Buying the best phone in 2020 is an expensive investment whether it comes from Samsung, Apple, or Google, so picking one to spend your hard-earned cash on is no small task. We've seen a mass of new phones over the year, and we're expecting even more in 2021 - but here's all the best phones by the end of the year.
We're constantly updating our best phones list for this reason: to make sure you're buying the absolute top smartphone for your needs. The Samsung Galaxy S20 series shook up our rankings, but also consider the iPhone 12 or Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, which we've found powerful phones for different reasons.
Why we have more than one pick: We have a top pick, but not everyone looks for the same smartphone features. Some demand Apple's iMessage and FaceTime, so that means sticking with iOS 14, while others will want infinite customizations and Google Assistant, which is available in Android 11.
There are price considerations, too, and we've factored that in - which is why phones that appeared earlier in the year that have already been discounted, like the OnePlus 8, have remained on our list as great phones at good value. Some phones even debuted at a notably cheaper price than competitors, like the Google Pixel 5 and the Samsung Galaxy S20 Fan Edition - which factors into our rankings.
Best phones by brand
Likewise, AT&T plans, Verizon plans, or your cell phone plan of choice may sway your preference; the best AT&T phone may not be available on Verizon, and vice-versa. We've seen more unlocked phones in the US, but not all of them are available for every carrier.
Almost all smartphone prices have crept up to – and above – $1,000 so you'll want to take your decision seriously. We're here to guide you through the top phone picks with all of the expertise we've gained doing phone reviews.
The best phone in 2020? It has a large display, yet is easy to handle; packs a camera suite capable of replacing a point-and-shoot; and has enough processor power and battery to get work done while you're on the go. You won't find slow smartphones with anything less than all-day battery life on this ranked phone list.
5G phones are becoming important and more prevalent and foldable phones will one day become a big deal. Plus you should bear in mind this list may change a lot once the new year rolls around as we expect to see the new Samsung Galaxy S21, OnePlus 9 and iPhone 13 in 2021.
At the end of 2020, we've ranked the brand new Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, as well as the new iPhone 12 range and Google Pixel 5 that also offer next-gen connectivity. Read on below for our full list of the best smartphones right now.
Best phone at a glance:
- Samsung Galaxy S20 / S20 Plus
- iPhone 12
- Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
- iPhone 12 Pro
- OnePlus 8 Pro
- iPhone SE 2020
- Samsung Galaxy S20 Fan Edition
- Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
- OnePlus 8
- Google Pixel 5
- Samsung Galaxy S10e
- Google Pixel 4a
- iPhone 11
- iPhone XR
- Motorola One 5G
1. Samsung Galaxy S20 / S20 Plus
The big phone is the best, but the standard is also great
Release date: March 2020 | Weight: 186g | Dimensions: 166.9 x 76 x 8.8mm | OS: Android 10 | Screen size: 6.7-inch | Resolution: 3200×1440 | CPU: Snapdragon 865 | RAM: 12GB | Storage: 128/512GB (up to 1TB with card) | Battery: 4,500mAh | Rear camera: 12MP + 64MP + 12MP | Front camera: 10MP
The Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus is the best phone you can buy today, while the smaller (and slightly less capable) Galaxy S20 is so similar that we've lumped to two together.
Why it's the best phone: Its the value-for-money that allows Samsung to win over Apple. The S20 Plus starts at $1,199 and the S20 starts at $999. Yes, it's a price increase from last year (and now matches what you'll pay for the Pro-level iPhones), but you're getting bigger screens, more internal storage, a microSD card slot for expandable storage and 5G – things that you won't find on Samsung's closest competitor.
Screen: The Infinity-O AMOLED displays on both phones - 6.2 inches for the S20, 6.7 inches for the S20 Plus - are gorgeous. The notches are both centralized like the Note 10, but they're much smaller this time around, and the S20 Plus only has a single lens. The result: more screen. Also new this year is a 120Hz maximum refresh rate for silky-smooth media and gaming, though you'll mostly notice it while browsing – and you'll have to drop your display resolution down to FHD+ to enjoy it.
Battery Life: The S20 packs a 4,000mAh battery, while the S20 Plus has 4,500mAh of capacity. That is, to put it lightly, a lot, and frequently got us through over a day without recharging. Keep in mind that battery life estimate will dip down if you set the refresh rate at 120Hz, use a ton of 5G connectivity or lend juice with Wireless PowerShare, so adapt accordingly if you're looking to keep your phone going longer.
