Samsung Galaxy S20 5G
The bigger and flashier S20+ and S20 Ultra models are the headline-grabbers, but the ‘basic’ Galaxy S20 feels like the Goldilocks of flagship phones right now – and it’s a fair bit cheaper than some. It delivers excellent battery life, a phenomenal display, blistering performance and superb photos. The only question is, are the new S21 models (see p31) good enough to keep Samsung out in front? Stuff says ★★★★★
All the features you’d want in a flagship smartphone, plus a few more
Apple iphone 12 from £799 / stuff.tv/iphone12
We loved the iphone 11, and its successor carries a whole host of improvements. If you can live without the telephoto camera of the flagship 12 Pro (and most can), you should save yourself some cash and get the 12 instead. In many ways it’s the same phone.
Stuff says ★★★★★
A top display and all the power you’ll ever need in an iphone
Oneplus Nord from £379 / stuff.tv/nord
Oneplus wanted to get back to its bargain roots with the Nord, and it’s mostly pulled it off. You may not get a top-end CPU, but the rest is here: reliable performance, a solid camera, a strong OLED screen and plenty of storage… and it’s still classier than a Moto.
Stuff says ★★★★★
This is one of the best-value 5G smartphones you can buy Apple iphone 12 Pro ★★★★★ from £999 / stuff.tv/12pro
An iphone for the few and not the many, the 12 Pro is suited to serious photo fiddlers and AR explorers. Realme X50 Pro 5G ★★★★★ £434 / stuff.tv/x50pro
Realme’s high-spec, mid-price marvel makes for a compelling alternative to a Oneplus. Apple iphone 12 Pro Max ★★★★★ from £1099 / stuff.tv/12promax
The only choice if you want to fully Max your iphone experience… but not a big upgrade over the 12 Pro. Oneplus 8 ★★★★★ from £549 / stuff.tv/oneplus8
The mid-range Android king glides stylishly over the 5G hump. See also the plainer but zippier 8T model. Apple iphone 12 Mini ★★★★★ from £699 / stuff.tv/12mini
A 5.4in-screened cutie packing Apple’s lauded A14 Bionic chip and the same cameras as the iphone 12. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 ★★★★★ £1799 / stuff.tv/zfold2
Still prohibitively expensive, but the first folding phone that doesn’t feel like an awkward prototype. Sony Xperia 5 II ★★★★★ £799 / stuff.tv/xperia5ii
Everything we loved about the Xperia 1 II, made a lot more affordable with minimal compromise.