March 2021
Smartphones Rankings Report
This report contains an aggregate consensus of Smartphones rankings posted by key online experts, as of March 2021.
Methodology: combine opinions of key experts
Identify Experts
We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend Smartphones.
Capture Rankings
For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of Smartphones, it must be updated in the last 9 months.
Aggregate Rankings
We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking
Experts chosen for March 2021 ranking
Pocket-lint
Tom's Guide
TechRadar
Digital Trends
Consumer Reports
ZD Net
The Verge
T3
Laptop Mag
Creative Bloq
#1. iPhone 12
We ranked iPhone 12 #1 in March 2021 because:
- 9 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
- Out of those, 3 experts ranked iPhone 12 as #1.
TechRadar
The best Apple iPhone bang for your buck
|
Pros
+Colorful OLED display
+Future-proofed with 5G
|
Cons
-Cameras are similar to last iPhone 11
-Battery life only okay
|
Tom's Guide
The best iPhone for most people
|
Pros
Attractive new design with MagSafe
Comprehensive 5G coverage
Incredible performance
|
Cons
Only 64GB of base storage
Digital zoom could still use work
|
T3
The best phone for most people
|
Pros
+Fantastic HDR screen
+High quality camera system
+Now with 5G
|
Creative Bloq
The best bang for buck iPhone
|
Pros
Beautiful display
Solid camera
|
Cons
Battery life could be better
Base storage low
|
Laptop Mag
Best smartphone for most people
|
Pros
Excellent photos and video
Fantastic value
Beautiful new design
Strong software support
Powerful A14 Bionic CPU
|
Cons
Base storage is too low
60Hz display
No charger in the box
|
#2. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
We ranked Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra #2 in March 2021 because:
- 8 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
- Out of those, 3 experts ranked Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra as #1.
TechRadar
A top tier smartphone,and it takes our best crown
|
Pros
+The best camera zoom
+Mesmerizing design
|
Cons
-Expensive at any level
-No microSD card slot
|
Tom's Guide
Samsung's best phone
|
Pros
Dynamic 6.8-inch AMOLED display
Dual telephoto lenses
S Pen support
|
Cons
No charger in box
Lacks microSD card slot
|
T3
This is the best Galaxy phone Samsung has ever produced
|
Pros
+Superb 120Hz, WQHD+, HDR10+ screen
+Hyper premium internal hardware
+Versatile, feature-packed camera
+S Pen digital stylus support
|
Digital Trends
Best Android phone
|
Pros
huge and beautiful screen
good software
tons of features
great multi-lens camera.
great battery life.
|
Creative Bloq
The best do-it-all smartphone
|
Pros
Wacom pen tech
Excellent camera zoom
|
Cons
Big and bulky
Expensive
|
Laptop Mag
Best premium Android phone for most people
|
Pros
Unmatched optical zoom
Gorgeous adaptive QHD+ AMOLED screen
Excellent battery life
S Pen support
|
Cons
No charger included
No microSD storage
|
#3. iPhone 12 Pro Max
We ranked iPhone 12 Pro Max #3 in March 2021 because:
- 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
- Out of those, 3 experts ranked iPhone 12 Pro Max as #1.
Tom's Guide
The best phone overall
|
Pros
Best-in-class cameras
Immersive 6.7-inch display
Superior performance
|
Cons
Charger sold separately
A bit heavy
|
Creative Bloq
The best iPhone ever
|
Pros
Superb camera
Great battery life
|
Cons
Very expensive
Bulky
|
Laptop Mag
Best high-end iOS smartphone
|
Pros
Top-end A14 Bionic CPU
Fantastic battery life
Vivid and bright OLED display
Extensive 5G support
Solid photos and unmatched video quality
|
Cons
Expensive starting price
60Hz display
Charger not included
|
#4. Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G
We ranked Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G #4 in March 2021 because:
- 7 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
TechRadar
Flagship specs at a more affordable price
|
Pros
+Still good specs for the price
+Large screen
+Big battery
|
Cons
-Middling camera specs
-No Android 11 yet?
|
Tom's Guide
The best Samsung bargain
|
Pros
Big 120Hz display
Affordable price
Solid performance
|
Cons
Battery life bit shorter than expected
Fast charger costs extra
|
Digital Trends
Best value
|
Pros
The core flagship Samsung experience is available at a fantastic price.
