The 10 best smartphones of 2021

We will know the best smartphones deeply on the market; High-performance models include excellent specialty cameras that rival dedicated digital cameras, superb low-resolution displays, and incredibly pure color gamuts: pure power encapsulation and the latest in hardware combinations.

Even the audio quality that the internal speakers have is among the best, capable of offering the best quality experience in vital calls. One of the best ways to avoid having to deal with delays or interruptions. They are undoubtedly designed by the best to deliver the latest and high-quality innovation that we can find in a smartphones.

Samsung Galaxy Note20 5G: One of the Best Android Phones

The good

• Excellent combination of 3 cameras.
• Fast and powerful processor.
• Bring a pencil.
• Safety and productivity.
• Incredible screen.

The bad

• A bit big and bulky.
• Very expensive model.

The Samsung Galaxy Note20 5G is another high-end set and is the largest and most powerful Android phone on the market. It’s a great option if you’re looking for a high-performance phone equipped with a stylus that allows you to multitask, like taking notes, browsing the web, playing games, and using tools. It has a Snapdragon 865+ processor, in RAM there are between 8GB and 12GB depending on the configuration, a powerful combination that will allow the smartphones to handle everything you want.

The Note20 is a bit affordable with its 6.7-inch FHD screen. It has Samsung’s Infinity-O display with a camera in the center for the selfie. The screen is Super AMOLED Plus with 393 ppi (pixels per inch) and is HDR10 + certified. The Note20 Ultra is slightly larger; it has a 6.9-inch Quad HD screen with a higher resolution than the previous one with 496 ppi (pixels per inch). A screen refresh rate of 120Hz will allow you to perform very smooth games, videos, and other tasks.

Differences between the Note20 Ultra and the Note20

It has an amazing quality camera, the Note20; technically, it has a three rear camera setup, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, another 12MP wide-angle camera, and the normal 64MP camera for a high-quality combination. A little further goes the Note20 Ultra with a 12MP ultra-wide camera, with a 12MP telephoto camera, and another 108MP wide-angle camera. Additionally, it has a laser sensor for automatic focus. 

They are capable of zooming without loss of focus; the Note20 can do a 3x magnification, while the Note20 Ultra can do 5x. They have an optical image stabilization system achieving stable videos, allowing them to record videos in 8K at 24 fps, 4K at 60 fps, and 1080p at 120 fps-60 fps.

Both devices are water and dust resistant under IP68, fast wireless charging, and USB PD 3.0 cable. Another important piece of information is that they are 5G-enabled, allowing them to work on the new 5G networks available in the United States and other countries.

Apple iPhone 12: One of the Best Apple Phones

The good

• Nice design.
• Powerful processor.
• Good camera quality.

The bad

• No USB-C port.
• It does not bring an adapter or headphones.

The iPhone 12 model is the base in Apple’s new line of flagship phones.  It comes with design and hardware improvements compared to last year’s iPhone 11. The most notable change in the design is that the phone’s sides are now square, reminiscent of its predecessor iPhone 4. You have an edge-to-edge screen, with a cutout at the top for Face ID and for selfies.

The 6.1-inch OLED Super Retina XDR screen is reinforced with ceramic glass providing greater hardness.  It offers an image sharpness of 460ppi, compatible with HDR10 and Dolby Vision which provides more vivid colors and saturation levels at very dynamic ranges. Hardware the phone has a powerful A14 Bionic processor that runs iOS 14.1 and delivers efficient performance.

The cameras also improved, the primary 12MP and a 12MP ultra-wide sensor. It has optical image stabilization that can record 4K at 60 fps and 1080p at 240 fps. With the 12MP front camera that also records 4K video at 60fps.  It features all the features we’d expect from an Apple flagship phone like the new MagSafe for accessories, wireless charging with fast charging (adapter required), and IP68 water and dust resistance.

Apple iPhone SE (second generation): One of the Best Cheap Apple Phones

The good

• Convenient size.
• Good processor.
• Most affordable price.

The bad

• Small screen
• No portrait mode for animals or objects.

The iPhone SE (second generation) was launched in 2020 with very good acceptance at the moment.  It’s more than an affordable first-gen model, putting new variants on the largely aluminum iPhone 8 chassis. This new SE is a somewhat dated but classic design with large black bezels subtracting the screen at the top and bottom. With a touch identification sensor button to increase device security.

The best of pure power with the A13 Bionic processor. Unlike the classic SE, this model does not have a 3.5 mm headphone jack, only for wireless connections thanks to Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5. It has a Retina HD screen, which does not manage to be as large or achieve the sharpness as obtained in the iPhone 11 or iPhone 11 Pro. It is among the most powerful ARMs in a phone for this price and size. It has 1GB more RAM than the old iPhone 8, allowing you to handle and perform almost any task.

