The best new smartphones of 2020
With 2020 almost over, the internet is awash with that-was-the-year-that-was reviews. And most of them will be unutterably depressing.
With that in mind, let’s turn to something more positive – a rundown of the best new smartphones of 2020.
In the (at times total) absence of a social life, many of us have retreated into the digital world this year – streaming box sets, immersing ourselves in fantasy gaming, and arguing on social media.
Having a smartphone with a powerful processor and a high-definition screen has become arguably more important than ever, while long-lasting battery life is also crucial.
Happily, 2020 has seen some highly significant handsets reach the market.
These are some of the best new smartphones of 2020, starting with a device which moved forwards by going backwards…
Google Pixel 5
Google’s mid-priced Pixel 5 captured the zeitgeist in a way few smartphones ever have, when it launched with a modest £599 price tag.
With a slightly slower processor and less cutting-edge technology than the outgoing Pixel 4 (no facial recognition, for instance), it might have resembled a step backwards.
Yet the ‘inferior’ Snapdragon processor enabled 5G connectivity, longer battery life and a lower price. The Pixel 5 proves smartphones don’t always have to outdo their predecessors.
Apple iPhone 12
While Google reduced their prices to increase their appeal, Apple did what they do best – launching four high-end handsets with prices ranging from high to eye-watering.
You’ll pay £1,500 for the iPhone 12 Pro Max, though you will own a gorgeous phone whose camera has seen boutique estate agents adopting it instead of using property photographers.
Despite manufacturing issues with discoloured screens, the 5G iPhone 12 proves some people are still willing to pay a premium for high-end specifications and an iconic brand.
Samsung Galaxy S20
Samsung’s perennial battle to outdo Apple saw its best smartphone to date arrive this year, in the form of the iPhone-beating Galaxy S20.
Critics hailed its 120Hz screen as better the best on the market, with an improved battery life compared to the S10 and an upgraded camera suite with superior processing software.
Meanwhile, innovations include reverse power sharing to wirelessly donate your battery life to another device, and up to 1.5TB of storage with a microSD card.
Motorola Razr
Motorola’s new take on its legendary 2004 Razr flip-phone arrived in shops at the start of this year, this time sporting a bending one-piece screen rather than two separate displays.
This stunning folding device may herald the way forward for smartphone design, permitting larger screens within smaller chassis that can be transported more easily.
The Razr isn’t all show and no go, either. It delivers 5G, 128GB of storage, gesture control and a main screen which is 6.2 inches, while the external screen is 2.7 inches when folded.
LG Wing
Other than the first-generation Razr and the original iPhone, it’s hard to recall a smartphone being received with as many open mouths as LG’s extraordinary Wing.
While the 2020-era Razr folds out, the Wing turns into a miniature Angel of the North, with a landscape screen overlaid across a portrait one. It even has a pop-up selfie camera module.
Nor is this simply an aesthetic marvel. The Wing packs an in-screen fingerprint sensor and 128GB of storage, while a gimbal behind the top screen delivers smooth cinematography.