It’s been an enormous 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 the whole lot from flagship telephones to handheld consoles to the take a look at. With this in thoughts, I’m right here to give you my listing 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 essentially the most spectacular merchandise you may need missed in 2024.
Earlier than we get into my listing, it’s price mentioning that my picks are completely subjective, and my reasoning varies from unbeatable specs to what I begrudgingly check with as ‘vibes’. There may be a few surprises right here and there, in addition to a few apparent calls, however in the end, the whole lot on this listing made my job as Pocket Ways’ {Hardware} Editor a pleasure, and hopefully, I’d enable you discover one thing that brings you a bit little bit of that pleasure as we trudge by way of the darkness into one other 12 months. With that out of the way in which, 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 trustworthy opinions that can assist you purchase the very best. Discover out how we take a look at.
The perfect Android telephone of 2024 – Honor Magic6 Professional
So far as the very best 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 day by day driver ever since, benefiting from the improbable 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 nicely, and I can’t ask for far more than that.
Whereas the specs are in all probability essentially the most spectacular factor in regards to 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 normally in 2024, and on condition 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 assessment.
The perfect iPhone of 2024 – iPhone 16 Professional Max
That is in all probability the obvious choose on our listing, 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 newest iOS replace. Whether or not you wish to create your individual 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 way in which.
Nonetheless, Pocket Ways is at the start a gaming web site, and that is the very best gaming iPhone on the town. The iPhone 16 Professional Max makes use of Apple’s newest silicon know-how, boosting efficiency in even essentially 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 may be some of the costly bits of package from the final twelve months, however there’s no denying that it’s probably the greatest. For the complete lowdown, see our iPhone 16 Professional Max assessment.
The perfect gaming telephone of 2024 – RedMagic 10 Professional
The RedMagic 10 Professional is the epitome of the whole lot 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 some other telephone available on the market. Merely put, in the event you’re on the lookout for a telephone to play video games like Genshin Affect or Honkai Star Rail on, that is the very best choose on the time of writing.
It’s not simply the {hardware} that makes the RedMagic 10 Professional probably the greatest gaming telephones I’ve ever used, although. The model’s Sport Area overlay is improbable, supplying you with real-time efficiency particulars and enabling you to make use of the gadget’s capacitive buttons as shoulder triggers, which is especially helpful in the very best FPS video games. Lastly, it’s price mentioning that the RedMagic 10 Professional is lots cheaper than its primary competitors, the Asus ROG Telephone 9 Professional, so not solely is it a improbable performer, but it surely’s additionally unbeatable worth for cash. In the event you’re on this choose, be sure you try our RedMagic 10 Professional assessment.
The perfect 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 presently the very best model within the foldable area. Certain, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is spectacular, if not a bit lackluster of an improve, however the Honor Magic V3 is admittedly one thing.
Its super-slim type issue could 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 numerous the opposite finest foldable telephones, with a greater than respectable IPX8 ranking which means you don’t should reside in worry of unintended splashes. Lastly, it’s a gaming beast, offering tremendous clean visuals with its 120Hz OLED show and working the very best Android video games at excessive settings due to its Snapdragon 3 chipset. For extra info, see our full Honor Magic V3 assessment.
The perfect flip telephone of 2024 – TECNO PHANTOM V Flip2
We’ve seen fewer new flip telephones this 12 months than we’ve got 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 concern with the V Flip2 is that it’s not essentially the most unbelievable performer, particularly relating to gaming, however contemplating how less expensive it’s than the opposite finest flip telephones available on the market, I’ll take a bit lag in Honkai Star Rail if it means preserving extra money in my again pocket. If you wish to know extra, see our TECNO PHANTOM V Flip2 assessment.
The perfect handheld of 2024 – Asus ROG Ally X
Admittedly, I used to be a bit skeptical in regards to 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 aspect down, and one among my colleagues may solely go so far as to award it a 7/10 in our unique assessment.
Quick ahead to the Ally X, and also you’ve bought one of many largest single-generation enhancements I’ve seen within the handheld market. It’s an absolute efficiency beast, able to working even essentially the most demanding video games with out breaking a sweat, and it’s straightforward to load your entire Xbox Sport Go, Epic Video games, and Steam titles onto the gadget in a single fell swoop. This choose is nicely deserving of its spot in our information to the very best 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 listing, we’ve bought a full Asus ROG Ally X assessment so that you can try in order for you extra info.
The perfect pill of 2024 – iPad Air
On the subject of tablets, Apple remains 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 value level.
It’s nearly 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 good for anybody on the lookout for a digital journey companion, and you’ll stream on the go with out worry of working out of juice due to an enormous previous battery that simply doesn’t give up. In the event you’re fascinated with selecting up a brand new iPad for 2025, I can’t suggest this one sufficient. If you need extra particulars on this pill, see our iPad Air assessment.
The perfect 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 a large breath of contemporary 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 excellent. It could get a bit toasty within the palms, and it takes some time to get used to utilizing the controller with a Home windows 11 structure, however for a primary try, it’s a courageous and daring providing from the rising model. Additionally, simply look how cool I look carrying the AR glasses within the picture beneath. If you wish to look that cool – and I’m telling you, it doesn’t matter what you suppose, I look objectively cool right here – then it is best to test the Pocket Exit your self on the first alternative, or no less than learn our TECNO Pocket Go assessment.
There you will have it, our picks for the very best {hardware} of 2024. If you need much more of this 12 months’s most spectacular tech, be sure you try our guides to the very best transportable gaming consoles and the very best mid-range telephones when you’re right here. Or, in the event you’re questioning about what’s forward, see our Nintendo Change 2 hub to make amends for all the newest leaks and hypothesis surrounding 2025’s most anticipated {hardware} launch.