Cell Phone Reviews for the Last 3 Years

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Finding the best smartphone often comes downwardly to one decision- do you desire Apple tree'due south iPhone, or a smartphone running Google'south Android software. The iPhone is easier to apply, while Android phones are frequently cheaper, and come in a huge range of sizes and styles.

Lifewire'due south pick

The iPhone xiii is the all-time smartphone, thank you to its bully design and the simplicity of Apple'south software. If you similar Android, then the Samsung Milky way S21 is your best choice.

Budget is a huge consideration as well, and both iOS and Android have offerings that can fit your budget. Maybe yous want the cream of the ingather in a flagship. Maybe y'all're looking for something more moderately priced. Virtually, but not all phones tin can connect to 5G. Nigh, just not all phones in this list have multiple camera sensors.

Our experts have examined offerings upward and downward the list of specifications and we've come up with our favorites. Read on for our recommendations!

What We Like

• Up to thirty hour bombardment life

• Fast charging

• Amazing cameras

What We Don't Like

• No included power brick

• Poor sound quality at high volume

• No expandable storage

Who else recommends it?Wirecutter, CNET, TechRadar and pretty much everyone else

Toll Sentry:MSRP $799 (128GB), $899 (256GB), $1099 (512GB)

What do buyers say? 83% of 200+ Best Purchase reviewers rated it 4.7 or above - a fantastic rating

The iPhone 13 is Apple'southward latest, and near definitely greatest, iPhone. There are four models to choose from, the smaller iPhone 13 mini, the 'base of operations' iPhone thirteen we review here, and the iPhone thirteen Pro and Pro Max, which feature a larger screen and better cameras.

Our tester Victoria spent a calendar month using the iPhone 13, racking upwardly 520 hours of apply. She concluded the iPhone 13 is "the best mode to get Apple'due south most advanced hardware and software improvements without having to cede too much on price, size or design."

The iPhone 13 feels sturdy and luxurious, Victoria said, and its half dozen.one-inch display is coated in a blazon of glass known as Ceramic Shield, which Apple claims offers 4 times the protection of rival smartphone glass. The display is sharp and vivid from all angles, although for the ultimate in streaming performance, the iPhone 13 Pro does boast a bigger and improve screen. However, for virtually people the iPhone 13 will exist more than enough, and is also far lighter than its large brother, weighing in at 6.1 ounces.

Lifewire/Victoria Woollaston

In our existent-world tests, the iPhone thirteen lasted an impressive 29 hours on a single charge. During this test, we used the iPhone xiii as we would do commonly for a month; nosotros used it to ship WhatsApp messages, play Sim City, make video calls with our parents, ship emails, tape videos on days out with our toddler, watch TikTok, stream Netflix shows and more. We so recorded how long it lasted between charges each solar day and took the average.

On paper, the camera setup on the iPhone 13 looks nearly identical to the iPhone 12 but Apple has fabricated a number of software and sensor upgrades that make this photographic camera among the best our tester has used.

Overall, the iPhone thirteen is the sugariness spot of the iPhone range, and is not just the best telephone Apple has e'er fabricated, only the best smartphone from whatever manufacturer.

_{Screen Size: 6.one inches | Resolution: 2532x1170 | Processor: A15 Bionic | Camera: 12MP/12MP rear and 12MP front | Battery: 3,227mAh}

"Colors on the iPhone 13'southward display look vibrant and realistic, especially when the phone is on the highest brightness setting, and this makes it groovy for playing games and watching Hard disk video." — Victoria Woollaston, Product Tester

