Top 10 thickest smartphones of 2021: no-names and three Sony flagships

Samsung Galaxy Mega

In 2021, this long smartphone looks quite ordinary, but at the time of its release only people who were accustomed to the size of tablets could think so.

In 2013, when Samsung started thinking about releasing its first phablet, it became clear that the category would be a big success. However, the manufacturer did not take risks by equipping the phone with mid-budget hardware. This applies to both the screen and the choice of processor. At the same time, the camera shot at a level comparable to the Galaxy S3, although today hardly anyone will buy such a phone.

Pros:

• stable shell;
• photo quality.

Minuses:

• autonomy;
• grainy display.

Sony Xperia Z

In retail this model was called “Ultra”, and for good reason. In 2013, the Sony Xperia Z looked more like a tablet than a gadget for the average person's pants pocket.

Frankly, even in 2021, the Sony Xperia Z continues to be a behemoth. And although the phone is not at all thick, it turned out to be very elongated and wide, which makes it difficult to fit in your hand even if you wanted to. On the other hand, the lightness inherent in the Sony Xperia Z deserves respect. And the smartphone’s hardware turned out to be quite attractive, considering the year of release.

Pros:

• body thickness;
• ease;
• balanced filling.

Minuses:

• inconvenient to use with one hand.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro 6/128GB

The most interesting representative of the Redmi line with excellent saturation and contrast of the display, a quickly responding finger scanner. The large screen of the smartphone conveys images well in intense sunlight.

Pros:

• good design;
• high power and fast battery charging;
• rich colors, correct color reproduction;
• glass protection Corning Gorilla Glass 5;
• grease-repellent film.

Minuses:

• fingerprints remain on the glossy surface without a cover;
• the chamber block protrudes and clings to clothing;
• There is no support for high refresh rate display.

Xiaomi Mi Max 3

A smartphone that has become the standard phablet for a long time. Xiaomi did not follow the path of Sony, releasing a tablet under the name of a mobile phone, and did something in between, which still resonates with the audience.

This model has good battery life and image quality. Although the screen diagonal does not look extreme, the actual area is larger than that of any “shovel” of 2021. Yes, the performance is far from modern performance, but this does not prevent us from recommending the Mi Max 3 as a purchase.

Pros:

• metal case;
• dual camera;
• autonomy.

Minuses:

• NFC is not provided.

The best budget smartphones with a large display

Asus ZenFone Max Pro M1

4.9

★★★★★

editorial assessment

97%

buyers recommend this product

See review▶

The new product from Asus has become a real hit in the budget price segment. The smartphone has a 6-inch screen with a resolution of 2160x1080 pixels. Despite the excellent characteristics, it is unlikely that you will be able to use the display for games: inside the phablet there is a slightly outdated Snapdragon 636 and an Adreno 509 graphics accelerator.

The main camera has two modules of 13 and 5 megapixels. Although this is not the highest resolution by today's standards, the pictures are quite good. There is a panoramic mode, a flash, and the ability to record 4K video.

Advantages:

• Wide range of camera functions;
• Large 5000 mAh battery;
• Face unlock function;
• Availability of a headphone jack.

Flaws:

• Outdated processor and graphics accelerator;
• Small amount of RAM.

If you're looking for a simple yet powerful phone for everyday tasks, the new Asus will fit the bill. The device can run most applications, a number of popular but not too demanding games and take good pictures. However, to solve more serious problems, it is better to look at something else.

Xiaomi Mi A2

4.9

★★★★★

editorial assessment

92%

buyers recommend this product

See review▶

The thin and stylish smartphone looks reminiscent of Apple devices from the year before last: a similar arrangement of control elements, the presence of a “bang” and a “chin”. And the technical characteristics are not bad. There is a Snapdragon 660 and Adreno 512 on board. In combination with 4/64 GB of memory, this is enough to correctly launch several applications at once.

The camera has been improved. Now you can shoot on Mi A2 even in the evening and at night - the picture will still be bright and clear. Another advantage of the device is that it runs on Android One and instantly receives all updates directly from Google.

