GO YOUR PHONE WAY

In 2024, there's more to the smartphone world than the same few big-name brands. From flashy foldables and killer camera phones to gaming powerhouses, here are the best reasons to take the path less travelled...

Whether your current phone is nearing retirement, or you just can't resist the allure of shiny new hardware any more, the competition for a place in your pocket has never been tougher.

We can chalk that up to class leaders Apple and Samsung not rocking the boat with their next-gen models, which aren't too far removed from last year's efforts.

This has left the door wide open for rivals to offer up some strong alternatives, with head-turning tech and options at every point on the price spectrum.

So, do you stick with what you know or mix things up? Put it this way: if you ate the same meal every day, you'd be missing out on a world of flavour. It can't hurt to look at the menu, right? Over the next 18 pages we've tested some of the best new phones out there, from flagships and foldables to cheerful burners. There's guaranteed to be something in here to suit you.

THE NEW FLAGSHIPS

XIAOMI 14

If you're over oversized phones, the Xiaomi 14 could be the pocketable powerhouse you're looking for. While many compact options are spec compromises, Xiaomi has loaded up this one with a proper top-tier Snapdragon CPU and Leica-powered imaging.

The flat screen meets a polished aluminium frame to create a sleek look and feel, and its rounded corners nuzzle comfortably into the palm.