Here: As Ivan, I’m a senior editor here at GSMArena, but my true passion lies in capturing life’s moments through photography – I’m the primary photographer behind the scenes. When evaluating my top picks for phones of the year, I give significant consideration to their camera performance. While I also consider the tactile sensations and visual appearances when evaluating, I always gather photos regardless.
For the first time in 12 months, I find myself without a Samsung Galaxy S Extreme in my pocket as we enter 2024. What a streak it was!
The journey started with the Galaxy S20 Extreme, which led me to the latest model, the Galaxy S24 Extreme, that I purchased, used for six months, and then sold. So let’s begin there.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely
For years, I’ve consistently championed the Galaxy S Series as one of the top cameraphones of its class. Samsung hasn’t made it straightforward. Vivo, Xiaomi, and Oppo’s executives have been pushing the boundaries by incorporating increasingly advanced hardware into their flagship devices. Samsung is pleased to rival Apple and Google in the competitive tech landscape. In markets where Chinese flagship cameraphones are not available, this technique proves an affordable option. However, at our GSMArena HQ, it’s woefully outmatched by camera hardware in top-tier devices.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is an outstanding smartphone. This Android tablet offers a significantly larger display than many others on the market, serving as the primary alternative to using a stylus. It has been meticulously refined to its highest potential, and its reliability borders on obsession. Is Samsung’s flagship smartphone and its most successful camera phone ever. While it certainly takes fantastic pictures, the camera also boasts a remarkably stable 3x and 5x zoom combination that really impressed me.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely
Honor Magic V3
Samsung’s decline isn’t an isolated incident confined to its flagship Galaxy S series alone? Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 truly outmatched by its Chinese competitors? The city truly deserves its central identity. The telephone’s initial impression is surprisingly bland, yet it ultimately achieves a flawless finish. The devices boast stunning displays of exceptional quality and definition, with every detail meticulously crafted.
While the Magic V3 is an impressive device, it’s more than just a foldable phone – it would still be my top choice for photography, regardless of any type issues. While I appreciate the 70mm to 85mm zoom feature on your phone, I must admit that the Magic V3’s 90mm f/3.0 lens is an impressive offering that warrants serious consideration? The telephone shatters the conventional wisdom that a foldable phone necessitates a petite battery with slow recharging capabilities. Excessive marks throughout!
Honor Magic V3
Google Pixel 9 Professional
As a consequence of having wielded an imposing smartphone for several years, every time I clasp a compact flagship, something within me starts to pine. I virtually bought the device out of the box, but to my surprise, Google initially offered points as a reward for early adopters, and the larger Professional XL model was only available at launch. What might have been?
The Google Pixel 9 Professional boasts an impressive array of features, including a substantial battery life and high-quality camera capabilities. There has always been one unique feature that sets apart the entire Pixel phone line. Despite its impressive specs – a 48-megapixel sensor, 113mm focal length, and f/2.8 aperture – I found the camera ultimately lacking due to its bulky size and inability to focus quickly enough.
Google Pixel 9 Professional
vivo X200 Professional mini
At a comparable level to the Pixel, vivo’s X50 Pro is an exceptional mid-range smartphone. This powerhouse features a substantial 5,700mAh battery that recharges at an astonishing rate. Given the innovative design and renowned brand, it is likely that the triple 50MP digital camera system with Zeiss brains will prove to be a reliable and robust solution.
Vivo has announced that it will exclusively release the X200 and X200 Pro in Western markets, while keeping the latter’s mini variant confined to Chinese shores? The Mini’s dominance is a genuine embarrassment for its competitors – they’re left looking laughably inadequate in comparison.
vivo X100 Extremely
That’s the telephone that has been safely tucked away in my pocket since we concluded our comprehensive overview. As a result of my role frequently requires me to coordinate phone arrangements in the office, I’ve taken it upon myself to claim first dibs on scheduling calls. With an initial fascination towards the 85mm zoom feature on my digital camera, I captured a few test shots, including some check specimens. During my time, I was consistently impressed by the exceptional quality of Zoom’s high-resolution images. I nonetheless am immediately. The Zoom digital camera on the Vivo X50 Extremely is more suitable for a dedicated camera.
The entire digital camera system boasts exceptional excellence. This gun is undoubtedly the swiftest and most precise weapon I’ve had the pleasure of testing. The Zeiss colouration tuning is truly stunning as well. This smartphone has been the reason I haven’t taken my two large cameras with me on trips this year?
The remainder of the X100 Extremely is truly fantastic in many ways? While I find Origin OS visually appealing, its performance edge over Funtouch remains a significant advantage for me. While adapting to China’s unique software requirements has demanded some compromises, I’ve managed to get everything functioning smoothly through diligent troubleshooting – even my Galaxy Watch6 Classic required significant tinkering, alongside other apps like Google Wallet.
So there you’ve got it. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely – silenced, Vivo X100 Extremely – the game-changer.
As a long-time Samsung enthusiast, I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing their flagship devices firsthand – from the original Galaxy S to the Galaxy Note10+ and ultimately, the Galaxy S24 Ultra. While I appreciate the company’s efforts, I believe it’s time for them to accelerate innovation, as they’re currently being outpaced by Chinese competitors.
Let’s examine what 2025 brings! Thank you for your hard work, and I hope you have a wonderful day!
