Phones used to be small – the first iPhone only had a 3.5in display, which today looks comically tiny. 2020’s iPhone 12 Pro Max has a whopping 6.7in display and it isn’t the only phone with a sizeable screen. In fact, Apple was relatively late to the big phone party.
You may have heard the term ‘phablet’, which is a portmanteau of ‘phone’ and ‘tablet’. If you’re anything like us, you might also prefer to use a large-screened phone all the time instead of having to resort to a tablet for specific situations.
Best big phone 2021
1. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra – Best overall
Screen size: 6.8in
Aspect ratio: 20:9
Display-wise the Galaxy S21 Ultra delivers what the S20 series could not; the ability to enjoy both the phone’s maximum WQHD+ resolution and its adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz, simultaneously.
What’s more – for the first time on a Galaxy S device – the Ultra’s expansive 6.8in panel also totes S-pen stylus support, filling the productivity niche of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra somewhat; provided you’re willing to fork out for a standalone S Pen (or the Bluetooth-capable S Pen Pro) and a compatible case for storage.
After 2020’s disappointing Galaxy S20 Ultra, the S21 Ultra delivers everything you could want from an Android flagship – admittedly at a price that only a few can afford, but with traits like a camera setup that stands unrivalled and some of the best performance out there, it’s hard to knock it.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra review
2. Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra – Ideal for productivity
Screen size: 6.9in
Aspect ratio: 19.3:9
While it’s not quite Huawei Mate 20 X big, Samsung’s Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is still one of the biggest devices on the market – certainly the biggest-screened phone we tested in 2020.
Its display also happens to be among the best there is, with its crisp WQHD+ resolution and adaptive 120Hz refresh rate (even if they can’t operate in tandem); not to mention superb colours, viewing angles and overall brightness.
It’s also a great surface to show off the phone’s integrated S Pen stylus, which also boasts the lowest latency yet at just 9ms.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra review
3. iPhone 12 Pro Max – Superb all-rounder
Screen size: 6.7in
Aspect ratio: 19.5:9
Technically, the iPhone 12 Pro Max boasts the highest resolution display ever on an iPhone (even if this unique claim to fame amounts to the same, 458 pixels per inch as its last two predecessors – which sported smaller screens).
Much like 2020’s Sony Xperia 1 II, Apple chose to ensure the fundamentals of the 12 Pro Max’s Super Retina XDR OLED panel were rock solid before moving onto adding in high refresh rate visuals.
On the one hand, there isn’t a lot to complain about with the similarly-specced screen used by the 11 Pro Max, so the fact that the panel is even larger (and flatter) here, without a drop in pixel density, can only be a good thing for media lovers and mobile gamers.
On the other, we would have loved to have seen Apple’s 120Hz ProMotion technology for the first time on an iPhone, but that clearly wasn’t meant to be this generation.
Read our full iPhone 12 Pro Max review
4. Oppo Find X3 Pro – Superb camera
Screen size: 6.7in
Aspect ratio: 20:9
Oppo’s 2021 flagship doesn’t only possess a big screen but a crisp one too. The Find X3 Pro is one of the few devices to pair a 120Hz refresh rate with a 1440p resolution and AMOLED technology, resulting in super-sharp and responsive visuals that are hard to beat.
HDR10+ support and 10-bit colour support don’t go amiss either.
5. Xiaomi Mi 11 – Best value
Screen size: 6.81in
Aspect ratio: 20:9
The first member of Xiaomi’s expanding Mi 11 lineup comes out swinging with top-tier performance – powered by a Snapdragon 888 processor – and a capable 108Mp main camera.
Other highlights include stereo speakers, 50W fast charging and, of course, an expansive 6.81in WQHD+ 120HZ AMOLED display that’s hard to content with.
Read our full Xiaomi Mi 11 review
6. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro – Most affordable
Screen size: 6.67in
Aspect ratio: 20:9
A great affordable entry with an expansive 6.67in AMOLED display – the Redmi Note 10 Pro demonstrates great value from Xiaomi.
What it offers up – in terms of stellar battery life, good performance and 120Hz high refresh rate-viewing – is made all the more impressive by the use of OLED tech and a low price tag.
Read our full Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro review
7. OnePlus 8 Pro – Great performance
Screen size: 6.78in
Aspect ratio: 20:9
The OnePlus 8 Pro pushed the screen size even larger than its predecessor and jumped to 120Hz in the refresh rate department. It’s still AMOLED, with Quad HD+ resolution and support for HDR10+.
There are plenty of other excellent features and specs here, all at a lower price compared to key rivals, like a powerful Snapdragon 865 chip, IP-certified water resistance, one of OnePlus’ best camera setups yet and even wireless charging.
Read our full OnePlus 8 Pro review
8. Samsung Galaxy S21+ – Great for multimedia
Screen size: 6.7in
Aspect ratio: 20:9
There’s no denying that the Samsung Galaxy S21+ is both an exceptional flagship and one of the most well-rounded phones of the year so far, but ironically it stands in the shadow of its smaller sibling, the standard Galaxy S21.
If you prefer the larger 6.7in display that the S21+ offers up, you’ll also enjoy its HDR10+ visuals and, most exciting of all, a super-smooth 120Hz refresh rate. Performance is also top-notch, meaning it’s great for enjoying media and gaming, there’s 5G onboard and 25W fast charging means you can refill the phone’s 4800mAh battery in a little over an hour.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus review
9. iPhone 11 Pro Max – Still excellent
Screen size: 6.5in
Aspect ratio: 19.5:9
The biggest and brightest 2019 iPhone is fronted by an expansive 6.5in ‘Super Retina XDR’ OLED panel that offers up a treat for the eyes.
Established Apple display tech like True Tone also features, along with wide colour gamut, HDR10 and Dolby Vision compliance.
You also get Apple’s brilliant A13 Bionic SoC running the show and a killer set of triple rear cameras with noticeably-improved low-light capabilities than any previous generation iPhone.
Read our full Apple iPhone 11 Pro review
10. Oppo Find X2 Pro – Best design
Screen size: 6.7in
Aspect ratio: 19.8:9
If the Find X3 Pro is too rich for your blood, last year’s Find X2 Pro has dropped in price and still retains a superb set of high-end features, including an absolutely stellar OLED display that supports QHD+ and 120Hz refresh rate viewing, simultaneously.
It also still boasts some of the best photography smarts in the mobile space right now.
Read our full Oppo Find X2 Pro review
Your buying guide to the best big-screened phone for you
Size matters
Most phones with displays over 5.5in (measured corner to corner) and sporting an aspect ratio of 16:9 are considered phablets, but in recent times phones have got taller and narrower, allowing displays to get bigger without the phones feeling huge. Most of the phones in this chart have these taller aspect ratios.
Such a quality is the reason this roundup includes both the screen sizes and the aspect ratios of these devices; so you have a better idea of whether a phone is generally big or just tall.
Not all phones with large screens are considered ‘big’ – despite its 6.2in display, we wouldn’t consider the regular Galaxy S21 to be a phablet, because its tiny bezels and narrow aspect ratio mean it’s relatively compact in-hand.
Samsung, Huawei, LG and others all offer phones that require two-handed use most of the time as a result of their displays, but to their credit, big phones don’t just offer a better viewing experience, they boast other great benefits, like larger batteries.
Resolution
It’s also important to take into account that the bigger the screen, the more resolution matters – so Quad HD is favourable to Full HD and anything less than 1080p is probably best avoided, where big phones are concerned.
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