Our pick for the best Google phone is the top-end Pixel 8 Pro. This is very much of a rival to devices like the Galaxy S23 Plus, offering a slicker software experience and one of the best cameras around, though its increased price tag means it’s not quite as budget-friendly as its predecessor.

All the phones featured here boast smooth, clean and frequently updated software. As Google makes both the phone and the underlying Android software, Pixel phones get updates as soon as Android releases them, so you’ll get Android 14 out of the box. That’s cool enough, but Google’s commitment to 7 years of OS upgrades with the Pixel 8 range – the best of any Android manufacturer – will see it through to the release of Android 21, with all new features included.

More specifically, there are a few reasons to go for the Pixel 8 Pro over the cheaper options in our list. First off, the 6.7-inch 120Hz LPTO Actua display is both smooth and impressively bright at 2400nits, making it larger and smarter than the Pixel 8, while boasting a serious upgrade in resolution and brightness compared to the Pixel 7a. It’s also a flat display this time around, which makes for a nice change from the curved displays of previous models.

There’s also a slightly updated design with a matte rear that, compared to the Pixel 8’s glossy finish, is much better at resisting smudges and fingerprints while also being a little grippier.

It’s also the only version of the Pixel 8 with a triple camera array. Both the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro have excellent main and ultrawide cameras, but with the Pro, you’re also getting a 48MP telephoto zoom. It’s not the very best telephoto zoom we’ve used, but it’s the best on the list, including the high-end Pixel Fold.

Reviewer: Max Parker

Full review: Google Pixel 8 Pro review

Right in the middle of Google’s smartphone range, you’ll find the Pixel 8. This device might not offer quite the same specs as the Pro version (most notably lacking a telephoto sensor and having a slightly smaller, non-LTPO screen), but it still packs quite the punch, especially given its relatively modest price tag – even if, like the Pro, it’s more expensive than the Pixel 7.

The camera, like with other Pixel phones, is the main highlight here, delivering gorgeously detailed and punchy images regardless of whether you’re using it during the day or at night. There are also fun AI smarts that allow you to swap out faces in group selfies for better options and even use generative AI to remove huge swathes of an image, but it’s not the only reason you might feel tempted to make one of these your own.

The 120Hz OLED Actua screen, measuring a slightly smaller 6.2 inches than its predecessor, is plenty capable with impressive peak brightness and great HDR support that makes watching Netflix movies a joy, and the design certainly looks sleek and feels premium to the touch as well. It’s just a shame that it doesn’t have the same matte finish as the Pixel 8 Pro, as it’s quite the fingerprint magnet.

It also gets the same long-term commitment as the Pixel 8 Pro, boasting 7 years of OS upgrades that’ll take it through to the release of Android 21, all new features in tow.

While the slow charging speeds and lack of a telephoto sensor are two obvious compromises, we certainly don’t think that these should be dealbreakers when a smartphone offers as good overall performance as the Pixel 8 does.

Reviewer: Lewis Painter

Full review: Google Pixel 8 review

If you’re on the hunt for a small Pixel but want to keep the budget low, the Pixel 8a is a great pick. In many of the most important ways, it matches the (more expensive) Pixel 8 and offers a number of upgrades over last year’s equally tempting Pixel 7a.

New features include another boost to the 6.1-inch OLED screen’s refresh rate, now up to 120Hz to match most of the competition, and it borrows the flagship Pixel 8‘s Actua screen tech for a serious boost in brightness, up to 2000nits max. It makes scrolling through Instagram and doom scrolling on TikTok that little bit better, even if the bezels are egregiously thick.

It also sports the same matte finish as the top-end Pixel 8 Pro, rather than the glossy finish of the Pixel 8, which both makes it less of a fingerprint magnet and gives it a nice satin-esque feel in the hand. Combined with more rounded edges and a thinner camera bar on the rear, it’s a well-built smartphone.

Of course, the headline feature of any Pixel phone is camera tech, and that’s also true of the Pixel 8a. It might not offer any big hardware upgrades, sporting the same combination of a 64MP main sensor and 13MP ultrawide as the Pixel 7a, but it continues to deliver impressive mobile photography with accurate skin tones, exceptional low-light performance and plenty of detail to boot.

Inside the phone, there’s the same Tensor G3 chip as the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. While we would like a little more power in the flagship range, at this price it is perfectly adequate and a good performer in all of our tests. Tensor also powers many of the AI aspects of the Pixel, like the clever call screening features and excellent voice recorder.

Just as with the Pixel 7a, however, the battery life could be better. Our reviewer managed to get through every day without reaching for a charger, but only just. He noted that battery drain was significant, especially with the screen brightness cranked up, with a maximum of around four and a half hours of screen time to completely drain the phone.

Reviewer: Max Parker

Full review: Google Pixel 8a review

At the other end of the spectrum, you’ll find the ultra-premium Google Pixel Fold, the only Pixel available in a foldable form factor. It’s extremely expensive at £1,749/$1,799, but if you want the Pixel software experience on a foldable, it’s your only option right now.

The book-style foldable is squatter than what you’ll find from the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Honor Magic Vs, making the external 5.8-inch OLED panel much more compact and easier to use. It also means the internal 7.6-inch OLED display boasts a horizontal aspect ratio, compared to most other foldables that are taller than they are wider. Both displays are set to a super smooth 120Hz refresh rate, with the inner display boasting a crisp 2K resolution.

You’ll find camera hardware including a main 48Mp snapper, a 10.8MP ultrawide and 18.8MP 5x telephoto lens capable of delivering the famed Pixel experience, with vibrant, impressively detailed shots and access to AI-powered features like Night Sight and Super Res Zoom.

That AI experience also spills over into the general Android 13 experience on offer, with AI-infused Pixel-favourite features like the ability to screen incoming calls on your behalf all present and accounted for.

There are hints that this is very much a first-gen product, however; the crease on the inner panel is both wider and deeper than what you’ll find from most other competitors in 2024, and the hinge doesn’t completely open 180 degrees, leaving the phone to wobble on flat surfaces.

Google has also removed the ability to force unsupported apps to run in full-screen mode on the internal display – a feature of every other book-style foldable – severely limiting just how helpful it can be when general app support is hit-and-miss.

And, as with practically every other Pixel phone, the 4821mAh battery isn’t quite enough to negate that battery anxiety. It’d get to the end of the day – just about – but couldn’t survive into the second day. It also suffers from a rather slow 30W charging experience, though this isn’t that out of place in the foldable market.

If, however, you’ve got your heart set on a book-style foldable and simply have to have the stock Pixel experience, the Pixel Fold ticks most boxes.

Reviewer: Lewis Painter

Full review: Google Pixel Fold review

The top-end Motorola Edge 40 Pro may not excel in any one particular area, but it provides a good balance of power, camera ability and charging tech that makes it a tempting choice at the premium end of the smartphone market. 

That means the Edge 40 Pro ticks all the boxes for what a flagship smartphone in 2024 should offer, including IP68 dust and water resistance, a combination of glass and aluminium that looks high-end, if not a little minimalistic, stereo speaker support and a suitably capable display.

More specifically, the Edge 40 Pro sports a flagship-grade 6.7-inch pOLED display with a subtle curvature. The 165Hz refresh rate is among the fastest on the market and one of few non-gaming phones to offer the tech, delivering a buttery-smooth scrolling experience while being able to display plenty of frames in high-performance games, too.

Speaking of, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 within proves a capable flagship chipset, with the Edge 40 Pro able to take on much of the 2024 flagship competition in benchmark tests. In everyday use, it’s rapid and responsive with no signs of stutter or lag, as you’d expect from a phone at this price point.

Throw in a near-stock version of Android with only genuinely helpful additions from Motorola, a triple camera setup comprised of a 50MP primary, 50MP ultrawide and 12MP 2x telephoto, rapid 120W charging that delivers a full charge in 20 minutes, and you’ve got a solid all-rounder.  

Update (May 2024): We expect the new top-end Motorola Edge 50 Ultra to take the Motoroola Edge 40 Pro’s top slot in this chart, but we can’t say for sure until we’ve reviewed the phone.

