If you’re buying a personal smartphone, you might look for several things, but a business user will probably require an entirely different set of features. Needing to last a long time between charges, give you more functionality in the apps you use, in all security, and have a large enough screen to see more of your work. And of course not to forget the all important after-sales and support.
Not all smartphones meet these requirements, which is why this list isn’t just a guide to the best smartphones. The best smartphones for businesses that need a little bit more, and they need to keep going for a lot longer, too, not just when you set it up for the first time.
It isn’t always easy to tell how good a handset and its features will be for you though, which is why we have created this list of the best business and work phones you can buy right now.
All of these smartphones should be more than capable of running the latest business apps for Android and iOS apps for iPhone as applicable, everything from Microsoft teams, PDF apps to privacy services, and connecting with your current business phone service.
We’ll keep updating this post too when new phones come out, as long as they’re great for business, so perhaps see the latest Samsung Galaxy S21 or iPhone on this list too.
We have tried our best to identify how these smartphones will help your business, as not everyone needs the flashiest smartphone.
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra | A big productivity powerhouse
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 208g
Dimensions: 164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1mm
OS: Android 10
Screen size: 6.9-inch
Resolution: 1440 x 3088
CPU: Snapdragon 865 Plus / Exynos 990
RAM: 12GB
Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB
Battery: 4,500mAh
Rear camera: 108MP + 12MP + 12MP
Front camera: 10MP
REASONS TO BUY
+ Incredible camera zoom
+ New useful S Pen features
REASONS TO AVOID
– ‘Ultra’ expensive
– Slow to charge
The Samsung’s Note line-up has always been designed for business users, with top specs and the fantastic S Pen stylus, which brings plenty of features and tricks.
The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has a top chipset, a 108MP main camera, a super high-resolution screen, and more than enough to be useful for you no matter what your job or profession is.
The downside is that the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is super expensive, but if your budget can stretch to the Note 20 Ultra, we’d recommend it as your first port of call.
iPhone 12 | Apple best smartphone to date
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 164g
Dimensions: 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4mm
OS: iOS 14
Screen size: 6.1-inch
Resolution: 1170 x 2532
CPU: Apple A14 Bionic
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64GB/128GB/256GB
Battery: 2,815mAh
Rear camera: 12MP + 12MP
Front camera: 12MP
REASONS TO BUY
+ Colorful OLED display
+ 5G-compatible
REASONS TO AVOID
– Battery life only okay
– Price hike over iPhone 11
This latest edition from Apple is a great business phone, with some improvements on the iPhone 11, which are great for productivity, with 5G compatibility and an impressive OLED display.
The iPhone 12 has great rear cameras and some cool colour schemes, and its MagSafe system could be great for charging your phone on the move.
The iPhone 12 has a smaller range, the iPhone 12 mini, as well as two powerful ones, the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max, but for the day to day company users the headline model is the best.
Samsung Galaxy S20 | A great phone with 5G
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 163g
Dimensions: 151.7 x 69.1 x 7.9mm
OS: Android 10
Screen size: 6.2-inch
Resolution: 1440×3200
CPU: Snapdragon 865 / Exynos 990
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB
Battery: 4,000mAh
Rear camera: 12MP + 64MP + 12MP
Front camera: 10MP
REASONS TO BUY
+ Lots of power
+ 5G-ready
REASONS TO AVOID
– Erratic fingerprint sensor
– Price is high
Looking for a 5G device that’s great but also won’t break the budget, then the Samsung Galaxy S20 could be right for your business. Samsung’s 2020 flagship range is the most affordable, it has a state of the art processor, superb display, great cameras and 5G connectivity all for a price below that of other 5G devices.
Google Pixel 5 | Google’s newest flagship is its most accessible
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 151g
Dimensions: 144.7 x 70.4 x 8mm
OS: Android 11
Screen size: 6-inch
Resolution: 1080×2340
CPU: Snapdragon 765G
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB
Battery: 4,080mAh
Rear camera: 12MP + 16MP
Front camera: 8MP
REASONS TO BUY
+ Metal case is refreshing change
+ Clean Android interface
REASONS TO AVOID
– Middling night photography
– Specs downgrade from Pixel 4
Google Pixel 5 is a great mid-range phone which is perfect for people who want an easy-to-use Android experience without a hefty price tag.
Featuring top-class cameras and a metal body, the Pixel 5 is easy-to-use and to look at, though its processing power doesn’t match most of the other phones on this list.
Being 5G-compatible, it will also give you access to the next generation of data connectivity. To be honest, that’s almost mandatory on a great business smartphone.
iPhone SE (2020) | An iPhone that won’t break the bank
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 148g
Dimensions: 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3mm
OS: iOS 13
Screen size: 4.7-inch
Resolution: 7500 x 1334
CPU: A13 Bionic
RAM: 3GB
Storage: 64GB/128GB/256GB
Battery: 1,821mAh
Rear camera: 12MP
Front camera: 7MP
REASONS TO BUY
+ Pretty affordable
+ Decent processing power
REASONS TO AVOID
– Small screen
– Weak cameras
If you or your company need an iPhone for iOS apps or functionality, but don’t need a high-end smartphone like the iPhone 11, a good alternative is the iPhone SE (2020), which is very similar to the iPhone 8 in many ways. It comes with a modern chipset and software to keep it relevant nowadays. It’s not exactly a powerhouse, but if a mid-range phone is all that’s required, this could be the one.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra | The biggest leap in technology from Samsung
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 222g
Dimensions: 166.9 x 76 x 8.8mm
OS: Android 10
Screen size: 6.9-inch
Resolution: 1440 x 3200
CPU: Snapdragon 865 / Exynos 990
RAM: 12/16GB
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Battery: 5,000mAh
Rear camera: 108MP + 48MP + 12MP + TOF
Front camera: 40MP
REASONS TO BUY
+ Great camera performance
+ Samsung’s best display
REASONS TO AVOID
– Incredibly high price
– Very big
If the best business phone for you requires a larger than life screen, a large battery capacity, several high-end cameras including a 108MP main, rapid processing power and of course 5G functionality, and if there are any jobs that need all those in one. Then the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra is for your business. This Samsung flagship series is packed to the brim with the very best specifications.
It may not be an affordable phone by any definition, which is why we’ve placed it last on our list. But it certainly is a spectacular phone for people who need it all in one, and if you need this for your employees or yourself, this is the smartphone to get.