The best Google Fi phones you can get
Formerly known as Project Fi, Google Fi has been around for around five years. It was initially limited to Nexus and Pixel phones before opening up to other Android handsets. Even the iPhone supports Google Fi, although you have to play around with the settings to get things working properly.
Before we jump into our list of the best Google Fi phones, please note that this post is divided into two sections. The first one lists the handsets you can buy directly from Google Fi, while the second one includes unlocked phones that are compatible with Google Fi. The reason for this is to give you more options since the selection of phones sold directly by Google Fi is limited, to say the least.
Best Google Fi phones:
Editor’s note: We will update this list of the best Google Fi phones as new devices launch.
1. Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL
The latest entries in Google’s line of Pixel flagships are the Google Pixel 4 and 4 XL. As you would expect, the XL variant is slightly larger than the regular model but, overall, the devices are mostly the same.
There are two main selling points for the Pixel 4 family: the rear camera system and the front-facing sensors. The rear camera system features two lenses — a 12.2MP primary sensor and a 16MP telephoto lens — and can create some incredible shots since they are paired with Google’s top-of-the-line computational software algorithms. Simply put, this is one of the best cameras on any smartphone in the world right now.
As far as the front-facing sensors go, Google actually baked-in a radar on the front of the Pixel 4. This system allows you to manipulate aspects of your phone without touching it. For example, a wave of your hand will reject a phone call or silence an alarm.
Unfortunately, the biggest downside to both devices in the Pixel 4 lineup is battery life. You shouldn’t expect either phone to last you much more than a day — if that. Still, the Pixel 4 and 4 XL are among the best Google Fi phones you can get at the moment.
Google Pixel 4 specs:
- Display: 5.7-inch, Full HD+
- Chipset: Snapdragon 855
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage: 64/128GB
- Cameras: 12.2 and 16MP
- Front camera: 8MP
- Battery: 2,800mAh
- Software: Android 10
Google Pixel 4 XL specs:
- Display: 6.3-inch, QHD+
- Chipset: Snapdragon 855
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage: 64/128GB
- Cameras: 12.2 and 16MP
- Front camera: 8MP
- Battery: 3,700mAh
- Software: Android 10
2. Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL
Although the Pixel 3a series isn’t as powerful as the Pixel 3 or Pixel 4 series, it still packs what counts: the Google camera. The camera in Pixel devices is frequently cited as one of the best you can get in any smartphone, and with the Pixel 3a series, you’re getting that camera for very little money. Additionally, you’re going to get frequent Android security patches directly from Google and be one of the first to experience new versions of Android as they always land on Pixel devices first.
That all being said, you’re going to sacrifice some processing power in exchange for spending less cash. While the Snapdragon 670 isn’t terrible by any means, it’s certainly no Snapdragon 845 we saw in the Pixel 3, and definitely no Snapdragon 855 that powers the Pixel 4 phones
If you don’t know how to pick between the 3a or the 3a XL, it’s pretty simple: the 3a XL is larger and has a slightly larger battery. Other than that, the devices are essentially the same.
Google Pixel 3a specs:
- Display: 5.6-inch, Full HD+
- Chipset: Snapdragon 670
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 64GB
- Cameras: 12.2MP
- Front camera: 8MP
- Battery: 3,000mAh
- Software: Android 10
Google Pixel 3a XL specs:
- Display: 6.0-inch, Full HD+
- Chipset: Snapdragon 670
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 64GB
- Cameras: 12.2MP
- Front camera: 8MP
- Battery: 3,700mAh
- Software: Android 10
3. Moto G7
Motorola isn’t the company it used to be, but it still has a number of great phones in its lineup. One of them is the Moto G7, a mid-ranger that strikes a nice balance between performance and price.
It offers everything you need for a solid smartphone experience. There’s the Snapdragon 632 processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of expandable storage, a decently-large 3,000mAh battery, and dual rear cameras. The Moto G7 won’t win any performance awards, but it’s just fine for day-to-day use.
The handset also sports a modern design with relatively thin bezels and a small waterdrop notch. All these things combined make it one of the best Google Fi phones you can get your hands on.
Motorola Moto G7 specs:
- Display: 6.2-inch, Full HD+
- Chipset: Snapdragon 632
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 64GB
- Cameras: 12 and 5MP
- Front camera: 8MP
- Battery: 3,000mAh
- Software: Android 9 Pie
If none of these three Google Fi phones are up your alley, getting an unlocked device that’s compatible with the carrier is the way to go. More or less every unlocked Android phone should work with the network provided it runs at least Android 7.0 Nougat and has LTE bands 2 and 4.
However, keep in mind that the unlocked phones listed below do not support Google Fi’s network-switching technology that can switch between different networks to get the best connection possible. If that’s the feature you want, you’ll have to go with one of the “designed for Fi” phones listed above.
