It’s been a giant 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 check. With this in thoughts, I’m right here to give you my record of the most effective 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 record, it’s price mentioning that my picks are solely subjective, and my reasoning varies from unbeatable specs to what I begrudgingly consult with as ‘vibes’. There is perhaps a few surprises right here and there, in addition to a few apparent calls, however finally, the whole lot on this record made my job as Pocket Techniques’ {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 means of the darkness into one other 12 months. With that out of the way in which, let’s get into it.
Why you possibly can belief our recommendation ✔ At Pocket Techniques, our consultants spend days testing video games, telephones, tech, and providers. We at all times share sincere opinions that will help you purchase the most effective. Discover out how we check.
One of the best Android cellphone of 2024 – Honor Magic6 Professional
So far as the most effective 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 every day driver ever since, taking advantage of the incredible cameras, stellar efficiency, and seamless software program. Positive, 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 rather more than that.
Whereas the specs are in all probability essentially the most spectacular factor concerning 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 typically 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 evaluation.
One of the best iPhone of 2024 – iPhone 16 Professional Max
That is in all probability the obvious choose on our record, however but once more, Apple’s costliest iPhone is the model’s better of the 12 months. The iPhone 16 Professional Max is a cellphone for the longer term, introducing a plethora of AI instruments which have solely gotten extra spectacular following the newest iOS replace. Whether or not you need to create your individual customized emoji or summarize a bunch of advanced notifications, the iPhone 16 Professional Max has your again, and there are much more thrilling options on the way in which.
Nonetheless, Pocket Techniques is at first a gaming website, and that is the most effective 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 taking part in on a tiny console than a smartphone. It is perhaps one of the crucial costly bits of package from the final twelve months, however there’s no denying that it’s top-of-the-line. For the complete lowdown, see our iPhone 16 Professional Max evaluation.
One of the best gaming cellphone of 2024 – RedMagic 10 Professional
The RedMagic 10 Professional is the epitome of the whole lot you need from a gaming cellphone. It packs the brand new Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, which makes for staggering efficiency, has a strong fan to fight toasty palms, and its huge OLED show provides extra display retail property than nearly every other cellphone available on the market. Merely put, should you’re searching for a cellphone to play video games like Genshin Impression or Honkai Star Rail on, that is the absolute best choose on the time of writing.
It’s not simply the {hardware} that makes the RedMagic 10 Professional top-of-the-line gaming telephones I’ve ever used, although. The model’s Sport House overlay is incredible, providing 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 most effective FPS video games. Lastly, it’s price mentioning that the RedMagic 10 Professional is loads cheaper than its most important competitors, the Asus ROG Cellphone 9 Professional, so not solely is it a incredible performer, nevertheless it’s additionally unbeatable worth for cash. When you’re on this choose, you’ll want to take a look at our RedMagic 10 Professional evaluation.
One of the best folding cellphone of 2024 – Honor Magic V3
That is the primary of a few probably controversial entries, however so far as I’m involved, Honor is presently the most effective model within the foldable area. Positive, 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 kind issue may 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 a variety of the opposite greatest foldable telephones, with a greater than respectable IPX8 ranking which means you don’t should stay in concern of unintentional splashes. Lastly, it’s a gaming beast, offering tremendous easy visuals with its 120Hz OLED show and operating the most effective Android video games at excessive settings because of its Snapdragon 3 chipset. For extra info, see our full Honor Magic V3 evaluation.
One of the best flip cellphone of 2024 – TECNO PHANTOM V Flip2
We’ve seen fewer new flip telephones this 12 months than we have now 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, just a few 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 challenge with the V Flip2 is that it’s not essentially the most unbelievable performer, particularly on the subject of gaming, however contemplating how less expensive it’s than the opposite greatest flip telephones available on the market, I’ll take a bit lag in Honkai Star Rail if it means maintaining more cash in my again pocket. If you wish to know extra, see our TECNO PHANTOM V Flip2 evaluation.
One of the best handheld of 2024 – Asus ROG Ally X
Admittedly, I used to be a bit skeptical concerning 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 considered one of my colleagues might solely go so far as to award it a 7/10 in our unique evaluation.
Quick ahead to the Ally X, and also you’ve obtained one of many largest single-generation enhancements I’ve seen within the handheld market. It’s an absolute efficiency beast, able to operating even essentially the most demanding video games with out breaking a sweat, and it’s straightforward to load your whole 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 most effective 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 record, we’ve obtained a full Asus ROG Ally X evaluation so that you can take a look at if you need extra info.
One of the best pill of 2024 – iPad Air
On the subject of tablets, Apple continues to be the most effective 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 pretty much as good for players as it’s for creatives and on a regular basis customers, with a strong M2 processor bringing the most effective Apple Arcade video games to life. Not solely that, however its light-weight design is good for anybody searching for a digital journey companion, and you may stream on the go with out concern of operating out of juice because of a giant previous battery that simply doesn’t give up. When you’re serious about choosing 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 evaluation.
One of the best 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 an enormous breath of recent 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 very cinematic expertise, providing one thing distinctly completely different than the common handheld or console.
Admittedly, the Pocket Go nonetheless isn’t excellent. It may possibly get a bit toasty within the arms, and it takes some time to get used to utilizing the controller with a Home windows 11 format, however for a primary try, it’s a courageous and daring providing from the rising model. Additionally, simply look how cool I look sporting the AR glasses within the picture under. If you wish to look that cool – and I’m telling you, it doesn’t matter what you assume, I look objectively cool right here – then you need to examine the Pocket Exit your self on the first alternative, or at the very least learn our TECNO Pocket Go evaluation.
There you might have it, our picks for the most effective {hardware} of 2024. If you need much more of this 12 months’s most spectacular tech, you’ll want to take a look at our guides to the most effective transportable gaming consoles and the most effective mid-range telephones whilst you’re right here. Or, should you’re questioning about what’s forward, see our Nintendo Change 2 hub to atone for all the newest leaks and hypothesis surrounding 2025’s most anticipated {hardware} launch.
