Transfer over Pixel, here is what my good cellphone appears like

The 12 months is approaching its closing weeks and we’ve seen a great deal of nice Android telephones all through 2024. From Samsung and Google to OnePlus and Xiaomi, you actually couldn’t go fallacious with these flagship gadgets.

None of those telephones had been good, although. The Galaxy S24 nonetheless makes use of the identical growing older digicam system, the Pixel 9 telephones are underpowered, and the Xiaomi 14 sequence brings a polarizing software program expertise. However what would my good Android cellphone appear to be in 2024? I made a decision to select and select some options to make my very best cellphone.

Trying on the spec sheets, you’d be forgiven for considering that the Galaxy S24 Extremely display is principally a barely brighter model of the S23 Extremely show. That wouldn’t be a nasty factor as you’re getting a pointy, flat show both method. However the excellent news is that Samsung’s newest Extremely cellphone has Gorilla Armor safety.

This upgraded protecting glass resolution contains an anti-reflective layer that dramatically reduces display glare. Take a look at the picture above for a greater concept. We’ve seen one or two extra telephones launching with anti-reflective tech in 2024 however I don’t assume we’ve seen one other cellphone with Gorilla Armor specifically. Both method, I’d wish to see the S24 Extremely’s display on my good smartphone.

The Xiaomi 14 Extremely is certainly one of our contenders for one of the best digicam cellphone of 2024, and it definitely brings the warmth so far as {hardware} is anxious. Xiaomi’s Extremely handset presents a one-inch 50MP major digicam with a variable aperture, providing you with extra management over depth-of-field results and lighting. Then there’s a 50MP 3.2x telephoto digicam and a 50MP 5x periscope lens, with the previous being very best for portraits whereas the latter delivers Samsung-beating ranges of zoom. A 50MP ultrawide lens rounds out the package deal.

I positively need this digicam system on my very best smartphone, however the vivo X100 Extremely was a detailed second. That’s largely as a result of 200MP 3.7x telephoto digicam, which was principally a success in our e-book. The OPPO Discover X7 Extremely is one other cellphone with nice digicam {hardware}, bringing two periscope lenses together with a 6x shooter.

I actually couldn’t resolve between the Pixel 9 Professional‘s digicam software program or the vivo X100 Extremely’s software program. So, as a substitute of selecting one, I’ve determined that my very best 2024 cellphone may have two digicam apps.

The Pixel digicam app is without doubt one of the greatest for those who merely desire a hassle-free expertise that just about all the time produces nice trying photographs. The software program additionally has a couple of useful AI-enabled options like Finest Take and Add Me, and these are intuitive sufficient for nearly anybody to make use of. Different notable options embrace Lengthy Publicity/Motion Pan performance, astrophotography, and Tremendous Res Zoom.

Vivo’s digicam app, however, is arguably one of the best for those who’re a smartphone digicam fanatic wanting a ton of options and toggles. The X100 Extremely’s software program presents standout options like coloration profiles, sharpness/saturation/distinction sliders, a great deal of portrait choices, and a few wonderful digicam filters. Throw in further options like the power to set the default focal size (as much as 35mm), a handheld astro mode, and perspective correction for buildings, and also you’ve bought a digicam app that’s bursting on the seams. Maybe the one draw back is that photographs can look a little bit over-processed in some conditions.

Sure, the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip is out, and the primary telephones are already available on the market. However the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 was the highest Android cellphone processor for many of 2024, in order that’s getting in my imaginary 2024 flagship cellphone. This chip presents a ton of efficiency, generative AI smarts, and a great deal of fashionable options.

We’d like to see the RedMagic 9s Professional’s overclocked Snapdragon chip and cooling fan in our very best cellphone, however the latter function means we’d should compromise on water resistance. Thankfully, the ROG Cellphone 8 line is a superb various. These telephones don’t have an overclocked chip or energetic cooling, however they nonetheless ship some secure efficiency nonetheless. ASUS handsets are additionally conservative of their default mode however ship an enormous efficiency increase with the X mode, though this does come on the expense of additional warmth. Nonetheless, we like having a number of distinct efficiency profiles.

The ROG Cellphone 8 additionally presents 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, whereas the Professional mannequin presents a most of 24GB/1TB choices. Both method, our good 2024 flagship cellphone gained’t have 128GB of storage like Google and Samsung’s handsets.

We love the Pixel UI, and it was the number-one decide in our Android skins ranked article. Nevertheless, my very best flagship cellphone may have Samsung’s One UI as a substitute of Google’s Android pores and skin.

Maybe the most important cause I’d take One UI over the Pixel pores and skin is that some key options are geographically restricted, comparable to Name Display, Maintain for Me, and even VoLTE/5G. However One UI additionally brings a great deal of standout options like Dex mode, Good Lock modules for personalization, a full-featured Gallery app, and a few neat AI options on high-end handsets.

Samsung’s software program expertise isn’t good, primarily as a result of quantity of bloatware. However between the sheer variety of options and long-term updates, it’s the best decide for my theoretical cellphone.

Sure, the ASUS handset makes one other look on the checklist. The ROG Cellphone 8 has a 5,500mAh battery which is even bigger than flagship telephones from Samsung, Google, and Apple. This additionally strains up effectively with rival gadgets from Chinese language manufacturers. However what about charging, although?

ASUS delivers 65W wired charging and simply 15W wired charging speeds. So why didn’t we select the fastest-charging telephones, then? Properly, the ROG Cellphone presents 65W wired charging speeds through the open USB-PD PPS customary. Against this, many Chinese language rivals require proprietary chargers for optimum speeds and provide sluggish speeds through USB-PD. So I don’t should spend an arm and a leg on a particular adapter if I need one of the best charging pace.

I’ve talked about a number of occasions earlier than that I’m a sucker for pleather backs, so is it any shock that my good smartphone in 2024 would appear to be the Discover X7 Extremely? OPPO’s cellphone has a novel two-tone again, that includes glass on the prime and across the digicam housing whereas pleather covers the remainder of the gadget. This makes for a glance in contrast to every other cellphone, save for final 12 months’s Discover X6 Professional. I additionally actually just like the brown variant, providing a extra conventional leather-like look.

I used to be additionally fairly enamored with the Xiaomi 14 Extremely’s design, which has a “nano-tech” pleather rear cowl. The white variant, specifically, makes for a placing design.

We’ve coated every little thing from design and efficiency to cameras and software program, however there are many different options I’d wish to see on my very best smartphone in 2024.

For one, I’d wish to see an IP68 ranking (who wants an IP69 ranking?) for some peace of thoughts. My good cellphone would even have an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor, be it a daily one or that enormous 3D Sonic Max sensor.

Different options I need on my good flagship gadget embrace an Apple-style digicam button with swipe gestures, seven years of updates, and nice long-term battery well being (e.g. 1,600 charging cycles earlier than hitting 80% capability). In the meantime, I’d even be pleased with a microSD card slot and an IR blaster, however these are good extras slightly than a should for my very best cellphone.

That’s what I need in my good smartphone, however what would your very best cellphone appear to be? Tell us within the feedback beneath!