How to determine the reliability of a smartphone? Someone will call build quality the first parameter. For someone, the good name of the manufacturer is important. Particularly demanding users will emphasize battery performance and durability. And we will combine all these qualities to present you the rating of reliable smartphones in 2020.
If for you reliability is, first of all, the most shock-resistant housing that is most protected from dust and moisture, take a look at our rating of the most protected smartphones of 2020.
10. Motorola Moto G8 Plus
- smartphone with Android 9.0
- dual SIM support
- 6.3 ″ screen, resolution 2280 × 1080
- three cameras 48 MP / 5 MP / 16 MP, autofocus
- 64 GB memory, memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC
- 4 GB RAM
- 4000 mAh battery
Moto G8 Plus is the “premium” version of the G series. And the best part of this device is perhaps the stereo speakers. Even if their sound is not in the hi-fi class, it is still a big improvement over the single speaker that many more expensive phones have.
The phone is protected from splashes and will cope with the situation if you spill a glass of water on it, but you should not immerse it completely under water.
As for the quality of photography, this budget smartphone is pleasantly surprising. The triple rear camera with good software provides high-quality, detailed and clear images. Of course, this is not comparable with photos and videos of top models, but in good daylight the difference is not so great.
The Moto G8 Plus is very similar to its younger brother, Motorola One Macro, but it’s clear where the extra money was spent - for the faster Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 processor. Despite the fact that it does not promise lightning speed, the G8 Plus is very stable in almost all modern games.
pros: There is a fast 18 W charge, a standard connector for connecting wired headphones, a case is included.
Minuses: big, heavy, very easily soiled.
9. Google Pixel 4 XL
- smartphone with Android 10
- dual SIM support (nano SIM + eSIM)
- 6.3 ″ screen
- dual camera 12.20 MP / 16 MP, autofocus
- 128 GB memory, without memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC
- 3700 mAh battery
One of the best camera phones of 2020 is distinguished by an excellent combination of excellent camera software and high-quality camera sensors.
The Pixel 4 family has such high-end features as the Snapdragon 855 (combined with 6 GB of RAM), but the processor is not what sets these phones apart from other flagships. The Pixel series has always been good at photography, and this trend has continued with the release of the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL. The Pixel 4 / XL camera captures more detail than the Pixel 3 series, has an improved HDR mode, as well as portrait mode.
Night Sight (Google’s name for night mode) has also been upgraded from the Pixel 3, and Google also offers a special feature called astrophotography. It allows you to take several pictures with a long exposure of the frame (up to 15 seconds), and then combines them with averaging the color of each pixel. This removes digital noise and optimizes shadows. The images will show a clear starry sky and a highly detailed terrestrial landscape.
In addition, the Pixel 4 series smartphones can shoot 1080p video at a speed of 30, 60 and 120 frames per second, but 4K shooting is only at a speed of 30 frames per second.
pros: IP68 water and dust protection, support for fast and wireless charging, instant Android updates.
Minuses: high price, memory storage cannot be expanded.
8. HUAWEI P30 Pro
- smartphone with Android 9.0
- dual SIM support
- 6.47 ″ screen, resolution 2340 × 1080
- four cameras 40 MP / 20 MP / 8 MP, autofocus
- 256 GB memory, memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC
- 8 GB RAM
- 4200 mAh battery
The first thing this smartphone attracts attention to is its huge screen in the "waterfall" style. Huawei seems to have worked on the bugs by improving the curved long edges of the display so that there are fewer false positives.
The battery of the P30 Pro is very capacious, and given its competent optimization, the smartphone can do without recharging for 2 days, with an average intensity of use (calls, surfing the Web, reading social networks).
The Kirin 980 chip gives you all the power you need for the most demanding games, such as PUBG Mobile, Black Desert Mobile, etc.
The main camera with four modules, located on the rear panel of the HUAWEI P30, Pro can be described as amazing - in a good way. It offers optical stabilization as well as 10x hybrid zoom without loss of image quality. Ideally, you need to hold the camera motionless on a table or on a tripod to benefit from it, but even if the gadget is in your hand, we can get a clear image of very small text a few meters from the camera (for example).
Add to this the new night mode, which provides a picture brighter than what the human eye perceives, and you will understand that the HUAWEI P30 Pro is ideal for those who are keen on mobile photo and video shooting.
pros: there are Google Play services, support for wireless charging and reverse wireless charging (for wireless charging of other phones or accessories), water and dust protection according to the IP68 standard.
Minuses: there is no 3.5 mm headphone jack and you will have to buy an adapter separately, high price.
7. Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
- smartphone with iOS 13
- dual SIM support (nano SIM + eSIM)
- 6.5 ″ screen, resolution 2688 × 1242
- three cameras 12 MP / 12 MP / 12 MP, autofocus
- 256 GB memory, without memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC
Like its younger brother, the iPhone 11 Pro, the Max version has excellent build quality. At the same time, it is much heavier than competitors of the same size as it is, which is especially noticeable when you use the device for a while.
This is due to the battery, which provides almost 4000 mAh. These days are not uncommon in the mobile world, but a great achievement for the iPhone.
Together with the energy-efficient nature of the A13 chip inside the iPhone 11 Pro Max, a large battery means that the smartphone will last a whole day with the most intensive use. And when he nevertheless "gets tired" it can be quickly recharged using fast or wireless charging.
The excellent quality of photo and video shooting at "iPhones" has long become the standard for mobile flagships. And this model only confirms this rule. You can get a good quality picture in the “point and take” mode without touching the settings at all.
The iPhone 11 Pro Max is one of the most reliable smartphones with long battery life. But at the same time, Apple is selling two cheaper versions of the iPhone 11, which seem to be a more logical choice. This makes the iPhone 11 Pro Max a bit of a raven in its class - an attractive choice for Apple's most dedicated fans, but too expensive for everyone else.
pros: fantastic color rendering and brightness screen, universal camera for high-quality photo and video shooting, long battery life.
MinusesA: high price, no USB-C.
6. Samsung Galaxy S20 +
- smartphone with Android 10
- dual SIM support
- screen 6.7 ″, resolution 3200 × 1440
- four cameras 64 MP / 12 MP / 12 MP, autofocus
- 128 GB memory, memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC
- 8 GB RAM
- 4500 mAh battery
The Samsung Galaxy S line is ideal for those who want everything at once - from a powerful processor and super-screen to wireless charging and waterproof housing.
With its Samsung Exynos 990 platform, massive RAM and 6.7-inch AMOLED panel with a refresh rate of 120 Hz (for FullHD + resolution), the Galaxy S20 + is an excellent example of price / performance balance.
The device is equipped with only the best of the best features, including various flash memory options and a 4,500 mAh battery with fast wired and reverse wireless charges.
More importantly, Samsung has redefined the rear camera system with the Space Zoom feature, which allows you to zoom in up to 30 times. She can also shoot videos with a resolution of 8K.
An interesting feature of the camera is the "Single Frame" function. It allows you to take pictures right while shooting a video. Then they will all be displayed in one tape, and the smartphone will offer the best option, in his opinion.
pros: peak performance, brilliant cameras, IP68 waterproof.
Minuses: Unless you're a fan of phablets or yearn for a 3.5mm audio jack.
5. Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro
- smartphone with Android 10
- dual SIM support
- screen 6.67 ″, resolution 2340 × 1080
- four cameras 108 MP / 20 MP / 12 MP / 8 MP, autofocus
- 256 GB memory, without memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC
- 8 GB RAM
- 4500 mAh battery
The Mi 10 Pro is the 2020 Xiaomi flagship smartphone that competes on equal terms with the Oppo Find X2, Huawei P40 Pro, and the Samsung S20 family. This is a strong attacker on the field of mobile devices, designed for those who want to get from their device a pleasant "appearance" and the highest performance.
Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro has four main advantages:
- Chic AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 90 Hz.
- The top performance of the Snapdragon 865 processor, as well as the presence of 8 to 12 GB of RAM and 256 to 512 GB of internal storage.
- Long battery life thanks to a large battery that supports wireless and fast charging.
- Superb camera quality with optical stabilization and 2x optical zoom.
But there is in this whole huge barrel of honey and a small spoon of another substance. The global version of Mi 10 Pro supports only one SIM card. Therefore, if you need the simultaneous operation of two SIM cards, you will have to buy the Chinese version and get confused with the firmware on Xiaomi.eu.
pros: Wi-Fi 6 support, excellent stereo speakers, high-quality cooling.
Minuses: no memory card support, no 3.5mm jack.
4.Lg V60 ThinQ 5G
- smartphone with Android 10
- dual SIM support
- screen 6.8 ″, resolution 2460x1080
- four cameras 108 MP / 20 MP / 12 MP / 8 MP, autofocus
- 128 GB memory, memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC
- 8 GB RAM
- 5000 mAh battery
One of the most reliable smartphones in the 2020 ranking is practically devoid of flaws, with the exception of one, which we will indicate below.