Advantages:

• Fast OS updates and user-friendly interface;
• Modified camera;
• Large amount of internal memory;
• Aluminum body in three custom colors.

Flaws:

• Memory cards are not supported;
• There is no jack for wired headphones.

This new product is perhaps the only one among all Xiaomi devices that can be recommended for taking good pictures. A dual high-resolution module and special settings for night photography will delight all novice photographers. The only thing you can regret is the inability to save all the pictures on the built-in storage: without cloud services you won’t be able to get around much with the available 64 GB.

Alcatel 3V 5099D

4.8

★★★★★

editorial assessment

88%

buyers recommend this product

See review▶

Alcatel has never climbed to the top of the ratings, but in 2021 it managed to present a truly interesting model. For 8 thousand, the brand’s engineers offer a good MediaTek MT8735 processor, powered by four cores. There is also enough space for music and photos: there are 16 GB on board, and using microSD you can expand the memory by another 128 gigs.

A simple and undemanding camera takes photographs and videos in high resolution. During the creation process, the frame can be processed and improved. But the main pride of the device is its autonomy. The 3000 mAh lithium-ion battery lasts for a couple of days in moderate use.

Advantages:

• Long battery life;
• Good cameras with flash;
• Availability of a fingerprint scanner;
• Three body colors to choose from.

Flaws:

• Small amount of RAM;
• Only 4 processor cores.

An inexpensive smartphone is suitable for those who care about the external design of the gadget, and only then its filling. This device is suitable for music, photography, and web surfing on the Internet. To solve more serious problems, you will have to select another device.

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Huawei Mate 20 X

A good attempt by Huawei to make not just a phablet, but a smartphone that will be pleasant to use due to its advanced characteristics.

When purchasing Huawei Mate 20 X, a person receives a flagship device with a 7.2-inch touchscreen display. This is an impressive figure, but the device's cameras are even more impressive. They not only take good photographs. But they also take excellent video, as evidenced by the “Leica” inscription on the back panel. There are also no questions about autonomy and performance, and only the price makes you think about the feasibility of the purchase.

Pros:

• ergonomics;
• screen diagonal;
• working hours.

Minuses:

• not provided.

TOP smartphones with large display

Huawei Mate 20

4.9

★★★★★

editorial assessment

89%

buyers recommend this product

See review▶

The new product has become the first smartphone in a wide family of smart devices running on the new SoC Kirin 980. Moreover, the model can even handle 3D games and heavy software. Playing and surfing the web is doubly enjoyable thanks to the large 6.53-inch screen with a resolution of 2244x1080 pixels.

Although the main advantage of the gadget is not the processor or the display: the device has an excellent camera with three lenses. The main sensors with a total resolution of 34 megapixels are enough not only for top photos on Instagram, but also for creating professional shots. Moreover, artificial intelligence helps with their processing.

Advantages:

• Front camera with a resolution of 24 megapixels;
• Perhaps the highest AnTuTu results in its segment;
• Dolby Atmos support;
• Possibility to increase ROM by 256 GB.

Flaws:

• The battery volume is small for such power.

Huawei is known for its love of innovation. So the new flagship turned out to be powerful, productive and interesting. The smartphone is recommended for all gadget lovers who want to be the first to experience new technologies in action.

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Samsung Galaxy Note 9

4.9

★★★★★

editorial assessment

85%

buyers recommend this product

See review▶

The flagship from Samsung received a 6.4-inch SuperAMOLED screen. The new product is equipped with a convenient Always On Display and has a large brightness reserve. At the heart of the device is one of two processors to choose from. Some devices run on the classic Snapdragon 845, and some on the proprietary Exynos 9810. In any case, 8 cores in two clusters will provide both performance and good battery life.

The phone has only one main camera sensor, but many additional functions. The device allows you to blur the background, take panoramic shots, and automatically recognize the shooting mode.

Advantages:

• ROM capacity up to 512 GB;
• High-quality case materials;
• There is built-in wireless charging;
• A retinal scanner that works even in the dark.

Flaws:

• One sensor in the main camera.

