From iPhone 15 Pro Max to Edge 50 Ultra: 5 most premium smartphones to buy

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Whether you’re team iOS or Android, our rundown of the 5 most premium smartphones has something for everyone. (Image: Apple)

The top tier can feel like a lonely place among smartphones. While budget and mid-range options are a dime a dozen, finding the cream of the crop requires cutting through the noise. So, we’ve curated a list of 5 premium smartphones that are currently ruling the market.

iPhone 15 Pro Max

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(Express image)

The iPhone 15 Pro Max stands out from the rest for one obvious reason – it runs iOS. If you’ve been an Android loyalist for years and feel like shaking things up, why not start with the best Apple has to offer? This model features several firsts, like a Titanium build that makes it noticeably lighter at 221 grams, a far cry from the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s nearly quarter-kilo heft. But that’s not all – the phone’s zooming capabilities have also received a massive boost, allowing up to 5x zoom compared to the predecessor’s 3x.

Another significant upgrade is the USB-C port – faster transfers, external monitor support, and the ability to charge accessories like the Apple Watch straight from your phone. And let’s not forget the A17 Pro chip, keeping the graphical performance top-notch.

Motorola Edge 50 Ultra

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(Image: Motorola)

Remember the Moto X and its iconic teak back? Well, it’s making a comeback in a far more sophisticated form with the Edge 50 Ultra. This handset features a wood back, giving it a unique look that sets it apart from the competition. But if wood isn’t your thing, there’s also a vegan leather option to consider.

The Edge 50 Ultra is one of the first smartphones to sport the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chip. While it may seem like a beefed-up version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, it’s actually a toned-down variant.

Priced at 999 Euros (almost Rs 90K), the Edge 50 Ultra is Motorola’s most premium offering to date (foldables aside). Brands are usually hesitant to launch phones this pricey in a flagship market dominated by Apple and Samsung in India, but if the Edge 50 Ultra makes its way to our shores, it’s certainly worth considering.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

(Image: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)

Samsung’s Galaxy S24 line is the first to lean into AI, and the S24 Ultra is the fanciest model you can get. The new Galaxy AI tech built into the phone brings some cool new tricks to the table, like real-time translation during calls, AI photo editing, and Chat Assist to help you figure out how to phrase those tricky texts.

The S24 Ultra also keeps what was great about last year’s S23 Ultra, like the massive 6.8″ AMOLED screen and a beefy 5,000mAh battery. And upgrades like the titanium frame (supposedly more durable than aluminium), Gorilla Armor glass, and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip make it even more compelling.

The quad-camera setup got a boost too, especially the 50MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom for clearer zoomed-in shots. The S24 Ultra takes the Android crown for 2024, no doubt about it.

Xiaomi 14 Ultra

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(Image: Xiaomi)

Xiaomi’s Ultra series is often hailed as the best phone for photography, and this year’s model is no different. There are four cameras at the back, and all of them – get this – have a 50MP resolution. You’ve got the usual primary and ultrawide sensors, but alongside them, you also get a 3.2x telephoto zoom lens and a 5x periscope telephoto lens. Of course, as is the case every year, there’s the Leica collaboration bringing filters and other camera enhancements to the table.

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is so photography-focused that you even get a photography kit that makes it easier to hold the phone in landscape orientation, complete with a dedicated shutter button and zoom slider.

Google Pixel 8 Pro

Pixel 8 Pro

(Image: Google)

The Pixel 7 Pro was already a force to be reckoned with, but the Pixel 8 Pro takes things to a whole new level. The upgraded Tensor G3 chip boosts performance and enables genuinely useful software tricks, especially when it comes to photography, where Google’s processing prowess truly shines.

Android 14 on the Pixel offers the cleanest, smoothest experience out there, and the support lifespan is an incredible seven years. Combine that with a premium build featuring the iconic camera bar design on the rear, and you’ve got a handset that nails the fundamentals in a beautifully minimalist package. And now, with Android 15’s first beta already out for the phone, you know this device will be the first to run the latest Android version when it finally drops.

But it’s not just about the hardware – the Pixel 8 Pro is also teeming with generative AI features, including Best Take, Video Boost, Smart Reply in Gboard, Zoom Enhance, and more.

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