Tips And Tricks For Picking the Right And The Best Phone

In the era of technology, it is already difficult to surprise us with something. Developers create computers and phones of such power, which we could not have dreamed of literally ten years ago. The latest 5G internet, which is gaining momentum in 2020, a return to push-button phones, phones that work underwater, fold in half with the screen, and cameras all over the corps ‒ the list is huge. All this is no longer a novelty, but a routine. But not everyone needs this pathos because if you are a regular phone user, you will not take advantage of half the functions of these newest brands.

When choosing a phone, the main thing is to know what you need it for. For some nerds, the most important thing is the best 4g LTE phone, others want to take cool photos, and some just need a little bit of everything and for a small price.I have compiled not the top best phones of 2020, I have selected the best phones in various categories and for different purposes, and of course, the methods and tricks with which you can choose your ideal phone. I’ve done research on many best smartphone reviews, so you will be pleased with the result.

1. iPhone SE 2020. Best for Affordable IOS

There is no doubt that the 2020 iPhone SE will be in steady demand in the market ‒ at least for the simple reason that it is the smallest flagship on the market and the best touch screen phone.

There was no hype during the presentation. It is understandable ‒ we have a well-known iPhone with a 4.7-inch screen, but, so to speak, seriously pumped up: the new item has a powerful A13 Bionic processor from older versions of Apple smartphones, and the RAM capacity now reaches 3 GB.

Cameras, appearance, and even shades have not changed. Interestingly, the news appeared on the network immediately after the premiere of SE (2020) that the production of the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus had been discontinued. However, these models can still be found on sale.

Main characteristics:

• screen diagonal: 4.7 inches;
• screen resolution: 1334 × 750;
• weight: 148g;
• number of SIM-cards: 1;
• processor: Apple A13 Bionic;
• memory capacity: 128GB;
• the amount of RAM: 3GB;
• battery capacity: 1700mAh;
• rear camera: 12MP;
• front camera: 7MP;
• support for memory cards: no.

2. Google Pixel 3a. Best for Overall Value

The Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL are budget versions of last year’s Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. They have a clean and fast version of Google 10 from Google with a three-year guaranteed update.

They also offer better camera performance than anything you can get from Pixel 4, which costs twice as much. However, the Pixel 3a and 3a XL aren’t as fast as the more expensive Pixel models, they don’t offer wireless charging, and their plastic bodies aren’t water-resistant. They do, however, have headphone jacks.

Pros: You will enjoy great low-light shots and very impressive CG-driven portrait effects.

Pros:

• there is a headphone jack!
• flagship quality camera;
• fantastic display;
• big size.

Cons:

• no Qi charging or water resistance;
• maybe slow in certain activities;
• the screen is a little dim.

3. Google Pixel 4. Best for Android Fans

Speaking of good smartphones in terms of features, it’s hard to argue against the merits of Google Pixel 4. The novelty has an improved screen with a refresh rate of up to 90 Hz. 

The 5.7-inch Full HD + screen is built on an OLED matrix for a vibrant picture. In addition, there is an Ambient EQ function, which is responsible for adjusting the color temperature. A dual-camera (12 megapixels and 16 megapixels) with optical and electronic stabilization is responsible for the pictures. There is phase detection autofocus and improved software algorithms. Detailed images at night are provided by the Night Sight mode. Another advantage of this device is the advanced face unlocking system. Radar is now installed, thanks to which the screen turns on even before the user brings the device to his face. The front camera has an 8-megapixel sensor. The amount of RAM is 6 gigabytes, which is enough with the Snapdragon 855 chip to work efficiently in any application.

Pros:

• good camera;
• clear display;
• good functionality;
• high-quality iron.

Cons:

• battery capacity;
• no slot for microSD.

4. Samsung Galaxy S10e. Best for Hand-Friendly Factor

Another smartphone that has received our approval is the Samsung Galaxy S10e. This is the cheapest of the three versions of last year’s flagship S10, and in our opinion, the most profitable. It has a smaller and more cozy body. The Galaxy S10e is very comfortable in the hand. Equipped with a superb Super AMOLED display with HDR10 + (5.8 inches), no curling at the sides. The bezels are thin and the front camera is housed in an inconspicuous hole in the display. The phone supports modern wireless connectivity and can inductively (wirelessly) charge another device. Cameras with 4K 60fps and 4K 30fps capabilities also make a positive impression. This is still Samsung’s most economical flagship.

