The best smartphones of the moment – 2020/2021

Android vs. iOS

The operating system is an important part of choosing the right smartphone. In fact, there are two operating systems. Apple’s smartphones run on iOS, while the smartphones from the other manufacturers run on Android. The operating systems are quite similar to each other. You can swipe through menus and you can download and use apps. To a large extent, the choice comes down to personal preference.

Apple’s latest operating system is iOS 14 . The latest update for this is iOS 14.3 (iOS 12.5 for older iPhones), which came out earlier this month. The advantage of Apple is that all still supported devices can use this latest version of the operating system. With Android this is slightly different. Google launched  in September , but not all manufacturers have provided their devices with this update. Many Android devices use a software dispute over Android, which also costs extra development time. In addition, not all manufacturers are as quick when it comes to updates.

Which operating system should you choose? That depends entirely on your own preferences, but also on other equipment that you use at home. iOS is often more closed as an operating system. If you also have other Apple devices at home, the data exchange is very easy if you also have an iPhone at home. Android is also a bit more open, which is easy for connecting a wide range of other devices. In addition, you also have all Google services at your disposal with an Android phone. However, Apple provides updates (five years) for a smartphone for a bit longer than many Android phone manufacturers (usually two or three years). So it ultimately depends on your own preferences.

The trends of the moment

The innovation seems to have come to a halt in the smartphone world. Although many manufacturers are working on smartphones with two screens or a folding screen, this is still mainly a niche at the moment. However, steps are being taken in the field of cameras and battery. Cameras are equipped with larger sensors, so that more light can fall on them. In particular, this should provide an improvement in photo quality in low-light conditions. Three cameras on the back of a device now seem to have become the standard, so that in addition to a main camera, you also have a zoom lens and ultra-wide-angle lens at your disposal. This makes the smartphone a versatile alternative to a professional camera, although the quality of the smartphone camera still cannot match an SLR camera.

The batteries are getting bigger and bigger and charging technology is also advancing with steps. Some devices can be fully charged within half an hour. The capacity is also increasing. The screens with high resolutions and fast hardware simply need more energy. And speaking of screens, the refresh rate is also getting higher. 60 Hz used to be the standard, we now see devices with 90 Hz, 120 Hz or even 144 Hz. This speed indicates how fast the screen refreshes per second. The higher the refresh rate, the smoother the images on your smartphone.

Wishes, expectations and preferences

What exactly are you looking for in a smartphone? Take a good look at the wishes and your available budget. A smartphone of 200 euros can do almost exactly the same as a smartphone of 1000 euros. You can call, use the internet, WhatsApp, take photos, view social media or of c

ourse YouTube. The big difference is mainly in the hardware. A more expensive smartphone often has a better screen, can run the latest games smoothly and has better cameras on board. So you will have to look carefully at what you really think you need on a smartphone. Of course the budget also plays a role. In this overview of the best smartphones, we will therefore help you with an overview with the best price-quality ratio.

The best smartphones of the moment

After this introduction, it is high time to start with the overview of the best smartphones of the moment. The devices below are placed in random order. The top device is therefore not automatically the best smartphone. You will find budget devices, midrangers and high-end devices in this overview. For example, there is an excellent smartphone for every budget in the list below.

OnePlus 8T

OnePlus was known for years as a real price fighter. It delivered devices with the best specifications, but at a lower price than the established order. In recent years, the title of price fighter has diminished considerably. The latest flagships from OnePlus kept getting more expensive. This year suddenly there was the OnePlus 8T. This device with 120Hz OLED screen can be charged super fast, came directly with Android 11 and once again delivers top specifications with the fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 865. And that for a lower price than the competition. The OnePlus 8T is again a real OnePlus device as we know OnePlus.

What you also have to take into account is the fact that no IP certificate is present this time. That is also an old trick to keep the price low. You don’t have to worry, since the phone can withstand a splash of water. But we recommend that you do not submerge it. All in all, the OnePlus 8T is, despite some drawbacks, a very nice phone that offers a lot for a relatively low price. And this is how we prefer to see the manufacturer: this  OnePlus  is therefore highly recommended.

Read the full review of the OnePlus 8T .

