Best phones in 2021: The top smartphones rate

 Best phones in 2021: The top smartphones rate 

These are the best phones for every budget based on our testing 

The best phones deliver great cameras, the performance you need to multitask and enough battery life to last the whole day. And with strong options available at all price levels, now is a good time to upgrade.

When it comes to buying a new phone, some people may prefer to have the biggest display possible along with the most advanced specs. And others want a solid mid-range phone that delivers all the basics without feeling cheap. To help you pick the best smartphone for you, we test dozens of handsets in the lab and in the real world to bring you in-depth reviews and make recommendations you can trust.

• The best Android phones
• Under $400: The best cheap phones
  Our best phones list has something for everyone, including great bargains under $500 and under $300. We've ranked all the top phones based on our testing. Here are the top smartphones right now.
         
  

  What are the best phones?
  

  Based on our testing, the new iPhone 12 Pro Max remains the best phone overall, as it delivers great cameras, a vivid 6.7-inch display, 5G connectivity and the fastest performance of any handset. While other iPhone 12 models impress, the Pro Max gives you the most screen real estate along with the longest battery life.
  

  If you prefer Android, the OnePlus 9 Pro edges out the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra as the best Android phone you can buy. Both phones offer dynamic 120Hz displays and excellent cameras, but the OnePlus 9 Pro offers faster charging and costs less. We do like the S21 Ultra's support for the S Pen (a first for Galaxy S phones).

  Especially price-conscious consumers should look at the Google Pixel 4a, an incredible bargain at $349, though the Pixel 5a should be on the way soon. The Moto G Power is another good bargain, as it offers the best battery life on the market.

  Some may want to wait for the iPhone 13 this fall, which promises a 120Hz display and smaller notch, but there are plenty of compelling options right now. 

  Prime Day 2021 phone deals
  

  Amazon Prime Day is June 21 and 22, and we're hoping for some great sales on phones from all of the major brands: Samsung, Apple, OnePlus, Google, Motorola and more. Be sure to bookmark our Prime Day deals page to get the biggest savings.
  

  The best phones you can buy today
  

  1. iPhone 12 Pro Max
  

  The best phone overall
  

  Specifications:

  Display: 6.7-inch OLED (2778 x 1284)

  CPU: A14 Bionic

  RAM: 6GB

  Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB / No

  Rear camera: 12MP wide (ƒ/1.6), 12MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.4), 12MP telephoto (ƒ/2.2)

  Front camera: 12MP (ƒ/2.2)

  Weight: 8.03 ounces

  Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 10:53(5G)

  Reasons to buy:

  +Best-in-class cameras+Immersive 6.7-inch display+Superior performance

  
  

  Reasons to avoid:
  

  -Charger sold separately-A bit heavy

   

  The iPhone 12 Pro Max is one of the best phones you can buy and is that rare phone that is practically perfect, especially for those who prefer big screens. You get an immersive 6.7-inch OLED display, class-leading A14 Bionic performance and 5G capability. But the iPhone 12 Pro Max really stands out with its long battery life, as it lasted nearly 11 hours on our web surfing test. It’s the longest-lasting iPhone 12 model by far.

  Like the regular iPhone 12 Pro, the iPhone 12 Pro Max packs three rear cameras, but it benefits from a larger main sensor that lets in more light. And you get a 2.5 telephoto zoom, compared to 2x for the regular Pro. The iPhone 12 Pro Max also delivers amazingly colorful video recording in Dolby Vision, complete with sensor-shift stabilization for steady footage. At $1,099, the iPhone 12 Pro Max isn’t cheap, but overall it’s the best phone we’ve tested.
  

  2. OnePlus 9 Pro

  The best phone for Android fans
  

  Specifications:

  Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 10:40
  

  Reasons to buy:

  +Beautiful 120Hz display+Crazy fast wired and wireless charging+Fantastic cameras
  

  Reasons to avoid

  -Morning Mist model is very slippery-Nightscape photos are inconsistent

  
  

  The OnePlus 9 Pro features the best cameras ever included with a OnePlus phone. With help from camera specialist Hasselblad, the OnePlus 9 features an excellent array of lenses that capture color accurately and produce photos that rival what you get from leading camera phones, as you can see in our OnePlus 9 Pro camera face-off. For that reason, we think the OnePlus 9 Pro is the best phone that Android users can get.
  
  

  There are other features beyond the cameras that tip the scales in the OnePlus 9 Pro’s favor. You get a display with a dynamically adjusting refresh rate, scaling between 1 and 120Hz. That helps with battery life, as the OnePlus 9 Pro lasted more than 10.5 hours on our battery test. OnePlus’ WarpCharge 65T technology means your phone can be fully charged in a little more than 30 minutes. Throw in a Snapdragon 888 processor and lots of RAM, and you have one of the best performing Android phones around.
  

