Now that the coronavirus has shaken the financial situation of many people, leaving them without work, not everyone can call themselves a flagship smartphone. After all, what kind of smartphone is this when it comes to survival? But due to the fact that the quarantine fell exactly on the fall in the ruble against foreign currencies and the increase in prices for electronics, for those who still managed to save a small amount, the acquisition of a new smartphone became a kind of fix idea. After all, if you do not invest in a purchase now, then it may be too late. Therefore, I offer you my personal top flagships of past years, which remain relevant even in 2020.
It is absolutely not necessary to buy a new smartphone, especially since it will lose in price quite quickly
Should you buy the Pixel 2 XL in 2020
Certainly worth it, especially since its price has recently dropped to quite reasonable limits – at least relative to other models of the 'pixel' line. Despite the fact that this is the most expensive representative of our today's list – as of March 31, 2020 its price is 28-30 thousand rubles in different stores – there really is something to pay for, especially if you are a connoisseur.
Google Pixel 2 XL is still pretty good
We say Google Pixel – we mean camera, we say camera – we mean Google Pixel, and this is not a pun for nothing. The Pixel line of smartphones do have outstanding photo capabilities. What is the best on the market Android – smartphones night mode, super-smooth digital stabilization and competent post-processing algorithms. Yes, Pixel 2 will no longer receive Android 11, but due to the fact that even regular applications and services are separated from the main OS, it will be updated for several more years.
But wouldn't it make more sense to buy a Pixel 3a, which costs about the same? In my opinion, no. It's about the more modern memory that Google is equipping the Pixel 2 and 2 XL with. Because of this, the smartphone processes information faster and responds to user commands with less delay. As a result, copying, transferring, saving and many other manipulations will occur faster.
Is Xiaomi Mi 8 good in 2020
Despite the fact that Xiaomi Mi 8 was released not so long ago, many have already forgotten about it. And it is completely in vain, because this smartphone continues to remain relevant even in 2020, especially since it costs only 20 thousand rubles, or even less. You can find it cheaper on sites like AliExpress, but personally, I would prefer to pay a little extra and take the device in Russia.
I love Xiaomi MI 8 for the hardware face scanner
For my personal taste, Xiaomi Mi 8 is far from the most beautiful smartphone, but from a technical point of view it is quite good. The Snapdragon 845 processor, 6 GB of RAM will allow it to pull even the most demanding games and applications from Google Play, so you shouldn't worry about it. But I am especially attracted to the Mi 8 support for hardware face recognition technology.
Xiaomi has surpassed itself and equipped its flagship of the before last generation with a special system of sensors that recognize the user's face, unblocking it even faster than iPhone X does. It may not be as secure as Apple, since Mi 8 does not have a 3D sensor, but thanks to the infrared emitter, firstly, your smartphone will not open to strangers, and, secondly, it will recognize you even in pitch darkness.
Ceramic smartphone on Android
I'm probably already sick of everyone with my Xiaomi Mi Mix 3, but I like it so much that I'm ready to shove it into all the ratings, especially if it meets all the criteria. I must say right away that Xiaomi has already stopped the production of this device, so if you are interested in it, take it and do not hesitate, because there may not be another chance.
Ceramic case is expensive, but not from Xiaomi
I like Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 primarily for its sophistication. Still, a smartphone in a ceramic case today is, in principle, quite difficult to find, and even in the price range of 20-30 thousand rubles, even more so. However, in the case of the Mi Mix 3, the Chinese obviously did not stint and made almost the entire body of the device from this material, making it my personal favorite. Its attractiveness is added by the atypical slider form-factor, which allowed it to occupy the entire front panel with the display and not disfigure it with a camera eye, transferring it to the inside of the structure.
However, if you decide to buy Xiaomi Mi Mix 3, take the 5G – version. It is, firstly, equipped with a Snapdragon 855 processor, and not 845, as usual, and secondly, it has a more capacious (600 mAh) battery. In this case, it costs only 22-27 thousand rubles, depending on the store where you will buy it.
Should I buy Huawei P20
Huawei The P20 is a really cool smartphone that looks very profitable even in 2020, especially against the background of newer models – not least thanks to Google services. Huawei P20 users have access to all the services of the search giant, including Google Play, and regular updates. By the way, this is one of two smartphones from today's list, which shines Android 11.
There is no point in overpaying for Huawei P20 Pro if you are not a photographer, no
But love Huawei P20, no doubt, is not for this. By purchasing this smartphone, you will not only receive extensive photo opportunities, since it is a real camera phone in the true sense of the word, but also support, perhaps the best ecosystem on the market. Huawei became one of the few who managed to combine all their devices and teach them to work in tandem with each other. As a result, you will be able to receive calls directly from tablets or laptops Huawei and Honor, access files from the memory of one device using another, and so on. But Huawei also has its own voice assistant, which will become available to users from Russia this year.
Undoubtedly, Huawei The P20 is inferior to the P20 Pro in photo capabilities. However, you will be able to notice this only when conducting conventionally professional photography with settings and using a tripod. In a domestic environment, when most of the pictures are taken according to the principle of 'got out – photographed – removed', you will definitely not be unhappy.
Cheap smartphone with 3D camera
I specifically left Honor View 20, which I use myself, for last. Still, it is difficult for me to objectively talk about it, since this is really the model that I would choose today if I had to buy a smartphone again. It not only has a powerful filling and has a high level of performance, but also boasts a cool camera with a lidar like the new iPad Pro, a capacious 4000 mAh battery and, which is very important to me, a physical fingerprint scanner.
Honor View 20 is the best smartphone for 20 thousand rubles in 2020
The only thing I don't like about it is the irregularity with which updates are released. Of course, I understand that in the conditions of the Cold War it is not easy for the company Huawei with Google, but in my eyes this does not in the least justify it. In the end, developers Huawei could fix firmware bugs on their own. But since the View 20 costs plus or minus 20 thousand rubles, offering in return the really best combination of price and characteristics on the market, I advise you to take it.