Reviewer: Andrew Williams

Review: Motorola Edge 40 Pro review

As well as the standard candybar-esque smartphones we all know and love, Motorola has dabbled in foldable tech over the past few years. The culmination of that work is the Razr 40 Ultra, the company’s top-end clamshell foldable that’s both sleek and surprisingly capable.

The Razr 40 Ultra set itself apart from the competition at launch with its sizeable 3.6-inch cover display. Samsung followed suit not long after with the Flip 5’s 3.4-inch cover display, but Motorola’s remains the more useful with the ability to run any app you’d like on the cover display, negating the need to unfold the phone for specific tasks.

Unfold the phone and you’ll be greeted by a gorgeous 6.9-inch pOLED display with no crease visible in daily use. The 165Hz refresh rate is the fastest on a foldable at the time of publishing, and while it is large, it folds down to something extremely pocketable when not in use.

The cameras, twin 12MP primary and ultrawide lenses, offer a solid shooting experience even if it isn’t quite up to the standards of similarly priced regular flagships, and while the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 isn’t the best on the market, it still provides snappy everyday performance regardless of what you’re up to. 

If you want something a little different from your next smartphone, the Razr 40 Ultra is a strong option.

Reviewer: Lewis Painter

Review: Motorola Razr 40 Ultra 

The Motorola Edge 50 Pro, despite the Pro branding, is Motorola’s latest mid-ranger. Sporting a similar design and specs not too dissimilar to the top-end Motorola Edge 50 Ultra, it’s a tempting buy for anyone who puts a premium on design, screen tech, camera performance and charge speed.

For starters, the Motorola Edge 50 Pro sets itself apart from the mid-range competition with a gorgeous vegan leather finish that envelops the camera bump for a rather unique look. It’s also available in an attractive Luxe Lavender or toned-down Black Beaty finish, and if vegan leather isn’t your thing, there’s also a pearl polymer finish dubbed Moonlight Pearl. Throw in a slim, lightweight frame and IP68 dust and water resistance and there’s very little to complain about in the design department.

It’s not just a looker, however; the curved 6.7-inch OLED screen is every bit just as premium, with key specs including a rapid 144Hz refresh rate, a maximum brightness of 2000nits, support for premium formats like HDR10+ and 10-bit colour and a pixel-packed 1.2K resolution. This all combines to deliver a great viewing experience, regardless of whether you’re gaming or catching up on Netflix.

The camera setup, though not quite as capable as that of the Edge 50 Ultra, still boasts a capable offering. The 50MP main camera is the best of the bunch, with key specs including a wide 1/1.55-inch sensor and f/1.4 aperture, and that’s accompanied not only by a 13MP ultrawide but a 12MP 3x telephoto lens. That’s a real rarity in the mid-range market, even if it can’t quite complete with true flagship telephoto lenses.

Charging is some of the fastest around, boasting the same 125W fast charging tech as its flagship sibling, and that translated to a full charge in just 20 minutes in our tests. What’s more, the 125W charger comes in the box, and you can’t say that about some flagships.

That’s all pretty impressive, but what the Edge 50 Pro is not is, ironically, a powerhouse of processing power. The Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 found within the phone is fine for day-to-day use, but benchmarks suggest you’ll get the same amount of power as the likes of the Samsung Galaxy A55 5G which retails at £150 less.

Reviewer: Lewis Painter

Review: Motorola Edge 50 Pro review

If you’re looking for exceptional value for money, look no further than the £299 Motorola Edge 40 Neo. In simple terms, it doesn’t look, feel or perform like you’d expect from a sub-£300 smartphone. 

For one, it’s incredibly stylish with a vegan leather finish and a range of Pantone-certified colours including Soothing Sea and Caneel Bay. Throw in a curved 6.5-inch 144Hz pOLED screen and an IP68-protected lightweight design that measures in at just 7.8mm thick and 172g, and you’ve got something that clearly stands out from the crowd. 

It’s not just a looker either; the aforementioned display provides a solid experience, whether gaming or scrolling endlessly through TikTok, with vibrant colours and inky blacks that OLED tech is known for. 

The performance from the Dimensity 7030 won’t be able to compete with flagships, but it outpaces the similarly priced competition and, importantly, still delivers smooth everyday performance with no notable slowdown. It also has ample 256GB of storage as standard, plenty of room for apps, photos and videos. 

Couple that with a capable camera offering comprised of a 50MP main with OIS and a 13MP ultrawide, all-day battery life and 68W charging with a 68W charger in the box, and you’ve got one of the best value smartphones around, Motorola-branded or not. 

Reviewer: Lewis Painter

Review: Motorola Edge 40 Neo review

Motorola is famous for its wide array of cheap smartphones, which can make it hard to decide which is best for your needs. For most people, the £249 Moto G84 5G is the perfect option, blending its budget focus with more premium tech than you might expect. 

The phone is undoubtedly striking, with vibrant Pantone-certified colours including Viva Magenta, 2023’s colour of the year, that help it stand out from a packed budget market, with its vegan leather rear providing a nice grippiness while also feeling more premium than the plastic alternative. 

The 6.5-inch FHD+ pOLED display is another outlier for the price, with a 120Hz refresh rate and a solid maximum brightness of 1300nits that shines brighter than the budget competition. It can be a little too vibrant in its default setting, but the Natural colour mode was much more appealing.

The G84 5G has a surprisingly capable 50MP 1/1.5” primary sensor with OIS found in more premium options from Motorola like the Moto Razr 2022 and Edge 30 Fusion. That’ll deliver surprisingly great shots that, while won’t compete with flagship alternatives, are more than enough for sharing on social media.

There are weaknesses here that hint at the phone’s price point – it only gets one OS upgrade, and there’s middling performance from the Snapdragon 695 chipset – and that makes the Edge 40 Neo seem a more tempting option at just £50 more, but if your budget simply can’t reach that far, the Moto G84 5G remains a good budget choice. 

If you’re looking for something even more budget-friendly, we were also impressed with the £150 Moto G54 5G.

Reviewer: Jon Mundy

Review: Motorola Moto G84 5G review

If you’re on the hunt for a great value Android tablet, the Honor Pad X9 should be of serious consideration. Despite its sub-£200 price tag, the tablet boasts a premium look and feel and a seriously impressive display that blows the similarly priced competition out of the water.

The Honor Pad X9 sports a large 11.5-inch display and a 2000 x 1200 resolution that would’ve already been enough to compete with much of the budget competition, but the inclusion of a 120Hz refresh rate truly sets it apart. The super-smooth refresh rate helps the tablet feel responsive, with smooth animations and better response time when gaming on the tablet.

Despite the middling Snapdragon 685 chipset and 4GB of RAM, the Honor X9 can handle everyday tasks like browsing the web, split-screen multitasking and even gaming at medium graphics levels. 

Throw in great battery life, a landscape-mounted selfie camera for video chats and surprisingly loud speakers, and it becomes an easy recommendation for any tablet buyer on a budget. 

Reviewer: Josh Brown
Full review: Honor Pad X9 review

The iPad 10 represents the upgrade that the entry-level tablet desperately needed, bringing it into line with the updated look of the rest of Apple’s iPad collection. In essence, it’s similar in looks to the iPad Air, complete with flat back and sides, the removal of the Home button and a much-reduced bezel that makes it look way more modern.

It’s also 10g lighter than the outgoing iPad 9, while also offering USB-C connectivity in place of the older Lightning port. There’s also upgraded accessory support with a dedicated Magic Keyboard that turns the tablet into something resembling a laptop, complete with trackpad, although the halfway-house Apple Pencil support is rather odd.

Performance is also top-notch compared to the rest of the budget tablet competition, sporting Apple’s A14 Bionic chipset – the chipset of choice of the iPhone 12 – that makes apps and games run super smoothly, and it should continue to do so for quite some time. The only real disappointment is the 64GB of base storage, which we feel isn’t quite enough for more demanding users.

It was a little too expensive for this list when it first launched back in 2022, but Apple dropped the price down to the same £349/$349 as the outgoing iPad 9 in May 2024, making it a budget-friendly bargain for those on the hunt for an iPad.

Reviewer: Max Parker
Full Review: Apple iPad 10 review

Teclast might not be a household name in the tech market, but the plucky Teclast T40S manages to deliver a solid Android tablet experience at just £170, and it’s often found cheaper over at Amazon too, further solidifying its value for money. 