Apple iPhone 12 series

Apple has released no fewer than four new iPhone 12 models this year. In addition to the regular iPhone 12, there was an iPhone 12 Mini with the same specifications, but with a smaller screen of 5.4-inch. The regular iPhone 12 has a 6.1-inch screen.

The new series runs on the fast Apple A14 Bionic and the series supports 5g. Much attention has once again been paid to the cameras. The sensors have a larger aperture, so you can also take good photos in a low-light environment. New to this series is

‘MagSafe’. By means of a magnet (in combination with various sensors and chips such as NFC) you can easily charge wirelessly, use a cover or place your credit card in a slot at the back. Thanks to the magnet, all kinds of accessories can be used universally on all devices in the iPhone 12 series. And also long-awaited in the series, you can now charge wirelessly.

For those who are just too little, can look at the top models within the series with the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max with more camera options, an extra lens and the Pro Max with a large 6.7-inch OLED screen.

Read more about the Apple iPhone 12 series .

Sony Xperia 1 II

The Sony Xperia 1 II has not appeared in the list of best smartphones before. However, this had nothing to do with the quality, which is more than okay. The price at launch was simply too high at 1199 euros. Now that the device has been on the market for a few months, the price has dropped considerably. The Sony Xperia 1 II has a fantastic 6.5-inch OLED screen in a resolution of 1,644 by 3,840 pixels with a narrow and elongated screen. The fastest hardware is also on board with the Snapdragon 865 processor. The very good stereo speakers are also worth mentioning, which makes entertainment very good.

What really matters with this device are the cameras. Sony has copied from its own Sony Alpha cameras. The same interface as on these SLR cameras can also be found in the Pro camera apps. This means that you can set a lot yourself to take that perfect photo. The camera is less suitable for point-and-click photos, also due to the lack of a night mode. You have to do it yourself and that takes some getting used to and perseverance. It’s good to see that Sony has really made its way back to the top. And is this device just a bit too big or do you want to spend just a little less? Then take a look at the Sony Xperia 5 II.

We make no bones about it. The Sony Xperia 1 II is a sleek, business device with a fantastic camera. The experience of the various camera apps may leave something to be desired, but fortunately that does not stand in the way of taking eye-pleasing photos. Furthermore, the software is very nice, but there are small things that irritate or do not work properly. We realize that the large screen is not for everyone, but it is indisputable that you can multitask and watch movies on it.

The biggest disadvantage of the Sony Xperia 1 II is not so much that the phone is not that exciting. The stock Android experience offers few reasons to choose Sony, unless of course stock Android is exactly what you want (a big plus for us). What the phone mainly opposes is the high price of almost 1200 euros. Despite the enormously good camera quality, there are just too many small irritations to justify the purchase for that amount. But that this is the best camera phone is beyond doubt.

Also read the review of the Sony Xperia 1 II .

Xiaomi Poco X3

In September the Poco X3 from (then) Xiaomi appeared. Poco is now largely independent. If you are looking for a device with the perfect price-quality ratio, you will soon find this device. The Poco X3 has a large 6.67-inch LCD screen in a resolution of 2,400 by 1,080 pixels with a refresh rate of 120 Hz, 64 GB or 128 GB storage memory and a large 5,160 battery with 33W fast charging.

You can take photos with the main camera of 64 megapixel, while there is also a wide-angle camera, depth sensor and macro lens. Filming is possible in a 4k resolution. The processor is a Snapdragon 732 G. Perhaps not the fastest processor, but certainly not bad. Not at all in this price category. The working memory is 6 GB. For around 200 euros you will not easily find a smartphone that has more to offer than this Xiaomi Poco X3 and it is therefore a rightful addition to this overview of the best smartphones.

Samsung Galaxy A51

It is not without reason that Samsung has been at the top of the smartphone market for years. The affordable midrangers from the South Korean manufacturer are particularly popular. Are you looking for an affordable smartphone with the necessary luxury on board? Then take a look at the Samsung Galaxy A51. This is the successor to one of the best-selling devices of recent years (Galaxy A50) and a nice addition to the affordable middle segment in this overview of best smartphones.

