Today, the best smartphone has a large screen, a camera that can replace a digital camera, enough power and battery to work or relax while you're on the go. As this high-tech device represents a significant investment, here are the essential criteria to consider.
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Our selection
"The iPhone 12 5G is anything but a pale update of the iPhone 11. Indeed, the new flagship of Apple that represents lands a new…"
"Don't rely on its price to say that this smartphone is bad. You might regret it! The OnePlus Nord has all the premium features you'll…"
"The iPhone 12 Pro Max is the new flagship of the apple brand. As its name suggests, everything is maximized: screen size, speed, design, autonomy…"
"The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is a very complete smartphone with dual SIM. Compatible with the 5G network, it is a model with a great…"
"Packed with remarkable performance, the P40 Pro Plus ranks among the best photophone references. 5G compatible, the smartphone impresses with a Kirin 990 base and…"
The iPhone 12 5G is anything but a pale update of the iPhone 11. Indeed, the new flagship of Apple that represents lands a new design and its lot of novelties.
710 £ on AmazonIt is unthinkable to talk about the iPhone 12 without mentioning its particularly successful design. In fact, it's one of the most beautiful and robust that we've seen in the last few years from the Apple brand. But don't be fooled, the iPhone 12 doesn't just have a beautiful chassis. Its technical features are a credit to Apple, starting with its A14 Bionic 5G SoC, but also its Super Retina XDR screen on a 60 Hz OLED panel and Dolby Vision compatible.
This 5G smartphone runs on iOS 14 and takes advantage of all the new features of this new operating system. You will have a very sober interface, but very pleasant to use with applications directly accessible from the library. The RAM is rather small, only 4GB, but it is still enough for whatever you plan to do with this smartphone. As for the photography option, it is entrusted to two 12MP sensors that will allow you to succeed in your shots in day or night mode.
Don't rely on its price to say that this smartphone is bad. You might regret it! The OnePlus Nord has all the premium features you'll need, all for less than 400 euros. A bargain!
320 £ on AmazonThe OnePlus Nord is undoubtedly one of the most affordable smartphones of the Chinese manufacturer. It leaves no one indifferent to the high-end models because of its design and its excellent quality of construction. With a glass finish and thin edges, this smartphone stands out with its large 6.44-inch Amoled display offering impeccable full HD resolution.
Its great advantage lies in its 2 front cameras, including a classic 32MP photo sensor and an 8MP ultra wide-angle sensor specially designed for selfies. Its 4 photo sensors, including the main one with a resolution of 48 MP, located at the back will complete the picture. Its great autonomy allows to use it in a moderate way over a period of 2 days.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max is the new flagship of the apple brand. As its name suggests, everything is maximized: screen size, speed, design, autonomy and especially photo quality.
950 £ on AmazonThe Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max is aimed at the most demanding videographers and photographers. Offering unheard of screen definition, this high-end smartphone has a 6.7″ OLED Super Retina XDR panel. Unlike previous iPhones, this one uses a material called Ceramic Shield that covers the screen. This makes it waterproof and almost unbreakable even without a tempered glass protective film.
But where Apple hits hard is in the photo part. The 3 sensors (ultra wide-angle, wide-angle and telephoto 12 MP) make this mobile the ultimate photophone. Huawei, Samsung, Google and others can go to hell! It also embeds an A14 Bionic SoC, currently the fastest processor (no latency on Call of Duty!). The LiDAR scanner, the Night mode or the possibility to record videos in 4K HDR will only increase the appeal of this phone.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is a very complete smartphone with dual SIM. Compatible with the 5G network, it is a model with a great autonomy: a Lithium-ion battery of 5,000 mAh.
876 £ on AmazonBoth SIM cards are 4FF format and have access to 5G network connectivity. However, both SIMs can be detected simultaneously. It is considered to be the best dual SIM smartphone in its class. Moreover, this smartphone packs a powerful Samsung Exynos 2102 processor. Moreover, it offers good image quality with its 4 rear sensors of 108 x 12 x 10 x 10 MP and its 40 MP front sensor.
We have to admit that Samsung has outdone itself with this device that can store up to 128 GB of data. Its 6.8" screen offers HD+ resolution and 8k video for a more immersive experience. This smartphone can also withstand a fresh water pressure of 1.5 m deep for about 30 minutes.
Packed with remarkable performance, the P40 Pro Plus ranks among the best photophone references. 5G compatible, the smartphone impresses with a Kirin 990 base and a 50 Mp quintuple photo sensor.
