Smartphones have long become an integral part of our lives. They are bought for different purposes – from simple calls and instant messaging to taking studio-quality photos and playing games. Everyone has different requirements, but if you want to get a smartphone that will remain relevant for several years, then the performance of the gadget should be in the first place. A smartphone with top-end hardware means a stable operation in any usage scenario without freezing, the instant launch of “heavy” applications and demanding games. We have compiled for you a list of The Most Powerful Smartphones of 2024, which surprised you with their performance.
When Samsung and Apple are not in the lead
To check the power of a mobile device, special synthetic tests have been developed: the application tests the smartphone on a number of parameters, assigning it a certain number of points. Every year, there is even an AnTuTu rating, which indicates the most productive devices. But can you blindly trust this test? The situation is twofold: the same AnTuTu will indicate the performance of the gadget in points, but will not show the slowdown of the interface.
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Moreover, several manufacturers install special software on their smartphones that artificially “overclocks” the system when running AnTuTu, 3DMark or another benchmark. This results in impressive test numbers that do not always reflect reality. In our top of the most powerful smartphones, we did not focus on the AnTuTu rating, but rather on real user experience. As a result, our rating included models whose hardware will be relevant for 3-5 years.
The Most Powerful Smartphones of 2024 Full List:
Google Pixel 8 Pro
- Processor: Google Tensor G3 .
- RAM: 12 GB.
- Screen: OLED, 6.7 inches.
- Main camera: 50 + 48 + 48 MP .
- Front camera: 10.5 MP .
- Battery: 5050 mAh.
A new model from Google, which is not inferior in photo quality (and in some cases even superior) to the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The main 50 MP camera with optical stabilization takes excellent photos with good detail and a wide dynamic range. The light sensitivity of the optics has been improved, so night shots are of higher quality. Separately, we note the 48 MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, which allows you to shoot objects at a long distance without visible loss of detail.
The Google Tensor G3 chipset is responsible for performance, which ensures smooth operation of the interface without lags and freezes even in multitasking mode. It is difficult to call it a gaming one, but you can comfortably play PUBG MOBILE and Call of Duty: Mobile on medium graphics settings.
There are also AI features that have become a major trend among smartphone manufacturers. In addition to the standard Google Assistant, the Pixel 8 Pro supports music recognition, quick translation of text in an image, removal of objects in a photo, and other features.
| Pros | Minuses |
|---|---|
| Fast fingerprint scanner and Face Unlock | Slow charging – only 30 W |
| Pure Android without third-party shells | Not the best solution for demanding games |
| Updates will be released for 7 years | |
| One of the best cameras on the market | |
| Many AI functions | |
| eSIM support | |
| Relatively low price |
iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Processor: Apple A 17 Pro.
- RAM: 8 GB.
- Display: Super Retina XDR OLED, 6.7 inches.
- Main camera : 48 + 12 + 12 MP .
- Front camera : 12 MP .
- Battery: 4441 mAh.
The latest new product from Apple received an updated A17 Pro processor, manufactured using a 3-nanometer process technology. This chipset is considered one of the most powerful among mobile devices, so the 15 Pro Max has already been dubbed the best iPhone that Apple has ever created. It supports ray tracing and is 10% more productive than the previous Apple A16 Bionic processor. Launching demanding games, working in multitasking mode, and rendering video – this is only a small part of what the new processor can handle.
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With a new titanium frame, the smartphone is lighter and more resistant to mechanical impact. The appearance has hardly changed compared to its predecessors: the same flat edges, a familiar logo on the back panel, and a three-lens camera unit. One of the main changes is the abandonment of the Lightning port in favour of USB-C, which is more familiar to most users. The photo quality is still up to par.
| Pros | Minuses |
|---|---|
| Advanced Apple A17 Pro processor | High price |
| Screen with adaptive refresh rate from 1 to 120 Hz | VoWiFi and VoLTE cannot be activated |
| New titanium body | |
| Great cameras | |
| The long-awaited transition to USB-C |
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy.
- RAM: 12 GB .
- Screen: Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 6.8 inches.
- Main camera : 200 + 50 + 10 + 12 MP .
- Front camera : 12 MP .
- Battery: 5000 mAh.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is equipped with the top Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, which is one of the top three smartphone chipsets along with the Apple A17 Pro and MediaTek Dimensity 9300. Thanks to its laconic, strict design and the S Pen stylus, this gadget looks like a real icon of business style. At the same time, it shows excellent performance in various usage scenarios, including working with graphic applications and running demanding games.
The body is made of titanium, which allows to reduce the weight of the device a little. The display is completely flat: it seems that curved screens will now be used only in the brand’s foldable smartphones. By the way, this is an AMOLED matrix with a diagonal of 6.8 inches, high resolution and excellent detail. There is support for LTPO technology: the refresh rate changes automatically from 1 to 120 Hz.
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The smartphone has an overclocked version of the chipset, so the Galaxy prefix is not accidental. But it cannot be said that there is a big difference in performance between the two versions. There are minor issues with overheating and minor throttling is possible during a long gaming session. But this does not spoil the overall impression.
| Pros | Minuses |
|---|---|
| Many useful AI functions | Not the fastest charging – only 45 W |
| Excellent processor for any task | The smartphone is quite large |
| Support for the S Pen stylus and the proprietary DeX mode | Some AI functions do not work in Russian |
| Updates will be provided for 7 years | |
| Excellent shooting quality |
Xiaomi 14 Ultra
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
- RAM: 12/16 GB.
