It’s been a giant 12 months within the tech world, and I ought to know, as I’ve spent the higher a part of the final twelve months placing all the pieces from flagship telephones to handheld consoles to the check. With this in thoughts, I’m right here to give you my record of the very best handheld {hardware} and telephones of the 12 months, simply in time for the vacation season, providing a glance again in any respect probably the most spectacular merchandise you might need missed in 2024.
Earlier than we get into my record, it’s value mentioning that my picks are fully subjective, and my reasoning varies from unbeatable specs to what I begrudgingly seek advice from as ‘vibes’. There is likely to be a few surprises right here and there, in addition to a few apparent calls, however finally, all the pieces on this record made my job as Pocket Ways’ {Hardware} Editor a pleasure, and hopefully, I’d assist you to discover one thing that brings you somewhat little bit of that pleasure as we trudge by way of the darkness into one other 12 months. With that out of the best way, let’s get into it.
Why you’ll be able to belief our recommendation ✔ At Pocket Ways, our consultants spend days testing video games, telephones, tech, and providers. We all the time share sincere opinions that can assist you purchase the very best. Discover out how we check.
One of the best Android telephone of 2024 – Honor Magic6 Professional
So far as the greatest Android telephones go, they don’t get a lot better than the Honor Magic6 Professional. After reviewing this flagship earlier within the 12 months, I’ve used it as my every day driver ever since, taking advantage of the incredible cameras, stellar efficiency, and seamless software program. Certain, it doesn’t have all of the AI bells and whistles of a few of this 12 months’s Samsung and Apple telephones, however what it does, it does very effectively, and I can’t ask for far more than that.
Whereas the specs are in all probability probably the most spectacular factor concerning the Magic6 Professional, I simply love the design. It’s one thing a bit completely different in a world of iPhone copycats and joyless rectangles, particularly within the inexperienced colorway with its fake leather-based texture. There’s additionally the OLED show, which could have transformed me to the church of curved screens. It’s in all probability my favourite little bit of tech on the whole in 2024, and provided that I spend most of my time toying round with new gadgets, that’s saying one thing. If you wish to know extra, see our Honor Magic6 Professional overview.
One of the best iPhone of 2024 – iPhone 16 Professional Max
That is in all probability the obvious decide on our record, however but once more, Apple’s costliest iPhone is the model’s better of the 12 months. The iPhone 16 Professional Max is a telephone for the long run, introducing a plethora of AI instruments which have solely gotten extra spectacular following the most recent iOS replace. Whether or not you need to create your personal customized emoji or summarize a bunch of complicated notifications, the iPhone 16 Professional Max has your again, and there are much more thrilling options on the best way.
Nonetheless, Pocket Ways is at the start a gaming web site, and that is the greatest gaming iPhone on the town. The iPhone 16 Professional Max makes use of Apple’s newest silicon know-how, boosting efficiency in even probably the most demanding video games to the purpose the place it feels extra such as you’re enjoying on a tiny console than a smartphone. It is likely to be some of the costly bits of equipment from the final twelve months, however there’s no denying that it’s among the best. For the total lowdown, see our iPhone 16 Professional Max overview.
One of the best gaming telephone of 2024 – RedMagic 10 Professional
The RedMagic 10 Professional is the epitome of all the pieces you need from a gaming telephone. It packs the brand new Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, which makes for staggering efficiency, has a robust fan to fight toasty palms, and its huge OLED show provides extra display screen retail property than virtually every other telephone available on the market. Merely put, if you happen to’re in search of a telephone to play video games like Genshin Influence or Honkai Star Rail on, that is the very best decide on the time of writing.
It’s not simply the {hardware} that makes the RedMagic 10 Professional one of many greatest gaming telephones I’ve ever used, although. The model’s Sport Area overlay is incredible, providing you with real-time efficiency particulars and enabling you to make use of the machine’s capacitive buttons as shoulder triggers, which is especially helpful in the very best FPS video games. Lastly, it’s value mentioning that the RedMagic 10 Professional is rather a lot cheaper than its essential competitors, the Asus ROG Cellphone 9 Professional, so not solely is it a incredible performer, nevertheless it’s additionally unbeatable worth for cash. If you happen to’re on this decide, you’ll want to try our RedMagic 10 Professional overview.
One of the best folding telephone of 2024 – Honor Magic V3
That is the primary of a few doubtlessly controversial entries, however so far as I’m involved, Honor is at the moment the very best model within the foldable house. Certain, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is spectacular, if not somewhat lackluster of an improve, however the Honor Magic V3 is actually one thing.