Apple iPhone SE second generation is cheaper than the classic.

It has a 12MP rear camera and a 7MP front camera with portrait mode capability to take beautiful photos. Thanks to built-in image processors and built-in artificial intelligence that enables machine learning to take great photos with both sensors.

It has IP68 waterproof tests, supports wireless charging and fast charging. Support dual SIMs (the physical SIM and an eSIM) and gigabit LTE. These are features that are hard to find on an Android phone for around $ 400, making the 2nd Gen iPhone SE one of the best phones you can buy.

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G: One of the Best Samsung Phones

The good

• Good value for money.
• Sleek modern design.
• Good camera quality.

The bad

• Low resolution compared to S20.

Of the major phone manufacturers, it is one of the best and largest 5G smartphones on the market. The Galaxy S20 FE is its latest model and targets the mid-range area of ​​the 5G phone market.  In many respects, it is like a Galaxy S20, but there are some changes to offer at a lower price in the market. It features a 6.5-inch edge-to-edge Super AMOLED screen similar to the S20 but a bit larger. 

However, the screen resolution is not that high at 2400 x 1080 pixels with a density of 407ppi, which is still high quality, but not at the same level as the 563ppi that the S20 has. Some features like HDR10 + are also missing for better color saturation quality. The screen has a refresh rate of 120Hz. Top-notch Snapdragon 865 processor with few differences to the Snapdragon 865+ that most high-end have. 

Configurable with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, o 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage capacity, plenty of power for extensive multitasking.  The camera performance remains promising, with a 12MP main camera, an 8MP camera with 3x range optical zoom and a 12MP ultra-wide camera. You can record videos in 4K smoothly and 1080p. Last but not least with an in-display fingerprint sensor, fast charging, wireless charging, and a hefty 4,500 mAh battery.

Apple iPhone 12 mini: One of the Best Apple Mini Phones

The good

• Elegant design.
• Very sharp screen.
• Very powerful processor.
• Great quality cameras.

The bad

• No USB-C port.
• Does not include adapter or headphones.
• No high update screen

As part of Apple’s new flagship lineup, the iPhone 12 mini offers a smaller version for those who are tired of huge phones that won’t fit in their pocket.  The mini model pretty much takes the hardware from the iPhone 12 and packages it smaller.

The 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen goes from edge to edge, the same design as the iPhone 12. It has square sides just like the iPhone 12, with a cutout at the top of the screen for the camera and sensors. It reached a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels reaching 476 dpi. It supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision, giving you a large dynamic range and rich in pure colors.

The hardware is impressive power, with an ARM A14 Bionic chip with the iOS 14 system, making it one of the most powerful small phones on the market.  It comes with the same 12MP dual rear cameras as the iPhone 12, allowing normal and group shots to be taken and recorded in 4K at 60 frames. Other features present are fast charging, fast wireless charging, and IP68 water and dust resistance.

OnePlus 8 Pro: One of the Best Google Phones

The good

• Elegant design.
• Excellent quality screen.
• Camera quality.
• Solid battery performance.

The bad

• Storage cannot be expanded

The OnePlus 8 Pro is the successor to the excellent OnePlus 7 Pro.  They made a number of improvements and changes to the features and designs that they did not like on the previous model. It’s a sleek 6.78-inch device that features attractive curved edges with Gorilla Glass 5 for added toughness with protection and a metal-finish frame. Under a series of striking colors ranging from green, blue and black.

In terms of specifications, you will not be disappointed since it has a Snapdragon 865 processor; it comes in a configuration of 8GB or 12GB of RAM and with storage options for 128GB or 256GB of capacity.  Everything that runs on OnePlus’ clean Oxygen OS is based on Android 10. The result is excellent, smooth performance that makes it look beautiful on the 120Hz Quad HD AMOLED display it has. Rich in colors with an intense and dense black.

A 48MP primary camera, the second 48MP ultra-wide camera with a 120-degree field of view, and software for curve correction. As a result, you can take great low-light and wide-angle photos. It also has an 8MP 3X optical zoom alongside another 30X hybrid zoom.

Last but not least, the 4,510 mAh battery allows the phone to have a good autonomy backup, a Warp 30 charger, and a Qi wireless charger to recharge the smartphones quickly.

Microsoft Surface Duo: One of the Best of Exclusive Phones

The good

• Features for productivity.
• Two screens.

The bad

• Expensive.
• The screen is not edge-to-edge

The Microsoft Surface Duo has been one of the most anticipated phones and is on the list among the best smartphones. It is the new version by Microsoft of a folding phone with a double screen, which has two AMOLED screens of 5.6 inches each, which can be converted into a single screen of about 8.3 inches. 