The star of the show is processing power as, despite its cheap price point, it can compete with more established tablets like the Honor Pad X9 and Oppo Pad Air in terms of performance. There’s also a surprising 8GB of RAM on offer to aid multitasking and help chew through ad-laden websites, with an additional 8GB of your 128GB storage also able to be allocated to RAM when performing particularly power-intensive tasks.

That powers a moderately sized 10.4-inch display that we found perfectly usable indoors, though with a maximum brightness of just 350 nits, it’s not a tablet suited to outdoor scrolling. 

There are a few oddities about the tablet – it runs a stripped-back version of Android 12 with bigger buttons and boasts fairly random features like FM Radio support – and it’s not exactly the best-looking tablet around, but for the price, you’ll be hard pressed to find something more capable. 

Reviewer: Josh Brown
Full review: Teclast T40S review

The OnePlus Pad Go is the little brother to the company’s full-fat OnePlus Pad, offering a slightly more budget-friendly tablet experience. However, the Pad Go has a trick up its sleeve; LTE connectivity as standard.

That means you no longer need to pay extra for a cellular tablet (Apple, we’re looking at you!), allowing you to pop a SIM card into the included SIM tray and use the tablet away from your home Wi-Fi. It’s a real boon for those who work and play on the go, even if you still have to pay for the data contract yourself.

Elsewhere, the OnePlus Pad Go remains a tempting budget tablet with a large 11.3-inch, high-res screen that’s ideal for watching movies and playing games, especially when paired with the smooth 90Hz refresh rate. The screen is very reflective, however, which can make it awkward to use in brighter environments when paired with a fairly average 400 nits screen brightness.

It’s powered by the Helio G99 and a healthy dose of 8GB of RAM, a combo that won’t exactly win awards for processing power any time soon, but it still provides a largely smooth experience. There is the occasional bit of lag, but nothing that’ll put a real dampener on your experience, especially when the low-powered chipset translates to long battery life and even longer standby times of up to a month.

Reviewer: Lewis Painter
Full review: OnePlus Pad Go review

The Lenovo Tab M10 Plus (3rd Gen) is a budget tablet with a premium look and feel, sporting an aluminium unibody with a stone-textured strip along one side of the rear to further elevate its design status. It really is a good-looking tablet, complete with a thickness of just 7.5mm and rounded edges that sit comfortably in the palm. 

The 10.61-inch 2000 x 1200 display sports a 16:10 aspect ratio that keeps black bars to a minimum when watching video content from the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, and when coupled with Dolby Atmos-enabled speakers, the watching experience is quite pleasant. The 400nits of brightness isn’t enough for HDR playback, but it’s just about enough for use outdoors. 

It’s just a shame that the MediaTek MT6769V chipset isn’t a little more powerful, with our reviewer noting unpredictable stuttering that would occasionally plague the tablet, and it wasn’t quite enough to run demanding 3D gaming titles either.

It does have a compatible stylus accessory that could make it a tempting option for note-taking students, though it’ll set you back an additional £45. 

Reviewer: Josh Brown
Full review: Lenovo Tab M10 Plus (3rd Gen) review

The Amazon Fire Max 11 is the latest in a long line of Amazon Fire-branded tablets from the retail giant, though this one looks and feels different. 

Sporting a more mature design that’s more than a little bit reminiscent of Apple’s iPad Air, complete with rounded edges and a slightly raised single camera bump on the rear, the tablet feels much more premium than its price tag suggests it should.

The 11-inch 2000 x 1200 IPS LCD display might not boast OLED tech of more premium tablets, but what it does have is a fully laminated screen. It might not sound like much, but it means there’s no air gap between the front glass and LCD panel like Apple’s cheaper iPads, removing that cheap hollow feeling when you tap and swipe on the display. 

The big display is designed for productivity according to Amazon, and even sells dedicated stylus and keyboard case accessories for the tablet separately, further separating itself from the rest of the budget Fire collection. 

But for all Amazon’s efforts to position it as a productivity workhorse, the lack of pro-level apps on Amazon’s limited Fire OS and Appstore stop it from achieving its aim. Even the built-in word processing app doesn’t fit the tablet’s display properly.

That’s a real shame too, as the chipset within easily beats just about everything else in our charts, and by quite a way too. Still, it does mean it’s great for gaming and general day-to-day use, as long as the apps and games you enjoy are available on the Fire OS platform. 

Battery life is also solid with exceptional standby times that allow it to last over a week when not in use, though charging can be slow with only a 9W charging brick in the box. 

Reviewer: Lewis Painter
Full review: Amazon Fire Max 11 review

If portability is one of the key factors in your buying decision, the Oppo Pad Air should be of serious consideration. At 440g and 6.9mm thick, the 10.36-inch tablet is lighter than Apple’s iPad 10 and even the lightweight iPad Air while still delivering that large-screen experience.

It’s not just lightweight either; the gunmetal aluminium shell is smooth and sleek, helping the tablet feel more premium than it actually is, and it comes with handy features like a microSD card slot to expand the 128GB of storage on offer.

The 10.36-inch IPS LCD is sufficiently sharp at 2000 x 1200 and is perfectly serviceable for scrolling through websites and watching movies on Netflix, though with just 360 nits of brightness, it’s not the best in bright outdoor conditions.

It’s not a powerhouse of processing power either, with the Snapdragon 680 delivering fine – but not rapid – everyday performance, though it can’t quite handle high-end AAA games so gamers may want to look elsewhere. Even certain worlds in Roblox would slow the Pad right down.

It’ll last around 15 hours on a charge with decent standby times and although it takes over two hours to charge, that’s in line with the iPad 10 and Xiaomi Pad 5.

All this boils down to a lightweight, portable tablet that’s great for scrolling through TikTok, browsing the web and watching movies on Netflix, though it’ll probably not suffice for the majority of gamers.

Reviewer: Josh Brown
Full review: Oppo Pad Air review

Our top iPhone pick of this year, the iPhone 15 Pro is a great handset for anyone due a smartphone upgrade. With features including a three-camera system, solid battery life and a powerful processor, the iOS experience doesn’t get any better than this (unless you opt for the iPhone 15 Pro Max). 

Measuring 6.1 inches, it’s smaller than the 15 Pro Max but sports similarly rounded edges and a new aerospace-grade titanium band. We found that the iPhone 15 Pro handset sits comfortably in your hands, which isn’t something to be overlooked in a market flooded with large phones. 

Its new titanium band doesn’t just make it easier and more comfortable to hold but Apple claims it’s the toughest back glass in a smartphone. This is combined with Ceramic Shield glass protection, which Apple also states is tougher than any smartphone glass.

Despite its upgraded durability, the iPhone 15 Pro weighs 20g less than the iPhone 14 Pro, so it’s even lighter than before too.

The iPhone 15 Pro runs on the A17 Pro chipset which is the most up-to-date offering from Apple. We found this to be an impressively fast and powerful processor, with benchmark tests reporting multi-core scores that are around 2000 points higher than previously top-performing Android smartphones. 

The iPhone 15 Pro features a three-lens rear camera system which includes a 48MP main lens, a 12MP ultrawide lens and a 12MP 3x telephoto lens, so images are crisp and detailed in both well-lit and even low-light conditions. The 15 Pro Max may offer a 5x telephoto lens but we still found the 15 Pro to be perfectly capable. 

Other notable changes from its predecessors include the shift from Lightning charging to USB-C, and the Action Button which replaces the silent switch, allowing you to trigger features such as the torch or camera.

If you want a truly powerful smartphone that offers speedy performance, high-end camera quality and impressive durability then the iPhone 15 Pro is a near-perfect choice.

Reviewer: Lewis Painter

Full review: Apple iPhone 15 Pro review

You might be looking for an iPhone that can deliver all the very best that Apple has to offer, along with the biggest screen you can fit your hands around as well. No problem: that’s what the iPhone 15 Pro Max is for.

With an enormous 6.7-inch OLED 120Hz screen, you will feel truly immersed in games and films when you’re using this behemoth of a handset, in a way that smaller-screened devices simply can’t compete with. It also allows Apple to fit a larger battery within, meaning battery life is a little better than the iPhone 15 Pro too.

