The Cutting Edge: Ranking the Best Smartphone in 2024

Lucas

Choosing the right smartphone can be a hard process. These days, a lot of different brands and models exist. Which one suits your desires and needs? It depends on what you want to use your smartphone for.

In this article, I pick the best smartphone in 2024 for seniors, photography, kids, gaming, and video recording. If you do not want to read the specs, pros, and cons of each smartphone, please check my picks below:

Best Smartphone in 2024

Best Smartphone for Seniors

Apple iPhone 15 Plus

An extremely high-end iPhone

With its large, easily readable screen, this phone offers the most comprehensive health and safety features available, such as a personal safety check, off-grid SOS, and a plethora of adjustable accessibility choices.

Large and wide screen of 6.7 inches
Great camera with 48 megapixels for regular and wide-angle photography
Necessary features for safety and health
This phone may be too big and hefty for some people to comfortably handle in their hands if they have weaker grips or smaller hands.
Although it is a nice feature, the additional check-in option is hidden within the Messages app and takes a few steps to use. When attempting to stay in touch with loved ones or notify them of a problem, some people may find it complex or challenging to utilize.

Why It’s The Best Smartphone for Seniors

This smartphone is a great option for any older adult who is tech-savvy and prepared to shell out extra money for a high-end model that has a variety of functions related to health, safety, and accessibility. This is also the phone that I recommend for most people.

And there are more reasons why this is the best smartphone for seniors:

It is fairly light and features a big screen: With a larger screen (6.7 inches) than both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, as well as a somewhat lighter weight (7.09 ounces) than the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the iPhone 15 Plus strikes the sweet spot when compared to the other models in the iPhone 15 lineup.

Its camera is excellent: Two cameras are included in the iPhone 15 Plus: one for regular photography and the other for wide-angle photography. Even in low light, it produces some of the greatest phone shots we have ever seen. It also has a significantly better standard lens than the iPhone 14 Plus, with 48 megapixels compared to the previous model’s 12 megapixels.

It provides essential features for health and safety: With features like crash detection, which alerts emergency services automatically if you are in a car accident, and off-grid emergency SOS via GPS, which connects you to emergency services even if you are far from a cell tower, the iPhone 15 series offers the most health and safety features of all the smartphones at this moment. In order to notify loved ones that you have reached your location safely, it also includes a check-in option that can be accessed through the Messages app. Furthermore, the phone’s built-in Health app offers additional monitoring possibilities.

Strong privacy safeguards are included: Apple offers some of the best solutions for sharing information and protecting privacy on iOS. Options include limiting location sharing, limiting email and ad tracking, adjusting app permissions, and disabling trackers in Safari.

Best Smartphone for Photography

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

The best smartphone for taking crisp, high-quality pictures

The top Samsung model, the S23 Ultra, has been replaced by the S24 Ultra. While the 200MP main camera retains the same pixel-binning technology as its predecessor, the telephoto camera has been improved to a new 50MP 5x telephoto zoom, replacing the 10MP 10x telephoto seen on the S22/S23 ultra.

Slightly better image quality
Greatly enhanced screen with better scratch
resistance and less reflection
Increased AI functionalities
Macro mode is not as fast as others
Shutter lag is really painful for subjects that move quickly
45W charging appears to be sluggish

Why It’s The Best Smartphone for Photography

The camera specifications of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra are as follows:

Rear cameras: 200MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto (3x zoom), 50MP telephoto (5x zoom)
Front camera: 12MP

The specs of the rear camera have the highest resolution of all smartphones at this moment. Besides, there are more reasons why the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the best smartphone for photography:

Improved camera compared to the S23 Ultra: Although there is room for improvement in terms of hardware innovation, the camera’s software output surpasses that of the previous model. The S24 Ultra is a camera that constantly produces stunning images and videos, has lightning-fast performance, an excellent display, and a luxurious feel. The integration of entertaining and useful AI capabilities that make photo correction even easier is where the S24 really shines for photographers.

AI technology: The S24 series introduces a new generation of AI technology that is supposed to enhance various aspects of image capture, including night photography, noise performance, zoom quality, and HDR shooting. AI is also applicable to the recently released cloud-based and on-device editing functions, such as the new Reflection removal tool.

Improved image quality: Because of its versatility, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra continues to hold the title of greatest camera phone from us. However, Samsung has made significant improvements to overall image quality, which makes this phone a fantastic option for any kind of photography. Pictures taken with the Galaxy S24 Ultra appear more realistic than those shot with previous Samsung phones; in fact, the iPhone 15 Pro may appear lifeless and sterile in contrast.

Best Smartphone for Kids

Apple iPhone SE

Most Affordable iPhone

The iPhone SE, which is the cheapest phone available from Apple, is a great way to get started with iOS and iMessage. Though not state-of-the-art, its A15 processor is quick enough for whatever your kids want to accomplish or need to do. Users with smaller hands will profit from the fact that the iPhone SE is one of the greatest little phones.

