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SANTA'S STAR
Must-have phones for Christmas 2024 and two aren’t iPhones – but the best pick is a new gadget that’s so much cheaper
There's a fourth gadget that might be a better Christmas buy than all three
CHRISTMAS is nearly upon us – and it's the time of year when you might be thinking about buying a new phone.
Maybe it's for yourself because you're due an upgrade and want a good deal or new model – or maybe you're playing Santa and want to dish out the goodies to family.
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Whatever the case, The Sun has spoken to a top mobile phone expert to find out what 2024's must-have models are going to be.
Unsurprisingly, Apple's posh new iPhone 16 made the list.
But two other gadgets were also recommended by Paolo Pescatore, a tech industry expert from PP Foresight.
"Undoubtedly iPhone will be extremely popular with the new line generating interest already, despite all the concerns of lacklustre demand," Paolo told The Sun.
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"In the run up to the key holiday season we will see numerous offers from Samsung starting with Black Friday.
"Attractive punchy bundles with a free gifts will be prevalent.
"The new Flip is resonating strongly with users given its unique form factor. A must have across a broader demographic.
"Google is steadily increasing its presence and is starting to be sought after given its novel features. For this reason, the new Pixel 9 will generate interest.
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"However, nothing beats a new iPhone given the emotional attachment and loyalty users have with the device."
Here's a quick guide to each of the phones that Paolo is talking about...
I've been trying iPhone 16's new camera button and it has two shockingly handy perks
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
Flip phones are back! Yes, really – and they're much better than that thing you were wielding in 2002.
The new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 has two screens, folds down into a compact size, and sports a sharp 50-megapixel snapper.
It's packed with AI features, including the ability to live-translate conversations – with your language on one screen and another person's on the other.
And Samsung reckons you'll get 23 hours of video playback on a single charge.
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The price for such a hi-tech mobile? It's £1,049 in the UK and $1,099 in the US.
Google Pixel 9
Next up is the Google Pixel 9, which is what Android is made for – literally.
Google decided that if it's making phone software for billions of devices, it might as well be building handsets for it too.
Now we've had a load of Made by Google phones and the Pixel 9 is the latest.
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It comes in various sizes and colours, but all of them come with built-in Google Gemini AI, magical photo-editing features, and a guaranteed seven years of updates – nothing to sniff at.
Google's swanky AI blower will cost you £799 in the UK and $799 in the US.
iPhone 16
Last but clearly not least is the iPhone 16, which is Apple's latest model for the year.
It's got a new Camera Control button that makes the phone feel more like a proper camera.
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There's also a long list of features coming to it as part of Apple Intelligence, including the ability to create custom emoji.
The camera is epic, but the real perk is the massive battery life.
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Apple's base iPhone 16 manages around 22 hours of video playback – but the top iPhone 16 Pro Max model raises that to 33 hours.
And like Google's mobile, the iPhone 16 starts at £799 in the UK and $799 in the US.
FORGET PHONES – BUY THIS FOR CHRISTMAS INSTEAD
Here's a top Christmas tip for stuffing your stocking this year from The Sun's tech expert ...
Phones are great, sure. But you've almost certainly got one already, and it's probably just fine.
So instead, choose a gift from the future: a mixed-reality headset.
Yes that might sound bonkers and expensive, but it doesn't have to be.
Mark Zuckerberg has just unveiled the new Meta Quest 3S, which is a pair of sci-fi goggles that costs £289 in the UK and $299 in the US.
That's less than most consoles, and far cheaper than the upcoming PS5 Pro (that'll set you – or Santa – back £699 / $699)!
It gets you access to Mark Zuckerberg's Horizon metaverse worlds, virtual reality games, can put a personal trainer right in your living room, and teleport you to faraway places.
And for that price, it feels close to stealing. This is a fun-for-all-the-family gadget that's perfect for playing with on Christmas Day and beyond.
If you really are in a toss-up between this and a new iPhone, consider just getting a battery upgrade on your old mobile.
It usually costs less than £100 / $100 at the Apple Store, and it'll give your handset like-new battery life and boost its performance too.
Then you can splash that upgrade money on a posh pair of goggles and pretend you're living in the year 2060.
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