Best Smartphone in USA 2021 - the top 10 Branded Smartphones you can buy right now
Revolve Trend rank the best phone brands models including Apple, Samsung, LG and may be some unknown names as well
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There a lot of great smartphone options available at any given moment, so it can be a challenge to sort through them all if you’re trying to choose the absolute best one. The stakes here can’t be understated: your phone is the most important gadget in your life, and you’ll probably be living with the one you buy for at least a year, if not two or three.
This best smartphone buying guide has been designed to help you not only discover the best phones on the market, but also to narrow down which is right for you and the things you're going to want your phone to do.
That's why there's such a range of devices here. We've got phones with killer features and the very latest technology, but we've also got excellent all-rounders for people who need a budget smartphone they can rely on. From the simple to the super-powered, we think our best phones buying guide will find the perfect partner for you.
Most of the time, the best phone stands out from the pack in all the areas that matter: performance, value, camera, and support. And most of the time, that’s usually the most expensive phone on the market. But as it turns out, you don’t have to buy the priciest phone to get the best experience.
Let's discover the best phones you can buy today,
Best top rated Smartphone to buy 2021
1. APPLE IPHONE 12
Apple has outdone itself with the four iPhone 12 models launched in late last year, and if you can't stretch to the price of the Pro editions then the standard iPhone 12 could well be the best phone for you. It's packed with power and comes with a stylish new design, though Apple's handsets are still at the more expensive end of the scale.
Apple's new iPhone 12 lineup includes four models, all sporting support for 5G networks. New Apple processors, improved camera performance, and a more square-shaped design (similar to the iPhone 4 and iPad Pro) are found on all four models.
The
iPhone 12 Pro Max is the largest iPhone with a 6.7-inch display. This year, Apple also has the
iPhone 12 Pro Max with slightly better cameras when compared to the
iPhone 12 Pro.
Specification -
Weight : 164 g. Dimensions: 146.7 mm x 71.5 mm x 7.4 mm
OS: iOS 14 Screen size: 6.1 inches
Resolution: 1170 x 2532 pixels
CPU: Apple A14 Bionic RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64GB / 128GB / 256GB
Battery: 2,815 mAh Rear camera: 12MP wide + 12MP ultrawide
Front camera: 12MP
Splash, Water, and Dust Resistant - All-glass and surgical-grade stainless steel design, water and dust resistant (rated IP68)
Pricing for the new iPhone 12 Pro Max starts at $1,099 for the 128GB model and ranges up to $1,399 for the 512GB storage capacity. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is available in graphite, silver, gold, and pacific blue.
Check best deals in Amazon - 2. Samsung Galaxy S20/S20 Plus - Best Android Smartphone to buy in 2021
The S20 devices have excellent performance and great battery life. They have 120Hz displays that make every interaction as smooth as it can be. They also support 5G networks, just like any other flagship phone this year.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus is the best phone you can buy today, while the smaller (and slightly less capable) Galaxy S20 is so similar that we've lumped to two together.
SPECIFICATIONS -
Dimensions: 166.9 x 76 x 8.8mm Weight: 186g
OS: Android 10 Screen size: 6.7-inch
Resolution: 3200×1440
Storage: 128/512GB (up to 1TB with card)
RAM: 12GB CPU: Snapdragon 865
Battery: 4,500mAh
Rear camera: 12MP + 64MP + 12MP
Front camera: 10MP
Choosing between the S20 and S20 Plus comes down to basically one thing: do you want an oversized screen or not? The S20 has a large 6.2-inch screen; the S20 Plus has an enormous 6.7-inch screen. The latter will definitely be harder to use in one hand and might not slip into your pocket as easily, but the screen is gorgeous to look at.
Perhaps the best part of the S20 models is that you can get them for a good price, now that they’ve been on the market for more than six months. At launch, the S20 was about $1,000, while the S20 Plus was $1,200, both for 128GB models. But now you can regularly find the S20 in the $700 to $800 range, with the S20 Plus typically $200 more. At those prices, you can’t find a better Android phone.
S20 Price - $700
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S20 Plus Price - $899
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3. Samsung Galaxy S20 FE -
Best midrange android phone to buy 2021
Like the other S20 models, the FE has a 120Hz display that makes every touch, scroll, or interaction feel smooth. It also has a top-tier Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor — you’re not giving up anything in terms of performance here.Its camera system has the familiar wide, ultrawide, and telephoto setup, with all three cameras having 12-megapixel sensors. In good light, they all take reliably good phones; where you’ll notice a difference between this and more expensive phones is when it starts to get dark. But Samsung’s night mode does work surprisingly well and helps out quite a bit.
