Top 10 Flagship Smartphones in India (2024) | Xiaomi 14 Ultra, OnePlus 12, iPhone 15 Pro Max, Galaxy S24

While we're only into the first quarter of 2024, the year has been a hectic one, with several flagships already hitting the market. From the recent launch of the Xiaomi 14 series to the Samsung Galaxy S24 series, Indian customers have a ton of options before setting their sights on a particular smartphone.

To help you navigate this tricky market, we've decided to narrow down the list of the best premium and ultra-premium smartphones in India 2024. So without any further delays, here's a look at the top 10 flagship smartphones in 2024, starting with the most recent.

Xiaomi 14 Ultra

This week, Xiaomi shocked the Indian market with the release of its top-tier Xiaomi 14 Ultra, marking the first time the brand has released an 'Ultra' smartphone in India since the Mi 11 Ultra and the first following its partnership with Leica. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra puts a major focus on cameras, with four 50 MP rear cameras co-developed with experts Leica.

At the heart of this setup is a 1-inch Type 50 MP Sony LYT-900 sensor with a variable aperture (f/1.6 to f/4.0) with Leica's next-gen 'Summilux Lens'. Moreover, the main camera is accompanied by three 50 MP Sony IMX858 sensors. The camera system supports six focal lengths, advanced portrait modes, up to 120x digital zoom, 16-bit UltraRaw mode, and more.

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is one of the best, if not the best, smartphones for 'Pro' photography in India. Apart from the cameras, it also features a top-end chipset, software, display, and charging support, as one would expect with any 'Ultra' smartphone. Xiaomi have opted for the 'no compromises' approach with 14 Ultra and it is the best smartphone you can buy with a budget of one lakh in India.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Samsung's top-end Ultra smartphone comes with a few upgrades over its predecessor, although the South Korean tech giant has heavily focused on AI here. The Galaxy S24 Ultra's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset combined with several AI improvement, aims to offer the software experience of any smartphone in India. If you have any questions about Galaxy AI; head on over to the link.

Apart from the AI integration, the Galaxy S24 Ultra also comes with a new 50 MP periscope camera and a vibrant new AMOLED display. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra features a premium design and build with the latest and greatest Gorilla Glass and a titanium frame. Samsung also offers the best software support of any smartphone in the segment, clocking in at seven years.

iPhone 15 Pro/15 Pro Max

The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are the oldest smartphones on our list but might just be the most powerful ones. They are equipped with a 3nm custom A17 Pro chip, making it the only one on our list capable of natively running PlayStation titles. The iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max are also the best phones on our list for capturing video.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max also boasts a premium titanium frame, a vibrant 120Hz LTPO OLED display, excellent battery life, superb software support, and one of the best camera systems in the segment. The iPhone 15 Pro Max does have a few advantages over its 'Pro' counterpart, offering a larger display, bigger battery, and a new periscope-telephoto camera.

Google Pixel 8 Pro

The Google Pixel 8 Pro is the last of our 'ultra-premium' smartphones and is another camera behemoth. It offers the best 'point-and-shoot' performance of any smartphone on this list. Google also upped the ante this year with a new 50 MP camera sensor, a 48 MP ultrawide lens, and a 48 MP periscope-telephoto shooter.

Apart from camera performance, Google also brings its 'A' game to the software department, matching Samsung's seven years. The Pixel 8 Pro's Tensor G3 chipset also excels at AI performance, has a class-leading display, and offers a seamless user experience. If there was one word to describe Google's ultra-premium smartphone it would be 'convenient'.

Vivo X100 Pro

In our experience, the Vivo X100 Pro was the best smartphone for street photography. While still on the expensive side, it isn't as much as some of the 'Ultra' smartphones on this list. But 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.

The Vivo X100 Pro is one of the best 'Non-Ultra/Max' smartphones for photography. 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.

Xiaomi 14

The recently unveiled Xiaomi 14 is another excellent option for those looking for a flagship smartphone without breaking the bank. The Xiaomi 14 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. Our full review of the Xiaomi 14 will be out soon. For now, you can check out our first impressions or this comparison with the Samsung Galaxy S24.

OnePlus 12 5G

Another strong contender for default flagship of the year is the OnePlus 12 5G. The OnePlus 12 5G puts a major emphasis on performance and usability, offering a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, a 120Hz LTPO OLED display, and the largest battery in the segment.

The OnePlus 12's camera system is tuned in collaboration with Hasselblad. The main camera system uses a 1-inch sensor that keeps pace with most competitors on this list, although the performance on the ultrawide and periscope-telephoto are questionable. Overall, the OnePlus 12 5G's cameras offer more versatility than quality. But is still worthy of its flagship moniker.

Google Pixel 8

The Google Pixel 8 was our pick for the best smartphone in 2023 and with good reason. The Pixel 8 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, it is consistently being offered at discounted rates, even now, users with a credit card can receive a discount of Rs 13,000 on the Pixel 8. Furthermore, it has the best display of any smartphone in the segment. And let's not forget the best software support. The Tensor G3 offers several AI enhancements, and the phone is tailored towards offering a seamless experience.

iQOO 12 5G

The iQOO 12 5G is the most affordable flagship smartphone in India in 2024. That means it is the cheapest smartphone you can buy with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. Additionally, it also offers quality hardware in the form of a 144Hz LTPO OLED display and a large battery with fast charging support.

Moreover, the iQOO 12 5G also offers a solid camera setup in a 50 MP (Main) + 50 MP (Ultrawide) + 64 MP (Periscope) configuration. The camera system on the iQOO 12 5G offers a ton of versatility across various scenarios and keeps pace with some of the competition on this list, despite its lower price tag.

Samsung Galaxy S24/Galaxy S24 Plus

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 Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus shares the same specs as the vanilla model, apart from the display, which is bigger and has a higher resolution and the battery, which is larger. Stay tuned to Gizbot for all the latest smartphone updates.