The best phones for 2021, tested by our expert editors

The best smartphones for 2021, ranked

1. Apple iPhone 12
2. Samsung Galaxy Note 20
3. Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
4. Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
5. Apple iPhone 12 Mini
6. Google Pixel 4a 5G
7. Apple iPhone 12 Pro
8. Oppo Find X2 Pro
9. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2
10. Asus ROG Phone II

Compare the best phones of 2020

1. Apple iPhone 12

If you want to upgrade your current iPhone, this is the phone you should buy.

6.1-inch display | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB storage options | 12MP + 12MP rear camera

• Good all-round camera
• A14 Bionic processor runs superbly
• Ceramic Shield glass keeps it safer

• Only a dual-lens camera with no telephoto
• Charger and headphones not included
• Battery life mediocre for a premium phone

RRP From $1,349

Why we chose it

Apple's never released five phones in just one year, and ranking them in any kind of order involves balancing features and price carefully. For our money – and yours – the Apple iPhone 12 strikes just the right balance between performance and price, mostly thanks to the fact that it's running on the exceptional Apple A14 Bionic processor behind Apple's rather heavily toughened "Ceramic Shield" glass. While 5G remains a nice-to-have rather than a must-have feature, it's great to see Apple finally join the 5G race, too.

While the "Pro" phones up the ante slightly in the camera stakes, the iPhone 12 keeps it a little simpler and a touch more affordable without losing too much in the way of camera quality.

Read our full iPhone 12 review.

• Compare Apple iPhone 12 plans

2. Samsung Galaxy Note 20

Samsung's mid-range flagship is its most impressive phone.

6.7-inch display | 256GB, 128MB storage options | 64MP + 12MP + 12MP rear camera

• Good camera quality
• As fast as the pricier Note 20 Ultra
• S-Pen is good for productivity and artistic endeavours

• Average battery life
• Space zoom remains a gimmick
• Ultra model gets the better display

RRP From $1,499

Why we chose it

In the flagship phone space the battle's long been one between the Apple and Samsung camps, and we're in the same mood when it comes to picking the best of Samsung's impressive 2020 crop of phones. The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 is 5G capable, comes with Samsung's unique and very useful S-Pen accessory and a triple lens camera that gives you everything from ultra-wide to heavily zoomed in telephoto shots in the one handset. Again, the Note 20 Ultra is the actual flagship of the line, but you can save a serious chunk of change with the Note 20 without losing too much along the way.

Read our full review of the Samsung Galaxy Note 20.

• Compare Samsung Galaxy Note 20 plans

3. iPhone 12 Pro Max

Big in size, big in camera features and big in price.

6.7-inch display | 128GB, 256GB, 512MB storage options | 12MP + 12MP + 12MP rear camera

• Best camera in any iPhone
• Good battery life
• Huge display

• Seriously expensive
• Quite heavy
• Australian model lacks 5G bands present in the US model

RRP From $1,699

Why we chose it

If you want the best of the best in the iOS camp and money is no object, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is the phone that you should be dropping your cash on, thanks to its larger sensor, improved telephoto lens and very good battery life – although oddly, not quite as good as the 2019 flagship Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max. While Apple's iOS arguably doesn't do enough with the larger screen real estate on the iPhone 12 Pro Max in terms of giving you extra columns for apps or iPad-style functions, it's still a great device for movie watching or gaming, thanks to the power of the A14 Bionic Processor. Like every other 2020 iPhone 12 model it's also 5G capable, although Apple's keeping the full mmWave 5G capabilities purely stateside for now, which can't help but hurt on a phone that costs pretty much exactly the same here as it does in the US.

Read our full Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max review.

• Compare Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max plans

4. Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G

Great cameras and fast performance.