The real benefit here compared to its predecessor is the upgraded titanium chassis, making it much lighter to hold, and the rounded edges help it sit nicely in the hand too.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max truly shines in the camera department, however, with a camera setup that bests even the iPhone 15 Pro. While the two share the same 48MP main and 12MP ultrawide lenses, the iPhone 15 Pro Max sports a better 5x zoom that allows you to get much closer to the subject than the 3x alternative on the iPhone 15 Pro.

In all other ways, it’s identical to the iPhone 15 Pro, with the same A17 Bionic chipset, USB-C connectivity and Action button support. It’s just a bigger, more expensive variant.

Reviewer: Max Parker 

Full review: iPhone 15 Pro Max review

The iPhone 15 Pro might be the best iPhone, but we’d say the iPhone 15 offers arguably better value for a lot of people. It’s a device that’s just as capable in most areas as its “Pro” siblings, but it does make a few sacrifices to hit its lower price. 

There’s no telephoto camera for improved zooming, for example, and the display is simply a 60Hz panel – so it lacks the smoother scrolling you get with the 120Hz panel. If you’re willing to accept these missing features, then we think this phone will suit you down to the ground.

Besides, the gap has closed significantly between the iPhone 15 and its Pro variant with the iPhone 15, with this year’s entry-level model boasting both Dynamic Island tech and a main 48MP camera – features previously exclusive to the Pro iPhones that elevate the experience on offer.

The iPhone 15 has also had a slight tweak to its design, with slightly rounded edges that make the phone nicer to hold in the hand, and the new matte finish on the rear both feels good and repels fingerprints very well. There’s also USB-C connectivity, new across the entire iPhone 15 range.

Everyday performance is solid thanks to the A16 Bionic, a chipset still capable of taking on the flagship Android competition despite the fact it’s now a year old, and battery life is solid too – though it’s still a phone you’ll want to charge every night.

Apple also still sells the iPhone 14, which remains a good buy if you want to save a little extra money.

Reviewer: Max Parker 

Full review: iPhone 15 review

The iPhone 15 Plus makes a lot more sense than its predecessor did, with a price closer to the regular iPhone 15 than the Pro models that make it a tempting alternative to the top-end iPhone 15 Pro Max. The crucial element that helps the 15 Plus stand out? Battery life.

There’s a larger cell in the iPhone 15 Plus than the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, and with its 6.7-inch OLED panel locked at a stable 60Hz, it can even beat the iPhone 15 Pro Max in terms of longevity. It’s a phone that’ll keep on going, as we found out during the review period.

We also prefer the 6.7-inch screen to the 6.1-inch iPhone 15. It’s a little roomier for games and movies, and less cramped for typing emails and browsing the web. Importantly, it’s a much lighter phone than the 15 Pro Max and more comfortable to hold as a result – something also aided by slightly rounded corners, a new touch compared to its predecessor.

The iPhone 15 Plus also enjoys other upgrades present on the regular iPhone 15, like a jump to a 48MP primary camera, the introduction of Dynamic Island tech and the use of the A16 Bionic chipset, all of which culminate in a great big-screen iPhone without the Pro Max price – it’s just a shame the display remains locked at 60Hz.

Reviewer: Lewis Painter

Full review: iPhone 15 Plus review

With the release of the iPhone 15, the iPhone 13 mini is starting to show its age, but its small dimensions mean it’s still the most compact iPhone available – and it’s now available for as little as £599.

The iPhone 13 Mini takes everything you’ll find in the iPhone 13 and then shrinks it down to an even smaller size. It has the same duo of 12MP rear cameras, the same Super Retina XDR screen quality and the same overall design as its larger sibling – and it also runs on the same A15 Bionic chipset, so it boasts 5G and excellent general performance.

We’d recommend this as easily the best small phone on the market, but that said, its diminutive size does introduce a couple of issues. These aren’t necessarily downsides, depending on your point of view, but they’re still factors that might influence your buying decision.

The 5.4-inch display is a lot smaller than the 6.1-inch screen on the iPhone 15. That means the Mini isn’t as suitable for gaming or media binges as the regular-sized iPhone, and it also means that the battery size had to be reduced, so it’s the iPhone with the worst battery life – at least in our tests. If you’re a heavy user, you might be reaching for the charger even before the end of the day based on our experience with the Mini.

Still, there isn’t really anything else like this on the market, and if you prize pocketability above all else, then it is a great choice.

Reviewer: Max Parker 

Full review: iPhone 13 Mini review

Apple’s cheapest iPhone is also the most confusing. While we like a lot of stuff about the iPhone SE 2022 and it scored well in our overall review, the tired design and slightly dated screen make it a harder proposition than the other phones on this list.

However, on the inside, there’s no doubt that the iPhone SE 2022 is a winner. The A15 Bionic chipset is the same as you’ll find in the iPhone 13 mini, and in benchmark tests, it outstripped the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra for sheer performance. Considering the price, that’s an impressive feat and it should support software updates for years and years to come, making it a good investment.

We were impressed with the camera here too. The single 12MP unit takes snaps with lovely colour reproduction and accurate skin tones that aren’t too far off what you’d get on the iPhone 13, although that gap has widened with the subsequent release of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15.

Battery life is on par with the iPhone 13 Mini and, like all the phones here, it has an IP rating for dust and water resistance along with 5G and wireless charging. You rarely get this collection of premium features on other phones at this price point.

This phone really isn’t for those who want a phone with a great screen. The 4.7-inch panel is dinky, not nearly as bright or sharp as the 13 series, and comes with chunky black bars on either side to boot. It feels rather old-fashioned, although the home button is nice for navigation and quick unlocking.

Reviewer: Max Parker 

Full review: iPhone SE 2022 review

Samsung’s 2024 flagship is here in the form of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and it has taken the top spot in our list of the best phones you can buy right now. Our expert reviewer felt that the phone ticked every box for what a flagship phone can offer, from a great design to a stunning display, versatile cameras, true all-day battery life, and, for the first time, GenAI capabilities.

The S24 Ultra’s camera setup now caps out at 5x with its periscope lens, down from the 10x of its predecessor. But fear not; with an upgraded 50MP resolution and improved OIS, our reviewer found that it’d perform just as well as the dedicated 10x lens while also providing much better images at 5-10x than the 3x telephoto could ever manage.

Elsewhere, the cameras remain largely unchanged, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The combination of 200MP main, 12MP ultrawide, and 10MP 3x telephoto lenses captures images with swathes of detail in all manner of conditions.

The overall design has also seen a facelift, boasting a new titanium chassis, Corning’s new Gorilla Armor display protection and a transition from a curved to flat 6.82-inch AMOLED display – a small change, but one that makes a positive difference, especially when using the bundled S Pen. Combined with returning screen tech like an LTPO-enabled 120Hz refresh rate, support for HDR10+ and its pixel-packed QHD+ resolution, it really is an exquisite display.

The flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy processor delivers not only solid everyday performance but new GenAI capabilities in the form of Galaxy AI. It means the phone can perform actions like rewriting messages, dictating voice recordings and even real-time translation, though this is also a feature of the more affordable S24 and S24 Plus.

Battery life is also superb. A 5000mAh cell delivers all-day battery life even with elements like the QHD+ and always-on display active, with enough stamina to last well into a second day before needing a top-up.

The big thing holding the S24 Ultra back is the £1249/$1299 asking price. If you want a slightly cheaper – but still very capable – Android superphone, the outgoing Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra remains an admirable performer if you can find it at a heavy discount. There’s also the more modest Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24 Plus – although these do miss out on the top-end cameras and S Pen support.

Reviewer: Lewis Painter
Full review: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review

If you’re looking for a true flagship phone and want iOS, as opposed to Android, you’re going to be looking at the iPhone 15 Pro Max – the current best iPhone on the market.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max offers the very best of Apple’s tech, with returning staples like Dynamic Island and the stunning 6.7-inch ProMotion display with an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate that makes everything feel buttery smooth, from general swiping to gaming.