What We Like

• Screen is gorgeous

• Powerful

• Cameras are keen

What Nosotros Don't Like

• Just OK battery life

• No MicroSD

• Plastic backplate

Samsung Milky way S21 Review

The flagship for the Samsung Milky way series of phones, and indeed for most of Android itself, is the Samsung Milky way S21. The Milky way S21 comes in three different versions - the Galaxy S21, the Galaxy S21 Plus, and the Galaxy S21 Ultra. Nosotros'll talk over the Galaxy Ultra later, which leaves us with the Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus. They're both very similar with the Plus version carrying a larger screen, larger bombardment, and larger toll tag. Nigh of what nosotros'll say nearly the Galaxy S21 rings true for the S21 Plus, so if y'all similar what yous see here only want something a bit bigger, the S21 Plus (View on Amazon) is your option.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 comes with a 6.2-inch FHD+ screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. Information technology has great viewing angles and is what our reviewer Andrew calls "utterly gorgeous". It's bright and vibrant, everything yous'd expect from a Samsung display. The processor is height-of-the-line Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, boasting a 9% speed improvement over the last generation of Samsung phones. The S21 likewise has 8GB of RAM and 128 or 256GB of storage which is not expandable via a microSD menu.

The S21 has iii cameras including a 12-megapixel chief sensor, 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor, and 64 megapixel 3x lossless zoom lens. Andrew writes, "All three of the cameras pump out sharp, stellar shots. They are very adept at capturing splendid detail in aplenty lighting, just notwithstanding capable of producing very skillful low-light results in most scenarios. Samsung has a tendency to punch up its photos, and that'south definitely truthful here: the vibrant results sometimes make photos look more highly-seasoned, but can occasionally look a bit unnatural or over-brightened." Put all that together and this isn't but the best Android phone yous tin can buy today, merely information technology'south arguably the best smartphone overall.

_{Screen Size: half dozen.2 inches | Resolution: 1080 x 2400 | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 | Photographic camera: 64MP/12MP/12MP rear and 10MP forepart | Battery: 4,000mAh}

"Information technology'due south a speedy handset that feels super responsive with all demands, from apps and games to media and multitasking, and the smooth 120Hz display only aids in that swift sensation." — Andrew Hayward, Production Tester

What We Like

• Unparalleled camera

• Huge, 120Hz screen

• Blazing performance

• Excellent battery life

What We Don't Like

• Pricey

• No charger in the box

• No microSD

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra Review

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra really earns its name past beingness the absolute superlative of the form in every fashion, simply particularly in photography. In add-on to the 108MP main camera, and 12 MP ultrawide, this telephone carries dual optical zoom sensors at 3X and 10X. The photos y'all can get with this telephone are simply incredible. If you're someone who values the ability to zoom in from far away - parents, travel bloggers, astrophotographers, this is simply the best photographic camera setup you tin become on a phone.

As for the balance of the phone, you lot get the top of the line in every respect. You'll become the Snapdragon 888, 12GB of RAM, and upwards to 512GB of storage. Add to that you get a 5,000 mAh battery, 6.8-inch screen with a WQHD resolution, and 120Hz variable refresh rate. Of course, all that means is the phone is huge and fills upwardly every inch of your pants pocket.

The phone is also very pricey with a $one,199 MSRP. Adding insult to injury, this phone ships without a charging brick. That'due south upsetting when you're ownership a $799 iPhone, only it's borderline criminal at $ane,199. Merely if you want the very best photographic camera on the very best phone, that comes at a premium to be sure. This phone earns the name Ultra in every possible way.

_{Screen Size: vi.8 inches | Resolution: 3200x1440 | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 | Photographic camera: 108MP/10MP/10MP/12MP rear and 40MP forepart | Battery: 5,000mAh}

"Information technology might make the camera module look absurdly large, but the added 10x zoom selection is incredibly cool." — Andrew Hayward, Product Tester

What We Similar

• Swell performance

• Inexpensive

• Adept camera

• Small, meaty

What We Don't Like

• Battery life is weak

• Blueprint is dated

• No 5G

In early 2020, Apple wanted to offer nearly of what made the iPhone 11 bang-up, but at a substantially lower cost. The iPhone SE (2020) was the result. This little phone comes in a compact package but still carries the A13 bionic processor. From a benchmark perspective, the A13 beats out even 2021 flagship phones like the Galaxy S21. The iPhone SE also has the same RAM and storage options, just information technology's all behind a diminutive iv.seven-inch screen and Touch-ID enabled home button. The telephone has a single 12MP camera which is about as skillful as a single camera can exist on a telephone.