6.9-inch display | 256GB, 512GB storage options | 12MP + 108MP + 12MP rear camera

• Great low light performance
• Slick high refresh rate display
• S-Pen compatibility works well on a large display

• 120Hz display is a battery hog
• Chunky camera bump
• 50x Space Zoom delivers woeful results

RRP From $1,849

Why we chose it

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is a really, really nice phone, presuming that you can meet its rather hefty asking price. You do get a lot of phone for your money, with a 120Hz capable 6.9-inch display, seriously impressive triple lens camera with all the trimmings and, because it's a Note phone, Samsung's own S-Pen stylus thrown in as well. A larger phone needs a larger battery, and predictably if you're using 120Hz all the time it can run down pretty quickly in intense use scenarios. Like other "Space Zoom" cameras Samsung's released in 2020, its combination of digital and optical zoom can be pretty chunky at the extremes, but as long as you dial it back just a little it can deliver some really impressive results.

Read our full review of the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.

• Compare Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra plans

5. Apple iPhone 12 mini

Plenty of power in a truly pocket-sized phone.

5.4-inch display | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB storage options | 12MP + 12MP rear camera

• Compact size
• Plenty of power thanks to the A14 Bionic
• Same cameras as the iPhone 12

• Mediocre battery life
• Small screen doesn't suit every app
• Slower wireless charging

RRP From $1,199

Why we chose it

Apple's strategy with its smaller handsets used to be to cut back seriously on features to tempt you towards the bigger and more profitable models. That's not what it's done with the Apple iPhone 12 Mini, which really is just the iPhone 12 with the corners shaved off. If you favour a smaller handset because you find those hefty models too hard to hold it's a really compelling option, with the exact same processor and near-identical performance to the full-fat options like the iPhone 12 Pro Max at a fraction of the cost.

That smaller screen can be a bit of a trap for some content like video watching, and while it supports the new MagSafe magnetic charging, it does so at a lower wireless charging rate. That's a problem that compounds slightly when you consider its lower battery endurance compared to the other iPhone 12 models, although most users should be able to sail through a day's usage without too many woes.

Read our full iPhone 12 Mini review here.

• Compare Apple iPhone 12 Mini plans

6. Google Pixel 4a 5G

There's an awful lot to like about this 5G compatible phone.

6.24-inch display | 128GB storage options | 12.2MP + 16MP rear camera

• Largest display in any 2020 Pixel phone
• Camera is very easy to use
• Good battery life

• 5G is only sub-6GHz where the Pixel 5 has mmWave
• Plain design
• Mid-range processor

RRP From $799

Why we chose it

Google took an interesting take on what its customers might want out of a 2020 flagship, offering up the Google Pixel 5 and Google Pixel 4a 5G to consumers at a much lower price point than any of its premium competitors. It did so by using the mid-range Snapdragon 765G chipset rather than a top-tier CPU, but offset that – to an extent – with its own clean Android take and guaranteed updates for the next couple of years to entice consumers in. The Pixel 5 is the flagship, but the Pixel 4a 5G is the better buy. You only get sub6-5G, not the dual Sub6/mmWave in the Pixel 5 – the tradeoff is a lower price, larger screen and the inclusion of a headphone jack, a true rarity in the premium space these days.

Read our full Google Pixel 4a 5G review here.

• Compare Google Pixel 4a 5G plans

7. Apple iPhone 12 Pro

More powerful than the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini and more affordable than the premium iPhone 12 Pro Max.

6.1-inch display | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB storage options | 12MP + 12MP + 12MP rear camera

• Adds a telephoto lens option
• Great A14 Bionic performance
• Toughened Ceramic Shield glass

• Premium price but the cameras in the Pro Max are better
• iPhone 12 is close and cheaper
• No included headphones or charger

RRP From $1,349

Why we chose it

The iPhone 12 Pro's positioning is meant to be that it's just that bit nicer than the iPhone 12 without having the full whack pricing of the iPhone 12 Pro Max. However, it's still a premium priced phone and that puts it in the slightly tricky "middle child" position of being more expensive than the iPhone 12 while only being slightly better, and within striking distance of the iPhone 12 Pro Max too. That being said, it's still a very capable handset, and a good choice if the immense size of the iPhone 12 Pro Max is off-putting to you and you want access to features like a telephoto lens and Apple's new ProRAW format for photography.

