The best smartphones that launched at CES 2021
Recognition: David Imel / Android Authority
Every year, CES brings a flurry of products to every niche imaginable, and this year’s virtual edition isn’t much different. Despite this exuberance, smartphone makers rarely use the Las Vegas show as a launch pad for their hot new products. That said, some notable devices hit the market during CES 2021, and we’re here to round up the best.
TCL 20 5G and TCL 20 SE
After years of licensing the brands of other companies, TCL jumped into the fight in 2020 with the title-giving TCL 10 series. The second generation goes one step further while maintaining the affordable price of the original.
TCL 20 5G has a knowledgeable datasheet anchored by Qualcomm’s mid-range Snapdragon 690 processor, 6GB of RAM, and at least 128GB of expandable storage. With its 6.67-inch Full HD + display with HDR10 support, 4,500 mAh battery, and triple camera setup, this phone won’t blow your socks off – but that’s fine, at $ 299 it shouldn’t. The TCL 20 SE brings a similar experience with it, with some cuts required to hit the € 149 price tag.
Continue reading: The TCL 20 series is better than the 10 series but still cheap
More models in the TCL 20 series will be available soon and it is clear that TCL wants to replicate the success of its TV strategy in the telephone market.
LG Rollable
Okay, we’re being generous with the definitions of “product” and “introduction” here, but we’ll take what we get. LG’s rollable display has been talked about for a while, but at CES, LG gave us the best look yet, as well as the first confirmation of its official name.
The LG Rollable transforms elegantly from a phone to a tablet at the push of a button. Where Samsung relies on leaflets, LG seems to believe that “rollables” could bring about the long-awaited paradigm shift in mobile technology.
Read: LG rollable smartphone: everything we know so far
Unfortunately, we still don’t know much about the LG Rollable other than that it’s coming and that it’s undeniably cool.
Samsung Galaxy S21 line
Recognition: David Imel / Android Authority
Introduced technically outside the virtual boundaries of CES 2021, the Galaxy S21 series is the aging 800 pound gorilla of the Android world. Does it need an introduction? Certainly not, not after the lick festival that preceded it. Is it still exciting? It is controversial. Should you pay attention anyway? Absolutely.
Go deep: Impressions of the Samsung Galaxy S21 series: Cheaper, but better?
The Galaxy S21, S21 Plus and S21 Ultra are the epitome of modern Samsung product design with their tasteful colors and smooth construction. Their spec sheets are equally impressive, especially on the top-end Ultra model, which this year supports the S Pen – which may herald the end of the Note series.
Kyocera Duraforce Ultra 5G UW
The Galaxy S21 is a difficult task. It’s good that the Kyocera Duraforce Ultra 5G UW is literally as robust as it gets. This animal is designed for users who demand extreme durability. It can take blows, immersion, and likely a close encounter with a main battle tank and tell the story live.
As the awkward name suggests, this new Kyocera device works on Verizon’s mmWave (UWB) network, the lightning-fast version of 5G that relies on direct line of sight to the tower. In other words, coverage is limited and will remain so for years to come. That said, the Duraforce Ultra is worth your attention if you’re looking for a competent Android phone that can withstand the worst you can throw at it.
Vivo X60 Pro
The Vivo X60 Pro was launched in China just before the new year, but technically falls into the slipstream of the CES. It refines the “cardanic” camera setup of its predecessor and adds optics from the renowned lens manufacturer Zeiss. The phone features an upper mid-range Exynos 1080 SoC from Samsung, 33 W charging and a 6.56-inch FHD + 120 Hz OLED panel with a center-mounted hole cutout (with a 32 megapixel sensor) .
You get a 48-megapixel camera with a second generation micro-gimbal setup, a 13-megapixel 2x portrait lens and a 13-megapixel ultra-wide shooter, and an 8-megapixel 5-way periscope Zoom lens with up to 60x digital zoom. Details about the gimbal technology are rare, but in theory it should help with the important pictures in low light conditions as well as with video stabilization. If the Pro model isn’t professional enough for you, the Pro Plus version, out in the next few weeks, promises to please you appropriately.
This concludes another summary of the best CES smartphones. Do you want more CES goodness? Check out our CES 2021 Top Picks Awards below, as well as recaps of the best new wearables, smart home devices, and more.
