2020 was the scene of many excellent smartphones, although we could do without major price increases. However, among the OnePlus 8 Pro, the Samsung Galaxy S20 series, the Google Pixel 5 and many more, there were many quality offerings available.
Still, for every renowned Samsung or Xiaomi phone, there were some lesser-known devices that deserved a little more attention and love. So with that in mind, we are looking at the most underrated smartphones we reviewed in 2020.
Asus Zenfone 7 series
Credit: Ryan-Thomas Shaw / Android Authority
We chose Zenfone 6 as one of the most underrated devices of 2019, and its successors also appear here. Yes, Asus launched Zenfone 7 and Zenfone 7 Pro this year.
Fortunately, the Taiwanese brand retained the Zenfone 6’s unique rotating camera mechanism. However, it added a triple camera setup to the mix (with a telephoto lens) as opposed to last year’s two camera combo. We also received several other updates, such as 5G, a 90 Hz OLED screen, 30 W fast charging and 8 K recording.
Our verdict: Review of Asus Zenfone 7 Pro
However, there are some differences between the standard Zenfone 7 and Pro models, such as the Pro variant using the Snapdragon 865 Plus SoC, packing OIS and offering twice as much basic storage (256 GB).
The biggest drawback of the series is that it starts with a substantial € 699 (~ $ 936) for the base model with 128 GB of storage. Meanwhile, the Zenfone 6 128GB model sold for € 559, while the 64GB option had a launch price of € 499.
Sony Xperia 5 II
Credit: Eric Zeman / Android Authority
The Japanese manufacturer had some difficult years, but in 2020 it saw the company deliver two major phones on the Xperia 1 II and Xperia 5 II. We said that the latter could be Sony’s best phone so far and came to be in fifth place in the vote for the Editor’s Choice Award for 2020.
Our verdict: Sony Xperia 5 II review
Sony’s flagship at the end of 2020 wins its place on our list due to its well-rounded spec sheet. It features a 6.1-inch OLED panel with a 120 Hz refresh rate, a powerful SoC Snapdragon 865 and a 4,000 mAh battery that should keep you active. It doesn’t matter that the $ 949 price of the phone means it was noticeably cheaper than the $ 1,200 asking price of the Xperia 1 II.
The Xperia 5 II also features a well rounded 12 MP triple rear camera configuration. Sony went further, offering dedicated professional photo and video apps in addition to the standard camera app. Photography enthusiasts should keep an eye on this one. And yes, Sony also brought back the headset on both 2020 flagships.
LG Wing
Credit: David Imel / Android Authority
LG is no stranger to these types of listings, as it often offers full-fledged, though not spectacular, phones. However, the LG Wing leaves its mark by the sheer virtue of its unconventional but polished shape.
Featuring a sliding main screen that hides a much smaller screen, the design makes multitasking a little easier. This means that you can watch YouTube on the main screen while browsing the web on a smaller screen, or use Google Maps on the big screen while playing with your music player on the small screen.
Our verdict: Analysis of LG Wing
Don’t you care about the dual screen format? Well, the device can be used perfectly without the second monitor. You are also getting some solid specifications in another way. There is a medium-range Snapdragon 765G chipset, 4,000 mAh battery, an exclusive triple camera configuration (with two wide-angle lenses) and a “gimbal” videography mode. Launch an IP54 rating, wireless charging and a pop-up selfie camera, and you’ve got a really good package if you don’t mind the price.
LG Velvet
Looking for something a little more conventional from the Korean brand? That’s where the LG Velvet comes in. It stands out thanks to its attractive design compared to the rest of the smartphone industry. Much of this is due to the slim shape and distinctive design of the waterdrop camera.
Velvet also marked a very interesting change in LG’s strategy, as it took a super mid-range route instead. This means that you have a Snapdragon 765G processor instead of the best and latest silicon, a standard refresh rate and a camera configuration that is more in line with budget phones.
Fortunately, Velvet still offered welcome features, such as water resistance, wireless charging, 4,300 mAh battery and FHD + OLED panel. It was a very interesting $ 599 proposal, coming up as the antithesis of typical cheap flagships.
Vivo X50 Pro
Optical image stabilization is essential if you want great photos in low light or to reduce blur and shake in your videos. However, Vivo was even better at offering a 48MP main camera called “micro-gimbal” inside the Vivo X50 Pro.
We found that this stabilization system provided impressive low light photos and smooth video capture. In fact, our own Dhruv Bhutani observed that the phone captured “amazing” photos in low light and offered “exemplary” video quality.
Our verdict: Vivo X50 Pro review
Other notable features include two telephoto lenses (2x and 5x), a 90 Hz OLED screen and a Snapdragon 765G chipset. Despite the mid-range processor, the phone is priced at an emblematic level in countries like the UK, reaching £ 749 (~ $ 1,018) for the renamed Vivo X51 5G. At least it has a more competitive price in countries like India, reaching US $ 680.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip series
Samsung used 2020 to really control the folding space, with the Galaxy Z Fold 2 earning praise and creating a buzz. However, it seems that people forgot about the Galaxy Z Flip series when the largest and most expensive foldable was launched.
The Galaxy Z Flip offered a new approach to an old format by modernizing the shell design. Samsung was not the only brand to adopt this format in 2020, but it eliminated the foldable Motorola Razr due to its cheaper price, better spec sheet and better build quality.
Samsung’s small foldable also offers a Flex Mode, making use of the versatile hinge for several interesting features. This includes acting as an improvised tripod for the cameras (for example, selfies, long exposure photos) and a hands-free way to make video conferences.
That’s it for our choices. We would also make honorable mentions to the Oppo Ace 2 and the Redmi K30 Ultra, which were devices exclusive to China. Which do you think were the most underrated smartphones of 2020? Let us know through the comments section below!