Phones

A bulky 2013 camera-phone hybrid with 10x optical zoom, which modern multi-camera phones now beat with software and fixed lenses.

A gorgeous-looking phone that almost never reached customers, from a company with doubtful claims about its encryption and materials.

A fashion-focused budget phone from a former Apple CEO that looked like a toilet seat and did not solve a real problem; it flopped twice.

Best gaming phone and battery king of 2020, with great speakers and a huge 6,000mAh battery.

Mentioned as a middle model with the same cameras as the base phone.

A very cool but extra phone with a bundle of goodies and a rear screen, yet the camera is unchanged despite the 1299 euro price, so value d…

Mentioned only as an example of a phone Xiaomi sent early, which he did not review in full because he had been paid for related Twitter tea…

Lasted a lot longer than the iPhones, which is impressive given it ran at 120Hz throughout, though it drains on standby.

Pre-launch, he thinks LG has combined a notch with a big bezel and leaned on AI marketing, with no killer feature yet in sight.

Nicest name LG has given a phone, but it launched at $600 and would have sold better at $400.

Surprisingly capable and cheap flagship with solid build and a great headphone jack, but it shows LG's lack of identity.

A circular wooden phone that could not make phone calls, scored 2 out of 10.

A striking concept phone with a brilliant camera, but the wraparound screen creates more problems than it solves for now.

He uses the Redmi Note 9S as an example of Xiaomi's confusing naming, since the S means higher end here but not on other models.

A ridiculous soap-washable phone that surprisingly keeps working even when covered in shaving cream.

Unique, sturdy and well built, but ergonomically it breaks nearly every rule, so it's clear why it didn't take off.

The best phone of the haul, with a great camera and 120W charging, good enough for his best of 2020 list if it were global.

Probably not a good phone, but the thermal camera is a seriously cool feature.

An odd relic with a built-in projector that works impressively well with no lag.

The Snapdragon version is the better S21 Ultra, holding performance under sustained load and giving a more polished camera.

The Exynos version has improved on last year, especially for battery life, but overheats and throttles under sustained load and has a less…

Near-identical spec sheet to the Ulefone with a weaker camera, and it fared badly in scratch, drop and golf club tests.

Better value than other rugged phones at about 300, but still not good value.

Overpriced rugged phone with poor specs that was no tougher than a cheap phone in a cheap case.