Official Knowledge: The Best Smartphone of 2020

1. Samsung Galaxy S20/S20 Plus

The very best smartphones around

Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus Price in India, Full Specs (7th April 2020 ...

The Samsung Galaxy S20 is the best smartphone available right now. That covers both the S20 and the larger Galaxy S20 Plus, as there's very little difference between the two handsets aside from size and a couple of specs. They take the very best of what's on the smartphone market and put it together in a compelling package that we loved testing.

Screen: Both these devices have phone screens that are a cut above the rest, and each is capable of a 120Hz refresh rate that will allow for far smoother scrolling and gameplay on your phone's screen.

Battery life: The battery life on the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S20 Plus isn't the best we've ever seen on a smartphone, but larger batteries than the S10 series allow these devices to last longer and it'll be enough for your day.

Both devices come with wireless charging, and there's also a Reverse Power Share feature that allows you to top up your friend's phone too.

Camera: Samsung has improved the camera suite on the Galaxy S20 devices compared to the Galaxy S10. It may not look far better on paper, but larger pixels and improved software adds to the flagship experience.

Mini verdict: The S20 and S20 Plus are packed full of the best Samsung has to offer, and it comes together to give you the best smartphone experience around right now. If we had to pick one, we'd go for the bigger screen, larger battery slightly improved rear camera of the Galaxy S20 Plus, but both phones deserve their best phone crown.

2. Huawei P30 Pro

One of the the best smartphones for photography

Huawei P30 Pro - Full Specification, price, review, comparison

The Huawei P30 Pro is so close to being the best smartphone right now, and for some it will take top spot in their minds. It's close to the best phone we've used when it comes to photography with 5x and 10x zoom capabilities and fantastic low-light performance.

Screen: The large 6.47-inch screen on the P30 Pro may 'only' have a Full HD+ resolution, but it's bright, clear and colourful providing an excellent canvas for your apps and games.

Battery life: There's no worry when it comes to the P30 Pro potentially running out of juice, the battery life here is excellent. We regularly got to the end of the day with 30% or more left in the tank.

Camera: The cameras are the P30 Pro's real party piece, providing staggeringly good 5x and 10x zoom, and a digital 50x zoom with gets you insanely close to objects far off in the distance. Its low-light capabilities are also top-notch.

Mini Verdict: The P30 Pro not only sets a new standard for Huawei, it sets a new standard for the mobile industry. Its cameras are quite simply astonishing, the design is eye-catching and the power plentiful. It's a true flagship smartphone.

3. iPhone 11 Pro / 11 Pro Max

The iPhone if you need a bit more

Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max - Full phone specifications

Want something a bit more from your iPhone? You're in luck with the iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max, as they feature improved spec including a more high-end rear camera that can compete with the very best.

It'll cost more than the iPhone 11 (which is probably the best phone for the average iPhone user), but if you're after the very best iPhone, the Pro range is what you want. Other than the obvious size, there's very little difference between the 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max, which is why we grouped them together in our best phone roundup.

Screen: It's the biggest decision you'll have to make. Will you go for the 5.8-inch 11 Pro (which is easier to use one-handed) or the larger 6.5-inch 11 Pro Max (which is great for movies and gaming)? Either way, you get a great display which packs a colourful punch.

Battery life: The battery life on the 11 Pro series is slightly longer than the last few generations of the iPhone, but don't expect anything game changing here when it comes to the length your phone will last for.

Camera: Apple has put most of its focus into the rear cameras on this device, and while the design of the rear of the phone has been controversial these cameras can create some truly stunning photography that competes with the very best camera phones.

Mini verdict: You'll have to spend a bit extra to get the iPhone 11 Pro, but it's well worth it if you want a phone that sports iOS 13 but comes with top-end features.

4. Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus

Smartphone opulence with an S Pen

Galaxy Note 10 Plus / 10 Plus 5G Case Liquid Crystal – Spigen Inc

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus is one of the largest phones there is, but this stylus-toting handset is our fourth favourite phone you can buy right now.

It's expensive, but it features some of the best specs you'll get on a smartphone in 2020.

Screen: The screen on this phone is huge and the Infinity-O cutout means there's little interruption to the display here, allowing for an immersive experience.

Battery life: We found the battery life on the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus to easily last the whole day, plus the fast charging tech means you're able to pump it up quickly when you're nearing 0%.

Camera: The camera setup on the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus isn't the best on the market, but it's impressive and offers a lot of fun features that you may want to play around with.