The telephone mimic'south the iPhone 6 in terms of pattern, so some consider it dated. But the iPhone SE is more than for people who desire a powerful phone, but don't want to deport a telephone which is large enough to land pocket-size planes. Apple tree did leave out 5G connectivity and indeed wouldn't debut a 5G iPhone for another 6 months after the iPhone SE came out. The battery life is also non peachy on this phone. The bombardment compromise that had to be made to become the phone this minor also means the phone has trouble getting through a day. Bu the telephone does offer wireless charging which is some other nice bonus.

Basically, if you want a powerful Apple phone and a fingerprint in a very small package, this is the best telephone that meets all those criteria.

_{Screen Size: iv.seven inches | Resolution: 1334x750 | Processor: A13 Bionic | Camera: 12MP rear and 7MP front | Bombardment: i,821mAh}

What We Like

• Solid camera

• Slap-up performance

• Good battery

What We Don't Like

• 5G missing

• Boring blueprint

Google Pixel 4a Review

Pixel phones are phones that are made by Google, which also makes Android. I expanse where Google Pixel phones accept consistently stood out is in photography. Google uses the Pixel equally a showcase for what Android can be. Add to that, Google typically treats its own phones to perks similar feature drops and updates earlier than just about any other Android telephone. The A-series of Pixels tend to have a little less power and be a little less pretty, just otherwise, give you an amazing Android experience.

The Google Pixel 4a delivers a quality Android experience, powered by the Snapdragon 730G mid-range processor along with 6GB of RAM. Those specifications aren't crawly on their own, but Android runs very smoothly on them and delivers a great experience, forth with all-solar day bombardment life. The phone has a single camera that our reviewer Andrew describes as "and then consistent that I'd have it over the multi-camera modules of much more expensive phones with underwhelming cameras."

If you're looking for a beautiful telephone, wait elsewhere. This telephone is very manifestly looking. Plus, the Pixel 4a leaves off 5G. Google has another phone, the Pixel 4a 5G (View on Amazon) which tin admission 5G networks, as its name implies, only that's not the i nosotros're recommending here. For at present, the Pixel 4a sits under $350 and it'southward one of the best phones you can buy at that price indicate. If you love pure Android and you're working with a upkeep, snap this up fast.

_{Screen Size:5.8 inches |Resolution: 1080 ten 23400 |Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G |Camera: 12.2MP/12.2 rear and 8MP front |Battery:three,140mAH}

"The Pixel 4a is the all-time phone you lot tin buy for less than $400, delivering plenty power and capabilities for only about anyone." — Andrew Hayward, Product Tester

What We Like

• Very good photographic camera

• 5G

• Charges crazy fast

• QHD display with 120Hz refresh charge per unit

What Nosotros Don't Like

• Glace

• 5G not supported on all networks

OnePlus 9 Pro Review

OnePlus began its journey into the smartphone infinite every bit the "flagship killer" by promoting phones with really great specifications for a very low price. These days, OnePlus has graduated from flagship killer to actually being a flagship. OnePlus's latest offering, the OnePlus 9 Pro, is the best phone OnePlus has always made and it shows in many ways. OnePlus'due south latest flagship brings loftier specifications, very skilful cameras, and 5G on two of America's three 5G networks. AT&T doesn't support the OnePlus 9Pro on its 5G network, but Verizon and T-Mobile do.

OnePlus has had a reputation up until now of delivering bang-up specs, just with consistently substandard cameras. That's no longer the case as the OnePlus 9 Pro delivers a very expert camera experience every bit well. The phone has a triple camera setup including a 3.3x optical zoom. All of the cameras are tuned past Hasselblad which gives yous good operation in almost lighting conditions.

1 area where the OnePlus 9 particularly excels is in the area of charging. OnePlus not only ships a charging brick in the box but that charging brick delivers an amazing 65W of charging, bringing your phone from nil to full in just 33 minutes. A wireless charger sold separately can charge your phone from 1% to seventy% in but 30 minutes. These astonishing charge times can salve your day if you demand to top off chop-chop earlier heading out for the evening, or if y'all forget to plug in your phone overnight and demand some juice before heading to piece of work.

