The best phones you can buy in Australia (2021)

By Alex Choros

Last updated 04 June 2021

At WhistleOut, we don't just compare phone plans, we also review phones to help you pick from the latest devices on the market. But we test a lot of phones every year, and we get it if you don't want to wade through every single review.

So to save you a bit of time, we've picked out five of the best smartphones you can currently buy on a plan as well as few runners up. Whether you're looking for a device with all the latest new high-tech features or just a handset that's great value for money, you'll find a phone to suit you here.

The best phone for most
The best Android flagship
The best camera phone
The best mid-tier phone
The best affordable phone

Or, if you want to jump straight into a price comparison for any of these models, head over to our Mobile Phone Finder.

The best phone for most: iPhone 12

If you're looking for a new handset can't make up your mind, the iPhone 12 is the best choice for most.

While the iPhone 12 is one of the cheaper devices in the iPhone 12 family, it elevates the baseline iPhone experience to the point where it doesn't feel like a compromise when compared to the "Pro" models. A much-improved display and a refined design put it right in line with the iPhone 12 Pro.

You also get the same primary and ultra-wide camera, the same 5G connectivity, and the same drop-resistant screen. All you're really missing out on is a zoom lens and LiDAR for better low light portraiture and improved augmented reality performance. The 6.1-inch screen is also going to be more comfortable for most when compared to the 5.4-inch display you get on the iPhone 12 mini.

Considering the iPhone 12 starts at $1,349 outright while the iPhone 12 Pro starts at $1,699, the compromises you make aren't major. And all in all, the iPhone 12 is just an excellent all-round device that's easy to recommend.

When compared to the current stock of high-end Android devices, we'd say the iPhone 12 is a better pick in the long run. Android flagships tend to only get a maximum of three years of software and security updates, while Apple offers much longer support for its handsets. The iPhone 6s (released in 2015) was still upgraded to iOS 14 last year, for example. Even if you don't want to keep a phone that long, iPhones tend to have better resale value as a result.

Also consider: iPhone 12 Pro

The iPhone 12 Pro is still a pretty good upgrade pick if you're after a little more from your smartphone - especially when it comes to photography. While the Pro Max is still the best option if you want the most from your phone camera, the iPhone 12 Pro benefits from a 2x zoom lens and a little extra low light prowess thanks to LiDAR.

We're also partial to the matte finish you get on the Pro iPhone models - it's just that little bit more fingerprint-resistant when compared to the back of the standard iPhone 12.

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The best Android flagship: Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

Of course, not everyone is into Apple smartphones. If you're looking for a high-end Android alternative, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is a safe bet.

While it's Samsung's most expensive non-foldable phone, it's also the Android flagship that makes the least compromises this year. For example, the standard Galaxy S21 struggled to last an entire day unless we disabled functionality like the 120Hz refresh rate display, whereas that's not as much of an issue on the Galaxy S21 Ultra.

In addition, you get the best zoom on a smartphone right now, a great primary camera, a stunning display, and a lovely high-end build. If you're after a premium Android phone, the Galaxy S21 Ultra won't disappoint.

Also consider: OPPO Find X3 Pro

The OPPO Find X3 Pro is another great contender when it comes to high-end Android devices, but isn't quite as compromise-free as the Galaxy S21 Ultra.

With 5G and the 120Hz display switched on, we were only able to get between three and four hours of screen time per charge. That's barely enough to scrape through a day. Turning off 5G helped take this to around five hours of screen time per charge, but you shouldn't need to disable functionality to get the most out of a $1,699 phone. At the very least, stupid fast charging can help mitigate this.

Battery aside, the OPPO Find X3 Pro is excellent. It's zippy, has a gorgeous display, and the best primary camera you can get on an Android smartphone right now.

The best camera phone: iPhone 12 Pro Max

Most of the iPhone 12 family has an identical camera configuration, but the iPhone 12 Pro Max stands out thanks to a longer range zoom and a better primary sensor with improved stabilisation. The improvements won't always be noticeable, but the exceptional primary lens makes the iPhone 12 Pro Max the best smartphone camera around right now.

Where the iPhone 12 Pro Max really shines when compared to other devices is in lowlight. Photos shoot faster, are sharper, a little brighter, and exhibit less noise. For example, if you're using night mode to take a lowlight image, the iPhone 12 Pro Max may only need a one-second exposure to take the photo, where the iPhone 12 Pro may need three. Since you don't need to steady your hands for as long a time, you're also going to get a sharper image.