Main characteristics:

• operating system Android 9.0;
• screen (diagonal) 5.8 inches;
• display (resolution) 2280 × 1080 pixels;
• processor (name) Samsung Exynos 9820;
• 128GB of internal storage;
• camera (main) 12MP + 16MP;
• 6GB of RAM.

5. Galaxy S20+. Best for 5G

If you’re looking for a Samsung smartphone with a good camera, then the flagship Galaxy S20 is definitely worth checking out.

In a number of parameters, including battery life, the new product is inferior to Note 10 +, but video recording, screen frequency of 120Hz, functionality are definitely stronger sides. In general, a great solution for business people who are not used to saving money on such a thing as a smartphone. The flagship came out with support for 2 full nano-SIM and nano + e-SIM. Works with a choice of Exynos 990 or Snapdragon 865. Based on performance tests, the second configuration should be more powerful. The curved 6.2-inch screen has a resolution of 3200 x 1440 pixels at a density of 563 PPI. Yes, friends, this is definitely one of the strongest displays on the market. At the same time, the manufacturer took care of a good supply of RAM of 12 gigabytes. Decide for yourself what to do with such a volume …

Pros:

• power of each of the chips;
• sound quality;
• gorgeous camera;
• 4K at high frequency;
• stabilization;
• stylish design.

Cons:

• price at the start.

6. Alcatel Go Flip 3. Best Flip Phone Users

The novelty has received a fairly large 2.8-inch display by the standards of the class. True, its resolution is straight from the times when clamshells were in vogue ‒ 320 x 240 pixels.

Despite the general dominance of smartphones, conventional push-button phones are still in great demand, as evidenced by the regular appearance of more and more new models. This time, Alcatel decided to plunge into the world of simplicity and physical sensations from dialing a number or an SMS message, presenting the Go Flip 3 clamshell device.

The model runs under the special “button” operating system KaiOS. Thanks to this, the gadget supports such popular services as Google Assistant, Google Maps, WhatsApp, Facebook, and YouTube. The novelty has received a fairly large 2.8-inch display by the standards of the class. True, its resolution is straight from the times when clamshells were in vogue ‒ 320 x 240 pixels. There is also an additional 1.44-inch display on the back of the lid.

At the heart of the phone is a Snapdragon 210 processor and 4GB of permanent memory. There is also a 2MP camera, 4G support, and a 1350mAh battery. It provides up to 9 hours of talk time on 3G and 7 hours on 4G.

7. Motorola Moto E5 Plus. Best for Lowest Price

Main characteristics:

• weight: 196.6g; 
• dimensions: 160.9 x 75.3 x 9.4mm
• OS: Android 8.0;
• screen size: 6 inches;
• resolution: 720 x 1440;
• processor: Snapdragon 425;
• RAM: 3GB;
• storage: 32GB
• battery: 5000mAh; 
• rear camera: 12MP;
• front camera: 5MP.

The Moto E5 Plus is not as good as the company’s G-series, but it is one of the best buys in the low-cost segment.

The main feature of the device is its outstanding battery life. The 5000 mAh battery allows you to actively use the device for two days. The performance is also decent, as is the large 5.99-inch display and the pure Android 8.0 Oreo version.

Pros:

• fantastic battery;
• good screen.

Cons:

• average performance.

8. Moto G7 Power. Best for Long Battery Life

It is the best cheap phone for those who need a big battery.

Main characteristics:

• weight: 193g;
• dimensions: 159.4 x 76 x 9.3mm;
• OS: Android 9;
• screen size: 6.2-inch;
• resolution: 720 x 1570;
• processor: Snapdragon 632;
• RAM: 3 / 4GB;
• storage: 32 / 64GB;
• battery: 5000mAh;
• rear camera: 12MP;
• front camera: 8MP.