SPECIFICATIONS -
Dimensions: 159.8 x 74.5 x 8.4mm
Weight: 190g OS: Android 10
Resolution: 2400 x 1080
RAM: 6/8GB Storage: 128/256GB
CPU: Snapdragon 865
Battery: 4,500mAh
Rear camera: 12MP+8MP+12MP
Front camera: 32MP
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4. Apple iPhone SE -
Apple's iPhone SE (2020) handset has taken last year by storm in terms of praise, with the hot new handset winning critics over worldwide with its brilliant balance of features, quality and performance for a very attractive price point. Retailing for under half what Apple's flagship phones do, this is easily the best budget handset we've ever seen from the American maker.
It is the exact same A13 Bionic chipset that sits in all of Apple's flagship phones, while it comes running Apple's iOS 13 operating system just like those phones do, too. It is in many respects a full fat new iPhone experience but for a shockingly low price point.
SPECIFICATIONS -
Dimension - 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm
Weight: 148g Screen size: 4.7 inches
Resolution: 750 x 1334 pixels
RAM: 3 GB/6GB
Storage: 64GB / 128GB / 256GB
CPU: Apple A13 Bionic
Battery: 1,821 mAh
Rear camera: 12 MP f/1.8
Front camera: 7 MP f/2.0
Face/Touch ID - Touch ID
Water and Dust Resistant - Rated IP67 (maximum depth of 1 meter up to 30 minutes) under IEC standard 60529
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5. OnePlus 8 Pro. -
The OnePlus 8 series is the seventh generation (if you discount the T-updates and the missing OnePlus 4 from the lineup) and comprises the OnePlus 8 and the OnePlus 8 Pro. I am reviewing the OnePlus 8 Pro, which has a slightly larger battery, a larger, 120 Hz display, and an added dedicated telephoto camera when compared with the OnePlus 8. The OnePlus 8 Pro also sports wireless charging and IP68 water and dust protection. On paper, it is everything you would have wanted in a OnePlus flagship.
Display - 6.78-inch Fluid AMOLED display with 1440 x 3168 pixels
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865
Graphics: Adreno 650 GPU
RAM + Storage in GB: 8/128, 8/256 with LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.0 storage
(Device under test: 8/128)
Expandable storage: No
Primary Camera: 48 MP with f/1.8 aperture, 1/1.43-inch sensor with OIS
Secondary cameras: 48 MP Ultrawide with f/2.2 aperture + 8 MP Telephoto with f/2.4 + 5 MP Colour Filter camera with f/2.4 aperture
Selfie Camera: 16 MP with f/2.5 aperture
Battery: 4,510 mAh
Software: Android 10 (1 May 2020 security patch) with OxygenOS 10.5
Price - $ 924
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6. iPhone 12 Pro
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.
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.
Display: 6.1-inch OLED (2532x1170) CPU: A14 Bionic RAM: 6GB Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB 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)
Water and Dust Resistant - Rated IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes) under IEC standard 60529
Price - $ 1024
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7. Samsung Galaxy Note 20 ultra
Samsung announced the Galaxy Note 20 series last fall, and it is clear the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is one of the best phones for productivity and an easy recommendation for those who love the S Pen.
The Galaxy Note 20 devices bring everything we saw on the Galaxy S20 series along with some improvements in the cameras. Of course, the S Pen is a staple of the Note series, and with the Note 20, we see more Air Actions that are actually proving to be quite useful and reliable this year. While LG has solid support for stylus use, nothing beats the functionality and capability of the S Pen. It is also housed inside of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G, making it easily accessible for use all day long.
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.Specification -
Display: 6.9-inch AMOLED (3088x1440) CPU: Snapdragon 865 Plus RAM: 12GB Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB 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
Price - $939.99
Check best deals on Amazon 8. Google Pixel 4a 5G - Best Affordable 5G Phone
What makes the Google Pixel 4a so special is that it offers almost everything you’d desire in a smartphone for just $349. And it’s remarkably compelling for that price.Google’s latest midrange offering contains a gorgeous 5.8-inch OLED screen; solid power from a Snapdragon 730G chipset; clever software features like Call Screen and Google’s handy Recorder live transcription app; and, of course, that marvel of a 12-megapixel camera, which includes perks like Night Sight and Super Res Zoom.