  3. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra:
  

  Samsung's best phone
  

  Specifications:
  

  Display: 6.8-inch OLED (3200x1400; 10-120Hz)

  CPU: Snapdragon 888

  RAM: 12GB, 16GB

  Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB / No

  Rear camera: 108MP wide (f/1.8), 12MP ultra wide (ƒ/2.2), 10MP telephoto (3x zoom, f/2.4), 10MP telephoto (10x zoom, f/4.9), laser AF sensor

  Front camera: 40MP (ƒ/2.2)

  Weight: 8.08 oz

  Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 11:25

  
  

  
  

  Reasons to buy:
  

  +Dynamic 6.8-inch AMOLED display+Dual telephoto lenses+S Pen support

  Reasons to avoid:

  -No charger in box-Lacks microSD card slot
  

  The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is a superior big-screen phone, offering a dynamic 6.8-inch AMOLED display that scales from 10Hz to 120Hz for super smooth performance. But the killer feature is the dual telephoto cameras, with 3x and 10x optical zoom, and the ability to Space Zoom up to 100x with a new Zoom Lock feature. The overall camera quality is improved, too, with better-looking portraits and brighter shots with Night mode.
  The S21 Ultra also excels at capturing video with a new Director’s View mode that lets you record using the front and back cameras at the same time. Other highlights include snappy performance from the Snapdragon 888 chip and extra-long battery life from the 5,000 mAh battery, as the S21 Ultra lasted nearly 11.5 hours on our web surfing test. The Galaxy S21 Ultra doesn’t include a charger in a box or a microSD card slot, but overall it’s the best Android phone you can buy.
  

  4. iPhone 12 Pro

  Another top Apple phone:
  
  

  Specifications

  Display: 6.1-inch OLED (2532x1170)

  CPU: A14 Bionic

  RAM: 6GB

  Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB / No

  Rear camera: 12MP wide (ƒ/1.6), 12MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.4), 12MP telephoto (ƒ/2.0)

  Front camera: 12MP (ƒ/2.2)

  Weight: 6.66 ounces

  Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 9:06 (5G), 11:24 (LTE)
  

  
  

  Reasons to buy:

  +Best-in-class cameras+A14 Bionic blows away Android phones+Tougher Ceramic Shield display+MagSafe charging is easy to use
  

  Reasons to avoid:
  

  -No charger in box
  

  The iPhone 12 Pro is the best phone you can buy because of everything Apple packs into its sleek new design. You get the most 5G bands in any phone along with the new A14 Bionic processor, which blows away all Android phones. But the real reason to pick up the iPhone 12 Pro is the cameras. The main sensor now lets in more light, and the Night Mode works on both the ultrawide camera and the front TrueDepth camera. You can take portraits at night, thank to the combination of the telephoto lens and LiDAR sensor.Not only does the iPhone 12 Pro boast a gorgeous 6.1-inch OLED display, its protected by Ceramic Shield, which is designed to deliver 4x the protection in case of a drop. The flat edges look pretty sleek, too, even if they did into your hands a bit. The optional MagSafe charger makes wireless charging a breeze, thanks to the magnets built into the iPhone 12 Pro. But Apple doesn’t include any charger in the box. Although the iPhone 12 Pro’s battery life could be better over 5G, it’s the most complete phone for the money and the best camera phone yet.
  

  5. Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra:
  

  The best Android phone for productivity
  

  Specifications:
  

  Display: 6.9-inch AMOLED (3088x1440)

  CPU: Snapdragon 865 Plus

  RAM: 12GB

  Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB / Yes

  Rear camera: 108MP wide (ƒ/1.8); 12MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom (ƒ/3.0); 12MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.2)

  Front camera: 10MP (ƒ/2.2)

  Weight: 7.33 ounces

  Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 10:15
  

  Reasons to buy:
  

   life+Dynamic 6.9-inch 120Hz display+Smoother S Pen performance +Powerful 50x zoom camera and laser autofocus+Very good battery
  

  Reasons to avoid:
  

  -Expensive
  

  The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is pricey at $1,299 but no other big-screen phone can do as much as this phablet. You get a gorgeous 6.9-inch OLED display with a dynamic 120Hz refresh rate, as well as lots of new S Pen upgrades, ranging from new air gestures to a smoother 9 ms response time. Plus, the Note 20 Ultra packs one of the most versatile camera setups ever, including a 108MP main sensor, a whopping 50x Space Zoom and a dedicated laser autofocus sensor to reduce blur.The Note 20 Ultra is also a mini desktop PC and game console in disguise. With the improved DeX mode, you can beam photos, apps and more to a nearby TV, and with Xbox Game Pass you can stream more than 100 Xbox titles over the cloud. The Note 20 Ultra works well with your PC, too, as Link to Windows enables you to run Android apps on your laptop as well as get notifications, make calls and more. Add it all up and you have one of the best phones yet.