Best of the best: TOP 5 flagship smartphones of 2021

The 2021 OnePlus flagship line is the first fruit of a partnership between the manufacturer and the Swedish photography equipment company Hasselblad. This is a premium brand in the camera market with a rich history, which is why OnePlus made a bet on the camera in the ninth generation of top smartphones. True, it seems that in the first year of cooperation, Hasselblad did not participate much in the development, only calibrating natural light for realistic colors and natural skin tones. If you close your eyes to the brand logo, the OnePlus 9 camera has a large number of nuances - apparently to emphasize the advantages of the older model OnePlus 9 Pro against their background. Three modules are available, including a 48MP main sensor, a 50MP wide-angle camera, and a secondary 2MP black and white lens. Unfortunately, there is no optical stabilization or a telephoto lens here - only the older brother got all this. Therefore, only the “width” deserves praise, but in general, the camera shoots well, but not as well as we would like, especially in light of the advertised partnership with Hasselblad.

If you look at the smartphone in general, then a thick thread runs through the characteristics of the same compromises that the manufacturer made, apparently in order to reduce the cost and demonstrate the advantages of the OnePlus 9 Pro again. First of all, the impression is spoiled by a plastic rather than a metal frame, although the design of the smartphone itself is quite nice. Fortunately, the back cover was not made of plastic and glass was chosen after all. Also, OnePlus should be scolded for the under-screen fingerprint scanner: it works quite quickly, but its location is as inconvenient as possible. The sensor was placed closer to the bottom frame, so every time you have to pull your finger to it, often holding the gadget with your second hand.

As for the display, it's excellent here. The 6.55-inch Fluid AMOLED panel with 2400x1080 resolution and flat edges is the perfect solution for the opponents of curved screens. But there was an ill-fated “but”: although the image refresh rate was increased to 120 Hz, it is not adaptive here, that is, there is only a standard 60 Hz scan or a 120 Hz mode to choose from.

The flagship receives another medal in the overall standings for autonomy: the battery consists of two parts and has a total capacity of 4500 mAh. It supports 65W fast charging: just 15 minutes at the outlet will provide a whole day of battery life, and it takes 29 minutes to fully charge. In addition, this is the first non-Pro model in the family to receive wireless charging. True, it is only available in versions for the US and European markets.

Responsible for performance is a win-win bundle of the top-end Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, Adreno 660 graphics and 8 GB of RAM. It's not even worth saying that their power is enough for everyday tasks and demanding games. The Cool Play liquid cooling system is designed to control the temperature, but sometimes it can not tame the hot temper of the Snapdragon 888 - this chip is known for its high heat, so OnePlus should not be blamed for this. Complementing the picture are the attributes inherent in many modern flagships: support for 5G, Wi-Fi 6, NFC (in the global version), stereo speakers, as well as the lack of a memory card slot and a 3.5 mm audio jack.

“Compact flagship” is a rather rare phrase in our time, although this niche is free, and most importantly, in demand. Despite the nostalgic feedback from users who fondly remember the old, small tubes, manufacturers continue to increase the screen size and dimensions of smartphones. But Asus went against the system and released a compact model that fits comfortably in the hand and fits in any pocket. It sounds like a bold fantasy, not reality, but it's true: Asus Zenfone 8 boasts a small 5.9-inch display, dimensions of 148x68.5x8.9 mm and a weight of 169 g. Moreover, the screen quality did not suffer from the reduction in size: this is a Super AMOLED panel with a resolution of 2400x1080 pixels, the usual aspect ratio of 20:9, support for HDR10 + and a refresh rate increased to 120 Hz.

At the same time, the flagship looks quite modest and, so to speak, not solid: small frames around the screen, discreet colors and a simple design of the main camera in the form of a small rectangular block. But appearances are deceiving: the back cover is made of glass, the frame is made of durable metal, the case has IP68 moisture protection, and this is still an infrequent guest even for top-end devices.

What did the manufacturer have to sacrifice for the compactness of the smartphone? Nothing. It offers all the benefits that current flagships have, and even more. The company proves that it is possible to fit everything you need without turning the gadget into a shovel phone. Want a top-tier Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor with Adreno 660 graphics, 5G support, and fast UFS 3.1 memory? Get it. Are you dreaming about the return of the good old 3.5 mm jack for connecting wired headphones, which was unfairly deprived of many users? Yes please! This smartphone is a real superhero against the background of somewhat deprived flagships, which embodies all your innermost dreams. But there are still no ideals, so the creation of Asus has its own fly in the ointment in a barrel of honey. More precisely - some compromises, not serious shortcomings. Firstly, due to the limited space inside the case, the "stuffing" heats up more. Secondly, there is no slot for a memory card, so do not be stingy and select the necessary modification before buying. Thirdly, the battery is far from the most capacious - 4000 mAh, but perhaps this is the maximum that could be squeezed out at such a size. However, there are power-saving features that limit inactive background apps and reduce power consumption, as well as 30W fast charging. Of course, this is far from the highest figure, but in just 25 minutes you will get 60% battery charge. Unfortunately, there is no wireless or reverse charging. But there are nice benefits like the advanced Wi-Fi 6E standard, NFC, a fingerprint scanner under the screen and good stereo sound.

