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04 Sept 2024

Which mobile phone brand to buy in 2024

Exclusive Which? data can help you choose a mobile phone from a brand that lasts. We surveyed owners of Apple, Samsung, Google and other mobile phones to find out which develop fewest faults over time

Amy AxworthySenior researcher & writer

In this article

In our unique customer survey, we've asked 18,067 Which? members and the public to tell us whether they're happy with their smartphone and if they've experienced problems, so you can see which brands are worth investing in.

Performance and reliability of a range of popular smartphone brands - including Apple, Google, Huawei, Motorola, Nokia, OnePlus, Samsung, Sony and Xiaomi - were analysed, revealing how satisfied customers are, how they rate value for money and more.

One key finding from our survey was brands that experienced the most faults. Within seven years of ownership, Alcatel and Nokia phones fared worst here, with the most common problem being battery life getting significantly worse over a short period of time, or the phone quickly losing charge. Some owners also reported their devices becoming slow or sluggish or phones freezing or crashing unexpectedly – more often than with some other brands.

Other issues included software update problems and the occasional camera failure. Read on for the full results of our faults analysis and the other findings from our survey.

See our pick of the best mobile phone and Sim-only deals, and best iPhone deals for 2024
Or check our guide to the best smartphones to discover which models aced our lab tests

Choosing a phone from a brand that’s reliable and has high customer satisfaction will help you avoid problems developing over time, such as a struggling processor or shortened battery life. It can also save you money by delaying your next upgrade.

Amy AxworthyMobile phones expert

Smartphone brands rated

The table below summarises this year’s results, based on phones bought in the past seven years.

Which? members can log in to see the scores and star ratings each brand earned in our latest survey. Not yet a member? Join Which? now to get instant access to all of our reviews.

Customer score	Proportion faulty in the first seven years	Proportion repaired or replaced due to a fault	Proportion of Best Buys	Average test score
82%	11%	2%	85%	77%
79%	7%	3%	80%	73%
78%	10%	2%	33%	70%
75%	12%	2%	50%	75%
73%	9%	2%	31%	69%
72%	8%	1%	25%	69%
71%	8%	2%	n/a	n/a

The customer score, proportion faulty and proportion repaired or replaced are based on a survey of 18,067 people who own products, of which 19,016 were smartphones, conducted in March 2024. Sample sizes: Alcatel (85), Apple (8216), Google (629), Honor (99), Huawei (396), LG (57), Motorola (1122), Nokia (225), Oppo (210), OnePlus (208), Realme (65), Samsung (6761), Sony (227), Xiaomi (355). Phone brands are ranked by customer score. Where n/a is reported, there is not enough data. The proportion faulty and proportion repaired or replaced is based on products bought in the past seven years. Customer score rates how happy the respondent is with their smartphone brand and how likely they would be to recommend it to a friend.

Smartphones can last a long time, but this can vary between phone manufacturers. Also, brands don't often support devices for this long with important security updates. While Apple iPhones tend to receive six years of updates, and flagships from Samsung and Google have recently been released with seven, some Android phones stop receiving them after two or three years. Using a phone that's no longer receiving security updates is a risk to your personal data.

Using a phone that's no longer receiving security updates is a risk. Read our guide to Mobile phone security: check how long a phone will receive security updates.

The most common smartphone faults

Which? members can log in to unlock the results of our survey and read the full results below. Not yet a member? Join Which? now to get instant access to all our reviews, or read on for a preview of what our survey uncovered.

Our survey collected data on more than 20 faults that can plague smartphones.

We reveal the most common faults – worsening batteries, faulty charging ports, overheating and software problems – along with tips and tricks on how to resolve these issues.

An antivirus app for an Apple or Android phone can offer significant extra protection – we explain the benefits in our guide to the best mobile antivirus software

Which smartphone brand is seen as the best value for money?

Which? survey data has been used to calculate which phone brands are seen as the best value for money, and the results might surprise you. Some smartphones brands sell cheaper phones without the fanciest camera features or high-resolution screens, but they might be considered better value.

Which smartphone manufacturers are the best at repairs?

When something goes wrong with your phone, getting it repaired by the manufacturer can be a quick and convenient option. In our survey, we asked smartphone customers who went back to their manufacturer for a repair how satisfied they were with the process - whether this was done under warranty or they paid for it.

How we calculate the best and worst smartphone brands

Which? has a wealth of information on Britain's favourite brands. Every year we ask Which? members to tell us about the tech they own – from how likely they'd be to recommend a brand, to how reliable the products are once they get them home.

This year, 18,067 Which? members and members of the public told us about more than 61,577 individual products. We calculate our customer score based on whether customers would recommend each brand and their level of satisfaction. We also calculate which brand developed the most faults, based on products up to six years old.

Our surveys, combined with our extensive lab tests, mean we can recommend the best smartphones to buy. Find out more about how we test smartphones.

Head to our smartphone reviews

We independently test more than 65 smartphones a year at all prices from £80 to nearly £2,000. Our extensive scientific tests mean each phone is tested under identical conditions so they're directly comparable. Our scores take into account what’s important to consumers. We remove Best Buy recommendations from phones that will run out of security updates within one year, so you don't end up with a phone soon to be out-of-date.

Know which smartphone you want? Use the links to go straight to our reviews and find the model that works best for you: