x 720; Camera: 50MP, 2MP (macro), 2MP (depth); Storage: 128GB; Operating system: Android 13

10. iPhone SE 3 (2022): Best-value iPhone

Price when reviewed: £359 | Check price at John Lewis

View deals at Mobiles.co.uk

• Great for… performance, camera and high-quality iOS apps
• Not so great for… battery life and display quality

With the iPhone SE 3 (2022), you’re getting a heck of a lot of smartphone for not much money. It might look like a bit of a relic – it’s basically the same design as the 2017 iPhone 8 – but it’s unarguably Apple’s best-value handset yet. Why? Well, it’s all about what’s inside: the iPhone SE 3 (2022) uses the A15 Bionic chipset, the same very powerful processor used by the pricier iPhone 13.

That means you can expect superbly snappy performance in all the latest high-end apps and games you might want to download from the App Store. Likewise, the single 12MP camera might seem unassuming, but it goes toe-to-toe with the iPhone 13 in terms of sheer detail capture, with especially impressive low-light performance.

The only fly in the ointment is that the iPhone SE 3’s battery performed quite poorly in our tests. However, if you’re not sold on a big-screened handset, then the iPhone SE 3 (2022) remains a worthy choice: even though it’s the cheapest iPhone, it’s still mightily impressive.

Read our full iPhone SE 3 (2022) review for more details

Key specs – Processor: Hexa-core 3.23GHz Apple A13 Bionic; Screen: 4.7in, 1,334 x 750; Camera: 12MP; Storage: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB; Operating system: iOS 15

How to choose the best smartphone for you

Picking the right smartphone can be tricky, with dozens of different models to sort through at different price points. What’s more, pricing can vary considerably with special deals and contract offers. Here’s everything you need to know about buying your perfect smartphone, as well as what you need to know about choosing a contract.

Should I buy a smartphone on contract or SIM-free?

If you have the money up front then buying an unlocked, SIM-free phone is usually your best option. You can use it with any mobile provider you like, and trade in or sell the phone whenever you want to upgrade.

Buying SIM-free normally works out cheaper than a fixed-term contract too – although that’s not always the case. If you’re tempted by a contract, take a few minutes to work out the total cost of the phone and service over the contract period. Some contract deals are rip-offs, but others can be a competitive way to spread the cost of your new handset.

Which smartphone operating system do I need?

There are two smartphone operating systems to choose from: Apple’s iOS platform and Google’s Android OS. iOS runs only on iPhones, and is a big part of what makes them so popular: it’s slick, well supported and easy to use, although not very customisable.

Android has a much wider reach than iOS, running on the majority of smartphones on the market. However, there are a few different versions out there: look for a phone running Android 12 or higher, as older releases are outdated. What’s more, manufacturers often customise their own versions of Android, so the user experience differs between handsets – if you’re interested in a particular phone, it’s a good idea to try it out for yourself before you buy.

READ NEXT: Best Android smartphones

What should I look for in a smartphone display?

The touchscreen is the primary way you interact with your phone, so its size and quality are very important. A big display helps make text easy to read and lets you fit lots of content on the screen at once – but it also makes for a bigger, heavier phone.

Pixel density, measured in pixels per inch (ppi), is another factor. This determines how clear and sharp text will appear on a screen – a smaller number of pixels stretched across a huge screen will lead to jagged edges. The underlying display technology can also make a visible difference to the overall appearance: IPS panels are often the brightest, but AMOLED typically has bolder contrast and richer colours.

What about performance and battery life?

The clock speed of a phone’s processor (measured in GHz) gives an indication of how fast the CPU runs, but not all CPUs are created equal: check the benchmark scores in our reviews to see which phones are really the fastest. You don’t necessarily need the fastest phone on the market, but a more powerful processor ensures that the operating system will feel fluid and responsive, and that the phone won’t stutter when running demanding apps and games.

Battery life is another important consideration. Generally speaking, the bigger the phone’s battery capacity (measured in watt-hours or milliamp-hours), the longer it’s likely to last on a single charge. Again, though, the raw figures don’t tell the whole story, as some phones burn through power faster than others. Our standard comparative battery tests provide an indication of which phones last longest; the actual battery life you see will depend very much on how long you spend using the phone and which apps you use.

READ NEXT: Best phone battery life

How much smartphone storage do I need?

Built-in storage is handy for keeping instant-access copies of photos and videos, and it’s a must for installing apps. Some phones start at 64GB, but if you like to load up on games and productivity tools, or shoot lots of high-resolution video, the internal storage will fill up quickly. We recommend most people go up to at least 128GB; a few Android phones have a microSD slot so you can expand the storage beyond what’s built in, but this is quite rare nowadays.

↑ Return to top