Android Central’s Best of 2024: Phones
This was the primary 12 months that an organization was in a position to persuade me to modify my main cellphone from an iPhone to Android. Google’s Pixel 9 Professional was handed the very best Android cellphone this 12 months. With its seamless Gemini integration, lovely design and wonderful options, it was really the cellphone to beat all telephones this 12 months.
We won’t low cost the OnePlus 12 as a result of not solely was it an amazing cellphone, however it additionally helped Android Central decide that OnePlus has certainly been probably the most improved Android model of the 12 months.
I feel what shocked me probably the most was that there weren’t many nice foldable releases from Google or Samsung, and many of the greatest foldable telephones this 12 months got here from manufacturers outdoors of the US Honor’s Magic V3, which was clearly the very best folding this 12 months. In fact, the cellphone that constantly impresses me is the Razr Plus 2024, which was this 12 months’s greatest flip cellphone winner.
This is what a few of my colleagues are saying concerning the winners. congratulations!
Greatest Android cellphone: Google Pixel 9 Professional
Nick Sutrich: In a sea of telephones that really feel related, Google has accomplished a monumental job of creating a cellphone that appears completely different — even when for a few of us it seems to be somewhat an excessive amount of like an iPhone on the surface. The Google Pixel 9 Professional is Android Central’s favourite cellphone of the 12 months for its skill to pack the very best of the Pixel 9 Professional XL right into a smaller physique, together with killer triple rear cameras that used to solely come on The largest and costliest Pixel. the telephones.
Not solely that, however Google’s skill to make use of Gemini on the core of the Pixel expertise to set it aside from the pack is one thing to rejoice. Nice new apps like Pixel Screenshots are sport changers for what Google does greatest – search – whereas enhancements to the general interface and consumer expertise with useful AI options made this a favourite of most Android Central workers .
It could not have acquired the best rating of all of the premium telephones we have reviewed this 12 months, however there’s one thing particular concerning the Pixel 9 Professional that stored us coming again and wanting extra, regardless of the failings we discovered with it.
Runner-up: OnePlus 12
Our runner-up is the OnePlus 12. I am going to admit it: I have never cared for a OnePlus cellphone in years, and by the numbers, neither have most of you. However the OnePlus 12 modified all the pieces, and never solely received folks speaking concerning the model once more, but additionally received them to begin shopping for OnePlus telephones once more.
The whole lot about this cellphone showcases the very best of OnePlus. From feature-rich software program that is blazing quick and smoother than some other cellphone, to tremendous quick charging that will get you a top-up in minutes and even one of the crucial eye-friendly OLEDs within the enterprise, it is virtually inconceivable to not love the OnePlus 12 This makes it our second greatest cellphone of the 12 months.
Greatest worth cellphone: Google Pixel 8a
Harish Jonnalagadda: It ought to come as no shock that the Pixel 8a is the very best mid-range cellphone of 2024. It continues to have the very best cameras within the class, and Google did an amazing job with the design this time round – if something, I I want that of the Pixel 9 Professional on this regard. Whereas the digital camera modules aren’t the newest, Google excels at taking the very best photographs and movies doable; there are different telephones that come near the Pixel 8a, however none can match its sturdiness.
Google additionally made constructive strides with the OLED panel, and it now goes as much as 120Hz and will get considerably brighter even in harsh daylight. These are all constructive enhancements, however it’s the software program that basically makes the Pixel 8a stand out – it is the one mid-range cellphone with a clear interface and long-term replace assure. With Google promising seven years of Android OS updates, it’ll keep related till 2031, which isn’t the case with some other inexpensive Android cellphone.
Runner-up: OnePlus 12R
In second place is the OnePlus 12R. OnePlus determined to promote the cellphone globally beginning this 12 months, and it finally turned out to be the correct name; The cellphone has the very best {hardware} package deal on this phase, and though I nonetheless give the sting to the Pixel 8a due to its software program, the 12R is a lot better at gaming, has a much bigger battery and unmatched charging know-how. quick.
Greatest Digicam Cellphone: Vivo X100 Sequence
Nick Sutrich: The Android Central workers voted for the very best cellphone digital camera of the 12 months, however the outcomes weren’t even shut. The Vivo X100 collection acquired 14 of our 20 complete votes, and it is no shock, given how successfully the cellphone can substitute a DSLR-style digital camera in most conditions. Vivo’s software program is extraordinarily user-friendly, however presents highly effective choices for individuals who have to do greater than they will count on from a cellphone.
My favourite a part of the Vivo expertise are the compelling portrait-style photographs the cellphone creates at virtually any zoom stage and with any topic. Taking photographs of your meals is all of a sudden reworked right into a magazine-quality expertise, and all the pieces from group pictures to panorama pictures is just gorgeous due to the cellphone’s correct colours, crisp element, and the power to seize movement with out that blur. smartphone indicator.
