The most beautiful smartphones 2021: choosing the best

No modern person can do without a mobile phone. In addition to its direct purpose, this device perfectly emphasizes the individual style of its owner.

There is a huge variety of mobile devices on the market today. Each model is different from each other and has its own characteristics. Take the same size or weight of the device. But now many people want to buy thin smartphones, as they are convenient to hold and take with them outside. While in a store, you can simply get lost in the selection of such smartphones, since there are so many of them. Therefore, it is better to study the assortment in advance and focus on the most popular models.

Choosing beautiful smartphones: basic criteria

To prevent our list from turning into something completely abstract and illogical, let us first explain the main criteria by which the “beauty” of smartphones was selected:

Minimum frames , maximum display area on the front surface;
High quality display to display the most beautiful picture: we take into account pixel density, refresh rate, peak brightness, color accuracy and other parameters;
No cutouts, bangs or holes in the screen. Because of this criterion, in our review there was a place for several devices with a retractable front camera, which makes the screen clear of all kinds of cutouts;
Design of the camera block on the back side;
Stylish and beautiful design of the back surface: pleasant and non-standard colors, patterns, textures;

Mi 9T from Xiaomi with outstanding design. This is one of the smartphones that has earned a place on our list with several visual features.

Premium case materials: steel, ceramics, artificial leather;
Unusual, innovative solutions in design and ergonomics;
Severity and solidity in design: flat edges, emphasized shapes and corners.

All the smartphones listed below, according to our idea, must meet at least several of the indicated points. Actually, it's time to move on to the list. It includes the most attractive models released over the past two years. We will gradually update the list by adding new 2021 smartphones.

Galaxy Note 20 Ultra – beautiful, strict, ultimate

An extremely impressive flagship with a stylus from Korean Samsung. The gadget has the most advanced parameters in literally everything, including a 108 MP camera and the world's first LTPO display for a smartphone.

The highlight of the series is the built-in stylus. It has many functions and the ability to even act as a remote control for the device. The key difference between the Note 20 Ultra and all other Notes is the response speed of the stylus. Here it is 9 milliseconds instead of the usual 42 ms. As a result, the stylus passes across the device’s screen like a real pencil on a sheet of paper.

Front and back of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. The smartphone looks very impressive and is easily distinguishable from all cheaper models from the front.

What is beautiful about the Note 20 Ultra smartphone:

This is the leader in framelessness among regular smartphones. The display occupies almost the maximum possible area of the front surface, leaving only a tiny space for frames. Only smartphones with a waterfall screen can offer more impressive performance;
Unlike the Galaxy S series, there is a noticeably more strict, solid design with an emphasis on flat edges and less “soapy” outlines;

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra in bronze is incredibly beautiful. With a 6.9'' screen, the device is also quite compact

The highest display quality: 120 Hz, a record peak brightness among other smartphones at 1600 nits (iPhone 12 Pro Max – 1200 nits), the best contrast level and other features. The Note 20 Ultra's screen set 11 global records in DisplayMate tests and became a leader in DxOMark tests;
The new bronze color looks very expensive and stylish.

Galaxy Z Flip – cute, stylish, unusual

The second smartphone from Samsung on our list, which, however, is absolutely unlike all the others. Galaxy Z Flip is a device with a flexible display that can be folded in half, turning the gadget into something resembling a traditional clamshell. The gadget has very advanced, almost flagship characteristics.

Galaxy Z Flip in a semi-unfolded state. The bend angle can be adjusted at your discretion. Samsung assures that the mechanism is reliable and will last for many years

Particularly noteworthy is the tiny external display on the case, which can inform you about incoming calls and messages, as well as other information. In turn, the interface and some applications on the main display adapt to the folding of the device to provide the user with more comfort and functions.

What is beautiful about the Galaxy Z Flip smartphone:

Provides a real wow effect for those who see the device for the first time, especially at the moment of transformation;
When assembled, it is compact and looks very attractive, reminiscent of an element of women's cosmetics with a mirror;
It has pleasant, iridescent body colors, including a warm lilac shade.

