Love it or loathe it, generative AI is here to revolutionise the world as we know it. Regarded as the next big thing since the original iPhone in 2007, Gen-AI has the potential to change the way we interact with technology. As a core part of today’s phones, Gen-AI has transformed smartphones from simple multimedia devices to machines that take care of mundane tasks.
Hence, if you are ready to embrace the next major evolution of humanity, you need to upgrade to a phone that features generative AI at its heart. Ever since last year’s Google Pixel 8 series, there has been an AI boom in the smartphone space. Industry trendsetters like Samsung and Apple have embraced generative AI at the core of their mobile ecosystems whereas the followers, like Oppo, OnePlus, Xiaomi and Motorola, have included basic parts of Gen-AI functionalities as new gimmicks to draw more people onboard.
But all of them won’t be equally capable, right? The bare minimum AI features, like AI camera tweaks and AI filters, are simply not good enough. If you are after practicality, you need to go for phones that embed advanced Gen-AI models in their core, and there are only a handful of such phones available today.
Before you get confused as to which of these ‘actual’ AI phones are worth considering, your friendly technology helper Augustman comes to your rescue once again. We have done our research and curated a list of the best AI phones across various price points in 2024. But that’s not all.
Since Google and Apple are rumoured to announce the next generation of their flagship smartphones within a few months, we suggest also keeping an eye out for the rumoured iPhone 16 series and the Google Pixel 9 series.
Without wasting another moment, let’s embark on our quest to find the best AI phones we have seen lately.
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The best AI smartphones you can get your hands on in 2024
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Released in: 2024
AI model: Galaxy AI based on Google Gemini
OS: One UI 6.1 based on Android 14
The newly announced Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6 are probably the best phones to experience generative AI in 2024. With an improved suite of Galaxy AI features, the Flip 6 and Fold 6 make use of their foldable form factor to offer more functionality and practicality than we expected.
The tent mode (half-opened state) on the Flip 6 and Fold 6 allow for an advanced AI-based translator system. If you doodle on the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s Samsung Notes app with the S Pen stylus, the Galaxy AI model will convert the drawing into a tastefully modified picture. The Portrait Studio app lets users create AI-enhanced versions of generic portrait photos.
These phones also offer generic AI perks like summarisation of web pages, PDF files and texts, AI-assisted photo editing, the Circle to Search feature, Live Translation for calls and Google Gemini as the default onboard AI assistant.
(Image Credits: Samsung)
Released in: 2024
AI model: Galaxy AI based on Google Gemini
OS: One UI 6.1 based on Android 14
If you don’t care for the foldable form factor, the Galaxy S24 series from Samsung is a great pick in the premium smartphone space and is unarguably one of the best AI phones to buy in 2024. The series includes the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Plus and Galaxy S24 Ultra.
It loses out on the versatility induced by two screens on one phone but the Galaxy S24 sees retains all the rest of the Galaxy AI features. You still get incredible translation services, the helpful summary feature, Google’s Circle to Search and the Gemini chatbot assistant. We expect the Galaxy S24 Ultra to get the additional AI perks that were introduced on the Galaxy Z Fold 6.
With news of Samsung’s AI-enhanced Bixby coming in late 2024, it makes more sense to get the Galaxy S24 series since Samsung’s Galaxy S series is usually the testbed for the brand’s cutting-edge innovations.
(Image Credits: Samsung)
Released in: 2023
AI model: Galaxy AI based on Google Gemini
OS: One UI 6.1 based on Android 14
If you are restricted by budget, the Galaxy S23 series is one of the best AI phones to buy in 2024 and doesn’t cost a bomb. The series includes the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus, Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Galaxy S23 FE.
Although these phones came to the world at a time when generative AI was largely restricted to online chatbots, Samsung was generous in extending the Galaxy AI suite to these 2023 flagships. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and Exynos 2200 chips have ample neural processing capabilities to back Gen-AI features like Circle to Search, summarisation and text composition features in third-party apps, along with AI-assisted photo editing and translation features.
(Image Credits: Samsung)
Released in: 2023
AI model: Galaxy AI based on Google Gemini
OS: One UI 6.1 based on Android 14
Similar to the Galaxy S23 series, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Galaxy Z Fold 5 were also blessed with the goodness of generative AI with a software update. The Flip 5 and Fold 5 will continue to sell as affordable alternatives to the newly launched Flip 6 and Fold 6.
Although they miss out on the Flip 6 and Fold 6 exclusives like advanced translation and the Portrait Studio app, they still get the standard set of Galaxy AI features. Users can summarise texts and phone calls, edit images using AI magic, enquire Gemini for responses to complex queries and more. We expect Samsung to update the Galaxy AI suite on these 2023 foldable to the latest version and make them as capable as the new ones later on.
(Image Credits: Augustman)
Released in: 2023/2024
AI model: Google Gemini
OS: Pixel UI based on Android 14
The smartphone series that started it all! The Pixel 8 series introduced the concept of mobile Generative AI that went viral in the industry. Even after almost a year since its introduction, the Pixel 8 series continues to be a great Gen-AI smartphone series.
The Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 8a feature Google’s Gemini AI model at their core. These phones feature basic AI niceties like text and call summarisation, AI image editing tools, a custom wallpaper generator and the new Gemini AI chatbot replacing the age-old Google Assistant. The Pixel 8 Pro even features advanced AI video editing tools that are partially reliant on online resources. The Circle to Search feature was added to the Pixel 8 series in early 2024.
With the Pixel 9 series on the horizon, the Pixel 8 generation is expected to keep getting new AI features as part of future software updates.
(Image Credits: Google)
Released in: 2023
AI model: Apple Intelligence, ChatGPT
OS: Coming with iOS 18 update
The iPhone is late to the AI party but Apple tried its own take on the viral trend. Instead of focusing on revolutionary features, Apple’s AI model focuses on data privacy as one of the standout components.
The Apple Intelligence model will bring Generative AI features as part of the upcoming iOS 18 update and will bring AI enhancements only to the A17 Pro-equipped iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Apple’s AI suite brings all the features we have seen on Samsung and Google phones. The Writing Tools section brings text summarisation and composition to the iPhones whereas the Creativity-centric features add the ability to create custom emojis (Genmojis), AI-generated stickers, AI-powered object eraser in Photos, smarter recommendations in the Photos app and greater power to Siri for having a better contextual awareness about the device.
For answers to more complex queries, Siri requests permission to refer to ChatGPT for help. Future updates could also bring support for Google Gemini and other AI models for the Siri chatbot.
(Image Credits: Apple)
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(Hero and Featured Image Credits: Courtesy Augustman)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Google Pixel 9 Pro is expected to the best upcoming AI phone releasing in 2024.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6 are currently the best AI phones of 2024.
