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Before we set out the list of what I think are the best phones to come out in 2020, let’s look at a few things. This is a subjective list and these are by no means the only devices that I have liked throughout 2020. But the boss said 5, so there you have it.
I also don’t want to discredit the multitude of innovative phones coming out in 2020. But my choices are not based on innovation alone.
Among other things, I am the resident photographer here at GSMArena.com and as such I take most of the phone images for reviews and news articles. That means I can touch and handle 99% of the phones that touch the face of my favorite site and of those, these are the ones that moved me. In no particular order.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2
I’m sure it will be a popular pick among my peers, but it is the Galaxy Z Fold2. You really need to touch the Galaxy Z Fold2 to understand how transformative it is. It’s unlike anything else – holding and using this device seems like years too early. However, unlike the first-gen Galaxy Fold, the Galaxy Z Fold2 feels ready for everyday use.
It can be used folded, thanks to a larger exterior screen, but when unfolded it becomes a beautiful gateway to the mobile world. There’s nothing like it – a compact tablet that folds into an easy-to-carry phone.
And thanks to aging and depreciation, the Galaxy Z Fold2 costs as much as a boring iPhone 12 Pro Max. If I had better cameras, I would have bought the Fold instead of the boring iPhone.
Huawei Mate 40 Pro
Because I take 90% of my personal images with my phone, I am always interested in the best phone for photography. For years I have gone from a Google Pixel to an Apple iPhone, but this year the Huawei Mate 40 Pro is the king of photography.
One could argue that the Huawei P40 Pro has the beat of the Mate 40 Pro on the merit of its better ultra-wide camera, but the Mate 40 Pro has an ultra-wide selfie camera that is unique in a phone of this type. It reminds me of the ultra-wide selfie shooter on the Google Pixel 3, which can create very interesting photos together with the night mode. Well, two years later, the Mate 40 Pro does even better.
The Mate 40 Pro has the best cameras in both good light and low light. It really does it all. Sadly, it doesn’t have Google mobile services, otherwise it would have been in my pocket right now.
OnePlus 8 Pro
I’ve always been a fan of OnePlus phones, but some key feature was always missing from their latest flagship. Not anymore, the OnePlus 8 Pro has it all. The no-compromise 8 Pro from OnePlus is waterproof, has wireless charging, an excellent camera, and the expected beautiful high-refresh-rate display, superior performance, and a reliable battery.
And it comes in an icy mint green that’s easily my favorite phone color of the year.
Google Pixel 5
I had a hard time accepting the Google Pixel 5. It’s the first flagship Pixel to forgo the flagship processor, which dampened my enthusiasm for it.
But with the Pixel 5, Google got back to covering the basics: being reliable, simple, yet powerful, and the best point-and-shoot camera phone. The Pixel 5 is all of that and it’s affordable, thanks to the downgrade in the segment.
Apple iPhone 12 mini
Finally we come to the iPhone 12 mini. When I finally held this little iPhone in my hand, I was surprised by its tiny presence. My hands have adapted to larger and larger phones over the years and this one felt like a complete reset to my senses.
Holding such a small, well-made phone is like a breath of fresh air and I’ve thought more than once about getting the iPhone 12 mini, if only because of its size.
But it’s not just about size. The iPhone 12 mini is an excellent phone in all respects and it is the cheapest iPhone 12 device you can get.