The new flagship from the Korean company is ideal for work and creativity: the already wide functionality becomes even more immense with the proprietary stylus (although you need to buy it separately). And after work, Note 9 can also be used for entertainment. Excellent Dolby sound, high screen resolution and a powerful processor will allow you to comfortably play even 3D games on it.

iPhone XS Max

4.8

★★★★★

editorial assessment

80%

buyers recommend this product

See review▶

The new iPhone, released at the end of 2021, pleased users with an enlarged screen - now 6.4 inches are available to fans of Apple smartphones. Despite the increase in the display, other features have remained virtually unchanged. However, there is not much to improve yet. The branded Apple A12 Bionic is installed here, working with the new generation Neural Engine system.

The cameras have average characteristics, but the AI ​​“pulls out” pictures and allows you to create photo masterpieces without special settings. The security system also works flawlessly: TrueDepth facial recognition has been added in addition to fingerprint scanners.

Advantages:

• Powerful processor with artificial intelligence;
• Protection from water and dust;
• Charging lasts for more than a day;
• High screen resolution and dot density.

Flaws:

• Small amount of memory, as always, without expandability;
• Overpriced for such features.

Smartphones from the iPhone have long become fashion devices: for the same price you can buy two more powerful flagships. Therefore, the new XS Max is recommended only to true fans of the brand.

Huawei P20 Pro

4.7

★★★★★

editorial assessment

75%

buyers recommend this product

See review▶

The new product from Huawei is equipped with all modern developments. The proprietary Kirin 970 processor with eight cores is directly responsible for the correct operation of applications. For ease of use - one of the latest versions of Android.

But the real pride of the developers is the cameras. And if the front camera, in principle, does not cause surprise (24 megapixels and lack of focusing do not shock anyone today), then even a professional will envy the main camera. A triple module with a total resolution of 68 megapixels comes with support for artificial intelligence and a large number of modes.

Advantages:

• 128 GB of internal memory;
• Up to 420 hours of operation in moderate mode;
• Screen based on OLED matrix;
• Supports two SIM cards.

Flaws:

• There is no optical stabilization in the cameras.

The camera phone was created specifically for lovers of mobile photography. Having barely entered global markets, P20 Pro has already entered all the best ratings. Today, pictures from this smartphone even appear in print publications.

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

Standard "shovel" 2021. In the image and likeness of the Galaxy S20 Ultra, different models are still being produced, but this one has become a kind of indicator that even connoisseurs of flagship models love the large size.

In addition to its large dimensions, the cameras in the Galaxy S20 Ultra are notable. Consider the 108-megapixel photosensor, which, when paired with a telephoto lens, provides 100x zoom in “Photo” mode. The display also deserves praise, but the flagship has serious problems with autonomy and performance. All due to the unstable Exynos chipset.

Pros:

• build quality;
• photo and video capabilities;
• impressive screen.

Minuses:

• Exynos 990 related problems.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite 6/128GB

The younger version of the flagship Galaxy Note 10 received the Lite prefix. The main feature of the smartphone can be safely called the presence of a stylus, and the company assures that it charges in less than a minute!

The smartphone has a 6.7-inch high-resolution screen, a triple main camera (all modules have a resolution of 12 MP), a powerful 4500 mAh battery with fast charging, and an on-screen fingerprint sensor.

The platform consists of an Exynos 9810 processor and 6 GB of RAM.

• Screen diagonal: 6.7 inches

• Screen resolution: 2400×1080

• Weight: 199 g

• Number of SIM cards: 2

• Processor: Samsung Exynos 9810

• Memory capacity: 128 GB

• RAM capacity: 6 GB

• Battery capacity: 4500 mAh

• Rear camera: triple 12/12/12

• Front camera: 32 MP

• Memory card support: yes

Vivo V15

The Vivo phone does not stand out from its competitors in its size, but it was one of the first devices with a retractable camera, which made it possible to make the screen almost frameless.

But the technical equipment certainly cannot be called innovative. However, no one expects this from a mid-budget device accessible to any buyer. So you can put up with the low quality of the photo. Moreover, if a smartphone is purchased only to demonstrate the retractable front camera.