Camera: The S20 and S20 Plus have truly spectacular cameras. No, not their 12MP main shooters, which are fine – it's the 64MP telephoto that really shines with a 3x optical zoom (up from the usual 2x zoom). The camera can also crop zoom to a muddy 30x digital zoom – which means the interim intervals are still a good deal more impressive than the competition. The 12MP ultra-wide performs adequately, while the 10MP front-facing camera works great with fun filters. Another first-time bonus: 8K 24fps video from the rear camera.
Read our Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus review and Samsung Galaxy S20 review
2. iPhone 12 mini / iPhone 12
The best Apple iPhone bang for your buck
Weight: 134g / 164g | Dimensions: 131.5mm x 64.2mm x 7.4mm / 146.7mm x 71.5mm x 7.4 mm | OS: iOS 14 | Screen size: 5.4-inch / 6.1-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 2340 / 1170 x 2532 | CPU: A14 Bionic | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 64GB/128GB/256GB | Battery: Unknown | Rear camera: 12MP+12MP | Front camera: 12MP
The iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 mini aren't technically superior to the iPhone 12 Pro series, but both are priced so well (for iPhones) and each has most of the key features you'll won't need much else from an Apple device. The iPhone 12 takes the place of the iPhone 11 with the same 6.1-inch screen, but a few new features like MagSafe. Then there's the new iPhone 12 mini, which is similar but comes in a smaller package.
Why they're ranked 2nd: It's not as good of a value as Samsung's top-ranked handset, but the iPhone 12 is the best iPhone for most people simply because it costs $799. That's not quite as cheap as the iPhone 11 was at launch, but it is more affordable than the iPhone 12 Pro, which starts at $1,000 and goes up. And, unlike the iPhone SE 2020, which we praise for being a good value later, you're getting most of the features found on the Pro-level handsets like the camera's stunning Night Mode.
Screen: The 6.1-inch screen is the same size as the display on the iPhone 12 Pro, fitting in between the iPhone 12 mini and 12 Pro Max sizes, making it an appealing choice if you want a large screen, but not the biggest. If you want the smaller version, it has a 5.4-inch screen. For the first year, the more 'affordable' flagship also gets an OLED screen, which is a big perk. It's a brilliant-looking phone, if you don't mind the notch.
Battery life: These iPhones can deliver all-day battery life, and it's slightly better than the iPhone 11 battery, which we thought was stellar last year. What are you going to be missing? The pricier iPhone 12 Pro series does last a bit longer, but given no phones come with faster chargers this year, you'll have to shell out for Apple's fast charger unit just like the Pro owners.
Camera: This is close to the best iPhone camera, with both a 12MP main camera and a 12MP ultra-wide camera to cram more into the frame. It's missing the triple-lens camera on the Pro models, which adds in a telephoto lens, but you're getting the two essential cameras from that pairing, and it includes a long exposure night mode that will automatically brighten up dark photos.
Read our iPhone 12 review and iPhone 12 mini review
3. Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
The 5x optical camera zoom crushes it
Release date: August 2020 | Weight: 208g | Dimensions: 164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1mm | OS: Android 10 | Screen size: 6.9-inch | CPU: Exynos 990 / Snapdragon 865 Plus | RAM: 12GB | Storage: 128GB/256/512GB | Battery: 4,500mAh | Rear camera: 108MP/12MP + 12MP + 12MP | Front camera: 10MP
The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is Samsung's most expensive non-foldable phone, and this year's big perk of the Note is that it comes with an amazing camera. Get ready for extreme close-ups with the 5x optical zoom and 50x digital zoom. The S Pen returns with new tricks like recording voice notes and syncing them with handwritten notes.
Why it's ranked 3rd: This is Samsung's most powerful phone, but more expensive than the S20 series. You get it all with the Note 20 Ultra: a stylus, a camera with a 5x optical zoom and 50x digital zoom, a faster chipset (at least in the US version) and a 6.9-inch 120Hz screen. Not everyone needs an 'everything phone' like this, but if you want it all and don't want to wait for the Galaxy Z Fold 2, this is Samsung's best.
