The new year always seems to be a good time to get a new smart phone, and there’s a great selection to choose from.
The best smart phones aren’t always the most expensive, and that was definitely the case in 2020. Some very interesting mid-range phones have appeared, and these are the ones that stood out the most. It’s hard to be disappointed when you get quality at a good price.
That doesn’t mean that flagship models are to be avoided. There are certainly a few mentioned below. Here are the phones that offer the best value for money.
Apple's iPhone 12
Apple has launched it’s new four models under the name iPhone 12, but the one we usually recommend is the iPhone 12 itself. We recommend it more than the other models, iPhone 12 mini, the iPhone 12 Pro or the iPhone 12 Pro Max. The reason? It offers the best combination of features, performance, screen size and affordability. This phone follows in the footsteps of the iPhone XR and iPhone 11, which both played the same role when they were launched.
The iPhone 12 features a 6.1″ Super Retina XDR LED display and Apple’s latest A14 Bionic processor. There’s a lot of power in this chipset, making video games more fun, as well as making other tasks very fluid. You can choose from 64, 128 and 256 GB of storage space, and a variety of bright colors.
The camera set includes two lenses on the back: a wide-angle lens and an ultra-wide-angle lens. But that’s not all. Better software helps produce better results, especially at night and in low-light conditions, and video capture is enhanced with Dolby Vision, allowing you to enjoy excellent imaging effects with a wide dynamic range. You’ll have fun with this camera, as the images will be much more beautiful than those of your old iPhone.
Apple has also integrated the new MagSafe magnetic connector on the back of the phone. It is used to attach accessories such as wireless chargers. Some cases also use this feature, if you want to protect your device. The phone still supports wireless charging, making it compatible with Qi wireless chargers.
Google's Pixel 5
Google launched three Pixel phones in 2020, with Pixel 5 being the flagship model. Contrary to past years, it comes in only one size, so there is no XL version. From a purely aesthetic point of view, this phone is not as beautiful as the others. But Google has never prioritized beauty for its phones. Rather, it is experience and functionality that comes first. One of our favorite features is the Call Screen, where you touch it and the Google Assistant answers to filter the calls.
You get a pure version of Android that will be updated for three years. The haptic feedback is excellent, and the overall interface is great. The 6″ LED screen is also nice to look at. Google has made this phone more affordable, thanks in part to the use of the less powerful Snapdragon 765 processor. And as is always the case with Pixel devices, there’s no storage expansion, so beyond the 128GB included here, you’ll have to use the cloud.
The camera is an important feature for this phone, which is the first model to include an ultra-wide-angle lens. The quality of the competitors’ cameras has improved a lot, but the Pixel 5 is still among the best. And the video is much better now, with a 4K resolution at 60 fps and some dedicated shooting modes.
The back is made of aluminum, but it has a hole underneath that allows wireless loading to work. This means you can place it on a wireless charging mat or docking station to charge it without cables.
Instead of Pixel 5, we would strongly recommend Pixel 4a or 4a 5G. The only difference between the two is the 5G connectivity. For mid-range phones, they offer excellent value, and have many of the more advanced features of Pixel 5.
Samsung's Galaxy S20 FE
Samsung launched four different models of Galaxy S20 in 2020. The Galaxy S20 and S20+ models, as well as the S20 Ultra, were launched first. Then, the S20 FE was launched several months later. These four models have many similarities, but in our opinion, the S20 FE is the best of them all because it combines different elements of the other three.
It has a 6.5″ Super AMOLED screen, and it’s a flat screen, not the curved style that’s typical of Samsung phones. The back is not a glossy surface that shows fingerprints, but rather a tasteful matte surface that does just the opposite. This phone also comes in a variety of bright colors, making it stand out from the crowd.
It uses the same Snapdragon 865 processor as the others and has 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. You can insert a memory card to increase this capacity up to 1 TB. The overall user experience is not much different from other models. Unless you need the highest specifications, you’ll probably find its power amply sufficient.
The camera set consists of three lenses at the rear, the lenses of the S20 and S20+ models, as well as a new 8MP telephoto lens. The front camera is a new 32 MP lens for better self-portraits and video calls. The same camera software applies, so you already enjoy almost all the features that really matter for your photos and videos.
Battery life is excellent, perhaps the best of all these models. The S20 FE supports wireless charging, as well as the wireless PowerShare feature that allows you to charge devices by placing them on the back of the phone.
One of the things missing from this phone is the S Pen. If you want the stylus, the Galaxy Note20 Ultra is an option. The S Pen works better with this phone than with any other Samsung model, so if you need a pen, choose this model.
Velvet by LG
LG‘s Velvet is a surprisingly attractive device because of the “sunset” illusion that shines and reflects in any room. The 6.8″ screen is one of LG’s best to date, and that makes the combination even more interesting. It’s not really a flagship phone, it’s more of a mid-range phone, but its unique design gives another impression.
The 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage are interesting, and you have a microSD card slot to increase your storage capacity. One of the most remarkable features is the audio quality. The built-in speakers aren’t that impressive, but the 3D spatial sound and excellent Bluetooth codec support are. Plug in a pair of wired or wireless headphones, and you’ll be able to enjoy great sound.
The triple camera in the back is interesting, although the image quality does not quite match that of the other phones on this list. Still, the images can be beautiful in optimal conditions, and the phone shoots better videos than you think.
Battery life is solid with moderate use. It also supports wireless charging for added convenience. The Velvet is compatible with LG’s Dual Screen accessory, which gives you an extra screen, but it must be purchased separately.
Planning the next steps
No matter what you’re looking for in your next phone, this list is a good place to start. All of these options are good and we think the list covers the needs of most users. Not everyone can afford the cream of the crop. Do you? It’s up to you to judge.
