Smartphones are our constant companions and, as all-rounders, they are the linchpin of communication. The cell phone world is divided into two operating systems. On the one hand there are Apple’s iPhones with iOS, which compete for buyers’ favor in the upper and upper price ranges. On the other hand, there is the army of smartphones with Google’s Android operating system, which are available in all price ranges. Other operating systems lead a niche existence in this country. COMPUTER BILD tests all models according to the same criteria. The following applies: The test table is dynamic. This means that grade limits and test grades may change as limits (for everyone) adjust. The price has no effect on the test grade, but ensures a better placement if the grade is the same.
Test winner iOS: Apple iPhone 13 Pro
top camera
Bright 120 Hertz display
Slow loading
No jack socket
The iPhone 13 Pro scores with high-quality workmanship and is always one of the top devices in the test in terms of speed, battery, camera and display. Good photos are taken even in low light. The display is very bright, shows movements and scrolling smoothly at up to 120 Hertz. The battery life is good, but it is just below that of the normal iPhone 13. The iPhone 13 Pro Max is noticeably more enduring, which only has to make do with second place because it is (even) more expensive. The addition “Max” is no coincidence: It is by far the largest current iPhone. On the other hand, the iPhone 13 mini takes on the role of a super-compact top iPhone for all occasions and trouser pockets.
Test winner Android: Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
Super display – large, sharp, high-contrast and extremely bright
WiFi 6E
Big and heavy
No memory card slot
Price tip up to 500 euros: OnePlus 8T
Very high speed
Good endurance, very fast loading
No wireless charging
Not waterproof
Price tip up to 300 euros: Xiaomi Poco F3
Very high speed
High contrast screen
Not waterproof
Memory not expandable
The Xiaomi Poco F3 makes a slim, serious impression. The front and back are covered with Gorilla Glass 5, and the Poco lettering is unusually subtle. The 6.67-inch OLED screen is sharp and bright with 2400×1080 pixels and impresses with high contrast and a 120 Hertz screen refresh rate. The Snapdragon 870 ensures very strong performance. The Poco F3 has a good runtime and scores with comprehensive camera equipment. 5G is on board.
This is how COMPUTER BILD tests smartphones
All smartphones go through the same tests. The extensive laboratory test is divided into five chapters:
1. Working and operating speed
Not only everyday tasks should be done quickly and fluently, but also complex 3D games. A good grade for the general operating speed is given to those who show short loading and reaction times. A selection of challenging benchmarks pushes the smartphones to their performance limits in order to determine the maximum working speed. The most powerful smartphones can be found in the article “The fastest cell phones”.
2. Battery and charging performance
The robotic arm operates the test device until the lights go out.
In the COMPUTER BILD mobile phone battery test, a robotic arm abuses the smartphone with calls, text messages, surfing the web, recording and viewing videos in an endless loop until the battery is empty. The values are wonderfully comparable and are correspondingly longer in practice with moderate use. In addition to endurance, everyday life is also about how efficiently the device uses energy and how quickly it is recharged.
3. Camera quality
The elaborately designed artificial head challenges the smartphone cameras with its detailed depiction of colleague Mathias Otten (head of the test laboratory) including stubble and hair.
The demands on the camera functions are as versatile as smartphones. Day or night, close up or far away, with the main or selfie camera: the photos should always be good. The test on the light stand checks all these scenarios under always the same conditions. A programmed trigger finger takes hundreds of shots, which are evaluated by analysis software and experienced testers. Thousands of values ultimately lead to an inconspicuous grade and crown the cell phone with the best camera.
4. Display quality
A special sensor determines the most important properties of a screen.
COMPUTER BILD measures and checks every screen in the laboratory contrast and sharpness (in ppi = pixels per inch). Just when the sun is shining is it brightness of the display is crucial. COMPUTER BILD therefore measures the maximum possible candelas per square meter (cd/m²). Special sensors determine the color space, how many colors can be represented, and the color fidelityhow exactly that happens. The collected values also include the Portion of the screen on the front surface. Modern, narrow bezels come off better here than wide, bulky frames. You can find the results in the article “The smartphones with the best screens”.
5. Equipment and value
Not for wimps: the scratch test determines how easily the device can be damaged.
