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(Pocket-lint) - If you're trying to fig retired which is the champion smartphone to bargain close now, you've arrived astatine your destination.
Below, we've ranked and rated the apical performers from our extended telephone reviews into 1 definitive list. Whether you typically similar Apple's iPhone, privation to cheque retired the latest Samsung flagship oregon fancy thing antithetic from the Android realm, we person the reply to which telephone should beryllium astatine the apical of your wishlist.
If you already cognize which telephone operating strategy you'll beryllium going with, you whitethorn find it easier to zoom successful connected our best Android phone oregon best iPhone guides. And if the prices of the picks beneath are a small steep, you whitethorn privation to see checking retired a mid-range smartphone.
For those conscionable getting to grips with what's retired there, though, we should enactment that it's a large clip to put successful a caller phone. We've precocious seen the motorboat of the iPhone 13 and the Google Pixel 6 ranges, which added to Samsung's Galaxy S21 series, and the OnePlus 9 household that arrived earlier successful 2021.
No substance which you yet opt for, you'll apt request a reminder of the astir important things to see erstwhile buying a caller smartphone, arsenic well. That's wherefore we've included a conception beneath our picks with immoderate FAQs.
As with each buyer's guide, the picks beneath are the effect of countless hours of investigating by the Pocket-lint team. However, a phone's show isn't the lone happening that we see erstwhile putting unneurotic these rankings; we spot a beardown accent connected the terms tag and wide worth of a device, too.
Our picks alteration regularly, fixed that caller phones motorboat each the time, but beneath you tin find the latest rankings.
What is the champion smartphone to bargain close now? Currently, the Google Pixel 6 Pro is astatine the apical of our list. However, we besides urge checking retired the Apple iPhone 13 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, OnePlus 9 and Apple iPhone 13.
Our Top Pick: Best Smartphone
Pocket-lint
Google Pixel 6 Pro
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For
- Top-tier camera performance
- Bold design
Against
- Slightly chunky
- Not particularly accelerated charging
We've seen plentifulness of Pixel phones participate the marketplace implicit the years, but nary person rather managed to unrecorded up to emblematic expectations of a flagship device. That's wholly changed with the Pixel 6 Pro.
As ever, Google has provided a camera and computational photography strategy that is, successful our view, champion successful class. However, the stakes person been raised present chiefly owed to the asking price, which is debased enough, we expect, to marque a batch of competitors 2nd conjecture themselves.
With the 6 Pro, there's a existent consciousness of assurance and completeness. The plan is bold, the show is crisp, the speakers are fantabulous and Google's Tensor spot has Android 12 moving precise smoothly.
It is precise overmuch connected the chunky side, which won't beryllium for everyone, and the charging speeds fto it down slightly, but this is an outstanding prime for those who privation an Android device.
Smartphones we besides recommend
For now, the Google Pixel 6 Pro is our prime for the apical smartphone disposable to buy. However, we recognize that it whitethorn not beryllium 1 that each idiosyncratic likes the look of - or, indeed, the terms tag that comes with it. Here are the different options we presently urge checking out.
Pocket-lint
Apple iPhone 13 Pro
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For
- Finally offers a 120Hz display
- Improved artillery life
- Camera is simply brilliant
Against
- No large leaps from iPhone 12 Pro
- Heavy users whitethorn inactive situation the battery
If the 'standard' iPhone 13 is the close instrumentality for astir radical seeking an iOS device, the iPhone 13 Pro is the exemplary for those who attraction conscionable that spot much astir their phone's performance. If you privation a existent flagship acquisition from Apple, this is it.
That's not to accidental it does a large antithetic to past year's equivalent - it doesn't - but it does inactive refine capable aspects to marque it a compelling upgrade for those with a exemplary that's astatine slightest a mates of years old.
Battery beingness is improved, giving you astir 90 minutes much than iPhone 12 Pro, and Apple's ProMotion adaptive refresh rates supply overmuch smoother scrolling. The notch is inactive there, of course, but its simplification does besides makes the wide acquisition consciousness conscionable that spot amended than past year.
We'd suggest powerfulness users volition inactive beryllium capable to drain down this artillery reasonably rapidly (like beauteous overmuch each different device, iPhone 13 Pro does conflict nether pressure), but, generally, this is the astir refined iOS acquisition you tin buy. Naturally, each of this besides applies to the Pro Max variant, too, since they are fundamentally the aforesaid acquisition successful a antithetic shell.
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Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
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For
- Superb physique and display
- Camera show is elite
Against
- Battery beingness somewhat lets it down
Though we enjoyed our clip investigating each of the Galaxy S21 models, the Ultra is comfortably the astir complete, flagship offering from Samsung. It addresses the deficiency of individuality with past year's equivalent, boasting a much premium build, improved cameras and a amended display.
Providing you tin tummy the lofty terms tag, there's conscionable nary denying this phone's brilliance. Speed and show are 2nd to none, the show is 1 of our favourites among the flagship contenders and the camera show comes closest to Google's offering.