Screen: The 6.9-inch Note 20 Ultra display is massive, but only is a fraction of an inch larger than last year's 6.8-inch Note 10 Plus screen. This year's big difference is in the fluidity of the screen via a 120Hz refresh rate. No, you can't enable both the WQHD+ resolution and 120Hz at the same time, but the pixels look fine at 1080p on a screen of this size vs having to go back to 60Hz. Another literally small perk: the front-facing camera punch hole is smaller than ever.
Battery life: The Note 20 Ultra has a solid 4,500mAh battery, and we found that it goes more than a day with normal use without a problem. Even power users won't have a problem, based on our tests. Samsung includes a 25W fast wired charger in the box and offers compatibility with 15W fast wireless charging, but it has backed off of supporting 45W wired charging for some reason.
Camera: The Note 20 Ultra has the best camera on an Android phone, and that's in part because of its 5x optical zoom and 50x digital zoom. It makes 2x optical zooms from the iPhone seem like minor cropping at the edges of 1x photos. With 5x optical and, in good light, 10x digital, Samsung punches in with a dramatic zoom and usable photos on Instagram (50x zoom is mostly a party trick). We also found this phone to have the best ultrawide camera, and the regular 12MP camera is sharp. You don't need the 108MP camera and should watch out for skin softening in low-light.
Read our Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra review
4. iPhone 12 Pro / iPhone 12 Pro Max
Our second favorite iPhone pair
Weight: 189g / 228g | Dimensions: 146.7mm x 71.5mm x 7.4 mm / 160.8mm x 78.1mm x 7.4mm | OS: iOS 14 | Screen size: 6.1-inch / 6.7-inch | Resolution: 1170 x 2532 / 1284 x 2778 | CPU: A14 Bionic | RAM: 6GB | Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB | Battery: Unknown | Rear camera: 12MP + 12MP + 12MP | Front camera: 12MP
The iPhone 12 Pro takes everything great about the iPhone 12 and elevates it. Then there's the iPhone 12 Pro Max that offers better battery life and a slightly more powerful camera as well as a huge screen. The extra for the iPhone 12 Pro may not be worth the notable price hike up to $999 to everyone, but this phone pairing is undeniably the best Apple has released yet.
Why it's ranked 4th: The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max are the most powerful iPhones to date, and they're also the company's priciest. While the same amount of money could buy you a Samsung phone with a bigger screen and more storage at the base level, most iOS users don't want to deal with Android. Instead, they can look forward to a few key upgrades over the iPhone 11 Pro, like 5G and MagSafe for clipping on accessories (as well as wireless chargers) easily and securely.
Screen: Apple's 6.1-inch OLED screen on the iPhone 12 Pro really grabbed our attention – it's fantastic for video streaming and gaming, even if it's set to 60Hz while other phones are pushing 90Hz and even 120Hz refresh rates. Yes, the notch cut out at the top is still here, but we find it to be easy to ignore after a while, even as other phones do just fine with punch-holes in displays.
Battery life: This is some of the best battery life we've ever experienced on an iPhone, with further optimizations within iOS and a larger cell inside the phone itself. It's still not game-changing, but it's better than other Apple handsets and the iPhone 12 Pro Max is particularly notable.
Camera: The triple camera setup on the iPhone 12 Pro is fantastic. While the three rear cameras aren't too different than the ones in the iPhone 11 Pro, save for the added LiDar sensor that supposedly enables portrait mode-style shots even in Night Mode. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is the one to go for though if you want the very best camera on an Apple device.
Read our iPhone 12 Pro review | iPhone 12 Pro Max review
5. OnePlus 8 Pro
Chasing Samsung and Apple with amazing value
Release date: April 2020 | Weight: 199g | Dimensions: 165.3 x 74.35 x 8.5mm | OS: Android 10 | Screen size: 6.78-inch | Resolution: 3168 x 1440 | CPU: Snapdragon 865 | RAM: 8/12GB | Storage: 128/256GB | Battery: 4,510mAh | Rear camera: 48MP+48MP+5MP+8MP | Front camera: 16MP
The OnePlus 8 Pro blew us away when we reviewed it, and the company is chasing Samsung and Apple on our best phones list for that very reason. While the OnePlus 8 is also an option, it's missing many, many of the features we like about the Pro, which we outline below.