This is the best budget smartphone when it comes to battery life. The Moto G7 Power is equipped with a giant 5000mAh power bank. It’s also awkwardly large, but for those who want two days of battery life (and sometimes more) on a single charge, no other smartphone can compete with the Moto G7 Power right now.

Pros:

• massive battery;
• good gaming performance.

Cons:

• bulky design.

9. OnePlus 8 Pro. Best for Lower-cost 5G

In our current ranking of the best smartphones, it’s hard to ignore the OnePlus 8 Pro. This is definitely one of the controversial devices, on the subject of which conflicting reviews and comments constantly appear. Indeed, with increasing brightness, the flagship AMOLED screen turns green, which is typical for all matrices of this type, including the S20 Ultra. 

However, the 6.78-inch, the 3168-by-1440-pixel screen is definitely in the top, supports HDR10 +, and 120Hz refresh rate. At the same time, the housing meets the protection class IP68. Responsible for the performance is the Snapdragon 865 chip, which works in tandem with the Adreno 650. The camera has a triple module of 48, 8, and 5 megapixels. This bundle is enough for shooting 4K video and creating premium quality RAW images. Among other things, the model supports macro photography, can create gorgeous portrait photos. The battery capacity is 4510 mAh with fast charging support (up to 50% in just 22 minutes).

Pros:

• good performance;
• really fast charging;
• excellent display with 120 Hz;
• premium camera with 4K.

Cons:

• memory cannot be increased;
• slightly overpriced.

10. ZTE Blade A7 Prime and 10 Prime. Best for Verizon Users

ZTE has expanded its Blade series of smartphones with the Blade A7 Prime and 10 Prime priced at $99 and $179, respectively. The first is one of the most affordable phones of the brand. It has a gray plastic body, a single main camera, and a fingerprint sensor on the back. The upscale 10 Prime in black features a shiny polycarbonate back that adds a touch of premium appeal, dual main cameras, and a fingerprint sensor on the back.

The A7 Prime offers a 6.09-inch HD + display with a 1560 x 720 px resolution. The phone is equipped with the Helio A22 chipset in conjunction with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, additionally expandable via a microSD card. Some of the software uses stock Android 9.

For imaging, the A7 Prime offers a 16MP camera on the back, aided by a LED flash. Selfies and video calls are handled by a 5MP camera on the front. Connectivity stipulates 4G LTE, dual SIM slots, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, micro-USB port, and GPS. A 3200 mAh battery completes the list of features.

The 10 Prime’s dual camera consists of 16MP primary and 5MP secondary sensors. At the front, there is a 16-megapixel camera that captures self-portraits. A 6.3-inch FHD + display with a resolution of 1080 × 2280 px is intended for displaying information. It is also backed by a 3200mAh battery and runs with Android Pie. Finally, the device contains the Helio P60 chipset along with 64GB of expandable storage.

11. Apple iPhone 11 Pro. Best for Everyone

Despite all sorts of criticism and “leaks” of insiders, Apple has once again managed to confirm its status as one of the leading manufacturers of flagship solutions. This was confirmed by the iPhone 11 Pro. The representative of the eleventh line received the latest proprietary chip A13 Bionic. Another plus is the updated Super Retina XDR screen. The protection class of the smartphone complies with the IP68 standard: it can withstand immersion to a depth of 4 meters, but we do not recommend checking.

There are several colors to choose from. In our opinion, the “space gray” color looks the brightest. The brightness of the 5.8-OLED screen is 1200 nits at 458 PPI. Another advantage is the main module, which now consists of three sensors with optical stabilization. Optima has a 12-megapixel sensor with 4x zoom. Battery life has been increased by 4 hours. There is a quick charge that allows you to recover up to 50% in 30 minutes.

Pros:

• protection class;
• powerful A13 Bionic chip;
• 4x zoom;
• fast charging;
• gray space color.

Cons:

• traditionally ‒ the price.

How to choose a budget smartphone

If you are not convinced by our rating or you want to find an inexpensive device with a set of optimal specifications on your own, I have compiled a number of tips for choosing a budget device.

