Best Smartphones in 2021 So Far

A Buyer's Guide

Victor
| October 2021

Let’s cut to the chase. Our modern lifestyle calls for a top-notch smartphone. If not, you’re basically lagging behind. But, everybody isn’t fancy, and some of us need to find the best value smartphone that won’t break our banks or die within a year.

So, let’s figure out which smartphone is the ideal pick for your budget and preference.

1. Apple iPhone 12 (Overall best iPhone)

With the recent release of the Apple iPhone 13 line, obviously, that has now superseded the iPhone 12 as the best iPhone on the market. However, with every new generation of iPhones, the previous generation drops in price. Given the small differences in upgrades (look forward to a review coming soon), if you are looking to get a more affordable iPhone that is almost as good, the Apple iPhone 12 is still one of the best smartphones you can buy within the $799 price range.

Its flat-edge design, powerful Apple A14 Bionic chip, excellent night mode selfie functionality under dimly lit environments, 5G support, durable ceramic shield front, storage options such as 64 GB, 128 GB, and 256 GB, pre-eminent camera functions with Dolby Vision HDR for recording 700 million colours, dust and water-resistance, and 6 choices of colours are definitely worth it.Apple iPhone 12

Source: Apple

2. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra (Overall best Android phone)

Right off the bat, many would guess that the Samsung S21 Ultra is the hands-down winner of the Android realm. But, no.

This time, Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra takes the lead by giving tough competition to its Samsung counterpart through its camera and price.

With 256 GB/512 GB storage options, AMOLED display and Dolby Vision, action capture feature to retain the focus on moving objects, 8/12 GB RAM, 5G support, ceramic back, solid touch sensitivity, Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra brings a lot to the table along with its quirky design.

Not to mention, Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra has 1700 nits and can display 10-bit colours which make Mi 11 Ultra display the best and the brightest display ever.


Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra

Source: Xiaomi

3. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra (Overall best camera phone)

When it comes to Android camera phones, rain or shine, S21 Ultra is the bomb. If its insane zoom functionality doesn’t seal the deal for you, we don’t know what does.

S21 Ultra flaunts a 108 MP wide camera, 10 MP periscope telephoto, 10 MP telephoto, 12 MP ultrawide camera and a 40 MP selfie camera with LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama features, along with the capability of shooting 8K videos.

But, again, if you’re leaning more towards Apple products, the iPhone 12 Pro Max's night mode and portrait mode will make you second guess your purchase.

Or, if you want to save some bucks, Google Pixel 4a’s 12.2 MP camera might live up to your expectations.


Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

4. Xiaomi Mi 11 (Overall best value phone)

If you’re hell-bent on finding the best value smartphone, Xiaomi Mi 11 is certainly worth its salt.

The AMOLED, 1500 nits display can bring you pretty sleek visuals, and the phone comes with cutting edge cinematic software that specially caters to directors in the making.

What’s more, AI Erase 2.0 feature can get rid of unwanted objects from your precious captures.

5G support, 6/12 GB RAM, 128 GB/256 GB storage, Ultra-wide perspective, possibility to shoot videos in extreme darkness, and smooth performance will further nudge you to get on board with this phone.


Xiaomi Mi 11

Source: Xiaomi

5. Redmi Note 10 Pro (Overall best mid-range phone)

Priced at around $270, Redmi Note 10 Pro falls into one of the most efficient mid-range Android phones.

Its elegant AMOLED, 1200 nits display, 108 MP wide camera, 64 GB/128 GB storage and 6/8 GB RAM will sweeten the pot for you.

If you’re on a budget and still need to get a high-end experience from your smartphone, Redmi Note 10 Pro isn’t a bad choice.


Redmi Note 10 Pro

Source: Xiaomi

6. Poco X3 Pro (Overall best budget phone)

If you don’t want to live off of your piggy bank after spending all your money on a smartphone, Poco X3 Pro is your best bet.

Poco X3 Pro knocks it out of the park with its IPS LCD, 450 nits display, 128 GB/256 GB storage options, 6/8 GB RAM, 48 MP wide camera, improved drop and scratch resistance, and Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 chipset.

Moreover, the stellar CPU and GPU performance along with the adequate cooling system supports a lagless gaming experience.

Undoubtedly, this is the most powerful Android phone you’ll get within this $230 price range.


Poco X3 Pro

Source: Poco

Over to you

The above-mentioned functionalities of these camera phones are just the tip of the iceberg, and choosing the best smartphone for your unique requirement takes a lot of nit-picking.

With that in mind, head over to ximple.me and compare the best value smartphone choices before settling for one.

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