Take a closer look: a small external display is located to the right of the unit with two rear cameras

Foldable Motorola Razr

Motorola Razr

This is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful phones on the market. And the reason for this is not only the folding mechanism and flexible display. The device offers an interesting back cover design, as well as an additional display that has a rounded shape around the entire perimeter. Undoubtedly, the Motorola Razr is one of the most beautiful phones today.

Motorola Edge and Edge+ – maximum bezel-less design

Curious and very impressive smartphones from Motorola, both visually and in characteristics, are very different from anything the manufacturer has released before. Moreover, the differences are for the better. Both models offer the same design: a waterfall screen and tiny bezels on the top and bottom. The large display operates at 90 Hz.

Both models are equipped with strong hardware, but Edge+ has not just a powerful, but a flagship processor, and the main camera of this version has a resolution of 108 megapixels and is complemented by optical stabilization. Both models also have a ToF camera that improves augmented reality effects, portrait photography and faster focusing in low light.

Edge+. Waterfall screens in this and other models are not just slightly curved on the sides, but go around them almost completely. There are very few similar smartphones today, but they are all flagships

Why Motorola Edge and Edge+ are beautiful:

These are the absolute leaders in the frameless rating among all smartphones without exception;
The waterfall screen, curved at the edges by almost 90 degrees, visually erases the side edges of the device;
The upper and lower frames are reduced to almost the utmost possible minimum.

The Edge and Edge+ models are a real diamond in the assortment of Motorola, which has never before released such impressive gadgets.

Xiaomi Mi 11 – the first flagship of 2021

The newest flagship of Xiaomi, which went on sale in the first days of 2021. The device became the world's first gadget based on the ultimate Snapdragon 888 processor. The new product is also notable for its display characteristics, fast Wi-Fi, high-speed charging (55 watts) and the ability to read your heart rate using a fingerprint scanner.

Xiaomi Mi 11 offers a display similar to, and in some respects even superior to, the Samsung S21 Ultra screen. At the same time, Mi 11 is noticeably cheaper

Like the Mi 10, the main camera of the new product has a resolution of 108 megapixels and is complemented by optical stabilization. There is also an ultra-wide-angle camera and a special lens “sharpened” for macro photography.

Why Mi 11 is beautiful:

Outstanding display characteristics: a combination of a 120 Hz refresh rate and a high resolution (515 PPI), a stated peak brightness of 1500 nits (although DisplayMate experts counted a record 1771 nits). The display itself in the DisplayMate laboratory set 13 records in various parameters;
Original visual design of the rear camera block, divided into several sections and emphasizing the main module;

Among the body design options, versions with artificial leather are available, the texture of which looks beautiful and feels pleasant in the hand.

Microsoft Surface Duo

The last smartphone in our article is the Microsoft Surface Duo. We have already seen a similar form factor. But the model made it into the top 5 simply because it was presented by Microsoft, and every smartphone from the Redmond giant is already a surprise. The company announced its last smart phone almost five years ago. It was the Lumia 650 on the Windows 10 operating system.

The new product received Android 10 OS and last year’s flagship Snapdragon 855 processor. Two screens have a diagonal of 5.6 inches. The total diagonal is 8.1 inches, and the resolution increases from 1350 x 1800 pixels to 2700 x 1800 pixels.

Microsoft Surface Duo was priced at $1200/$1300. The smartphone is equipped with an 11-megapixel camera with support for 4K UHD at 60 fps, 6 GB of RAM, 128/256 GB of internal memory and a 3577 mAh battery with 18-watt recharging.

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Xiaomi Mi 9T and 9T Pro – flame pattern and pop-up camera

Two are far from the newest smartphones, the debut of which took place in the summer of 2021. However, the characteristics of the gadgets are quite good even now, especially in terms of performance. Both devices, among other things, are equipped with telephoto cameras for 2x optical zoom and enhanced portrait photography. This is quite good, since the telephoto module is not present in the basic versions of Mi 10 and even Mi 11.

