Best phones 2024 tested Our October top picks
In order to provide you with the best selections, we have tested dozens of mobile phones with varying ranges of pricing.
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| Best phones 2024 tested |
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This year, the major smartphone manufacturers outdid themselves with their new releases, and now it’s time for us to tell apart the real players from the rest. We are here to assist you in selecting the right phone for the purpose of replacing your existing one. And for those who prefer Apple and its products, it has indeed been a good year.
Of course, the reigning number one on the image of the best phones is none other than the iPhone 16 Pro Max comes later the regular iPhone 16. To be honest, every gadget in the iPhone 16 series would do wonders for you because of the fast chips, impressive optics, and anticipated advancement in AI technology with actual features.
Do not lean back if, however, you are more of an Android person since there are amazing alternatives for you as well! The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra camera is very impressive too, especially its photography capabilities, and it goes against the iPhone 16 Pro Max quite well. What is likely to be the best value phone this year? Thanks to the Google Pixel 8a which is almost too cheap for the awesome features it has.
These are the top smartphones I have selected and ranked after all the head to head competition and the strong standards of Tom's Guide. As a matter of fact, I have been a phone reviewer since the first Apple iPhone reached the consumers in 2007 which is, if you include other members of Tom's Guide phones time, over forty years of experience, an analysis of smartphones as it is meant to be.
The best phones can have the best cameras, they can generate the fastest processors for multitasking or gaming and they can have enough battery capacity to last a day and even more. We do all that and more for every phone we review at the very least including the software, how the display looks like, and how attractive the design of the phone is. Continue reading to find out which phone can meet your desires!
iPhone 16 Pro Max
Specifications
- 48MP wide (f/1.78 aperture)
- 48MP ultra wide (ƒ/2.2 aperture)
- 12MP telephoto (5x optical zoom; f/2.8 aperture)
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| Best phones 2024 tested |
The iPhone 16 Pro Max which is my Best phones 2024 tested, once again places Apple at the top for all the right reasons. After thorough testing, it has replaced its predecessor, the iPhone 15 Pro Max. This new phone features a larger screen (without significantly increasing the overall size), an upgraded ultra-wide camera, and a more powerful processor. Even more exciting, Apple's new AI features are rolling out this month with a software update.
If you upgraded last year, there's no need to part with your iPhone 15 Pro Max, but for anyone with an older iPhone, this new model is packed with cutting-edge features, which we discovered during our tests of the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Price and Value: While this model retains the $1,199 price tag of its predecessor, the larger 6.9-inch screen and enhanced battery life add more value to the Pro Max model this time. Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra, its closest competitor, has seen a price hike, making Apple’s top device $100 less expensive.
Camera Performance
iPhones have always been known for their cameras, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max brings significant improvements to both its main and ultra-wide lenses. The 5x telephoto lens is also back, carried over from the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Since the iPhone 16 Pro offers the same camera setup at $200 less, we consider it the best overall camera phone, but the Pro Max's camera will not disappoint either. In fact, we pitted it against the Galaxy S24 Ultra with 200 photo comparisons and crowned it the undisputed champion.
Battery and Charging
In our tests, the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s battery lasted over 18 hours, a significant improvement over the already long-lasting iPhone 15 Pro Max. While the charging speed could be faster, MagSafe charging has now been improved to 25W.
Overall Performance: Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip offers strong competition, but the A18 Pro chipset powering the iPhone 16 Pro Max is even faster. You’ll notice the extra power in day-to-day tasks and when switching between apps. While Snapdragon holds some advantages in graphics, the iPhone 16 Pro Max outperforms Samsung’s latest device when it comes to real-world tasks like video transcoding.
Verdict
The iPhone 16 Pro Max leads the pack with its impressive design, photography, and performance. Charging speed and digital zoom could be further improved, and yes, it’s expensive, but it’s absolutely worth the price.