The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, now three years old, has seen a resurgence in high-end smartphones. Rising costs of DRAM and NAND storage are driving this trend.
If you're looking to buy a phone now, here are five top picks.
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1. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is a versatile flagship. It features a 6.8-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and 2600 nits peak brightness.
Gorilla Armor protection adds durability.
Software support is a standout, with seven Android OS upgrades promised up to Android 21.
The camera system includes a 200MP primary, 10MP 3x telephoto, 50MP 5x periscope, and 12MP ultrawide. A 12MP selfie camera is also included.
Battery capacity is 5000mAh, supporting 45W wired, 15W wireless, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. Connectivity features Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, and NFC.
2. Xiaomi 14 Ultra
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra offers a spec-heavy package. Its 6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED display boasts 3000 nits peak brightness and Dolby Vision support.
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The phone runs Android 14 with four OS upgrades promised.
The quad-camera setup uses four 50MP sensors: wide, 3.2x telephoto, 5x periscope, and ultrawide. A 32MP selfie camera handles front-facing shots.
The 5000mAh battery supports 90W wired and 80W wireless charging, plus 10W reverse wireless.
3. OnePlus 12
The OnePlus 12 features a Hasselblad-tuned camera system. It includes a 50MP primary, 64MP 3x periscope telephoto, and 48MP ultrawide.
A 32MP selfie camera is on the front.
The 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED screen reaches 4500 nits peak brightness. The 5400mAh battery supports 100W wired (80W in USA) and 50W wireless charging.
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Four Android OS upgrades are promised, with Android 18 being the last.
4. Honor Magic 6 Pro
The Honor Magic 6 Pro excels in zoom photography. Its triple rear camera includes a 50MP primary, 180MP 2.5x periscope telephoto, and 50MP ultrawide.
A 50MP selfie camera is also present.
The 6.8-inch LTPO OLED display offers 5000 nits peak brightness. A 5600mAh battery supports 80W wired and 66W wireless charging.
The phone runs Android 14 with updates up to Android 18.
5. RedMagic 9S Pro+
For gaming, the RedMagic 9S Pro+ delivers with an overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. It features a high-refresh-rate display and advanced cooling.
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The phone is designed for performance, with a large battery and fast charging.
