In 2024, business smartphones continue to evolve, offering a range of advanced features designed to enhance productivity, security, and connectivity. With the increasing need for mobile work solutions, choosing the right smartphone has become critical for businesses. From foldable devices that turn into productivity hubs to budget-friendly options that deliver excellent value, there is a phone to suit every business need.
Here, we’ll explore the best business phones of 2024, examining flagship models like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and iPhone 16 Pro Max, known for their superior performance and cutting-edge features, as well as budget-friendly alternatives like the Samsung Galaxy A53, which offer powerful tools at an affordable price. Whether your priority is security, battery life, or multitasking capabilities, we’ll guide you through the top choices to help you equip your workforce with the best technology for the year ahead.
It would be easy to just say ‘the latest iPhone or Samsung Galaxy’, but every business is different with different needs. Here, we’ll look at which phone is right for your business.
Best Business Mobile For Content Production
iPhone 16 Pro Max
We’re already big fans of iPhones here at Simpatico, and have been very impressed by the iPhone 15. The big question for us this year, was whether the iPhone 16 Pro Max would be able to knock its predecessor out of our number 1 spot for best business mobile.
Well, it has. The upgraded iPhone may be a case of evolution rather than revolution, but we think that it provides enough quality-of-life enhancing features to justify its position as best business mobile for content production.
Firstly, the iPhone 16 Pro Max features a few improvements to its camera over the previous model. The 16 has the standard three camera options you’ve come to expect from Apple. Like the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a 48MP f/1.8 main camera, and 12MP f/2.8 zoom lens with 5x optical zoom ans 25x digital zoom. The major improvement comes in the form of a 48MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera which is a huge upgrade on the 12MP version found on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Its excellent cameras make the iPhone 16 Pro Max a no-brainer for business users who rely on their device to create company content, such as taking photography for brochures, capturing images for the company’s social media feeds and even video footage if you want to be down with the kids and create TikToks. The f/1.8 main camera in particular performs incredibly well in low-light, letting you capture marketing-worthy images without the need to drag a lighting studio around with you.
With the inclusion of Apple Intelligence, business users have access to advanced photo editing capabilities at their fingertips – letting them perform crucial photo edits such as background removal, or cleaning up unwanted distractions from images.
But it’s not just photo editing where Apple Intelligence will benefit business users. Its ability to read large amounts of text in a short time, create summaries and make rewrites to text such as emails has the potential to save a tremendous number of working hours. Something that would previously require an computer can now potentially be done in minutes during the daily commute.
The chip has been updated this year to a lightning fast A18 Bionic Chip, and paired with 8GB of RAM for those intensive tasks, there’s very little you can throw at this phone that it won’t be able to handle. While these specs are slightly below the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s 12GB of RAM, which takes the title of Best For Performance, we’re not sure that most users would notice any significant difference in day-to-day tasks.
This processor combined very well with the top-of-the-line camera and Apple Intelligence to allowing quick editing of images’ brightness, saturation, and even depth-of-field. The phone’s beefy specs will also allow you to run dedicated editing software such as Photoshop Express.
In short, it’s the go-to phone for those business users who want to create incredible marketing content which would have required dedicated professional-grade equipment only a few years ago. With the ability to perform all of your edits on the device, it’s no exaggeration to say that the iPhone can replace expensive PCs or Macbooks for many business users.
If your company requires the very best, then the iPhone 16 Pro Max is for you. We offer it in a 256GB or 512GB model on all of the major networks.
Best Business Mobile For Performance
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Samsung’s powerful flagship Galaxy S24 Ultra is the major competitor to Apple’s iPhone. Out of the box, it boasts a bigger battery, slightly larger screen than the non-pro iPhones (although it is smaller than the iPhone 16 Pro Max), with AMOLED technology (compared to the iPhone’s OLED screen) and 12GB of RAM compared to just 8GB on the iPhone 16. However, higher specs don’t always translate to a better user experience, so let’s dive into what it’s like using the Galaxy 24 Ultra.
Business users who rely on taking exceptional photos for their company won’t be disappointed by the Galaxy S24 Ultra. It’s 200MP camera f/1.7 main camera combines with a 12MP f/2.2 selfie camera, a 3x optical zoom camera and a 50MP camera with 5x zoom. Wow – that’s a lot of cameras! Samsung also provide another ace in the hole: its AI editing features, which may come in handy if you need to quickly make changes to a photograph taken while you’re on business.
As for its performance, it contains a whopping 12GB of RAM and is paired with a top-of-the-range Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. It performs as you’d expect a high-end mobile to perform: superbly. If you’re into gaming in between work meetings, or utilise very heavy apps such as photo editing software, then this could be the perfect business mobile for you. Benchmarks show that the Galaxy S24 Ultra now outperforms even the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which makes this the top pick for those who demand the very best in terms of performance and speed.