Display

If you are like most of us, you will spend hours every day staring at your smartphone screen. Make sure you buy a device that is bright enough for you to see your message or photo outdoors, and sharp enough so that text does not look blurry when you surf the net.

If you are going to buy a phone with a large screen, the higher the resolution of the device, the better. Consider your screen size carefully. Think you need a larger screen for watching movies or is it better to buy a smaller one that is easier to hold and less likely to fall out of your hands?

Battery

Read reviews or talk to people who already own the phone you want to buy. The best option would be with a battery that can last a day without charging.

Also, consider a smartphone with fast battery charging. Several Android smartphone manufacturers include dedicated chargers that can charge the battery to at least half the charge in just a few minutes.

Memory

Sure, a lot of people try to save money by buying cheaper phones, but often they come without a lot of memory onboard. It is recommended that you buy a smartphone with at least 64GB of storage or more if you plan to download music and movies to it.

Apps weigh a lot more these days, and photos can take up almost all of your free disk space if you don’t store them in the cloud. But don’t forget that many Android smartphones also offer microSD card slots that expand storage space.

Camera

If you enjoy sharing photos with friends and family, make sure you buy a phone with a good camera. Most of the more expensive phones (Galaxy S9 and iPhone XS) are especially well suited for low-light photography.

But our heroes are budget phones. Usually, they don’t have big and cool cameras, but recently the trend has changed. Chinese manufacturers have especially succeeded ‒ in their budget devices you can now almost always find two main camera sensors for good shooting.

Other

Finally, let’s look at a few other things that may be important to you now or in the future. Answer yourself a series of questions when buying your dream device. Does it have stereo speakers? Does it support wireless charging? Does it have a headphone jack, or do you need to use wireless headphones or a wired headset adapter? Does it support new 5G networks? And only after that, you can make a purchase that you will be happy with.

How to choose a foldable phone

Flexible screen technology is still very new and the segment of such smartphones is still in its infancy. Therefore, with some points, such as high cost or fragility, you just have to put up. But if you know how to choose a foldable phone in 2020, then you can find very decent options that really cause a wow effect with their novelty.

Price

Looking at the best foldable phones of 2020, you need to understand that these are still very expensive devices. For example, Samsung Galaxy Fold, the first flexible smartphone presented, can cost its customers nearly 2 thousand dollars. Prices for such devices will go down, but only from the 2020s when the production of flexible matrices will be widely deployed, and they will become a truly massive phenomenon.

Screen

If you are considering the best foldable phones to buy, then be prepared for no alternative to AMOLED to be bent, so flexibility is the strong point of OLEDs. Apparently, manufacturers will very soon have a huge number of variants of flexible smartphone cases ‒ from “books” to multi-row “accordions”. These screens will be very different from what we’ve become accustomed to over the past 10 years ‒ no glass and possible fold lines.

Specifications

The best foldable phones of 2020 will get the top specs to date. For example, the most powerful eight-core Snapdragon 865 will become the main processor for such smartphones. Huawei traditionally uses its HiSilicon Kirin 990 model. Manufacturers, in order to justify the huge price tags and the innovative status of the product, add RAM from 8GB and large 512GB drives. By the way, due to design quirks, some models receive 6 cameras. Judging by the trend of using two batteries, coupled with the use of AMOLED matrices, such smartphones will be able to work much longer than their usual counterparts. While the best foldable phones are being marketed as a versatile replacement for smartphones and tablets, there will be more compact options in the future.

Reliability

The Achilles heel of foldable smartphones, as the Samsung Galaxy Fold scandal has shown, is their reliability. Despite all the assurances from the manufacturer of the world’s first flexible screen phone, it turned out to be extremely unreliable and did not work for many journalists and bloggers even for a week. Because of this, the launch of such a smartphone was postponed, and other manufacturers threw their efforts into testing future novelties. Of course, movable elements and a flexible screen increase the chance of device breakdown, but until the technology is completely new, you will have to put up with such a probability. The best foldable phones of 2020 are rumored to come with an extended warranty.