|
Laptop Mag
Best Android smartphone value
|
Pros
Incredible value
Large 120Hz OLED display
Excellent performance
Fantastic photo and video
|
Cons
Plastic build
|
#5. Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
We ranked Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra #5 in March 2021 because:
- 7 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
Tom's Guide
The best Android phone for productivity
|
Pros
Dynamic 6.9-inch 120Hz display
Smoother S Pen performance
Powerful 50x zoom camera and laser autofocus
Very good battery life
|
Cons
Expensive
|
T3
The best phone with digital stylus functionality
|
Pros
+The best S Pen yet
+Huge, bright screen
+Plenty of power
|
Creative Bloq
The best smartphone for creative superstars
|
Pros
Superb camera
Incredible screen
|
Cons
Expensive
Slower charging
|
Laptop Mag
Best Android smartphone for productivity
|
Pros
Powerful Snapdragon 865+ processor
Strong camera and video features
Long battery life
Unique S Pen
Beautiful Super AMOLED 120Hz display
|
Cons
Expensive
|
#6. iPhone 12 Pro
We ranked iPhone 12 Pro #6 in March 2021 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked iPhone 12 Pro as #1.
TechRadar
Our second favorite iPhone pair
|
Pros
+Varied color choices
+Clear and vibrant screen
|
Cons
-No charging block in box
-5G still an expensive luxury
|
Tom's Guide
Another top Apple phone
|
Pros
Best-in-class cameras
A14 Bionic blows away Android phones
Tougher Ceramic Shield display
MagSafe charging is easy to use
|
Cons
No charger in box
|
T3
The best premium phone for Apple fans
|
Pros
+Powerful processor
+Superb OLED screen
+Excellent camera
|
Digital Trends
Best overall smartphone
|
Pros
It’s a complete package, with excellent hardware
great cameras
consistent software.
|
#7. OnePlus 8 Pro
We ranked OnePlus 8 Pro #7 in March 2021 because:
- 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
TechRadar
Chasing Samsung and Apple with amazing value
|
Pros
One of the best displays around
5G and plenty of power
Reverse & fast wireless charging
|
Cons
Most expensive OnePlus yet
Less storage base model vs 7T Pro
|
T3
The best premium phone
|
Pros
+Astonishing 120Hz, QHD+, HDR10+ screen
+Rapid internal hardware
+Next-gen 5G connectivity
+Stylish design with great ergonomics
|
Creative Bloq
A fantastic all-rounder
|
Pros
Beautiful screen
Fast wireless charging
|
Cons
No expandable storage
No periscope camera
|
Laptop Mag
Best flagship smartphone value
|
Pros
Strong battery life
Large vivid 120Hz OLED
Excellent value
|
Cons
Cameras are behind top options
|
#8. Google Pixel 5
We ranked Google Pixel 5 #8 in March 2021 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
TechRadar
Still top cameras,and a few odd new features
|
Pros
+Camera software is better than ever
+Metal case is refreshing change from glass
|
Cons
-No telephoto
-Middling night photography
|
T3
The best phone for a pure Android experience
|
Pros
+Camera is still great
+Clean, pure Android
+90hz refresh rate screen
|
Creative Bloq
Solid camera with great software and editing smarts
|
Pros
Fantastic camera software
Handsome, minimal design
|
Cons
No telephoto camera
Night shots could be better
|
#9. Google Pixel 4a
We ranked Google Pixel 4a #9 in March 2021 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
TechRadar
Google's latest mid-range stunner
|
Pros
+Great price for features
+Good camera software
+3.5mm jack
|
Cons
-Battery barely lasts a day
-Polycarbonate plastic back
|
Tom's Guide
The best cheap phone you can buy
|
Pros
Best-in-class camera
Bright OLED display
128GB storage
Low price
|
Cons
Battery life could be better
|
Digital Trends
Best small smartphone
|
Pros
Google’s approach to smartphones fits perfectly with a small, simple, and price-friendly phone.
