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More than 17 years after Apple popularized the smartphone, 2024 marked another important milestone in its development.
Nearly every flagship phone this year features some sort of artificial intelligence (AI), with tools for photo editing, text generation, real-time translation, and more.
But despite all the AI improvements this year, the fundamentals of a great phone remain the same: performance, display, cameras, software and battery life. And these handsets do it better than any other.
See all the winners of this year’s Tech Advisor Best of 2024-2025 Awards.
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 any company has ever gotten.
This 6.8-inch beast excels in just about every important area, combining that stunning large screen with great Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 performance and a full two days of battery life for many people.
There’s no such thing as a perfect phone, but the Galaxy S24 Ultra is the closest any company has ever gotten
Add to that some of the best cameras around, easy-to-use software with useful Galaxy AI features, and seven years of industry-leading updates, and it’s clear that Samsung is onto a winner. You even get a handy built-in S Pen stylus.
If you don’t mind a big phone and are happy to pay for it, this is the ultimate Android device and a worthy winner.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review
$1,049
$1299.99
$1379.97
$1419.99
Best new phone of the year – First runner-up: Xiaomi 14 Ultra
Chris Martin / Foundry
Phones have been most people’s favorite way to take photos for a while now, but until now they’ve never quite been able to compete with dedicated cameras.
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 good camera, with incredible photos to match.
This combines beautifully with the stunning vegan leather design and beautiful 6.7-inch screen, with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 once again delivering excellent performance. The long 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 the 14 Ultra isn’t the overall 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 sound like a brand new phone, but it is actually a direct successor to the Pixel 8 Pro from 2023.
An updated design maintains the Pixel’s signature look, while build quality is now better than ever. There’s also a wide range of AI features, some of which are actually useful.
Elsewhere, the 9 Pro XL retains everything that made the Pixel 8 Pro so great. That means incredible cameras and the slickest software of 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 if charging is still slow. However, it is still undoubtedly an excellent phone.
Read our full Google Pixel 9 Pro XL review.
$1,090
$1099
$1099
$1529.98
For more great options, check out our full guide to the best phones you can buy. You may also be interested in all the 2023-2024 award winners.