Phone Awards: These are the best smartphones of 2024

December 5, 2024

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As 2024 comes to a close, it’s time to reflect on the year’s most impressive technological advancements. From groundbreaking innovations to sophisticated designs, 2024 has been a remarkable year for smartphones.

Our team at PhoneArena has carefully evaluated the top contenders to determine the best of the best.

Join us as we unveil the devices that have wowed us with their performance, features, and overall user experience.

2024 PhoneArena Awards Categories:

hardware feature

Glare Free Screen (Galaxy S24 Ultra)

Our first award goes to the hardware feature that made us say, “Finally!”

This year’s Hardware Feature Award goes to the glare-free screen Samsung Galaxy S24 UltraCreated in collaboration with Corning, this new Gorilla Glass Armor screen dramatically reduces screen reflections. You can see it indoors, but for outdoor visibility it’s a game-changer. No more squinting in direct sunlight!

This feature was so impressive that we’re actually surprised no other company adopted similar technology throughout the year. Expect it to reach more devices in 2025.

software feature

Gemini Live (as first seen on Pixel 9)

The Software Feature Award recognizes the most innovative and useful new software tricks. And the winner is… Gemini Live!

Like all good software magic, it appeared out of nowhere recently android phoneThis AI-powered voice assistant looks so real that we start questioning the line between computer and human. This kind of advanced voice assistant was the stuff of science-fiction movies, but now, it’s a reality.

It is truly a marvel of software engineering and a teaser of the incredible future of AI technology.

mobile technological innovation

silicon-carbon battery

Our Mobile Tech Innovation Award celebrates a revolutionary technology that is pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

This year, we recognize silicon-carbon batteries.

This new technology allows thinner phones to be made without compromising battery size.

There were many phones with this new technology, but unfortunately most of them were not available in the U.S. were not available. Such devices were the Oppo Find X8 Pro, which comes in a slim package yet packs a large 5,910 mAh battery. With batteries these big, we can finally encroach on the dream of 2-day smartphone battery life.

This is a huge leap forward for battery technology, and we only wish mainstream devices like Galaxies and iPhones got this new technology sooner.

surprise of the year

cmf phone 1

The Surprise of the Year award goes to the phone that completely surprised us.

And the winner is… CMF Phone 1!

This unexpected gem from Nothing’s sub-brand delivered impressive specifications at a budget price, taking the market by storm and exceeding all expectations. Usually phones under $250 make some big compromises, but not the CMF Phone 1.

This phone is also surprisingly fun! You can take it apart, you can add modules, it even comes with its own screw driver in the box!

design of the year

pixel 9 series

Moving on to aesthetics, the Design of the Year award recognizes a phone that has been greatly improved. And this year’s winner is pixel 9 series!

pixel 9 Takes Google’s flagship series to a new height. The sleek lines, refined camera bar, solid build and 2x increase in durability are a profound change. Finally, we have a Pixel phone that really looks like a head-turner.

Certainly, this new Pixel design isn’t too different from what we’ve seen on the last few iPhone generations, and some might argue that it’s derivative of the Apple design language.

Despite the distinctive camera bar on the back, we agree with that point, but practicality wins and given the lack of major changes in the design of other brands, Google’s effort still stands out.

“Fine Wine” Award

Galaxy S23 Ultra

Phones change so quickly that often a supposedly state-of-the-art model looks outdated the next year. But some other phones, like fine wine, manage to withstand the test of time.

So which 2023 phone will age best in 2024?

Here’s our pick Galaxy S23 Ultra,

Constant software support and updates have kept this flagship fresh and relevant, and the camera quality remains commendable, with that incredible dual-zoom camera.

gaming phone

rog phone 8 pro

gaming phone The award goes to the undisputed champion of the performance rog phone 8 proWith its powerful processor, state-of-the-art cooling system and gamer-centric features, this phone offers an unparalleled mobile gaming experience.

It’s better optimized for long gaming sessions, it throttles less than others, and the dedicated gaming controls and accessories make it a unique device on the market. Also, keep in mind that a new version of the phone is on the way and it brings an even faster chipset.

value for money phone

Galaxy S24 FE

You don’t always have to splurge for a great phone. The Value-for-Money Phone Awards recognizes the device that offers the best bang for your buck.