Brand name

There are dozens of smartphone manufacturers in the Chinese market today. However, only a few offer sufficiently high-quality equipment at a low price. On the market, Huawei, Xiaomi, Meizu, OnePlus, LeEco are known. Second echelon: Newman, Doogee, UMI, Oukitel. You can identify a bad manufacturer by analyzing the reviews about a specific product and the reputation of the company as a whole.

Firmware features

A number of Chinese phones do not have your country’s localization. This can cause configuration issues. Xiaomi smartphones especially often suffer from this. For example, the MIUI operating system installed on them exists in two implementations: China (with exclusively Chinese and English) and Global (where there are dozens of languages). The buyer is better off buying smartphones with Global firmware, otherwise, he will have to reinstall Android.

In addition, there is a problem with the lack of Google services. Even devices from more reliable manufacturers (Xiaomi, Huawei, and Meizu) often come without a pre-installed Google Play app store, as well as a contact sync provider and other useful services. In some devices, you can install them by yourself, in others, it will not work.

CAUTION! Beware of fakes

When ordering phones from Chinese sites, you need to read the description very carefully. Sometimes the lowest price is a signal that the product may be fake, and visually indistinguishable from the original. The device is equipped with a large amount of RAM and a powerful processor, but in practice, it slows down and quickly “dies”, since the device is not balanced.

It is impossible to guarantee that when ordering online, the user will not receive a fake. But if the model costs an order of magnitude less than its regular price, it is probably a replica.

Choose the right screen size

Choose a smartphone with a screen less than 5.5 inches if using one hand is important to you. Choose a phone with a large screen if you want to watch a lot of videos, play games, or use multi-window mode in Android.

Ignore camera megapixels

Along with battery life, the camera has become the most important feature of a smartphone. Look out for specs like aperture (the lower the number, the better) and special features like dual lenses and optical image stabilization.

The processor matters less than before

Even budget smartphones under 200 USD offer good enough performance for most users. But if you need the maximum power for gaming and augmented reality, go for devices with Snapdragon processors.

Choose versions with at least 32GB of storage

16GB phones are outdated, even though they are much cheaper. So you will protect yourself from the fact that after some time the memory will run out and you will not even be able to install new applications.

Outcome

Just a few years ago it was difficult to buy an adequate smartphone within a low price. However, in 2020 there are quite a few options in such a low price segment. First of all, be guided by how exactly you will use your smartphone and what functions are the most important to you.

How to choose a 5G phone

5G technology is just preparing to launch in the countries with the most advanced telecoms. At the end of 2018, there were no commercial devices on the market ready to work in fifth-generation cellular networks. But already in the middle of 2019, operators began to receive frequencies for networks. By 2020, major cities will have 5G coverage, which means you can get over 100MB/s internet speed right into your new 5G phone.

Price

The electronics market is facing a real invasion of 5G phones. At first, these will be flagship solutions costing from 700 dollars. But closer to the end of the year, more affordable solutions will be presented, in the price range of 400 dollars. Budget phones are already to be expected.

Modem

As with LTE, the modem will be integrated into the 5G phones’ chipset. But there are some nuances here. Now three companies have announced work to create hardware for 5G ‒ Intel, MTK, and Qualcomm. The latter company is a leader in this direction and has already introduced the Qualcomm X50 modem, the capabilities of which have already been demonstrated, and the solution itself is announced in the Snapdragon 855 processor, which potentially makes future smartphones with these chipsets the best 5G phones. Chinese MTK is developing a modem for budget devices, after the appearance of which prices for smartphones with 5G should fall down. And Intel 8161 is being prepared for Apple products. In addition to these three players, a solution from Huawei should enter the market.

Internet speed

In theory, the best 5G phones will show speeds of 1-2Gbps. But such indicators should not be expected in the next few years. The fact is that without a sufficient coverage area and debugging the equipment of cellular operators, even the most advanced smartphone will not be able to show these speeds. However, even at the first stage, with a stable connection, 5G phones will be able to show Internet speeds faster than many wired solutions.

Top 7 companies to launch 5G smartphones

It’s worth noting that 5G-compatible phones are just one part of the equation. In general, they are useless without purpose-built 5G networks. Fortunately, several companies have already been working on this.

