What are the best high-end smartphones in 2024?

Are you looking for the smartphone of your dreams and you have an unlimited budget to afford it?

 Forget FOMO, tech enthusiasts! 2024 marks a year overflowing with flagship phone options, each claiming to be the "ultimate" device. But with specs flying thick and fast, choosing the right one can feel like deciphering hieroglyphics. This guide is your Rosetta Stone, unlocking the secrets of the top contenders and helping you pick the perfect partner for your digital dominion.

Craving an all-around champion? The Galaxy S24 Ultra might be your answer. Yearning for Apple's sleek power? The iPhone 15 Pro Max awaits. Is photography your passion? The Pixel 8 Pro's got your back (and stunning shots). Foldable fanatics, rejoice! The Galaxy Z Fold 5 unfolds new possibilities, while the Razr Plus flips the script on style. Even budget-conscious buyers can win with the surprisingly powerful OnePlus Open. 

Ready to ditch the decision fatigue and ascend to mobile nirvana? Our selection of the best high-end smartphones of 2024 is here to help you with your choice.

There are many high-end smartphone models, more or less sophisticated, more or less pretty, and all compatible with 5G. For those who have an unlimited budget to choose the model that will suit them perfectly, many options from different brands are available to them. Want to have the best for your next phone? The most powerful smartphone in the world? Go no further, we have chosen for you the best high-end smartphones of the moment.

The top 3 best high-end smartphones in 2024

The best Android smartphone: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

In 2024, the Galaxy S24 Ultra represents the quintessence of ultra high-end Android. Elegant, powerful, durable... Samsung's latest smartphone has it all, and if you're looking for a premium phone with a large screen, it's undoubtedly one of the best options at the moment.

In every way, the S24 Ultra is truly a premium phone. Its titanium frame and Gorilla Glass Armor ensure perfect finishes and foolproof solidity. Its very angular design makes it unique. As for its screen, count on 6.8 inches LTPO in Amoled and superb brightness.

The software part also does the job with a top-notch One UI, not to mention that you will benefit from seven years of Android updates. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip is the best of the best in 2024, and it will run the phone wonderfully, especially for gaming. A nice pinch of AI has also been added, whether for photo editing or even translation features. The photo, moreover, let's talk about it: as often, Samsung succeeds in offering a score of excellence. We particularly welcome the x5 telephoto lens which works wonders, as well as the portrait mode, which is still just as beautiful.

Count on two days of autonomy and recharge at 45W (charger not included), which could have been a little higher in 2024. As for connectivity, we are entitled to Bluetooth 5.3 and even Wi-Fi 7, the best of the best.

In short, it's quite simply the best high-end Android smartphone on the market. The price remains as exorbitant as ever at 1469 euros. We advise you to wait a little before falling for the lower price.

The new premium iPhone: Apple iPhone 15 Pro MAX

The iPhone 15 Pro Max and 15 Pro incorporate many new features, starting with a new titanium chassis. It is this material that allows Apple's best iPhone to remain very light, only 221 g, which is not much for a smartphone of this size. The back of the phone benefits from a matte glass coating that looks great.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a large 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen, 2796 x 1290 pixels, and a refresh rate of 120 Hz. This panel offers an exceptional brightness of 2219 nits, which makes it available in any situation. We always find Dynamic Island, this dynamic pill at the top of the screen.

The big news on these models is the addition of a customizable Action button, which is located above the volume buttons. The possible actions are currently limited, for example, activating concentration mode, the flashlight, or silent mode.

In the photo, it's a full box. The main camera offers a resolution of 48 Mpx, it is accompanied by a 12 Mpx ultra wide-angle and a 5x 12 Mpx telephoto lens. It turns out to be particularly versatile and works wonders in particular in Night mode and Portrait mode. When it comes to video quality, it is the best possible reference on the smartphone market.

In terms of power, it is not left out thanks to the new A17 Pro chip, which can however heat up on heavy tasks. When it comes to gaming in particular, it has everything good, and you can even play on a screen by connecting it via USB-C. Because yes, goodbye to the Lightning port, the iPhone 15s finally benefit from a USB-C port worthy of the name. Be careful, this does not mean that the charging becomes faster, you will always have to be satisfied with 20 W, and remember to recharge it at night. The phone will last the day and the following morning without any problem, but not much more.

Google's flagship phone: Google Pixel 8 Pro

With its new Pixel 8 Pro, Google returns with a new evolution of its most high-end smartphone. The Mountain View firm offers a pure Android experience (the “Pixel Experience”) and a unique design. The latter evolves a little compared to the Pixel 7 Pro, the phone notably becoming much less angular.

On the display side, we find a very good-quality panel. The 6.7-inch AMOLED screen ticks all the boxes, notably with a nice maximum brightness (1771 cd/m² in HDR), as well as an adaptive refresh rate, ranging from 10 to 120 Hz. The color calibration is also excellent.

