Freaky foursome

Four flagship smartphones put through the Stuff grinder along with a couple of cruisers

- 

When life gives you lemons... well, that's not so hard anymore. But what do you do when you are caught in a barrage of premium smartphone launches?

And that's a dilemma we at Stuff don't face all the time. But the rapidly evolving flagship landscape warrants detailed ratings and suggestions.

You may ask why we haven't attempted a shootout between these phones. That's primarily because of their distinct personalities. It's easier to compare apples and oranges than compare, say, a foldable phone with a gaming or camera behemoth that doesn't flip or fold, that too at vastly differing prices. With the consumers (and us) spoilt for choice, the distinction no longer resides in the form factor, but in the capability of a phone, regardless of form.

We have made your quest for the next phone a little less arduous with feature-based ratings and suggestions for credible alternatives at different price points.

1 OnePlus

Open This debutant foldable has already ensured a place for OnePlus in the ultra-premium segment with its practical design.

2 Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

The new Pro comes with serious camera upgrades that get you closer to that perfect pro-level imaging.

3 Google Pixel 8 Pro

More AI power for the stock Android aficionados with loads of camera and Google Assistant smarts to keep you engaged.

4 Oppo Find N3 Flip

This stunner sports a luxurious design complete with the stamp of a legend and slips effortlessly into your pocket.