We’ve chosen Pixel phones for this award over the years, but the Pixel A series has become more expensive while Samsung has stepped up its game.

Galaxy S24 FE There’s a flagship-grade chip and a triple camera at a reasonable price of $600, making it a more powerful phone and a better deal. pixel 8a For most people. It also has a larger, more immersive display and longer battery life. All this makes it a great choice for budget-conscious consumers.

compact phone

iPhone 16 Pro

For those who prefer a phone that fits comfortably in their hand, the compact phone award goes to iPhone 16 Pro,

it was as hard as pixel 9 pro Another very strong competitor, and both phones come in the same, much larger 6.3-inch size.

However, the iPhone is more sophisticated and has a faster chipset. The size is still great for one-handed use without compromising performance or style.

Sadly, there are very few compact phones on the market besides these two, and we expect to see more options in this size next year.

flip the phone

Motorola Razr Plus (2024)

foldable phone The revolution may be slower than many expected, but improvements in this area will continue in 2024.

Flip Phone of the Year Award goes to the stylish and innovative razer plus 2024,

Motorola has refined its clamshell foldable with a larger cover screen, powerful performance and a gorgeous design that attracts attention.

It was another tough battle with extremely capable people samsung galaxy z flip 6 Was the nearest runner up in this category. However, the Galaxy doesn’t use a cover screen as well, and the Razr has some bonus features like a sleeker design and faster charging, so it emerges as the winner this year.

turn the phone

pixel 9 pro fold

and bigger for the better foldable phoneThe Fold Phone of the Year award goes to… pixel 9 pro fold,

Google’s second foldable phone A big step up from the first generation. The design has completely changed, the phone now feels premium in a way it didn’t before, the software is clean and sleek, and the device is much thinner than the rival Galaxy Z Fold 6,

One key element that Google got right is the Pixel’s wide external screen. Most people use that external screen most of the time, even on foldable phoneAnd the Pixel has a more functional external display size than the rival Galaxy.

Another folding phone worth mentioning here is the crazy slim Honor Magic V3. This phone set a new standard foldable phone design! At 9.2mm it’s surprisingly thin and impossible to distinguish from a regular, non-folding phone. Unfortunately, this phone is not available in the US.

overall best phone

iPhone 16 Pro Max

And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for! The Best Overall Phone of the Year award goes to… iPhone 16 Pro Max,

Let’s get one thing out of the way first: the iPhone 16 Pro Max Is No Revolutionary. This much is clear. However, it is built on an incredibly solid foundation.

It adds minor but welcome improvements to battery life, gets the industry’s fastest processor, a slightly larger display, and a nice new camera control button.

None of these are game-changers on their own, but they add up. The iPhone remains the most popular phone in the world because of iOS and the entire Apple ecosystem that really takes it to the next level.

Of course, it’s a hot battle for the top spot, and the closest rival here is clearly Galaxy S24 UltraSamsung’s flagship has its own appeal with Android, One UI, the S Pen, and an impressive dual-zoom camera. Those who like all this will argue that this is the better phone, and those arguments would be correct. What sets the scale for us, however, is the breadth of the Apple ecosystem and the added level of polish of iOS.

bust of the year

Sony Xperia 1 VI

It wouldn’t be an awards ceremony without acknowledging a few disappointments. The Best of the Year award goes to… Sony and its Xperia 1 VI.

By switching to a new wider form factor, Sony made a tacit admission that it had been wrong about its design choices over the past few years by releasing phones with an oddly narrow design.

It also worked on improving its specific camera apps, which were disliked by average users and proved to be too complex.

But these were all small steps and the worst part was that Sony didn’t even release the Xperia 1 VI in the United States. We don’t want to see Sony disappear from the smartphone market, but we do want to see big changes. For the average user a Sony phone with more care and not costing an arm and a leg would be wonderful. Let’s hope that the company still has some steam left in it and it will not disappear completely from the mobile sector in the future.

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