More than 17 years after Apple popularised the smartphone, 2024 has been another significant milestone in its development.
Almost every flagship phone this year has featured artificial intelligence (AI) of some description, offering tools for photo editing, text generation, real-time translation and more.
But for all the AI advancements this year, the fundamentals of a great phone remain the same: performance, display, cameras, software and battery life. And these handsets do it better than any others.
Best New Phone of the Year – Winner: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
There’s no such thing as a perfect phone, but the Galaxy S24 Ultra is the closest any company has ever come.
This 6.8-inch beast excels in pretty much every key area, that stunning large display combining with stellar Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 performance and two full days of battery life for many people.
There’s no such thing as a perfect phone, but the Galaxy S24 Ultra is the closest any company has ever come
Throw in some of the best cameras around, user-friendly software with useful Galaxy AI features and a class-leading seven years of updates, and it’s clear Samsung is on to a winner. You even get a useful built-in S Pen stylus.
If you don’t mind a big phone and are happy to pay for it, this is the ultimate Android handset and a worthy winner.
Best New Phone of the Year – First Runner-Up: Xiaomi 14 Ultra
Chris Martin / Foundry
Phones have been most people’s preferred way to take photos for a while, but they can never quite compete with dedicated cameras – until now.
Combined with the optional Photography Kit accessory, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is a genuine DSLR replacement for most people. It really feels like you’re using a proper camera, with incredible photos to match.
This combines beautifully with the stunning vegan leather design and gorgeous 6.7-inch display, with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 delivering superb performance once again. Strong battery life and 90W fast charging make it even more appealing.
Xiaomi’s HyperOS software isn’t the most intuitive (though perfectly usable), which is the only real reason the 14 Ultra isn’t the overall winner.
Best New Phone of the Year – Second Runner-Up: Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
Jon Mundy / Foundry
The Pixel 9 Pro XL might sound like a brand-new phone, but it’s actually a direct successor to 2023’s Pixel 8 Pro.
An updated design maintains the Pixel’s signature look, while build quality is now better than ever. There are also a wide range of AI features, some of which are genuinely useful.
Elsewhere, the 9 Pro XL retains everything that made the Pixel 8 Pro so great. That means incredible cameras and the slickest software of any phone, not to mention the seven years of updates. The 6.8-inch display is better than ever, too.
Battery life is decent, but becomes more problematic when charging is still slow. It’s still undoubtedly an excellent phone, though.
For more great options, see our full guide to the best phones you can buy. You may also be interested in all the 2023-24 award winners.
