The best iPhone 2021
One of the key new features is the 120Hz ProMotion display – something iOS owners have been looking forward to for quite some time, and it’s impressive too. Battery capacity is somewhat tied to display size, as that’ll dictate how large the battery can be, but battery life is also improved by power-efficient chipsets. The iPhone 13 is the ideal option for most people.
Yes, and no.
From: Laptops Direct And until 11 November there are some great deals on the current line-up of Xiaomi phones, combining price discounts with freebies – we’ve seen free watches, fitness trackers, earbuds and even air fryers thrown in.
If you see dramatic Black Friday discounts before 26 November, just go for it! Some retailers that hold pre-Black Fridays sales also promise that prices won’t go any lower on Black Friday itself and offer to refund customers back the difference if it does. Now: £457.99 (£141.01 off) Now: $59.95 ($40 off)
You even get access to the same Dolby Vision HDR video recording tech as the Pro models, albeit capped at 30fps.
Find out more in our Xiaomi Mi Scooter 2 Pro review.
There are similar low-light improvements to the wide-angle camera, which doubles up as a macro camera, and a boosted telephoto lens now offering a 3x optical zoom. Our resident Xiaomi expert and a follower of all upcoming phones, she is also the go-to for charging tech.
So, which is the best iPhone to buy right now? In truth, it’ll depend a lot on what you want to get out of your smartphone. Now: £362.21 upfront or £30.34 p/m (Up to £234.12 off) Now: £79.99 (£39 off) The iPhone 11 has also dropped down to a tempting £489/$499.
Now: £1,499.97 (£400 off) You’ll find fantastic performance and a superb OLED display on the Xiaomi mid-ranger that is the Poco F3.
The adaptive refresh rate can ramp up to a buttery-smooth 120Hz when scrolling and playing games, and drop down to as little as 10Hz when it can to save on battery life. If you’re suited to smaller displays, your best bet is the iPhone 13 mini with its 5.4in display.
Smaller design, more screen real estate – what’s not to like? Was: £596.33 upfront or £49.94 p/m Now: £599 (£150 off + free Air Fryer) Pick it up now with £150 off and get a free Mi Smart Air Fryer 3.5L worth £79.99! Over at Amazon you’ll find an extra £50 discount, but without the freebie. If you’re looking for a brand-new smartphone on a budget, Xiaomi’s entry-level Redmi 10 is worth a second look. Now: £899.90 (£100 off) It offers the same iPhone experience as the standard model, complete with an A15 Bionic at its heart, Apple’s Super Retina XDR display (albeit at a smaller 5.4in) and improved main and ultrawide lenses, sporting sensor-shift OIS like the more premium models, but in a much smaller form factor.
The downside is that the larger display and battery means the iPhone 13 Pro Max is a bit of a beast to hold one-handed, and it’s noticeably heavier too. Not sure what you’re looking for? Also see Best Xiaomi phones. In the past, the biggest and best Black Friday deals were typically reserved for the big day, but now Black Friday deals appear all through November.
It might be expensive, but it’s Xiaomi’s top-end electric scooter right now, with a 350W motor and a great range.
Meanwhile, the 12 has officially dropped down to £679/$699, and it’s a similar story with the 12 mini at just £579/$599. The good news is that the entire iPhone range features either Apple’s A13, A14 or A15 Bionic chipset, guaranteeing great performance regardless of the model you opt for. The iPhone 12 is our favourite of the entire iPhone 12 range, and it’s even more tempting now that it has been reduced in the wake of the iPhone 13 release.
You’ll also find him on the Tech Advisor YouTube channel.
It sports the same general form factor as the iPhone 13 Pro, albeit with an aluminium band in place of the more premium stainless steel, boasting a similar level of performance with the same A15 Bionic chipset at its heart. We’re answering all your Black Friday-related questions here . Unlike the iPhone 12, the 6.1in display isn’t OLED, but it still offers a decent experience and, with the same A13 chipset as the 11 Pro range, performance is top-notch here – even when playing demanding games like Oceanhorn 2. On the flip side, if battery is important to you, then you should stay well away from the iPhone SE – in our review, we noted how it’d struggle to provide 5 hours of screen time without needing a top-up.
From: Virgin Media
Now: £649 (£150 off) It offers significant upgrades on the already capable A13 Bionic, and our benchmark results back that up. If you’re put off by the giant screens of the iPhone 12, it’s likely that the iPhone 12 mini will be the model for you.
From: Laptops Direct If you urgently need to buy one now and you see a stellar discount today, it’s easy: pick it up.
