After being within the trade for thus a few years, getting excited in regards to the new releases is changing into more durable and more durable. Nevertheless, that does not imply there aren’t telephones that stood out. However my perspective has shifted. I picked 5 telephones that, to me, are stable all-rounders, leaving little room for complaints as an alternative of going for probably the most spectacular {hardware} or flashy, cutting-edge tech.
Xiaomi 14 Extremely
I am beginning the record with Xiaomi’s flagship for one more yr. The Xiaomi 14 Extremely would not provide any groundbreaking options, neither is it an enormous leap over the Xiaomi 13 Extremely (which has been my day by day driver for nearly two years), but it surely’s undoubtedly among the best telephones to purchase in 2024.
I grew keen on HyperOS, and apart from its unimpressive battery life, this proprietary Android overlay delivers in nearly each facet. It is feature-packed and stays fluid and reliable after years of use.
Moreover, the 14 Extremely provides a much-needed improve to the digicam division in comparison with the 13 Extremely. The 2 telephoto cameras (3.2x and 5x) now each help close-distance focusing. This makes the digicam setup far more versatile and ties the entire thing collectively. The macro pictures are nice.
The Xiaomi 14 Extremely’s design, though polarizing, is extraordinarily snug. The 13 Extremely and the 14 Extremely are the primary telephones I take advantage of with no case, and I am not even apprehensive about dropping both of them. The vegan leather-based again is grippy, snug and withstands the take a look at of time. As I stated earlier, little to no complaints.
OnePlus 12
I’ve had my fair proportion of OnePlus telephones prior to now, however the OnePlus 12 is maybe the primary one I genuinely like lately.
Positive, it will not impress you with its digicam prowess, however that does not imply it could possibly’t take good stills and movies. ColorOS, ahem… OxygenOS continues to evolve, bringing glorious options, and we discovered it to be among the best techniques in the case of battery life. Therefore why, the OnePlus 12 has such nice battery endurance.
The system additionally packs top-of-the-line {hardware}, comparable to a flagship SoC, a superb show, and a battery that helps blazing-fast charging. And regardless that OnePlus is now not related to affordability, it nonetheless manages to undercut the competitors, making you assume twice earlier than defaulting to a Samsung Galaxy S cellphone, for instance. That is why I usually advocate the OnePlus 12 to somebody in search of a stable all-around flagship cellphone so long as they don’t have extraordinarily excessive hopes for the digicam system. Not that it takes dangerous stills, but it surely’s not a standout cameraphone both.
Xiaomi 14T/14T Professional
This yr’s Xiaomi 14T collection will get a critical improve, particularly within the digicam division. The duo is maybe among the best in its class in the case of digicam efficiency, particularly movies.
Along with their competent digicam techniques, the 2 handsets are geared up with potent {hardware}, vivid shows and speedy charging. Simply among the best upper-midrangers available on the market.
iQOO 13
I used to be pleasantly stunned by the iQOO 13. iQOO’s telephones normally fly beneath my radar, however the iQOO 13 is unquestionably a success. For the asking value, the handset presents a pleasant set of options – a superb digicam system with a devoted zoom digicam, nice show, great-sounding audio system, quick charging and one of many highest battery life scores in our database.
The iQOO 13 can also be one of many few telephones available on the market providing the brand-new Snapdragon 8 Elite. And that is not all. Seems, the iQOO 13 can deal with the 8 Elite with out breaking a sweat. The system maintained near-maximal CPU efficiency throughout an hour-long stress take a look at, which is extraordinarily uncommon in telephones with such highly effective chipsets. iQOO undoubtedly outdid themselves this time.
I am positive I unnoticed many nice smartphones in 2024, however these are those that caught with me all through this yr. What are your finest picks?
