The past year was tough for everyone, and the tech industry didn’t pass it by. But taking a look at the 2021 releases, we had a good selection of gear and even a few surprises.
Now that 2022 begins, it is time to take stock and each of our authors has created their list of the best smartphones of 2021. We have narrowed our pick to five categories: autonomy, camera and value for money, essential for most of the users.
However, we cannot forget that, without reservation, it is for us the best smartphone of the year. And as the year always brings that team that left us yearning for its innovation, this is also an award that we strive to contemplate.
Once the explanation is complete, I invite you to know my 2021 elections in these categories.
Better autonomy
The easiest thing would be to give this award to the iPhone 13 Pro Max, which was the high-end smartphone with the most scrutinized and praised autonomy of the year. But I will give it to a smartphone that has passed through my hands, and I can attest to the great autonomy: the Asus ROG 5 Phone.
This is a gaming smartphone that I had the opportunity to test in the first half of the year and it has a 6000 mAh battery (divided into two 3000 mAh cells). And that’s enough for two days in my most intensive type of use.
An important detail is that it charges around 70% in just 30 minutes, or 100% in 52 minutes. The wireless charging is not there, but the autonomy is still impeccable compared to previous generations.
better camera
When choosing the best camera for a smartphone, I think we should be equally concerned with how it behaves in photography and video. And if there is a manufacturer that has shown it to us, it is Apple.
I choose the iPhone 13 Pro (or iPhone 13 Pro Max) as the best camera on a smartphone in 2021, because I think it has not only the most complete system, but also the most reliable in photography and video.
It has three 12 MP cameras (wide angle, ultra wide angle and telephoto lens), with the possibility of taking macro images as well. The optical zoom is 3x, and it can record at 4K up to 240 fps and in 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR and we also have ProRES and Cinema mode. The front camera is also the one I consider to be the most competent in the industry.
Best price / quality ratio
I cannot award this award to a smartphone other than Xiaomi POCO F3. It is a top-of-the-range ‘scent’ smartphone, with almost everything you need in a smartphone, and all for around € 300.
It has an AMOLED panel with a refresh rate of 120 Hz, and it comes equipped with the Snapdragon 870. The 4520mAh battery offers enviable autonomy, it has stereo speakers and IP53 certification that protects it from splashes and dust.
As an honorable mention, we should also mention the Xiaomi POCO X3 Pro. It is a smartphone equipped with the Snapdragon 860, which I managed to acquire in the middle of the year to offer it for only € 169. A real bargain for the performance power it represents.
best smartphone
Choosing the best smartphone of the year is usually the most difficult decision. It’s an award that could surely go to smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, if you want the best Android experience in a smartphone.
But as the most complete smartphone of the year, for my type of use, it seems to be the iPhone 13 Pro Max, this is what I give the title of best smartphone of 2021.
For starters, Apple has finally put a 120Hz refresh rate on the smartphone (ProMotion). Then there is what I consider to be the best camera on a smartphone. It also has one of the best autonomies that you will find in a device. On top of all that, the A15 Bionic offers the best performance you’ll find in a 2021 smartphone.
smartphone reveal
This was not a surprising year when it came to new smartphones that blew us away with irreverent design. The year 2021 is naturally marked by the maturation of equipment that already had previous generations with flaws that made it difficult to make them very attractive to the common user.
In this sense, I can only give this award to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3. It is the new generation of Samsung shell-shaped folding, and has the power to bring protection against water in a folding smartphone.
In addition, it is a folding that finally has an “invitation” price, and can be purchased for less than € 1000 in Portugal. For those who do not care about autonomy, it is a team that you can advise if you want something irreverent.
An honorable mention for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, which I had a chance to test. He showed me its versatility and how it is possible to use a folding smartphone in everyday life with comfort.
In a year marked by component shortages, these are my picks for 2021. Let’s hope 2022 is brighter for the world and for the tech industry in general. We will be here to bring you and test the technological innovations for the next few months.