Mi 9T in blue color. A rare case when in reality a smartphone looks even better than in advertising images

Why Mi 9T and 9T Pro are beautiful:

These are the first Xiaomi smartphones with a retractable front camera, so there are no holes, notches or cutouts in the display;
The design of the back surface has a unique expressive colorful pattern, the likes of which we have not seen in any other smartphone.

The Mi 9T smartphone has an even more beautiful red body color. By the way, in these Xiaomi models an unusual backlight is provided even for the pop-up front camera

iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max are premium and need no introduction

It would be a mistake not to include the most popular premium smartphones today in our selection. These iPhone models have LiDAR, which is superior to 3D ToF cameras in Android smartphones, as well as a very advanced front camera in terms of functions, IP68 water protection and built-in magnetic rings. The latter are designed to conveniently attach accessories to the device and improve the performance of wireless charging.

The iPhone 12 Pro Max screen doesn't set any records for brightness, but it boasts the best color accuracy on the market

In turn, the 12 Pro Max version additionally features a new large main camera sensor and a unique sensor-shift image stabilization system, which is superior to conventional optical stabilization.

Why iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max are beautiful:

High-quality, perfectly calibrated display: received 11 awards from the DisplayMate laboratory, including an important victory over all competitors in color accuracy;
High-quality case materials: stainless steel frame and Ceramic Shield protective glass covering the screen;
The gold color combination with the new flat, polished edges of the iPhone 12 Pro|Pro Max looks amazingly beautiful.

On top of its premium design, iPhone 12 Pro Max comes with camera specs not found in any other iPhone, including the regular iPhone 12 Pro.

How we lived with a smartphone without charging - with difficulty

The main change in the iPhone 12 is in the box: now there are no headphones or charging, just a cable. Moreover, this is Lightning - USB-C, not Lightning - USB-A. In the second case, it would be suitable for owners of the most popular 5-watt adapters for iPhones. We experienced problems with the existing solution.

We charged the smartphone in two ways: 5-watt charging and a cable from an old smartphone, or fast charging from a MacBook with a supplied cord. Both solutions are inconvenient: in the first case, the charging speed is slow (the device replenishes energy in about 4 hours), in the second, you need to constantly change the cable in one adapter from Lightning - USB-C to USB-C - USB-C. Apple abandoned charging devices to reduce their production. But to use it without problems, you need to buy a fast adapter.

The autonomy of the smartphone is still disappointing. The iPhone 12 works without recharging until the evening, this is stagnation compared to the iPhone 11, which lasted a day and a half. However, the situation may change, and the operating time will increase after a series of iOS updates. Battery reduced. At the same time, there is a more energy-efficient screen here, and it is likely that the operating time will not decrease.

Oppo Find X2 and X2 Pro are bright smartphones with a magically beautiful screen

Last year's Oppo flagships are still impressive. There are advanced OLED screens with a frequency of 120 Hz and minimal frames, powerful processors and fast charging with a power of 65 watts. The Pro version is notable for its IP68 water protection.

Cameras are a different matter. The basic version has a generally standard set, distinguished by a laser autofocus system for the main module and a basic autofocus for the ultra-wide-angle camera, allowing it to be used for macro photography.

Find X2 models are among the first smartphones to feature a display capable of displaying more than a billion shades of color

The Pro version is more interesting: the main sensor with a resolution of 48 MP is much larger (1/1.43″), the ultra-wide-angle camera also has a resolution of 48 MP (this is the first time in a smartphone), and the gadget also has an honest five-fold optical zoom.