There’s more to it than its large display, however. The iPhone 15 Pro Max introduces a new Action Button in place of the volume slider, allowing you to program shortcuts at the press of a button. This ranges from basic functions like turning on the torch to more advanced options like activating a shortcut to control smart home tech, and it really makes accessing apps and shortcuts a breeze.

There’s also an upgraded titanium chassis in place of the stainless steel of its predecessor. That not only makes the iPhone less of a fingerprint magnet, but it’s also much lighter this time around too. Combined with impressively small bezels and slightly rounded edges, it feels much nicer to hold and use.

It’s also incredibly performant with the new 3nm A17 Pro chipset, allowing the iPhone 15 Pro Max to stay comfortably ahead of the Android competition in terms of day-to-day performance. With console-level games now available on the App Store, you’ll see a real benefit to the top-end chipset, too.

Interestingly, the camera setup is unique even compared to the regular iPhone 15 Pro. It boasts an upgraded 5x optical zoom alongside the same 12MP ultrawide and 48MP main lenses as its predecessor that allows it to get even closer to the subject without physically moving. It’s still not as capable as the likes of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but it’s closer than ever.

Throw in comfortable all-day battery life, the switch from Lightning to USB-C and a whole host of software features courtesy of iOS 17 and you’ve got as close to the perfect iPhone that we’ve seen so far.

Reviewer: Max Parker
Full review: Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max review

The Google Pixel 8 Pro is a fantastic Android phone that, even with a price rise, still undercuts rivals like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra when it comes to price, without ditching too many features.

Google’s latest flagship, launched alongside the smaller Pixel 8, ticks just about all the boxes our reviewers look for in a phone that ends up on this list. It has a great screen with a smooth adaptive 120Hz refresh rate and impressive max brightness that makes it easy to use in daylight, accompanied by a sleek design with a new matte finish, capable internals thanks to the Tensor G3 and battery life that can compete with the best around.

But there are really two areas where the Pixel 8 Pro stands out compared to the Android competition. The biggest is the camera performance. Our reviewer was very impressed with the photography skills of this phone, praising its true-to-life skin tones, colours and crisp nature of images. It handles skin and pictures of faces better than the iPhone 15 Pro, or Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

There are lots of software tricks in the camera app too, all powered by the AI focus of the Tensor G3. This year’s model introduces new features like Best Take which uses AI to swap out bad poses in group selfies, while a new video feature allows you to remove annoying background noises easily. This is in addition to existing fan favourites like Magic Eraser, Magic Unblur and more to get the perfect photo.

The rest of the phone’s software is great too. It offers a clean approach to Android 14 with a few unique Pixel features, again powered by the phone’s AI-focused chipset. However, the biggest improvement is the long-term software support, with Google committing to an industry-leading seven years of OS upgrades with the Pixel 8 range that’ll take it through to Android 21.

Reviewer: Max Parker
Full review: Google Pixel 8 Pro Review

If you’re looking for an iPhone that not just gets everything done but also offers a more compact experience than the 6.7-inch display of the iPhone 15 Pro Max, then your best bet would be the iPhone 15 Pro.

Despite the more pocketable dimensions of the 15 Pro, we found that the display experience was just as top-notch with great HDR performance and impressive peak brightness that makes both watching Netflix and playing games look great.

It also packs other key improvements of the top-end iPhone 15 Pro Max, including the new Action button, a switch from stainless steel to titanium and rounded edges that make the phone nicer to hold, as well as the top-end A17 Pro chipset, making for a capable compact iPhone.

However, it does miss out on the 5x optical camera present on the top-end iPhone, instead sporting the same 3.5x lens as the iPhone 14 Pro alongside a 48MP main and 12MP ultrawide lenses. And while still capable of all-day battery life, the compact design means it falls short of the extended battery life of the Pro Max.

Reviewer: Lewis Painter
Full review: iPhone 15 Pro Review

OnePlus phones have gone from strength to strength in recent years, and that trend looks to continue with the new OnePlus 12.

The Android flagship offers a competitive range of features at a cheaper price than many rivals featured in this chart, even with a slightly higher £849/$799 price tag than its predecessor.

That includes a slightly larger 6.8-inch AMOLED display with adaptive 120Hz refresh rate tech that lets it go as high as 120Hz and as low as 1Hz and an astonishing peak brightness of 4500nits. It also boasts support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR Vivid, and 2160Hz PWM dimming, and the slight curvature to the edges helps it sit comfortably in the hand.

It’s more than just a great display though; the OnePlus 12 is all about the camera, sporting a fourth-gen Hasselblad camera system. The 50MP main rear snapper sports the same sensor as the top-end OnePlus Open, delivering consistently detailed, vibrant images both during the day and at night. It’s arguably the new 3x periscope lens that’ll make the most difference though, delivering huge improvements to zoom shots compared to the previous 2x telephoto.

It boasts Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and 256GB of storage as default for solid everyday performance, although we’ve found it doesn’t perform quite as well as some 8 Gen 3 rivals in benchmarks, nor does it take advantage of the GenAI power of the chipset like Samsung’s Galaxy S24 range.

Inside, you’ll find a 5,000mAh battery that’ll last all day and then some, along with 100W SuperVOOC charging that’ll get you from flat to full in less than half an hour. There’s also the benefit of the highly customisable OxygenOS 14, along with OnePlus’ promise of four years of OS upgrades and five years of security updates to appreciate.

Reviewer: Lewis Painter
Full review: OnePlus 12 review

If you want the best possible phone for playing games on the go, our top recommendation is the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition. 

Performance is a top priority for gamers, which is why Asus has gone all-out with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and a whopping 24GB of RAM. Combined with Asus’ proprietary internal cooling tech and the optional cooler that straps to your phone, the ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition delivered consistently solid performance even in high-end demanding mobile games like Genshin Impact.

It’s the gaming-specific features that really stand out though, with the AirTriggers allowing you to use and hold the phone like a gamepad, while the Armoury Crate software allows you to display the frame rate and optimise performance settings. Honestly, there’s a bevvy of optional accessories for the phone to customise the experience to your liking.

The ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition is a different beast compared to other gaming phones though; it doesn’t look like a gaming phone. Asus has ditched the angular design of its predecessor for something that’s much more sleek, with a matte pattern on the rear that feels nice – though one that’s also pretty prone to scratches.

It has also shrunk the bezels of the display, and though it features a customisable LED panel on the rear, it disappears when not in active use. There’s also been an attempt to improve camera performance with an upgraded 50MP main snapper and 3x telephoto, though it’s still not quite at the same level as the likes of the Pixel 8 Pro or Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Costing over £1000/$1000, this is a seriously expensive phone. Those who want a more versatile phone may want to look elsewhere, as the camera quality is still behind that of the competition. But if you fancy a gaming phone that doesn’t look like a gaming phone, there is no better choice than the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition.

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full Review: Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition review

While the Z Flip from Samsung can be seen as the pioneer of the modern flip phone, the Z Flip 5 isn’t the very best phone we’ve tested with this design. In fact, the best clamshell foldable we’ve reviewed is the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra.

The Razr 40 Ultra represents the pinnacle of clamshell foldables in 2024. Our reviewer was a big fan of the high-end design, the huge and very usable outer display, impressive camera performance and the excellent interior display.

The star of the show here is the 3.6-inch outer display, a feature Samsung nabbed for the Z Flip 5. However, Motorola’s software is a little more open and we found you could do more here, including interacting with more apps like Philips Hue for turning off/on lights and replying to a WhatsApp message. This meant we had to open the phone much less.

The rear 12MP camera with OIS and an f/1.5 lens delivered crisp images in all conditions, even when the light is poor. Performance is good too, even if the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset isn’t quite as snappy as the updated version inside Samsung’s latest foldable.

Reviewer: Lewis Painter
Full review: Motorola Razr 40 Ultra

If it’s a book-style foldable phone you want, the best one we’ve reviewed – by some margin – is the OnePlus Open, representing a huge step forward compared to other book-style foldables like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Google Pixel Fold.

That starts with the outer display measuring in at the same 6.31 inches and 20:9 aspect ratio as a standard smartphone, and with identical top-end specs as the larger inner display including an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate and 2800nits peak brightness, there’s no compromise here. It’s a great screen for replying to texts, scrolling through Instagram and anything else you’d do on a phone.

