By james art CHENNAI: This is the time of year to indulge. Deepavali is just around the corner, the perfect time if you are in the market for a premium flagship smartphone. Google and Apple have just unveiled their 2024 flagships, while special offers on online platforms have sweetened the deal on a foldable smartphone like the OnePlus Open. We’ve rounded up some of the best flagships you can buy right now:
Apple iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max: AI is the big talking point in the 2024 iPhone Pro duo. At the heart of these smartphones is the all-new A18 Pro chip, which is not only 20% faster than its predecessor, but will also power AI features courtesy of courtesy of Apple Intelligence. The 16 Pro now has a 6.3-inch display, while the Pro Max is close to the seven-inch mark with a massive 6.9-inch display. This year’s Pro devices come with a triple rear camera setup that includes a 48MP Fusion camera, an improved 48MP ultra-wide lens and a 12MP telephoto camera. (Rs. 1,19,900 and up)
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: crafted from titanium, the 2024 Ultra is one of the most elegantly designed smartphones of the year. It delivers on two key fronts that matter to most users – display and camera. The gorgeous 6.8-inch AMOLED (1440 x 3120 pixels) is one of the best on any smartphone, while the rear camera boasts wide-angle photography. The quad rear camera features a 200MP primary lens; zoom features are handled by a 50MP periscope lens and a 10MP telephoto lens (Rs 121999)
OPPO Reno 12 Pro: one of the best flagship smartphones you can buy under Rs 40,000. The Reno 12 Pro stands out for its premium design and compact form factor (it’s only 7.4mm thin and weighs around 180g). The device is also available as a special edition aimed at Diwali, designed in partnership with Manish Malhotra. This device takes studio-style portraits. The triple rear camera combines a 50MP telephoto portrait camera, a 50MP main camera with OIS and an 8MP ultra-wide camera. (Rs. 36,999)
OnePlus Open: It may have been a year since OnePlus’ first foldable smartphone debuted, and yet it remains one of our favorite foldable smartphones. A recent price reduction makes this a compelling option. You get two stunning displays – a 6.31-inch roof display and a 7.82-inch main display, both of which feature a 120Hz refresh rate and peak at an impressive 2,800 nits. Speed is a given with OnePlus; The Open is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and comes with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. (Rs. 1,04,999)
Google Pixel 9 Pro: Google’s decision to launch two Pro versions of its flagship Google Pixel 9 for 2024 is great news for consumers looking for a compact smartphone experience. The 9 Pro comes with a 6.3-inch display and features a silky matte glass that gives it a premium look. The triple rear camera is one of our favorite mobile shooters of 2024 and includes a 50MP main camera, a 48MP telephoto lens and a 48MP ultra-wide camera. That stellar camera is backed by Google’s photo editing tools, and the Pixel 9 Pro also includes Google Gemini. (Rs. 1,09,999)
Vivo X Fold3 Pro: one of the best foldable smartphones to debut in 2024, Vivo’s premium smartphone is also one of the few foldable smartphones to offer IPX8 certification. It also has one of the best rear cameras of any foldable smartphone. You get a triple rear camera (50MP main lens, 50MP ultra-wide camera and 64MP telephoto camera) developed in partnership with Zeiss. This camera takes clear portrait images and selfies with its 32MP front camera. (Rs. 1,59,999)
Motorola Razr 50: if you’re looking for a flip-flop, Moto’s latest flagship deserves to be in your consideration kit. We like the large, functional 3.6-inch external display that lets you access key notifications and information, including Google Gemini, without leaning on the immersive 6.9-inch pOLED main display. It is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 7300X processor and backed by a robust 4200 mAh battery (Rs 64,999)