Vivo

In early September last year, Chinese manufacturer Vivo tested 5G connectivity on a modified version of its Vivo NEX smartphone. The company used a Qualcomm Snapdragon X50 processor to successfully complete the first 5G trials. The team noted that they reviewed the initial architecture planning, antenna designs, and optimized battery space.

According to the developers, the 5G version of the NEX smartphone supports the Non-Autonomous Architecture (NSA), which includes dual connectivity for both LTE (4G) and the 5G New Radio (NR) interface based on 3GPP Release 15 standards.

Vivo is working closely with China Telecom and Qualcomm to develop 5G smartphones. The brand planned to launch its first batch of 5G-enabled commercial smartphones during 2019. First of all, you can expect the devices to be announced for sale in China.

OPPO

At the end of August 2019, another Chinese manufacturer OPPO officially announced that it had successfully tested 5G on a commercially available smartphone.

OPPO is reported to have used a modified version of the OPPO R15 smartphone equipped with a Qualcomm X50 5G modem to test the connectivity of the fifth-generation network. The successful 5G connection was based on the 3GPP Release 15 NSA standard.

Liu Chang, president of the company’s research institute, noted that the success of this testing will accelerate the development of the company’s first 5G smartphone.

And at a recent company event, Director of Internal Marketing Shen Yien noted that OPPO could be one of the first brands to bring a 5G smartphone to market. He also stated that the company is currently focusing on the ToF (Time-of-Flight) technology for 3D scanning of space.

LG

Oddly enough, the first news of LG’s 5G smartphone does not come from the South Korean company at all. In August, US cellular operator Sprint announced a partnership with LG Electronics in Los Angeles to supply the company’s 5G phones in the US.

The 5G chip onboard the alleged G8 will likely be made by Qualcomm as LG devices have always been powered by Snapdragon chipsets. Samsung’s new Exynos 5100 5G modem can achieve download speeds of up to 6Gbps, which is about 5 times faster than actual 4G LTE connections.

ZTE

Chinese tech company ZTE has repeatedly stated its ambition to be one of the first to deploy its 5G infrastructure. Back in July, the company announced that it had successfully completed trials of the core technology of fifth-generation wireless networks.

5G tests are being conducted jointly with the Ministry of Industry and Informatization of China. According to a public announcement by the company on WeChat, there is “only one stage” before the fifth-generation communication technology can be commercialized.

Finally, ZTE plans to enter a commercial perspective with 5G technology. The one-year delay stems from the company having difficulty integrating the various components required to provide 5G connectivity.

Motorola

Motorola has already introduced a 5G-enabled device, the Z3 smartphone. True, it is still impossible to use it due to the lack of operators offering to switch to new generation networks.

But the American operator Verizon, in whose stores the Moto Z3 is exclusively available, is planning to launch 5G networks. Therefore, Moto Z3 may be one of the first smartphones equipped with corresponding support. It will be possible to switch to 5G using a special 5G Moto Mod that connects to the device.

Huawei

For the first time, Huawei Corporation announced the commercialization of the fifth-generation network in 2018 in China. In February 2018, the company unveiled the world’s first commercial 5G CPE client terminal supporting the globally recognized 5G standard.

It should be noted that Huawei did not provide any additional details that could help get an idea of ​​the technical characteristics of the gadget that has not yet been presented. It can be assumed that the first smartphones from Huawei to be equipped with modems supporting 5G networks will be the flagship models of the Mate line of 2019.

Samsung

In early 2018, Samsung announced a partnership with Qualcomm to develop EUV technology that will be used to produce mobile 5G chipsets in 2019.

In August, the company released the Exynos Modem 5100, “the industry’s first 5G modem”, fully compliant with the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) consortium standards. The development was carried out using a 10nm process technology and supports 5G NR (New Radio) ‒ the most modern specifications for fifth-generation mobile networks.

However, when exactly the smartphone from Samsung with 5G support will appear is unclear. Earlier, the president of the mobile division of the company, DJ Co, only announced that they were busy developing their first 5G smartphone.