The best Snapdragon 865 phones you can get

The Snapdragon 865 smartphone chipset is from 2019, but it still holds value today. While older, Qualcomm’s high-end chipset can handle just about any task you throw at it. It’s usually paired with loads of powerful specs, too, so you won’t have any problems with things like playing the latest games and multitasking.

The selection of Snapdragon 865 phones has pretty much topped out, but there are many great options available, which you can check out below.

Also read: The very best Android phones around

The best Snapdragon 865 phones

Editor’s note: We’ll be updating this list of Snapdragon 865 phones regularly.

Samsung Galaxy S20 series

The whole Samsung Galaxy S20 series is powered by the Snapdragon 865 in the US. However, the phones pack the Exynos 990 chipset under the hood in Europe and other regions. All three phones sport 120Hz displays, support wireless charging, and are IP68 rated. You also get an in-display fingerprint scanner and expandable storage with each one. Unfortunately, though, there’s no headphone jack onboard.

The S20 Ultra is the most powerful phone in the series, sporting the biggest display, the best cameras, and the largest battery. Samsung’s S20 Plus is next in line, followed by the regular S20. Although there are differences between them, they are flagship phones that will satisfy the demands of hardcore users. You can check out the differences in specs between the three below.

The S20 series originally launched at $999, but the Galaxy S20 FE later joined the party. This phone delivers the core Galaxy S20 experience (120Hz, 5G, wireless charging, water resistance) for significantly less.

Samsung Galaxy S20 specs:

Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus specs:

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra specs:

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE specs:

LG V60 ThinQ

LG has recently left the smartphone market, so aside from being one of the best Snapdragon 865 phones, the LG V60 ThinQ may be one of the last of its kind. In addition to the Snapdragon 865 chipset, the LG V60 also comes with an IP68 rating and a MIL-STD 810G design for improved durability. Thankfully, none of this comes at the expense of the headphone port, which is still offered here.

LG’s flagship features 8K recording, wireless charging, a big battery, and an OLED screen with an in-display fingerprint sensor. This 5G device also supports expandable storage and packs a large 5,000mAh battery. Other specs and features worth mentioning include a quad DAC and stereo speakers.

More: The best budget phones

The only major downside in hardware is that it lacks a telephoto or periscope camera, using its 64MP primary camera for zoom instead. But it’s easy to forgive when you look at the rest of the features and the relatively affordable price tag.

LG V60 ThinQ specs:

OPPO Find X3 Neo

Released in March 2021, this is the newest phone with a Snapdragon 865. It’s no bad contender either. Specs include 12GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage. The AMOLED display will show a gorgeous image with a crisp FHD Plus definition and a 90Hz refresh rate.

The Find X3 Neo’s camera credentials are impressive, too, delivering a 50MP main camera, an ultra-wide 16MP camera, a 2MP macro shooter, and a 13MP 2X zoom lens. It’s a competent device with a gorgeous design, as you can see in the image above. And because it’s newer, chances are it will keep getting updated for longer.

If you really want a phone with a Snapdragon 865 processor, but would rather stick with something newer, this is by far your best bet.

OPPO Find X3 Neo specs:

Xiaomi Mi 10 series

The Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro are two of the best Snapdragon 865 phones you can still get. They are similar in many ways, both featuring a 6.67-inch display with curved edges, the Snapdragon 865 chipset, and as much as 12GB of RAM.

Related: Learn all there is to know about Xiaomi

The biggest difference between them is in the camera department, where the Pro model offers more. The phone also supports faster charging (50W vs. 30W) but comes with a slightly smaller battery. You can check out these details and more in the specs section below.

If you are looking for something nearly as good from Xiaomi but want to save some cash, the Xiaomi Mi 10T and Mi 10T Pro are great options and are definitely among the best Snapdragon 865 phones.

Xiaomi Mi 10 specs:

Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro specs:

Sony Xperia 1 II and Xperia 5 II

Sony’s 2020 flagship devices pack the Snapdragon 865 chipset under the hood along with 8GB of RAM. You’ll find three 12MP cameras at the back, and the Xperia 1 II also has a ToF sensor that should help with portrait mode images.

Also: The best waterproof phones you can buy

Like most other Xperia phones, the weirdly named 1 II and 5 II have side-mounted fingerprint scanners. They also come with 21:9 displays that make the phones quite lanky. You also get wireless charging with the Xperia 1 II, but not with the Xperia 5 II. Both have an IP68 rating, though, and even a headphone jack! All these things combined make these handsets some of the best Snapdragon 865 phones you can get.

The Xperia 1 II and Xperia 5 II are great devices overall, although slightly overpriced. Sony’s phones are often on sale, though, so you might be able to get a good deal. Especially now that these devices are aging, and the newer Sony Xperia 1 III and 5 III entered the scene.

Sony Xperia 1 II specs:

Sony Xperia 5 II specs:

ASUS ROG Phone 3 Strix Edition

The ASUS ROG Phone 3 is an amazing handset, but it happens to have a higher-end Snapdragon 865 Plus chipset. Another version of the gaming phone is called the ASUS ROG Phone 3 Strix Edition, and this one comes with the Snapdragon 865 chipset under the hood.

The gaming-centric handset still has a great 144Hz display, up to 12GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. It also comes with a huge 6,000mAh battery that should keep you playing for a healthy amount of gaming sessions.

Related: The best gaming phones

The ASUS ROG Phone 3 Strix edition is a slightly less powerful version of the ROG Phone 3, but it also has a much smaller price point. All the important specs are still there, and the extra accessories available from ASUS like the AeroActive Cooler 3.

ASUS ROG Phone 3 Strix Edition specs:

OnePlus 8T and 8 Pro

The OnePlus 8T is definitely one of the best Snapdragon 865 phones. It hits many flagship highlights — a high-end processing package, an impressive 120Hz display, a beautiful design, solid build quality, and excellent battery life.

Unfortunately, it missed a few key features, making the OnePlus 8 Pro a better deal for some users. This includes an IP68 rating (only the T-Mobile version comes with this feature) and wireless charging. It also comes with a slightly bigger and higher definition screen. Not to mention a telephoto lens.

There’s also something to be said about the simplicity and elegance of OnePlus devices. Just look at it! It’s a gorgeously designed piece of technology.

OnePlus 8T specs:

OnePlus 8 Pro specs:

realme X50 Pro

The realme X50 Pro falls into the flagship killer category because it offers a great price-performance ratio. You get the Snapdragon 865 chipset under the hood, up to 12GB of RAM, and a large Super AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate.

More: Our guide to phone accessories

The battery comes in at 4,200mAh and supports 65-watt charging that gets it from zero to 100% in about 45 minutes, according to our testing. The build quality is great, although the design feels a bit dated.

The biggest drawback of the phone is that the cameras aren’t the best. Although they get the job done during the daytime, they aren’t that great for low-light photography.

realme X50 Pro specs:

REDMAGIC 5G

The REDMAGIC 5G is a great device overall, although it’s not for everyone. It’s a gaming phone, which means its design is a bit out there. But that also means that performance is top-notch. In addition to the Snapdragon 865 chipset, you also get a 144Hz display, active cooling, gaming triggers, and more.

The phone also packs stereo speakers, a headphone jack, and up to 16GB of RAM. What’s more, it’s relatively affordable, at least when compared to other similar phones.

However, the REDMAGIC does have a few drawbacks. The software is far from perfect, and you can’t change the launcher. There’s no expandable storage, and it has a mediocre camera system.

REDMAGIC 5G specs:

ASUS Zenfone 7

The ASUS Zenfone 7 is one of the best selfie camera phones thanks to its unique camera mechanism, which flips the rear cameras around to point them towards the front. ASUS has also delivered improved reliability in this regard, claiming that the swivel is now good for 200,000 flips or 100 flips daily for five years. Meanwhile, the firm says the Zenfone 6’s mechanism was rated for 100,000 flips.

Also read: The best Snapdragon 855 phones

ASUS has upgraded the camera experience on the Zenfone 7 series, too, as the Pro has a 64MP IMX686 main shooter in place of the 48MP IMX586 sensor on the predecessor. You’ve also got a 12MP ultra-wide snapper (IMX363, macro support) and an 8MP 3x telephoto shooter (12x digital zoom).

The ASUS Zenfone 7 marks a move towards higher pricing, but the standard phone is still cheaper than base flagships from Samsung and Xiaomi. It also comes with potent specs, making it one of the best Snapdragon 865 phones to get at a more decent price point. You can look at the ASUS Zenfone 7 Pro for a more powerful version of this phone, but that one doesn’t make it to this list because it has a Snapdragon 865 Plus chipset.

ASUS Zenfone 7 specs:

Have you ever wondered how the Snapdragon 865 stacked up against its direct competition? You might want to take a look at our comparisons with the Kirin 990, Exynos 990, and Snapdragon 765G before you make your decision.