It’s been a huge year in the tech world, and I should know because I’ve spent much of the last twelve months testing everything from flagship phones to handheld consoles. With that in mind, I’m here to offer you my list of the best portable equipment and phones of the yearjust in time for the holiday season, offering a look back at all the most impressive products you may have missed in 2024.
Before we get to my list, it’s worth mentioning that my picks are entirely subjective, and my reasoning varies from unrivaled specs to what I reluctantly call “vibes.” There may be a few surprises here and there, as well as a few obvious calls, but ultimately everything on this list has made my job as Pocket Tactics Gear Editor a pleasure, and I hope I can facilitate you find something that will bring some of that joy when We enter another year through darkness. Now that we have that out of the way, let’s get to it.
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The best Android phone of 2024 – Honor Magic6 Pro
When it comes to the best Android phones, they don’t come much better than the Honor Magic6 Pro. After reviewing this flagship earlier this year, I’ve been using it as my daily driver ever since, making the most of its fantastic cameras, excellent performance, and soft software. Sure, it doesn’t have all the AI benefits available in some of this year’s Samsung and Apple phones, but what it does, it does very well and I couldn’t ask for anything more.
While the specs are probably the most impressive thing about the Magic6 Pro, I just love its design. It’s something a little different in a world of iPhone copycats and joyless rectangles, especially in the green colorway with a faux leather texture. There’s also an OLED display, which may have turned me into a church of curved screens. This is probably my favorite area of technology in 2024, and considering I spend most of my time playing with novel devices, that’s saying something. If you want to know more, read our Honor Magic6 Pro review.
Best iPhone 2024 – iPhone 16 Pro Max
It’s probably the most obvious choice on our list, but once again Apple’s most exorbitant iPhone is the brand’s best phone this year. iPhone 16 Pro Max is the phone of the future, equipped with a lot of AI tools, which became even more impressive after the latest iOS update. Whether you want to create your own custom emoji or round up a few complicated notifications, iPhone 16 Pro Max has your back, and you’ll find even more electrifying features along the way.
Still, Pocket Tactics is a gaming site first and foremost, and it’s the best gaming iPhone in town. iPhone 16 Pro Max uses Apple’s latest silicon technology, boosting performance in even the most demanding games so much that you feel like you’re playing on a diminutive console rather than on a smartphone. It may be one of the most exorbitant pieces of kit of the last twelve months, but there’s no denying it’s one of the best. For the full rundown, check out our iPhone 16 Pro Max review.
The best gaming phone of 2024 – RedMagic 10 Pro
RedMagic 10 Pro is the epitome of everything you want from a gaming phone. It features the novel Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset that delivers astonishing performance, has a powerful fan that can handle burning hands, and its massive OLED display offers more screens than almost any other phone on the market. In tiny, if you’re looking for a phone to play games like Genshin Impact or Honkai Star Rail, this is your best possible choice at the time of writing.
However, it’s not just the hardware that makes the RedMagic 10 Pro one of the best gaming phones I’ve ever used. The brand’s Game Space overlay is fantastic, giving you detailed real-time performance information and allowing you to operate the device’s capacitive buttons as shoulder triggers, which is especially useful in top FPS games. Finally, it’s worth mentioning that the RedMagic 10 Pro is significantly cheaper than its main competition, the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro, so not only is it a fantastic performer, but it also has unbeatable value for money. If you’re interested in this pick, be sure to check out our RedMagic 10 Pro review.
The best foldable phone of 2024 – Honor Magic V3
This is the first of several potentially controversial entries, but in my opinion Honor is currently the best brand in the foldable market. Sure, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is impressive, if not a little underwhelming, but the Honor Magic V3 is really something.
Its super-slim body is impressive, especially considering that Honor hasn’t sacrificed any performance or camera specs to make it so skinny. It’s more sturdy than many other top foldable phones, and its IPX8 rating is more than decent, meaning you don’t have to live in fear of accidental splashes. Finally, it’s a gaming beast, delivering super-smooth visuals thanks to its 120Hz OLED display and running the best Android games at high settings thanks to the Snapdragon 3 chipset. For more, check out our full Honor Magic V3 review.
The best flip phone of 2024 – TECNO PHANTOM V Flip2
We’ve seen fewer novel flip phones than book-style foldables this year, but among the novel releases, the TECNO PHANTOM V Flip2 is my favorite. While I was a fan of the original V Flip, this second iteration has been significantly improved and includes a more useful external display, some novel AI features to play with, and even faster charging. Oh, and it has virtual pets. Anything with virtual pets is a winner in my book.
The only minor issue with the V Flip2 is that it’s not the most amazing performance, especially when it comes to gaming, but considering how much cheaper it is than the other top flip phones on the market, I’m a bit behind on the Star Rail in Honkai, if it means keeping more money in your back pocket. If you want to know more, check out our TECNO PHANTOM V Flip2 review.
The best handheld of 2024 – Asus ROG Ally X
Admittedly, I was a bit skeptical of the Asus ROG Ally our original review.
Fast forward to Ally X and we have one of the biggest single-generation improvements I’ve seen in the mobile market. It’s an absolute performance beast, capable of running even the most demanding games without any issues, and you can easily load all your Xbox Game Pass, Epic Games and Steam titles onto the device in one go. This pick fully deserves its place in our guide to the best Steam Deck alternatives, and it’s going to take something pretty impressive to beat it. As with all the other options on this list, we have a full review of the Asus ROG Ally X that you can check out if you want more information.
The best tablet of 2024 – iPad Air
When it comes to tablets, Apple is still the best in the industry. We’ve seen some truly impressive Android alternatives over the last 12 months, such as the Honor MagicPad2 and RedMagic Nova, but the iPad Air has won, offering a level of quality that few people in the same price range can match.
It’s as good for gamers as it is for creators and casual users, thanks to the powerful M2 processor that brings the best Apple Arcade games to life. What’s more, its lightweight design is perfect for anyone looking for a digital travel companion, and with a huge senior battery that just won’t run out of juice, you can stream on the go without worrying about running out of juice. If you’re considering purchasing the novel iPad for 2025, I can’t recommend this one enough. If you want more information about this tablet, see our iPad Air review.
The best innovation of 2024 – TECNO Pocket Go
In a year where countless Steam Deck imitators have appeared on the market, TECNO Pocket Go is a huge breath of fresh air. Combining a set of AR glasses and a Windows 11 PC built into a chunky controller, Pocket Go turns games like Stray and Cyberpunk 2077 into a truly cinematic experience, offering something distinctly different than your average laptop or console.
Admittedly, Pocket Go is still not perfect. It may feel a bit fiddly in your hands and it takes a while to get used to using the controller on the Windows 11 layout, but for a first attempt it’s a bold and brave offering from a growing brand. Also, look how chilly I look wearing AR glasses in the image below. If you want to look this chilly – and I’m telling you, no matter what you think, I look objectively chilly here – then you should check out the Pocket Go at the first opportunity, or at least read our TECNO Pocket Go review.
