It’s been a big year in the world of tech, with lots of new mobile phones being released in Australia.
So it’s no wonder that it can be a hard decision on which phone to choose when it’s time to upgrade - especially when you don’t want to pay a small fortune for that new device.
From the phones that
we’ve tested this yea
r, these are our top picks for the best mobile phones you can buy right now.
10. Motorola edge (RRP $799)
The Motorola edge stands out amongst other phones on the market right now due to the design. It’s very similar to
Huawei’s P40 Pro
with the screen falling over the side of the device. This isn’t a bad thing if you want a phone that looks a little bit unique.
There is some great value for money from this phone including a great display, fantastic battery life and a decent camera.
The Motorola edge is at the top end of the range that is available in Australia and competes with the likes of the
OPPO Find X2 Neo
, LG’s Velvet and
Google’s Pixel 4
.
Is it better than any of those phones? It really depends on what you want out of your phone. And the Motorola edge is a worthy contender.
Read the full review
.
9. Vivo X50 Pro 5G (RRP $999)
When boiled down, the Vivo X50 Pro 5G is all about a great looking phone that takes fantastic photos and video. And it does that quite well.
It’s one of the better devices that I’ve felt sits nicely in the hand and the lighter weight avoids hand fatigue. Then there is that gimbal, and the video that you can capture on the X50 Pro is incredible, especially when you’re prone to shaky hands like me.
Add to that the quality of still photography in both good lighting conditions and low-light, and the camera gets a big tick of approval from me.
It may not have the most powerful internals that you’d find in more expensive smartphones, however, during testing, there were never any issues with launching apps or browsing through websites. Everything just worked as it should. And all this does translate to one of the best battery performers that I’ve seen this year.
All-in-all, the X50 Pro 5G is solidly within our top smartphones of 2020 because of the beautiful design, great screen, solid battery life and class-leading photography and video. The let down might just be the slight software quirks, and hopefully, that’s something Vivo can work on.
Read the full review
.
8. realme 7 Pro (RRP $599)
Once again realme has launched a phone that puts into question what exactly we’re paying so much money for on other devices. There’s the great display, nice design, cameras that are actually pretty decent and a battery that charges insanely fast.
You’ll just need to weigh up if not having 5G is a deal-breaker for you because that’s pretty much the only thing that should make you hold back from considering this phone.
Read the full review
.
7. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 (RRP $2,999)
After two weeks using the Fold2, I can see the appeal of such a device and the convenience of having a tablet in your pocket (if it fits, that is).
Everything about the new generation foldable is an improvement. Bigger and better screens, improved and diverse camera setup and battery life that isn’t as bad as I thought it would be, especially when powering such a large screen.
But it all comes at a high price and one that would be familiar if you invested into the original Fold from last year. If you can afford $2,999 to combine your smartphone with your tablet, then you will not be disappointed.
Samsung has learnt from past mistakes and smashed it out of the park with the Fold2.
Read the full review
.
6. OPPO Find X2 Neo (RRP $899)
The Find X2 Neo is a great size, comes with a fantastic display and stellar battery life. Not only that but you get some pretty solid cameras, including one of the best front-facing cameras I’ve tested this year.
While we already took a look at the
Find X2 Pro
, the unashamed flagship device for 2020 from the company that comes in at $1,599, there is another option within the family series such as the Find X2 Lite which you can pick up for $749.
But the Find X2 Neo is a great middle-ground for those that don’t want to pay over $1000 for a phone, and that makes it one of our favourite devices of the year.
Read the full review
.
5. Huawei P40 Pro (RRP $1,599)
Huawei’s P40 Pro is an accomplished device in so many areas where it’s important. The design is stunning, the screen is great, the camera is fantastic and battery life is the best you’ll find on a flagship Android phone right now.
But, Huawei’s Achilles’ heel comes from the lack of Google services and popular apps. This user experience is such a shame for an absolutely gorgeous device - and anyone that isn’t willing to spend a few hours tinkering around with their new phone is going to struggle here.
Petal search does help here, to some degree, with finding your favourite apps.
You can find out more here
.
All-in-all, this is a fantastic phone that is let down by some apps that just don’t work without Google services. But if Huawei can get more top developers on board, and pretty quickly, there may be some light at the end of the tunnel for one of the best devices you can get right now.
Read the full review
.
4. TCL 10 Pro (RRP $749)
I really didn’t know what to expect when it came to the TCL 10 Pro. But I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by what you get in a phone that will set you back slightly less than $750.
You get an outstanding design, build quality, display and battery life. The camera won’t replace your DSLR and doesn’t match some of the other heavy hitters in the smartphone world, but it’s good enough for what most people will need it for, and that’s those quick social media uploads.
It’s an impressive effort from TCL and if you do end up picking yourself up one, you won’t be disappointed by that choice.
Making this device even more appealing is the fact that TCL is offering savings on the 10 Pro ahead of Christmas so make sure you keep an eye out.
Read the review here
.
3. Apple iPhone 12 (RRP $1,349)
Any scepticism I had about where the iPhone 12 fits into Apple’s new ecosystem faded within days. It absolutely holds its own.
Taking into consideration the price, design and overall performance, it’s hard to find a handset out of the four that will top the iPhone 12. The camera on the 12 Pro is insane. There’s no other way to say it. But, it must be said, the average user probably isn’t going to truly capitalise on what it is capable of.
It’s anything but the boring middle child.
Read the full review
.
2. Samsung Galaxy S20 FE (RRP $999)
It’s clear Samsung struck a harmony with some wrong tones. Namely, with the camera, we think the new
Pixel 4a 5G
and the
iPhone SE
do a better job of just snapping the shot. However, if you practice a bit and play around with the settings, you can get a nice photo or video.
The rest of the S20 FE is up to snuff though — performance is zippy, the screen is sharp, you won’t struggle with the battery and the build is quite nice. For $999, you’re getting fantastic value for money.
If you don’t need a flagship like a
Note 20 Ultra
or
iPhone 12 Pro
, the S20 FE has a clear space and offers the most value of any Samsung phone announced this year. You’ll just need to decide if this lower-end flagship works, or if it’s better to get a Pixel or a new iPhone.
Read the full review
.
1. Google Pixel 5 ($999)
Google’s Pixel 5 is consistent in all the right areas.
The phone comes with a great display for viewing content, apps run very well with the latest version of Android, the camera is excellent and can take outstanding shots - consistently.
Add to that water resistance, excellent battery life as well as a smaller footprint, and Pixel 5 is a great device for most people.
No device is completely perfect so it all came down to some real nitpicking in terms of what I didn’t like with the device - even though Pixel 5 is my favourite device of 2020.
Read the full review
.
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