Mini Verdict: Samsung's Galaxy Note 10 Plus is a remarkable device, but it's only for those who want a large phone and don't mind spending that bit extra on a device. The S20 Plus will be more suitable for most, but the Note 10 Plus is a great phone too.

5. iPhone 11

The best iPhone for most

Apple iPhone 11 review: the phone most people should buy - The Verge

There's a new hero for iPhone fans, with the iPhone 11 offering the best mix of features and price from Apple.

The specs here aren't as impressive as they are on the iPhone 11 Pro or iPhone 11 Pro Max, but the trade-off in a lower price for this device still makes it a top-buy for many Apple fans.

Screen: This isn't the best screen you'll find on an iPhone, but it's still a vibrant display that's large enough to watch video on.

Battery life: The easiest way to describe battery life on the iPhone 11 is good, but not great. You'll get around a day of usage from the iPhone 11, but it's not as good as the Pro Max.

Camera: Expect a similar experience from the camera on the iPhone 11 as on the iPhone XR. If you want the best camera on an iPhone, you'll want the Pro, but it's still an impressive shooter on the rear of the standard 11.

Mini verdict: The iPhone 11 offers some of the best features from Apple in a more affordable package. Many will be happy with what the iPhone 11 can do, but others will want to look toward the high-spec iPhone 11 Pro or Pro Max to get the very best.

6. Huawei P30

Another top Huawei phone

Huawei P30 Lite Dual SIM Peacock Blue 128GB and 4GB RAM - MAR-LX1A ...

What's this? Another Huawei phone in the top 15? Your eyes do not deceive you, the Huawei P30 really is seventh in our best phone rundown.

It has a smaller screen than the P30 Pro, and makes do with just the three rear cameras (rather than four) and a maximum zoom of 30x, but it's still a great Android phone.

Screen: With a 6.1-inch display the P30 is a little easier to manage in the hand than its larger sibling, and with a Full HD+ and plenty of colour it's a top smartphone screen.

Battery life: You can expect to get excellent battery life from the Huawei P30, with the phone often lasting a day and a half on a single charge without issue.

Camera: While the three cameras on the rear aren't quite as good as the four on the P30 Pro, they still offer up an impressive shooting experience with 5x, 10x and 30x zoom and great low-light abilities.

Mini verdict: There's heaps of power, a handy headphone jack (something the Pro can't boast) and a more manageable form factor for one-handed use. And of course, it's a little cheaper too.

7. OnePlus 7T Pro

The best phone for those looking for a true flagship without the price tag

The OnePlus 7T Pro is the best smartphone from the Chinese phone manufacturer, but not by much.

It's a minor upgrade on the 7 Pro (if you already have the 7 Pro there's no need to upgrade), but if you're looking for the best from OnePlus, you can stop searching.

Screen: One of the highlights of the 7T Pro is its gorgeous, large display. It can compete with any other top-end handset you may be considering, and beats some of them when it comes to price.

Battery life: The battery performs admirably, matching the 7 Pro and perhaps even exceeding it in some regards. We found it would comfortably last a whole day on a single charge, even with extensive usage..

Camera: The OnePlus 7T Pro can take very good shots, but it doesn't have the best camera we’ve seen on a smartphone - one of the small compromises to keep costs down. Still, you're getting three powerful rear snappers and a selfie camera on the front.

Mini verdict: The OnePlus 7T Pro is an impressive handset that costs less than a lot of the competition, while offering an almost full suite of flagship features.

8. Oppo Reno 10x Zoom

Inventive design and smooth performance

Amazon.com: Original Oppo Reno 10x Zoom 6G+128G Mobile Phone ...

The Oppo Reno 10x Zoom boasts an attractive pop-up selfie camera, cutting-edge chipset and competitive camera lineup, making it one of the best phones available right now.

Odd name aside, there's a lot to like with the Reno 10x Zoom, and if you're looking for something a little different for you next phone this could be just the ticket.

Screen: Thanks to the pop-up selfie camera, there's no notch intruding on the display and with almost zero bezel you're treated to an eye-popping 93.1% screen-to-body ratio. It just looks great.

Battery life: The battery on the Reno 10x Zoom lasts for about a day of medium-to-heavy use, and a day and a half if you use it a little less. That's what we expect from a modern smartphone, so no issues here.

Camera: Despite what its name may suggest, this phone actually offers up a whopping 60x zoom, which gets you alarmingly close to objects far in the distance. It's a digital zoom, so quality degrades a little, but even the 5x optical zoom is impressive.

