South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
These phones are everyday essentials
Companies like Apple and Google have been busy updating models
Just in time for the new year, companies like Apple and Google have been busy updating their top phone models. The new iPhone 13 Pro and Pixel 6 Pro boast wireless charging, amazing rear camera setups, powerful processors for lag-free gaming and 5G. But if you’re on the hunt for a new smartphone, those models aren’t the only ones to consider, with competitors such as Samsung, OnePlus, Motorola and Sony Xperia all offering great specs at a range of prices. Samsung even offers what others don’t — foldable phones, including a flip phone.
The sheer amount of solid smartphone competition gives you, the customer, great options to choose from at whatever price suits your budget, regardless of whether your biggest concern is an AMOLED display, high-speed data or a cracking camera.
To help you figure out the best of the best, we’ve rounded up our picks for the best phone to buy in 2021. The three below are the top of the bunch.
THE ALL-AROUND BEST PHONE Apple iPhone 13 Pro
The iPhone 13 Pro is the best phone Apple produces, and it received a stellar score in our review. The new smartphone adds a third rear camera with 3x optical zoom (up from 2x on the iPhone 12), a stainless steel body and a ProMotion screen with refresh rates up to 120Hz for smoother scrolling, and lists at the same price as the iPhone 12 Pro.
TOP-OF-THE-LINE ANDROID SMARTPHONE Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
As Samsung’s elite flagship phone for 2021, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra features a brilliant 6.8-inch AMOLED display with an ultrasmooth 120Hz refresh rate that also supports Samsung’s S-Pen stylus, an awesome rear camera with incredible zoom skills and 5G connectivity for super speedy data. It’s powered by the top-end Qualcomm Snapdragon chip for amazing performance. This is the best in mobile technology that Samsung has to offer, and it’s the Android phone to go for if you’re keen to put cutting-edge mobile phone tech in your pocket.
FLAGSHIP PHONE WITH A GREAT VALUE Google Pixel 6 Pro
The Google Pixel 6 Pro’s unique design, great software additions, superb camera quality and solid all-around performance have already earned the phone an excellent rating in our review. With performance that’s every bit as good as its design, it’s the best phone Google has ever made. The main camera is on par with the best iPhones. And at $899 for the base 128GB model, it trounces its premium phone rivals in price.
For more reviews of personal technology products, visit www.cnet.com.