BEFORE YOU CHOOSE
What works well, what could be better, and the details worth checking.
685 smartphones
Strengths: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and 12GB of RAM give you useful headroom for multitasking and games. A 6.73-inch 2688 × 1224 OLED display offers plenty of room for videos and documents.
Limitations: The 75.5mm-wide body and large display can be awkward in a smaller hand. If reaching the top of the screen with one thumb matters, try the phone in person first.
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Strengths: A large sensor and versatile telephoto The main camera uses a 1-inch-type sensor with OIS.
Limitations: Noticeable weight and thickness The phone weighs 229g and its body is 8.38mm thick.
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Strengths: Easier to hold At 71.5mm wide, the phone is easier to wrap your hand around than wider, large-screen models.
Limitations: No 4K selfie video The front camera tops out at Full HD. That is enough for video calls, but leaves less detail than 4K when you crop footage while editing.
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Strengths: A slim and light body At 171g and 7.23mm thick, Xiaomi 13 Lite is comfortable to carry and hold for longer. That is a welcome trait in a phone with a 6.55-inch screen.
Limitations: No optical stabilisation The main camera lacks OIS. You need a steadier hand in low light; electronic video stabilisation does not replace optical stabilisation when taking…
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Strengths: The curved 6.67-inch 120Hz AMOLED display gives you smooth scrolling and strong contrast in dark scenes.
Limitations: The Magic5 name does not mean flagship cameras: the secondary sensors are 5MP and 2MP, and video is Full HD only.
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Strengths: At 179g and 7.48mm thick, the X8a is reasonably light and slim for its screen size. The 6.7-inch 2388 × 1080 display gives you room for reading, maps and messaging.
Limitations: The Helio G88 and 4G-only connectivity make this an everyday phone rather than a performance pick.
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Strengths: High-contrast AMOLED The 6.67″ AMOLED display with 1080 × 2400 resolution suits video, photos and reading. Deep blacks give dark interfaces and films a more convincing appearance.
Limitations: No storage expansion There is no microSD slot, so storage capacity needs to be chosen carefully.
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Strengths: High-contrast AMOLED The 6.67″ AMOLED display with 1080 × 2400 resolution suits video, photos and reading. Deep blacks give dark interfaces and films a more convincing appearance.
Limitations: No 4K video recording Recording is limited to Full HD at 30fps. That leaves less room for cropping during editing and lacks the motion smoothness of standard 60fps footage.
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Strengths: The 6.67-inch 120Hz AMOLED screen suits videos and smooth scrolling. At 175g and 7.9mm thick, the phone gives you a large display without an especially heavy body.
Limitations: The cameras are less versatile than their number suggests. The ultrawide has 5MP and the macro camera 2MP, while video recording tops out at Full HD.
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Strengths: The 6000mAh battery gives you plenty of capacity for calls, navigation and video. Its 22.5W charging is also a useful step up from a basic 10W adapter when you need a top-up. A 6.
Limitations: At 1600 × 720, small text looks less crisp than on a Full HD display of this size. The 76.85mm-wide body can also be awkward to use with one hand.
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Strengths: Smoother scrolling The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G display supports up to 90 Hz, making feeds, menus and animations smoother than at 60 Hz.
Limitations: No optical stabilisation The main camera lacks OIS. In dim light, hold the phone steady or rest it on something: a high megapixel count alone cannot prevent motion blur.
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Strengths: A powerful Snapdragon and fast memory Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is paired with LPDDR5 and UFS 3.1.
Limitations: No wireless charging Despite fast wired charging, the phone cannot charge on a wireless stand.
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Strengths: Generous battery capacity The 5000mAh battery provides a useful foundation for daily calls, navigation and video.
Limitations: Micro-USB and 10W charging The micro-USB port needs a matching cable, and 10W charging limits how quickly the 5000mAh battery can be replenished.
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Strengths: Generous battery capacity The 5000mAh battery provides a useful foundation for daily calls, navigation and video.
Limitations: Micro-USB and 10W charging The micro-USB port needs a matching cable, and 10W charging limits how quickly the 5000mAh battery can be replenished.
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Strengths: High-contrast AMOLED The 6.43″ AMOLED display with 1080 × 2400 resolution suits video, photos and reading. Deep blacks give dark interfaces and films a more convincing appearance.
Limitations: Only a 60Hz display Despite the benefits of AMOLED, the refresh rate is limited to 60Hz. Scrolling and animations can feel less smooth after using a 90Hz or 120Hz phone.
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Strengths: Smoother scrolling The 90Hz refresh rate makes scrolling and interface transitions smoother.
Limitations: No 5G support Mobile connectivity stops at 4G. That is sufficient for LTE service, but the phone cannot switch to 5G when compatible coverage becomes available.
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Strengths: 5G connectivity The 5G modem adds mobile connectivity options beyond LTE-only phones. The benefit depends on compatible coverage, a suitable plan and support from the operator.
Limitations: Basic camera versatility There is no ultrawide camera or optical zoom, and video is limited to 1080p at 30fps.
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Strengths: Generous battery capacity The 6000mAh battery provides a useful foundation for daily calls, navigation and video.
Limitations: Limited screen sharpness A resolution of 720 × 1650 across 6.71″ means lower pixel density than Full HD alternatives. Small text and fine lines can look less crisp.
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Strengths: Strong processing platform The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and LPDDR5 / UFS 3.1 memory provide useful headroom for demanding apps and multitasking.
Limitations: No storage expansion There is no microSD slot, so storage capacity needs to be chosen carefully.
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Strengths: A straightforward touchscreen The Apple iPhone SE 2020 has a 4.7-inch screen that gives menus, short messages and photos a clear place on the front of the phone.
Limitations: Battery condition matters more than old tests A used Apple iPhone SE 2020 may have lost a substantial part of its original battery capacity.
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Strengths: An AMOLED screen with deep blacks AMOLED keeps black areas black rather than grey. The 6.57″ display suits photos and videos, especially when you watch them in a dimly lit room.
Limitations: A 60Hz screen Scrolling is less smooth than on 90Hz or 120Hz panels. This is less of an issue for video, but it is noticeable if you are used to a high-refresh-rate phone.
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Strengths: An OIS main camera and two telephotos The 108MP camera has optical stabilisation, with two separate modules for closer framing.
Limitations: One SIM in the global version The European Mi 10 Pro has one nano-SIM slot.
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Strengths: Cameras for different subjects The 108MP main camera has optical stabilisation.
Limitations: No 5G support The phone supports networks up to 4G. That is enough for calls and messaging, but it cannot connect to 5G even with a suitable mobile plan.
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Strengths: Cameras for different subjects The 108MP main camera has optical stabilisation.
Limitations: No 5G support The phone supports networks up to 4G. That is enough for calls and messaging, but it cannot connect to 5G even with a suitable mobile plan.
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