Why it's ranked 5th: It's amazing that with Apple and Samsung's top phones out of the way, we have the at-one-time-little-known OnePlus doing so well that it's claimed a spot within the top 5 phones of 2020. While this version is more expensive than prior OnePlus phones, it doesn't cut corners. You're getting 5G, a 120Hz screen refresh rate, a great camera with 3x optical zoom, and super fast wireless charging. It's a bit tall and only comes in one size (with the smaller OnePlus 8 a very different experience), and, to be expected, the camera is good but not good enough to rival the phones ranked ahead of it.
Screen: This 6.78-inch has the ability to impress you more than an iPhone for one simple reason: the 'Fluid Display' that sets the refresh rate to 120Hz. Not only does it make game look better, but simply scrolling the web looks smoother. You'll also find nice upscaling and HDR10+ here, though false touches along the screen edges did give us trouble at times.
Battery life: If you need your phone battery to last all day long, the OnePlus 8 Pro achieves that, according to our tests. Its 4,510 battery capacity isn't the biggest next to what Samsung's phones are touting, but when setting the resolution to FullHD+, we did get by on a single charge very easily. We also took advantage of OnePlus (finally) adding wireless charging – in fact, it's the fastest wirelessly charging device we've ever tested.
Camera: OnePlus has always lagged behind when it came to its cameras, though the OnePlus 8 Pro closes the gap. Its quad-lens array on the back of the phone allows for fine 48MP photos and a 3x optical zoom along with a 30x digital zoom. We can't call it the best camera phone on the market, but it's among the best cameras on an Android in this price range.
Read our OnePlus Pro 8 review
6. iPhone SE (2020)
The cheapest new iPhone for 2020
Release date: April 2020 | Weight: 148g | Dimensions: 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3mm | OS: iOS 13 | Screen size: 4.7-inch | Resolution: 1134 x 750 | CPU: A13 Bionic | RAM: 3GB | Storage: 64/128/256GB | Battery: 1,821mAh | Rear camera: 12MP | Front camera: 7MP
The iPhone SE 2020 is the sequel to the one-hand-friendly iPhone from 2016, and it takes the power and specs we loved from the iPhone 11 series and crams them into the design of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8.
Why it's ranked 6th: This isn't Apple's most powerful iPhone, but it's the best value for people who want to stick with iOS 13 without paying through the nose. Its screen technology won't wow you like an iPhone 11 Pro, and there's just one camera on the back, but starting $399 means this is hard to be if you're on a budget and don't want to switch to Android.
Screen: This new iPhone SE has a 4.7-inch screen borrowed from the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8, so it's bigger than the original iPhone SE, but remains one-hand-friendly. That's become important for people who have been demanding a smaller phone. This is the one to get, even if the resolution and bezel won't wow anyone.
Battery life: As long as you aren't a power user (who would likely opt for the iPhone 11 series anyway), then you'll be OK with what Apple offers in terms of battery life. It's not going to last you any longer than a day, though, with generally the same amount of power as we saw on the iPhone 8, which had a 1,821mAh battery capacity.
Camera: For the money, the iPhone SE 2020 takes perfectly fine photos in good light. You won't notice much of a difference outside of it occasionally failing to nail perfect exposure levels and depth of field outdoors during the daytime. Dim the lights, however, and you'll notice one glaring omission: the night mode that's on the more powerful iPhones. That requires an upgrade to at least the iPhone 11.
Read our iPhone SE review
7. Samsung Galaxy S20 Fan Edition
Flagship specs at a more affordable price
Release date: September 2020 | Weight: 190g | Dimensions: 159.8 x 74.5 x 8.4mm | OS: Android 10 | Screen size: 6.5-inch | Resolution: 2400 x 1080 | CPU: Snapdragon 865 | RAM: 6/8GB | Storage: 128/256GB | Battery: 4,500mAh | Rear camera: 12MP+8MP+12MP | Front camera: 32MP
The Samsung Galaxy S20 Fan Edition is this year's version of the Samsung S10 Lite and the S10e before it – the best of the flagship specs with a few trimmed features to save costs.
Why it's ranked 7th: The S20 Fan Edition is a good combination of specs and cameras, making it a good value for and Android phone with a signature Samsung polish that puts it ahead of most phones at the same price tier.