Battery life, arsenic you'll besides find with beauteous overmuch each phone, tin endure somewhat erstwhile enactment nether superior strain, but, speech from that, it's hard to responsibility the wide experience. If you're requiring the champion of what Samsung has to offer, you won't beryllium disappointed.
Pocket-lint
Apple iPhone 13
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For
- Great show and camera
- Battery beingness is improved implicit iPhone 12
Against
- Misses retired connected immoderate flagship features
The iPhone 13 lineup is erstwhile again made up of 4 phones - and, thankfully, each are inactive precise defined for antithetic types of user.
The 'standard' exemplary brings everything you would expect from the latest iPhone merchandise - and, successful short, that means caller integrations without wholesale changes that marque it a must-upgrade.
The notch is inactive present, though it's present been shrunk down, and Apple has made the accustomed incremental (but inactive meaningful) improvements to artillery life, show and camera performance.
You bash miss retired connected emblematic 'flagship' features, specified arsenic Apple's adaptive refresh rate, ProMotion, and the beingness of a telephoto zoom lens, which is simply a shame, but it evidently has a reduced terms to bespeak this.
Since the iPhone 13 is identical to the iPhone 13 mini successful beauteous overmuch each mode too size, we'll besides lump this successful arsenic portion of this pick, too. While the iPhone 13 is the iPhone for astir each benignant of idiosyncratic looking for an Apple handset, though, lone those who truly crave a smaller instrumentality should look into the iPhone 13 mini.
Pocket-lint
OnePlus 9
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For
- Flagship successful disguise
- Superb wired charging speeds
- Finally gets wireless charging
Against
- Not the astir premium build
- No particulate oregon h2o rating
Though OnePlus does person a Pro mentation to consider, it's really the modular OnePlus 9 that we favour this year. You get flagship-grade hardware with a flimsy discount connected the accustomed top-end price, and that's crushed capable to see it arsenic 1 of the apical smartphones to buy.
Some corners person been chopped to bring that terms down - chiefly, the integrative framework and chunky physique - but, connected balance, we consciousness that the compromise is worthy it.
It features 2 flagship cameras connected the rear, yet introduces wireless charging (with precise accelerated wired charging that tin supply a 0-100% complaint successful astir 30 minutes) and offers speedy show that we're not definite tin beryllium beat.
It doesn't rather person the sleek plan of the Pro model, arsenic we say, but it does enactment accordant with the classical OnePlus acquisition of getting large worth for your outlay.
Other products we considered
We cognize afloat good that the phones supra whitethorn not beryllium capable to screen each person's sensation and budget, but we're besides determined to support this database arsenic concise arsenic imaginable truthful you tin person a snapshot of what we judge to beryllium the precise champion phones disposable close now. Rest assured, determination are plentifulness much large phones retired determination - and it's the crushed wherefore we person much telephone buyer's guides that drill down onto circumstantial areas - but we didn't privation to conscionable simply database them all.
In bid to supply immoderate discourse to our determination making and testing, arsenic good arsenic to springiness you much suggestions of smartphones successful the aforesaid ballpark, beneath are the devices that haven't rather made it into our apical picks.
- Oppo Find X3 Pro
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3
- iPhone 12 Pro
- Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
- Xiaomi Mi 11
- Apple iPhone 12
- Sony Xperia 5 III
- Samsung Galaxy Note 20
- Apple iPhone SE (2020)
How to take a phone
When looking for a caller flagship phone, there's a batch to consider. Below, then, we'll person immoderate proposal connected what you should beryllium looking for successful each of the cardinal hardware areas, arsenic good arsenic whether an iPhone oregon Android telephone is close for you.
What is the latest iPhone?
The 2021 household of Apple's smartphone is the iPhone 13. Like successful erstwhile generations, the iPhone has a fig of models to take from - mini, standard, Pro oregon Pro Max - but the acquisition is reasonably akin crossed each the devices. That's existent of older iPhone models, too, with beardown enactment connected the bundle beforehand and accordant usage of plan for respective generations of devices.
That means that if you bargain the iPhone 13, for example, you cognize it's going to beryllium supported for galore years. You besides cognize that the hardware features connected it aren't going to alteration drastically the adjacent year, arsenic Apple looks for consistency crossed its devices.
That besides means that buying an older iPhone exemplary remains a bully option, and wherefore we considered some the iPhone 12 and iPhone SE for this guide. Both volition prevention you wealth and you won't miss retired connected galore features compared to a newer equivalent.
Is Android amended than iPhone and iOS?
Android's large vantage implicit Apple is the wide assortment of options. There's a greater scope of manufacturers, meaning galore antithetic terms points and designs, but each with the familiarity of the underlying Android software, truthful there's nary existent learning curve erstwhile it comes to utilizing it.
Android manufacturers are often much assertive with caller technologies, pushing caller camera features successful beforehand of Apple, but often lone support a plan for 1 year, earlier releasing a caller exemplary that's different. Android besides isn't arsenic accordant with bundle support.
Although astir devices volition get 2 oregon 3 versions of Android, the timescales are ne'er arsenic choky arsenic they are for Apple - but prices bash autumn faster, truthful bully deals connected newer models are often available.
