Top Best Smartphones to Buy in 2020 - Guide For Choosing The Right Smartphone for Your Needs
Smartphones have a very special place in our daily life, they are so important and personal to us that we cannot imagine our lives without one. When we buy a smartphone, we usually keep it for an average of 20 months and sometimes a bit longer. It is therefore important to choose the one that will perfectly suit your needs throughout this period, regardless if you are just a basic user or an advanced one.
What smartphone to buy in 2020? Well to answer this question we tested the most popular smartphones available on the market today to guide you as best as possible to the smartphone that best meets your criteria, whether you are an Android fan or your heart is more on the iPhone.
To make things easier and clearer for you, our reader, we structured the guide for choosing the right smartphone like this:
The Most Premium Smartphones
Are you looking for the best phone of the moment, the one that will meet all your needs? Which one has the best components? A powerful processor, a quality camera and a battery that will never let you down? Below you will find the smartphones which make no compromises and which therefore occupy a special place in this guide.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra - The ultra premium
The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra is a monster in almost every way. This 5G compatible colossus will delight fans of (very) large screens who are not afraid of a little heavy products. Its massive design is moreover compensated by the impeccable display quality of its panel refreshed to 120 Hz, by its great versatility in photography - the 108 megapixel mode and the x10 optical zoom are particularly interesting - its great power or even the very good quality of its speakers.
It will however be necessary to pay a little attention to the autonomy sometimes as it is a little tight on this device and obviously to agree to put your hands deep in the wallet to pay for the Galaxy S20 Ultra which is sold at the "recommended price" of $1399 with 128 GB of storage.
Oppo Find X2 Pro - The Premium Alternative
The alternative to the Galaxy S20 Ultra is from Oppo with the Find X2 Pro. After a first disappointing model in certain respects, this new smartphone allows Oppo to offer a credible alternative in this premium segment.
Its 6.7-inch 120Hz screen is finely crafted while being a smaller than Samsung's flagship, the Snapdragon 865's performance is there, and it doesn't skimp on design. Better yet, its leather imitation rear face sets it apart from its competitors. We only regret that the camera is a little worse than on the Samsung S20 Ultra (on ultra wide-angle and zoom), and the lack of wireless charging.
The best (somewhat) cheaper high-end smartphones
The following products cost a little less than the ultra-premium devices just mentioned. Either because they came out a few months before, or because they are slightly less well equipped than a flagship model launched at the same time.
OnePlus 8T - The most balanced
The OnePlus 8T is undoubtedly one of the best balanced smartphones of 2020. Neat design and pleasant in hand, perfectly calibrated OLED and 120 Hz screen, optimal power of the Snadpragon 865, very fluid and intuitive interface natively running Android 11, good autonomy and ultra fast charging. The qualities of this device are numerous. Good news, even the camera, generally a little behind on OnePlus products, is very convincing.
Above all, it should be noted that the OnePlus 8T combines all of these strengths without seeing its price rise to the top. In fact, the recommended smartphone prices are $650 or $750 depending on the version chosen (8GB RAM/128 GB storage or 12GB RAM/256 GB storage). Suffice to say that this is a really good deal.
Google Pixel 5 - The pleasant compact format
The first thing that appeals to the Google Pixel 5 is its format. It brings compact smartphones up to date in the more or less high-end segment. This product is especially perfect for anyone looking for a simple experience. Indeed, in addition to being easy to store in the pocket, the Pixel 5 shines with its sobriety and really takes the user by the hand to allow him to benefit from all its features.
You can also count on an excellent camera - it's best for moving subjects, such as boisterous animals for example - a very decent battery life, an excellent 90 Hz screen and a clean interface. Some might just regret the presence of a Snapdradgon 765G instead of a Series 8. But again, the Pixel 5 prefers simplicity over power.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G - The right benchmark
In order to offer an S series smartphone for a slightly more affordable price, Samsung went to ask its users to find out what they wanted or needed. This is how the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G was born. This smartphone is a very complete device, good on all points and clearly still high-end despite its slightly lower price.
Indeed, the sacrifices made on this Galaxy S20 FE 5G are quite reasonable and we always enjoy a nice and colorful design, an excellent AMOLED and 120 Hz screen, a great One UI interface, a very good camera, top performance and comfortable autonomy. With these said we recommend the 5G version because the classic Galaxy S20 FE does not take advantage of the Snapdragon 865, which is so good for its energy efficiency.
Apple iPhone 12 - Apple's benchmark
The iPhone 12 is THE benchmark phone from Apple, the one aimed at the greatest number and who wants to please with its many attractions. It should be noted that this model, even if it is not stamped "Pro", is entitled to a quality OLED screen in addition to being powered by the A14 Bionic and having 5G compatibility. All this while being offered at an affordable price when it comes to Apple products.
To put it another way, it is the most interesting formula for apple lovers whose products are not unlimited, even if we must not forget that the iPhone 12 mini, by its very compact size, can please allot of people.
A more informed public looking for semi-professional uses on their smartphones can turn to the iPhone 12 Pro. The latter benefits from a ProRaw mode which is exclusive to Pro versions to allow particularly thorough and precise retouching. Beyond that, the price difference is not really justified for the vast majority of users.