If you spend a long time away from a power source, you’ll be pleased to learn that the Galaxy S24 Ultra has one of the best battery life benchmarks around, thanks to its 5,000mAh battery and its clever adaptive power saving mode, which learns how you use the device and adapts its power saving options to suit your needs.
If you’re a power user, and either don’t want an iPhone 16 Pro Max or don’t want to spend as much for one, then the Samsung Galaxy S24 is your best choice. We offer it in a 256GB or 512GB model on all of the major networks.
Best Business Mobile For Productivity
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
The second Samsung device in our ‘best business mobiles’ list, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the standout device of 2024, combining cutting-edge technology with a practical, productivity-oriented design. For business users who need more than just a phone, the Z Fold 5 delivers an unparalleled hybrid experience, acting as both a phone and a tablet, with a focus on multitasking, collaboration, and mobile productivity. In other words, it’s a phone you can get stuff done with. No more carrying a heavy laptop on the train so that you can work during the commute!
In case you’re unsure exactly what the Z Fold is, the clue is in the name. It’s a mobile phone which can unfold into a larger device, essentially turning your phone into a small tablet. The screen size becomes a little less than an iPad mini, but still provides plenty of screen real-estate to get work tasks done when you’re on the move and offers a much nicer experience than working from a traditional mobile phone.
Not only does its extra screen size help you to get those jobs off your to-do list, but its specification allows for multitasking and running heavy apps when needed. With 12GB of RAM, and a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, it’s able to handle tasks with ease. And back to the screen for a minute (I know, we’re going on but it’s really the standout feature), you can run 3 apps at the same time in split-screen mode. It’s hard for us to do justice to how much this improves your workflow until you try it out yourself.
Finally, it supports the S Pen so that you can take notes, annotate or edit documents on the screen without needing to carry another device, or a notepad, into your meetings.
With a 4,400mAh battery, it won’t last as long as Samsung’s other beast of a phone, the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but you will still get plenty of hours from it, comparable to most other high end business mobiles.
The Z Fold 6 has been released, with the same battery size and very similar cameras but slightly changed dimensions that make it wider. This may benefit those who type on their device, however we believe that the Z Fold 5 offers the best value in terms of performance and price.
For the best productivity, you can’t go wrong with the Z Fold 5. Business users will appreciate the folding display that allows them to get more work done when they’re on the move, without needing to carry extra devices around. It really is a game changer for business mobile users.
We offer the Samsung Z Fold 5 in a 256GB or 512GB model, with all of the major network providers.
Best Mid-Range Business Mobile
Google Pixel 8
It almost feels wrong to call the Pixel 8 a mid-range phone. Although it’s priced that way, its features and performance most definitely outperform its mid-range tag and we believe offer unrivalled balance between performance and price.
One way that it’s able to perform better than its specs would suggest is due to it’s clean Android experience. Business users will appreciate the interface, which comes without the bloatware often seen on other devices. Google’s software is optimised for speed and ease of use, allowing seamless switching between apps and workflows. And with the Pixel 8 being guaranteed to receive software updates for up to 7 years, you know that it will remain secure and up-to-date for the long term – incredibly valuable features for devices storing sensitive business data.
As expected, the Pixel 8 integrates perfectly with Google Workspace, making it an ideal choice for those who rely on Gmail, Google Drive, Docs, and Sheets (Google’s answer to the Microsoft Office suite). The real-time collaboration features in Google Docs and Sheets work smoothly, ensuring business users can easily manage files and work with teams across the cloud.
In addition, the Live Translate feature is a major plus for professionals who frequently interact with international clients, offering real-time translation during meetings and conversations.
Google markets the Pixel 8 as an ‘AI phone,’ which may not mean a lot to most users, but we feel it shines when it comes to business use. Features like Call Screening can help filter out spam calls, while Voice Typing and Summarisation assist with transcribing notes or summarising long documents, making it easier to manage tasks on the go. These AI-driven features help save time and enhance productivity, which should be a major selling point.
One area where the Pixel 8 truly outperforms its price point is the camera. The Pixel 8’s camera is one of the best around, comparable to much higher-priced models such as the iPhone 15 Pro Max or Galaxy S24 Ultra, and even better in some cases. The excellent image quality is beneficial for business-related photo and video content, such as marketing materials, product photography, or even virtual meetings. Additionally, the high-quality video conferencing capability ensures clear video calls, which is essential for remote meetings and presentations.
Best Budget Mobile Phone For Business
Samsung Galaxy A53
The Samsung Galaxy A53 stands out as one of the best budget-friendly smartphones for business users in 2024. Offering an attractive balance of performance, features, and affordability, it is ideal for companies looking to provide their workforce with reliable devices without breaking the bank.
While it won’t compete with Samsung and Apple’s flagship phones in terms of raw power, it does offer great features for companies who don’t need a top-of-the-range device and whose staff mainly use their business phone for calls, messages and emails.
