Best Ultra-Premium Flagship Smartphones in India: iPhone 16 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro, Vivo X100 Pro, and More

Apple recently announced the iPhone 16 series in India. When it comes to ultra-premium smartphones, there are few as dominant as the iPhones. But despite the upgrades, it always tends to be the 'Pro' iPhones that standout. And this is year is no different with the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max.

The two iPhone 16 Pro models are equipped with the best smartphone hardware Apple has to offer. However, that's not to say they are without opposition. In India, brands like Samsung, Vivo, Xiaomi, and Google have all introduced smartphones to oppose Apple's dominance. So without any delays, here's a look at the best ultra-premium smartphones in India.

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

The Pixel 9 Pro XL succeeds last year's Pixel 8 Pro, offering the best overall smartphone camera system we've tested to date. However, it isn't just the camera hardware but the way it perfectly complements the software to deliver some phenomenal results across various lighting scenarios that makes the Pixel 9 Pro XL (Review) is the best smartphone for photography.

Moreover, Google also perfectly integrates AI into its software to deliver a seamless user experience, while also offering the best support in the business. The Pixel 9 Pro XL also boasts a large battery and a superb display.

However, its Tensor G4 chip is prone to overheating, while the lack of an adapter in the box almost guarantees slower charging with non-Google adapters. If you are not a fan of big smartphones, then the Pixel 9 Pro offers the exact same specifications as the 'XL' model, albeit in a more compact form factor.

iPhone 16 Pro/ 16 Pro Max

Apple bridged the gap with this year's iPhone 16 Pro, not only cutting its price in India but matching its specifications to the bigger iPhone 16 Pro Max. Moreover, the iPhone 16 Pro models make some strides in videography, making them the best smartphones for capturing video. Moreover, the iPhone 16 Pro also comes with improved battery life and the new A18 Pro chip is the fastest on a smartphone to date.

The iPhone 16 Pro also has a formidable set of cameras with an upgraded ultrawide lens. Apple Intelligence also promises to significantly enhance the already-excellent software experience on the iPhone. However, Apple didn't make any upgrade to the display on the iPhone 16 Pro, although it has supposedly gotten tougher.

Vivo X100 Pro

In our experience, the Vivo X100 Pro (review) is the best smartphone for street photography in 2024. While still on the expensive side, it isn't as much as some of the heavy hitters from Samsung, Apple, and Google. However, it makes no compromises in hardware, boasting a camera system that can cut it with the best.

Apart from street photography, the Vivo X100 Pro also offers the best portrait shots of any phone in the segment, while delivering stellar camera performance, across the board Moreover, it also features a formidable chipset, a bright and vibrant OLED display, and large battery with both wired and wireless fast charging support. The one area where the X100 Pro is lacking is in the software department though.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Samsung's flagship Galaxy S24 Ultra brings a few upgrades over its predecessor, with a strong emphasis on AI enhancements. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, the S24 Ultra aims to deliver one of the best software experiences available on any smartphone in India, thanks to its AI-driven optimizations.

In addition to AI improvements, the Galaxy S24 Ultra features a new 50 MP periscope camera and a stunning AMOLED display. The device sports a premium design, utilizing the latest Gorilla Glass and a titanium frame for added durability. Samsung continues to lead the segment in software support, offering up to seven years of updates, making the S24 Ultra a long-term contender.

Xiaomi 14 Ultra

Xiaomi has made waves in the Indian market with the launch of its Xiaomi 14 Ultra, the brand's first "Ultra" smartphone since the Mi 11 Ultra, and its first in collaboration with Leica. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is heavily focused on its camera system, featuring four 50 MP rear cameras co-engineered with Leica.

The camera setup on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is the most advanced in terms of hardware. Beyond the cameras, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra comes equipped with a flagship chipset, cutting-edge software, an impressive display, and fast charging, all in line with the expectations of an "Ultra" smartphone. Xiaomi has clearly taken a "no compromises" approach.

Honourable Mentions

Additionally, another phone is worth considering if you do not have the budget for the Pixel 9 Pro/9 Pro XL is the Google Pixel 8 Pro. However, the phone is plagued with the same heating issues and is not too far behind the Pixel 9 Pro in terms of pricing. Moreover, the Honor Magic 6 Pro also boasts an impressive specs sheet, but at the time of writing the phone was not easily accessible online.

The biggest difference between a premium and an ultra-premium smartphone is that the latter delivers hardware of the highest caliber. Moreover, they are also equipped with some of the best smartphone camera hardware, offering the best overall experience with few compromises.

It is worth noting that we haven't tested all the phones on this list and our placements are based more on specifications than experience. Stay tuned to Gizbot for our list of the best premium smartphones in India in 2024.