Pros:

• price;
• triple camera;
• display without cutouts.

Minuses:

• overall, modest characteristics.

Xiaomi Poco F2 Pro 6/128GB

In the budget large smartphone of the Poco series, the front camera extends, complemented by a notification indicator and backlight, the rear ones are built into a round block. The audio output is located on the top side of the smartphone. The power button is visible and red.

Pros:

• high photo quality even with macro photography;
• high-quality matrix;
• Flicker reduction DC Dimming;
• readability of the image on the screen in bright sunshine.

Minuses:

• low quality of night photography;
• no protection from moisture;
• Wireless charging is not possible;
• no stereo speakers;
• Memory expansion is not possible.

Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max

This phone certainly cannot be called the largest among all devices available on the market, but in the line of Apple gadgets, the iPhone 11 Pro Max occupies a special place.

The smartphone has become the largest in the American company’s product line. Moreover, this rather concerns not the dimensions, but the weight of the device. The iPhone 11 Pro Max is a weighty flagship made of steel, offering ultimate cameras coupled with good battery life and good performance.

Pros:

• performance;
• autonomy;
• video shooting.

Minuses:

• price.

OPPO Reno 2

Along with Vivo V15, this is one of the pioneers of the genre of smartphones with retractable front panels. True, here the block extends not in a vertical plane, but in a diagonal one, forming a kind of periscope.

The phone belongs to the mid-budget segment, although it costs a little more than its competitors. This is compensated by the implementation of the front camera, which became the most expensive solution in OPPO Reno 2. But the smartphone cannot be called a “shovel”. It’s just that the screen, devoid of cutouts, initially impresses the owner, who is accustomed to cutouts and other “bangs”.

Pros:

• symmetrical display quality;
• energy efficiency;
• cameras.

Minuses:

• price.

Honor Note 10

An experimental Honor model that never appeared on the global market. Residents of China became the buyers of the smartphone, and they were probably satisfied with the declared characteristics at such an affordable price.

Despite the flagship processor, Honor Note 10 should rather be classified as a mid-budget device. Its characteristics look especially modest in 2021, but now it is more important to focus on the dimensions of the experimental device. The smartphone is not thick, but very wide and elongated. In the hand it feels exactly the same as the Xiaomi Mi Max 3, so for a connoisseur of “shovels” there will probably be a question of choosing between the two models considered.

Pros:

• ergonomics;
• screen diagonal;
• working hours.

Minuses:

• not provided.

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Xiaomi Mi Mix 2s

4.9

★★★★★

editorial assessment

95%

buyers recommend this product

See review▶

A smartphone from Xiaomi will be an excellent workhorse for all occasions. Hidden inside is the Snapdragon 845 chip, which until recently was only installed in flagships. The processor power is complemented by an excellent amount of memory - 6 GB of RAM and 128 ROM.

It's a pleasure to watch movies and play games on this device. All information is displayed on a 6-inch screen with high brightness and contrast. The sound complies with the Dolby Atmos standard and is not much inferior to portable speakers.

Advantages:

• Powerful processor with two core clusters;
• Large memory capacity;
• Premium body materials - only glass, metal and ceramics;
• Charges in less than an hour;
• A protective bumper is included.

Flaws:

• No headset jack;
• Stainless and fragile body.

Despite the relatively low price (now a smartphone can be bought for 24 thousand rubles), the gadget can be considered a flagship: it is so powerful and productive. And the exclusive materials of the case make the model quite fashionable. The smartphone is recommended for purchase by those who value not only the content, but also a beautiful “wrapper”.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro

4.9

★★★★★

editorial assessment

90%

buyers recommend this product

See review▶

Xiaomi fans rejoiced when this gadget went on sale in 2021. At the heart of the device is a powerful (for its price segment) Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 and one of the latest versions of Android 8.1. The screen doesn’t disappoint either: the IPS display with protective glass and oleophobic coating has a diagonal of 6.36 inches.