The beautiful 6.5-inch Amoled screen, four cameras and the 4,000 mAh battery are great value for the money. Although the device lacks a bit of class, especially at the back (plastic), it still looks pretty good from a distance. The device has 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of expandable storage memory. We are usually not much of a fan of the Exynos chipset in Samsung devices, but the Exynos 9611 is more than sufficient for this device. You can buy this device from 250 euros.

Apple iPhone SE

It has been a long time since we have seen such an affordable and also small iPhone. The Apple iPhone SE 2020 was launched in April of this year. A compact device with 4.7-inch Retina HD screen. The device has a glass back and aluminum frame and can be unlocked using the ring of the Home button. On the outside it looks like the older iPhone 8, but internally this is still a fairly powerful device with the Bionic A13 chip. Playing games is certainly possible.

On the back of the iPhone SE 2020 we find a twelve-megapixel camera that specializes in portraits. You can also make videos in 4k resolution. The very best news, however, is the price. Apple is known for always asking (too) much money for new devices. The Apple iPhone SE 2020 was launched for a price of 489 euros, making it the cheapest new device with iOS at the moment.

Oppo Find X2 Pro

Oppo is well on its way to Huawei’s place after the ban from the United States. The Oppo Find X2 Pro is a real top device with an emphasis on the display, super-fast charging and the camera options. Initially, the device struggled with a high purchase price of 1,199 euros, but now this device is already considerably cheaper.

This 5g device with Android is a real winner in the field of entertainment due to the 120Hz OLED screen of 6.7-inch with a resolution of 3,168 by 1,440 pixels and the stereo speakers. You can charge super fast thanks to 65W SuperVOOC 2.0. Just put this device on the charger for half an hour and it is fully charged. The unique design with ceramic black and orange vegan leather is also striking. The last straw at Oppo to overtake Huawei is the update policy. This often lagged somewhat behind the facts. Oppo, however, has shown that it is seriously working on this, because almost all devices from the Chinese manufacturer now receive regular updates.

The Oppo Find X2 Pro belongs to the top of the current smartphone market. The display is incredibly impressive, the cameras are more than good and you have never charged a smartphone as fast as the Oppo Find X2 Pro thanks to 65W SuperVOOC 2.0. The choice of materials between ceramic and vegan leather differs nicely from other brands, but the design is unfortunately still quite standard.

You will have to determine yourself whether the price of 1,199 euros can

be justified. However, know that you are fully prepared for the future with the 5g support of the Oppo Find X2 Pro. Hopefully, Oppo keeps its update policy promises. Then you absolutely do not have to look at a new smartphone for the next two years. The Oppo Find X2 Pro has really matured the Find X series and is a device that everyone in the high-end segment should seriously consider.

Read the full review of the Oppo Find X2 Pro .

Motorola Moto G8 Power

The Motorola Moto G8 Power is the cheapest device in this overview of the best smartphones with a (at the time of writing) starting price of 159 euros. The device is particularly notable for its large battery of 5,000 mAh, which you should be able to use for at least two days. The device has a Snapdragon 665 on board and a 6.4-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 2,300 by 1,080 pixels. Furthermore, the device has 4 GB of memory and 64 GB of (expandable) storage memory. We also find bluetooth 5.0 and nfc on this device.

Quite unique in this price category are the five cameras on board. At the back we find four cameras and a selfie camera at the front. These cameras are fine in this price category. In addition to the main camera, you also have a macro camera and wide-angle camera at your disposal.

We like the Motorola Moto G8 Power for several reasons. The battery is nice and

large and lasts a very long time. In addition, there are enough cameras and options to experiment with, Android 10 is immediately present and the device – despite its midrange hardware – feels relatively fast. There are also disadvantages: not everyone will like the front camera in the screen, while the scanner on the back feels dated. The cameras also function at their best when there is enough light.

So is the Motorola Moto G8 Power worth your money? For 229 euros you can not really fall a bump with this device. Yes, the security update is a bit behind schedule and there is simply a lot of software out there that you may not do that much with. But on the other hand, there is a well-functioning device with excellent performance, fine software and an experience that generally pleases. If you find it very annoying that there is no AMOLED screen, you can, for example, consider the Samsung Galaxy A51.

Also read the full review of the Motorola Moto G8 Power .