Top 5 BEST Smartphones of 2024… So Far

Before we dive into the list, I must mention a few disclaimers...1. I have reviewed numerous smartphones throughout the year, however, I have not examined every single one as I am just an individual. It is possible that there are smartphones I have not tested which you believe should have been included in my list. That is perfectly acceptable, and we can still maintain our friendship. Our preferences may differ. Feel free to share your favorite choices in the comments section below. If there is enough interest from you all, I may consider featuring a specific smartphone that I have not yet covered in my top five lists by the end of the year. Please note that this list is not ranked in any particular order; it simply reflects my personal top five favorites of 2024. Interestingly, a new iPhone has not been released in 2024 yet. Therefore, there will not be an iPhone included in this top five list. If you are curious about my favorite iPhone, it is the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which was featured in my top five list of 2023.The smartphone is truly impressive, excelling in all aspects. I appreciate the titanium construction and the consistent performance of its cameras, which I believe capture the best videos available.

The five X zoom feature is particularly remarkable for capturing stunning portraits. Additionally, the inclusion of USB Type C is a welcome addition. Now, moving on to the list, the first smartphone I would like to mention, in no particular order, is the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. It was released early and set a high standard for flagship devices in 2024. It is an exceptional all-around device. I am pleased with the new flat display, as Samsung has done away with the curved design. The Gorilla Glass armor is noticeably less reflective and more resistant to scratches. The new five X zoom camera is impressive, as it maintains the extended zoom capabilities of its predecessor, the S23 Ultra, while also providing better performance in low-light conditions. I find it particularly suitable for capturing portraits. It is powered by the 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy, further enhancing its capabilities. Regardless of the region you purchase the S24 Ultra in, you will still receive the same consistent chip set. The S Pen proves to be extremely useful, although I may not utilize it on a daily basis. Samsung has made a commitment to provide seven generations of Android OS updates, aligning themselves with Google's own devices. The device now comes equipped with numerous AI features, which garnered significant attention earlier this year. These features include live translate, interpreter, and AI photo editing capabilities that allow for the removal of people from the background and the use of generative AI to fill in gaps when rotating an image.

However, to be completely honest, I rarely find myself utilizing these AI features. While they are nice to have, they are not something I personally use on a daily basis. The battery life of the S24 Ultra is generally good, but there are other devices on the market that offer better battery life and faster charging. It is important to note that this is a premium smartphone with a premium price, starting at $1,300 or £1,250.Irrespective of the region of purchase, the S24 Ultra guarantees a consistent chip set. Although the S Pen proves to be highly useful, I seldom find myself using it on a daily basis. Samsung has made a commitment to provide seven generations of Android OS updates, aligning themselves with Google's own devices. Notably, the device now incorporates various AI features that gained significant attention earlier this year. These features encompass live translate, interpreter, and AI photo editing capabilities, enabling the removal of individuals from the background and the use of generative AI to fill in gaps when rotating an image.

However, I must admit that I rarely utilize these AI features. While they are advantageous to have, they do not personally cater to my daily needs. The battery life of the S24 Ultra is generally satisfactory, although there are other devices in the market that offer superior battery life and faster charging. It is crucial to acknowledge that this is a high-end smartphone with a premium price, starting at $1,300 or £1,250. That is an incredible offer and comes at a significantly lower price, nearly half of what the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra costs in the US. Additionally, you will enjoy a remarkable 120 hertz Pro XDR display that shines brightly with a partial peak HDR brightness of 4,500 nits. The phone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, and the OnePlus 12 cameras are truly exceptional, comparable to those found in top-tier flagship devices. We have incorporated some of the similar hardware from last year's OnePlus model, and the phone boasts a large 5,400 mAh power battery, ensuring excellent battery life. Moreover, it comes with a 100 watt Supervooc charger included in the box. OnePlus has committed to providing four years of software updates and five years of security updates, which may not match the seven years offered by Samsung and Google, but is still quite commendable. Lastly, the phone features a curved screen, although I understand that this is a matter of personal preference, and many individuals prefer a flat screen instead.

