The wait is over and the results are in! After more than 5 lakh votes and tough competition, we finally have our MySmartPrice Best of Tech Awards 2024 smartphone winners. You picked your champions across 18 categories, from the best budget warriors to gaming beasts, and we crunched the numbers. Now, it's time for the grand reveal! So, let's look at the nominees in each category and reveal the winners of the debut edition of the MySmartPrice Best of Tech Awards.
MySmartPrice Best of Tech Awards: Smartphone Winners
Every year, smartphone brands flood the market with new devices, each promising to be the next big thing. With so many innovations and upgrades flying around, it's easy to lose track. That's why we've carefully curated categories that spotlight the phones worth talking about. So, which ones won in 2024? Let's check it out.
Phone of the Year (Under Rs 15,000)
Here, smartphones are on a mission to do it all—good performance, solid cameras, and sleek designs, without burning a hole in your pocket. This year, the iQOO Z9x, the Redmi 13, the Lava Blaze X, the OPPO K12x, and the POCO X6 Neo stepped up to the challenge, each vying for the top spot. And after thousands of votes, we have a winner—the Redmi 13! With its Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 AE SoC, a 108MP Pro-grade camera with a ring flash, and a premium Crystal Glass design, the phone proved that style and substance can go hand in hand.
Phone of the Year (Rs 15,000 – Rs 25,000)
In this category, we zeroed in on phones that didn't just offer features but packed in serious value for what you're paying. The lineup included the CMF by Nothing Phone (1), the Infinix GT 20 Pro, the OnePlus Nord CE4 5G, the Nothing Phone (2a), the POCO X6 Pro, and the HMD Fusion. The OnePlus Nord CE4 5G got the maximum amount of votes. With a 5,500mAh battery, a 100W SUPERVOOC charger included, and a design that makes it impossible to look away.
Phone of the Year (Rs 25,000 – Rs 35,000)
When Nothing launched, it became an instant talk of the town with its signature glyph lights. The brand has introduced three phones up until now, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus being the latest, which shook the mid-range market with its transparent design and bold features. It went head-to-head with contenders like the OnePlus Nord 4, the OPPO F27 Pro+, the POCO X6 Pro, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+, and the vivo V40. The Phone (2a) Plus packs a flexible 6.7-inch AMOLED display, and a 50-megapixel main camera, and is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro SoC.
Phone of the Year (Rs 30,000 – Rs 50,000)
The premium category was a fierce battle, with top contenders from every brand, but it's the motorola edge 50 ultra, which came out on top. Built for comfort, this phone not only supports 125W charging but also has the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 SoC. It beat the Google Pixel 8a, the vivo V40 Pro, the Samsung Galaxy A55, and the realme GT 6.
Selfie Phone of the Year (Under Rs 20,000)
Who can resist a good selfie on a budget? Certainly not you! In this category, the iQOO Z9s, the OPPO K12x, the Samsung Galaxy M35, the Redmi Note 14, and the vivo T3 went head-to-head. But the clear winner is the iQOO Z9s. With its 16-megapixel selfie camera, this phone ensures you're always ready to snap a perfect shot.
Selfie Phone of the Year (Rs 20,000 – Rs 35,000)
In this category, the vivo V40 takes the crown as Selfie Phone of the Year. It outshone the Lava Agni 3, the motorola edge 50 pro, the realme 13 Pro+, and the Samsung Galaxy A35. With its 50-megapixel selfie camera, the vivo V40 delivers incredibly detailed shots and flawless skin tones. Its AI-powered features also make every selfie even better, elevating the whole experience.
Camera Phone of the Year (Under Rs 35,000)
This category saw fierce competition, with the motorola edge 50 pro, the realme 13 Pro+, the vivo V40, the Nothing Phone (2a), and the HONOR 200 5G all in the running. And the winner is the motorola edge 50 pro. The triple-camera setup on the back takes sharp, detailed photos, and Moto’s AI further ensures each shot is flawless.
Selfie Phone of the Year
Selfies have become a daily must-have, and with social media gaining even more momentum, it's no surprise that everyone's looking to share their best shots. The competition in this category is fierce, with phones like the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max, the OPPO Find X8 Pro, the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra all stepping up. While each one nails the selfie game, the OPPO Find X8 Pro comes out on top, thanks to its 32-megapixel selfie camera. It captures effortlessly natural selfies, with skin tones looking as they should—no filters needed.
