Here are the ten best smartphones of August 2021. Technos, screen quality, performance, battery life, or even photo, they offer the best.
Buying a high-end smartphone isn't just about luxury. If we find perfect devices on the market for less than 200 euros, it must be recognized that the most expensive mobiles offer incomparable versatility, in addition to the impression of belonging to the elite.

These smartphones stand out for their more sophisticated design, their ultra-bright edge-to-edge screen, their competition cameras, as well as their much more powerful processor.
They also have some exclusive functions such as wireless charging, ultra-fast charging, or, more recently, support for 5G networks.

In short, buying a high-end smartphone is making sure you have a device designed to last. It is also likely that these smartphones receive updates more often and lose less value if resold. In short, a high-end smartphone is also an investment in the long term.

 

Read also :
- Comparison: smartphones less than 200 euros
- Comparison: smartphones between 200 and 500 euros
- Comparison: high-end smartphones
- Top 10 most enduring smartphones

In this ranking, the ten best high-end smartphones according to the results of laboratory. All tested by journalists, these devices really convinced me.

Here is the list of the top 10 best smartphones of 2021

10. OnePlus 9 Pro

Compatible with 65W ultra-fast charging and 50W wireless charging, the OnePlus 9 Pro is a complete smartphone. This device uses Qualcomm's Snapdragon 888 processor, has a curved 120Hz refresh rate (LTPO) OLED display, and even claims IP68 waterproofing. On the software side, the OnePlus 9 Pro is also one of the best, thanks to its OxygenOS? Overlay.
The only flaw is his camera. If it is better than that of its predecessor, it still experiences some difficulties at night. The partnership with Hasselblad is still in its infancy.

Overall score: 8.96 / 10 | Manufacturer's price: from 919 euros | 5G compatibility: yes, being deployed 

 

9. Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro

With its Mi 10 Pro in 2020, Xiaomi has gone upmarket. Thanks to its ultra-bright OLED screen, this device really offers incredible comfort to those who spend a lot of time on their smartphone.
Its other strength lies in its autonomy. The Mi 10 Pro is the longest-lasting high-end 5G smartphone on the market. Its quadruple-camera module offers two zoom levels (x2 and x5) in addition to a 108 Mpix sensor. It is also compatible with ultra-fast wired and two-way wireless charging. In short, it is ultra-versatile. As a cheaper alternative, I also recommend the Mi 10T Pro with an LCD.

Note that the Mi 11 Ultra is not in this ranking because of its too limited autonomy.

Overall rating: 9.05 / 10 | Manufacturer price: 799 euros (999 euros at launch) | 5G compatibility: yes 

 

8. Xiaomi Mi 11i

Better noted than the Xiaomi Mi 11 (8.77), the Mi 11i is a lighter version of this smartphone. Thinner, with a flat-screen and incompatible with wireless charging, this device is intended for people looking for a high-end mobile phone and simplicity. It is not extravagant.
Its best rating is due to its much greater battery life, largely thanks to its less energy-consuming screen (Full HD + instead of Quad HD +).

Overall rating: 9.06 / 10 | Manufacturer price: 699 euros | 5G compatibility: yes 

 

7. Samsung Galaxy S20 FE

With its Galaxy S20 FE, Samsung is replicating the iPhone 11. Available in six different colors, this smartphone belongs to the high-end category despite its relatively affordable price.
Indeed, Samsung has reduced its production costs by abandoning the curved screen and opting for a plastic back… but retains the 120 Hz screen, wireless charging, and the triple camera module of its classic S20.
I recommend that you opt for the 5G version of this smartphone; it has a better processor (Snapdragon 865 instead of Exynos 990) and enjoys better autonomy.

Overall score: 9.13 / 10 | Manufacturer's price: from 659 euros | 5G compatibility: optional (+100 euros) 

 

6. OnePlus 8T

With the 8T, the OnePlus returns to its trademark. This high-end smartphone relies on the quality-price ratio to distinguish itself while innovating on a few aspects, such as ultra-fast charging (it only takes 41 minutes to charge it, thanks to its 65W charger fully).
If its design lacks originality, in my opinion, it is one of the most interesting devices in this ranking.

Overall score: 9.17 / 10 | Manufacturer price: from 599 euros

 

5. Oppo Find X2 Pro

The revelation of 2020, the Oppo Find X2 Pro, achieves the feat of convincing me on almost every front. Its ceramic or vegan leather design is sublime; its curved OLED screen offers a refresh rate of 120 Hz, its Snapdragon 865 processor is overpowered and 5G compatible, its triple camera module is one of the best on the market (it even pays for itself). the luxury of boarding a periscope zoom x5)… Hard to find better.
As a bonus, the Oppo Find X2 Pro has 65W ultra-fast charging technology that allows it to recharge in 36 minutes fully. All it needs is wireless charging to be perfect.

Its successor, the Find X3 Pro, is second in my ranking.

Overall rating: 9.24 / 10 | Manufacturer price: 949 euros

 

4. Apple iPhone 12 Pro / 12 Pro Max

Long absent from my top 10 because of the insufficient autonomy of its smartphones, Apple climbs to third place with its iPhone 12 Pro Max (6.7 inches) and iPhone 12 Pro (6.1 inches). Both are extremely durable; even if the large model is logically doing better, these mobiles correspond to everything expected of a high-end smartphone in 2021.
Perfectly calibrated OLED screen, triple camera module with wide-angle, ultra-wide-angle, telephoto (x2.5 for the 12 Pro Max, x2 for the 12 Pro), potent A14 Bionic processor, 5G compatibility ...
Thanks to their stainless steel edges and matt glass back, these devices are even among the most luxurious on the market.

General score: 9.31 / 10 | Manufacturer price: from 1159 euros

 

3. Oppo Find X3 Neo

The Find X3 Neo is a premium smartphone like no other. To make it more affordable than most of its competitors, Oppo had the wise idea to equip it with last year's processor, the Snapdragon 865. Except for this "defect" (I must put it into perspective, it is almost impossible to notice a difference with the Snapdragon 888 of 2021), the Oppo Find X3 Neo is a true high-end device. Its cameras are great; its autonomy is formidable, its recharge time is only 31 minutes… Even its 120 Hz OLED screen is among the best on the market. A small bonus, this is an ultra-thin mobile.

General score: 9.34 / 10 | Manufacturer price: 799 euros

 

2. Oppo Find X3 Pro

Like its predecessor, the Oppo Find X3 Pro is excellent across the board. Able to recharge in 42 minutes and compatible with wireless charging, this device has the latest high-end processor from Qualcomm (the Snapdragon 888), the latest generation LTPO screen, and takes advantage of very high quality (even if it does not have a periscope zoom). Once again, Oppo proves to us that it is now playing in the big leagues. The Find X3 Pro offers the very best on the market.

General score: 9.38 / 10 | Manufacturer price: 1149 euros

 

1. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

With its Galaxy S21 Ultra, Samsung is back at the top of my ranking of the best high-end smartphones.
Equipped with an incredible 6.8-inch OLED display with an adaptive refresh rate (11-120 Hz), formidable performance, and satisfactory battery life, the Galaxy S21 Ultra ticks almost all the boxes.
From a hardware point of view, Samsung really succeeds in responding to all the issues in the market.
Finally, in the photo, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is the most versatile device at the moment. Ultra wide-angle, the main sensor of 108 Mpix, optical zoom x3, periscope zoom x10… It's hard to do better.

General score: 9.52 / 10 | Manufacturer price: from 1259 euros