More than 17 years after Apple popularized the smartphone, 2024 marks a new important milestone in its development.
This year, almost all flagship phones have been equipped with artificial intelligence (AI), offering tools for photo editing, text generation, real-time translation and much more.
But despite all the advances in AI this year, the fundamentals of a good phone remain the same: performance, display, cameras, software and battery life. And these handsets do it better than all the others.
Check out all of this year’s Tech Advisor Best of 2024-25 award winners.
Best New Phone of the Year – Winner: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
There’s no such thing as a perfect phone, but the Galaxy S24 Ultra is the closest phone a company has ever made.
This 6.8-inch beast excels in almost every key area, that stunning big screen combined with the stellar performance of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and two full days of battery life for many people.
There’s no such thing as a perfect phone, but the Galaxy S24 Ultra is the closest phone a company has ever made
Add in some of the best cameras on the market, user-friendly software with useful Galaxy AI features, and seven years of top-notch updates, and it’s clear that Samsung is on the right track. You even get a useful built-in S Pen.
If you don’t mind a big phone and are happy to pay for it, this is the ultimate Android handset and a worthy winner.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review
$1,089.50
Best New Phone of the Year – First Runner-Up: Xiaomi 14 Ultra
Chris Martin / Foundry
Phones have been most people’s preferred way to take photos for a while, but they can never really compete with dedicated cameras – until now.
Combined with the optional Photography Kit accessory, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is a true DSLR replacement for most people. It really feels like you’re using a proper camera, with amazing photos to match.
This combines beautifully with the stunning vegan leather design and stunning 6.7-inch display, with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 once again delivering superb performance. The strong battery life and 90W fast charging make it even more attractive.
Xiaomi’s HyperOS software isn’t the most intuitive (although perfectly usable), which is the only real reason why the 14 Ultra isn’t the clear winner.
Read our full Xiaomi 14 Ultra review.
Best New Phone of the Year – Runner-up: Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
Jon Mundy / Foundry
The Pixel 9 Pro XL may look like a brand new phone, but it’s actually the direct successor to 2023’s Pixel 8 Pro.
An updated design retains the Pixel’s signature look, while build quality is now better than ever. There are also a wide range of AI features, some of which are genuinely useful.
Elsewhere, the 9 Pro XL retains everything that made the Pixel 8 Pro so great. That means incredible cameras and the best software in any phone, not to mention seven years of updates. The 6.8-inch screen is also better than ever.
Battery life is decent, but becomes more problematic when charging is still slow. This is undoubtedly still a great phone.
Read our full Google Pixel 9 Pro XL review.
$1,090
$1,099
For other great options, check out our complete guide to the best phones you can buy. You might also be interested in all 2023-2024 winners.