Here we take into account, among other things device memory and whether it is expandable. Biometric access locks such as fingerprint sensor and face recognition, we also test. This isn’t just about comfort, it’s also about how easy or difficult it is to trick the sensors. Special pens betray them scratch resistance of display and back. The evaluation also includes whether the smartphone is over Dual SIM has and how high the Speed in the WLAN as well as in the mobile network is. And: only if a smartphone has an IP certification for the waterproofness has, it can collect points here.
Long-distance runner and fast loader
The inexpensive entry-level cell phone Wiko Power U30 endured the longest runtime test with 15:48 hours. However, price and endurance are the only advantages of the Wiko. Among the top devices, the iPhone 13 Pro Max was once again convincing with a runtime of 13:43 hours with intensive use. You have to buy the power supply separately. This takes over two hours to charge. Too lame when it has to go fast.
Xiaomi 11T Pro
Mega fast loading
High speed
Not waterproof
Not wirelessly chargeable
Top photos
Best Android Camera: Google Pixel 6 Pro
Great screen
Good photo quality
No jack socket
No memory card slot
owner of Google Pixel 6 Pro look forward to quick updates and long-term support. But the hardware of the Pixel 6 Pro is also pleasing: the display is great and photos are always good in all lighting conditions.
New test procedure
This is how COMPUTER BILD tests: smartphones
Conclusion: The perfect smartphone?
Thousands of test photos, battery tests that lasted for days, pages and pages of measurement logs – and in the end the realization that there is no such thing as the perfect mobile phone. But what should it look like in theory? It would take the speed of the iPhone 13 Pro, the camera of the OnePlus 8 Pro during the day, at extreme magnification to snap the moon, for example, the camera of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, and the front camera of the Pixel 5. The device should be 5G, brightness , frame rate and gaming performance like a Xiaomi Mi 11, while being as handy as a Google Pixel 4a and as robust as a Gigaset GX290 plus. Add to that the endurance of the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the charging speed of the Xiaomi 11T Pro. Preferably as cheap as a Galaxy A12. Now, please, the sustainability, the guarantee and the support period of the Fairphone 4. It’s slowly becoming clear why no smartphone has a 1.0.
Smartphones: Frequently Asked Questions
Which cell phone should I buy?
Which smartphone has the best price-performance ratio?
The cell phones with the best value can be found in the article “Price and performance of current cell phones in the test”. Among the smartphones, the Poco F3 in particular has stood out with great performance at a reasonable price. Poco is a subsidiary brand of Xiaomi. The Poco F3 stands out because it is very powerful and has a high-contrast OLED screen.
Which cell phone is currently the best?
The iPhone 13 Pro is at the top of the smartphone leaderboard because it has the same grade as the iPhone 13 Pro Max, but is slightly cheaper. This places it better. But if you only pay attention to the grade and use other decimal places for comparison, the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max is the best smartphone tested so far. Among the Android smartphones, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra has the best test score just ahead of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.
Which smartphone for normal use?
In everyday life, it doesn’t have to be the best and fastest smartphone. Fortunately, really slow cell phones and really bad displays are rare these days. But you can get decent devices for 200 euros. Smartphones with OLED screens offer the better display, but are usually a bit more expensive. And even the fast data radio 5G is no longer reserved for expensive models. Older top models usually offer up-to-date and good hardware. However, software support potentially ends earlier the longer the model has been on the market.
What is the best smartphone for beginners?
iPhone users find iOS much easier and clearer. Longtime Android users swear by Android. When choosing the operating system and the manufacturer, it can be advisable to consider where you can expect help from friends and family. Because the operation of Android to Android also differs from manufacturer to manufacturer, because many still adapt the user interface and add functions. But with all operating systems and cell phones, once you know how, it’s easy. The Gigaset GS4 Senior, for example, is particularly easy to use, which is particularly suitable for older people and can be set up accordingly.
Who is the market leader in cell phones?
In the third quarter of 2021, Samsung had the largest market share worldwide at 20.8 percent, ahead of Apple (15.2 percent) and Xiaomi (13.4 percent).
Which mobile phone brand is the most popular in Germany?
In Germany, Samsung is the most popular mobile phone brand, ahead of Apple and Huawei and Xiaomi. Xiaomi uses Huawei’s weakness resulting from the US trade embargo and prohibiting the use of the normal Android OS in new smartphones.
Who has the best cell phone camera?
In the COMPUTER BILD camera test, the OnePlus 8 Pro has the best main camera. Combined with the score for videos and selfies, the iPhone 13 Pro performed best in the camera overall score.