Firstly, its specs. It doesn’t include a Snapdragon processor that the Galaxy S24 has, but the A53’s Exynos chip and 6GB of RAM are more than enough for running standard business apps like Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and project management tools. If you purchase this phone for your staff, they’ll be more than capable of getting essential work done, but don’t expect them to run intensive tasks such as data analysis, or media editing.
It features a more-than-capable 64MP f/1.8 main camera and 32MP f/2.2 selfie camera, alongside a further 12MP ultrawide and two 5MP cameras. These can film video in 4k, which may be handy for uploading to company social media profiles such as Instagram and Tik Tok. In the right conditions, the quality of image produced is good. However, if you want a device that can produce high quality marketing materials, for website and brochures for example, you’ll need to spend a bit more.
An area where the A53 really does shine is its superb battery life. Its 5,000mAh batter is the same size as those found in a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, but without that model’s more demanding processes you can confidently get a whole day’s use out of the A53 without needing to charge. This makes it a great option for business users who travel a lot and may be without a power source.
A final feature that we love (and wish all phones included) is expandable storage. With up to 256GB of internal storage and a microSD slot that supports up to 1TB, employees can store large amounts of data, files, and documents on their phones without needing external storage devices. This is especially useful for businesses that handle large files such as presentations, videos, or product images.
We’d highly recommend the Galaxy A53 for businesses who don’t want to spend iPhone 15 or Galaxy S24 prices, but still need a device capable of letting employees get their important tasks done.
What To Look For In A Business Mobile Phone
Every business has its own unique demands from their mobile phones. For example, if you rely heavily on social media platforms like Instagram for your marketing, you’ll want to prioritise a great camera. Or perhaps your business mobiles double up to help get tasks done while on the move – in which case, screen size and a large enough memory to run multiple apps will be important.
If you must have an app that is available on Apple’s app store but isn’t available on Google Play, then immediately you’ve narrowed down your choice. But maybe your business doesn’t need the latest and greatest flagship models for your staff to get their work done. Sometimes, you just need to make calls and send messages.
When determining our ‘best of’ list, we considered the following factors:
Size
Size may not be everything, but can a business mobile phone be too large or too small? If you want your phone to fit into a small pocket, or you want to be able to use it one handed, then yes it can. A screen smaller than 5″ is going to suit you better.
If you regularly watch video on your phone, or edit and view documents like company spreadsheets, then larger screens on models will be better. Don’t forget, however, that bigger screens use up more power, so make sure the battery life can handle your usage.
Battery Life
When you hear some iPhone users complain that their phone won’t last the day without a top-up charge, you realise that battery life isn’t just a geeky specification to ignore. If you are on the move and frequently away from a power source, then poor battery life is a definite no-no. Personally, we like our phones to last the day at least. Having your company mobile shut down when its needed for essential work calls, emails and texts is something we can’t accept.
We also think about charging time which can be equally important in a business mobile if you’re on the move.
Storage
Do you need to store lots of documents or pictures on your phone? Or perhaps you’ve downloaded a bunch of Netflix videos to watch on the go, in those situations where the WiFi isn’t great? If so, storage is going to be crucial.
Many flagship phones nowadays don’t include expandable storage, such as a microSD slot, opting instead to offer more internal capacity. This on board storage can easily be taken up by a few apps and the operating system itself. If you take high resolution photos and video for your work, or download films and music for the commute, you could soon run out of storage space if you haven’t planned ahead.
If you store lots of data in the cloud this can be less of a problem, and with more and more 4G connections available across the UK this can be a practical solution. But if you’re in a poor signal area (or a heavy user and don’t want to pay a larger tariff because of your data usage), then some sort of expandable storage is worth considering. Apple phones don’t provide any external storage at all, so you have to buy the model you think you’ll need in the future. Many Android-based phones do include a microSD slot, however Samsung’s flagship Galaxy range has stopped including it as a standard feature.
Camera
If you take a lot of photos then pay close attention to the camera spec and, if possible, find any real-world reviews. Don’t be fooled by the number of megapixels – it’s way more important to have a great aperture (the lower this number, the better) and a sensor that can let in plenty of light for low-light photography.
As you’d expect in this situation, the top-of-the-range flagship iPhones and Samsung Galaxy models usually offer the best cameras overall for those who need the highest quality photos. However, cheaper models such as the Google Pixel 8 offer an almost comparable experience at a much lower price.
Processing Power
If you play a lot of games between business meetings, or use apps which are memory hungry, then a top of the range processor from Snapdragon (if you’re on Android) or an A16 Bionic chip (for iPhones), and at least 6GB of memory, are worth paying for.
But if most of the time you are making calls, sending texts and emails, and occasionally checking the weather, then why not choose a mid range smartphone and save your company money?
Below, we’ve listed what, in our opinion, are the best business mobiles for 2024 based on different needs. However, if you have your eye on a different model and don’t see it on the list, feel free to give us a call and we’ll happily advise you on the best deal for your business.
