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.
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.
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.
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.
The phone is designed for performance, with a large battery and fast charging.
