The diversity of the smartphone market has become mind-boggling. To think that just ten years ago, we had a choice between a handful of brands and even fewer viable models, makes today’s handsets all the more remarkable.

Of course, ten years in the technology world equates to numerous lifetimes in the real world, with new and exciting releases constantly outstripping the last.

This proliferation has also opened the door for numerous new brands to break through into the mainstream in record time, with companies such as Huawei, Xiaomi and OnePlus all becoming household names seemingly overnight. This has given phone buyers much more to think about when upgrading their device.

What are Flagship Killers?

The term ’flagship phone’ is typically used to refer to a company’s highest specification device. With brands such as Apple or Samsung, this is often the latest iPhone or most recent Galaxy model, respectively. Flagship killers became a possibility just a few years ago with the development of phones from countries such as Japan and China.

As a rule, all flagship killer phones use the Android OS, thanks to its open-source nature. This has meant that the phones that fit into this category cannot be directly compared with Apple devices, as none use the genuine iOS. The debate of open vs closed source software is a whole other story, but for the layman, open-source means that the base software is made freely available and can be reused and modified by developers.

These flagship killer phones are essentially devices that hold similar or better specifications than the best mainstream android phone at the time, and often cost much less to buy.

One of the first and most commonly cited examples of this is the OnePlus One, which was the ‘killer’ of the Samsung Galaxy S5.

Naturally, as with all seismic shifts in attitude, it took a few years for people to begin to see these brands as a viable alternative, rather than just a cheap knock off. However, now in 2020, these devices have become a central part of our lives, with many of us either having one ourselves or knowing someone that sports one.

If you’re in the market for a new device and want something with a decent bit of grunt, then these devices offer a very viable alternative to the classic Samsung or iPhone monopoly.

Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro

Image Source: Flossy Carter

You’d definitely struggle to find a more capable phone at this price bracket, even as we enter into 2020. Still hovering around the £300 mark, with a few good deals likely on the way, the K20 Pro presents a great chance to get a relatively future proof phone without worrying about swapping it out in the next six months.

The Specifications

The phone packs a 6.39” display offering 1080 x 2340 pixels (403ppi), a speedy Snapdragon 855 processor and RAM of either 6GB or 8GB.

These specs make this is a great option for savvy phone buyers.

The phone also offers internal memory of either 64GB, 128GB or 256GB; however, there is no memory card slot which could be offputting for some!

The Cameras

Camera-wise, the handset runs a triple-lens setup, with a handy 48MP primary shooter accompanied by an 8MP telephoto lens and completing the set with a 13MP wide-angle lens. There is also a 20MP pop-up front-facing camera which slides out from the top and gives you uninterrupted screen space.

Finally, the device packs a 4,000 mAh battery, under-screen fingerprint sensor and, most importantly, a headphone jack!

Realme X2 Pro

Image Source: GSMArena Official

Realme, a subsidiary of BBK Electronics along with OnePlus and a couple of other tech companies, has been putting out some seriously good phones in the last couple years. Officially founded in May 2018, their recent X2 Pro release is just another in a series of excellent devices brought out by the Chinese manufacturer.

The Specifications

The X2 Pro offers a marginally wider 6.5” screen than the Redmi K2 Pro, along with a slightly more powerful Snapdragon 855+. A slightly lower pixel density of 402ppi is certainly nothing to worry about, as the Super AMOLED display is technically excellent.

The Realme X2 Pro stands up exceptionally well to its competitors.

Under the hood, the phone packs either 6GB, 8GB or a whopping 12GB of RAM, accompanied by either 64GB, 128GB or 256GB of internal memory. Much like the K2 Pro, however, there is no card slot. The device also packs a 4,000 mAh battery and with 50W fast charging, can achieve 100% in just 35 minutes.

The Cameras

The camera setup also slightly exceeds the K2 Pro, with a 64MP primary lens, along with a 13MP telephoto lens, 8MP wide-angle lens and 2MP bokeh lens. Unlike the Redmi, the front camera is located on the screen at the top, offering 16MP.

Currently, this device is sitting around the £350 - £400 range, offering great value for money in this price bracket. 

Asus Zenfone 6

Image Source: HardwareCanucks

The Specification

If you’re in the market for something a little different, then maybe consider the Zenphone 6 from Asus. Another phone to include the popular Snapdragon 855, the device comes with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM, along with 128GB or 256GB of internal memory.

One of the differentiating factors about this device is the expandable memory slot, offering up to 2TB of space.

The Cameras

Another thing that really sets this phone apart is the camera, which employs a motorised system that flips the back camera around to be used as the front shooter too, giving you a premium front camera with two lenses while leaving screen space free. There is a 48MP primary lens and a 13MP ultra-wide lens, allowing you to take top-quality selfies.

The device also comes with a rear fingerprint sensor, which has become a popular choice for many devices.

Additionally, the battery also offers a larger capacity than the other two on this list, with a whopping 5,000 mAh, with 18W quick charging. The phone also comes with a reverse charging feature, which means that you can charge other devices directly from the phone’s battery, without the need for an outlet. This does require a specific adaptor, though.

The Asus Zenfone is the priciest of the bunch, costing just over £400 currently.

If you’re in the market to change your device, check out our range of reconditioned phones. We have models from all the popular brands, along with new phones from flagship killers like those above!