Thursday, June 27, 2019

The best (near) bezel-less phones

bezel-less phones

Andy Rubin's Essential Phone and the Xiaomi Mi Mix kickstarted interest in bezel-less phones a few years back. Now, all the major manufacturers including Samsung, OnePlus, and LG offer phones with high screen-to-body ratios. Some of them sport notches, while others come with pop up cameras that allow for even more screen real estate.

If you're looking for the very best bezel-less phones on the market right now, check out our round-up below. Want something a little bit cheaper? Check out our guide for the best cheap bezel-less phones available.

Best bezel-less phones:

Editor's note: We'll be updating this list of the best bezel-less phones regularly as new devices launch.


1. Samsung Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus 

Samsung Galaxy S10 - the bezel-less phone

The Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus are among the most powerful and feature-packed bezel-less phones on the market. The handsets refine the best parts of the Galaxy S9 line: design, display, photography, and performance.

The biggest improvement in the Galaxy S10 series is in the camera department. The S10 and S10 Plus feature a triple camera system comprised of a 12MP primary sensor with two apertures at f/1.5 and f/2.4, a 12MP telephoto sensor, and a 16MP ultra wide-angle sensor. The result is one of the best and more versatile smartphone camera systems we've seen.

Samsung's flagship bezel-less phones feature high-end specs, which include 6.1- and 6.4-inch Quad HD+ Super AMOLED displays, 8 and 12GB of RAM, 128GB, 512GB, and 1TB of expandable storage, and in-display fingerprint sensors. Both are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 or Samsung's in-house Exynos 9820 chipset, depending on where you live.


Galaxy S10 specs:

  • Display: 6.1-inch, QHD+
  • Chipset: SD 855 or Exynos 9820
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Storage: 128/512GB
  • Cameras: 12, 12, and 16MP 
  • Front camera: 10MP
  • Battery: 3,400mAh
  • Software: Android 9.0 Pie

Galaxy S10 Plus specs:

  • Display: 6.4-inch, QHD+
  • SoC: SD 855 or Exynos 9820
  • RAM: 8/12GB
  • Storage: 128/512GB and 1TB
  • Cameras: 12, 12, and 16MP 
  • Front cameras: 10 and 8MP
  • Battery: 4,100mAh
  • Software: Android 9.0 Pie

2. OnePlus 7 Pro

OnePlus 7 Pro alone on table screen

In virtually every way, the OnePlus 7 Pro is an upgrade over its predecessor. The handset has a larger 6.7-inch display (up from 6.41 inches) and no notch, which translates to a higher screen-to-body ratio. It also comes with a bigger 4,000mAh battery (up from 3,700mAh), a faster in-display fingerprint sensor, and a pop-up selfie camera.

Don't miss: OnePlus 7 Pro vs OnePlus 7: All the major differences

Not only is the display larger, but the higher resolution and refresh rate makes it one of the best on any current smartphone. Another significant upgrade is the triple camera system, which consists of a 48MP primary sensor, 8MP telephoto sensor, and 16MP ultra wide-angle sensor.

Unfortunately, the phone doesn't have a headphone jack. There's also no wireless charging or an official IP rating. It's the most expensive OnePlus phone to date, but it's still cheaper than a lot of its rivals — check pricing below.


OnePlus 7 Pro specs:

  • Display: 6.67-inch, QHD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 855
  • RAM: 6/8/12GB
  • Storage: 128/256GB
  • Cameras: 48, 16, and 8MP
  • Front camera: 16MP
  • Battery: 4,000mAh
  • Software: Android 9.0 Pie

3. LG G8 ThinQ

LG G8 ThinQ Review against mirror

The LG G8 ThinQ features a 6.1-inch display with QHD+ resolution. It has a high screen-to-body ratio even though it sports a notch. The phone is a great choice for music lovers, as it offers a headphone jack as well as a Hi-Fi Quad DAC for an improved audio experience.

It's also IP68 rated, packs the latest Snapdragon 855 chipset under the hood, and has a dual-camera setup at the back. You'll find what LG calls the Z camera up front, which can map out the veins in your palm that can then be used to unlock the device. You can also do things like take a screenshot and open an app with hand gestures, all without touching the screen. However, these features don't work quite as well as we'd like, as noted in our review.

Other specs and features worth mentioning include wireless charging, stereo speakers, and a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner. You can get the device via the button below.


LG G8 ThinQ specs:

  • Display: 6.1-inch, QHD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 855
  • RAM: 6GB
  • Storage: 128GB
  • Cameras: 12 and 16MP
  • Front camera: 8MP + ToF sensor
  • Battery: 3,500mAh
  • Software: Android 9.0 Pie

4. Samsung Galaxy Note 9

The best bezel-less phones - Note 9

Even though it's almost a year old and has slightly bigger bezels than a lot of other devices on this list, the Galaxy Note 9 remains an excellent option. The phone combines high-end specs, a great design, and a number of other bells and whistles. It has a large 6.4-inch notch-less display with curved sides and a resolution of QHD+. It also sports a headphone jack, an iris scanner, and a dual-camera setup on the back with variable aperture.

You can use the S Pen as a remote shutter key.