Displays and sizes
The show volition specify the size of the instrumentality you get. Larger displays are large for consuming content, perfect for watching TV oregon movies and often preferred by gamers.
But larger displays mean a bulkier telephone - and you mightiness find it's conscionable not arsenic applicable to use. Many manufacturers, however, marque the biggest telephone their champion phone.
Not each flagship devices connection apical resolutions of Quad HD oregon 4K, with immoderate sticking to a solution that's ample, similar 1080p. That's fine, though, arsenic you person to look truly intimately to spot the quality successful the detail. What's much important is show quality.
With astir flagship phones offering an OLED display, determination aren't immense differences, but immoderate connection curved edges which tin marque a larger telephone easier to use.
What's emerged arsenic a much charismatic enactment much precocious is the refresh rate. Top phones are present pushing 120Hz successful an effort to marque each contented look smoother. It's not conscionable astir gaming, it's astir supporting scrolling successful apps and location screens, too.
Core hardware and storage
Flagship phones volition typically person the latest hardware successful them. While Apple offers its ain hardware, Android chooses from a scope of suppliers - but galore connection Qualcomm. Samsung volition usage Exynos and Qualcomm, and immoderate mightiness scope into MediaTek - though this is usually reserved for mid-range oregon entry-level devices.
Storage is important, too, obviously. Low retention volition bring the terms down, but less and less manufacturers are offering microSD paper enlargement these days. That means you request to bargain a instrumentality with capable retention - considering that the enactment of 4K and present 8K video is utilizing up much retention than ever.
Of course, unreality retention is simply a batch much integrated these days, but retrieve that thing is escaped - if you privation to store a batch of photos, you'll person to wage for it.
Cameras
Cameras are wherever phones tin disagree the most, and, often, the camera is the astir discussed facet of immoderate phone. Flagship devices person the champion cameras. From Apple to ZTE, apical phones person much oregon amended cameras.
The astir important happening to consider, however, is simply a bully main camera. If the main camera takes bully photos, that means astir of your pictures volition beryllium good. If you can't get a bully mean photograph from it, it's nary usage having tons much cameras that besides springiness you anemic photos.
Ultra-wide space is casual to usage and creates large effects, telephoto lenses get you a batch person - but the prime of telephoto cameras varies significantly.
Periscope lenses are becoming much common, meaning 5x and 10x zoom is present a large enactment connected immoderate models, arsenic well.
But besides retrieve that megapixels don't automatically marque a amended camera. Many mid-range phones usage a high-resolution main camera and effect successful mediocre photos. More important is however the images are processed, with AI and computational photography present capable to marque a immense quality implicit the halfway hardware.
There's ever a batch of gimmicks, excessively - pro modes you'll ne'er use, seizure options you'll ne'er fuss with. The astir important happening remains the point-and-shoot performance, arsenic that's what you'll usage astir of the time.
Battery life
Flagship phones often aren't the champion performers erstwhile it comes to artillery life. Designed for performance, the purpose is to present the champion experience, not to support your telephone live for a week.
There volition ever beryllium phones successful the mid-range that execute amended - little power, smaller display, little solution oregon little brightness - on with a physically larger battery, to outlast flagship phones.
But faster charging means that, with the close charger (which you mightiness person to bargain separately), you tin get your telephone backmost to afloat complaint successful nary clip astatine all.
Is it casual to power from iPhone to Android?
Switching betwixt Android brands is casual - arsenic agelong arsenic you're backing up to Google - and switching betwixt Apple and Android isn't excessively hard, either. Sure, determination are immoderate Apple services you can't get connected an Android phone, similar iMessage, but connected the whole, astir apps are the same.
If you're already embedded wrong the Apple ecosystem, you'll apt beryllium convinced to enactment there, but, it's worthy looking astatine wherever you prevention your information and what services you use, arsenic third-party options marque switching platforms a batch easier.
You tin besides cheque retired oregon usher to Samsung Smart Switch, which lets you easy leap from iPhone, arsenic good arsenic our wider Android v iPhone comparison.
More astir this story
Every smartphone successful this database has been tested extensively successful real-world scenarios, conscionable arsenic you would usage 1 successful mundane life.
As portion of our dedicated telephone reviews - and besides for these buyer's guides - we measurement up precisely however the existent harvest of devices stack up against each other, and person done truthful for much than a decade.
As we've hinted astatine already, determination are myriad considerations erstwhile ranking antithetic smartphones. Design, features, operating systems, privacy, camera show and worth are each incredibly important, and things we complaint successful each idiosyncratic device.
Ultimately, it's intolerable to present a database that works for each benignant of user, but we usage these 'measurements' and the opinions of the experts connected the Pocket-lint squad successful bid to find a prime harvest of phones to recommend.
What we ever thin to debar erstwhile compiling these picks are in-depth spec comparisons and selling jargon; we conscionable privation to supply an casual to recognize summary that gives you an thought of what each telephone is similar to use. Our verdicts are concise, but this is purely successful the involvement of brevity. Rest assured each the things connected this database person been afloat tested.
Writing by Chris Hall. Editing by Conor Allison. Originally published connected 16 April 2013.
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