They do, however, typically command slightly higher prices, and that’s largely because Xiaomi has less control over the supply and distribution costs outside China. The Redmi Note 10S represents excellent value for money, but doubles down on battery life and graphical performance – check out our full review.
There are also improvements in the triple camera setup on the rear, including a main 12Mp snapper with sensor-shift OIS tech previously exclusive to the 12 Pro Max, along with improved f/1.5 aperture for better low-light photography. Only a few years ago, importing Xiaomi phones to the UK was plagued with issues. iPhones come in all shapes and sizes, with a variety of camera options and other unique features that set them apart from the Android competition, and here, we’ve ranked the best iPhones currently available to buy. Now: £549 (£200 off)
The best iPhone 2021
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p>By Lewis Painter, Senior Staff Writer | 10 Nov 2021 This is Xiaomi’s mid-range electric scooter, and heaps of fun as a toy or as an essential travel gadget.
It’s capped at 60Hz, down from 120Hz on the Pro models, and while you’ll get an ultrawide camera with macro photography capabilities, you won’t find a telephoto lens for close-up portrait shots. If you want the biggest display possible, you’d be better off with the iPhone 13 Pro Max at 6.7in.
The iPhone SE has a single 12Mp camera on the rear, meaning it’s quite limited compared to the more recent iPhones. Now: £289.97 (£110.02 off) Face ID is faster than ever and the niche telephoto lens of the iPhone XS range has been swapped for a more useful ultra-wide-angle lens. That award goes to the iPhone 13 Pro Max, which starts at £1,049/$1,099 and goes all the way up to £1,549/$1,599. You will get better battery life, faster performance and camera upgrades with the iPhone 13, but with the iPhone 12 dropping in price, the upgrade is easier to justify than ever.
One of the best affordable 5G phones out there and the perfect foil to the Realme 8 5G, the Redmi Note 10 5G currently enjoys an official discount, direct from Xiaomi. The iPhone 13 Pro is the best iPhone for most people right now. However, none of those are complete deal-breakers, and if you’re not too fussed about having the very best of everything, the iPhone 13 is still a great flagship smartphone at an attractive price. Now: £599 (Free Mi Watch + Wireless Earphones 2S) There’s also a slower maximum charge speed to consider. The cheapest iPhone is the iPhone SE at £419/$399, and although it does offer the same A13 chipset as the iPhone 11 range, there’s a compromise not only in terms of battery life but other areas too.
Only the best deals on the best products handpicked by our expert editors From: Laptops Direct It also still suffers from the same capped 12W MagSafe charging, compared to 15W from the rest of the range. Like the iPhone 13 Pro, it’s the camera department where the iPhone 13 Pro Max shines.
If you have the luxury of waiting until later in November, however, it may pay off.
There’s also great camera performance, sporting the Sensor-Shift OIS previously exclusive to the top-end iPhone 12 Pro Max, and there’s a 2-hour jump in battery life compared to its predecessor too. However, the focus on performance over design makes it a very un-Apple iPhone, and there are a few disappointing elements including the rather budget 720p LCD display and the dated design. By Marie Black, Editor In Chief | 10 Nov 2021 5G availability is still limited in many countries and regions, but remember that it is improving, so upgrading to 5G might be seen as futureproofing – so long as you expect to stick with the same iPhone for at least another two years. Black Friday arrives on Friday 26 November, followed by Cyber Monday on 29 November, which leads to the question: should you wait until then for a better deal on a Xiaomi device?
At the heart of the iPhone 12 you’ll find Apple’s A14 Bionic. If you want the best possible camera experience, the combination of a main 12Mp sensor, an ultra-wide sensor and telephoto sensor available on the iPhone 13 Pro range may be best for you. The small dimensions mean that while battery life has improved compared to the 12 Mini, it can’t quite compete with the larger models overall. The display is also brighter than ever, ideal for outdoor use. Now: £699 (£100 off + Free Mi Watch Lite) The iPhone 13 mini is the perfect iPhone to use one-handed, but the smaller display also means it’s not the best suited to watching YouTube videos and movies on Netflix.
Check out all the best Xiaomi deals from around the web below. No fitness tracker offers better value than Xiaomi’s Mi Band series, which can track your sleep and activity, display notifications and so much more. Performance is another element to consider when buying an iPhone, as you’ll likely want to get the most out of your device – especially at Apple’s prices. Xiaomi is already listing some great early Black Friday deals on its phones, wearables, smart home tech and more. If the 6.1in display of the iPhone 13 is a little too big for your liking, the iPhone 13 mini is the iPhone for you.