Mini verdict: The Oppo Reno 10x Zoom is a stylish phone – between its sleek look, asymmetrical pop-up and delicate back colours, it looks great – and, surprisingly for a Chinese smartphone with its own UI, the software is good to look at too.

9. Samsung Galaxy Note 10

A smaller phone with a stylus

Galaxy Note10+ 256GB (Aura glow) | Price & Offers | Samsung India

Yeah, that's right - Samsung now offers two versions of its S Pen-toting Note range, and this one comes with a lower spec than the one you've read about earlier in this list.

The Galaxy Note 10 is better for those with smaller hands, thanks to its much smaller display and smaller dimensions, but the battery life suffers a little for that.

Screen: This may be a Samsung Galaxy Note handset, but the display isn't anywhere near as big as you'd expect. It's a 6.3-inch display with an Infinity-O cutout for the selfie camera.

Battery life: The battery is where the Galaxy Note 10 begins to suffer a little as we found it regularly ran out before the end of a full day, but it's enough for average usage.

Camera: The rear camera of the Galaxy Note 10 is similar to all other flagship Samsung phones released in 2019, and it's good but not the best we've seen on a smartphone.

Mini verdict: The Galaxy Note 10 isn't as high-spec as the Galaxy Note 10 Plus, but if you want a stylus on a smaller phone than the gargantuan Plus then you may want to opt for this.

10. OnePlus 7T

A top affordable flagship with few compromises

Oneplus 7T Blue Cell phones Sale, Price & Reviews | Gearbest

If you're looking for an affordable flagship phone which doesn't have any major compromises on features or functionality, stop looking and check out the OnePlus 7T.

Screen: One of the highlights of the 7T is its large 90Hz display. It can compete with most top-end handsets and offers great colour accuracy and response.

Battery life: The OnePlus 7T battery provides all-day use from a single charge. It's unlikely to go much further than a day, but it's what we've come to expect these days.

Camera: The OnePlus 7T camera feels like a significant improvement over the OnePlus 7, with some impressive software wizardry on tap to optimize your images.

Mini verdict: The OnePlus 7T is the best 'T' upgrade to any OnePlus phone to date and an attractive proposition for those who find the OnePlus 7T Pro too bulky.

11. Samsung Galaxy S10/S10 Plus

Previously our favorite smartphones

Samsung Galaxy S10 announced: price, hands-on, and release date ...

Previously, the Samsung Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10 Plus were our best smartphones in the world. That's no longer the case with the introduction of the S20 range, but these are still two fantastic phones.

There's a lot of high-spec here, and with the S20 range on the market the prices of these handsets have dropped significantly too.

Screen: The Super AMOLED display previously measured as the very best around and while that's no longer the case the phone does still have a strong screen. Plus, there's a fingerprint scanner embedded in the display.

Battery life: The battery life on the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10 Plus was an improvement over the S9 series, thanks to the larger batteries inside. They easily reach bedtime with double digits still left in the tank.

Camera: The trio of cameras on the S10 and S10 Plus are still impressive although they may not be the best on the market. The setup on each builds on the excellent S9 series by offering more features, shooting modes and overall clarity.

Mini verdict: The Galaxy S10 phones are no longer the powerhouse devices they once were, but if you're looking for a slightly more affordable phone choice these will be a great choice for your next smartphone.

12. Samsung Galaxy S10e

A palm-friendly smartphone with a range of flagship features

There may be new Galaxy S phones on the market, but Samsung hasn't unveiled a replacement for the Galaxy S10e. That means this is still one of the most affordable Samsung flagship phones, and it's remaining in this list.

The Galaxy S10e has many of the flagship features of its pricier Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus siblings, while offering a more palm-friendly size and a few compromises to help keep the cost down.

Screen: You don't get a QHD resolution here, instead you'll have to accept a Full HD+ 5.8-inch screen - but the Super AMOLED display provides plenty of colour and pop.

Battery life: We found battery life lasted a day on a single charge - which is what we've come to expect from phones - plus its wireless charging and Wireless PowerShare making topping it up, and you other devices, even easier.

Camera: The dual camera setup on the S10e isn't quite as good as the triple cameras on the S10 and S10 Plus, but they're still highly capable snappers producing quality photos with ease.

Mini verdict: It’s hard not to recommend the S10e to anyone who prefers a smaller phone. Size queens, look elsewhere - this smartphone is for folks who want to text and browse apps one-handed without compromising performance.

Official Knowledge

Monday, April 6, 2020

The Best Smartphone of 2020