Its super-slim type issue may be very spectacular, particularly given Honor hasn’t sacrificed any efficiency or digital camera specs to make it so skinny. It’s extra sturdy than lots of the opposite greatest foldable telephones, with a greater than respectable IPX8 ranking which means you don’t should stay in worry of unintentional splashes. Lastly, it’s a gaming beast, offering tremendous clean visuals with its 120Hz OLED show and operating the greatest Android video games at excessive settings because of its Snapdragon 3 chipset. For extra data, see our full Honor Magic V3 overview.
One of the best flip telephone of 2024 – TECNO PHANTOM V Flip2
We’ve seen fewer new flip telephones this 12 months than we’ve book-style foldables, however of the brand new launches, the TECNO PHANTOM V Flip2 is my favourite. Whereas I used to be a fan of the unique V Flip, this second iteration is far improved, with a extra helpful outer show, a number of new AI options to play with, and even faster charging. Oh, and it has digital pets. Something that has digital pets is a winner in my e book.
The one slight situation with the V Flip2 is that it’s not probably the most unimaginable performer, particularly in relation to gaming, however contemplating how less expensive it’s than the opposite greatest flip telephones available on the market, I’ll take somewhat lag in Honkai Star Rail if it means preserving more cash in my again pocket. If you wish to know extra, see our TECNO PHANTOM V Flip2 overview.
One of the best handheld of 2024 – Asus ROG Ally X
Admittedly, I used to be a bit skeptical concerning the Asus ROG Ally X at first. When the unique ROG Ally arrived again in 2023, its janky software program and battery life let the facet down, and certainly one of my colleagues might solely go so far as to award it a 7/10 in our unique overview.
Quick ahead to the Ally X, and also you’ve received one of many greatest single-generation enhancements I’ve seen within the handheld market. It’s an absolute efficiency beast, able to operating even probably the most demanding video games with out breaking a sweat, and it’s straightforward to load all your Xbox Sport Move, Epic Video games, and Steam titles onto the machine in a single fell swoop. This decide is effectively deserving of its spot in our information to the greatest Steam Deck alternate options, and it’s going to take one thing mighty spectacular to beat it. As with all the opposite picks on this record, we’ve received a full Asus ROG Ally X overview so that you can try if you’d like extra data.
One of the best pill of 2024 – iPad Air
On the subject of tablets, Apple continues to be the very best within the enterprise. We’ve seen some fairly spectacular Android alternate options over the past 12 months, such because the Honor MagicPad2 and RedMagic Nova, however the iPad Air takes the cake, providing a degree of high quality that few can match on the similar worth level.
It’s pretty much as good for players as it’s for creatives and on a regular basis customers, with a robust M2 processor bringing the very best Apple Arcade video games to life. Not solely that, however its light-weight design is right for anybody in search of a digital journey companion, and you’ll stream on the go with out worry of operating out of juice because of a giant outdated battery that simply doesn’t give up. If you happen to’re enthusiastic about selecting up a brand new iPad for 2025, I can’t suggest this one sufficient. If you’d like extra particulars on this pill, see our iPad Air overview.
One of the best innovation of 2024 – TECNO Pocket Go
In a 12 months the place we’ve seen numerous Steam Deck copycats hit the market, the TECNO Pocket Go is an enormous breath of recent air. Combining a set of AR glasses and a Home windows 11 PC constructed right into a chunky controller, the Pocket Go turns video games like Stray and Cyberpunk 2077 into a really cinematic expertise, providing one thing distinctly completely different than the common handheld or console.
Admittedly, the Pocket Go nonetheless isn’t good. It will possibly get a bit toasty within the fingers, and it takes some time to get used to utilizing the controller with a Home windows 11 format, however for a primary try, it’s a courageous and daring providing from the rising model. Additionally, simply look how cool I look sporting the AR glasses within the picture under. If you wish to look that cool – and I’m telling you, it doesn’t matter what you assume, I look objectively cool right here – then it’s best to test the Pocket Exit your self on the first alternative, or at the very least learn our TECNO Pocket Go overview.
There you have got it, our picks for the very best {hardware} of 2024. If you’d like much more of this 12 months’s most spectacular tech, you’ll want to try our guides to the greatest moveable gaming consoles and the greatest mid-range telephones whilst you’re right here. Or, if you happen to’re questioning about what’s forward, see our Nintendo Change 2 hub to make amends for all the most recent leaks and hypothesis surrounding 2025’s most anticipated {hardware} launch.
