Best smartphones of 2020: Preliminary round

06 December 2020
We've sorted the most interesting smartphones into seven categories, round 1 of voting will determine the Top 5 in each category.

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  • T
  • Truth
  • 4gw
  • 06 Dec 2020

Theres a lot of stupid People think samsung fe 5g is exynos 😂

    • l
    • lpl
    • mYW
    • 06 Dec 2020

    Ehmmm pixel 5?! Just one category? Seriously GSM arena? Seriously?! Should be a part of at least 2 more. Your anti Google campaign just as transparent as ever

      • ?
      • Anonymous
      • Ni0
      • 06 Dec 2020

      Anonymous, 06 Dec 2020High-End Flagship smartphone of the year - Samsung Galaxy N... moreIPhone 12 pro Max is in the special category of Most Lackluster Flagship of the year.
      Ancient Hardware+ Software cannot win in any single category.

        • S
        • Shiny Dave
        • mpm
        • 06 Dec 2020

        Bodygard, 06 Dec 2020It isn't bad but the problem here is that Samsung diff... moreWhich is why the S20 FE 5G is the only Samsung I can recommend right now for European customers anywhere near the high end.

        There does seem to be a real drop-off in user experience with the overheating issues on Exynos.

        Anyway, I voted for that as my flagship killer but also considered the iPhone 12 mini, which isn't for me but is a game changer for some people. I've already recommended it to two friends, one of whom is completely out of the Apple ecosystem but (as a long-time Xperia Compact loyalist) is tempted anyway. Of course, if there's a proper Xperia Compact in 2021...

          • D
          • Dometalican
          • 7BB
          • 06 Dec 2020

          I'm surprised the two Pixel 4a's are not on this list for affordable. The 4a 5G is a really good phone for the price.

          Also, how is the Xperia 1 Mark ii not on the list for camera phones? I absolutely preferred that phone's camera over the others.

          Also also, how is the LG V60 not here? That's virtually the most underrated phone of 2020 considering all the hardware that thing is packed with. Zero compromises other than the display not having a HRR or 2K at least.

            • ?
            • Anonymous
            • gq3
            • 06 Dec 2020

            Anonymous, 06 Dec 2020High-End Flagship smartphone of the year - Oppo Find X2 Pro... moreHigh-End Flagship smartphone of the year - Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra (Snapdragon).

            Mid-tier Flagship smartphone of the year - Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5g/Mi 10T Pro.

            Budget Flagship smartphone of the year - Poco F2 Pro

            Compact smartphone of the year - Samsung Galaxy S20 (Snapdragon).

            Mid-range smartphone of the year - Pixel 4a.

            Budget smartphone of the year - Poco X3.

            Foldable smartphone of the Year - Samsung Galaxy Fold 2.

            Gaming smartphone of the year - Lenovo Legion Duel.

            Best Design - Asus Zenfone 7 Pro.

            Best Battery - Asus ROG 3.

            Best Screen - Oppo Find X2 Pro.
            {iPhone 12 pro Max misses out due to lack of HRR and Note 20 ultra can't do QHD+@120Hz.}

            Best Software Experience/UI - MIUI 12 (Android).
            {They really did a great job this year}

            Best Camera - Mi 10 Ultra.

            Smartphone manufacturer of the Year - Xiaomi.

              • D
              • Dani
              • pqC
              • 06 Dec 2020

              Also as everyone else pointed out, where are the Google phones. 4a is almost best pick for its catergory... You should consider our comments and remake the pools be fair or just let us to add our options.

                • h
                • hassan
                • xJd
                • 06 Dec 2020

                huwei and honor best app in the world

                  • D
                  • Dani
                  • pqC
                  • 06 Dec 2020

                  Where is the LG Velvet and V60 ? Such a underrated company... It's too sad to see pools with Samsung, Apple and only Chinese companies. At least we can see Sony in 2 pools but Xperia 10mkII ins't in the midrange poll. Litearlly dissapointing....

                    • N
                    • Namsu
                    • sUv
                    • 06 Dec 2020

                    I don't understand how people have voted for samsung A51 at second position in budget smartphone range.
                    In my opinion all other smartphones are better than A51 which I've been using for ove 3 months and am not satisfied at all. It is very underpowered device

                      Notesh, 06 Dec 2020All you people complaining about Exynos, please be clear. E... moreIt isn't bad but the problem here is that Samsung differentiates it's users giving some the more powerful and efficient Snap865 while giving others the inferior Exynos while charging MORE money than in the Snap865! That is totally unfair. And we can't even chose in Europe what version we want, we only have Exynos.

                      We are not blinded by nothing, it's just facts. Go get them straight.

                        • P
                        • Pixel 4a
                        • yVI
                        • 06 Dec 2020

                        No Pixel 4a anywhere??? lol??

                          Shui8, 06 Dec 2020Vanilla P40 only $550 here in my country. Camera quality ev... moreYes it is but many people don't talk about Huawei now because of this BS with Google. I think that Huawei is on their way of giving the world a 3rd player, a new OS that can be revolutionary just like Apple offered revolutionary CPS's with M1. I think that next year at this time, Huawei is going to be 10 times more powerful than it is now. I got my hands on Mate 40 Pro and I have no words to describe what a masterpiece it is. Very proud of my P40 Pro.

                            I have a question
                            Is Galaxy A71 not a mid-ranger?

                              • u
                              • unknown
                              • IV{
                              • 06 Dec 2020

                              erm,does gsmarena remember there is a xperia 1 mark2 and xperia 5 mark2?

                                Boggy-Stefy, 06 Dec 2020The best smartphone is the one you are using. Lol. It is.but only If you Brough it because you like it and not because you have no finances to afford some better stuf.

                                  • S
                                  • Snoopy
                                  • rmf
                                  • 06 Dec 2020

                                  No lg velvet

                                    Notesh, 06 Dec 2020All you people complaining about Exynos, please be clear. E... moreActually you can feel it,very easy.
                                    Last year,I use a Galaxy S10(Chinese version,my own phone) with Sn855 and a S10+ 5G(South Korea version,as 5G testbed) with Exynos 9820(+Exynos5100 BP)
                                    The exynos9820 version is extremely hot when gaming,and in daily use,it beome hot randomly

                                      • ?
                                      • Anonymous
                                      • Ni0
                                      • 06 Dec 2020

                                      AnonD-923722, 06 Dec 2020Design : almost all phones are good looking and feels good ... moreHigh-End Flagship smartphone of the year - Oppo Find X2 Pro/OnePlus 8 Pro.

                                      Mid-tier Flagship smartphone of the year - Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5g/LG V60/Mi 10T Pro.

                                      Budget Flagship smartphone of the year - Poco F2 Pro

                                      Compact smartphone of the year - Sony Xperia 5 II.

                                      Mid-range smartphone of the year - Redmi 10X Pro/Realme X7 Pro.

                                      Budget smartphone of the year - Poco X3.

                                      Foldable smartphone of the Year - Samsung Galaxy Fold 2.

                                      Gaming smartphone of the year - Asus ROG 3.

                                      Best Design - LG Wing.

                                      Best Battery - Asus ROG 3.

                                      Best Screen - Oppo Find X2 Pro/Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.

                                      Best Software Experience/UI - Oxygen OS (Android).

                                      Best Camera - Mi 10 Ultra/Huawei Mate 40 Pro Plus

                                      Smartphone manufacturer of the Year - Xiaomi.

                                        • s
                                        • sq2013
                                        • 7P3
                                        • 06 Dec 2020

                                        Pointless polls. How are we supposed to make a judgement on this when very few if anyone entering the poll has not used all of the phones?