Google can usually be relied on to deliver a superbly capable pair of new phones towards the end of the year, and now is no different. The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro have arrived with a refined design, uprated internals and even better camera hardware than before. They’re also running Android 14, which has been going through public beta testing for the last few months. They are unfortunately more expensive, with a price increase to $999/£999 which puts them further into premium territory alongside the Apple iPhone 15 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. The Pixel 8 is $699/£699.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max
Titanium construction, a customisable action button to replace the long-running mute switch, and a 5x optical zoom camera were the big highlights from this year’s Pro-grade iPhone – but all were small fry compared to the seismic shift that was Apple ditching the Lightning connector in favour of USB-C. Early reviews suggest it’s business as usual everywhere else, with outstanding performance and incredibly capable cameras. Gaming is practically on par with a PS4 now, and iOS 17 has brought even more widgety goodness.
Apple iPhone 15 and 15 Plus
The more mainstream iPhone pair don’t get titanium builds, and stick to dual-camera setup, but they get perkier processors, USB-C connectors and iOS 17 out of the box. The biggest change is dynamic island, inherited from the iPhone 14 Pro series – hopefully that means more apps will support it now. The action button doesn’t make the grade, though. Expect flawless performance and fantastically judged photos and videos in just about all lighting conditions.
Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
As the name suggests, Asus’ latest effort really is the ultimate gaming phone. Not only does it pack the latest Snapdragon silicon, but it has an optional active cooling add-on that uses TEC chilling. It pretty much guarantees flawless performance, and the rest of the phone is pretty epic too. There’s a 6.78in OLED display, a second screen on the back for notifications and funky effects, and a giant 6000mAh battery. The trio of rear cameras are just OK for the cash, though, and the phone is mighty expensive. Only dedicated gamers need apply.
Asus Zenfone 10
One of the final holdouts still making powerful yet pocket-friendly phones, Asus has played the greatest hits for the Zenfone 10. The design is a minor evolution over last year’s Zenfone 9, as is the camera hardware. The rest of the internals are as cutting-edge as it gets, though, and a gimbal-stabilised main snapper makes it surprisingly capable at shooting video.
Google Pixel 7a
Building on what was one of last year’s best value phones, the Pixel 7a arrives with even more high-end features, including a 90Hz display refresh rate and wireless charging. An all-new lead camera sensor brings even better low light performance, and power from the Tensor G2 CPU is on par with rivals costing considerably more. There’s been a slight price increase, but the upgrades go a long way to justifying it.
Google Pixel Fold
Big G’s first foldable phone landed with a shorter, wider outer screen than its major rival, the Galaxy Z Fold 4, which makes it a lot easier to use without unfurling the 7.6in inner screen. It’s packing a triple lens rear camera that’s only a sliver behind the Pixel 7 Pro on image quality, meaning it’s comfortably the best folder around for photography, and a tweaked version of Android is purpose-built for multitasking. Battery life isn’t incredible, though, and it’s mighty pricey.
Honor Magic 5 Pro
Another sterling flagship effort from Honor, proving it has shed its budget brand image from the days it was a Huawei sub-brand. The Magic 5 Pro pretty much does it all, with three very capable rear cameras, powerful internals, a gorgeous display and very long battery life. A few software rough edges remain, and video recording isn’t as well catered for as stills shooting, but otherwise it’s a tempting alternative to the usual big hitters at this price.
Honor 90
A mid-ranger that still finds room in the budget for a 200MP main camera, the Honor 90 is also out to impress with an AMOLED display covered in four-sided curved glass. The 2.5D effect makes it feel like a much pricier phone, and the big battery lurking inside makes it a multi-day holdout if you’re sensible with apps and games.
Huawei P60 Pro
A truly variable aperture camera lens and some very nifty image processing are just the start for Huawei’s latest photography-focused effort. The P60 Pro also comes with a wide f/2.1 aperture telephoto, which can handle macro shots from a distance and copes impressively well in low light. It’s comfortably up there with the best cameraphones on sale today – it’s just a shame it comes with the usual Huawei caveat that there’s no Google apps support, severely limiting its appeal in the West.
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