Screen: The 6.5-inch Infinity-O AMOLED screen is plenty sharp at Full HD Plus, even if its not quite the WQHD resolution of its pricier siblings, nor does it have the 120Hz refresh rate. It retains an in-screen fingerprint sensor, leaving the phone's back unblemished.
Battery life: The Galaxy S20 Ultra has a huge 4,500mAh battery, helpful for Wireless PowerSharing and mundane binging or gaming you're doing. We found it lasted a day or more, though we still haven't hit the two-day battery life threshold yet.
Camera: The cameras are another area of trimmed capability: while the 12MP main shooter is fine, but not quite the high-megapixel of the S20 and especially the 108MP S20 Ultra. The other cameras are perfectly suitable, including the 12MP ultra-wide lens, an 8MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and a hefty 32MP selfie shooter in a punch-hole.
Read our Samsung Galaxy S20 Fan Edition review
8. Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
The ultimate flagship - at an ultimate price
Release date: March 2020 | Weight: 166g | Dimensions: 166.9 x 76 x 8.8mm | OS: Android 10 | Screen size: 6.9-inch | Resolution: 3200 x 1440 | CPU: Snapdragon 865 | RAM: 12/16GB | Storage: 128/512GB | Battery: 5,000mAh | Rear camera: 108MP+48MP+12MP | Front camera: 40MP
The Galaxy S20 Ultra is, indeed, ultra – billed as the ultimate Samsung phone thanks to top-of-the-line specs on paper. It's an evolution of the max-specced Samsung Galaxy S10 5G from last year, though the Ultra's execution isn't the best.
Why it's ranked 8th: The S20 Ultra is truly cutting-edge, with a 100x 'Space Zoom' and, yes 5G, capabilities compatible with both mmWave and sub-6 networks. But you'll pay a premium for the privilege: the phone starts at $1,399, and while its camera has unbelievable specs, like a 108MP sensor, it doesn't always get exposure or autofocus right, leading us to recommend the S20 Plus.
Screen: The 6.9-inch Infinity-O AMOLED screen is the sharpest we've seen, coming in at a whopping 3200 x 1440 resolution (WQHD+) given the model's slim bezels and the narrowest punch-hole we've ever seen. Plus its maximum refresh rate has been bumped up to 120Hz (though only if you bump the resolution down to FHD+) and touch sensor improved to 240Hz. It retains an in-screen fingerprint sensor, leaving the phone's back unblemished.
Battery life: The Galaxy S20 Ultra has a massive 5,000mAh battery, which should help with the drains from the 120Hz and 5G connectivity, along with whatever Wireless PowerSharing and mundane binging or gaming you're doing. It should last you a day or more, though we still haven't hit the two-day battery life threshold yet.
Camera: The massive 108MP main shooter allows you to crop into photos after the fact without as much distortion. However, the appeal is limited. Serious creatives with time on their hands may get use out of this feature more than most people. While there is a 16MP ultra-wide lens roughly akin to that from last year's phone, it's the zoom capabilities that take the cake. The 100x 'Space Zoom' is mostly for showing off, as photos at that zoom are muddied - but scan it back out and it will blow other phones out of the water, especially since the competition typically maxes out at 10x. Here, see our massive S20 Ultra camera test for a deep dive.
Read our Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra review
9. OnePlus 8
Great specs at a discount
Release date: October 2020 | Weight: 188g | Dimensions: 160.2 x 72.9 x 8mm | OS: Android 10 | Screen size: 6.55-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 2400 | CPU: Snapdragon 865 | RAM: 8GB/12GB | Storage: 128/256GB | Battery: 4,300mAh | Rear camera: 48MP + 16MP + 2MP | Front camera: 16MP
The OnePlus9 is the second OnePlus handset on our best phones list, and that's simply because it packs nearly all the perks of the newly-released OnePlus 8T at a discount. More importantly, in the US, the OnePlus 8 is simply more available, with support from T-Mobile and Verizon.
Why it's ranked 9th: The OnePlus 8 may miss out on a couple flagship flourishes like 90Hz refresh rate fluidity and a telephoto lens, but it's got great specs and cameras for the price. It looks the part of a flagship phone and acts more expensive than it really in part because of its top-shelf specs. As long as you don't want the best camera phone and are OK with fewer top-end features, the price is right for this one.
