With CES 2020 serving as a forecast for phones this year, it looks like we can expect better cameras, more gaming handsets and cheaper foldable and 5G phones. Not surprisingly, phone companies are evolving and innovating faster than ever in 2020. We also predict that Samsung’s Galaxy line and Apple iPhones will remain many people’s top choice, but other phone makers will gun for their place with fantastic handsets of their own. All this competition benefits us users, however, who have many excellent phones to choose from, and at a number of different prices. Read on to see what the best phones are right now, take a look at our tips on how to buy a new phone, and check back with this list often as we regularly update it while the new year unfolds.
Best midtier iPhone: Apple iPhone 11
Starting at $700, the iPhone 11 is the best midtier model Apple has ever made. Its cameras get an excellent new Night Mode and an ultrawide-angle camera adds extra detail in photos. Video is fantastic, too. Read our Apple iPhone 11 review.
$870 AT WALMART $699 AT APPLE $660 AT AMAZON
Most premium Android for your money: Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus
The refined, feature-packed Note 10 Plus closes the gap with rival phones. This top-of-the-line phone was made for people who want the best Android. It has a killer 6.8-inch screen, an all-day battery life and excellent camera tools. Read our Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus review.
$1,100 AT AMAZON $950 AT BEST BUY $1,100 AT SPRINT
Absolute best camera on any phone: Huawei P30 Pro
The Huawei P30 Pro‘s photo skills rule the phone world. It takes astounding photos, its battery life is superb, and its vibrant design is beautiful. Read our Huawei P30 Pro review.
Best Android value of 2020: OnePlus 7 Pro
Phones nowadays are constantly one-upping each other with pop-up selfie cameras, in-display fingerprint sensors and multiple rear cameras in addition to their selfie camera. The OnePlus 7 Pro has all the features du jour to keep us enticed. But it’s the phone’s $669 starting price that’s the deal maker. OnePlus’ followup for the US market, the OnePlus 7T is also an excellent phone. And keep an eye out in 2020 for the next OnePlus flagship, as the company demoed its OnePlus Concept One at CES 2020. Read our OnePlus 7 Pro review.
$630 AT AMAZON $699 AT ONEPLUS
Little, mighty and worth every penny: Samsung Galaxy S10E
As the most wallet-friendly Galaxy S10 phone, the Galaxy S10E has a lot to offer. It’s a smaller phone, which is great for those looking for a small grip, it has a superfast Snapdragon 855 chipset and a lengthy battery life. It can also wirelessly charge other phones and accessories. Read our Samsung Galaxy S10E review.
$750 AT AMAZON $750 AT WALMART $600 AT BEST BUY
Cheaper Pixel 3 with same great cameraGoogle Pixel 3A
The Pixel 3A shaves a few features off of last year’s Pixel 3: It’s not water-resistant, doesn’t have wireless charging, and it maxes out at 64GB of storage. But it adds a headphone jack and keeps the same amazing Night Sight camera that can shoot great photos in the dark. (Daytime photos look amazing, too.) It’s because of its great value that the phone recently earned a CNET Editors’ Choice. Read our Google Pixel 3A review.
$327 AT AMAZON $399 AT WALMART $400 AT BEST BUY
Best budget phone gets betterMotorola Moto G7
The Moto G7 is one of the most affordable and reliable phones. Though its single speaker doesn’t offer the greatest sound, and it takes mediocre low-light photos and video, the G7 has dual rear cameras, an enduring battery life and a sleek design. It also charges really quickly, which is useful when you need to juice up while on the go. Read our Motorola Moto G7 review.
$158 AT WALMART $200 AT AMAZON $200 AT BEST BUY