The best smartphones for the price / quality ratio
Like in every guide, we cannot ignore the category of the best quality / price ratios. Are you looking for the right plan of a lifetime? The best balance between acceptable performance and a reasonable price? Here is our pick of the best value for money in the mid-range segment.
OnePlus Nord - Good value for money
The OnePlus Nord is the brand's first mid-range smartphone. It puts forward a very interesting quality / price ratio thanks to a certified price under $400 and a technical sheet that does not disappoint.
It does not revolutionize the design of the manufacturer's other models, but still brings a beautiful 90 Hz Full HD + AMOLED panel on this price range. Its power is also not to be proven with its Snapdragon 765G supported by 8 GB of RAM, which at the same time allows it to be 5G compatible. In addition, its autonomy is excellent, especially when it is coupled with its efficient fast charging system up to 30 W. Efforts are still to be made in the camera segment, but the overall result is already very acceptable.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro - Another good vintage for Xiaomi
The flagship of the Redmi Note 9 series, the Redmi Note 9 Pro shines, like its illustrious predecessor the Redmi Note 8 Pro, on its autonomy. A day of use is guaranteed under all circumstances, two if you do not play too much. Fast charging is also present and allows 50% of the battery to be recovered in about thirty minutes.
The camera also offers very fair results and the Snapdragon 720G runs greedy games like Fortnite on "medium" settings. In short, this is still a good vintage for Xiaomi, even if we regret the presence of the 90 Hz panel that Realme has managed to integrate into a product that is however slightly cheaper.
Google Pixel 4a - Photo at a low price
The Google Pixel 4a is the latest mid-range product from the very creator of Android. While it doesn't carry a gargantuan battery or 90Hz display, it stands out for its excellence in the camera segment, handing it down to best-in-class despite its unique 12.2-megapixel sensor. The camera shines in night time photos and can even remakes your portrait.
Then, this 4a seduces by its format still as compact as its predecessor with its OLED screen not exceeding 5.8 inches. It’s a pleasure holding it in hand. This small size obviously prevents it from offering a battery autonomy that will keep you going until the end of the night with intensive use, but it will be enough to last the day. However, it makes up for it by a nice increase in power compared to the Pixel 3a thanks to the integration of its Snapdragon 730G.
The best smartphones at the lowest price
Inexpensive smartphones, there are plenty of them and it can be difficult to choose from, especially since some are rather to be avoided. That's why we bring you an affordable selection, but with products that won't disappoint.
Realme 6 - The best at a low price
After Realme 5, which established itself in 2019 among the best low-cost terminals, Realme 6 succeeds it in 2020 with just as many qualities, and even more. Always offered around $260, the Realme 6 accommodates a 90 Hz screen and it is to date the cheapest terminal with this type of screen which, as we know, is a real pleasure to use.
It is not limited to that and comes with an above average autonomy, and very interesting performance for this price range thanks to the Helio P90 from MediaTek. To complete an already positive picture, it is also important to note that this Realme 6 corrects several pitfalls on the software part thanks to the presence of RealmeUI. Xiaomi is no longer the undisputed champion in this segment.
Xiaomi Redmi 9 - Excellent value for money
The Xiaomi Redmi 9 is the pleasant surprise of the end of the year. This Redmi 9 range is very wide, but this smartphone sets itself apart in the segment of smartphones under $190 with a rather solid technical sheet. It's a smartphone with a decent design, very good battery life, sufficient performance not to be frustrating and a camera module with an ultra-wide-angle sensor.
Tips before buying your new smartphone
Before buying a smartphone, many questions may cross your mind. We have listed the most common questions with answers that, we hope, will help you with your choice.
How to choose your smartphone?
Design, screen, battery life, performance and photo quality are all important factors, in addition to the price, are all criterions to keep in mind when buying a new smartphone. The most important thing will be to determine what are the most important criterions for your specific use case and how you will be using your new smartphone in your daily activities.
Keep in mind that there is no such thing as an all-round perfect product, but by combining the right criterions you will find the right one.
Which smartphone takes the best photos?
Many users pay special attention to the camera of their smartphone, and for good reason: what could be more practical than a phone to capture your favorite vacation/life moments? To understand how a camera works on a mobile device, you have to consider the aperture, definition, sensor size, software processing, and so on.
The camera, for most users, is the most important criterion and for the right reason too. You would not want a powerful smartphone with a bad camera. Although, in 2020, bad cameras seem to be a thing of the past. The only thing that matters is your personal taste and what photos you want to make. If you use the camera now and again, almost all smartphones can provide you with a decent enough camera to capture your life moments, but if you are looking for more than that, then you should really pay attention to the specs.
All in all, it is really up to your specific use case.
What is the right size for a smartphone?
Large screens are particularly popular today, to the chagrin of some users. Fortunately, all tastes are always in nature and thanks to the many design evolutions, phones can accommodate larger screens in moderate formats. 5-inch smartphones may interest people with small hands while those who prefer large sizes can turn to the many phablets available on the market.
Which brand of smartphone to choose?
Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Google, Apple? User experience varies enormously depending on the brand of smartphone in our hands. The interface may be different from one manufacturer to another, but so are the compatible applications, certain features and the level of customer service. It's nice to bond with a brand and its ecosystem, but it's also tempting to take a peek at the competitor to see if the grass is greener elsewhere.
