This story is part of 2020 Holiday Gift Guide, CNET’s gift options with expert advice, reviews and recommendations for the latest technology gifts for you and your family.
Phone makers are innovating and evolving faster than ever, and the past year has been one of the most interesting for phones. Not only did we see more devices with flexible screens and devices with 5G connectivity, but there has been an influx of phones that promote premium specs and affordable price tags. Some things, however, remain the same – such as the fact that Apple and Samsung still dominate the market. Its newest flagships, the iPhone 12 and the Galaxy Note 20, respectively, offer powerful processors, fantastic rear and 5G multi-camera configurations.
But while the lines of Apple’s iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy are the best choice for many, other companies like OnePlus and Motorola sell excellent phones as well. The great competition offers consumers excellent options to choose from at a variety of prices.
To help you discover the best of the best, we have put together our favorite phones for purchase in 2021. All phones on this list have been thoroughly reviewed and tested, from batteries to camera performance. We link the unlocked version of each phone and they should work on most of the four major wireless carriers in the United States, unless otherwise specified. We update this list regularly to ensure that the best phone is always represented.
And for more information, read our guide to help you find the best phone for your needs and take a look at our tips on how to buy a new phone.
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Best smartphone of 2020
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Patrick Holland / CNET
The iPhone 12 (and its more advanced version of the iPhone 12 Pro) received one of the highest scores ever. The smartphone has the powerful and fast A14 Bionic processor, two rear cameras, 5G and a magnetic “MagSafe” feature that allows connection with other mobile accessories. Read our review of the Apple iPhone 12.
Angela Lang / CNET
If you want a 5G phone that doesn’t cost a lot, the Pixel 4A 5G is one of our main options. The device has a long battery life, stunning dual rear cameras and robust Google software support. There is also the Pixel 5, which has a great 90 Hz screen, but costs an additional $ 699 (£ 599, AU $ 999). Read our review of the Google Pixel 4A 5G.
Angela Lang / CNET
OnePlus launched many phones in 2020, including the OnePlus 8 Pro and 8T, but our favorite this year is the OnePlus 8 due mainly to its price. At launch, the smartphone cost $ 699 (£ 599, AU $ 1,180 converted) and has since been discounted. The phone features a 6.55-inch AMOLED screen, a 90 Hz display, a water resistant design and 5G. Read our review of OnePlus 8.
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The Motorola Edge Plus has just about everything you expect from a premium 5G phone: a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset, a giant battery, an OLED screen with a high refresh rate, and several rear cameras with robust specifications. Motorola took features found on other top-of-the-line Android phones, put its own Moto touch on them and integrated them into one of our favorite Android phones of the year. Read our review of the Motorola Edge Plus.
Angela Lang / CNET
Starting at just $ 399, the 2020 version of the iPhone SE is the best budget phone you can find right now. With an A13 processor (just like the iPhone 11) and an amazing camera, the iPhone SE is much more powerful than it should be. Old-school iPhone fans will also appreciate the return of the TouchID and the home button. Read our review of the Apple iPhone SE (2020).
Angela Lang / CNET
The Note 20 Ultra, along with its smaller counterpart, the Note 20, is an expensive ultra-premium Android phone with an expansive screen, a built-in S Pen and 5G. The Note 20 Ultra also features a triple rear camera array, the high-powered Snapdragon 865 Plus processor and reverse wireless charging. It comes with 128 GB or 512 GB of internal storage. Read our review of the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.
Angela Lang / CNET
Pixel smartphones have a loyal following and for good reason. Regardless of its price, Google’s Pixel 4A has a first-rate camera that takes brilliant photos. But it is even better that the phone costs $ 349 (£ 349, AU $ 599). The 5.81-inch device also features a headset, 128 GB of storage outside the box and a better battery life than last year’s Pixel 4. Read our review of Google Pixel 4A.
Juan Garzon / CNET
In addition to its main Galaxy S phones, Samsung has a more economical A-series phone line. This year he launched the Galaxy A51 and is another Samsung phone that costs $ 399 (£ 329, AU $ 599) – although there is a 5G variant that costs $ 499. The Android device has four cameras, a fingerprint reader on the screen and expandable storage. Read our review of the Galaxy A51.