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The good smartphones that were forgotten in 2021

Big phone makers like Samsung don't need to be clamoring for attention. Among the top five most-read phone reviews in 2021, the South Korean manufacturer is cited at least three times.

However, most brands have received far less attention, although their smartphones are worth it. In this article, there are five such outsiders. These Android smartphones need a little more attention.

1. Asus Zenfone 8...Asus is primarily a well-known name in the computer world, but it occasionally launches smartphones as well. The Asus Zenfone 8, which was released last year, is a stranger to bite for several reasons.

Where devices seem to be getting bigger, the Zenfone 8 is very compact. The 5.91 inch screen has a 120 Hz refresh rate and therefore looks very smooth. This compact size is aided by a solid design, powerful hardware and excellent battery life.

Also cool: the Zenfone 8, like one of the last Mohicans, still has a headphone jack. The little Asus isn't perfect, as the update policy could have been better, for example. However, those looking for a compact Android smartphone should check out the Zenfone 8.

2. Motorola Edge 20...The Motorola Edge 20 is the successor to the first Motorola Edge, released in mid 2020. The redesigned Edge flew widely under the radar, but why? The device has a very good value for money.

For the starting price of 399 euros, you get an excellent display (OLED), elegant design and good performance. The cameras also do a more than excellent job.

Also, Motorola worked on its biggest flaw: the upgrade policy. The company promises to update the phone to at least Android 12 and Android 13. In addition, the Edge 20 will receive monthly security updates for three years.

3. Asus ROG Phone 5...Some smartphones are made for a wide audience, others clearly aren't. The Asus ROG Phone 5 clearly falls into the latter category. This next generation gaming smartphone is only worth it if you play a lot of mobile games.

Checks? So, ROG Phone 5 is worth a look at. The device has a large battery, headphone jack and stereo speakers. The touch-sensitive buttons on the side are also helpful. As soon as you press, you can, for example, perform an action in a game.

You can also expand ROG Phone 5 with all kinds of accessories to make your gaming experience even better. Think of a docking station to connect your phone to your monitor, keyboard, or mouse. You can also click on an extra cooler on the back. This makes the Asus phone less hot while playing.

4. Poco X3 Pro...Poco has been standing on his own legs for the past year. As a result, the company can no longer hitch a ride on name recognition from Xiaomi, the former owner. If the company continues to release phones with the quality of the Poco X3 Pro, it probably won't be long before Poco is also an established name.

The Poco X3 Pro does a lot of things well. The battery lasts a lot, the screen has a high refresh rate and the hardware is great too.

The cameras could have been better, but with a phone with a suggested retail price of over 200 euros, compromise is enough.

5. Motorola Moto E20...Most cheap Android smartphones are not recommended. This is because they often make excessive concessions, which means that, in practice, it is impossible to work with the devices. A positive exception to this rule is the Motorola Moto E20.

For less than a hundred euros you can get a very good device (proportionately, of course). The Moto E20, for example, has a big screen, reasonable hardware and a big battery (4000 mAh). Motorola's cheap handset is splash proof.

It runs on Android 11 Go, a simplified version of the 'normal' operating system that was designed especially for phones with less powerful hardware. Unfortunately, Android 12 Go isn't included, but you do get two years of security updates.

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