Of course, it’s the inner display that’s most important, and OnePlus has done an impressive job here. Sporting a 7.82-inch OLED display, it’s bigger than the Z Fold 5, and more importantly, the crease is much less visible too. Combined with a unique approach to split-screen multitasking that allows for three full-screen apps to be displayed at once, it offers a stellar foldable experience not really present in most of the competition.

It also takes foldable camera tech to the next level with a trio of rear lenses all specifically designed to be used in the OnePlus foldable. That’s headed up by a capable 48MP sensor that delivers great shots both in well-lit and low-light scenarios, but it’s the 64MP perioscope zoom that truly stands out. It offers both 3.5x and 6x optical zoom, with up to 120x digital zoom. It’s not that great at maximum zoom, but even up to 20x, the results are pretty impressive.

Throw in a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, a large 4805mAh battery with 67W SuperVOOC charging and a cheaper price tag than the competition and you’ve got a very tempting book-style foldable.

Reviewer: Lewis Painter
Full review: OnePlus Open review

If you’re on the hunt for a compact phone that won’t put a dent in your wallet, the Pixel 8a is an outstanding choice. For the price, there are few better choices out there running Android and this is one of our reviewers’ favourite phones of 2024.

It fixes some big complaints with last year’s Pixel 7a, which we already thought was one of the best mid-rangers around, especially in the display department. The 6.1-inch OLED display has been boosted to the same 120Hz as the Pixel 8 while also borrowing the flagship’s Actua display tech to boost brightness to an impressive 2000nits. The bezel is pretty thick, but it’s not a dealbreaker.

It’s also just a nice design overall, with more rounded edges and a matte-finish rear that makes it nicer to hold than the flagship-level Pixel 8 that it’s based on, with IP67 dust and water resistance to boot.

Of course, as with most Pixels, the camera on the Pixel 8a is truly remarkable. The 64MP main sensor from the Pixel 7a returns, but don’t let that disappoint you. The camera excels in capturing accurate skin tones, delivering exceptional low-light performance, and ensuring vibrant and true-to-life colours, and AI-powered editing tools like Best Take and Audio Magic Eraser take the experience even further.

Inside, the Pixel 8a shares the same Tensor G3 chip as its more premium siblings, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. While some might desire even more power in the flagship range, at this price point, the Tensor chip offers perfectly adequate performance and handles various AI-driven features seamlessly. Notably, Tensor powers the phone’s intelligent call-screening capabilities and outstanding voice recorder functionality.

Battery life could be better, as with most small phones, with a 4492mAh cell that can just about get you through a full day’s use. But, without any substantial fast charging and the lack of a charger in the box, it’s a phone that’ll take nearly two hours to fully charge.

That said, the Pixel 8a still represents a compelling option for those seeking a smaller-sized Pixel phone. With its impressive camera, notable features like wireless charging, the Pixel 8a offers excellent value for the price.

Reviewer: Max Parker
Full review: Google Pixel 8a review

If your budget doesn’t quite extend to the heights of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max, the £299 Motorola Edge 40 Neo should be one for serious consideration. Don’t let the budget nature fool you though; this is the only phone in our chart to get the full five-star rating, and there are plenty of reasons why.

Measuring in at 7.76mm thick and 172g, it’s a delight to hold and use, further complemented by a vegan leather rear available in a slew of Pantone-certified finishes that make the Edge 40 Neo stand out from smartphones at all price points, not just the budget market.

That’s further improved by premium features like full IP68 dust and water resistance and a 6.5-inch curved OLED panel with a 144Hz refresh rate that’s faster than most flagships. That makes the Neo particularly well suited to gaming, especially when paired with the snappy Dimensity 7030 and an ample 12GB of RAM that allows it to compete with mid-rangers that cost £200 more.

Despite its svelte dimensions, Motorola has packed a 5000mAh battery into the phone that doesn’t struggle to last a full day, and with 68W charging and a 68W charger in the box, you’ll get 50% charge in just 17 minutes. That easily beats the likes of the Pixel 8 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra in the charging department.

There’s also a 50MP main camera and 13MP ultrawide camera that perform well in both well-lit and low-light scenarios, and stock Android 14 is a nice touch too. Seriously, what’s not to like?

Reviewer: Lewis Painter
Full review: Motorola Edge 40 Neo review

The iPhone 13 mini is the very definition of a compact phone in our eyes, sporting a similar size to the 4.7-inch iPhone SE while sporting a larger 5.4-inch display that essentially takes up the entirety of the front of the phone. 

That combination allows for a form factor that’s refreshingly small and easy to use one-handed, especially at just 140g, while still offering a larger screen than most smartphones its size. Granted, the 5.4-inch 120Hz panel is still far from the 6.1-inch options used by most other compact smartphones in 2024, but if you’re really looking for the smallest, most compact option, this is it. 

It’s not just great because it’s small either; though outshone by the newer iPhone 14 range, the iPhone 13 mini is still an incredibly tempting choice in 2024. 

It sports a powerful A15 Bionic chipset, a decent dual 12MP camera offering and, of course, access to the iOS platform – the only option in our small phone chart able to do so. If using an iPhone is of the utmost importance, this is really your only option. 

The only downside to the iPhone 13 mini is battery life, with a relatively small cell providing just about enough power for our reviewer to get to the end of the day – but only usually with around 3-5% left in the tank. That’s a little too close for comfort.

Review: iPhone 13 mini review
Reviewer: Max Parker

If you’re after a small phone but want to stick with Android, the Asus ZenFone 10 is your best bet.

It’s not quite as small as the iPhone 13 mini, sporting a 5.9-inch 120Hz OLED display, but it’s still comfortably within compact territory when most Android flagships sport 6.7- or even 6.8-inch displays. And as with the iPhone 13 mini, don’t let the compact nature fool you; this is very much a flagship smartphone with specs to match.

That includes the latest and greatest Qualcomm chipset in the form of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, coupled with 8- or 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage to play with, allowing the ZenFone 10 to handle whatever you throw at it with absolute ease. Gaming was also a joy on the compact phone, managing to stay cool even over extended gameplay sessions.

There’s also great camera performance from a combination of a 50MP main and a 13MP ultrawide, particularly when it comes to image stabilsation, and a 32MP RGBW selfie camera delivers some of the best selfies we’ve seen this year.

What really makes the ZenFone 10 stand apart from the competition, however, is its hugely customisable approach to Android 13. 

You can either opt for Asus’ ZenUI skin or adopt something very close to stock Android, with additional support for Material You and other customisable elements of the UI. It goes much further than practically any other Android OEM, making it a joy to use day-to-day.

Throw in comfortable all-day battery life from a 4,300mAh cell and you’ve got a great compact Android smartphone that doesn’t cost the Earth. 

Review: Asus ZenFone 10 review
Reviewer: Lewis Painter

The Asus ZenFone 10 remains the smallest flagship Android smartphone around, but the Samsung Galaxy S24 is not only more powerful, but offers a larger screen in a body that’s not much bigger than that of the ZenFone.

The 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen is a slight increase on last year’s 6.1-inch panel, but don’t fret; that’s possible due to Samsung shrinking the screen’s bezels, leaving the form factor near-identical to its older sibling. That means it’s not only bigger while still maintaining a compact form factor, but it boasts high-end specs like an LTPO-enabled 120Hz refresh rate alongside HDR10+ support and a maximum brightness of 2600nits. 

It gets a little bit confusing in the chipset department with the UK, Europe and other regions finding the Exynos 2400 chipset while those in the US get the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy.

We reviewed the former, though we’ve benchmarked the latter and it’s clear that the Snapdragon-equipped variant is more powerful in GPU tests, but you likely won’t notice a difference in everyday use. It’s rapid, responsive and utilises GenAI capabilities to provide on-device translation, voice recording transcription and more. That should only continue to improve with its improved seven years of OS upgrades, the longest of any small-screen phone right now.

The only disappointment is camera performance; while it’s far from a bad camera setup, comprised of a 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide and 10MP telephoto, it remains entirely unchanged for a third year running and, as such, there are more performative options on the market – though many of these are attached to bigger screens like Samsung’s own 6.8-inch Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Still, if you’re looking for a solid small-screen flagship that can handle just about anything you throw at it, the Galaxy S24 remains a tempting option.

