Discover the Top 10 Best Smartphones of 2021: A Selection of Premium Devices Perfect for Year-End Shopping from Leading Brands

In the past year of 2021, leading smartphone brands have continuously introduced a plethora of worthwhile products to the market. Amidst this sea of devices, do you know which ones are truly worth buying? Let 24h Tech walk you through the Top 10 Best Smartphones of 2021, highly recommended for your consideration this year-end.

The following list is compiled from the tech website TechRadar, hoping to provide you with the most comprehensive overview possible. Let's explore together!

*Please note that this list is arranged in random order.

1. Best Phone of 2021 - Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is hailed as one of the best smartphones of 2021, thanks to what Samsung has equipped on the device such as top-notch camera, powerful performance, long-lasting battery, solid design, and many other standout features.

In terms of display, the Galaxy S21 Ultra features a 6.8-inch screen with QHD resolution and a super smooth 120Hz refresh rate. This is one of the devices with the best display quality on the market today.

The 108 MP camera will be a highlight for many on the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. Similar to its predecessor, you can capture 100x zoom photos, but the device has been significantly improved with two tele cameras working simultaneously to handle this demanding task.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra also boasts an impressive battery life with 5,000 mAh, lasting all day with just a single charge. However, note that the battery may drain faster if you play games on the 120 Hz screen, but this is still the top choice for battery life.

• Review of Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G: Mastering every mobile game and more?

2. iPhone 13 Pro / iPhone 13 Pro Max

The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max are two top-notch iPhone models currently, with more powerful performance than ever, improved cameras, 120 Hz refresh rate, and surprisingly long battery life.

Both the iPhone 13 Pro 6.1-inch and iPhone 13 Pro Max 6.7-inch feature ultra-sharp OLED screens with 120 Hz refresh rate, providing smooth image motion. The notch on this year's phone is also Apple resized, increasing the display area.

This year's iPhone 13 Pro still uses the same triple-lens camera setup as last year, but with larger sizes and new modes, including an impressive macro mode. With a combination of many standout features and improved low-light photo shooting performance, this camera will be the 'ace up the sleeve' of this duo.

Apple has impressed with the 4,352 mAh battery life on the iPhone 13 Pro Max, which is truly amazing for user experience. While the iPhone 13 Pro only has a 3,095 mAh battery, both devices provide enough battery life for a full day's work.

• Impressions of iPhone 13 Pro: Priced from 30.99 million, with a super smooth 120Hz display.
• Review of iPhone 13 Pro Max: An iPhone model reaching the pinnacle of perfection!

3. Samsung Galaxy S21 / S21 Plus

Samsung Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus bring users improvements in performance with the Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100 chip depending on the market. But the real value of the device lies in its performance at a more affordable price compared to some competing rivals.

The cameras of the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S20 have been pre-installed with some software by Samsung to enhance photo quality. The cameras of these two products will provide you with the sharpest, most vibrant, and true-to-life images on a smartphone.

The screen resolution of the Galaxy S21 has been reduced to just Full HD+ (2400 x 1080), but in a test conducted by TechRadar, the image quality between the Galaxy S21 and a QHD phone screen is almost indistinguishable. The 120Hz refresh rate, high brightness, and large screen size on this product will satisfy many users.

The battery life on the Samsung Galaxy S21 will last all day with just one charge, and the 4,000 mAh battery means you can use it longer without needing to charge. The S21 Plus battery is even more impressive with a 4,800 mAh battery inside.

• Review of Galaxy S21 5G after using for a while: Small but mighty.
• Hands-on with Galaxy S21+ 5G: Truly beautiful color, premium experience.

4. iPhone 13

While the iPhone 13 may not receive major upgrades like the iPhone 13 Pro due to the lack of a 120Hz screen, it still boasts tremendous performance and good battery life, making it the most deserving choice for the money you spend.

With a 6.1-inch size and a resolution of 1,170 x 2,532 on a premium OLED panel, the iPhone 13 display offers vibrant and sharp images. While this product doesn't have a high refresh rate, it compensates with a smaller notch compared to the iPhone 12, giving you more display space.

The iPhone 13 lacks a telephoto camera, but the main and wide-angle cameras deliver excellent photo performance. Many image stabilization features have been improved, along with some new shooting modes and features for you to experience on the device.

In a battery test conducted by reviewers at Mobile World, this iPhone delivers quite impressive battery life, lasting for over 10.5 hours of continuous usage, which is a worthwhile improvement compared to the previous iPhone model.

• Review of iPhone 13: Powerful A15 Bionic, battery-efficient, improved camera.

5. Google Pixel 6 / Google Pixel 6 Pro

Google Pixel 6 and Google Pixel 6 Pro were launched in October 2021 with all eyes on the Tensor chip designed by Google itself, which the company believes will deliver remarkable AI performance.

Pixel 6 features a 6.4-inch display with Full HD+ resolution (2,400 x 1,080), along with a 90 Hz refresh rate for smoother web browsing and gaming. Rich colors on the OLED screen and dual front speakers have created a top-notch entertainment device.

Pixel Pro 6 has an upgraded display with a 6.7-inch size and QHD resolution (3,120 x 1,440). The 120 Hz refresh rate on Pixel Pro 6 provides smoother image transitions but is not significantly different from Pixel 6.

The camera of Pixel 6 is the most attractive feature for buyers. The main camera lens has been improved to 50 MP, combined with Google's photo software, producing incredibly lifelike photos. The 12 MP ultra-wide lens provides better framing, and if you opt for the Pixel 6 Pro, you'll get a telephoto lens with 4x optical zoom capability for excellent long-distance shots.