Why Oppo Find X2 and X2 Pro are beautiful:

Smartphones have extremely minimal frames. Their lines at the top and bottom appear to be some of the most minimal of any Android smartphone;
Oppo, in its flagships, was the first to offer for screens a simultaneous combination of 120 Hz frequency and high resolution, providing a pixel density of more than 500 PPI;
There are case options made of ceramic, and for the Pro version also made of artificial leather. The orange version looks great and feels great in the hand.

The orange variation of the Oppo Find X2 case looks juicy, harmonious and should be pleasant to the touch

Rating of the best thin smartphones of 2021

#10 Honor View 20

A new product that has recently appeared and is often advertised. We present to your attention Honor View 20, its body looks premium. It is recommended to use an additional transparent case, as the case can quickly become damaged. The build quality is almost perfect. The smartphone is very comfortable to hold in your hand, which makes it grippy. Now smartphones have begun to be made using fingerprint functionality, Honor View 20 is no exception. The smartphone is quite large, but the controls are located very conveniently. The phone turns on quite easily. Honor View 20 is a good model that you don’t want to let go of, the design is simply masterpiece.

The smartphone display is 6.4 inches, resolution is 2310×1080 pixels. It has factory film and protective glass. The sensor can process 10 touches at once. The smartphone has an eight-core HiSilicon Kirin 980 processor. The device is designed for 6 GB of RAM. The total memory of the device is 128 GB, and 8 GB is used by the shell and the OS. You can insert a memory card up to 256 GB into the phone. These characteristics indicate that any application will run on this device without slowdown. All programs open instantly. Thickness - 8.10 mm.

№9 Xiaomi Mi8 6/64GB

This smartphone has a large range of functions and has additional equipment. The camera is capable of enlarging images tenfold. The mobile phone comes with a powerful battery and a modern audio speaker. Users note many features of this device. This applies not only to the design, but also to the technical equipment of the smartphone. The thickness of the device is only 7.6 millimeters. Weight – 175 grams. At first glance, it is noticeable that the device is very durable. At the same time, its assembly is distinguished by quality and reliability. In the manufacture of the case, the manufacturer used aluminum alloy. Glass elements are inserted at the top and bottom of the device. The rear panel is highly soiled.

Diagonally – 6.21 inches. Dilation – 2248×1080 pixels. The screen has anti-reflective glass and an oleophobic coating. The smartphone’s sensor is ultra-sensitive, as stated by Xiaomi employees. The operating system of the mobile device is Android version 8.1. The thickness of the device is 7.5 mm.

#8 HUAWEI P30 lite

We want to offer a good option that has fairly good functionality, which allows you to use a smartphone of any age category. Anti-reflective coating allows you to clearly see information on the screen even in direct sunlight. The diagonal of the mobile device is 6.15 inches with a screen resolution of 2312x1080. Type of material: plastic.

The smartphone attracts with its design. It looks expensive, but the price is affordable for everyone. The device received good reviews, running on HiSilicon Kirin 710 at a frequency of 2.2 MHz. Here the internal memory is 128 GB, RAM is 4 GB. The capacity of the battery device is 3340 mAh. Huawei did not forget about the NFC module. The thickness of the device is 7.40 mm.

№7 Meizu 15 4/64GB

The developer of this brand releases many different smartphones every year. This model is not very powerful, but has wide functionality. In addition, the device is fast. This allows this device to compete with expensive smartphones. The speaker is located at the top of the phone above the screen. There is a standard and front camera. The camera works with dual flash. In addition, the phone has a microphone with noise reduction function.

The smartphone has a screen diagonal of as much as 5.46 inches. This allows you to take it in your hand, but it is difficult to drop it. At thumb level there is a fingerprint scanner. It works almost instantly. Activation occurs only after turning on the display. This saves energy consumption. This ensures excellent color reproduction, a wide view, and no distortion. This includes the Android operating system. The phone runs all applications perfectly. The product has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor with 8 cores. The phone has a built-in 4 GB of RAM. There is a graphics accelerator. You can insert a 128 GB memory card. The expansion of the main camera is 12 megapixels, and the front one is 20 megapixels. The photos are of quite high quality even in poor lighting. Device thickness - 7.25 mm

No. 6 BQ-5203 Vision

This smartphone has a classic design. The average cost of the device does not affect the quality of the phone. Most users of this model were satisfied with the performance of the device.