_{Screen Size: 6.7 inches | Resolution: 3216x1440 | Processor: Snapdragon 888 | Camera: 48MP/8MP/50MP/2MP rear and 16MP forepart | Battery: iv,500mAh}

"The OnePlus 9 Pro (and the OnePlus nine) benefit from the new flagship photographic camera system in partnership with Hasselblad, a big step up over the OnePlus 8 series." — Yoona Wagener, Production Tester

What We Like

• 120Hz screen

• Dandy cameras

• Speedy performance

• Great battery

• 5G

What Nosotros Don't Like

• No mmWave 5G

• Plastic build

• Only 1080p

Samsung Galaxy S20 Fe 5G Review

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is something of a compromise and grade correction all in ane. The "fan edition" of the Galaxy S20 cuts back on a lot of the extras of its flagship siblings while withal providing an excellent core of functionality. You go a 1080p screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. The phone has a plastic back, only it however has wireless charging. In short, if you lot're willing to accept a fiddling compromise, yous're otherwise getting a whole lot of phone.

You still get the Snapdragon 865 processor, 6 or viii GB of RAM, and 128 or 256GB of storage. You lot go 5G, but not mmWave 5G. Overall, this is a speedy phone with a really proficient battery life. Andrew, our reviewer, wrote, "On a standard twenty-four hours, I'd typically air current upward within spitting altitude of a l percent charge by the time I hit the pillow."

As for the camera setup, you get the aforementioned cameras institute on the Samsung Galaxy S20 except instead of a cropped 64GB cropped sensor, y'all get a 3x optical zoom. According to Andrew, "Everyday snaps are pretty fantabulous across the board, with strong detail and bright coloring, although Samsung's aggressive processing tin give photos an unrealistic sheen at times."

_{Screen Size:vi.5 inches |Resolution: 2400x1080 |Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 |Photographic camera: 12MP/8MP/12MP rear and 32MP forepart |Battery:iv,500mAh}

"With the same near-top-tier Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor constitute in the other Galaxy S20 models, yous'll accept no shortage of power on mitt in the S20 FE 5G." — Andrew Hayward, Product Tester

What Nosotros Like

• Meaty

• Very powerful

• Great display

• Nifty cameras

What Nosotros Don't Like

• No ability brick

The iPhone xiii mini has everything the iPhone thirteen has but comes in a smaller packet with a smaller battery.

On the plus side, this makes this 1 of the almost powerful meaty phones you tin buy. Yous get the powerful A15 bionic processor and great cameras, plus 5G connectivity. But the merchandise-off is that the battery is tiny by most modern standards and it can struggle to get in through a total twenty-four hours on a unmarried charge. iOS usually runs well on a smaller bombardment, simply in the example of the iPhone 12 Mini, the battery might be a fiddling too small-scale.

Of course, if you don't mind charging up a flake during the 24-hour interval, or while you're at piece of work, that'south non a trouble at all. The iPhone 13 Mini has flagship power in a tiny package that slips hands into your pocket or your bag.

_{Screen Size: 5.four inches | Resolution: 2340x1080 | Processor: A15 Bionic | Photographic camera: 12MP/12MP rear and12MP forepart | Battery: 2,227mAh}

"This is the fastest chip available in any smartphone today by clear margins, expanding the atomic number 82 that Apple has gradually grown with each new edition of its mobile system-on-a-chip in contempo years." — Andrew Hayward, Product Tester

What We Similar

• Amazing cameras

• 5G

• Great bombardment life

What Nosotros Don't Similar

• 60Hz refresh rate

• Cheap plastic build

Google built its Pixel phones to showcase the best of Android, at least according to Google. The Google Pixel 5a is a sort of combination of last year'south Pixel five and Pixel 4a 5G. Put those phones together and you get the Pixel 5a, which is the best Google experience yous can buy at the moment, at to the lowest degree until the Pixel 6 comes out this fall. Subsequently that, the Pixel 5a volition still be a great budget choice, with 5G which places it more of a premium than the Pixel 4a above.