Pixel 6 Pro also replaces the 8 MP selfie camera (with an 84-degree field of view) with an 11 MP front camera (94-degree field of view). The Tensor chip and AI software come with new features, such as object removal and capturing blurred motion around the subject, along with the best night mode I've ever experienced.

The battery issue on Google Pixel 4 has been completely resolved because the Google Pixel 6 has a 4,614 mAh battery while the Pixel 6 Pro has a 5,000 mAh battery, providing relatively long usage time with such large screen sizes.

• Launch of Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro: packed with too many advantages at a great price.

6. OnePlus 9 Pro

OnePlus 9 Pro is a top flagship and has addressed the main weakness of previous OnePlus phones, which is their cameras. This product will be a formidable competitor to leading smartphones on the market today.

OnePlus 9 Pro will astonish you with its 'fluid crystal display' for a 120 Hz refresh rate and with HDR10+, this product will provide a smooth and sharp visual experience for gaming and web browsing.

Thanks to the new partnership with Hasselblad and the 'freeform' ultra-wide lens designed to reduce edge distortion, OnePlus 9 Pro boasts the best camera on any OnePlus phone. While not perfect, it's a notable improvement with its impressive 48 MP main camera along with an 8 MP telephoto and a 50 MP ultra-wide.

If you need a device that can last all day, OnePlus 9 Pro delivers. With a 4,500 mAh battery, this smartphone is set to keep you going all day on a single charge. Fast charging feature also adds to the device's flexibility.

• Review of OnePlus 9 Pro: Featuring Snapdragon 888 and Hasselblad camera

7. Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is the only phone model that Samsung still produces with the S-Pen. Get ready for some incredible close-up shots with 5x optical zoom and 50x digital zoom.

The Note 20 Ultra's display measures 6.9 inches and boasts a 120 Hz refresh rate, although you can't use the high refresh rate with Quad HD+ resolution at the same time on the device. According to TechRadar's advice, the 1080p resolution on the screen is still vibrant and detailed, so switching back to 60 Hz refresh rate is unnecessary.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is one of the most beautifully capturing smartphones in the Android realm, partly due to its 5x optical zoom and 50x digital zoom capabilities.

In good lighting conditions, this phone will impress users with its impressive zoom capabilities, and the resulting photos can be used on Instagram. For me, the Note 20 Ultra has the best ultra-wide camera on a smartphone and a 12 MP main camera for ultra-sharp images.

The Note 20 Ultra features a 4,500 mAh battery for over a day's usage with normal daily needs. Even users who play games or take photos and videos won't encounter any issues.

• A detailed review of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 4G after 1 year of launch: Still excellent!

8. iPhone SE (2020)

The iPhone SE 2020 is a compact device that inherits the power and specifications from the iPhone 11 and incorporates them into the design of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8. This is a truly worthwhile phone to buy at an affordable price in 2021.

Regarding the screen, with a size of just 4.7 inches borrowed from previous iPhone generations, this iPhone SE is user-friendly for one-handed use and compact enough to easily fit in your pocket.

As long as you're not a heavy-duty user like a gamer, you'll be satisfied with the battery life that Apple provides on the iPhone SE 2020. Despite being equipped with a 1,821 mAh battery, this phone can last you all day with basic tasks.

The iPhone SE 2020 will justify the money you spend with the image quality that this camera delivers, with true-to-life colors and crisp details. However, this product will suffer a bit when taking low-light photos compared to other phones on today's list.

• Review of iPhone SE 2020 after over 1 year since its launch: Performance still strong

9. Samsung Galaxy S20 FE

The Samsung Galaxy S20 Fan Edition is the best version in terms of owning top-notch specifications with some features trimmed to save costs.

The AMOLED 6.5-inch display with Full HD+ resolution delivers sharp, detailed images, and vibrant colors. The Galaxy S20 FE still retains the in-display fingerprint sensor, ensuring the phone's back remains sleek.

The camera of the Galaxy S20 Ultra brings you captivating and vivid photos with a 12MP main camera, 12MP ultra-wide lens, an 8MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a whopping 32MP punch-hole selfie camera on the screen.

The Galaxy S20 Ultra boasts a large 4,500mAh battery, which is very useful for wireless power sharing and regular gaming. This battery can easily last a day or more with basic usage tasks.

• Review of the Galaxy S20 FE: Powerful configuration with Snapdragon 865, 10-hour battery life.

10. OnePlus 9

The OnePlus 9 is a trimmed-down version compared to the OnePlus 9 Pro. However, at a more affordable price point, this device still retains the premium experiences that the OnePlus 9 Pro offers at a higher cost.

Featuring a resolution of 1080 x 2400 on a 6.55-inch display, the OnePlus 9 may not have the sharpest screen, but it offers just the right level of detail along with a 120 Hz refresh rate on its AMOLED panel, making it one of the most visually appealing devices for the price.

With a camera system comprising a 48 MP wide lens, a 50 MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 2 MP depth sensor, the camera setup on the OnePlus 9 represents a significant upgrade. While it may not reach the heights of flagship devices, it delivers the most realistic images.

The OnePlus 9 features a large 4,500 mAh battery, providing all-day comfort with 65W fast charging support for those moments when you need your device in a hurry.

• A detailed review of the OnePlus 9: Trimmed down from the OnePlus 9 Pro but still impressive.

Conclusion on the TOP smartphones of 2021

So there you have it, we've just gone through the TOP 10 best smartphones of 2021 for you. Have you decided which product to treat yourself to for the upcoming holidays yet? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section!

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See more:

• Top smartphones worth buying in 2021: Many names from Apple, Samsung
• (Part 1) TOP 10 best-selling smartphones in 2021 at TGDĐ, many familiar names.
• (Part 2) TOP 10 best-selling smartphones in 2021 at TGDĐ, budget smartphones.