As for the camera, they decided to leave the rotary block as the Asus Zenfone 8 Flip chip, and the usual "eight" got a camera in the spirit of minimalism with only two sensors - a 64-megapixel Sony IMX686 and a 12 MP ultra-wide lens, which also serves for macro shooting from a distance of 4 see And thanks to the manufacturer for this - for the absence of modules with a large number of megapixels and unnecessary 2 MP sensors, which are needed only for a red word, or rather, good advertising and marketing. You get a fair set, spiced up with optical stabilization and autofocus, which produces beautiful pictures with natural colors and high-quality videos with stable and sharp images. The model is far from the title of the best camera phone, but good vlogs and pictures for social networks and family archives are guaranteed.

Xiaomi has long been not associated with cheap Chinese goods that look like a low-quality fake of A-brand gadgets. Now it is one of the leading manufacturers with smartphones of the corresponding level. The base model of the flagship family of 2021, the Mi 11, is on par with the competition (although still cheaper than the iPhone) and shows premium in all its appearance. Classically for this segment, the case is made of glass, and the frame is made of aluminium. It uses Gorilla Glass Victus, the strongest glass in the range today. It is claimed to increase drop protection by 150% and is also 200% more scratch resistant than its predecessors. The dimensions of the device are far from the most minimal - 164.3 mm in height, 8.1 mm in thickness and weighs 196 g. But due to the display rounded on all four sides and the side edges, which seem to flow into a thin frame, the device looks elegant and neat. It is convenient and, most importantly, it is pleasant to hold it in your hand, although the protruding camera unit spoils the impression a little. One module is torn out, so even the silicone case from the kit cannot hide it. There is also no protection against water and dust IP68 - it remained with the older version of Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra.

The manufacturer calls the flagship display almost perfect, and it really is. No wonder he received the highest A + rating from the famous DisplayMate agency, at the same time setting 13 new records. It's a large 6.81-inch AMOLED panel with WQHD+ (3200x1440 pixels) ultra-high resolution, excellent viewing angles, HDR10+ support, and a maximum brightness of 1500 nits. It's also ultra-smooth with up to 120Hz refresh rates with AdaptiveSync auto-tuning technology, and responds instantly to taps with a 480Hz sample rate. By the way, today this is the highest response speed among Xiaomi devices and one of the highest rates on the market. In general, a pleasant experience when watching movies, videos and games is provided. And the display has a built-in sensor that not only recognizes the fingerprint, but also knows how to measure the pulse. It is unlikely that someone will use this all the time, but, in general, a very interesting feature.

Another pride of Xiaomi Mi 11 is the camera. The Chinese company has always been greedy for a large number of megapixels, and this case is no exception. The rear camera received an original, albeit controversial design and three modules. At the steering wheel is a 108-megapixel sensor in the company of a 13 MP ultra-wide lens and a 5 MP macro module. There is optical stabilization, but, unfortunately, only older versions have a telephoto lens. No wonder the manufacturer called the camera cinematic: in addition to the high quality of photography, it offers interesting filters and modes for shooting video, and the night mode allows you to record videos in almost complete darkness. All in all, a great option for bloggers, party goers, and active Instagram users. In addition, thanks to the 20-megapixel front camera, good selfies are also obtained.

As for the “stuffing”, it corresponds to the high rank of the flagship here: the top-end Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, 5G support, LPDDR5 RAM, UFS 3.1 storage, Wi-Fi 6, NFC and a 4600 mAh battery. Of the amenities - an infrared port for controlling other equipment instead of a remote control, stereo speakers with sound from Harman Kardon, fast charging with a power of 55 W (100% in 45 minutes), 50-watt wireless charging (100% in 53 minutes) and wireless reverse charging on 10 W. By the way, for users in the global market, Xiaomi did not become greedy and left a charger with a power of 55 W in the kit.

By tradition, the 2021 Samsung flagship family includes three models, and it was the smartphone with the Plus prefix in the name that took on the role of that golden mean: in terms of materials and some characteristics, it is better than the base Galaxy S21, but inferior in functionality to the older Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. winning at the same time in price. In general, there are no revolutionary changes compared to its predecessor Galaxy S20 Plus, but it is still one of the best Android flagships on the market. As expected, the equipment here is at a high level. The powerful and productive Exynos 2100 processor (there is also a version with Snapdragon 888, but for other countries) will cope with any task, even with the most demanding games. Compared to its predecessors, the chip increased power, caught up with the performance of competitors from Qualcomm and took control of the temperature without getting too hot at peak loads. Fast LPDDR5 and UFS 3.1 memory is used, although there is no memory card slot, unfortunately. Like, in fact, the mini-Jack connector - most premium devices are deprived of these benefits, and you just have to put up with it. The 6.7-inch bright and colorful Dynamic AMOLED display supports HDR10+, has a resolution of 2400x1080 and a refresh rate of 120Hz with adaptive mode. In addition, it is covered with Gorilla Glass Victus - durable, reliable and resistant to scratches and damage.