Under the hood, we find the Tensor G3, the 3rd iteration of the SoC made by Google. If the latter is not a beast of benchmarks, it ensures without worry an ultra-fluid and responsive system. This is clearly not a chip dedicated to gaming, but you will still be able to comfortably play games such as Fortnite or Genshin Impact. The fact remains that this is a chip that is far from being the most powerful on the market, compared to the competition. On the software side, Android 14 is on the menu, and the good news: you will have support for no less than 7 years of updates.

Unsurprisingly with Google, the Pixel 8 Pro is a photo king. The sensors have all been revised: a 50 Mpx sensor with a wide-angle lens, a 48 Mpx ultra-wide-angle sensor, and a 48 Mpx sensor with an X5 telephoto lens. The Pixel 8 Pro also offers “high-resolution” digital zoom up to x30, laser autofocus, and optical and electronic image stabilization on the wide-angle and telephoto lenses. A Pro mode in the Camera app has finally been added, and the options offered by the AI ​​are interesting, with Magic Eraser and Best Take.

We were left a little unsatisfied regarding the autonomy, which is not flamboyant. For a day, it's good... but not much more. Like its big competitors Apple and Samsung, charging can only go up to 30 W.

The folding smartphone of excess: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

Samsung is very present in the high-end mobile sector. The Korean company is at the forefront of foldable smartphones in Europe and was the first to market them. The 5th iteration of the Galaxy Z Fold is here with some good improvements.

Aesthetically, the Z Fold 5 is close to the Z Fold 4. The hinge has been revised and constitutes the main evolution: on the other hand, the fold is still visible and felt under the finger. The 6.2-inch external screen (2316 x 904 pixels) can go up to 120 Hz, but you will find it a little narrow. The large internal screen, in almost square format, measures 7.6 inches with 2176 x 1812 pixels. This screen is a real marvel, with shimmering colors, with an impressive maximum brightness, which goes up to 1664 cd/m².

On performance, there is nothing to complain about thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 optimized for Samsung which provides a perfect gaming experience, especially on such a large screen. As for the photo component, it is very successful: the camera manages to be very versatile. In hybrid use, the Samsung folding lasted 11 hours and 26 minutes. In practice, you will last a day with rather intensive use.

If the Fold 5 is a beautiful nugget, it is not cheap (that is an understatement to say). At 1,899 euros for the basic configuration, it is quite simply the most expensive smartphone currently.

The alternative: the OnePlus Open

OnePlus made a big splash by releasing an excellent foldable phone, the OnePlus Open. The latter has everything going for it: a perfectly invisible fold, top performance (without heating), a very satisfactory camera, and recharging at 67W, not to mention the screens which are of excellent quality and with a more practical ratio than the other folding ones. In short, it has everything right and offers flawless balance.

But as always with such premium products, the wallet will have to follow, since you have to pay 1800 euros to get your hands on it.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 and its friends

If you want to try a foldable phone, but don't have such a high budget, you can opt for a flip smartphone. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is currently available for around 1,200 euros.

For 2023, Vivo offers the X90 Pro, the successor to the very good X80 Pro. It is a large format, very fashionable, with a 6.78-inch curved AMOLED panel. If the maximum brightness is excellent, and the refresh rate goes up to 120 Hz, the latter is however not variable. The design is very successful, with a vegan leather back and a good grip. Good point, the phone is IP68 certified and therefore resistant to water and dust.

The X90 Pro is one of the flagships at the start of the year. So, in terms of performance, there is nothing to complain about Vivo has opted for an eight-core Dimensity 9200 SoC. The most demanding 3D games will run without problem, and the heating is contained.

If the X80 Pro was good in photos, the X90 Pro doesn't bring a lot of improvements. Unfortunately, it does not include a telephoto lens, unlike its current competitors. You will, however, find a 1-inch main sensor, which is a rarity, accompanied by a 50MP portrait sensor and a 12MP ultra-wide angle. If the main sensor does well in different situations, the ultra-wide angle gives rather mixed results, especially in low light. Portrait mode is very successful.

Vivo has equipped its high-end phone with a 4870 mAh battery, falling short of the competition. This translates, in practice, into a long day of use, which is ultimately quite little in 2024. Fortunately, very efficient fast charging (120 W) allows the phone to be fully recharged in less than 30 minutes. This precise point marks the difference with premium smartphones from Samsung and Apple.

The high-end durable smartphone: Honor Magic 5 Pro

Honor comes to tickle the industry's big names at the high end with its Magic 5 Pro. A successful bet for the Chinese manufacturer: this premium model is strong on quite a few points, starting with an assertive design and polished finishes. The imposing photo module is a bias, which at least allows the model to stand out. If the design is successful and the materials are quality, we can still regret the absence of Gorilla Glass, a lack for this price.

By turning the device over, you can enjoy a huge 6.8-inch Oled screen. The latter, very slightly curved, is very precise, contrasting, and bright, with a refresh rate of 120 Hz. The small pill at the top also houses a sensor for facial recognition, which works very well.