It comes with a host of productivity and multitasking features that allow for dynamic use, like running applications side by side and performing tasks totally independent of the other screen. Unlike others like the Samsung Galaxy Fold, Surface Duo has hinges allowing 360-degree openings, and the screens are separated. 

However, this design in its construction provides more durability on the screens since it has a price of around 1,400 euros. The Surface Duo has an architecture quite similar to most of the flagship pillars on the market.  A Snapdragon 855 processor and a little under with 6GB of RAM.  The smartphones runs on android, but it will have a series of improvements totally inspired by Windows to optimize the use of its dual screens. 

The 11MP rear sensor camera with AI is optimized to capture the front as well as the rear. The Surface Duo will also be compatible with the Surface Pen, which will make it a powerful competitor to Samsung’s Note series. A 3577 mAh battery and a USB-C port enabled for fast charging.

Best Fold: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G: One of the Best Samsung Exclusive Phones

The good

• Foldable design.
• Impressive screen quality.
• Powerful hardware.
• Good quality on camera.

The bad

• The screen system feels fragile.
• Very expensive.

The new Galaxy Z Fold2 smartphones is one of the best folding phones currently on the market. The Fold2 model has the unrivaled Samsung AMOLED dynamic folding screen that opens via a hinge system.  With a total screen size of 7.6 inches when fully unfolded with a resolution of 2208 x 1768 pixels. It appears essentially the shape of a tablet with the usability of a smartphones shape. 

The screen is made of ultra-thin glass; you would have to wait for prolonged use to see how the quality behaves since it is difficult to know without testing. It supports HDR10 + for better quality multimedia content; it has a frequency of 120Hz for a smooth update in games. When the screen is closed, it has a 6.23-inch cover that allows you to view notifications and use various applications. The Z Fold2 is balanced with other top-tier Samsung phones like the Note20 Ultra and S20 Ultra when it comes to hardware. 

A Snapdragon 865+ processor, with about 12 GB of RAM, with configurable storage options of 256 GB and 512 GB. We would expect all the features like dual-band Wi-Fi, USB-C port, wireless charging, reverse wireless charging, and fast charging. It has three 12MP cameras that consist of a wide-angle, an Ultra-wide, and a normal one. On the front dual 10Mp each, they also have the ability to record videos in 4K. 

Google Pixel 4a 5G: One of Google’s Best Modern smartphones

The good

• Affordable price.
• 5G connection.
• Solid overall systems.

The bad

• Screen without a high update.
• No wireless charging.

With more 5G networks currently on all major carriers, it is possible now to choose a 5G-enabled smartphones, but the price is high even with this technology. Google has 5G covered with the Pixel 4a 5G.  A limited variant of the Pixel 5 features a 6.8-inch OLED screen with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels.  The pixel density is about 443ppi and supports HDR.

Its specifications are those of a mid-range, with a Snapdragon 730G chipset, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB for storage. It has an 8MP front camera for selfies. The 12.2 MP camera features OIS, with a sensor to enhance low-light shooting. It can make 4K videos but at only 30 frames.  The Pixel 5 is not balanced in cameras and other things, but it still offers good performance.

The Pixel 4a 5G does not support wireless charging, but if fast charging is not waterproof, these deficiencies allow the device to have an affordable price.

Google Pixel 5: One of the Best Cheapest Phones from Google

The good

• Most affordable price.
• Excellent camera.
• Good processor.
• Waterproof and wireless charging.

The bad

• The refresh rate could be higher.
• Little storage.

The Google Pixel 5 is Google’s latest flagship phone and the successor to the Pixel 4. It has a beautiful 6-inch OLED screen with a resolution of 2304 x 1080 pixels (432ppi). With quite a sharp image quality, but a bit below the Note20 Ultra’s screen. The refresh rate is 90Hz; it could increase the refresh rate to 120Hz like most manufacturers’ flagship smartphones.

The hardware has stable and solid performance, with a Snapdragon 765G processor (could be improved with an 865+), 8GB RAM capacity, and with 12GB of storage somewhat poor. With lightweight software and performance-optimized by Google. Camera performance is one of the standout features in the Pixel series with a 12.2MP main and 16MP ultra-wide, optimized for shooting in low-light or challenging environments.

The smartphones has all the other aspects that you would expect from one of the best phones like IP68 water and dust resistance, a hefty 4,000 mAh battery, wireless charging, reverse wireless charging capability, and fast charging. While the Pixel 5 lacks a few extra features, it makes up for a bit by being cheaper than most of the flagship phones on this list, but it makes it a good option if you’re looking for a high-end device.

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