In his review of the Pixel v, our reviewer Andrew wrote, "The Pixel five feels enough responsive beyond the board...Information technology'due south not surprising, since fifty-fifty the less-powerful Pixel 3a models were pretty swift; Google has done a bully job of optimizing its Android Bone for the hardware." The Pixel 5a runs the same version of Android on the aforementioned processor and it's only as smooth. What's more, the Pixel 5a comes in at $250 less than the Pixel five, with only some small compromises. Gone is the 90Hz refresh charge per unit, in favor of an increasingly less common 60Hz. Plus, the polycarbonate trunk of the Pixel 5a won't win any awards, and like the Pixel 4a, it only comes in black.

The Pixel 5a uses the exact same camera setup equally the Pixel 5, about which Andrew wrote, "between a 12-megapixel broad-angle and xvi-megapixel ultra-broad camera on the back, y'all'll consistently take great shots with minimal endeavour. The results typically are more natural-looking than you'll see from Samsung'south flagship cameras, for example, which tend to provide an overly vibrant look that not anybody will be fond of. From nature to faces, pets, and places, the Pixel five is well-equipped to accept sharp, detailed snaps in nigh any scenario." The camera on this phone is really good, though a bit dated. Just if you want a reliable camera that you can whip out of your pocket and grab a good snap every time, this is your telephone.

_{Screen Size:vi.34 inches |Resolution: 2400x1080 |Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G |Camera: 12.2MP/16MP rear and 8MP front |Battery:4,680mAh}

"I recorded a maximum download speed of one.6Gbps on Verizon'south 5G Ultra Wideband network. That'south the fastest speed I've seen anywhere on anything." — Andrew Hayward, Product Tester

Last Verdict

Overall the pick for best overall comes downward to a preference. If y'all like Android, then the Samsung Milky way S21 is our pick, otherwise, it's the iPhone 13. We give the overall nod to the iPhone because Apple's iOs is simpler to use for most people. It's fast, smooth, and has a great camera. However, you actually can't go wrong with either of these choices.

FAQ

• Which smartphone has the best camera?

  Peak-tier smartphones all come up with excellent cameras and commonly characteristic multiple rear sensors. You typically get a primary sensor for regular shots, an ultrawide sensor for wide-bending shots, a depth sensor for bokeh, and a telephoto sensor for zoomed shots. This is true of tiptop phones from Apple, Samsung, OnePlus, Google, and others. The Google Pixel lineup is specially well known for its great software augmentation, allowing for improved low-light shots and post-processing. Both the latest iPhone and Samsung flagships have a great hardware array and AI-enhanced shooting. Take a expect at our list of the best smartphone cameras for more details.

• What is the best Android smartphone for overseas?

  The Android phone marketplace is extensive, with options ranging from the premium finish to ultra-budget devices. In terms of pure hardware, the latest flagship from Samsung is typically the best Android phone on the marketplace, though it does have enough of rivals especially overseas where you'll see great options from Xiaomi, Realme, and even Huawei.

• What is the best budget smartphone?

  Just because you're on a tight budget doesn't hateful yous have to settle for less. There are enough of mid-range and budget options available. While they won't have the latest and greatest processor, you lot can get plenty of new features like the edge-to-edge design, a sleek build, multiple rear cameras, and even 5G support. Samsung offers phones at many price points, while Nokia has a variety of mid-range options packaged in a stylish pattern. Motorola and LG both have nifty workhorses that come with a stylus or offering bigger batteries.

What to look for in a smartphone

The apprehensive phone has come a long way over the years. Gone are the days when the telephone was simply a way to phone call people. These days, smartphones are the hub of our digital lives, serving as a fashion to communicate with people, surf the Web, play games, pay bills, stay organized, and more.

When shopping for a smartphone, there are many factors to consider. Beginning, you'll have to figure out which operating system you want that smartphone to run. And you'll also want to consider other factors, including the corporeality of storage, screen size, battery life, and photographic camera quality, to name a few. And then, because a smartphone is one of our most important possessions, it tin can sometimes be tough to pick out the right one. That, however, is why we've put together this guide—to assist you discover the perfect smartphone for your needs.