Nice score also on the photo side, which places the device in the high end. The 50 Mpx main sensor offers superb shots, with precise sharpness and a wide dynamic range. Note the presence of a telephoto lens with an x3.5 zoom. Night photos look good, as does portrait mode, which is very natural. The ultra-wide angle, on the other hand, is a little behind in quality, a fairly common fault on this type of phone.

At the helm, you will find the star of 2023, namely the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip from Qualcomm, which as usual works wonders. No 3D game will resist it. It also allows you to offer very good battery life to the phone, the latter easily lasting two days, or even three. Fast charging at 66 W (50 W wireless) is also very nice, and the charger is provided (we're looking at you, Samsung, and Apple).

Generally speaking, the high-end phone is very balanced and accomplished, even if we can criticize it for a Magic UI interface which lacks a few elements to be at the level of the competition.

The top of the range by Xiaomi: Xiaomi 13 Ultra

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra represents the best of the best at Xiaomi. The high-end smartphone from the Chinese manufacturer turns out to be well-balanced, relying on three major strengths: a superb Oled screen, a well-mastered original design, and particularly appreciable power.

Xiaomi takes a clear stand by choosing to highlight the photo module, a bit like Honor. So you won't be able to miss the four lenses at the back. With its aluminum frame and vegan leather covering, we are undoubtedly looking at a premium smartphone. In addition, all the waterproofing and resistance certifications are there.

As for the panel, it has everything good, and you will therefore be entitled to a large 6.73-inch Oled screen in WQHD+, with 120 Hz refreshment in LTPO, 1230 nits of brightness, and HDR10+. It's a delight to use. Great performance also in the choice of the chip that powers the phone: no missteps since it is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the most powerful on the market currently.

In the photo, Xiaomi remains true to itself. The phone fails to match the masters of the genre, the Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Pixel 7 Pro. If the main sensor takes very pretty and usable photos, we will still regret a small lack of overall sharpness. On the other hand, we welcome the integration of two telephoto lenses.

If the autonomy is not particularly good, the smartphone can however count on fast charging at 67W which allows you to refuel in 40 minutes.

With a price close to 1,500 euros, we would still advise you to wait a bit for price drops and other promotions.

Powerful and a little cheaper: The OnePlus 11

OnePlus hit the high-end sector in 2023 with a model that caught our attention. The OnePlus 11 was one of our favorites and for this, the brand returned to its fundamentals: power, performance, and premium.

At the helm, you will first find the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, accompanied by at least 8 GB of RAM. This allows you to run demanding mobile games, but also several applications at the same time. If it heats up a little over time, the phone remains efficient. Above all, the OxygenOS software offers a very wide range of pleasant customizations.

In terms of design, the handling of the OnePlus 11 is excellent. The materials are quality and the phone is pleasant to use. The 6.7-inch Super AMOLED screen also offers great performance thanks to good brightness and fairly faithful colors. The autonomy is monstrous with two days of endurance for versatile use and 100 W fast charging allowing you to be at 100% quickly.

However, everything is not rosy. Despite a partnership with Hasselblad, the photography turns out to be quite average, especially when using the wide angle and ultra-wide angle. Finally, when we say average, it is mainly for very high-end products.

What is the best high-end phone of 2024?

Can I really do everything with a high-end smartphone?

Yes. If you invest this much in a phone, luckily you can do it all. It's the ultimate. These products are designed for the most demanding uses, taking the best photos and offering the best overall experience. So you don't have to worry about anything.

What makes a high-end smartphone?

Its price! All joking aside, high-end smartphones simply offer the best technology has to offer at the time of their release. You will therefore find the best SoCs on the market, the most complete photo parts, and the most beautiful screens. Then they usually come equipped with additional refinements such as wireless charging and waterproofing. Finally, particular care is taken on the design, construction quality, and materials used.

What are the trusted brands?

Over the years, a few brands have established themselves in the high-end segment, the first two steps of the podium are occupied by Samsung and Apple. Third place will be fought out between long-toothed Chinese brands like Xiaomi or Oppo.

Which package to accompany my high-end smartphone?

If you want to spend as little as possible, the logical choice is to choose a no-commitment package. Most of these, however, are limited to 4G. If you want to fully exploit the possibilities of your brand-new smartphone, you will need a suitable 5G plan. That's good, we have a 5G plan comparator available! If you do not yet consider 5G useful, or quite simply, it is not yet available where you live, a 4G plan will be more interesting. You will find the best offers of the moment in our mobile plan comparator.

Is buying your smartphone with a plan interesting?

High-end smartphones are logically very expensive, and it can sometimes be tempting to reduce the pain by linking the purchase to a mobile plan. Let's say it straight away, such a choice is rarely interesting. In the vast majority of cases, you will pay less by separating the purchase of the phone and the package.