Its the end of the year, so you know what that means: awards lists.
Besides, we recognize that everyone is different, with varying preferences on devices.
General popularity means broad carrier compatibility, wide-ranging accessories and accessible tech support.
It’s free, every week, in your inbox.
Well, unless youre on Sprint.
Instead, for the vast majority of people, the iPhone Xr makes more sense.
Pixel 3/Pixel 3 XL
I had some doubts including this phone here.
Also, theres that giant notch on the XL.
And yet, I cant help but keep recommending it, because Googles software makes it worth it.
It performs well, gets solid battery life, and receives fast updates.
The Pixel 3 is the only small Android phone that isnt crippled compared to its larger sibling.
It has everything but the kitchen sink
Etcetera, etcetera.
The only thing its missing is a headphone jack.
It starts at 128GB of Storage and 6GB of RAM and goes up to 512GB/8GB with expandable storage.
My only caveat is the camera, but its a small one.
Ive already talked recommended the Pixel 3 and Mate 20 Pro, but theyre worth acknowledging again.
The Pixel 3 remains the best point-and-shoot smartphone on the market.
And it bears repeating: Night Sight is a game-changer.
The Mate 20 Pro has the most versatile camera.
Huaweis 40-megapixel sensor is huge, and performs far better than the competition on the hardware level.
Huawei also has a plethora of software features, including a decent night mode as well.
LG has also significantly improved its dynamic range and low light performance and has class-leading support for manual video-recording.
Not just good for a smartphone, but better than many dedicated audio components too.
Thats something LG has excelled at for years just ask the audiophiles.
But its not just the audio chops.
The V40 is the best phone LG has made in years, especially in the camera department.
It performs well, has a loud mono speaker, and has some useful software features too.
Its only let down by a relatively small battery and clunky UI.
With an MSRP of $249+, its an easy recommendation.
The Pixel 3 has worse specs for $800+.
It delivers on those specs too, with smooth performance, a solid camera, and Xiaomis polished MIUI.
The only caveat is availability and compatibility youll want to verify it works with your carrier first.
Honorable mentions
BlackBerry Key2/ Key2 LE
Do you miss having a mechanical keyboard on your phone?
BlackBerrys Key2 and Key2 LE have you covered.
The Key2 siblings are a niche product, but a physical keyboard gives them a productivity advantage.
What you lose in screen real estate, you gain in functionality.
Both phones are solid options for power-users that need to get a lot of work done from their phones.
The Key2 has slightly better performance, a bigger battery, and a metal build for $650.
Surprisingly, this camera is really good, with excellent dynamic range and tasteful contrast and saturation.
Its a stunning phone with flagship specs one of the most beautiful devices Ive ever laid my eyes on.
Its nice to see a unique design in a sea of lookalikes.
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