Read our full Apple iPhone 12 Pro review here

• Compare Apple iPhone 12 Pro plans

8. Oppo Find X2 Pro

Great performance at a good price.

6.7-inch display | 512GB storage options | 48MP + 48MP + 13MP rear camera

• Fast processor with 5G
• Great array of cameras
• Vegan leather option

• ColorOS wants weird permissions
• Lacks wireless charging
• Fingerprint sensor is fussy

RRP From $1,599

Why we chose it

Oppo has gone from strength to strength in the premium phone space, and the Oppo Find X2 Pro effectively replaces 2019's Oppo Reno 5G in our best phones roundup, by way of upgrading just about everything that made that phone stand out. You get the choice of a more traditional Ceramic Black phone or the fancier looking "Vegan Orange Leather" finish to suit your style, 5G compatibility, a powerful Snapdragon 865 processor with 12GB of RAM and some really fun and varied cameras to boot, although like most premium phones with a "super" zoom capability, the Find X2 Pro's 60x zoom isn't really worth using.

What makes the Oppo Find X2 Pro really stand out is the asking price; where so many flagship phones now nestle up closely to the $2,000 price point, the Find X2 Pro can be yours for hundreds of dollars less.

Read our full review of the Oppo Find X2 Pro.

• Compare Oppo Find X2 Pro plans

9. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2

The foldable future – at a steep price.

7.6-inch display | 256GB storage options | 12MP + 12MP + 12MP rear camera

• Massively improved front display
• Cameras are good
• Improved and resilient hinge

• Still no water or scratch resistance
• Frighteningly expensive
• Lacks storage expansion

RRP $2,999

Why we chose it

2020 was meant to be the year of foldable phones, but then, well… 2020 happened. We really only saw a few foldables, and while flip phones as embodied in the Galaxy Z Flip or Motorola RAZR emerged as a category, for our money if you want a foldable, the expanding book style is the way to go. Huawei has its second take with the Huawei Mate Xs but if you're buying a foldable, the model to buy is Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 2.

Samsung vastly improved the external display to a level that was far more usable than on the original Fold, added a sturdier hinge, more pleasing internal display and some pretty decent cameras too, making a premium buy that has a lot of appeal. Then again, at a price point higher than anything else save Huawei's foldable, it very much needs to have lots of appeal.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 review.

• Compare Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 plans

10. ASUS ROG Phone II

Best phone for gaming.

6.59-inch display | 128GB, 512GB, 1TB storage options | 48MP + 13MP rear camera

• Great 120Hz display
• Gaming accessories add appeal
• Immense battery

• It's HUGE
• Ordinary cameras
• Lacks wireless charging

RRP From $1,699

Why we chose it

Asus as a brand is more closely associated with PC parts and gaming laptops, and it's the latter market that Asus taps for the ROG Phone II. ROG, in this case, is Repubic of Gamers, Asus' gaming-centric brand. In the ROG Phone II, it throws a very PC-centric approach to mobile phones, which starts with its immense 6.59-inch AMOLED display, and continues with a range of bolt-on accessories that can turn the ROG Phone II into a near-clone of Nintendo's Switch console visually. If you're a keen mobile gamer it's an easy recommendation on that basis alone, helped along by a 6,000mAh battery.

As a more regular everday phone the ROG Phone II is a harder recommendation. Its size won't suit every hand, and while it sports multiple rear lenses, it shoots well below the competition in more challenging light environments, which is not what you'd typically expect out of a flagship phone.

Read our full review of the ASUS ROG Phone II.

• Compare Android phone plans

Compare the best phones of 2020

Compare the display size, battery, overall rating and purchasing options of each phone in the table below. (Click on "View Details" for more product specifications.)

