A 2024 smartphone report card

Looking back, it is obvious just how busy and chock-full of great options the past year of smartphones has been. Best Compact Phone: Xiaomi 14 View Full Image Compact winner For those of us whose digits haven’t evolved to hold massive phones, there are still some legitimate options, though the smallest phone one has considered is still larger than the first Galaxy Note from over a decade ago. Best for Video: iPhone 16 Pro View Full Image Video star Despite Vivo’s big strides in video and Samsung’s consistent video prowess over the years, the iPhone 16 Pro series remain our pick for the best video and vlogging experience. It’s not just about the sheer consistency of video output across all lenses, or the 4K 120fps slow-motion video mode, or even the ability for pros to shoot footage in ProRes or Log formats for efficient post production workflows – the iPhone 16 Pro really flexed its video muscle by tackling a core issue – audio capture – allowing users to adjust their sound after capture to either focus on the voice of the person on camera, or sound like it was recorded inside a professional studio, or even prioritize vocal tracks while adding in environmental noises in surround sound. Best Foldable: Vivo X Fold 3 Pro View Full Image In the fold Foldables haven’t exactly taken the world by storm in the way a lot of pundits expected, but it’s not to say the tech hasn’t been improving, and the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro feels the least compromised among its peers.