Smartphones are undoubtedly among the most popular and important consumer gadgets of today. Phone performances today have improved to a point where they serve as some of the best computing devices for any user. Be it for work or for the style quotient they offer, mobile devices have a lot riding on their shoulders.
Perhaps one of the most critical segments judged by the expert jury of Indian Gadget Awards 2021, this is the pick of the best smartphones that were launched in 2021 across all price segments. These devices were voted on by a jury comprising the best Indian tech publications and YouTubers, who make for the grand judging panel of India’s biggest tech awards of the year. Here are the winners.
Table of Contents
The Apple iPhone 13 was selected as the winner of the Best Phone of 2021 – Overall award, while the runner up is the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max.
Best phones of 2021 Overall – Indian Gadget Awards 2021 Nominees
- POCO X3 Pro
- Redmi Note 10 Pro Max
- Realme X7 Max 5G
- iQOO 7 5G
- Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G
- Apple iPhone 13
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
- Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra
- Vivo X70 Pro+
POCO X3 Pro
The POCO X3 Pro is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 — a revised chipset based on a yesteryear flagship, the Snapdragon 855. It packages this along with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, along with a 6.67-in 120Hz full HD+ display. It measures 9.4mm and weighs 215g.
You also get a 48MP quad rear camera and a 20MP front camera on the PPCP X3 Pro, along with a 5,160mAh battery with 33W fast charging, and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor.
Redmi Note 10 Pro Max
The Redmi Note 10 Pro Max was the peak of the popular Redmi Note lineup for 2021. Powering this is a Snapdragon 732G SoC, along with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. The device weighs 192g, and measures 8.1mm in thickness. With this, you get a 6.67-in 120Hz full HD+ display, too.
Other key specs include a 108MP quad rear camera setup, a 16MP front camera, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, Android 11 and a 5,020mAh battery with 33W fast charging.
Realme X7 Max 5G
The Realme X7 Max is based on MediaTek’s top 2021 chipset, the Dimensity 1200. It offers 12GB RAM, 256GB storage and a body that measures 8.4mm in thickness and 179g in weight. The display is a 6.43-inch Super AMOLED one, with full HD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate.
You also get Android 11, a 64MP triple rear camera setup, a 16MP front camera, an under-display optical fingerprint sensor and a 4,500mAh battery with 50W fast charging.
iQOO 7 5G
iQOO made a big splash with its flagship phone for 2021, the iQOO 7 series. Powering its standard offering was the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 SoC, along with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. Up front is a 6.62-inch AMOLED panel with 120Hz refresh rate and full HD+ resolution. The device measures 8.4mm in thickness and weighs 196g.
It also has a 48MP triple rear camera setup, a 16MP front camera, Android 11, an under-display optical fingerprint sensor and a 4,400mAh battery with 66W fast charging.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G
The entry point to Samsung’s flagship phone experience of 2021, the Galaxy S20 FE is powered by the Snapdragon 865 SoC, along with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. You also get a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display, in a phone body that measures 8.4mm in thickness and weighs 190g.
The device runs Android 11, and has a 12MP triple rear camera setup. You also get a 32MP front camera, an under-display fingerprint sensor and a 4,500mAh battery with 25W fast charging.
Apple iPhone 13
While Apple’s ‘Pro’ models undoubtedly attract more fancy, the standard iPhone 13 is the mass-market flagship of the year from Apple. It offers a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with 60Hz refresh rate in a 1170×2532-pixel screen. It runs on the venerable Apple A15 Bionic SoC, with 4GB RAM and up to 512GB storage. The device measures 7.7mm and weighs 174g.
The smartphone offers two 12MP rear cameras, a 12MP front camera, Face ID for biometric unlock, and a 3,240mAh battery with up to 23W fast charging support.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
One of the most unique smartphones of the year, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 by Samsung offers a clamshell body that folds in half like the flip phones of yore. Powering this is the Snapdragon 888 SoC, and 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. When unfolded, the Z Flip 3 offers a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with 120Hz refresh rates.
Other specs include 183g weight, 17.1mm max thickness when folded, two 12MP main cameras, a 10MP front camera, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and a 3,300mAh battery with 15W fast charging.
Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra
The Mi 11 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 888, along with 12GB RAM and 512GB storage. It measures 8.4mm in thickness, and weighs 234g. This is adorned by a 6.81-inch AMOLED 2K+ display, with 120Hz refresh rate. The device runs Android 11.
The Mi 11 Ultra also features a 50MP triple rear camera setup, a 20MP front camera, 8K videography, an under-display optical fingerprint sensor, and a 5,000mAh battery with 67W fast charging.
Vivo X70 Pro+
The Vivo X70 Pro+ is powered by the Snapdragon 888+ SoC, along with 12GB RAM and 512GB storage. You also get a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display with 2K+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. The flagship specs come in an 8.9mm chassis that weighs 213g, and runs Android 11.
Other specs include a 50MP quad rear camera setup, Zeiss optics, a 32MP front camera, 8K video, an under-display fingerprint sensor and a 4,500mAh battery with 55W fast charging and 50W fast wireless charging.
