The best smartphones of spring 2024 - Comparison of 35 reviewed phones

Every time a new Galaxy S Ultra model releases, it will usually occupy one of the top spots in our overall ratings. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (starting from €1,120 or US$1,150 from Amazon) once again demonstrates that the Korean company knows how to harness its decades of experience in manufacturing top-tier phones. Thanks to Samsung's promise to provide seven years of Android updates, you’ll be able to use the pricey device for a long time. The integrated S Pen opens up plenty of new ways to interact with the S24 Ultra.

The Magic6 Pro reiterates that Honor too is capable of building excellent smartphones. In terms of overall score, the device is just a fraction of a percent behind the current leader. With superb battery life, a great camera system, accurate GPS location and 3D face recognition, there are plenty to like about the phone. The Magic6 Pro is currently available on Amazon for roughly €1,140 (US$1,050).

Despite not being as high-profile in Europe since its patent dispute with Nokia, Oppo has still been building phones that deserve a spot on your list if you are a fan of unique devices. The Oppo Find X7 Ultra stands out with its fantastic specs, premium chassis, exceptional camera system and fast charging capability.

Those looking for a wieldy, first-rate Samsung phone should opt for the Galaxy S24, which shines with its compact and high-quality design. It is currently selling for around €700 (or US$800) on Amazon. The extremely long update support is similarly a great reason to purchase the Galaxy S24, as well as the good camera system and premium AMOLED display

The Samsung Galaxy S24+ (approx. €1,070 or US$1,000 on Amazon) is a slightly larger phone that finally offers more than just a larger screen size compared with its non-plus counterpart. It offers significantly better features, more storage, a higher-resolution display and longer battery life. The fact that it enjoys the same long update support makes a strong case for the phone.

Xiaomi naturally wouldn’t want to take a backseat in the high-end phone segment and delivered a superb overall package with the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, which will currently set you back about €1,190 (US$1,281). Beside having great cameras and quick charging capability, the device features a very bright and accurate display. That said, the lack of eSIM support is somewhat surprising in this price bracket.

The Honor Magic V2 is available in a standard and an RSR variant, which was developed in collaboration with Porsche Design. As a result, the RSR version features a more stylish chassis and also comes with the Honor Magic Pen. Despite being much pricier, it is identical to the standard Magic V2 in terms of specs. Both devices are premium foldable phones with innovative silicon-carbon batteries. The standard model is available for around €1,560 from jacob.de in Germany. Readers in the US can purchase it from Amazon for roughly US$1,540.

The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro is a smartphone aimed predominantly at gamers. Despite this, it may also be an attractive option for other kinds of users thanks to its understate design. The device offers a slim, lightweight glass body as well as impressive specs, featuring 1 TB of storage, long battery life and a very bright OLED display. The ROG Phone 8 Pro is retailing for approximately €1,200 (or US$1,200) on Amazon right now.

Even though it’s slightly more exotic, the Vivo X100 Pro is definitely available for purchase in Europe. The flagship phone features a camera system developed in partnership with Zeiss, boasting a dedicated image signal processor. Though the short update support may deter some potential buyers.

For years, the Asus Zenfone series was known for its compact design. However, the Zenfone 11 Ultra is a much larger device that wants to go head-to-head with other high-end phones. The series’ unique selling point has been lost in the process, even if the Zenfone 11 Ultra still retains an audio jack, an uncommon feature in this price range. Crucially, the cameras aren’t able to keep pace with those on similarly priced devices. Prices of the Zenfone 11 Ultra have already slipped below the €1,000 (US$900) mark at the time of writing.

So far, Nothing has mostly offered expensive phones that stood out from the competition with their Glyph light interface on the back.

The company now has a more affordable device in its lineup with the Nothing Phone (2a), which currently retails for around €320 (or US$430) on Amazon. The phone is packed with decent specs whilst capturing the unique look of Nothing. Featuring a bright 120Hz AMOLED display, three years of OS upgrades, a proper camera system and great battery life, the Phone (2a) doesn’t have to shy away from leading mid-range offerings like the Galaxy A series.

However, don’t expect to get features such as eSIM support or wireless charging, and the plastic cover could also be slightly sturdier. That said, The Phone (2a) is definitely worth considering if you are looking for a mid-ranger.

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The table above shows all the smartphones we tested during the last three months including their overall and partial scores in our detailed reviews as well as a selection of important parameters and benchmarks. All results and details can be found in the linked reviews. 
The table can be sorted in each column - just click on the respective column title, for example "weight".