The smartphone is made of metal, but for better network reception there are several plastic elements. The inserts on the phone are made in the same shade, so they don’t stand out from the overall style. On store shelves you can find 4 colors of this model: gray, blue, black, gold. The front side is made without frills. There isn't even a logo. There is an indicator for the charger next to the speaker. The front camera is also installed here. The smartphone also cannot do without a fashionable fingerprint function.

There is a dual camera on the back. There is also an LED flash. Small dimensions make the model convenient and compact. The user can operate the device with one hand. Thanks to the beveled corners, the smartphone fits perfectly in the hand. The risk of slipping is reduced to a minimum. The device has a 4-core processor. Its frequency is 1.45 GHz. Built-in memory is 16 GB, and RAM is 3 GB. You can additionally insert a memory card up to 128 GB into the smartphone. Thickness - 7.2 mm.

#5 BlackBerry DTEK60

This smartphone can be found on store shelves over the past 2 years. At the beginning, the phone was a top seller, but over time it was supplanted by more modern models. The mobile device is large. Thanks to specially tempered glass, the phone is highly durable and attractive in appearance. Users note the absolute absence of defects during the assembly of this device. There are metal edges on the front side of the device. The screen has 2.5D Dragontrail protective glass and an oleophobic coating that protects the screen from dirt and fingerprints.

The mobile device is equipped with a 5.2-inch screen. The phone fits perfectly in the palm of your hand, but can slip out of it. The device has a modern Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, which is used as four cores. The device's RAM is 4 GB. We can note the excellent functionality of this smartphone. The phone can withstand significant loads and still maintain smooth and fast operation. It is important to note that the smartphone battery cannot be heated. This model is ideal for people who play a lot on the phone. Thickness - 7 mm.

№4 Nubia M2 64GB

This Chinese smartphone model can be offered in a choice of two colors. I would immediately like to note its thin body, which is made of solid metal. There is no sharp edges at all. On the front side you can find the main camera and speaker.

Headphones are connected to the 3.5 mm jack, which is located at the bottom. Nearby there is a speaker and a charging socket. The rear one is especially practical. It is completely monolithic and matte, so fingerprints on it will be invisible.

Here the screen diagonal is 5.5 inches. Since the device is small, it fits very easily in the hand. The screen here is made in high quality resolution, this allows you to view images without any dullness. The smartphone is designed entirely for Android version 6.0. If we talk about RAM, then there is 3 GB of it, which is enough to operate a smartphone. By the way, the smartphone boasts an internal memory of 64 GB. The phone has support for microSD memory cards. The smartphone has high performance. You can use your smartphone to launch games, or use it as a launcher for programs. The expansion of the main camera is 13 megapixels, the front one is 16 megapixels. These great specs are very rare in modern smartphones. Thickness - 7 mm.

No. 3 Apple iPhone 8 64Gb

This model takes third place in our ranking of thin smartphones. Apple is a very famous company and even children know it from birth. The company made its mark in history with the release of the very first thin smartphones. The Apple Iphone was the start that allowed other developers to create something similar, but if you're looking for a time-tested phone, then don't pass it by. It is made so that its thickness is only 6.9 mm. The body itself was made of aluminum alloy, which makes the smartphone even more reliable. Of course, the operating system here will be iOS, which is always updated automatically to the latest version.

Length 138 mm, width - 67 mm. But the touch screen here will have a diagonal of 4.7 inches. The convenience of this smartphone is that it has a function that allows you to flip the screen automatically. The iPhone 8 is famous for its good 8 MP camera. This allows you to record videos and take pictures in good quality, later uploading them to your favorite social networks.