|
Laptop Mag
Best budget Android smartphone
|
Pros
Astounding value
Unmatched camera at this price
Solid OLED display
|
Cons
Weak battery life
Low-end CPU
|
#10. iPhone SE
We ranked iPhone SE #10 in March 2021 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
TechRadar
The cheapest new iPhone for 2020
|
Pros
+Low price for an iPhone
+One-hand-friendly and light
+Has the Touch ID home button
|
Cons
-Battery life could be better
-Old screen technology
|
Tom's Guide
The cheapest iPhone you can buy
|
Pros
Affordable price
Fast A13 Bionic performance
Very good cameras
|
Cons
Big bezels
No Night mode
|
Laptop Mag
Best budget iOS smartphone
|
Pros
Flagship A13 Bionic CPU
Excellent value
Supports wireless charging
Stellar software support
|
Cons
Dated design
Weaker camera performance
|
#11. Google Pixel 4A 5G
We ranked Google Pixel 4A 5G #11 in March 2021 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
Laptop Mag
Best Android phone for most people
|
Pros
Flagship tier camera
Solid display
Support for 5G
Great value
|
Cons
Middling performance
|
#12. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2
We ranked Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 #12 in March 2021 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
Creative Bloq
Most polished foldable available
|
Pros
Powerful
Beautiful design
|
Cons
Very expensive
Cameras could be better
|
#13. Samsung Galaxy S21
We ranked Samsung Galaxy S21 #13 in March 2021 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
TechRadar
Not the best of the S series,but nevertheless great
|
Pros
+Fantastic, versatile camera
+Cheaper than the Galaxy S20
|
Cons
-No microSD support
-Screen isn’t the best
|
Tom's Guide
A Samsung flagship for less than $800
|
Pros
Excellent dynamic 120Hz display
Powerful performance
Refined design
|
Cons
No charger or microSD card slot
Plastic back
|
#14. Apple iPhone 11
We ranked Apple iPhone 11 #14 in March 2021 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
TechRadar
A still-great iPhone
|
Pros
+Improved camera
+A new range of colors
|
Cons
-Design not altered
-Battery life not best-in-class
|
Tom's Guide
An even better value at a lower price
|
Pros
Great photos, especially with Night Mode
Fast A13 Bionic CPU
Long battery life
|
Cons
Fast charger not included
Just 64GB of storage to start
|
#15. Motorola Moto G Power
We ranked Motorola Moto G Power #15 in March 2021 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
Tom's Guide
The phone with the best battery life
|
Pros
All-day battery life
Low price including a sub-$200 model
|
Cons
Only one Android software update
|
Digital Trends
Best cheap smartphone
|
Pros
Motorola gives you all of the basics in a good size with a few nice-to-have features.
|
Laptop Mag
Best budget battery life smartphone
|
Pros
Unmatched battery life
Awesome sub $250 price
Better than average camera
Large and bright display
|
Cons
Dull display
|
#16. Samsung Galaxy Note 20
We ranked Samsung Galaxy Note 20 #16 in March 2021 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
TechRadar
The 5x optical camera zoom crushes it
|
Pros
+Amazing camera zoom
+Handy S Pen stylus
|
Cons
-'Ultra' expensive
-Photos exhibit skin smoothing
|
Pocket-lint
If you want something way,way bigger,get the original phablet's latest incarnation.
#17. Samsung Galaxy S20
We ranked Samsung Galaxy S20 #17 in March 2021 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
TechRadar
Flagship specs at a more affordable price
|
Pros
+A top screen
+Excellent cameras
|
Cons
-Still quite high price
-Iterative improvements
|
Creative Bloq
Excellent across the board
|
Pros
Amazing screen
Brilliant camera
|
Cons
Busy interface
Dull design
|
#18. Sony Xperia 1 II
We ranked Sony Xperia 1 II #18 in March 2021 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
T3
The best phone for watching movies,and very good at taking pictures too
|
Pros
+Powerful internals
+Impressive screen
+Excellent camera
|
Creative Bloq
Best smartphone for videographers
|
Pros
Extensive manual camera tools
Gorgeous 4K screen
|
Cons
Very expensive
Occasional camera slowdown
|
#19. Xiaomi Mi 11
We ranked Xiaomi Mi 11 #19 in March 2021 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
T3
A strong new entry to the best phone top table
|
Pros
+Quality large display
+Strong camera experience
+Rapid wireless charging
+Android 11 out of the box
|
#20. OnePlus 8T
We ranked OnePlus 8T #20 in March 2021 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
T3
Another excellent Android handset from OnePlus
|
Pros
+Sharp 120Hz display
+65W fast charging
+Attractive price
|
#21. Oppo Find X2 Pro
We ranked Oppo Find X2 Pro #21 in March 2021 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
Creative Bloq
Great for file-hoarders
|
Pros
Fastest charging
High storage capacity
|
Cons
Expensive
No wireless charging
|