Runner-up: Google Pixel 9 Professional
Second place is not any shock as a result of Google Pixel telephones often win the very best digital camera in any given 12 months. The Google Pixel 9 Professional is the very best digital camera you should buy within the US, fingers down. Google’s photograph high quality is constantly top-notch, and it is one of the crucial dependable digital camera telephones you should utilize. While you take a photograph with a Pixel, there’s virtually by no means a time when it isn’t a very good photograph.
Google kicked issues up a notch this 12 months with cool new options like Add Me, which helps group pictures by cleverly utilizing AI to sew two photographs collectively. Because of some nice UI designs and options which are constantly enjoyable to make use of, the Pixel 9 Professional is the digital camera cellphone to get if you cannot get a Vivo X100.
Greatest foldable cellphone: Honor Magic V3
Andrew Myrick: Properly, would not you understand? Neither Samsung nor Google will take residence the crown of “greatest foldable cellphone” in 2024. As an alternative, it is the Honor Magic V3 that continues to attract consideration and impress although it isn’t even accessible in North America.
The Magic V3 packs a punch in all the correct methods, beginning with a design that is extremely modern and light-weight. As talked about in our evaluate, the “Galaxy S24 Extremely is 2g heavier than the Magic V3”, which is simply loopy when you think about that the V3 presents a 6.43-inch coated show and a 7.92-inch inner show.
Honor made only a few sacrifices with the Magic V3, with the largest subject being “common battery life”. Apart from that, we have flagship specs throughout the board, with the V3 being powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Honor hasn’t skimped on the cameras both, with the array consisting of a 50MP major telephoto, 50MP periscope and a 40MP ultra-wide telephoto . .
Runner-up: Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold
In second place was the Pixel 9 Professional Fold, which Google took in a totally surprising route. Somewhat than making an attempt to enhance on the passport styling from the unique Pixel Fold, the 9 Professional Fold is extra in step with the aforementioned OnePlus Open and Honor Magic V3.
The Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s flip display is identical measurement because the Pixel 9 because it unfolds to disclose a ravishing 8-inch AMOLED show. It is powered by Google’s newest Tensor G4, paired with 16GB of RAM and as much as 512GB of storage. Battery life is improbable too, simply lasting greater than a day with common use. We simply want it had the identical cameras because the Pixel 9 Professional and 9 Professional XL.
Greatest Flip Cellphone: Motorola Razr Plus 2024
Pig Lee: Motorola has had one thing of a revival lately. Whereas Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip lineup has been just about the identical for the previous two generations, Motorola got here out of left discipline with a refreshed Razr in 2023, after which gave it a fairly vital improve in 2024.
The Motorola Razr Plus 2024 is not technically probably the most highly effective cellphone in the marketplace — that distinction goes to the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and its extra highly effective chip — however Motorola makes up for it in different methods, with the general expertise culminating in a cellphone that I’ve not wished to place down since I picked it up. The design feels so refined with a robust hinge, IPX8 water resistance and vegan leather-based on the again of every mannequin.
I even have virtually no complaints concerning the specs; The Snapdragon 8S Gen 3 and 12GB of RAM really feel very quick, the 4000mAh battery does not make me really feel jittery, and the brand new 50MP major digital camera takes footage I can truly use. Plus, the 4-inch flip display is nice to make use of, with entry to virtually your entire apps.
Runner-up: Xiaomi Combine Flip
Whereas the Razr Plus 2024 received virtually unanimously, the runner-up was the Xiaomi Combine Flip, which encompasses a extra highly effective Snapdragon chip and an equally giant (albeit 0.01-inch bigger) coated show. As Xiaomi’s first flip cellphone, the Combine Flip is fairly spectacular, with a shocking design, a stunning Leica-powered digital camera array, and an incredibly giant battery for a flip cellphone. The one drawback is that the cellphone just isn’t accessible in North America or Australia.
Essentially the most improved Android model: OnePlus
Harish Jonnalagadda: OnePlus had a breakout 12 months in 2024, and the producer did not put a foot incorrect within the final 12 months. The OnePlus Open remains to be probably the greatest foldable units round, the OnePlus Pad 2 is a good mid-range pill, and the OnePlus 12R is a viable different to the Pixel 8a.
However it’s the OnePlus 12 that is notably notable. Whereas OnePlus has been churning out flagships for the higher a part of a decade, its earlier efforts could not fairly match what Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo and Google needed to supply. That modified with the OnePlus 12, with the system providing a lot better cameras, a brighter AMOLED with eye-friendly know-how and class-leading battery life.
OnePlus managed to deal with a few of its shortcomings this 12 months, and the truth that it now has {hardware} to tackle the very best flagships in addition to mid-range telephones makes it really deserving of being named probably the most improved model of 2024 – is.