Iiin addition to the software being a focus for Google, the camera is another reason to buy the Pixel 4A 5G over other, better smartphone hardware. However, while others have three or four rear cameras, Google provides just one so there are some limits on its capability as a daily shooter.
Android 11 powers the phone, and it will receive OS upgrades for three years. Monthly Android security updates are the most important software support for the enterprise, given major firmware updates tend to break things and be less stable immediately after release.
Specification -
Display: 5.81-inch OLED (2340x1080) CPU: Snapdragon 730G RAM: 6GB Storage / Expandable: 128GB / No Rear camera: 12.2MP (ƒ/1.7) Front camera: 8MP (ƒ/2.0) Weight: 5.04 ounces Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 8:55
Check best deals on Amazon 9. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 -
Galaxy Z Fold 2 is the best folding phone we've seen yet. It's basically a smartphone and tablet in one device, and while it is outrageously expensive, it's also the best attempt yet we've seen for this form factor.
The best way to think about the device is as a phone and tablet in one. When the Z Fold 2 is closed, you're treated to a 6.23-inch AMOLED display that you can use for anything you'd like — checking email, scrolling through Twitter, watching YouTube videos, you name it. Should you find yourself wanting a larger canvas, however, all you need to do is open up the Z Fold 2 up. There, you're treated to a larger 7.6-inch AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. It's a lot like having an iPad Mini that you can fold up and take with you wherever you want, and if you ask us, that's pretty amazing.
As you might expect for a new technology like a folding phone, the Z Fold 2 does come with some unique dilemmas. The Ultra-Thin Glass for the tablet display is prone to scratches a lot more than traditional glass, the folding design raises questions about long-term durability, and not all apps are properly optimized for that larger display size. There's also the matter of price, with the Galaxy Z Fold 2 costing more than two OnePlus 8 Pros.
Cover Display | 6.23-inch AMOLED, 2260x816, 60Hz refresh rate |
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Inner Display | 7.6-inch AMOLED, 2280x1768, 120Hz refresh rate |
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Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ RAM 12GB
Storage 256GB
Cameras 12MP primary, 12MP telephoto, 12MP ultra-wide
Battery 4,500 mAh
Charging 25W wired and 11W wireless
Dimensions 159.2x128.2x6.9mm (unfolded) and 159.2x68x16.8mm (folded)
Weight 282g
Price $1999
Check best deals on Amazon below - 10. Motorola Edge -
With so many Android phones coming out all the time, it can be easy for some to go unnoticed. The Motorola Edge is one such device, but now that its price has come down considerably, it's well worth a second look.
As its name suggests, one of the biggest draws to the Motorola Edge is its curved display. The 6.7-inch OLED panel has edges that flow seamlessly over the sides of the phone, creating a pretty stunning aesthetic. There's also some functionality built into those curves, with Motorola allowing you to perform a variety of shortcuts by tapping and swiping on them. Pair all of that with a Full HD+ resolution and 90Hz refresh rate, and this ends up being a killer display.
Most of the Motorola Edge experience is damn impressive, but two things are holding it back from perfection. The camera system is very mediocre, with photos being considerably less impressive compared to other phones on this list. It's also disappointing that the Edge is only promised a single software update to Android 11.
Operating System - Android 10 with easy access to the Google apps you use most
Internal Storage
- 256 GB built-in | up to 1 TB microSD card expandable
Sensors
- Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity, Ambient Light, Sensor Hub, Fingerprint reader
Processor
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 octa-core processor | Adreno 620 GPU
Memory (RAM)
- 6GB
Security
- Fingerprint reader on display, Face unlock
Display Size
- 6.7” Endless Edge display
Resolution
- FHD+ (2340 x 1080)
Display Technology
- OLED,
DCI-P3 color space,
90Hz refresh rate,
HDR10 Battery Size
- 4500mAh
Charging
- 18W TurboPower charging
Battery Life
- Up to 2-day battery
Dimensions
- 161.64 x 71.1 x 9.29mm
Body
- 6000 series aluminum
Corning Gorilla Glass 5 (front)
Plastic (rear) Ports
- Type-C port (USB 2.0),
3.5mm headset jack Weight
- 188g
Ports
- Type-C port (USB 2.0),
3.5mm headset jack Water Protection
- Water repellent design
- Price - $424.95
- Check best deals on Amazon below - These are the absolute best phones in USA right now. The list will keep getting better and bigger as new phones come out in the upcoming months. We will be updating the list regularly, so make sure you go through the list before making any purchase decision.
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