Then if you decided you want a smartphone, you'll have to then consider which operating system y'all want to use. The operating system on a smartphone plays the aforementioned part as an operating system on a reckoner. It's basically the software that you interact with on a daily basis. On an iPhone, the operating system is iOS, while on an Android telephone, it'southward Android. In that location are a few advantages and disadvantages to each operating system, which we'll go over below.

Android

Interested in an Android operating system? Android is the most popular smartphone operating system in the world, and for a number of reasons. For starters, different Apple, which only allows for iOS to be used on its iPhones, Google licenses out Android to other companies. That's why the likes of Samsung, HTC, Huawei, and Google itself all use the Android operating organization.

 Lifewire / Claire Cohen

If yous're a tried-and-true Google user, then Android is usually meliorate at working with those apps and services. We're not just talking about the Google search engine here—other operating systems make good apply of that, too. Instead, we're talking almost the Google Play Music streaming service, Google Drive cloud storage, other Google devices similar the Google Dwelling smart speaker, and more. Now more than always, choosing a smartphone operating system is about choosing an ecosystem, and if you go for an Android phone, it might be helpful to either already use Google'south services, or be willing to switch.

In the end, there are a few main reasons to go for an Android phone. They tin can exist a little cheaper, they work better with Google'south apps and services, and they're a little smarter.

iOS

Apple'south iOS may not be used by every bit many people around the globe, but in the U.South. it's actually the dominant smartphone operating system. There are plenty of reasons to get for an iPhone—the phone that runs iOS—over an Android device. The principal ones, notwithstanding, are that it's built by Apple, and as such it's both super easy to use, ultra-fashionable, and plays dainty with other Apple devices.

If you desire a unproblematic user interface, better Apple integration, and a phone that performs ameliorate for longer, so a phone with iOS is probably the way to go.

Other Features to expect for

The operating system isn't the only thing to consider when buying a smartphone, though if you've figured out which operating system you want, then you've done a lot of the work. You'll also desire to think near the hardware (processor, RAM, etc.) under the hood, the photographic camera, screen size, battery capacity, and more. Only a few of these things are an result when buying an iPhone (in that location are only a few iPhone models each year to choose from). But if you're ownership an Android phone, these things might all be something to consider.

Processor

The processor is essentially the brain of a computer, or in this case, a telephone. More powerful processors basically mean that your phone can "think" faster, meaning tasks are completed quicker, multitasking is zippier, and your phone volition perform well for longer. Longevity is of import here: A phone with a sub-par processor might exist perfectly fine at handling the apps of today, but that may not be true of the apps being released in ii years.

There are a few companies developing processors for smartphones. Apple tree develops its own processors in-firm, but the likes of Qualcomm, MediaTek, Samsung, and more, all develop processors for Android phones. In the U.South., Qualcomm chips are most mutual, and in 2018, the flagship Qualcomm chip is the Snapdragon 845. The higher the number here, the amend.

If you want more powerful processors, you'll want processors with multiple "cores." Traditional processors can only perform one job at a time, only a dual-core processor tin can process two, and a quad-cadre processor tin process four.

Storage

Storage is perhaps the virtually important thing for most people to consider. The more storage y'all take on your telephone, the more than files, apps, photos, video, etc., that you can keep on there at a time. These days, it's a little easier to become by with less storage if you apply cloud storage like Apple Photos or Google Bulldoze, but some things but can't work without being stored on your phone. We recommend getting a phone with at least 16GB of storage (for light users), though 32GB is going to be much better, and 64GB or more than should exist enough for heavy users.

Some phones also allow for external storage, unremarkably through a MicroSD card slot. With this slot, yous can buy a small card well-nigh the size of a SIM carte du jour, which can be used to store files on. MicroSD cards showtime at a low toll for low-chapters ones and range up from there.

Photographic camera

At that place are a few things that make a smashing camera, just the nearly important is the software behind it. Two phones with identical photographic camera specs tin can yield vastly different results, so, unfortunately, information technology's nigh impossible to store for a phone with a not bad camera by only looking at specs on paper.

RAM

RAM, or Random Access Memory, is another form of storage, but instead of using it to save files, its used by your system to save things that it might want to pull upwardly rapidly. Most usually, open apps are saved in RAM and so that when you close them and open them again, they can show upwardly on the screen without having to completely load once again.