The phone runs on four cores. Its clock frequency is 1.4 GHz. This model has many different sensors and also scans the owner’s fingerprints.

№2 ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro ZD552KL 4GB

Second place goes to the ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro ZD552KL. It’s not for nothing that we placed it here, since a smartphone is considered a luxury product to buy. Suitable for those people who like to take pictures, mainly selfies. If you were looking for a smartphone that will have a good camera and take excellent quality photos, then this option is worth considering.

The characteristics of the device here are quite good. The screen diagonal is 5.5 inches. The smartphone body itself is 6.85 mm thick, therefore, the model does not seem so big. The weight came out to only 147 grams. The screen will work with Full HD resolution. This allows you to make the picture more pleasant.

We would like to note that the smartphone is made in such a way that it does not leave dust and dirt after use. The screen sensor is simply magical and can be used even in the cold season, there will be no glitches due to sub-zero weather. The characteristics of the smartphone are as follows: it runs on a modern Android with an eight-core processor based on Qualcomm Snapdragon 625. Its frequency can reach up to 2 GHz. If you want to play games, you can do it without any problems, since the company has included Adreno 506. RAM – 4 GB. Built-in memory – 64 GB. The smartphone works perfectly even with the most demanding applications. Even the highest quality videos will play perfectly.

#1 Motorola Moto Z2 Play

We move on to the sweet spot and it goes to the Motorola Moto Z2 Play. This smartphone is the winner of the 2021 thin smartphone rating. Motorola developers have been creating smartphones for a long time. For them, creating something special was the goal from the very beginning. The unusual design allows the new product to stand out from other competitors. If we talk about the device itself, it fits perfectly into daily use.

The advantages of the smartphone model include the following features: there is a fingerprint scanner that allows you to recognize the owner by his fingers, making access only individual. Let's immediately move on to the screen diagonal, it is 5.5 inches, which is very good, since this is an average value and will be convenient for both children and adults to use. Thickness: 5.9 mm, this makes it a winner in our rating!

The processor here is very good, it has as many as eight cores based on Qualcomm Snapdragon 626 with an available frequency of up to 2.2 GHz. The internal memory capacity is available in both 32 GB and 64 GB. The smartphone is perfectly designed for everyday tasks.

Oppo Reno 2 – custom pop-up camera

The Find flagships are truly good, but very expensive. However, Oppo has something to pleasantly surprise among more affordable smartphones. Here it is worth paying attention to the Reno 2 model, which is not the newest, but still on sale.

For reasonable money, this model simultaneously offers a good OLED screen, a powerful Snapdragon 730G, optical stabilization for the main camera and a telephoto module, which is very rare in new inexpensive models.

Oppo Reno 2 is not the newest smartphone, but its design has a distinctive feature, the characteristics are quite relevant, and the price has become noticeably more affordable

Why Oppo Reno 2 is beautiful:

The most unusual and pleasant design of the retractable front camera;
The original design of the rear panel with camera modules arranged in a hierarchy and a stripe with brand symbols going down.

iPhone SE 2021 (4.7 inches)

But the iPhone SE 2021 has water protection, as well as wireless charging, and also optical stabilization in the camera. Before the arrival of the Galaxy A52, it was the most affordable current smartphone with options one and three. But the Galaxy A52 is hefty, and the iPhone SE 2021 is tiny. And yes, the model has not yet received a successor, although insiders reported that it is being prepared for announcement in April 2021. But Apple showed us only color Macs, new tablets and some other non-smartphone products.

Sony Xperia 1 II – strict style from Japan

Xperia 1 II is a powerful flagship smartphone from Japanese Sony. Like its predecessor, it uses an unusual design with a slightly elongated display and an aspect ratio of 21:9. Thanks to this, with a 6.5'' diagonal, the width of the device is only 71 mm: it is comfortable to hold in the hand. There is IP68 water protection.

