Top 20 BEST Smartphones of 2019.

Runner-up with a great design and camera, but too much is missing, including an ultra wide camera, good battery and storage.

Fun five-camera phone with great RAW photos, but let down by an outdated chip.

Solid hardware, but it gets buried under many equally affordable phones that do more.

Brilliant at multitasking and gaming, but expensive, bulky and awkward, so only for the most adventurous user.

Likeable in the hand with a tall display, but the camera is less reliable and battery life is weak.

A cheaper, less stylish take on the Fold with a bundled second screen, but underwhelming cameras and an unwieldy accessory.

Superb camera at a reasonable price but niche, with a mid-range chip and average speaker.

Feels great for a mid-ranger with solid design and camera, but you can get more power for the money.

Supremely powerful, sci-fi styled gaming phone that costs less than you might expect.

Stacked with the fastest hardware, huge battery and 120Hz display, but the camera is a compromise and the phone is massive.

His pick for best-value gaming phone, keeping what matters at around half the price of the ROG Phone 2.

Makes more sense than the Pixel 4 for most people, with similar software and camera for less and better battery life.

His personal value pick: as fast as pricier phones, so you don't feel you've compromised.

Performance better than many flagships, with a 64MP camera, very fast charging and a 90Hz AMOLED screen for $50 more.

Cheaper but weaker than the X2 Pro, so the Pro is the one to buy.

A big step forward for Zenfone with cleaner software, huge battery and a flip camera, but the LCD panel isn't the best.

A dual-screen alternative that doesn't cost much in compromises, with strong power and good battery life.

Cleaner software and faster updates, but the extra price over Realme and Redmi isn't justified for many.

Not the best on specs, but a phone that just works, with a superb camera and the most affordable way into iOS.

One of the best displays on the market, with a camera that keeps improving through updates and good battery life.

He does not particularly recommend the standard S10 because its battery doesn't seem to hold up over time.

Much more expensive than the S10 Plus but a better phone all round with a bigger display, battery and faster charging.

Similar to the S10 5G with the benefit of the S Pen, but no headphone jack and a slightly smaller battery.

No longer the cheapest flagship-spec phone, but still one of the better ones, with light fast software and a dazzling 90Hz display.

Amazing waterfall display phone, as long as you like curved screens, and cheaper than Samsung or Apple flagships.

Refreshingly free of gimmicks, with record-breaking battery life, and the first year he can recommend a smaller iPhone.

Superb zoom and night photography even months later, though the US ban makes him advise waiting.

His favourite phone of the year on hardware, camera and battery, held back only by the US ban on Google services.