Generally speaking, more than RAM is better when buying a smartphone, but phones with more RAM also frequently cost more. For a mid-range telephone, you'll probably find phones in the 2GB of RAM range, but for well-nigh users, a device with 3GB or more is recommended.

Display Type

When it comes to phones, a screen isn't just a screen. At that place are a few different types of displays, and they're not all created equal.

The virtually common type of display blazon in mid-range and depression-end phones is the LCD, or Liquid Crystal Display. LCDs are cheap to produce, which is why they're used so oftentimes, but the trade-off is that they're non the all-time at conserving battery life and they generally don't produce the deepest blacks or brightest colors. There are two types of LCD's though: TFT-LCDs, which are cheaper and the worst at colour reproduction, and IPS-LCDs, which are a little better at colour reproduction and wider viewing angles.

These days, high-end phones are doing abroad with LCDs in favor of OLED displays. Because OLED displays lite up individual pixels rather than the display equally a whole, it saves on battery life. On top of that, when black shows up on the screen, OLED displays merely don't lite it, meaning that blacks look deeper, and contrast ratios are college. You lot might run into "Super AMOLED" displays out there, which is basically Samsung branding for its OLED displays.

You'll probably only observe the difference between LCD and OLED displays if you take a truly sharp eye, although you lot might find the battery improvements that come up with OLED displays to be worth the actress cash.

Screen Size

Telephone brandish sizes accept gotten a whole lot bigger over the years, and that might exist important to y'all. Smaller displays come in at four inches, while larger displays tin can range up to 7 inches.

Biometric Authentication

Gone are the days when yous had to enter a PIN code to admission your phone. These days, most smartphones have a fingerprint sensor built into them, ensuring you can get into your device quickly and easily, and at the touch of a sensor. Some college-end phones also accept other forms of biometric hallmark, like iris scanning or facial recognition.

Many consider fingerprint sensing to be the easiest way to authenticate, especially depending on its placement. While some phones mount a fingerprint sensor on the front of the device, others have a sensor on the back, making it piece of cake to quickly scan your fingerprint as you take your device out of your pocket.

These days, some phones as well take facial recognition, which is both safer, and sometimes easier to employ. All you have to practice to cosign yourself with facial recognition is wait at your phone, which does present some difficulty if your phone is on your desk, for example.

Nosotros recommend a phone with at least a fingerprint scanner, though any other methods of hallmark can be useful, too.

Battery Capacity

Not all batteries are the same size, and a smaller battery can take a serious impact on how long your telephone lasts on a unmarried charge. Battery chapters is measured in milliampere-hours, or mAh—where a higher number represents a larger chapters. Of course, it'south not always every bit simple as "larger batteries brand your telephone last longer." A phone with a larger battery but an every bit high-resolution display and power-hungry processor may non final equally long equally a phone with a smaller battery, lower-resolution display, and less intense processor.

Nearly Our Trusted Experts

Jesse Hollington has been testing and reviewing smartphones and smartphone accessories for over a decade, and has used every smartphone and mobile platform from the early Palm, Symbian, and Windows CE days to the modern era of Apple iPhones and the entire gamut of Android-based phones from the Google Nexus One to the latest Samsung devices.

Andrew Hayward has been covering the latest tech since dorsum in 2006 for a number of major media publications. His summit specialty is smartphone and mobile accessories, meaning he was the perfect choice to review a big chunk of the phones on this roundup.

Ajay Kumar is a tech editor at Lifewire who's been covering mobile phones and consumer electronics for nigh a decade. He'due south been published in PCMag where he's reviewed hundreds of phones, tablets, and other devices. He's personally used several of the phones on this listing.

Yoona Wagener has been writing for Lifewire since 2019, covering a wide range of consumer tech including phones, laptops, smart dwelling devices, and more.

Adam Doud has been writing in the engineering science space for near a decade. When he'south not hosting the Do good of the Doud podcast, he's playing with the latest phones, tablets, and laptops. When not working, he's a cyclist, geocacher, and spends as much time exterior as he can.

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Source: https://www.lifewire.com/best-smartphones-4043781