It’s that frenetic time of the year when a new smartphone hits retail shelves every week. From Samsung’s flagship reveal to OnePlus’s first big launch of 2024, smartphone brands have been in the fast lane during the first weeks of the year. It’s not all premium flagships, we’ve also seen brands like Redmi unleashing aggressively priced mid-market smartphones that tick key boxes. If you’re looking to start the new year with a new smartphone, you will be spoilt for choice.
OnePlus 12
Speed has always been OnePlus’s calling card. The brand’s flagship devices are designed to quench your need for speed. The OnePlus 12 takes over the mantle as the brand’s new speed demon and gets extra wings with the all-new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. The top-end variant is packed with a whopping 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. Speed is an integral part of the OnePlus 12 experience, the in-box 100W SuperVOOC charger powers this device in less than 30 minutes. The 5,400mAh battery is the perfect accessory for the immersive 6.82-inch QHD+ (3,168 x 1,440 pixels / 510 PPI) display that peaks at 4,500 nits. And then there’s the rear cam co-designed with Hasselblad that aces portraits.
Price: Rs 64,999 onwards
OPPO Reno 11 Pro 5G
OPPO’s Reno line is the perfect blend between style and everyday functionality. This device weighs just about 180gms and comes with a unique textured pattern that sets its apart. It might be slinky, but still packs a dependable 4,600mAh battery, backed by a 80W SuperVOOC charger (that takes the device from 1% to 100% in under 30 minutes) in the box. The hardware spec sheet includes a MediaTek Dimensity 8200 chipset that teams up with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of Internal storage. Our favourite feature is the gorgeous 6.67-inch curved display (2,412 x 1,080 pixels) with a 120Hz refresh rate. The rear cam combines a 50MP primary lens, a 32MP telephoto portrait cam and an 8MP ultra-wide lens.
Price: Rs 39,999
Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G
The top-of-the-line option in the trio of Redmi smartphones that arrived early this year. One of the design highlights is an elegant vegan texture a trendy colour-block pattern. Redmi has pitched this 3D curved display as one of the most in this price segment. The 6.67-inch AMOLED display (2,712 x 1,220 pixels) features a 120Hz refresh rate with a pixel density of 446 PPI (Pixels per inch) and a peak brightness of 1,800 nits. It comes with Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support. The 200MP primary lens drives the rear cam experience that also includes an 8MP ultra-wide lens and a 2MP Macro cam. It’s powered by a MediaTek Dimensity and comes in a choice of two storage options.
Price: Rs 29,999
Vivo X100 Pro
From Xiaomi to OnePlus, quite a few Android flagships are playing up their partnership with iconic imaging brands. Vivo has partnered with Zeiss for its top-end X100 Pro that comes with what Vivo calls the industry’s first Zeiss APO-certified telephoto camera. According to Vivo, the Zeiss APO certification ensures accurate colour at the edges. The camera also includes an incredibly large f/2.5 aperture for ultra-clear image quality even in lowlight. The rear cam is kitted with three 50MP lenses. The X100 Pro features a MediaTek Dimensity 9300 under the hood and comes with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage The other highlight is the 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate.
Price: Rs 89,999
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
AI was the recurring theme throughout Samsung’s big 2024 flagship unveil. Just like last year, the Galaxy S24 series includes the Galaxy S24 and S24+. It’s the Ultra that has our attention with its stellar camera and top-of-the-line specs. The device features some key enhancements over last year’s S23 Ultra including improved peak brightness (now 2,800 nits) on the gorgeous 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED display and a new titanium build that adds to its premium appeal. The Ultra comes with one of the best mobile shooters, headlined by a 200MP primary lens and excellent zoom photography. It’s the AI features that differentiate it from its predecessor and include handy tools like Live Translate and Circle to Search.
Price: Rs 1,29,999 onwards
