The 10 best smartphones

From Apple and Samsung to Oppo, OnePlus and Xiaomi, we’ve seen a fleet of powerful flagships and excellent affordable phones hit shelves over recent months.

Here’s our list of the very best phones around, plus continually updated prices if you’re looking to buy one. You can also click through to our reviews of each phone, too.

Reviews

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

The iPhone 13 Pro is camera extraordinaire and although is late to the party with many features, it does them so well, like Macro photography and adaptive refresh rates. It’s the best Apple has to offer in way of 2021 smartphones.

Rating 5 of 5

Price: $999

5 October 2021 / 08:53 BST16 November 2021 / 11:25 GMT

Features:

• Superb camera
• All day battery

Reviews

Google Pixel 6 Pro review

Previous Pixel phones usually got the first part right, and always delivered on the camera front, yet conservative specs elsewhere left them on the back foot against flagship rivals. Good news, Google fans: that all changes here

Rating 5 of 5

Price: £849 (SIM free)

26 October 2021 / 16:42 BST17 November 2021 / 12:19 GMT

Features:

• Slick, streamlined OS
• Premium hardware competes with the best of them
• Awesomely capable cameras
• Telephoto lens

Reviews

Oppo Find X3 Pro

One of the best top-end smartphones that doesn’t sport a Samsung or Apple logo. It’s serious money, but the Find X3 Pro is brilliantly capable in just about every area.

Rating 5 of 5

Price: £1099

15 March 2021 / 14:51 GMT18 November 2021 / 17:31 GMT

Features:

• Flagship-grade performance and styling
• Screen among the best around
• Microlens photography fun and unique

Reviews

OnePlus 9 Pro

This is OnePlus’s best phone camera to date, and also nets you higher-end display hardware than Samsung and Apple phones near the price

Rating 5 of 5

Price: £829

23 March 2021 / 15:03 GMT18 November 2021 / 17:30 GMT

Features:

• A primary camera with a touch of magic
• Smooth and bright 120Hz screen
• Loud stereo speakers

Reviews

Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max

At a glance, little has changed, but camera and battery improvements alone make the iPhone 13 Pro Max a significant upgrade for fans of the biggest iPhone.

Rating 5 of 5

Price: £1049

4 October 2021 / 08:54 BST17 November 2021 / 12:41 GMT

Features:

• First-rate cameras
• Longer battery life
• Superb large display
• Unparalleled app ecosystem

Reviews

Sony Xperia 1 III

More multi-division Sony greatness, with a seriously impressive screen and pro-level camera abilities. Photo novices might find it difficult to master, but no rival has such comprehensive out-of-the-box ability

Rating 5 of 5

Price: £1199

5 July 2021 / 12:29 BST18 November 2021 / 17:05 GMT

Features:

• Astonishing display
• Ultra-speedy camera
• No-compromise feature list

Reviews

Apple iPhone 13 Mini

Outwardly similar to the iPhone 12 Mini, but this upgrade meaningfully improves the camera and battery life of Apple’s most pocketable iPhone.

Rating 4 of 5

Price: £679

2 October 2021 / 09:34 BST17 November 2021 / 12:50 GMT

Features:

• Improved cameras
• Better battery life
• Uncompromised power
• Nothing else like it

Reviews

Asus ROG Phone 5

The ROG Phone 5 is our favourite gaming smartphone of 2021, thanks to those beefy specs, clever tools and impressive accessory support

Rating 5 of 5

Price: £799

19 April 2021 / 12:43 BST19 November 2021 / 16:09 GMT

Features:

• Impeccable performance
• Gorgeous display and punchy audio
• Deep set of gaming features
• Full range of optional accessories

Reviews

Xiaomi 11T Pro

A mid-tier marvel that puts pricier phones on notice with its rapid charging, smooth performance and capable camera – although its non-Pro sibling is arguably better value

Rating 4 of 5

Price: £599

6 October 2021 / 13:54 BST17 November 2021 / 12:40 GMT

Features:

• Flagship performance
• Shockingly quick charging
• Gorgeous screen

Reviews

Apple iPhone 13

This year’s key iPhone is no poor relation to the Pro – there’s so much to love about it. It’s not a revelation after iPhone 12, but it does enough to be a step onward.

Rating 5 of 5

Price: $799.99

19 October 2021 / 14:43 BST11 November 2021 / 12:25 GMT

Features:

• Excellent battery life
• Welcome camera improvements
• So much power
• 128GB base storage