"Smartphone of the Year 2021" selects the best model from the smartphones released from January 2021 to mid-December 2021. In 2021, we will divide into "high-end division" and "midrange division", and select 5 models in each division and finally 1 model in each division.
Among the models nominated by the judges, the top 5 models in each category will be selected as nominated models, and one model will be selected as the best smartphone for 2021. The models nominated for 2021 are as follows (in alphabetical order).
High-end division
AQUOS R6
Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
Pixel 6 Pro
Xperia PRO-I
Midrange division
AQUOS sense6
Mi 11 Lite 5G
motorola edge 20
OPPO Reno5 A
Redmi Note 9T
The judges are Mr. Atsushi Ishikawa, Mr. Junya Ishino, Mr. Yuriko Ota, Mr. Masahiro Sano, Mr. Toru Shima, Mr. Asako Fusano, Mr. Masatake Muramoto, who have been active in ITmedia etc. and have covered the mobile phone industry throughout the year. Mr. Yasuhiro Yamane, a total of 9 people from the ITmedia Mobile editorial department.
The selection committee will vote by allocating 25 points each in the high-end category and the mid-range category. You can freely allocate the remaining 15 points up to 10 points for the 1st place model and 9 points for each model for the 2nd place and below. Introducing the judges' points and comments.
Mr. Ishino's points and comments
High-end division
・ Galaxy Z Fold3 5G: 10 points
Pixel 6 Pro: 6 points
Xperia PRO-I: 6 points
Galaxy Z Flip3 5G: 2 points
AQUOS R6: 1 point
Midrange division
・ Mi 11 Lite 5G: 10 points
OPPO Reno5 A: 5 points
Redmi Note 9T: 5 points
AQUOS sense6: 3 points
motorola edge 20: 2 points
The high-end is based on the evaluation axis of "how we changed the way we use smartphones," and I thought it was the "Galaxy Z Fold3 5G." In fact, I've bought and used it myself, and now I'm using services that I haven't used on my smartphone before. For example, what I used to see on the iPad for "d magazine" is now available on the Galaxy, and sometimes Zoom can be done on a smartphone. In that sense, we evaluated it as one that opens up various possibilities.
I was very worried about the "Xperia PRO-I" and "Pixel 6 Pro". At first, we scored 7: 5 for each, but we reconsidered that the evaluation of Xperia is specialized for cameras, and we evaluated it as a "smartphone" and revised it to 6: 6. Considering that Pixel designed the chip in-house to make the best use of AI, I thought that Xperia would not be "upper".
The "Galaxy Z Flip3 5G" and "AQUOS R6" were given a little more to Flip in that they contributed to expanding the foldable to a wide range of people. AQUOS also gave 1 point because it had a big impact with the 1-inch sensor installed at the beginning.
Midrange is a perception that OPPO and Xiaomi have broken into the market originally pioneered by Huawei. Xiaomi praised the fact that it is not just breaking in, but showing higher cost performance than OPPO. However, OPPO's "Reno 5 A" also has the impression that it firmly holds down the needs of users.
I was at a loss about "Redmi Note 9T". The aircraft was a terminal that launched the 20,000-yen range at the beginning of 2021 and was the forerunner of the "real 1-yen competition." Moreover, since it is Xiaomi's first mobile phone that supports saifu, I cannot help but evaluate this.
After that, when evaluating the achievement and the high degree of perfection, "AQUOS senes 6" cannot be removed, so I gave 3 points. The "motorola edge 20" was also given 1 point for its lightness, texture, and good balance of specifications.
Mr. Yamane's points and comments
High-end division
・ Galaxy Z Fold3 5G: 10 points
Xperia PRO-I: 9 points
Galaxy Z Flip3 5G: 3 points
Pixel 6 Pro: 3 points
AQUOS R6: 0 points
Midrange division
・ Mi 11 Lite 5G: 10 points
motorola edge 20: 9 points
OPPO Reno5 A: 6 points
AQUOS sense6: 0 points
Redmi Note 9T: 0 points
The Galaxy Z Fold3 5G can handle a wide screen freely and as a matter of course. It can be used even in the "rain", which was scary and could not be used with the conventional folderable. So it's the best one.
Although the Xperia PRO-I is a high-end camera, it can be used by young users for Vlog. In addition, we evaluated the new possibilities of changing the camera of smartphones. I was wondering if I could give it 10 points, but I got 9 points.
The Galaxy Z Flip3 5G was evaluated in terms of popularizing "vertical folding smartphones". Rather than using innovative technology, I see it as a terminal that changes the way smartphones are used, so there are three points. On the other hand, Pixel 6 Pro showed new possibilities with its own technology, so I also gave it 3 points.
Regarding the midrange, the Mi 11 Lite 5G has a "Xiaomi-like" design in a good way and is 5G compatible, so it is an unbelievable evaluation. Similarly, the motorola edge 20 is 9 points in that it has a design that is not like Motorola and a camera that is comparable to high-priced smartphones. OPPO Reno5 A is the third because it is a rival of Xiaomi. It is a point that I especially want to recommend these three models.
