PREMIUM PHONES

● TIPS & TRICKS

● Select Optimised Battery Charging to limit top-ups to 80%, keeping your battery in prime condition.

● Create a Contact Poster by tapping on My Card > Edit > Edit; add a photo and any text you want.

● In Find My, select any AirTag and you can share its location with a trusted group.

1 Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

from £1099 /go.stuff.tv/15ProMax

This is, at least until we’ve decided how to rank the new 16 models (see p27), the best iPhone Apple has ever made. The camera revisions are great, USB-C was long overdue but is fantastic now it’s here, and the action button is genuinely useful. It’s probably only worth upgrading from the 2022 equivalent if you’re desperate for that USB port, but this Max lives up to its name.

Stuff says ★★★★★

Just a solidly sensible advance, but the new camera smarts are an absolute joy

● NOW ADD THIS Belkin BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 This solid MagSafe charging dock lets you top up your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods. £110 / argos.co.uk

● Prices quoted are for handset only unless otherwise stated

2 Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

from £830 /go.stuff.tv/S24Ultra

Yet another epic do-it-all flagship, elevated to even more desirable status by its titanium build and superior screen. The AI additions are perfect for productivity and it also takes a very good photo, even if Samsung has taken its foot off the gas just a little on that front.

Stuff says ★★★★★

Proper ‘future phone’ vibes… just be prepared to pay for them

FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS AND REVIEWS OF ALL THE BEST NEW PHONES, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/SMARTPHONES

NEW

3 Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

from £1099 /go.stuff.tv/9ProXL

This is every bit the modern flagship. Styling is up there with anything from Apple or Samsung, real-world performance is suitably top-tier, and it takes fantastic pictures in all conditions… but don’t overlook the non-XL version, which is very nearly as good.

Stuff says ★★★★★

The best big-screen Pixel yet levels up Google’s AI efforts

4 Xiaomi 14 Ultra

★★★★★ £900 /go.stuff.tv/14Ultra

If you think in focal lengths and ISO values, this photography specialist should be your next phone.

5 OnePlus 12

★★★★★ from £799 /go.stuff.tv/OnePlus12

A compelling package thanks to its boosted camera and impressive core specs.

6 Apple iPhone 15

★★★★★ from £681 /go.stuff.tv/iPhone15

Apple’s best this time around is at the top and bottom of the range: you can’t go wrong here.

7 Nothing Phone 2

★★★★★ from £575 /go.stuff.tv/Nothing2

Rivals edge it out in some areas, but they can’t match this phone’s pocket presence.

8 Samsung Galaxy S24

★★★★★ from £649 /go.stuff.tv/S24

The ‘basic’ S24 is not one for specs snobs, but it’s still an ace Android all-rounder.

9 Sony Xperia 1 VI

★★★★★ from £1299 /go.stuff.tv/XperiaOneSix

More mainstream than Sony’s previous efforts, this is a fantastic flagship that majors on battery life.

10 OnePlus 12R

★★★★★ £509 /go.stuff.tv/OnePlus12R

Ideal for mobile gamers who don’t need wireless charging or top-class cameras.

FOLDABLE PHONES 83

1 OnePlus Open

£1499 /go.stuff.tv/Open

The Hasselblad camera system in the Open is the best of any folding phone, taking impressive photos across all conditions. Neither of the two screens feels like a compromise, and with its flat sides this phone is easy to hold: on paper the 11.7mm profile is skinny, although that doesn’t account for the hefty camera bump. OnePlus’s UI is fantastically optimised for multitasking, while its 67W charging and long-lasting battery are a boon; the one thing it can’t offer is wireless charging.

Stuff says ★★★★★

Cheaper than its main rivals and brilliantly well made, the OnePlus Open is the finest foldable phone yet

2 Galaxy Z Flip6

from £1033 /go.stuff.tv/ZFlip6

Samsung’s little clamshell finally has the camera hardware and battery to match the Galaxy S24. It keeps pace on performance too, and adds useful software tweaks that make great use of the form factor.

