iPhone 16 to Pixel 9: These Are the Best Flagship Smartphones You Can Buy in India in 2024!

When it comes to flagship smartphones, Apple and Samsung have a strangle hold over the market, particularly the former, accounting for over 75% of the market share globally. However, India is a different beast altogether.

Competition in the world's second-largest smartphone market is fierce, irrespective of the segment. When looking to buy a flagship smartphone, Indian customers have a ton of options to choose from, with brands like Xiaomi, OnePlus, and Vivo offering stiff competition to the likes of Apple and Samsung. So without any further delays, let's look at the best flagship smartphones you can buy in India in 2024.

Best Overall | OnePlus 12 | Starting at Rs 64,999

We start off this list with our number one pick, the OnePlus 12 5G. Despite making its debut in January 2024, the OnePlus 12 5G is arguably one of the most underrated smartphones in India. The OnePlus 12 (Review) offers the most versatile camera setup of any smartphone on this list, while maintaining excellent consistency across all three of its rear camera lenses.

But it isn't just the camera system that's impressive about the OnePlus 12 5G, it's the display, the performance, the battery life, charging speed, and the clean and customizable software that combine to make the OnePlus 12 5G one of the best flagship smartphones in India in 2024. However, the one downside here is the selfie camera performance is not up to the mark.

Best Compact | Xiaomi 14 | Starting at Rs 59,999

The Xiaomi 14 is another excellent option for those looking for a flagship smartphone without breaking the bank. The Xiaomi 14 (Review) has all the makings of good default flagship, including a very-reliable camera setup, a top-tier chipset, a 120Hz LTPO OLED display, and a sizeable battery with extremely fast wired and wireless charging.

Xiaomi has collaborated with Leica for all three rear cameras on its vanilla 14 model. The collaboration with Lecia allows for some fun and exciting portrait modes. The Xiaomi 14 also reproduces excellent results across all three of its lenses with good consistency. The downside is its mediocre selfie and zoom performance.

Best Flagship for Photography | Pixel 9 | Starting at Rs 79,999

The Google Pixel 8 was our pick for the best smartphone in 2023 and its successor only improves on the overall package. The Pixel 9 may not be the most affordable smartphone on this list, but its main camera performance is comparable to the phones that are nearly twice as expensive. Moreover, Google has also upgraded the ultrawide camera on the Pixel 9 to deliver performance on par with an ultra-premium smartphone.

Furthermore, it has the best display of any smartphone in the segment. And let's not forget the best software support. The Tensor G4 offers several AI enhancements, and the phone is tailored towards offering a seamless experience. The few downsides of the Pixel 9 are its slow charging and tendency to heat up while executing more demanding tasks.

Best Default | Galaxy S24 | Starting at Rs 62,999

The Samsung Galaxy S24 presents an enticing gateway to the realm of premium Samsung smartphones. With its compact design, versatile camera setup, vivid display, and cutting-edge features like Galaxy AI and DeX computing, this device is designed for discerning consumers in search of a perfect balance between performance and convenience.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 is a perfectly capable compact smartphone and is without a doubt the safest premium smartphone in 2024. You simply can't go wrong with it. However, that also means that outside of software and AI prowess, it lacks a certain edge. The name of the game with Samsung has always been consistency and the Galaxy S24 is no different, making it the safest bet for those looking for a new flagship smartphone in 2024.

Best for Video Recording | iPhone 16 | Starting at Rs 79,900

Apple's iPhone 16 got a few upgrades over its predecessor, particularly in the camera department. In this segment, the iPhone 16 is undoubtedly the best phone for capturing videos, with a new Slow-Mo Video, Spatial Video, and Dolby Vision Video at up to 120fps. Beyond video, the iPhone 16 also capture excellent photos across all lighting scenarios.

Add to that, superb performance, solid battery life, and an excellent software ecosystem, and you have quite the formidable compact flagship. However, the iPhone 16 does come with relatively slow charging and no adapter in the box, while a 60Hz display should be illegal at this price.

Best for Portrait Photography | Vivo X100 | Starting at Rs 63,999

Since we're on the subject of smartphones with impressive cameras, we simply couldn't leave the Vivo X100 out of this list. The Vivo X100 features a formidable triple-rear camera setup complete with main, ultrawide, and periscope shooters. Moreover, the partnership with ZEISS also brings the famed portrait modes, which make it the best phone on our list for street photography.

Apart from the impressive cameras, the Vivo X100 also features a fast chipset, a large battery with extremely fast wired charging support, a vibrant LTPO OLED display, and an elegant design. However, selfie camera performance and overall software experience are not up to the mark on the Vivo X100. Stay tuned to Gizbot to help you find the right smartphone for you.