Camera Phone of the Year
A top-notch camera is essential when choosing a phone. This category saw some heavy hitters, including the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max, the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, the OPPO Find X8 Pro, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, and the vivo X200 Pro, all battling for supremacy. The vivo X200 Pro emerged victorious, thanks to its 200-megapixel sensor, offering exceptional detail, especially in telephoto shots.
Gaming Phone of the Year (Under Rs 35,000)
Every smartphone brand seems to be jumping on the gaming train, delivering budget-friendly devices, which don't skimp on performance. In this category, the Infinix GT 20 Pro, the OnePlus Nord4, the realme GT 6T, the POCO F6, and the POCO X6 Pro are all in the mix, battling for supremacy. POCO, famous for shaking up the market with the POCO F1, keeps the momentum going with the POCO F6. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 SoC, it boasts up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, ensuring gaming performance stays top-notch.
Gaming Phone of the Year
Demand for gaming phones is surging and this category is stacked with powerhouses. The Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max, the iQOO 13, the ASUS ROG 8 Pro, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, and the realme GT 7 Pro all promise an incredible gaming experience. However, the realme GT 7 Pro has emerged as the top contender, because of its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC, up to 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. It's the perfect blend of power and versatility, making it a true flagship for gamers.
Foldable Phone of the Year
Foldable phones have slowly started making their mark, and 2024 is packed with some impressive models like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6, the motorola razr 50 ultra, the vivo X Fold3 Pro, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6, and the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold. But when it comes to the winner in this category, the vivo X Fold3 Pro takes the lead. The phone serves as a replacement for a laptop and tablet while bringing style, comfort, and top-tier performance to the table.
Phone of the Year
Finding a phone that delivers everything you want can feel like a quest, but this year's flagships made it easier. The Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max, the motorola edge 50 ultra, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, the vivo X200 Pro, and the 14 Ultra were all in the running, thanks to your votes. But the standout winner is — (drumroll, please!) — the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. With top-tier performance, stellar cameras, and impressive battery life, it's the best of Android phones.
Best Use of AI By a Smartphone Brand
In 2024, AI took centre stage for smartphone brands, and you voted Samsung as the leader in this space. Going head-to-head with OnePlus, Xiaomi, OPPO, and vivo, Samsung stood out by offering AI features that are not only polished but also interactive, making the entire experience more engaging and dynamic.
Phone Brand of the Year
You picked Samsung as the Phone Brand of the Year, and honestly, we can't blame you! It outshone OnePlus, Xiaomi, OPPO, and vivo to secure the top spot. Samsung delivers a range of smartphones, from budget-friendly to premium, and pairs that with reliable after-sales service, strong brand loyalty, and top-tier features.
Budget SoC of the Year
The MediaTek Dimensity 7025 SoC takes the crown, beating out competitors like the MediaTek Dimensity 6300, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 4s Gen 2, the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Energy, and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2. With 5G connectivity, HDR10+ support, large camera capabilities, and a boost in gaming performance, it's easy to see why this chip stood out. No surprise you all went with it!
Mainstream SoC of the Year
The competition was fierce, with contenders like the MediaTek Dimensity 8300 Ultra, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the Samsung Exynos 2400e, and the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 all vying for the top spot. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 emerged victorious, thanks to its cutting-edge AI features, enhanced gaming performance, and the ability to generate both text and images while expanding visuals.
Premium SoC of the Year
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite has claimed the crown for Premium SoC of the Year, surpassing the likes of the MediaTek Dimensity 9400, the Apple A18 Pro, and the Google Tensor G4. Devices like the realme GT 7 Pro, the iQOO 13, and the OnePlus 13, powered by this chip, are already turning heads with impressive benchmark results and stellar real-world performance. On top of that, the 8 Elite brings AI-enhanced photography and a suite of standout features that elevate the user experience.
Path-Breaking Gadget of the Year
Each year, a variety of gadgets hit the market from numerous brands, but only a few stand out as truly groundbreaking. Among them are devices like the CMF by Nothing Phone (1), Infinix AirBook Pro+, HMD Fusion, OnePlus Watch 2R, and Apple Mac Mini (M4). The Apple Mac Mini (M4) takes the crown this year for its exceptional performance, seamlessly handling both everyday tasks and demanding high-end operations.
And that's a wrap on the smartphone categories for the MySmartPrice Best of Tech 2024 awards. Don't worry, we'll be back for Best of Tech Awards 2025, and trust us, it will be even bigger and better. Until then, stay tuned for more winners across the other categories.