Low light snaps are also less noisy in general. Camera noise is the grainy look you can get when you're shooting images at night that can mask details.

If you're just looking at your pics on your phone, you might not notice the benefits of the iPhone 12 Pro Max's better primary camera. But as soon as you zoom or crop in, the difference is clear.

The iPhone 12 Pro Max also benefits from a 2.5x zoom lens, whereas the standard iPhone 12 Pro only has a 2x zoom lens. It doesn't match the long-range zoom we've seen on some Android phones, but it's still nice to be able to punch in it a little bit further.

It also helps that the iPhone 12 Pro Max is a great device in general, featuring the best battery out of any 5G smartphone, excellent performance, and a gorgeous display.

Also consider: OPPO Find X3 Pro

The OPPO Find X3 Pro is the Android smartphone to beat when it comes to photography right now, thanks to a primary lens and ultra-wide lens backed by the same flagship sensor. On most other phones, ultra-wide cameras exhibit a noticeable drop-off in quality when compared to the main lens. This isn't the case with the Find X3 Pro; you'll get excellent photos on both lenses, no matter what condition.

The primary lens in particular does an impressive job of handling dynamic range, which means it can capture both shadows and highlights without compromising either.

These lenses are joined by a 2x zoom lens and a microscope lens. The 2x zoom lens is fairly conventional, and unfortunately a step back from the 5x zoom we saw in last year's Find X2 Pro. The microscope lens, on the other hand, is a feature you won’t find on any other phone. It magnifies a subject next to the phone by either 30x or 60x, capturing rather unique images.

The microscope lens can be a bit gimmicky, but it's also a very fun addition to your photographic tool kit and a one-of-a-kind way to look at the world.

The best mid-tier phone: Samsung Galaxy S20 FE

The Galaxy S20 FE might be a cutdown Galaxy S20, but for the most part, Samsung made the right compromises. You get the same high-end performance, an excellent primary camera, a massive 6.5-inch 120Hz display, wireless charging, water-resistance, and more.

Realistically, the biggest compromises you'll make are secondary cameras that aren't quite as good, and a plastic back instead of glass. Neither of these are huge issues. You still get lovely photos from the main lens, and realistically, you're going to throw a case on your phone anyway. And if not, plastic is more durable than glass.

We thought the Galaxy S20 FE was pretty good value when it first launched, but it's even more attractive thanks to recent price cuts. You're now looking at just $699 outright for the 4G-only model, or $799 if you'd prefer 5G.

Also consider: iPhone SE

The iPhone SE harkens back to the iPhone 8 design, featuring a 4.7-inch display and a good old fashioned home button. While it's a bit of a blast from the past, the iPhone SE runs on the same top-tier processor you'll find in the iPhone 11 family. Not only does this make it a pint-sized powerhouse, it also ensures years of software and security updates. We're expecting to see it supported until 2024 at a minimum.

If you can handle the smallish screen, the iPhone SE is the cheapest way to get a new iPhone, and is an excellent choice for anyone upgrading from an iPhone 8 or older.

Thanks to recent price cuts, the iPhone SE now starts at $679.

The best affordable phone: Google Pixel 4a

Google's Pixel 4a is entirely about the value proposition. It boils the essentials down into a simple package that does more with less. You get a top-tier camera, smooth performance, and a reliable battery in a slick little piece of kit that will only set you back $599.

It isn't packing quite as many features as the competition - you won't find water-resistance, 5G, secondary lenses, or a high-refresh-rate display - but none of these omissions impact the overall experience in a meaningful way. Better yet, the Pixel 4a will get three years of major operating system and security updates, which will keep it until August 2023. That's far more support than you'd get from the vast majority of phones on the cheaper end of the pricing spectrum.

All in all, the Pixel 4a is quite simply one of the most sensible smartphones you can buy. It's 90% of a flagship device at under half of the cost.

Also consider: Motorola Moto G 5G Plus

If you're fanging for a 5G device, the Moto G 5G Plus is the best pick at the lower end of town. Despite the $499 price tag, it packs a very zippy processor that's normally reserved for more expensive phones, a 90Hz display, and a battery that can easily last up to two days. Camera performance isn't as good as the Pixel 4a, but that's unsurprising given its budget status.

The Moto G 5G Plus isn't just a good, cheap 5G phone. It's an excellent value device regardless of whether you're after next-generation connectivity right now.