An elongated monolithic body with strict outlines is the calling card of the current Sony flagships

The smartphone is also notable for its various camera capabilities. The main camera of the device has a resolution of only 12 megapixels, but behind it is hidden a sensor even larger in size than the one used in the basic Galaxy S20 and S21. The Xperia 1 II also has a 3D ToF camera, and this gadget is the only new flagship that retains a 3.5 jack for audio.

What is beautiful about the Xperia 1 II smartphone:

Strict, solid design with a flat display without bends and flat side edges;
There are no cutouts in the screen (a small top frame is used);

Among the current premium smartphones, only the Xperia 1 II has retained the traditional top frame, albeit greatly reduced. Thanks to it there are no holes in the screen

Like its predecessor, the Xperia 1 II is today the only flagship on the market that offers a beautiful, high-quality OLED display with 4K resolution and a resulting huge pixel density: 643 PPI versus 400-500 PPI for the Apple and Samsung flagships.

Stylish Google Pixel 4

Google Pixel 4

Didn't you wait? It's hard to say what's so attractive about Google's new flagship. The materials here are nice and the design is quite neat. Yes, the top frame is quite large, but meanwhile, there is a small bottom frame, which creates a nice effect. Pixel 4 still, even taking into account the top frame, stands out against the background of Chinese phones. American designers are doing their job.

Vivo NEX 3 and 3S – futuristic smartphones of the future

Unfortunately, now Vivo NEX 3 and its enhanced version 3S have almost disappeared from sales. However, we could not help but mention these gadgets in our note. The first of them was presented in the fall of 2021, and 3S in the spring of 2021.

Vivo went further than the rest, using both an unusual screen and a pop-up camera in their gadget.

The devices have strong hardware and flagship processors, but their main highlight is the combination of a waterfall screen and a retractable front camera. That is, the screen is not only frameless, but also has no cutouts. No other smartphone manufacturer has currently offered such a combination.

What is beautiful about Vivo NEX 3 and 3S smartphones:

These are the world's first devices with a waterfall screen. Visually, such a display practically erases the side edges. The top and bottom bezels on the NEX 3 and 3S are minimal;
The NEX 3 and 3S use a retractable front camera, and the pop-up unit, in addition to the front camera, also contains a flash module;

The retractable front camera unit in the Vivo NEX 3 flagships is complemented by a nearby flash, which is not the case with conventional devices with cameras embedded in the display.

NEX 3 was one of the first on the market to offer a round, symmetrical rear camera design.

OnePlus Concept One

Flash forward to early 2021 at CES. At an event in Las Vegas, the only full-fledged exhibition this year, OnePlus showed off its Concept One flagship smartphone with a disappearing camera.

The model received a leather back with a glass insert, where three optical modules were located along with the flash. All this is visible only when the camera application is running. The rest of the time, the modules and flash are visible only from certain angles.

The transition takes less than a second. In this case, the level of darkness can be adjusted during shooting depending on the lighting level. This effect is achieved thanks to electrochromic glass. Almost a year has passed since the presentation of OnePlus Concept One, but the smartphone has not entered the market.

Honor 9X and 9X Premium – beautiful, inexpensive, with a retractable camera

Fortunately, not only expensive flagships can surprise with their appearance. The Honor 9X and 9X Premium models are quite inexpensive and, although they came out a long time ago, they offer quite “performance” characteristics. They have a large 6.59'' IPS screen, a main camera with a resolution of 48 megapixels and 4000 mAh batteries. The Premium version features an additional ultra-wide-angle camera (8 MP).

Honor 9X is not only interesting, but also, unlike most gadgets on this list, it is very affordable. However, the pattern on the back panel in reality does not look as good as in the advertising pictures.

What is beautiful about the Honor 9X and 9X Premium smartphones:

The retractable front camera eliminates the screen from cutouts and holes;
On the back wall of the devices there is a beautiful and stylish pattern in the form of the letter X, the glare from which spreads throughout the entire body.