Of course, the biggest factor to consider is your budget: how much do you want to spend on your iPhone? The iPhone 13 Pro is a phenomenal smartphone, but starting at £999/$999, it should be – and that’s not even the most expensive iPhone available. And many Xiaomi products shipped from China come with Chinese user manuals – Google is your friend here if you’re not sure how to get them set up. Now: $499.99 ($50 off) Sporting a 12Mp main snapper with the same sensor-shift OIS and wider f/1.5 aperture, the 13 Pro Max is capable of taking great photos both during the day and at night.
If you can live without the telephoto lens, you can opt for the standard iPhone 13, which features similar main and ultra-wide cameras as the Pro models. One of the biggest deciding factors when on the market for an iPhone is the screen size you want, or most feel comfortable using – we don’t all have huge hands to use the iPhone 13 Pro Max one-handed, do we? The standard iPhone 11 sports a nice design with a glass rear and comes in various finishes. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence. Now: $69.99 ($29.99 off) Our resident Apple expert, Lewis covers everything from iPhone to AirPods, plus a range of smartphones, tablets, laptops and gaming hardware.
It’s also the cheapest variant of iPhone 12 still available now that the iPhone 13 range is here, sealing the deal for those on the hunt for a small-screen iPhone. The Poco M3 Pro 5G has an attractive shopping list of specifications for a budget phone – check out our full review. (This deal is also available at Amazon.) Now: $24.98 ($24 off off) You’ve made the decision to buy a new iPhone, but that decision isn’t as simple as it once was: while it was once a case of simply deciding on storage capacity and colour, now there are multiple models of iPhone available, each with its pros and cons.
For starters, until 10 November you can save £10 off when you spend £200 or more at the official Mi Store, using discount code 2021BF10. Now: $99.99 ($50 off) Of course, the Mi Store isn’t the only stockist of Xiaomi products.
Learn more. If cameras are important to you, then you’ve got a tough decision to make as it’s one area where the iPhone collection differs greatly.
Really, there’s not a lot to like when it comes to the iPhone 13 Pro, aside from the high starting price.
Now: From £21 per month The biggest disappointment, however, is battery life – if you do need the small form factor of the iPhone SE, be prepared to carry a battery pack around all day.
You don’t get the triple-lens setup of the Pro models, lacking the 2x telephoto lens, but you do get a 12Mp wide sensor with decent low-light performance, and the ultra-wide remains just as great as it was on the iPhone 11. The Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE features a Snapdragon 778G processor and an ultra-thin body – learn more about the latest Xiaomi phone on the block. Now: $599 ($360 off) It’s only a small discount, but it makes a difference!
Marie has been writing about tech for 15 years.
The iPhone SE is a phone devoted to function over form, prioritising raw performance and camera capabilities over design or aesthetics, all in the name of hitting the budget market. Performance is top-notch too, as with the iPhone 13. Xiaomi laptops typically come with a Chinese Windows 10 OS, so require some know-how to install an English operating system, an OEM version of which will cost you only £10-20.
The single lens will do if you’re not too fussed about photography, but don’t expect the same level of detail on offer from Apple’s high-end options. Xiaomi’s Mi 11 2021 flagship enjoys a sizeable £200 discount. Mi Watch, but cheaper, check out the Lite if budget is everything. Traditionally, battery life has been a bit of a problem when it comes to iPhones, especially when compared to Android counterparts and their huge batteries. Size aside, it’s near-identical to the iPhone 12, sporting the same Super Retina XDR OLED display tech, A14 Bionic processor, dual-camera setup, 5G connectivity and support for MagSafe accessories, albeit at a slightly reduced wireless charging speed of 12W.
Despite being a year old, it’s still one of the most powerful smartphones on the market. It then jumps up to the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro, both at 6.1in following a jump from the 11 Pro’s 5.8in display. Before you take the plunge, we recommend taking a look at our selection of the best smartphones right now to get a better understanding of the wider smartphone market and be sure you’re making the right decision. Now: £37 Clubcard Price (£13 off) It’s worth noting that older models, including the iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and even the iPhone X are still available from third-party retailers looking to shift leftover stock.
Pair that with the added starting cost and the fact that there isn’t anything unique about this year’s Pro Max, it’s only for those that really want the large display. Apple introduced 5G support with the iPhone 12 range, so if you want the fastest connection speeds Cisco Networking Products you’ll have to buy one of the newer iPhones. Now: £679 (£120 off) Now: Up to $550 off (With free Galaxy Buds 2) Thankfully, if you take care to purchase only Global ROM models, these are all a thing of the past.