Best Google Fi-compatible phones:
Editor’s note: We will update this list of the best Google Fi-compatible phones as new devices launch.
1. Samsung Galaxy S20 series
Samsung’s latest Galaxy S series consists of three phones: the Galaxy S20, S20 Plus, and S20 Ultra. The Ultra model offers the most of the three, sporting a large 6.9-inch display, as much as 16GB of RAM, and a triple-camera setup at the back (108MP+48MP+12MP) along with a ToF sensor. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 865 chipset and packs a 5,000mAh battery.
The Galaxy S20 Plus is next in line, coming with a 6.7-inch display and a triple-camera setup at the back featuring 64MP, 12MP, and 12MP shooters and a ToF camera. The phone packs a 4,500mAh battery and 12GB of RAM. It’s powered by the same chipset as the Ultra model.
The regular Galaxy S20 is very similar to the Plus model. The major differences are that it comes with a smaller 6.2-inch display, packs a smaller 4,000mAh battery, and lacks a ToF sensor. All three phones sport an in-display fingerprint scanner, an IP68 rating, and wireless charging. And no, none of them have a headphone jack.
Samsung Galaxy S20 specs:
- Display: 6.2-inch, QHD+
- Chipset: Snapdragon 865
- RAM: 12GB
- Storage: 128GB
- Cameras: 64, 12, and 12MP
- Front camera: 10MP
- Battery: 4,000mAh
- Software: Android 10
Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus specs:
- Display: 6.7-inch, QHD+
- Chipset: Snapdragon 865
- RAM: 12GB
- Storage: 128/256/512GB
- Cameras: 64, 12, and 12MP + ToF
- Front camera: 10MP
- Battery: 4,500mAh
- Software: Android 10
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra specs:
- Display: 6.9-inch, QHD+
- Chipset: Snapdragon 865
- RAM: 12/16GB
- Storage: 128/256GB
- Cameras: 108, 48, and 12MP + ToF
- Front camera: 40MP
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- Software: Android 10
2. Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and 10 Plus
The Galaxy Note 10 and 10 Plus are both aimed at demanding users, although the Plus model offers more. It has a larger display with a higher resolution, more RAM, a bigger battery, and an additional camera at the back (a ToF sensor). It also supports expandable storage.
The rest of the specs and features are mostly the same between the two devices. You get the Snapdragon 855 chipset, an in-display fingerprint scanner, and wireless charging. Both are also IP68 rated and come with the S Pen, which has a few new tricks up its sleeve — check them out here.
Both phones ship with Android Pie but can already be upgraded to the latest version of Google’s operating system. All these things combined put the Galaxy Note 10 and 10 Plus among the best Google Fi phones you can currently get.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 specs:
- Display: 6.3-inch, Full HD+
- SoC: Snapdragon 855
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 256GB
- Cameras: 12, 12, and 16MP
- Front camera: 10MP
- Battery: 3,500mAh
- Software: Android 9.0 Pie
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus specs:
- Display: 6.8-inch, QHD+
- SoC: Snapdragon 855
- RAM: 12GB
- Storage: 256/512GB
- Cameras: 12, 12, and 16MP + ToF
- Front camera: 10MP
- Battery: 4,300mAh
- Software: Android 9.0 Pie
3. Sony Xperia 1 and Xperia 5
The Xperia 1 and Xperia 5 are very similar phones. The latter is the more recent of the two and comes with a 6.1-inch Full HD+ display, 6GB of RAM, and three 12MP cameras at the back. It’s IP68 rated for protection against water and dust and supports expandable storage. There’s also a side-mounted fingerprint scanner on board.
The Sony Xperia 1 sports a larger display at 6.5 inches that offers 4K resolution. Due to its bigger footprint, it also has a slightly larger battery (3,330mAh vs. 3,140mAh). The rest of the specs, including the chipset and cameras, are exactly the same as those of the Xperia 5.
Keep in mind that these aren’t the latest and greatest Xperia phones. Sony recently announced the weirdly-named Xperia 1 II, but it hasn’t been released yet.
Sony Xperia 1 specs:
- Display: 6.5-inch, 4K
- SoC: Snapdragon 855
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage: 64/128GB
- Cameras: 12, 12, and 12MP
- Front camera: 8MP
- Battery: 3,330mAh
- Software: Android 9.0 Pie
Sony Xperia 5 specs:
- Display: 6.1-inch, Full HD+
- SoC: Snapdragon 855
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage: 128GB
- Cameras: 12, 12, and 12MP
- Front camera: 8MP
- Battery: 3,140mAh
- Software: Android 9.0 Pie
4. OnePlus 7T and 7 Pro
The OnePlus 7T and 7 Pro are both high-end phones aimed at demanding users, although they come in cheaper than premium handsets from the likes of Samsung and Apple. The 7 Pro is older than the 7T and has been succeeded by the 7T Pro. However, since the 7T Pro isn’t officially available in the US, you’ll have to go with the slightly older 7 Pro. You’re not losing out on much, though, since the two phones are almost identical.