799 £ on FnacThe P40 Pro Plus is an ultra-premium version of the Huawei P40 series with a 5G compatible network. The smartphone sports a very elegant look with 4 curved edges and a ceramic back embedding a 90 Hz Oled FHD+ display at 2640 x 1200p 441 ppi. The photo quality is ensured by five sensors including a main module of 50 Mp, an ultra wide-angle of 40 Mp, a telephoto x3 of 8 Mp, a periscope x10 of 8 Mp and a Tof sensor. The front camera embeds an IR Tof sensor of 32 Mp.
Powered by a 4200 mAh battery, the P40 Pro plus is capable of providing up to 48 hours of use. To its performance, the smartphone takes advantage of a powerful Kirin 990 5G 8-core 2.86 GHz CPU coupled with 8 GB of RAM and 512 GB internal memory expandable via microSD. Even more powerful to the connection, it embeds the 6 ax dual-band Wi-Fi module with Bluetooth 5.1 as well as USB-C 3.1 compatibility. To its dimensions, it adopts a length of 158 mm, a width of 72.6 mm and a depth of 9 mm for a weight of 226 g.
With an excellent quality/price ratio, a last generation processor, a top notch screen and an ultra fast charging time, the Xiaomi Mi 11 plays in the big league. Its rivals can tremble!
518 £ on AmazonThe Xiaomi Mi 11 should delight videographers and professional photographers because of its exceptional lenses, such as its main sensor of 108 MP. 3 of its sensors include the "night mode" option allowing to take images in low light. No need for editing software, the AI Erase 2.0 takes care of the special effects of your videos captured in 4K HDR10+. Added to this is the Super Resolution technology that enhances low-resolution videos.
This Xiaomi smartphone is a real concentrate of technology and power. It has a beautiful design in frosted Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, ideal to protect it from shocks and drops. Its 6.81-inch AMOLED display with curved edges ensures an excellent grip. In addition, the Mi 11 features the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor. Its performance is optimized thanks to the ultra-large Arm Cortex-XI core. Of course, the whole thing will not work without its 4600 mAh battery.
Any specific needs?
The best entry-level smartphone
Your guide :
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| Top of the top | Inexpensive | High end | Excellent | Very good | ||
In accordance with our commitment, this buying guide does not contain any sponsored products. |
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| OUR SELECTION |
Apple iPhone 12 5G
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OnePlus North
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Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
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Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
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Huawei P40 Pro plus
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Xiaomi Mi 11
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The iPhone 12 5G is anything but a pale update of the iPhone 11. Indeed, the new flagship of Apple that represents lands a new design and its lot of novelties.
|
Don't rely on its price to say that this smartphone is bad. You might regret it! The OnePlus Nord has all the premium features you'll need, all for less than 400 euros. A bargain!
|
The iPhone 12 Pro Max is the new flagship of the apple brand. As its name suggests, everything is maximized: screen size, speed, design, autonomy and especially photo quality.
|
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is a very complete smartphone with dual SIM. Compatible with the 5G network, it is a model with a great autonomy: a Lithium-ion battery of 5,000 mAh.
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Packed with remarkable performance, the P40 Pro Plus ranks among the best photophone references. 5G compatible, the smartphone impresses with a Kirin 990 base and a 50 Mp quintuple photo sensor.
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With an excellent quality/price ratio, a last generation processor, a top notch screen and an ultra fast charging time, the Xiaomi Mi 11 plays in the big league. Its rivals can tremble!
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Storage space
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128 GB
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256 GB
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256 GB
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128 GB
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512 GB
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256 GB
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Hard drive memory
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4 GB
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12 GB
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6 GB
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12 GB
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8 GB
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8 GB
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Main photo sensor
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12 x 12 MP (4k)
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48 MP (f/1.8)
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12 x 12 x 12 MP (4k)
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108 x 12 x 10 x 10 Mpx
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50 x 40 x 8 x 8 Mpx + TOF 3D
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108 x 13 x 5 Mpx
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Battery power
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2,815 mAh
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4100 mAh
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14.13 Wh
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5,000 mAh
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4200 mAh
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4600 mAh
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Dual SIM
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No
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Yes
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No
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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If you are a movie and video lover, you have to be quite rigorous about the screen size. Indeed, a large screen offers you more comfort in use, especially if you also want to use it in the professional field. It is very easy to use for typing. Therefore, you don't have to buy a tablet.
On the other hand, it is more convenient to have a small size smartphone for daily use. It will be very easy to carry since you can put it in your pocket without any problem or simply slip it in your handbag.
