It’s that time again at GSMArena when we highlight our favorite phones of the year. My colleagues have already shared their lists, and now it’s my turn. A quick disclaimer before diving in: my picks are based solely on the phones I personally used extensively here in India. Some great devices might not make the list simply because I didn’t get a chance to test them. These are personal favorites, after all. Without further ado, here are my top 5 smartphones of 2024, in no particular order.
vivo X Fold3 Pro
The vivo X Fold3 Pro, launched in India and Indonesia in June, was vivo’s first foldable to debut outside China. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, it delivered flawless performance with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage.
What truly stood out was its design—sleek, lightweight, and comfortable in both folded and unfolded states. Remarkably, vivo packed a 5,700 mAh battery with 100W wired and 50W wireless charging into this compact form. It charged from 1% to 100% in just 45 minutes in my tests.
Both screens were vibrant, and the dual 3D ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanners were a game-changer. You could unlock the phone with either scanner, no matter which one registered your fingerprint.
Its camera system—50MP primary, 50MP ultrawide, and 64MP periscope telephoto—was impressive, but the periscope stole the show. It excelled in both Portrait and Super Macro modes, producing stunning shots, even for product photography.
In comparison, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold6 felt outdated, stuck with side-mounted fingerprint scanners and a sluggish 25W charging speed. While Samsung continues to play catch-up, vivo has set the benchmark for foldables.
iQOO 13
As the successor to the iQOO 12, the iQOO 13 arrived with the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and retained the same ergonomic design. Its new features included RGB lights around the camera, an IP68/69 rating, a sharper LTPO AMOLED screen, and a bigger 6,000 mAh battery for the Indian variant.
Despite the battery upgrade, iQOO maintained a blazing 120W charging speed, offering solid battery life and swift charging times. Software support also improved, with four years of Android updates and five years of security patches—commendable for its segment.
However, I was disappointed by the downgraded telephoto camera (from 64MP 3x to 50MP 2x), which impacted the fun Tele Macro mode. Still, the iQOO 13 remains a solid all-rounder with room for improvement in its next iteration.
Realme GT 7 Pro
The Realme GT 7 Pro stood out as India’s first Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered flagship, delivering stellar performance and smooth software. It featured a brilliant LTPO AMOLED screen, a sturdy build with IP68/69 rating, and fast 120W charging paired with a 6,500 mAh battery (5,800 mAh in India).
While it impressed with its performance and build, Realme fell short in the camera department. The 8MP ultrawide felt out of place on a 2024 flagship, and the software support wasn’t as competitive as iQOO’s. Still, the GT 7 Pro’s smooth user experience and fast charging make it a noteworthy contender.
Oppo Find X7 Ultra
The Oppo Find X7 Ultra blurred the line between a smartphone and a dedicated camera. Its four 50MP rear cameras, including two periscope telephotos, produced exceptional results. The Hasselblad Color Calibration enhanced the overall imaging experience, but its lack of a dedicated macro toggle was disappointing.
Despite some quirks, the Find X7 Ultra’s performance, IP68 rating, and faux leather design made it stand out. Its 100W charging mitigated its average battery endurance, and I hope future Oppo Ultra models gain wider global availability.
vivo X200
The vivo X200 offered a compact yet powerful package with MediaTek’s flagship Dimensity 9400 chip and a brighter, quad-curved AMOLED screen. Its 5,800 mAh silicon-carbon battery provided excellent endurance, albeit with a slightly slower 90W charging speed compared to its predecessor.
With an IP69 rating, four years of OS updates, and a reliable Super Macro mode, the X200 impressed me. While I missed testing the Pro model, the X200 holds its ground as one of the best compact smartphones of the year.