Screen: The OnePlus 8 has a great display with Full HD Plus (1080 x 2400) resolution and a single punch-hole for the selfie camera. It misses out on the more fluid movement of Samsung's S20 series and the OnePlus 8 Pro, which all pack a 120Hz refresh rate screen, but the OnePlus 8 still has a sharp display for the price.
Battery life: The OnePlus 8 has respectable battery life thanks to its 4,300mAh battery. It'll get you through a whole day, but not much more than that. The real news is its Warp Charge 30 adapter that allows this phone to go from 0% to 100% in a little over an hour. It's very fast.
Camera: The camera has always been the weakest part of the OnePlus lineup, but we've experienced better phones than the OnePlus 8. It's not going to top our best camera phones list, but the triple lens (regular, ultra-wide and macro) did a decent job in proper light. Nightscape mode has been improved, but begs for a tripod in mixed light (any lights in dark scene tend to smear).
Read our OnePlus 8 review
10. Google Pixel 5
Still top cameras, and a few odd new features
Release date: October 2020 | Weight: 151g | Dimensions: 144.7mm x 70.4mm x 8mm | OS: Android 11 | Screen size: 6-inch | Resolution: 2340 x 1080 | CPU: Snapdragon 765G | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 128GB | Battery: 4000mAh | Rear camera: 16MP + 12MP | Front camera: 8MP
The Google Pixel 5 came out in October, and it has some improvements on the Pixel 4 – but also fewer features. Yes, the Pixel 5 is a bit of a course correction as Google trims perks to lower the Pixel 5's price to make it as much of an 'affordable flagship' as the iPhone 12 mini and OnePlus 8T. But a few key improvements make it a superior phone to the Pixel 4 XL that it's replacing on this list.
Why it's 10th: The Pixel 5 is powerful enough and its camera capability is still great, but some trimmed features make this phone a it less advanced than the competition. Google’s knack for photo optimization still makes this phone a good choice for photographers, but that's not enough to break into the top half of the order. Its very slim bezels make it a surprisingly small phone, though, and perfect for those who like to text one-handed.
Screen: The Pixel 5 has a 6-inch screen with Full HD Plus (1080 x 2340) resolution, with a 90Hz refresh rate for smoother app browsing and gaming. Last year's solid black bar has been ditched for a punch-hole – sorry, no Soli depth sensors or even facial recognition, but at least that's more screen real estate. Colors are rich on the OLED display, and thanks to the dual front-facing speakers, it makes for a handy streaming device.
Battery life: Last year's battery woes are gone: a big reason we replaced the Pixel 4 XL with the Pixel 5 is that the latter's 4,080mAh battery lasts over a day, fixing the biggest drawback of the old phone. Otherwise, it's none too exciting, maxing out at 18W fast charging and 12W wireless charging – which amazingly still works through the all-metal back case.
Camera: The Pixel 5's cameras are its best selling point. On back, the 12.2MP sensor paired with Google’s brilliant software optimization make for stunning photos in most situations, and the added 16MP ultra-wide enables respectably expansive fields of view. Best of all, the Night Sight mode has been improved – and can even snap shots of the heavens with its Astrophotography function.
Read our Google Pixel 5 review
11. Samsung Galaxy S10e
Flagship specs in one-handed size
Release date: March 2019 | Weight: 150g | Dimensions: 142.2 x 69.9 x 7.9mm | OS: Android Pie | Screen size: 5.8-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 2280 | CPU: Snapdragon 855 | RAM: 6/8GB | Storage: 128/256GB | Battery: 3,100mAh | Rear camera: 12MP+16MP | Front camera: 10MP
The Samsung S10e is the littlest (and least pricey) sibling of the S10 line in both size and features. While it loses out on a few of the cutting-edge features like in-screen fingerprint scanner and a telephoto lens, its remaining arsenal of flagship specs, ultrawide camera and good interface make the S10e a standout at a discount. Plus, it's small enough to use one-handed.
Why it's ranked 11th: The S10e is a fantastic little phone, perfect for anyone who wants some of the features of last year's Samsung devices in a one-handed-friendly package and at a lower price. While it's still more expensive than midrange phones, the S10e has more features and cutting-edge specs to push it beyond the competition at this discounted price.
