It can sometimes feel like the only viable smartphone options out there are manufactured by Apple or Samsung. And, while some smartphone companies certainly cannot live up to these two giants, there's a huge range of smartphones you can buy right now that have been created by alternative companies, many of which offer the same great features offered by Apple and Samsung.
So what are the best alternatives to Apple and Samsung smartphones?
1. OnePlus
OnePlus is a Chinese company founded in 2013. Since then, it has become a popular smartphone manufacturer in Asia, particularly India, but it's still a little more obscure in the western world, where Apple and Samsung still sit at the top of the food chain. However, this doesn't mean that the features of OnePlus phones aren't worth the buy.
OnePlus smartphones are often hailed for their impressive battery lives, which often outshine Samsung and Apple phones. In addition, they offer good water resistance in terms of smartphones and have great displays. Furthermore, if you're looking to make the jump to 5G, many OnePlus phones support the new tech, including the 8, 8T, and Nord 2.
So, what's the catch? Well, there really aren't many. If you're looking for a more compact phone, such as the iPhone 6, you won't find such a product manufactured by OnePlus. Their phones are notoriously large, which is great for those who love a big screen, but something of a setback for those who want a smaller device.
2. Huawei
Huawei's roots extend back to 1987 when it was founded by Chinese entrepreneur Ren Zhengfei. Huawei released its first smartphone over 20 years later, in 2009. Since then, it's managed to acquire around eight percent of the global smartphone market, reaching the heights of its success in China. So, are Huawei phones any good?
In short, yes. Huawei phones certainly have their upsides. For example, Huawei cameras come with a great reputation, while the phones themselves usually come with one of Huawei's powerful Kirin processors. Like the OnePlus, many Huawei phones also offer a reliable battery life, too. However, while all these features are great, Huawei phones do have a couple of downsides.
Huawei's operating system, HarmonyOS, replaced Android in June 2021 as Huawei products cannot ship with Android due to the US trade ban on the company. But HarmonyOS doesn't support as many apps as Android or iOS, which has been frustrating for users. Not all Huawei smartphones support wireless charging, either. The P20 Pro and P40, for example, do not offer this feature.
3. Xiaomi
Xiaomi is a Chinese company founded in 2010 by CEO Lei Jun and several other collaborators. You could say they were a little late to the smartphone game compared to today's industry giants, given that they didn't release their first smartphone until 2011. But the company has since managed to secure a comfortable little wedge of the market.
Xiaomi phones, for the most part, are known for great battery lives and high-quality displays (depending on the specific phone model). The Mi Note 10 and 11, for example, both have gorgeous and responsive displays, which are great for gaming.
However, some Xiaomi phones shine a little less brightly than others. A few of the Xiaomi models have mediocre cameras, and some could certainly be considered too big for some users. So take note of this if you're not a fan of larger phones.
4. Oppo
Oppo was founded in 2004 by Tony Chen and released its first smartphone almost ten years later: the Oppo N1. Oppo now has a nine percent share of the Asian smartphone market, and it's easy to see why when you take a look at its phones.
For the most part, Oppo phones have great displays, which are great for both entertainment and gaming. What's more, a lot of Oppo phones have impressive cameras (but this isn't the case for every Oppo phone on the market). A lot of Oppo phones also feature fast charging, which makes them super convenient for busy days.
However, it's not all upsides for Oppo phones. Many consider Oppo phones to be underwhelming copies of iPhones (though this is down to personal opinion). What's more, some Oppo phones are unnecessarily expensive, which doesn't bode well for a brand that is still many miles away from reaching the heights of iPhone and Samsung in the majority of countries. So keep this in mind if you want to stay under a budget.
5. ASUS
ASUS was founded in 1989 by Tzu-Hsien Tung, Ted Hsu, and a few other collaborators. Since its beginning, this Taiwanese tech company has become known worldwide for its laptops, tablets, and smartphones—specifically its ZenFone and ROG Phone series. So, are they any good?
Let's start with the ZenFones. The first ZenFone was released in 2014, and another few have been released since. A key feature offered by ZenFones is their high display quality, as well as their excellent cameras. The newer models also support 5G, such as the ZenFone 8. But ZenFones don't have the best battery life on the market, and their OS updates are few and far between.
In terms of ASUS's ROG Phone series, they're all-in-all a great choice for those who enjoy mobile gaming with their impressive display quality and speedy Snapdragon processors. However, it's not as durable as it could be for a high-end smartphone. On top of this, ROG phones are pretty pricey, which may remove them as an option for some buyers.
What Is the Best Alternative to Samsung and Apple?
It's important to consider all brands when looking for a new smartphone. And, while we certainly love Apple and Samsung smartphones, there's no reason why these other great brands should sit on the sidelines. With high-quality displays, reliable battery lives, and sleek designs, these brands certainly know how to produce a solid smartphone.