However, the real pride of the engineers is the cameras. If the main one is quite standard and simply allows you to take good pictures in any lighting, then the front camera has exceeded your wildest expectations. The 22-megapixel sensor turns any selfie into a highly artistic masterpiece.

Advantages:

• Large battery capacity;
• Aluminium case;
• Support microSD up to 128 GB;
• Gorgeous front camera;
• Three body colors.

Flaws:

• Hybrid slot - either memory card or microSD;
• The body gets hot in heavy modern toys.

When you need a decent device for work, selfies and entertainment, but don’t want to spend exorbitant amounts of money on it, Xiaomi comes to the rescue. For 15 thousand rubles, Redmi Note 6 Pro offers virtually the same thing as more expensive flagships: a powerful processor, acceptable battery life and high quality multimedia.

Honor Play

4.8

★★★★★

editorial assessment

87%

buyers recommend this product

See review▶

The device is equipped with one of the largest screens - 6.3 inches with a resolution of 2340x1080 pixels. The smartphone has a high brightness reserve, up to 400 cd/m2. It’s convenient to watch movies on the phone: color reproduction is excellent thanks to LTPS LCD technology, and viewing angles are good.

If you actively use the device (even if you continuously watch videos in HD quality), you can count on a stable 24 hours of operation without recharging. Honor Play is the only smartphone in the rating with a lithium-polymer battery. The battery is highly reliable and supports fast charging in 1 hour.

Advantages:

• Three unusual colors for the back panel;
• Long-lasting 3200 mAh lithium-polymer battery;
• High contrast and brightness of the screen;
• High data processing speed;
• Flagship processor.

Flaws:

• Will not handle high FPS games;
• The case gets noticeably hot under load.

Honor Play is an inexpensive smartphone for 25 thousand, which has adopted a lot from flagships: processor, memory capacity, screen quality. However, the main advantage of the model lies in its durable battery. Thanks to the polymer battery, battery life has increased by 20%. So if you need a phone that won’t run out of charge for a long time, you should pay attention to the new product from Honor.

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Samsung Galaxy A6 Plus

4.8

★★★★★

editorial assessment

82%

buyers recommend this product

See review▶

The smartphone in a recognizable case from Samsung received reliable and proven “spare parts”. The device is powered by an eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 and has an average amount of RAM. It is hardly suitable for running resource-intensive games, but for everyday scenarios it is an ideal option.

When developing cameras, engineers focused on the front camera. Its resolution is 24 megapixels versus 21 for the main camera. So you can take a great selfie at night. And at the same time blur the background, decorate the photo with a sticker and generally correct minor imperfections.

Advantages:

• Live Focus mode for the main camera;
• Own Samsung Experience shell with the ability to personalize the interface;
• The sound is optimized for Dolby Atmos standards;
• SuperAMOLED screen.

Flaws:

• Mid-range processor;
• The charge only lasts for 12 hours of use.

The Galaxy A6+ model is suitable for those users who dream of a smartphone from a famous brand, but are not ready to pay more than 20 thousand for a purchase. The strong point of this new product is everyday tasks and superb photos for social networks. For work or heavy games, it is better to choose something more powerful.

Xiaomi Mi Max 3

4.7

★★★★★

editorial assessment

78%

buyers recommend this product

See review▶

In 2021, the Chinese company offered users a device with a record-breaking large screen. The diagonal of the new product is 6.9 inches with an aspect ratio of 18:9. IPS technology provides good color rendering quality, but the brightness margin exceeded all expectations: the phone is comfortable to use even in the sun.

On board the device is an eight-core Snapdragon 636 - the standard choice for smartphones under 20 thousand rubles. However, its power is easily enough for work and entertainment. An enlarged battery (5500 mAh) allows you to watch videos in high quality for 17 hours.

Advantages:

• lack of side frames;
• large battery capacity;
• increased brightness reserve;
• fresh operating system with instant updates;
• the presence of a second module in the main camera.

Flaws:

• inconveniently located volume rocker and power button;
• lack of NFC.

Samsung set the trend for large screens. However, its devices are expensive, but Xiaomi offers a wide selection of phablets at very affordable prices.