Stuff says ★★★★★

A near-zero-compromise foldable

3 Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

from £1749 /go.stuff.tv/9ProFold

An astonishing turnaround for Google in the foldable field: it now has the styling and screens to compete with the best, and some genuinely useful software smarts. The many good points add up to a convincing whole.

Stuff says ★★★★★

A slick sequel that fixes the first Fold’s flaws

4 Motorola Razr 50 Ultra

★★★★★ £877 /go.stuff.tv/Razr50Ultra Moto doubles down on everything that made the last-gen Razr such a fabulous flipper.

5 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6

★★★★✩ from £1799 /go.stuff.tv/ZFold6 The best Z Fold yet isn’t quite the hardware leap forward we were hoping for.

BUDGET PHONES

1 Google Pixel 8a

from £419 /go.stuff.tv/Pixel8a

In recent years, Google’s cheaper ‘a’ models have dominated the mid-range phone market. They’ve delivered outstanding value by including many of the brand’s flagship features (think amazing cameras and slick software) and cutting corners where you’re less likely to notice. And the good news is, that’s still true of the Pixel 8a, which looks and feels almost identical to the full-on Pixel 8 and performs almost as well. It really is astonishing how good the cheaper Google phones are for photography.

Stuff says ★★★★★

Once again Google proves you don’t need to spend over £500 to get a great phone

2 OnePlus Nord 4

from £479 /go.stuff.tv/Nord4

If you don’t want a Pixel 8a with its excellent camera, this is the next best thing. That’s not the whole story, though, because the Nord 4 beats its Google rival for design: the metal unibody makes this a very appealing smartphone indeed.

Stuff says ★★★★★

You can’t get a better design at this kind of price

3 Nothing Phone 2a

from £289 /go.stuff.tv/Phone2a

Despite more modest specs and less bling than the full-fat Nothing Phone 2, the 2a is a stylish budget triumph. Performance is impressive, it lasts longer than any previous Nothing, and it also delivers pleasing photos.

Stuff says ★★★★★

One of the finest affordable handsets around

4 Redmi Note 13 Pro+

★★★★✩ £359 /go.stuff.tv/Note13ProPlus

Loads of storage, a brilliant curved screen and a seriously impressive main camera.

5 Samsung Galaxy A55

★★★★✩ from £215 /go.stuff.tv/GalaxyA55

Samsung die-hards will appreciate the styling and photo processing… and the ever-tumbling price.

IN-EAR HEADPHONES 84

1 Sony WF-1000XM5

£190 /go.stuff.tv/WFXM5

● TIPS & TRICKS

● Sony’s eartips are great, as long as you use the right size. Be sure to try all four included in the box.

● 360 Reality Audio upmixing can add a sense of space to tunes, but not every track sounds better.

● Give the personalised EQ a try in the app. Its A/B choices are far simpler than a multi-band equaliser.

The WF-1000XM5 in-ears are significantly smaller than the XM4s, which were already a lot more compact than their predecessors. And yet Sony has still squeezed even larger drivers inside each earbud, along with the firm’s best active noise-cancelling yet. The feature list is as extensive as ever, and they’re priced to compete with Bose’s best. Add in decent battery life and a strong app, and you won’t find anything more well-rounded for less.

Stuff says ★★★★★

Excellent noise-cancellation, a comfy fit and simply stellar audio

● NOW ADD THIS Spigen Rugged Armor Case This drop-resistant outer shield comes with a carabiner clip for keeping your buds within reach. £20 / amazon.co.uk

2 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

£219 /go.stuff.tv/QCUBuds

These in-ears don’t provide much of a design upgrade over their predecessors, but they do deliver a fresh audio experience (as well as industry-leading ANC). While rivals may have them beat for nuance or engagement, spatial sound technology is put to great effect here. Apple’s AirPods Pro and the Sony buds at No1 both deliver effective ANC and a fantastic listen for less cash, though… and if you already have a pair of QC Earbuds II, the Ultras probably aren’t worth the upgrade.