Review: Samsung Galaxy S24 review
Reviewer: Max Parker

What if your budget doesn’t quite extend to flagship-level smartphones like the S24 or ZenFone 10? The Google Pixel 8a is our recommendation for compact smartphone fans on a bit more of a budget. 

The Pixel 8a measures in at a compact 6.1 inches, boasts a smooth 120Hz refresh rate and even borrows the Actua tech from the flagship Pixel 8 to boost brightness to 2000nits. It’s also a nice compact size that sits nicely in the hand, especially with the Pixel 8a’s rounded edges.

Where the Pixel 7a flexes its mid-range muscles is in the camera department, using the flagship-level Tensor G2 chipset to power a range of AI features like Super Res Zoom and Night Sight, along with exclusive photo editing features that remove distractions from the background and even sharpen blurry images. 

That AI goodness also extends to the general experience, with the Pixel 8a’s stock Android 14 littered with handy AI features to improve your day-to-day, be it displaying upcoming calendar invites and the weather on the Home screen to Recently Played, an AI feature that automatically detects music in your environment as you go about your day – a real boon for music discovery.

Battery life is also solid, though it’s still very much just a one-day device – one of the downsides of more compact smartphones.

Still, if you’re looking for a compact phone on a budget, you won’t find a more capable option than the Google Pixel 8a in 2024. 

Review: Google Pixel 8a
Reviewer: Max Parker

What if you want a compact phone without having to compromise on the large-screen experience? That’s where foldables come into play. 

While technically not a small screen phone with a 6.8-inch 165Hz AMOLED display, the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra folds to half its height when not in use, making its folded footprint much more compact than most other small phones in 2024.

It essentially provides the best of both worlds: a large, expansive display great for TikTok and scrolling through the web that folds down to a much more compact form when not in use.

Elsewhere, the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra sports an elegant, premium design with either a glass or vegan leather finish, with the latter providing much better grip when holding the phone one-handed. It’s also available in rather stylish colour options, including a vibrant Pantone-inspired Viva Magenta finish, making it stand out from the crowd – foldable and otherwise.

It also sports a solid 12MP main camera with an impressive f/1.5 aperture and an accompanying 13MP ultrawide that make snapping images a quick and easy process, and due to the foldable nature of the phone, you can half-open it and use it as a tripod for hands-free capture.

Throw in solid performance from the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset, all-day battery life, a large, expansive external display that helps cut down how often you need to unfold the phone and solid charging and you’ve got a great compact foldable.  

Review: Motorola Razr 40 Ultra review
Reviewer: Lewis Painter

Garmin has no shortage of wearables in its arsenal, so much so that if you were to approach its wares without any instinct over which one to get, the whole thing could get quite overwhelming pretty quickly. With that in mind, if you just want the absolute top dog from Garmin that can do almost anything and won’t leave you wanting when out on a run, then the Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) is your best bet.

It certainly doesn’t come cheap with a starting price of £829.99/$899.99 but in return, the Epix Pro (Gen 2) packs one of the most feature-rich Garmin experiences to date. For starters you get an AMOLED display which is much brighter and easier on the eyes than Garmin’s traditional memory-in-pixel panels, making this feel like a proper modern running watch.

If you’re ever running in the dark or travelling down a dimly lit trail, then you can make use of the built-in torch on the Epix Pro to illuminate the way. You won’t have to worry about it draining the battery either as the Epix Pro can run for up to 16 days on a single charge.

This is all on top of the excellent mapping features offered by Garmin, which show you detailed topography and points of interest ahead of time on any outdoor runs you want to undertake. It’s definitely overkill for most people but for the ardent athletes among you, you’ll get on very well with the Epix Pro (Gen 2).

Reviewer: Michael Sawh
Full review: Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) review

The Enduro 2 is Garmin’s latest wearable for extreme runners. It’s also one of its most expensive. The Enduro 2 differentiates itself from the other watches on this list with its overt focus on battery life above all else.

Garmin’s designed it to offer up to 46 days of use as a smartwatch (with solar) and up to 150 hours GPS battery life (with solar). During testing we easily managed to get 3.5 weeks of heavy use out of the wearable. This included daily 5km runs with the GPS on and 10km’ jogs over the weekend.

Add to this its near indestructible design, healthy portfolio of fitness and health analytics, which are identical to what you get on the Fenix 7, accurate distance tracking and local mapping support, and the Enduro 2 becomes an easy recommendation for hardcore runners.

The only real downside is that you have to pay a real premium to get the battery life with it costing significantly more than the Fenix 7. As a result, we recommend most runners, that don’t need 150 hours of GPS tracking, to opt for the cheaper Fenix 7.

Reviewer: Michael Sawh
Full review: Garmin Enduro 2 review

Fitbit has long been adding useful features with each iteration of its popular Charge series but it’s in the Fitbit Charge 6 that the company took a major leap. With Fitbit now under the ownership of Google, the Charge 6 has made full use of the acquisition with several helpful features.

The two biggest improvements arrive in the form of support for Google Wallet and Google Maps. This means that if you want to grab a quick post-run coffee but you’ve left your phone at home, you can complete that transaction solely on the Charge 6.

The same can’t be said for Google Maps, but it is handy to have as a means of quickly navigating where you need to go next if you’re running on a route that’s unfamiliar to you. There’s also support for YouTube Music controls on the device itself.

Throw all of these additions onto the already fantastic Fitbit ecosystem and GPS route tracking, and you’re looking at one of the most fleshed out wearables within the sub-£200 end of the market.

Reviewer: Conor Allison
Full review: Fitbit Charge 6 review

The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is the best option for runners that want a full-functioning smartwatch too. The tracker is powered by Wear OS and that means you’ll find a much more developed application library than any of the other trackers on this list. Of course, you need an Android phone for this device, so it’s also for people who don’t have an iPhone.

There’s support for all the major running ecosystems including Strava, Runkeeper, my Fitness Pal and Samsung Health. 

On top of that, you’ll get Spotify support and reliable GPS that, during our tests, proved wonderfully fast and reliable.

The rugged watch impressed when it came to analytics. The Samsung Health app offers detailed breakdowns of your running performance. These include common metrics, like how long you spent in each heart rate zone as well as more detailed ones like contact time and stiffness. It was the latter that helped our reviewer identify issues with his technique and will prove especially useful to other runners.

The only real downside to the watch compared to some of the other options on this list, like the Forerunner 955, is that the Watch 5 Pro has a distinctly shorter battery life. Like many smartwatches, our reviewer never managed to get three days of regular use out of the device. 

It’s also slightly annoying that despite supporting GPX route planning, the feature doesn’t support running. Instead it’s limited to cycling and hiking. But if you want a proper smartwatch as well as a running companion and don’t like the look of Apple’s then this is the best option available.

Reviewer: Alastair Stevenson
Full review: Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro review

Suunto’s had plenty misses in the past, never quite keeping up with the level of quality offered by the competition, but that changes with the Suunto Race. Here is a watch that not only goes head to head with the likes of the Garmin Forerunner 965 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2, it also manages to massively undercut its competitors on price.

With an RRP of £389 (and a pricier titanium version available for £479), the Suunto Race sits comfortably in the mid-range sector of the running watch market, but you’re getting plenty of bang for your buck.

For starters, it’s the first Suunto watch to boast an AMOLED display, which is bright and easy to read outdoors – perfect for the free, colourful maps that can be downloaded to the watch and used when out on a run.

Heart rate monitoring is decent enough and there’s no shortage of workouts that can be tracked beyond running, but it’s the ability to get a week’s worth of use with the screen always-on that truly sets the Suunto Race several laps ahead of the competition.

Reviewer: Michael Sawh
Full Review: Suunto Race

Apple Watch Ultra 2

Best for watchOS

Trusted Score

Pros

• Top screen
• Excellent sports tracking
• The best Apple Watch

Cons

• Fitness tracking feels dated
• Lack of performance analysis
• Mapping rolling out slowly

It almost goes without saying but no other watch on this list can compete with the Apple Watch Ultra 2 where software is concerned. Apple’s watchOS remains the gold standard for wearable software thanks to its intuitive UI and the presence of countless third party apps in its dedicated app store.

