Top 10 Smartphones Worth Buying in 2024: A Roundup of the Year's Best Models for Every Need

Top 10 Smartphones Worth Buying in 2024: A Roundup of the Year's Best Models for Every NeedThe iQOO Z series has long been a favorite among budget-conscious consumers. After half a year on the market, the price of the iQOO Z9 Turbo has dropped significantly, making it an excellent value proposition

Top 10 Smartphones Worth Buying in 2024: A Roundup of the Year's Best Models for Every Need

2024 is drawing to a close, and with the release of flagship phones powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Dimensity 9400, the new phone wave has subsided. This year saw a strong resurgence in the smartphone market, with the widespread adoption of AI-powered phones igniting consumer enthusiasm for upgrades. With year-end bonuses and government subsidies in many regions supporting 3C product consumption, now is the perfect time to upgrade your phone. This year, we've reviewed hundreds of phones and meticulously selected ten representative models across various price points, each offering the best value and catering to different needs. We hope this helps you find your dream phone!

I. Under $250: iQOO Z9 Turbo (12GB+256GB, approx. $230)

The iQOO Z series has long been a favorite among budget-conscious consumers. After half a year on the market, the price of the iQOO Z9 Turbo has dropped significantly, making it an excellent value proposition. It's powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor, capable of smoothly running most games; features the same porthole camera module design as the iQOO digital series; boasts a 1.5K 144Hz straight screen for a clear and smooth visual experience; and packs a 6000mAh large battery with 80W fast charging and reverse wired charging, essentially functioning as a portable power bank. Currently, the 256GB version on third-party platforms offers better value; the 512GB version generally costs over $280, a $50 price difference that isn't worthwhile. It's worth noting that iQOO has announced a long-life version of the Z9 Turbo with an expected 7000mAh battery. However, considering that 6000mAh is sufficient for most users, the currently available, cheaper model might be more appealing.

II. $250-$300: Honor GT (12GB+256GB, approx. $285)

• Last year's Honor 90 GT achieved remarkable success in the mid-range market. This year, Honor relaunched the series with the all-new Honor GT, continuing its focus on gaming. This phone can handle demanding games and offers enhanced 1080P graphics for popular titles like PUBG Mobile and Genshin Impact, delivering an excellent gaming experience. Equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, it offers strong performance at a budget-friendly price of around $285, making it one of the most affordable options with this processor. This is a very attractive option for students. However, the Honor GT has a relatively small 5300mAh battery, although it supports 100W fast charging. Heavy gamers should be mindful of battery life and avoid extended gaming sessions to prevent running out of power.

III. $250-$300: OnePlus Ace 3 Pro (12GB+256GB, approx. $340)

Following the release of the OnePlus Ace 5 series, the OnePlus Ace 3 Pro's price has dropped to around $320 on third-party platforms. Users with limited budgets might find it difficult to choose between the two. The OnePlus Ace 3 Pro offers better build quality and a rare white ceramic version. While it uses a curved screen, OnePlus's touch optimization is excellent, ensuring a smooth gaming experience. The OnePlus Ace 5 has a more understated design but a slightly larger battery and supports the "HyperBoost Gaming Engine" technology (it's unclear whether the OnePlus Ace 3 Pro will receive this update later). The OnePlus Ace 5 is unlikely to see a price drop anytime soon, while the OnePlus Ace 3 Pro has further price reduction potential. Therefore, waiting a bit longer before purchasing the OnePlus Ace 3 Pro might be more cost-effective.

IV. $250-$300: OPPO Reno13 (12GB+256GB, approx. $365)

There's only one reason to choose the OPPO Reno13: it's arguably the closest design to an iPhone among this year's new releases, earning it the nickname "OPhone" from netizens. It almost perfectly replicates the iPhone's design aesthetic: a straight screen and edges, a square camera module, and even similar desktop themes with smart occlusion to prevent widgets from obscuring the screen. It also boasts similar AI features to the iPhone, such as plant and animal identification, and supports the "Tap to Transfer" photo sharing feature and Live Photo exchange and editing. For around $365, you get an iPhone alternative with excellent value. In addition, the OPPO Reno13 has strong features like underwater photography, an AI portrait photography system, and other AI functions. If you need stronger telephoto capabilities, you can opt for the Reno 13 Pro, but it's $100 more expensive, offering less value for money.

V. $400-$450: Redmi K80 Pro (12GB+256GB, approx. $475)

• Among the recently released Redmi K80 series, the Redmi K80 Pro is more recommendable. It's no longer simply a budget-focused K-series phone but aims for the high-end market. Its design now boasts the style of a premium flagship. In terms of specifications, the Redmi K80 Pro features a 2K straight screen (the same M9 substrate as the Xiaomi 13 series), delivering excellent display quality; its imaging system inherits the same floating telephoto lens and algorithms as the Xiaomi 13 series, providing flagship-level image quality. Performance-wise, it's powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and Redmi's "HyperEngine," easily achieving full frame rates in demanding games like Genshin Impact and Zenless Zone Zero. Although its price might seem relatively high, it still offers great value compared to other Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 phones.

VI. $400-$450: Realme GT7 Pro (12GB+256GB, approx. $475)

Realme has made significant investments in screen technology in recent years, repeatedly achieving industry-leading results. The Realme GT7 Pro uses a "Celestial Screen" co-developed with Samsung, praised as "the best screen under $1000," featuring an industry-leading 6000-nit peak brightness and excellent display quality, along with multiple eye protection features, such as non-polarized natural light technology, full-brightness DC dimming, and adaptive color temperature adjustment. Furthermore, the Realme GT7 Pro is one of the more affordable Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 models, with additional discounts available on third-party platforms. Its 6500mAh large battery ensures ample battery life, ideal for extended gaming sessions.

VII. $550-$600: Xiaomi 13 (12GB+256GB, approx. $615)

In this year's Xiaomi 13 series, the Xiaomi 13 Pro is more powerful overall, but its main selling point is its superior camera system. The Xiaomi 13, in contrast, is more affordable and offers distinct advantages, remaining highly competitive in the compact flagship market. Thanks to years of experience in developing compact phones, the Xiaomi 13's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor delivers outstanding performance; its Leica triple-camera system meets daily shooting needs. The Xiaomi 13 is a well-balanced flagship phone.

VIII. $550-$600: vivo X90 Pro Mini (12GB+256GB, approx. $635)

The vivo X90 Pro Mini is another compact Android phone released this year. It adopts a different strategy than the Xiaomi 13combining "Pro" features with a "Mini" form factor. This means that, apart from differences in body size, screen, and battery capacity, the X90 Pro Mini is almost identical to the X90 Pro in terms of core specifications. Therefore, the vivo X90 Pro Mini offers a similar experience to the Pro model in all aspects, particularly its Sony-co-engineered IMX818 main camera, combined with Zeiss optics and vivo's beauty algorithm, resulting in excellent performance in landscape and portrait photography. It's worth mentioning that its video recording capabilities are also exceptional, rivaling the iPhone 16 Pro, especially its telephoto video recording capabilities, maintaining clarity even at 10x zoom, making it ideal for concertgoers.

IX. $900-$1000: iPhone 16 Pro (256GB, approx. $1040)

This year's iPhone 16 Pro represents one of the most significant upgrades in recent years. In terms of design, the newly added physical camera control button will likely be heavily promoted by Apple in the coming years, as it's not only used for photography but also serves as a key entry point for Apple Intelligence. Performance has greatly improved while power consumption has been significantly reduced. Imaging