I must acknowledge the OnePlus 12R, priced at $500, as a fantastic deal. It appears to be a slightly scaled-down version of the OnePlus 12, with a focus on gaming. There is even a special edition for fans of "Genshin Impact." I recently conducted a thorough gaming comparison between the OnePlus 12R and Edibong from "BooredAtWork." You can find the video in the description. Moving on to the next smartphone on my list, the Honor Magic6 Pro is an exceptional flagship device. It comes with the full Google Play store, which is a common question among users. It's worth noting that Honor devices have been separate from Huawei for quite some time now. The phone boasts a symmetrical design, a stunning 6.8-inch 120Hz AMOLED display with a peak HDR brightness of 5,000 nits. Additionally, it features the industry's highest PWM dimming frequency of 4,320Hz dynamic dimming, making it comfortable for the eyes in low light settings. We offer exceptional cameras overall, including a primary camera with 50 megapixels and a variable aperture, which is quite rare these days. Additionally, we have a 50 megapixel ultra-wide camera and a periscope zoom camera with an impressive resolution of 180 megapixels, making it the highest resolution periscope zoom camera available. Our Honor's AI motion sensing capture feature is still present, allowing you to capture action shots effectively. Furthermore, it is powered by the flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 mobile platform.

One notable aspect of our smartphone is its remarkable battery life, which is among the best I have tested this year. With a massive 5,600 mAh power battery, it provides long-lasting usage. Moreover, it supports either 80 watts of supercharging or 66 watts of wireless supercharging.

Regrettably, this year, we do not include the charger in the box. However, we do offer four years of OS updates and five years of security updates, which is commendable, although not on par with Samsung and Google.

In terms of design, our smartphone features an even more curved screen compared to the OnePlus 12, as it curves on all sides. While some may not prefer this, many find it visually stunning.

Additionally, we have introduced a special edition of the Honor Magic6 Pro, known as the Porsche Design Honor Magic6 RSR. This edition incorporates many of the features found in the Honor Magic6 Pro but presents them in an elegantly sleek package. It includes an improved display and enhanced cameras with LiDAR technology. However, it is priced at £1600.

If you're looking for something unique, it's worth considering this option. So far, we've featured some impressive high-end smartphones, but they come with a high price tag. But what if you're on a budget? Well, the good news is that the next two picks on my list are budget-friendly. First up is the Nothing Phone 2a. This smartphone stands out with its distinctive design, featuring a modified version of the glyph interface seen on the Nothing Phone 1 and 2. While some may see it as a gimmick, there's no denying that it gives the device a truly unique look, especially with its transparent design. Unlike its predecessors, the Nothing Phone 2a has a plastic build. However, when viewed from the front, it resembles a flagship device with its 6.7-inch AMOLED display, which is even brighter than the Phone 1 and Phone 2, and it boasts uniform bezels. Although the camera may not be as competitive as the previous devices on this list, it still performs well. The Nothing 2a is powered by the custom MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro Chip, which is decent for mid-range usage but not specifically designed for gaming. Nevertheless, thanks to the optimized software, the Nothing 2a feels incredibly fast and smooth. This is a major advantage of Nothing OS, which offers a super clean and minimal user experience.

I quite enjoy it and No updates are rolling out. Numerous updates. It features a 5,000 mAh battery, which is larger than previous versions of Nothing. The starting price is £320 or $350, which I believe is a fantastic deal if you're looking for something unique that will serve your daily needs well. However, if you're on a budget and still want excellent performance, the Poco F6 is the final smartphone on my list. It is one of the first devices powered by the 8s Gen 3 mobile platform, equipped with LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage, a 120Hz AMOLED display, and is great for gaming at its price point. The device also boasts a 5,000 mAh battery with 90 watts of turbocharging included, all for around £340, which I consider to be a fantastic offer. While it has a plastic build, the F6 comes with a case in the box, which may not matter to most users who use a case anyway. The camera quality may not be exceptional compared to flagship devices mentioned earlier, but those devices are significantly more expensive. Overall, the Poco F6 is a great value for the price and that's why it made it to my top five list. Additionally, there are some honorable mentions that almost made the list, such as the Oppo Find X7 Ultra with its impressive camera setup, but it didn't make the cut due to limited availability in the west.

The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra didn't make it onto my list for a similar reason. Without the Google Play Store, it becomes difficult for me to recommend it as one of my top five picks. However, if you're looking for a gaming phone, the ROG Phone 8 Pro is an absolute powerhouse. Additionally, I want to give an honorable mention to the vivo X100 Pro, which technically released in 2023 but is considered a 2024 smartphone. It's an exceptional flagship device that I haven't had enough time to thoroughly test. So those are my top five favorite smartphones of 2024 thus far, along with some honorable mentions. Remember, this list is subjective, and I encourage you to share your favorites in the comments below. Don't forget to subscribe and hit the bell icon for future updates. If you're interested, you can find my previous top five videos linked here and here. Although I couldn't collaborate with Marques this year, maybe we'll have the opportunity next year. I hope you found this video enjoyable and informative. If you did, please give it a thumbs up. Thank you for watching, and until next time, this is Saf from "SuperSAF TV."