Yikes. It might not sound too small, sporting a 5.4in display, but thanks to the bezel-less design, it’s actually a little smaller than the iPhone SE. It’s a big 6.7in Super Retina XDR OLED display with the same 120Hz ProMotion tech as the iPhone 13 Pro, able to jump between 10- and 120Hz depending on what you’re doing. Mi 11 is Xiaomi’s current flagship, making this an awesome deal – check out our full review.
Like the rest of the iPhone 13 range, you’ll find the A15 Bionic, paired with a minimum 128GB of base storage, going all the way up to 1TB. The Xiaomi Mi 11 is a confident flagship to rival the Samsung Galaxy S21 or iPhone 12 – read our full review. Connectivity was also an issue, with one of the three 4G bands used in the UK (800MHz/Band 20) rarely supported, and this could leave O2 users out in the cold. Despite the name, this Mi 11 Lite sits in Xiaomi’s mid-range line-up, offering excellent value – read our full review.
But while the overall experience is improved, there are certain areas where the iPhone 13 is lacking. Our favourite budget phone of the moment, Xiaomi’s Poco X3 Pro already represents phenomenal value and enjoys an extra discount direct from Amazon. Now: £347 (£152 off) Only the best deals on the best products handpicked by our expert editors Some of these issues do still apply to other Xiaomi products, however.
But with that said, Apple has come leaps and bounds over the past couple of years when it comes to battery life, with the 13 Pro Max offering all-day battery life with average use – and then some – and it’s a similar story with the rest of the iPhone 13 range. Learn more. It offers key improvements over the iPhone 12 Pro in terms of performance, battery and camera, and unlike last year, there aren’t any differences between the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max aside from screen size, meaning you no longer need to spend money on the largest iPhone to get the premium features. Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you.
Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you.
Still, if you want a reliable camera, fast performance, and guaranteed iOS updates for years to come without breaking the bank then this is the iPhone for you. It also benefits from improvements to the ultrawide and telephoto lens, and there’s Apple ProRaw video recording available for pro-level videographers too.
The Xiaomi 11T Pro offers flagship performance and unparalleled charging speeds for hundreds of pounds less than a true flagship – read our full review. Where the iPhone 13 Pro Max truly shines is in the battery department; it offers an extra 2 hours compared to the already-impressive 12 Pro Max, beating not only every iPhone before it, but keeping up with some of the best Android competition too. Read our full review of Mi Band 6. With the A13 Bionic and a single 12Mp rear snapper, the iPhone SE looks to offer flagship-level performance for around half the price, and largely succeeds.
If the Xiaomi Smart Band appeals to you, Xiaomi’s proper smartwatch is definitely worth a look – read our full review.
Now: £199 (£500 off) The iPhone 13’s £779/$799 price tag is much more attractive if you want flagship specs, and the 13 mini is even better at £679/$699.
This is one of the older models in Xiaomi’s line, but this slider phone once turned many heads with its flagship status, making that ridiculously low price hard to ignore – read our full review. It’s worth pointing out that any Xiaomi product you buy from the UK Mi Store will be an English version, and none of these issues will apply. But hey, if you want to get into the iOS ecosystem at the cheapest price possible, the iPhone SE could be the one to go for.
There’s also the same A15 Bionic at its heart, although with a suspected bump in RAM compared to the other models. The iPhone 11 didn’t need to rewrite the smartphone rule book to be a winner – it simply needed to build on the success of the Xr, and it has done exactly that. Unlike the iPhone 12 Pro Max, there are differences between it and the iPhone 13 Pro, making it a slightly less tempting option this time if you aren’t a fan of the large display it offers.
There’s also £200 off the 256GB storage version, at £599. You’ll find an even bigger £200 discount at Amazon, but without the free smartwatch. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence. There’s no need to wait for 26 November itself, of course.
Do check out the legality of riding electric scooters in the UK. A fantastic screen, a 108Mp camera and awesome battery life make this discount on the budget Redmi Note 10 Pro difficult to ignore. The iPhone 12 offers a significant upgrade from the iPhone 11, not only sporting a refreshed angular look reminiscent of the iPhone 5, but the same Super Retina XDR OLED display tech as the iPhone 12 Pro range. Chinese ROM models do not come preinstalled with Google services, and in such cases you would need to install this yourself and navigate a Chinese menu and keyboard to get it set it up correctly.
With older products, such as the Mi Band 3, Chinese versions will naturally have Chinese menu icons. Now: £399 (Free Mi Band 6) The 4.7in iPhone SE does technically have a smaller display, but it’s actually slightly bigger than the 13 mini because it has much larger bezels.