Compatible with the latest iOS software
Fantastic camera
Long-lasting battery compared to the previous model
Outdated design
Small display

Why It’s The Best Smartphone for Kids

Compatible with the latest iOS software: The iPhone SE is compatible with all of Apple’s software even if it lacks the newest features, such as Face ID and the best cameras. Children can use FaceTime calls, iMessage groups, and the App Store to download educational games and apps. What is more, parents can use Find My iPhone device tracking and ScreenTime controls. The iPhone SE is an excellent first phone for children in a family that has a strong affinity for Apple products.

It has an excellent camera: The third-generation Apple iPhone SE has a 12 MP camera that can record 4K video and a 7MP front camera. It captures stunning images. Advanced photographic functions are also powered by that A15 Bionic chip, which is particularly impressive for a low-cost smartphone. For instance, Smart HD 4 automatically adjusts the contrasts, lighting, and even skin tones in a picture.

The Apple iPhone SE is resistant to water: Indeed, the iPhone SE can survive water damage if submerged (or unintentionally dropped or, uh, tossed) for up to 30 minutes at a maximum depth of one meter, much like iPhones in the more expensive range.

The iPhone SE can withstand a bump: Despite lacking Ceramic Shield technology, I can guarantee that even children who are extremely careless with their gadgets will find it difficult to damage their iPhone SE cellphones. It features front and rear glass panels for scratch resistance, the same type of glass that Apple utilized for the back of the iPhone 13.

Best Smartphone for Gaming

RedMagic 9 Pro

Solid value featuring an integrated cooling fan

With REDMAGIC 9 Pro, you can fully experience the mobile gaming of the future. Experience a universe where every element is intended to provide the best possible gaming experience as you step into a realm powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and ICE 13.0 Cooling System.

The newest Snapdragon silicon means outstanding performance
Larger and quicker to charge battery
Cooling fan
Poor camera
Absence of wireless charging

Why It’s The Best Smartphone for Gaming

There are not many phones that are more geared toward gaming than the RedMagic 9 Pro. Is there any more reason why this is the greatest smartphone for gaming than the fact that it has an integrated RGB cooling fan?

Made for gaming: Together with its superior chipset, the 9 Pro’s gaming credentials are further enhanced by its capacitive shoulder buttons, 520Hz touch response rate display, integrated RGB fan for active cooling, and dedicated gaming mode option.

Latest Snapdragon silicon: With a massive 6,500 mAh battery that can be charged with 80W, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor with up to 16GB RAM, and additional gaming software, it runs your games crisply and fluidly. You can rapidly access your games, adjust your RGB lighting settings, and activate capacitive triggers with a single flip of a dedicated switch.

Integrated touch triggers: The most notable feature of the RedMagic is its inbuilt touch triggers, which eliminates the need for an additional controller device and lets you utilize the phone’s rim as a makeshift trigger.

Best Smartphone for Video

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

The ultimate phone for recording videos in general

Filmmakers have considered Apple’s flagship phones to be excellent options ever since the release of the iPhone 5S. The success of each successive generation has been improved upon, and the iPhone 15 series is the greatest to yet.

Superior video recording
Extended 5-times zoom
Top-tier A17 Pro processor
Compared to other phones, slow charging
More storage but a more expensive baseline

Why It’s The Best Smartphone for Video Recording

Extended 5-times zoom: Regarding the enhanced zoom lens, the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s tetraprism architecture allows for a 5x zoom, as opposed to the iPhone 15 Pro’s 3x magnification. The Galaxy S24 Ultra now has a 5x telephoto lens as well, but it can also zoom up to 10 times when necessary thanks to cropping and a high-resolution sensor.

Outstanding camera: Apple has added several video enhancements with this phone, including digital zoom up to 3x with Cinematic mode and USB-C exporting of ProRes footage, even if the phone’s headline specs of 4K and 60 frames per second remain the same as those of its predecessor. 

Suitable for every type of video recording: The iPhone 15 Pro Max is a formidable competitor for any smartphone available on the market, offering a significant advancement over previous iPhone cameras. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is a true gem when it comes to video capture. When recording in Apple’s ProRes format at the highest resolution and frame rate, it offers an unmatched level of clarity and quality along with a dynamic range.

Summary – Best Smartphone in 2024

I picked the best smartphone in 2024 for seniors, photography, kids, gaming, and video.

The Apple iPhone 15 Plus is the best smartphone in 2024 for seniors due to its big screen, great camera, and built-in health and safety features.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the best smartphone in 2024 for photography due to its 272 MP camera.

The Apple iPhone SE is the best smartphone in 2024 for kids because it’s water-resistant and can withstand a bump.

Redmagic 9 Pro is the best smartphone in 2024 for gaming, since it has integrated gaming touch triggers and a built-in cooling fan.

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is the best smartphone in 2024 for video due to its outstanding camera and extended 5-times zoom feature.

Related Articles

Scroll to Top
1 Shares
Pin1
Share
Share
Tweet