Screen: The 5.8-inch AMOLED screen is crisp and sharp, with enough bright colors and customization options to tweak to your liking. While it's nice that the budget flagship of the S10 line has an OLED screen (unlike the iPhone XR with its LCD display), it's not as high resolution as its bigger siblings, capping out at 1080 x 2280 pixels to the S10 and S10 Plus' 1440 x 3040 pixel maximum.
Battery life: A 3,100mAh capacity isn't the biggest battery on the market, but it will see you through the day, and may last longer than you think thanks to the phone's smaller screen. You'll need to stretch it out if you plan to use Wireless PowerShare, the S10 line's new feature that lets you donate battery charge to another Qi-charging device. Don't worry, it won't drain yours to oblivion: the feature shuts down when your phone hits 30% battery.
Camera: Considering the standard Galaxy S9 had a single lens, the S10e is a major upgrade with its two useful cameras. The first is the standard 12 MP, f/1.5-2.4 Dual Aperture lens found in the phone's predecessor (switching between the two in day/night shots), while the second is a 16MP f/2.2 ultrawide lens that manages 123-degree field of view. While the phone misses the 2x telephoto of the other S10 phones, its ultrawide is far more useful.
Read our Samsung Galaxy S10e review
12. Google Pixel 4a
Google's latest mid-range stunner
Release date: August 2020 | Weight: 143g | Dimensions: 144 x 69.4 x 8.2mm | OS: Android 10 | Screen size: 5.81-inch | Resolution: 2340×1080 | CPU: Snapdragon 730 | RAM: 6GB | Storage: 128GB | Battery: 3,140mAh | Rear camera: 12.2MP | Front camera: 8MP
The Google Pixel 4a is the successor to our favorite mid-range phone of 2019, and it retains a lot of the great features that made the Pixel 3a shine: great camera software, clean Android interface, 3.5mm headphone jack, and a great price. It's a solid pick for folks who want more for their money.
Why it's ranked 12th: A lot can happen in a year, and 2020 is a more competitive mid-range market, especially against the iPhone SE 2020 with its better battery. The competition also reveals more of the Pixel 4a's shortcomings, from less battery life to a polycarbonate plastic body when similarly-priced phones have metal-and-glass bodies. Plus, there's no XL version, which is a letdown for folks who like more screen real estate.
Screen: The Pixel 4a has a 5.8-inch OLED display, which serves just fine, but may be a bit small for folks who prefer bigger screens. Then again, the edge-to-edge screen is significantly larger than the iPhone SE 2020's 4.7-inch screen and its fat top and bottom bezels.
Battery life: The Pixel 4a's 3,140mAh battery isn't small per se, but the battery life – having barely single-digit percentages of charge left at the end of the day, we sometimes found – isn't great. Especially when comparable budget phones, like the Moto G8 series, start at 4,000mAh of battery.
Camera: The Google Pixel 4a still only has a single 12.2MP f/1.7 rear camera, but it can work near-miracles with Google's software. Not only does that let it capture great night photography and portrait mode, you can even add depth after you've taken a photo. The phone also inherits the Pixel 4's astrophotography mode, which takes admirable shots of starlit skies. The 8MP front-facing camera is nothing special, but takes advantage of the software, too.
Read our Google Pixel 4a review
13. iPhone 11
A still-great iPhone
Release date: September 2019 | Weight: 194g | Dimensions: 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3mm | OS: iOS 13 | Screen size: 6.1-inch | Resolution: 828 × 1792 | CPU: Apple A13 Bionic | RAM: 4GB TBC | Storage: 64/128/256GB | Battery: 3110mAh TBC | Rear camera: 12MP + 12MP | Front camera: 12MP
iPhone XS was a minor, but important upgrade over the completely redesigned iPhone X. It's noticeably faster and has an improved dual-lens camera to make it a good choice, if you can still find it on sale.
Why it's ranked 14th: The specs here aren't as impressive as they are on the iPhone 11 Pro or iPhone 11 Pro Max, let alone the iPhone 12 range, but the trade-off in a lower price for this device still makes it a top-buy for many Apple fans. You'll miss out on a faster processor and features like MagSafe by not going with the iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 mini, but that's about it.
Screen: The iPhone 11's 6.1-inch display isn't the best screen you'll find on an iPhone – it's still an LCD, for instance, whereas the iPhone 12 line all have OLED displays – but it's still vibrant and large enough to watch video on. Like all post-iPhone X Apple handsets, you'll have to live with a wide notch.