The OnePlus 7T and 7 Pro both sport a 90Hz AMOLED display, with the Pro model offering a larger 6.67-inch QHD+ panel. It’s not quite as slick of a refresh rate as the ROG Phone 2, but it’s better than most phones out there. It also means that you can enjoy slightly higher frame-rates in games that support refresh rates higher than 60Hz.
The 7 Pro comes with a pop-up camera that allows for a full-screen experience and a curved display, while the 7T features a waterdrop notch and a flat display. Both sport three rear cameras on the back with 48, 16, and 12MP sensors. Since it’s newer, the 7T is powered by the Snapdragon 855 Plus chipset, while the Pro model comes with the regular Snapdragon 855 under the hood.
OnePlus 7T specs:
- Display: 6.55-inch, Full HD+
- SoC: Snapdragon 855 Plus
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 128GB
- Cameras: 48, 16, and 12MP
- Front camera: 16MP
- Battery: 3,800mAh
- Software: Android 10
OnePlus 7 Pro specs:
- Display: 6.67-inch, QHD+
- SoC: Snapdragon 855
- RAM: 6/8/12GB
- Storage: 128/256GB
- Cameras: 48, 16, and 12MP
- Front camera: 16MP
- Battery: 4,000mAh
- Software: Android 9 Pie
5. LG G8X ThinQ
The LG G8X is a slightly modified version of its 2019 flagship, the LG G8 ThinQ. The new model includes an in-display fingerprint sensor and an upgraded front-facing camera. However, the phone’s biggest new addition is technically an accessory.
Of course, we are talking about the phone’s second display. This 6.4-inch screen accessory snaps onto the phone and basically turns the device into a pseudo-foldable. The display allows for new capabilities such as gaming controls and interesting camera tricks by using the secondary display as your preview panel.
The LG G8X is available unlocked and you can get it, along with its secondary display, for a reasonable price via the button below. The combination of an affordable price tag, great specs, and the added secondary screen makes the LG G8X one of the best Google Fi phones you can get.
LG G8X ThinQ specs:
- Display: 6.4-inch, QHD+
- SoC: Snapdragon 855
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage: 128GB
- Cameras: 12 and 13MP
- Front camera: 32MP
- Battery: 4,000mAh
- Software: Android 9.0 Pie
6. Apple iPhone 11 series
You may be on an Android site, but there’s no denying that the new iPhones are a great bunch. The iPhone 11 Pro finds a sweet spot that nicely balances performance and usability, but all of them come with stunning cameras, incredible performance, and an amazing ecosystem of apps and accessories.
iOS isn’t to everyone’s taste and does require a few compromises when it comes to file management and customization. But there is no denying the quality of many of the apps available. Editing video on your mobile device is fiddly but doable thanks to the insanely performant processors, and games fair extremely well too. Meanwhile, the big battery ensures you don’t need to worry about running out of juice.
Just keep in mind that if you want to send texts on Google Fi from an iPhone to an Android device, you first have to update your iPhone’s MMS settings. It only takes a minute or so to set it up, so it isn’t a big deal — here are the instructions.
Apple iPhone 11 specs:
- Display: 6.1-inch, 1,792 x 828
- SoC: Apple A13 Bionic
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 64/128/256GB
- Cameras: 12 and 12MP
- Front camera: 12MP
- Battery: 3,110mAh
- Software: iOS 13.2
Apple iPhone 11 Pro specs:
- Display: 5.8-inch, 2,436 x 1,125
- SoC: Apple A13 Bionic
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 64/128/256/512GB
- Cameras: 12, 12, and 12MP
- Front camera: 12MP
- Battery: 3,046mAh
- Software: iOS 13.2
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max specs:
- Display: 6.5-inch, 2,688 x 1,242
- SoC: Apple A13 Bionic
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 64/128/256/512GB
- Cameras: 12, 12, and 12MP
- Front camera: 12MP
- Battery: 3,969mAh
- Software: iOS 13.2
These are the best Google Fi and Google Fi-compatible phones you can get in our opinion, although there are plenty of other great options out there as well. We’ll update this post with new models once they hit the market.
Android, Gadget, Google Fi, Google Pixel 4, Technology, The Best
Android, Gadget, Google Fi, Google Pixel 4, Technology, The Best
0 Response to "The best Google Fi phones you can get"
Kommentar veröffentlichen