The LG V60 ThinQ 5G is a massive device with a 6.8-inch P-OLED display, a huge 5000 mAh battery with support for both fast and wireless charging and the Snapdragon 865 chipset.
For music lovers, LG smartphones have always been a great option, and the LG V60 is no exception. Not only does it have a headphone jack, it also offers a Hi-Fi Quad DAC for enhanced sound.
An interesting option for the LG V60 is the second removable screen - exactly the same as the main one, that is, it has dimensions of 6.8 inches and a resolution of Full HD +. It even has a notch, although it is made solely for consistency, since the second screen does not have a selfie camera. On eBay, the price of a device with a second screen in the kit is 107 thousand rubles without the cost of shipping.
pros: dustproof and waterproof according to IP68 standard, there is a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
Minuses: not for sale in Russia, search on eBay for an average price of 40,000 rubles excluding shipping.
3. HONOR View 20
- smartphone with Android 9.0
- dual SIM support
- 6.26 ″ screen, resolution 2340 × 1080
- four cameras 48 MP / 16 MP / 2 MP / 2 MP, autofocus
- 128 GB memory, without memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC
- 6 GB RAM
- 3750 mAh battery
Part of the name HONOR View 20 comes from a selfie camera, which is located in a miniature hole on the screen. This means that this model does not have a “bang”, which many phones use today to carve out a place for the front camera.
The screen is almost identical in size to the Mate 20 Pro and is a really good option with an AMOLED matrix.
What this model lacks is wireless charging. But the battery, although it does not look impressive on paper, works without recharging during the day - and even two, if you use your smartphone mainly for calls and reading social networks.
On the back of the device, instead of three or four cameras, which today are standard for most devices more than 30,000 rubles, there is one main sensor, as well as a special depth sensor. It actually does little for the final result, but you can still get the bokeh effect on portraits. The View 20 rear camera is slightly worse than the top models, especially in detail and sharpness in the dark, but still does a really good job in daylight.
The HiSilicon Kirin 980 processor delivers impeccable performance for any task you entrust to this gadget.
pros: all Google Play services, instant fingerprint scanner work.
MinusesA: There is no 3.5mm headphone jack (but there is an adapter), no wireless charging, no moisture protection.
2. Nokia 8.1
- smartphone with Android 9.0
- dual SIM support
- 6.18 ″ screen, resolution 2280 × 1080
- dual camera 12 MP / 13 MP, autofocus
- 64 GB memory, memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC
- 4 GB RAM
- 3500 mAh battery
Nokia 8.1 is an interesting mobile phone, at least on paper. It has a sturdy metal case, inside of which is a modern, fast Snapdragon 710 processor and a dual rear camera with a respectable Zeiss inscription.
The screen of the device received an IPS-matrix and HDR10 support, which makes it very comfortable to view video content on it. In the frames you can see more details not only in the light, but also in the dark areas.
The only unique touch of this model is the camera application. With it, you can take pictures and record video simultaneously using a selfie camera and the main camera. The screen is divided into two halves, where the field of view of each camera is displayed.
If you are shooting a video, then both materials can be directly broadcast to YouTube or Facebook.
pros: 3.5mm headphone jack, support fast charging, headset included.
Minuses: slippery, no wireless charging, inconvenient location of a fingerprint scanner.
1. OnePlus 8 Pro
- smartphone with Android 10
- dual SIM support
- screen 6.78 ″, resolution 3168 × 1440
- four cameras 48 MP / 8 MP / 48 MP / 5 MP, autofocus
- 128 GB memory, without memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC
- 8 GB RAM
- 4510 mAh battery
OnePlus 8 Pro is a beautiful and solid smartphone thanks to the combination of glass and metal in its design. Its screen has a refresh rate of 120 Hz, which provides unsurpassed smoothness of content both in a game session and when watching a video.
And the Snapdragon 865 processor “under the hood” means that the OnePlus 8 Pro has enough power to quickly launch any application or game at maximum settings.
The system with a triple camera does not reach the level of photo and video shooting of the Google Pixel 4 series, but in its capabilities is close to the Samsung S20 and LG V60. For ordinary users, this means that you can get a clear, full of details and colors of the photo, without the slightest effort. You won’t even have to touch the camera settings if you don’t want to.
And finally, much to the delight of fans, the OnePlus 8 Pro has a waterproof case.
pros: very nice tactile response, stereo speakers, water and dust protection according to IP68, wireless charging.
Minuses: poor equipment without adapters; auto-backlight does not always work correctly.