Battery life: The easiest way to describe battery life on the iPhone 11 is good, but not great. You'll get around a day of usage from the iPhone 11, but it's not as good as the physically larger phones like the 11 Pro Max.
Camera: Expect a similar experience from the camera on the iPhone 11 as on the iPhone XR. If you want the best camera on an iPhone, you'll want the iPhone 12 Pro Max, but it's still an impressive shooter on the rear of the 11 – and crucially, it has an HDR-like Night Mode.
Read our iPhone 11 review
14. iPhone XR
The most affordable of the new iPhones
Release date: October 2018 | Weight: 194g | Dimensions: 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3mm | OS: iOS 12 | Screen size: 6.1-inch | Resolution: 1792x828 | CPU: A12 Bionic | RAM: 3GB | Storage: 64/128/256GB | Battery: 2,942mAh | Rear camera: 12MP | Front camera: 7MP
Apple’s iPhone XR was a little bit late to launch after the iPhone XS and XS Max that launched a bit earlier. But thanks to its lower price point (and the fact that it's even cheaper more than a year later), it makes for a more affordable option than the XS models.
Why it's ranked 13th: The iPhone XR has all the performance of its more expensive XS and XS Max siblings on the inside. It’s camera and screen may not be as impressive, but where it truly dazzles is in the battery life. And, yes, it's been dethroned by the even more powerful iPhone 11, which launched at an even better price, but the iPhone XR price dropped even further. Apple doesn't sell it anymore at its stores, but if you can find this phone, you'll be impressed with the value.
Screen: The iPhone XR screen isn’t its strongest selling point, as it’s a notable downgrade. It’s resolution falls short of Full HD, and it’s not a battery-friendly OLED. Still, the Liquid Retina LCD display used still has good sharpness and brilliant colors.That said, the 6.1-inch display offers plenty of real estate.
Battery life: Though this is the more affordable iPhone to come out in Apple’s latest batch, its battery life stands out. Thanks to the A12 Bionic and chipset and lower resolution, the battery performance is great, making it the first iPhone that could comfortably get through a whole day of use in our testing without us worrying about.
Camera: While the other iPhones have dual rear cameras, the iPhone XR has just one sensor. For normal photo shooting, it does a great job though. The lack of a second camera also reduces the quality of Portrait Mode photos. But, the detractors came largely in comparison to other top cameras.
Read our iPhone XR review
15. Moto One 5G
A sleeker big-battery phone for cheap
Release date: October 2020 | Weight: 210g | Dimensions: 167.9 x 73.9 x 8.9 mm | OS: Android 10 | Screen size: 6.7-inch | Resolution: 2520 x 1080 | CPU: Snapdragon 765 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 128GB (up to 1TB with card) | Battery: 5,000mAh | Rear camera: 48MP + 8MP + 5MP | Front camera: 16MP
The Motorola One 5G is a healthy balance between the best parts of the budget Moto G Power and the Motorola Edge 'affordable' flagship. It's a good mid-range phone, and most importantly, the cheapest 5G handset you can find in the US.
Why it's 15th on our list: The Motorola One 5G is a good mid-range phone, coming in at a bit cheaper than the superior Google Pixel 4a 5G but offering a few advantages of its own. The One 5G packs a Snapdragon 765 chipset and a decent 4GB of RAM, along with 128GB of storage that can be expanded up to a colossal 1TB via microSD. It's great for anyone who wants to get in on 5G at a discount.
Display: The Motorola One 5G has a truly huge 6.7-inch LCD display with a Full HD Plus (1080 x 2520) resolution. It's suitable for binging media, and notably larger than most comparably-priced mid-range phones. It's also got punch-holes holding its selfie shooters, which is a nice modern touch.
Battery: The 5,000mAh battery is a great perk carried over from the Moto G Power, and it's especially helpful when shooting photos, watching media, and running 5G. It should last over a day.
Cameras: The Motorola One 5G's triple rear camera has good photo variety, with a 16MP main shooter, 8MP ultrawide and 2MP macro camera for up-close shots – which has a ring light to illuminate your subjects. Rounding out its cameras are dual front-facing shooters: a16MP main and 8MP ultrawide.
Read our Moto One 5G review
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