Christmas 2024: Best smartphone gift options for loved ones

Smartphones are good and thoughtful Christmas gift options to present to dear family members and well-wishers.

During the Christmas festive holidays, it is customary for family members and even friends, as a mark of gratitude and care, to gift new things to their loved ones ahead of the new year.

Smartphones are good and thoughtful gift options to present to dear family members and well-wishers.

Here are some of the best smartphones worth buying in India:

Apple iPhone 16 series

Apple iPhone 16.

Apple iPhone 16 and 16 Pro come with upgraded camera hardware and also most importantly, support Apple Intelligence features. The company has released two batches of generative Artificial Intelligence features including smart writing tools, ChatGPT integration with Siri and more.

The most significant feature coming in the new update is the Image Playground. With this, the iPhone will be able to conjure up synthetic images with text prompts.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max.

It will be available as a standalone app and will also baked into the iMessage app. Initially, it will offer three styles: Animation, Illustration, or Sketch.

Further, it also introduces the Genmoji feature to the Keyboard app. Here, users can generate personalised emojis with text descriptions.

The new devices are powered by Apple A18 series silicon, touted to be the most powerful and fastest processor compared to rival branded chipsets found in premium Android phones.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

It is a well-rounded premium phone. Unlike in other phones, all the AI features are fully baked into the device and function flawlessly to deliver the ultimate user experience.

It even outranks Google Pixel phones in the camera department. The AI-powered photo remaster feature turns images with blur issues into amazingly colourful and sharp ones. The most noticeable feature is that the phone is really fast to make these changes smoothly and this ensures you enjoy playing with editing tools, unlike the Pixel phones, which most of the times are slow, stutter and get heated up.

Also, the Galaxy S24 series is guaranteed to get seven years of Android OS and security software updates.

Performance-wise, it does all things smoothly without breaking a sweat. Be it while playing graphics-rich games or operating AI functions such as photo editing, it waltzs through all tasks without any issues of overheating or lag-ness.

Vivo X200 series

Vivo X200 series showcased at Vivo product launch event in New Delhi on December 12.  

The new Vivo X200 series is one of the best camera phones in the market. You just have to point at the subject and get the best possible photo in all light conditions. Both the devices come with several AI features to enhance the photography experience and also feature a powerful 3nm class MediaTek Dimensity 9400 octa-core processor with Immortalis-G925 GPU to deliver smooth performance. Also, they house big batteries and can last a whole day under normal usage.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6.

It is one of the most durable foldable phones in the market. When folded, it can easily slip into the pocket without any hassle; when unfurled, the wide display, similar to any regular phone.

The cover display panel on the front is big enough to type quick replies to the messages. Also, the device is powered by Qualcomm's reliable Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset to deliver smooth performance.

Google Pixel 9 series

Google Pixel 9 series.

Google has packed a really good Tensor G4 chipset to ensure all the generative AI features work smoothly without breaking any sweat.

Also, the build quality is way superior to the predecessor and also thermal performance in terms of efficiently dissipating heat is remarkably better than most rival brands.

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL.

It has one of the best camera hardware on a phone in the industry.

Oppo Find X8 series

Oppo Find X8 series.

Oppo Find X8 is an impressive premium Android phone. It excels in premium build quality, vibrant display, amazing photography tools and long battery life. Also, the gen AI features make the device versatile and make up for a compelling reason to buy it.

Xiaomi 14

Xiaomi 14 series.

Xiaomi 14 is a solid premium phone. It is made of high-quality materials; it has unique design elements. Inside, it has a powerful processor and performances amazingly well. It delivers a full day of battery life with normal usage. The most impressive aspect of the Xiaomi 14 is the Leica tech-backed camera system. It takes spectacular photos with clear details and vibrant colours in all light conditions.

OnePlus 12R

OnePlus 12R series.

OnePlus 12R has got all the right features to deliver a smooth user experience in terms of performance, and photography and also excels with long battery life.

There are a couple of advantages of owning the new OnePlus. The company is offering a 100W super-fast charger and a high-quality silicone cover case free of cost with a retail box, while its top two rivals have stopped offering the accessories with their phones.

Considering its price and features, the OnePlus 12R is a good investment for those who are looking for a premium phone and don't want to break the bank.

Motorola Edge 50 Pro

Motorola Edge 50 Pro series.

Motorola's Edge 50 Pro is a complete package. It ticks all the right boxes: it takes stunning pictures, its premium metallic frame feels great in the hand, has a beautiful display, keeps up with all your tasks, and lasts all day on a full charge.

Nothing Phone 2

Nothing Phone (2).

It is a value-for-money mid-range phone. It has a unique design language that stands out among the rival brands. It comes with reliable camera and Qualcomm processor to deliver smooth performance.

iQOO Z9s

iQOO Z9s 5G series.

iQOO Z9s is a pretty phone with a slim and stylish design language. As far as performance is concerned, it works perfectly without any glaring issues to complain about. Also, it delivers great in terms of battery life. The camera does its job good, and I am more impressed with the low-light photography capability of the device.

Considering the overall aspects, it is a great value-for-money mid-range phone with beautiful design language.

OnePlus Nord 4 CE

OnePlus Nord CE 4 series. 

Considering the overall aspects, the OnePlus Nord CE 4 is a really good mid-range phone worth investing your money in. It comes jam-packed with key features that matter the most to the customer.

One of the best perks of owning a OnePlus phone is its superfast 100W charging capability. It is such a valuable addition to the user experience.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 14

Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 5G.

Though the prices of the Redmi Note series have risen steadily over the decade, it continues to set new benchmarks for value-for-money phones in the mid-range phone segment.

Xiaomi's latest Redmi Note 14 phone ticks all the boxes, particularly, in terms of the build quality, the display and the performance and it has exceeded my expectations.

Redmi A4 5G

Xiaomi Redmi A4 5G.

The big 6.88-inch display is great for watching movies and TV series on OTT apps. The build quality is top-class. The camera hardware is decent enough to get good photos in the sunlight. The battery is optimised to deliver long battery life.

Considering the overall aspects, the Redmi A4 5G is my number one pick in the budget phone segment under Rs 10,000.

The only qualm is the 5G connectivity is not supported on Airtel's Non-StandAlone 5G network.

It is best suited for senior citizens, who mostly use social media platforms and OTT apps. It is also a good option for college students who have tight budgets.

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