- Screen: AMOLED, 6.73 inches.
- Main camera: 50 + 50 + 50 + 50 MP .
- Front camera: 22 MP .
- Battery: 5000 mAh.
The latest new product from Xiaomi has a bright 6.73-inch screen and a flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. The case is protected from mechanical impact and is IP68 certified: the smartphone can withstand short-term immersion in water to a depth of 1.5 meters.
The display supports an adaptive refresh rate from 1 to 120 Hz. The peak brightness declared by the manufacturer is 3000 nt: the picture will be clearly readable even under direct sunlight.
One of the “features” of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is the camera system created in collaboration with Leica. These are four 50 MP lenses each: the main sensor with an aperture of f/1.6-f/4.0 and optical stabilization, an ultra-wide-angle camera with a 122° viewing angle, a telephoto lens with 3.2x optical zoom and optical stabilization, a periscope telephoto with 5x optical zoom and optical stabilization.
| Pros | Minuses |
|---|---|
| Excellent performance in all scenarios | The smartphone is quite large and heavy |
| Excellent shooting quality day and night | There is no autofocus on the front camera |
| Bright display with 120Hz refresh rate | |
| The back panel is made of pleasant-to-the-touch eco-leather |
life X100 Pro
- Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 9300.
- RAM: 16 GB.
- Screen: AMOLED, 6.78 inches.
- Main camera : 50 + 50 + 50 MP .
- Front camera : 32 MP .
- Battery: 5400mAh
The X100 Pro is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9300, which is considered by a number of industry publications to be the best chipset for mobile devices. With 16GB of RAM, this provides impressive performance: you can run any game at “ultra” settings without a hint of freezing, overheating, or throttling.
The back surface of the gadget is made of matte glass, which does not get dirty so easily. The camera block is massive and protrudes above the surface – this design looks bright and unusual, but it may put off lovers of the classics.
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The smartphone has a curved display made using LTPO technology: the refresh rate changes automatically from 1 to 120 Hz. Peak brightness is up to 3000 nits. Vivo X100 Pro is called a camera phone because of its excellent set of cameras: the main lens, an ultra-wide-angle camera and a 50 MP telephoto lens. The latter stands out, especially with its 4.3x optical zoom.
| Pros | Minuses |
|---|---|
| Top-end hardware | FunTouch shell, which takes some getting used to |
| Excellent quality of photo and video shooting | The smartphone is not yet officially sold in Russia |
| Powerful battery | |
| Unusual design |
Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
- RAM: 16/24 GB.
- Screen: AMOLED, 6.78 inches.
- Main camera : 50 + 32 + 13 MP .
- Front camera : 32 MP .
- Battery: 5500 mAh.
One of the most powerful smartphones in the world for gamers, which you can buy at the beginning of 2024. In a number of respects, it surpasses the Galaxy S24 Ultra, the new iPhone line and other flagship devices.
The smartphone is truly made for gaming: a powerful processor, an additional USB-C connector for connecting a cooling system, and AirTrigger touch buttons. When buying the top version with 24 GB of RAM, the kit will additionally include a removable AeroActive Cooler X cooler.
There is a maximum power mode X-Mode, the activation of which provides excellent performance in any game. Although you can do without it, because Genshin Impact and other demanding games run on high graphics settings with a stable 60 FPS without a hint of throttling.
| Pros | Minuses |
|---|---|
| A great solution for gamers | Not the best ergonomics of the device |
| Bright display with 165Hz refresh rate | High price |
| 24 GB of RAM in the maximum modification | |
| No heating or throttling |
ZTE Nubia Red Magic 9 Pro
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
- RAM: 12/16 GB.
- Screen: AMOLED, 6.8 inches.
- Main camera : 50 + 50 + 2 MP .
- Front camera : 16 MP .
- Battery: 6500 mAh.
Another gaming gadget that claims to be the smartphone with the most powerful battery – its capacity is 6500 mAh. Autonomy is at a level, so the battery lasts up to 1.5-2 days.
The filling is flagship: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, up to 16 GB of RAM and up to 512 GB of built-in UFS 4.0 storage. There is a miniature cooler inside, and ventilation holes are located on the side edges, so there are no problems with overheating of the device. Any games run at maximum graphics settings with a stable 60 FPS without drops during long gaming sessions.
Support for fast charging with a power of 80 W allows you to charge the battery from 0 to 100% in just 40 minutes. There is a function of direct power supply of the gadget bypassing the battery, which increases its service life.
| Pros | Minuses |
|---|---|
| Excellent performance | The display does not support LTPO technology |
| The smartphone does not heat up under load | Average photo quality |
| Great sound | |
| Many specialized functions for gamers | |
| Bright display | |
| Powerful battery |
Conclusion
Our top list of powerful smartphones of early 2024 does not include all the worthy models with excellent performance. In addition, there are probably a lot of new products ahead, so we may update our rating at the end of the year. But even now you can choose a smartphone with top-end “stuffing” – each of the models we described will be relevant in the coming years.