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Name	Product	Display	Display	Rear camera	Battery size	Overall rating	More info	More info
Apple iPhone 12		6.1 inches 2532 x 1170	Display 6.1 inches 2532 x 1170 Rear camera 12MP + 12MP Battery size N/A	12MP + 12MP	N/A		View details	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Samsung Galaxy Note 20		6.7 inches 2400 x 1080	Display 6.7 inches 2400 x 1080 Rear camera 64MP + 12MP + 12MP Battery size 4,300 mAh	64MP + 12MP + 12MP	4,300 mAh		View details	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
iPhone 12 Pro Max		6.7 inches 2778 x 1284	Display 6.7 inches 2778 x 1284 Rear camera 12MP + 12MP + 12MP Battery size N/A	12MP + 12MP + 12MP	N/A		View details	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra		6.9 inches 3088 x 1440	Display 6.9 inches 3088 x 1440 Rear camera 108MP + 12MP + 12MP Battery size 4,500 mAh	108MP + 12MP + 12MP	4,500 mAh	Not yet rated	View details	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Apple iPhone 12 mini		5.4 inches 2340 x 1080	Display 5.4 inches 2340 x 1080 Rear camera 12MP + 12MP Battery size N/A	12MP + 12MP	N/A		View details	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Google Pixel 4a 5G		6.24 inches 1080 x 2340	Display 6.24 inches 1080 x 2340 Rear camera 12.2MP + 16MP Battery size 3,140 mAh	12.2MP + 16MP	3,140 mAh		View details	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Apple iPhone 12 Pro		6.1 inches 2532 x 1170	Display 6.1 inches 2532 x 1170 Rear camera 12MP + 12MP + 12MP Battery size N/A	12MP + 12MP + 12MP	N/A		View details	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Oppo Find X2 Pro		6.7 inches 3168 x 1440	Display 6.7 inches 3168 x 1440 Rear camera 48MP + 48MP + 13MP Battery size 4,260 mAh	48MP + 48MP + 13MP	4,260 mAh		View details	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2		7.6 inches 2208 x 1768	Display 7.6 inches 2208 x 1768 Rear camera 12MP + 12MP + 12MP Battery size 4,500 mAh	12MP + 12MP + 12MP	4,500 mAh		View details	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
ASUS ROG Phone II		6.59 inches 1080 x 2340	Display 6.59 inches 1080 x 2340 Rear camera 48MP + 13MP Battery size 6,000 mAh	48MP + 13MP	6,000 mAh		View details	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Methodology

150+
Mobile phones reviewed

10,000+
Hours spent testing

10
Best smartphones ranked

• We've spent thousands of hours testing and reviewing mobile phones.
• Our editorial team has a combined 60+ years of experience writing about tech and reviewing the latest devices.
• The phones on this list are chosen by our editorial team and are not based on commercial relationships.

• Why you can trust our picks

  For every phone we test, we consider the design, including screen quality, layout, the presence or absence of features like removable storage or headphone jacks and security features like facial ID or fingerprint scanners.

  We also test and weigh up all aspects of phone camera performance, including how well any special camera features work and how they each compare to similarly priced phones in terms of capturing harder subjects such as fast-moving objects and shots in low light. Both front and rear cameras are carefully considered.

  We use a range of benchmarks and real-world tests to evaluate how the phone's performance compares to other available phones. Benchmarks can give us a comparative picture of where a phone might sit relative to other devices, but it's only in using a phone to its full capacity, including any device-specific software, how well it works for everyday tasks like web browsing or social media that we can get a fully rounded performance picture. We also look at network features, including call quality and support for network standards like 4G and 5G when making our evaluations.

  Manufacturer battery life claims don't always reflect real-life results. That's why for each phone we test with both a standardised video test in order to get a comparative feel of how each phone handles battery stress, as well as using it over multiple days to see how it stands up to regular usage. As part of our battery testing, we also consider charging options, including charging rates for those phones that can take a larger wattage.

  Finally, with every other consideration tested and ranked, we also look at the price of the phone relative to other similar devices available at the time of testing. The best phones in the market aren't going to be the cheapest, but with a trend towards ever more expensive handsets, it's never been more vital to ensure that you're getting value for money, which is why we factor the cost of a phone only after we've considered every other performance aspect. We have consciously included several non-flagship models so there is an option for most budgets.

  We value our editorial independence, basing our comparison results, content and reviews on objective analysis without bias. But Finder may receive compensation when you click links on our site. Learn more about how we make money from our partners.