The last decade has changed the face of cell phones. Major milestones have seen the introduction of revolutionary new technologies, as well as the death of major brands and operating systems. In 2010, we were excited about the HTC Desire and the iPhone 4. Now we're talking about foldable devices, the introduction of 5G, and some of the high-tech kit you can imagine in your pocket. While the '90s may have seen the introduction of the smartphone, manufacturers have taken devices to new heights in the last 10 years. That's why sitting down and choosing the best phone of the decade has been such a tall order. We've looked at smartphones throughout the decade and beyond, which is why we've rounded up our collective bosses to put together a list of the five most impressive, influential and innovative devices in the last 10 years. Here's how we decided on the list: TechRadar editor (and former phone editor) Gareth Beavis and phone editor James Peckham take on this task and try to make a fair list of best devices However, there is a clear winner , if you read below you will find everything about:
5. OnePlus 3
(Image credit: Future) The Chinese manufacturer has shaken up the mobile market with its OnePlus One ''killer flagship'' & # 39; & # 39; back in 2014, but with limited availability and lukewarm tracking in the form of the OnePlus 2, it was only in 2016 and the OnePlus 3 that the company really made its mark on the phone; industry. The OnePlus 3 was the company's first all-metal phone, instantly giving it the appearance of a true high-end device. It had a flagship chipset, lots of RAM, and a large 5.5-inch screen. The real kicker, however, was the price. The OnePlus 3 is about half the price of the iPhone 7, Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, HTC 10, and Sony Xperia X, and it has shown the world that you don't have to pay through the nose for a smartphone that had a lot of snarl and design. high end. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and it certainly is with the OnePlus 3. It has set the bar for "affordable flagships" and since its introduction has seen the likes of Honor, Xiaomi, Oppo, Alcatel, Realme and more, they follow a similar formula, with varying degrees of success. For the past few years, even established names have tried to get out of the OnePlus Playbook, with phones like the iPhone XR and Samsung Galaxy S10e. OnePlus 3 allowed us to dream. This allowed us to believe. This allowed us to have a high-end device without falling into crippling debt. And for that, we salute you. Written by John McCann, Phone Editor at TechRadar 2016-2019
4. iPhone 4
(Image credit: Apple) The iPhone was something of a joke among the world's "real" techies until this model came along: the plastic back of 3G and 3G, with limited screen quality. and the poorer chambers were of no favor to him. However, one famous trip to the bar and a lost iPhone later, the world saw the new iPhone 4 for the first time. Whether or not it was intentional we'll never know, but the hype it generated was off the charts. Because? Well, the Retina display was higher resolution than anything Apple had ever done, and higher quality and richer too. The camera has been improved, taking faster, sharper photos that really shined on the new screen technology. But that's not why it's on this list: it's the design. The industrial, metal and glass shelf was a true statement that Apple was serious about smartphone gaming, and improved power and improved design were the shining symbols. Was it the best phone on the market? Damn, there were tons of better devices. But Apple's burgeoning App Store, sleek design, and easy interface on the iPhone 4 were the moment the iPhone became more mainstream in the eyes of critics, and it's led to the dominance you see today. Written by Gareth Beavis, Phones Editor at TechRadar 2009-2016
3.Moto G
(Image credit: Motorola) The Moto G is by far the least impressive phone on this list, but it has changed the capabilities of phones. This had no impact on the high-end like the HTC One M8 or the iPhone 5S in 2013, but rather changed the bottom of the market. Motorola has made a conscious effort to deliver impressive phones at the cheaper end of the market. It changed what we might expect from low-end phones, which were often terrible and hard to recommend to anyone looking to save money. The Moto G arrived in 2013, and it just worked. Sure, it didn't have an impressive rear camera or phenomenal power inside, but it did enough to make it work really well. Finally, there was a cheaper phone on the market that we could wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who wanted a more affordable device. From there, the company took the Moto G series to new heights by introducing new camera technology, as well as new variants that have their own impressive features. Take the Moto G7 Power with its phenomenal two-day lifespan. Without the Moto G, this phone would not have been possible. The Moto G may not be the best phone of the 2010s, but it has helped change the face of one of the most exciting areas of the entire phone industry. Written by James Peckham, Phone Editor at TechRadar 2019-now
2. Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
(Image credit: Future) It's easy to forget how exciting the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge was. We had seen the bent-screen technology debuting the previous year on the Galaxy Note Edge, but it was the second iteration and it's been vastly improved for the flagship S7 phone. The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge was a five-star phone on TechRadar. In fact, this was the last five-star phone review in the site's phone space, and we haven't seen anything worthy of this distinction since its debut in 2016. It wasn't just the flexible display technology that resonated with us. The screen was bigger because of this curved technology, and it was just a really well-built phone with a beautiful glass design. There was a bigger battery that made the phone last a solid day, and the camera was one of the best we've seen on a phone by far. Bigger Samsung had introduced. At the time, we said, "We could always want more from our phones... but if you're looking for a well-designed, powerful phone that really packs useful features for everyday use, the Galaxy S7 Edge is the one." Written by James Peckham, phone editor at TechRadar 2019-now
1.HTC One M8
(Image credit: HTC) There are moments in a tech journalist's career when you know you're seeing something that absolutely represents the best of the best – holding the HTC One M8 for the first time was one of them. HTC, earlier this decade, was the great challenger to Apple's iPhone dominance, with the Desire being the first real rival to the Android team. And while Samsung's resources and budget had begun to gain momentum, HTC's rebooted "One" line of phones was still a critics' choice for many reasons. The One `` original & # 39; #39; (let's forget the confusing One X, S, and V that came before it) launched in 2013 and proved that HTC was a brand yet to be reckoned with: the metal chassis, brilliant low-light camera, and front-facing BoomSound speakers were revolutionary, and the software took full advantage of Android. Fast forward a year, and "complicated second album syndrome" was all the critics could talk about. Could HTC trust a near-perfect phone? What margin was left? The One M8 (ridiculous name aside) was proof that perfection could be bettered. The improved screen, speakers, and the addition of a second lens have been big strides (how many phones today have a single lens?), but that's The refined, gracious, and simply more impressive feel of the phone in the hand has made it one of our best phones ever. Sure, it may not have significantly exceeded the specifications of the previous model, but it was a revolutionary device: the One M8 proved that it was possible to bring incredible refinement and improvements in key areas, and that's why it's still a phone we'd like to see rebooted. and introduced in the 2020s. Written by Gareth Beavis, Phones Editor at TechRadar 2009-2016