IP68 certification means that the device is protected from water and dust: it can withstand short-term immersion, but this only applies to fresh water, so you should not “drown” the phone on the beach and in the pool. Complementing the image of an almost perfect flagship is a smart under-screen fingerprint scanner, face unlock function, stereo speakers, support for 5G, Wi-Fi 6 and NFC.

As for the camera, in fact, the most noticeable change in it was the design: the rectangular block on the back panel seems to flow into the side frame. Of course, there are no comrades for the taste and color, but this design looks fresh and definitely differs from the solutions of other manufacturers. But the modules remained the same: 12 MP main sensor, 12 MP "wide" and 64 MP telephoto lens. But Samsung has worked on the software. The smartphone can shoot 8K video at 24 fps, super smooth 60 fps video, has professional photo and video modes, a super stabilization mode for shooting on the move and a 30X Space Zoom function that includes 3x hybrid optical zoom and 30x multiple digital. In general, the camera copes perfectly in any conditions. The 10-megapixel front camera is located in the usual round cutout in the screen.

In terms of autonomy, the smartphone is also doing well: a 4800 mAh battery will provide a day or even two without recharging. Fast charging is far from the fastest - 25 W, but wireless charging (15 W) and wireless reverse (4.5 W) are also supported. That is, if necessary, the smartphone will be able to recharge another device - for example, wireless headphones. But the main disappointment was the "thin" kit, which no longer contains a charger. For this, it is worth "thanking" Apple, which was the first to refuse complete adapters, after which other manufacturers unanimously followed.

Everyone is waiting for new iPhones like manna from heaven, but Apple itself is not wasteful on innovation: the iPhone 12 family has finally received 5G support, and displays with a refresh rate of 120 Hz have become a feature of the iPhone 13 line. And even then not all, but only older models with the Pro prefix. Well, even though 120 Hz has long been the norm for top-end devices from other manufacturers, the main thing is that the iPhone is a premium, a famous brand and the iOS operating system, which has many fans who do not recognize Android. The most expensive smartphone in the 2021 range is the iPhone 13 Pro Max, which boasts a large 6.7-inch OLED display. Its weight is appropriate - as much as 240 g, but the thickness of the case is small - 7.65 mm. But on such a screen it is convenient to watch your favorite TV shows and play games, especially with the ProMotion refresh rate, which automatically changes from 10 to 120 times per second, depending on the tasks.

In terms of design, almost nothing has changed over the year: this is still the same smartphone made of expensive materials, which, with its whole appearance, shows belonging to the highest community. The only new feature is a 20% smaller notch for the front camera with a Face ID sensor, which leaves even more room for the screen. The flat bezels are made of surgical grade stainless steel, and the back panel is made of Ceramic Shield glass, resistant to damage when dropped. Fortunately, we didn't forget about IP68 water resistance, which means that the device can withstand immersion in water to a depth of 6 meters for up to 30 minutes. But keep in mind that damage due to liquid contact is not covered by the warranty.

The main camera is still framed in the form of a square block and consists of three modules - a time-tested trio with a resolution of 12 MP (telephoto, an ultra-wide-angle lens with autofocus and a wide-angle lens with optical stabilization and matrix shift stabilization, as well as an enlarged matrix with 1.9 pixels µm). But they improved the hardware, intelligent software and added a new chip. This made it possible to shoot macro at a distance of only 2 cm from the object, both photos and videos, to shoot in low light, as the sensors capture more light, and even to make a film in ProRes format or in Dolby Vision standard.

The smartphone is equipped with the new A15 Bionic processor, built on 5-nanometer technology, and this is the fastest chip among all iPhones (with the caveat "for now" - until next year and the release of iPhone 14). It's great for heavy gaming, bringing the full potential of the camera to life, and any other task you set for it. And what is important - it is energy efficient, because autonomy has always been not the strongest side of "apple" smartphones. The battery capacity has also increased, although Apple traditionally does not give numbers. As a result, they promise up to 28 hours of video playback and up to 95 hours of audio playback from a single charge, and the overall autonomy has increased by 2.5 hours compared to the iPhone 12 Pro Max. It supports fast charging with a power of only 20 W, which will replenish up to 50% of the charge in about 30 minutes, and branded MagSafe wireless magnetic charging. And now we come to the most important drawback - there is no charger in the kit, only a USB‑C / Lightning cable. This decision was made last year to protect the environment, and Apple is not going to change it, setting a goal of completely eliminating plastic from product packaging by 2025. So either take care of the old adapter like the apple of an eye, or immediately buy a new one.