The processor is among the most important elements to consider. If you want a very smooth usage, you should go for a powerful processor like the Quad Core with 4 cores or Octa Core with 8 cores. They are mainly intended for those who are fans of video games, among others with more than 4 GB of RAM. For normal use, a smartphone with a Dual Core processor (2 cores) coupled with 2 GB of RAM will be suitable.
In addition, it is also necessary to count the capacity of the phone and the support of dual SIM, the support and type of card supported, the free flash memory as well as the protection index. As for the camera, the smartphone should offer at least cameras with 24 MP. This way, you can take as many selfies as you want, and good ones at that. Finally, the battery life is an important criterion. At least, the smartphone should last for 13 hours without recharging with intensive use. This way, you won't have to bring a charger and find a plug everywhere.
The best will obviously be to have the highest refresh rate. For the navigation to be fluid, you need at least a refresh rate of 90 Hz. On the market, you can even manage to find a smartphone with a refresh rate of 120 or 144 Hz.
The resolution indicates the size of the pixels as well as their concentration. In this area, there are 30-inch screens with 4K. These are the best, but if the smartphone has Full HD definition, you can use it comfortably.
For the operating system, the choice depends a priori on your needs. Already, Android is the most popular system. 80% of smartphone models on the market are Android. It is very convenient and offers more freedom to the user. On the other hand, there is also the iOS system which is very easy to use.
The world is currently very connected and that's why you need to make sure that your smartphone can keep up with the pace. Technology is now developing the 5G network. From this point of view, it would be ideal to have a 5G smartphone, but the 4G+ network is also an option to better browse the web.
In addition, the phone must be easy to connect to other phones. Thus, Wifi, Bluetooth are de rigueur. Moreover, almost all smartphones have them at the moment, there are even those that are compatible with Wifi ac and Wifi 6. They should be preferred. It is also important to have the GPS function which is always useful to locate you and your phone in case you lose it.
The smartphone's additional features gather all the little extras that distinguish it from other models. In this sense, the most common is the flexibility of the screen. The screen should not give in easily to scratching. It must be resistant so that it does not break or crack at the slightest impact. As for the whole phone, the waterproof technology is remarkable. This way, you won't risk losing your data when your phone falls in the water.
Lately, the major manufacturers are proposing the presence of an NFC chip in the smartphones beforehand. It allows you to better secure your device, especially for contactless payments. Phones with dual SIM entries are very convenient for those who travel constantly. This way, you don't have to remove your main chip when you go to another country and have to assign yourself another number.
Update your software immediately.
Whenever an update is available for your device, download and install it without delay. These updates often include security patches, vulnerability fixes, and other necessary maintenance.
If you want to buy a new cell phone, make sure your SIM card works on it before you pick it up.
Most cell phone carriers will advise you to buy a new SIM card for a new unlocked phone from a particular GSM carrier. But this is a purchase that is not essential: you will still be able to use the SIM card from your old phone with the new one. And this, whether you change operator or not.
If you want to buy insurance for your unlocked cell phone, first do a little comparison of the different offers on the market.
Most cell phone operators offer insurance for their devices for a monthly fee. But these offers can include clauses that can be costly to the subscriber. For example, the insurance contract may provide for an increase in the co-payment in the event of a claim or circumstances that are not covered (e.g. water damage). Insofar as there are now many offers for smartphone coverage, other than those proposed by the operators, it is wiser to make a comparison between the possible offers before any subscription.
Use a VPN on open Wi-Fi networks.
Install
a VPN application on your mobile device. Such an app will make you anonymous online, so you can safely use open Wi-Fi networks, safe from lurking cybercriminals.
Download applications from official application stores.
Use
only the official app stores - App Store for an iPhone or iPad, and Google Play Store for an Android device. It's all too common for malware developers to create fake malicious apps and install them on suspicious third-party sites, hoping someone will be naive enough to download them. Official app stores have a rigorous approval process that ensures the reliability of their apps.
Yes, these viruses usually arrive via email, but they can also be spread via SMS or other means. Smartphone users should be vigilant in installing security applications and other updates for their devices. In fact, almost all major desktop security vendors offer mobile antivirus software.
You can optimize the battery life of your device with the following methods:
Opt for one with a screen larger than 5 inches to have more usability and a good viewing experience. This is because small screens are suitable for quick tasks, but if you use your phone for media, you will need a bigger screen. Also, Android users have a clear advantage over iPhone users when it comes to screen size.
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