The S Pen is what makes it really stand out, as it adds new tricks to the device. It supports Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), so it works as a remote shutter key, among other things. The Galaxy Note 9 also sports a much larger battery than its predecessor at 4,000mAh and is IP68 rated for protection against water and dust.

The phone has a metal frame, a glass back, and supports wireless charging. There's also a headphone jack on board. The Note 9 is very expensive, although its price has come down since its launch.


Galaxy Note 9 specs:

  • Display: 6.4-inch, QHD+
  • SoC: SD 845 or Exynos 9810
  • RAM: 6/8GB
  • Storage: 128/256/512GB
  • Cameras: 12 and 12MP 
  • Front camera: 8MP
  • Battery: 4,000mAh
  • Software: Android 8.1 Oreo

5. Xiaomi Mi Mix 3

No search for the best bezel-less phone would be complete without a mention of Xiaomi's Mi Mix series, which captivated audiences with one of the first and most extreme takes on ultra-thin bezels back in 2016. The Mi Mix 3 offers an even higher screen-to-body ratio than its predecessors at 93.4 percent.

Xiaomi's flagship doesn't sport a notch and has some of the thinnest bezels we've seen on a smartphone. It also has a slider design, revealing the two front-facing cameras when you push down the front part of the device. It's not motorized like on the OnePlus 7 Pro which means it's much less likely to break.

Other highlight features of the phone include 960fps slow-mo video capture, dual frequency GPS, and an affordable price tag. There's even a 5G version of the phone available, which was announced at MWC 2019.


Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 specs:

  • Display: 6.39-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 845
  • RAM: 6/8/10GB
  • Storage: 128/256GB
  • Cameras: 12 and 12MP 
  • Front camera: 24 and 2MP
  • Battery: 3,200mAh
  • Software: Android 9.0 Pie

6. Asus Zenfone 6

Asus Zenfone 6 - screen upright

What makes the Zenfone 6 stand out is its flip-up camera at the back that can also be used for taking selfies. This design approach allowed Asus to create a phone without a notch or a punch-hole for the camera, giving the Zenfone 6 a high screen-to-body ratio

Editor's Pick

The phone has a couple of other things going for it. it supports expandable storage, runs a near-stock version of Android, and has a headphone jack. It packs a massive 5,000mAh battery and offers great value for money. The phone is a looker as well, sporting a glass back and a metal frame.

However, there are a few drawbacks to keep in mind. The Zenfone 6 doesn't support wireless charging, has an LCD screen instead of an OLED one found on most high-end phones, and isn't resistant to water. Nevertheless, it's still one of the best bezel-less phones you can get at the moment.


Asus Zenfone 6 specs:

  • Display: 6.4-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 855
  • RAM: 6/8GB
  • Storage: 64/128/256GB
  • Rear cameras: 48 and 13MP
  • Front cameras: 48 and 13MP
  • Battery: 5,000mAh
  • Software: Android 9.0 Pie

7. ZTE Axon 10 Pro

ZTE Axon 10 Pro -- phone with bezel-less design

ZTE's flagship has a large 6.47-inch display with a notch on top and curved edges like a number of Samsung's Galaxy S and Note phones. It has plenty to offer including a great design and high-end specs. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 855 chipset and comes with as much as 12GB of RAM.

You also get as much as 256GB of expandable storage, three rear cameras, and an in-display fingerprint scanner. Then there's the large 4,000mAh battery, wireless charging, a near-stock Android experience, and much more. The Axon 10 Pro really is a great phone overall and shouldn't be overlooked just because it's made by ZTE, which isn't a big name in Western markets.

The Axon 10 Pro offers great bang for the buck. It's already available in Europe and other regions, but it was not released in the U.S. To learn more about the phone, check out our review here.


ZTE Axon 10 Pro specs:

  • Display: 6.47-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 855
  • RAM: 6/8/12GB
  • Storage: 128/256GB
  • Cameras: 48, 20, and 8MP
  • Front camera: 20MP
  • Battery: 4,000mAh
  • Software: Android 9.0 Pie

8. Oppo Reno 10x Zoom

Oppo Reno 10x Zoom sharkfin popup

The last model on our list of the best bezel-less phones is the Oppo Reno 10x Zoom. What makes it special is the shark fin style popup selfie camera (see image above), which allows for a high screen-to-body ratio. The display comes in at 6.6 inches and offers Full HD+ resolution.

The phone's camera setup offers 5x optical and 10x hybrid zoom.

The phone is aimed at demanding users, packing the Snapdragon 855 chipset under the hood along with as much as 8GB of RAM. You also get three rear cameras with 5x optical and 10x hybrid zoom, an in-display fingerprint scanner, and a 4,065mAh battery. However, there's no IP rating, wireless charging, or a headphone jack. 

The handset is available in a number of European countries, where it undercuts the competition by a wide margin. Unfortunately, it was not released in the U.S.


Oppo Reno 10x Zoom specs:

  • Display: 6.6-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 855
  • RAM: 6/8GB
  • Storage: 128/256GB
  • Cameras: 48, 13, and 8MP
  • Front camera: 16MP
  • Battery: 4,065mAh
  • Software: Android 9.0 Pie

These are the best bezel-less phones in our opinion, although there are plenty of other great models to choose from. Which ones would you add to the list? Be sure to let us know in the comments!

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