It’s also a no-brainer for anyone with an iPhone as you’ll spot plenty of seamless integration between the two devices, and that’s before mentioning additional benefits like onboard Siri and fast pairing with other Apple products like the AirPods Pro 2.

With all of that said however, there isn’t much point in picking this device up if you already own the first-gen Apple Watch Ultra. Similar to its approach with the Apple Watch 9, Apple’s 2024 line-up is incredibly iterative with only three major upgrades to speak of: a brighter display, a faster chipset and the new Double Tap interaction.

Those features aren’t quite enough to justify an upgrade from the Apple Watch Ultra, but if this is your foray into the Ultra series, or even your first-ever Apple Watch, then the Ultra 2 is easy to recommend.

That brighter display (now 3000 nits instead of 1000 nits) is incredibly easy to read outdoors and it makes the torch function even handier when you’re running on darker trails. The new S9 chip, aside from allowing the Watch to feel faster during everyday use, now paves the way for specific on-device Siri responses, avoiding the delay that comes with pinging your requests over to your phone first.

The Double Tap feature sees Apple expand upon one of its accessibility concepts by allowing you to interact with certain apps simply by double tapping your thumb and forefinger together. This means that you can answer calls or stop timers, all without needing to touch the display which, during heavier workouts, is handy for keeping sweat away from the display.

Bear in mind that, just like its predecessor, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 doesn’t exactly topple the competition where battery life is concerned but for everything else it’s right at the top of the pack.

Reviewer: James Stables
Full review: Apple Watch Ultra 2 review

Coros Apex 2

Best for durability

Trusted Score

Pros

• Top-tier titanium and Sapphire build
• Small face but great screen clarity
• Good battery life
• Sufficient number of advanced fitness features

Cons

• On-watch maps are of limited use
• Crown-led navigation can feel clunky
• Some issues with early workout HR reliability

Garmin and Fitbit may be the go-to reference points in the public discourse surrounding fitness trackers and running watches but Coros has been gradually making a case for its own line of wearables and the Coros Apex 2 shows exactly why the company is a force to be reckoned with.

For starters, the Apex 2 features a part-titanium chassis with a robust sapphire display, both of which are rare for wearables around the same price point. What this means is that if you’re the type of person who worries about getting scratches on their smartwatch or accidentally knocking the device during a workout, then the Apex 2 can give you peace of mind with the ability to withstand a fair amount.

As great as the watch’s durability is, it’s not the only reason why you should consider it over a Garmin. In accordance with the Coros app, the Apex 2 can offer up a near dizzying amount of metrics and you can also programme a workout routine on your phone which is then ready to be viewed whenever you need on your wrist.

All of these metrics don’t come at the cost of battery life either, as the Apex 2 can still manage to crack on for up to 17-days on a single charge, making it ideal for anyone looking to head off on a long hike.

Part of that outstanding battery life is owed to the transflective LCD screen which, even though it isn’t quite as snazzy as an AMOLED display, is by its very nature easier to read outdoors which is exactly what you want when out on a run.

The key issue holding the Apex 2 back from greatness is the on-the-watch map system which just isn’t as intuitive or easy to populate as it is on Garmin devices. If you already know the routes that you plan on running however then this won’t be much of an issue.

Reviewer: Andrew Williams
Full review: Coros Apex 2 review

If you’re looking for a running watch that is well suited to smaller wrists, the Garmin Forerunner 265s is a fantastic choice. The smartwatch sits below the top-end Forerunner 965 but offers more advanced training metrics and features than the budget-oriented Forerunner 55. 

The Forerunner 265s sports a 41.7mm case, keeping it small and light on the wrist. The watch has five physical buttons and is paired with an 18mm quick-release silicone band available in three colours. 

Unlike our best mid-level running watch, the Garmin Forerunner 255, the 256s boasts a small 1.1-inch AMOLED display with a 360 x 360 resolution, an always-on mode and raise-to-wake gesture support. The screen is built from tough Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and is incredibly vibrant with deep blacks and rich, accurate colours 

While the Forerunner 265s is primarily designed to support runners, the wearable also offers some swimming, cycling and indoor workout tracking capabilities. There are even profiles for skiing and snowboarding, as well as a dedicated triathlon mode. 

For running, the Forerunner 265s is excellent. The wearable is small and lightweight to run with and the screen makes it easy to view and customise your stats in real-time. Many of the running features are the same as those found on the 255, including the Sat IQ and multiband GPS technology which ensure you’re using the best GPS tracking option for any environment. We found this feature performed well against similar features on the Apple Watch Ultra and Garmin’s own Forerunner 965. 

Treadmill runs perform similarly well and there’s the option to calibrate the watch to ensure it offers accurate tracking on future runs. 

The Garmin Coach feature allows you to sync running-focussed workouts on the watch and there’s the option to upload routes for breadcrumb-style navigation (for more complete mapping, opt for a pricier Garmin watch). Other features include the race predictor and PacePro pacing strategies, while Training Readiness offers insight based on heart rate variability, sleep quality, recovery and training load to let you know whether you should be training that day or taking a day off to rest. 

Despite the new AMOLED screen, the battery life is still very good, offering up to 15-days of use in smartwatch mode with the always-on screen deactivated and up to 24-hours when using the optimal GPS tracking mode. 

That Garmin Forerunner 265s may be a bit pricier than the Forerunner 255 with its coloured AMOLED display, but it’s nevertheless a great running watch and perfectly-sized for smaller wrists. 

Reviewer: Michael Sawh
Full Review: Garmin Forerunner 265s review

The one trade-off with running watches is that while they’re packed full of fitness-centric features, they tend to drop the ball when it comes to looks. There are very few running watches out there that would complement a suit or a dress, but luckily Huawei has fixed that gap in the market with the eye-catching Huawei Watch GT 4.

This latest entry serves as something of a fashion-first rebrand for the GT series as the watch comes in two size options (41mm and 46mm) and seven unique colourways. Options like the Rainforest Green GMT and the smaller Light Gold pick look more like traditional watches to the point that, from a distance, you’d be hard pressed to think that there was anything digital about them.

While they have plenty of eye-catching flair, the various GT 4 watches don’t miss a beat when it comes to fitness tracking. For starters, the GT 4 boasts Huawei’s new smart satellite antenna which allows for a better GPS connection even when the watch isn’t facing upwards

There’s also a new heart rate sensor powered by Huawei’s TruSeen 5.5 Plus technology, giving you more accurate heart rate zones when you’re out on a run to ensure that you don’t end up overtraining and increase the risk of injury.

If you’re trying to meet an ideal weight before an upcoming marathon then you may also appreciate the new Stay Fit app that lets you track your calorie intake and deficit on the watch itself. It does require a lot of manual input but if this is something that’s important to you then it is a handy feature to have.

The Huawei Watch GT 4 has a quoted battery life up to 14-days on a single chage but if you’re really putting it through its paces then that changes to around seven days of real-world use. This is still pretty good in itself, but if you do want a longer stint then you’re better off looking at some of the Garmin watches on this list.

Still, one thing that does work in the GT 4’s favour is its price point. The GT 4 starts at £229.99/€249 which is quite remarkable when you consider just how fashionable the thing is. So long as you can deal with the limitations that come with Huawei’s HarmonyOS (like its limited app store) then you’ll get on just fine with the Watch GT 4. 

Reviewer: Michael Sawh
Full Review: Huawei Watch GT 4 review

If your budget doesn’t stretch beyond £100/$100 then there isn’t too much choice at this end of the market, particularly with wearables that include untethered GPS tracking. Luckily, it’s not a complete wipeout as the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro not only packs this feature, it actually does a decent job of quickly establishing a connection and staying accurate in its results.

In our review, we found that the Band 8 Pro was comparable to the much pricier Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) in this area, making it a great shout for anyone who wants to keep tabs on their route performance without paying premium prices.

Heart rate monitoring isn’t quite as accurate as the GPS performance, but the device is bolstered by a long battery life of up to 14-days, not to mention its fairly stylish design and gorgeous 1.74-inch AMOLED display. For a price that doesn’t break the bank, the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro holds up incredibly well.

Reviewer: Conor Allison
Full Review: Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro review