Must Buy: Top10 Smart Phones to watch out for 2021
The pandemic has been something of a plague in the mobile world as well as the physical one, with Mobile World Congress canceled for the first time since it began in 2006 (and already postponed to late June in 2021), and other events also being nixed.
But Covid has not hit the smartphone market as hard as we feared it might - not only have we seen some exciting releases already this year, but there's still more to come in 2020 and early 2021. 
We're seeing super-fast 5G connectivity start to take hold; becoming a standard feature across flagships and appearing with increasing frequency within the mid-range space. We're now seeing screens that boast 144Hz refresh rates, which is good news for gaming and video, and camera phones continue to pile on the megapixels and extra sensors, unlike anything we've ever seen before.
Foldable designs are becoming cheaper and more durable, and battery technology is constantly improving too. We've also seen software enhancements too, making us even more excited for Android 12 and iOS 15, not to mention the first phones powered by the Snapdragon 888 chipset.
Now with the countdown...
10: Samsung Galaxy Note 20 FE - Q1 2021
The launch of the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has led many to believe a Samsung Galaxy Note 20 FE may also be on the way, perhaps in place of a Galaxy Note 20 Lite. If true, it could arrive any time in Q1 2021.
We would expect it to feature a 6.7in AMOLED display and an Exynos 8250 (Europe) or Snapdragon 865 (North America) processor, but some slightly slimmed down core memory and storage specs over the standard Note 20. It is also likely to feature a plastic case to help bring down the price further, and you should expect some camera downgrades, too.
9: Oppo Reno 5 - Q1 2021
The Oppo Reno 5 series has already launched in China, but we're holding out hope that the phones will come to the UK and Europe in early 2021.
Two phones have been announced so far - the Reno 5 and 5 Pro - with a 5 Pro+ model also teased by the company.
The 5 and 5 Pro are very similar, with 64Mp quad-camera setups, 65W charging, and AMOLED displays - they only differ in the display (the Pro is a little larger and curved) and chipset (the 5 runs a Snapdragon 765G, the 5 Pro the less well known MediaTek Dimensity 1000+).
8: Sony Xperia 1 III - Q1 2021
Sony usually announces its latest Xperia flagship in February, so we're hoping the same will be true for the Xperia 1 III.
Like its predecessor, we're expecting a focus on camera specs and display quality - hopefully with a jump up to 90Hz or 120Hz without losing that 4K resolution.
Leaks so far point to a Snapdragon 888 chip - no surprise - but beyond that, we don't know too much.
7: Google Pixel 5a - H1 2021
The Pixel 'a' phones are always budget-friendly takes on the flagships that arrive a little later, so we're expecting to see a Pixel 5a turn up sometime next year - mostly likely in summer 2021.
We don't know much about what to expect from the 5a if it does arrive, but at this point 5G support is a given. A 90Hz refresh rate is also likely, along with an upgraded processor and - wishful thinking alert - maybe even waterproofing or wireless charging.
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6: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 2 - H1 2021
It's all but a given that a second Galaxy Flip 2 is on the way - a proper sequel after the half-step upgrade of the Z Flip 5G - and we're expecting to see it sometime in the first half of 2021.
While we had hoped it would launch alongside the S21 series in January, tipsters have suggested it's currently more likely delayed to spring or even summer, so there's a bit longer to wait.
When it does arrive, expectations are for a larger outer display and a bigger battery, and almost certainly a jump to the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon processor.
5: Asus ROG Phone 4 - Summer 2021
Asus usually announces the ROG Phone during the summer, before giving it a European launch in September, and we'd expect similar for the ROG Phone 4.
There have been very few leaks about the ROG Phone 4 so far, but it's a safe bet that it will use the Snapdragon 888 processor, and will have a design (and accessory range) to suit its gaming audience.
4: Google Pixel 6 - Q3 2021
Google normally releases a new Pixel flagship every autumn, so it stands to reason that the expected Pixel 6 will turn up sometime in autumn 2021.
We don't know a lot about what to expect from the phone yet, but a jump to a 120Hz refresh rate sounds plausible, and it's also probably time for Google to upgrade its main camera sensor - unchanged for a few years now - to make sure it clings onto its photography crown.
Other leaks point to a device known as the Pixel XE, but it's not yet clear if this is a fake, a new phone, or simply a codename for the Pixel 6.
3: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 - Q3 2021
Samsung is widely expected to launch the next generation of its flagship foldable series in autumn 2021.
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 will pick up where the Fold 2 left off but is rumoured to add in S Pen stylus support, and potentially an invisible under-display selfie camera inside the phone.
Other rumours point to a more affordable foldable launching alongside the Z Fold 3, along with speculation around new form factors that may be called the Z Fold S or Z Fold Scroll.
2: Apple iPhone 13 - Q3 2021
As soon as one iPhone is out, it's time to look to the next, which means we're thinking about the iPhone 13 series already.
New iPhones usually launch in September, but the iPhone 12 was a bit later in October - either way we should see the iPhone 13 series in autumn 2021.
It's likely we'll see a range of four phones again, from a Mini up to a Pro Max, all powered by a new A15 Bionic processor.
Word is that the notch will still be there, but smaller, and we're hoping we'll finally see the display itself jump up to 120Hz. Storage is rumoured to go up to 1TB too, and we're keeping our fingers crossed for the return of Touch ID too.
The more out-there rumour is that Apple might go entirely port-less now that it can lean on MagSafe charging, but we think that change is more likely to roll out for the iPhone 14 or beyond...
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1: Huawei P50 - Q1 2021
Finally, the biggest phone to be released next year although there might be bigger phones coming next year, for now, this is still the most anticipated one.
I am sure you might be wondering why top 1 stop but the Huawei P50 phones will use the new Kirin 9000 chipsets from the in-house HiSilicon division, The Elec reports that Samsung Display and LG Display are ready to supply OLED panels for the new models, citing people with direct knowledge of the matter.
Samsung Display acquired a license to trade with Huawei back in October and it seems that LG did so as well. We've had the Mate 40 phones, so next up from Huawei is the P50 series, expected to be announced in March 2021 if the company follows its usual release cycle.
Expect to see three phones - a P50, P50 Pro, and P50 Pro Plus - with prices going up and over a grand for the top model.
They should be powered by the Kirin 9000 processor found in the Mate 40 phones, and will likely borrow some of those phones' camera features too. They could also be the first Huawei phones to use 120Hz panels, though most rumours so far still only point to 90Hz.
