The main cell phone brands -Samsung, Motorola, Xiaomi, TCL and Alcatel- had another year full of launches in 2021, while the technological world still has not managed to recover its usual rhythm due to the shortages generated by the first year of the coronavirus pandemic.

The various input, medium, high and premium ranges were nourished by equipment with notable improvements in the quality of the screens, where the vast majority standardized the 90 and 120Hz refresh rate for much more fluid images; higher capacity batteries to deliver more hours of autonomy and the massification of 108 megapixel cameras.

In this note, a selection with the 10 best cell phones launched during 2021 in Argentina.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

It was the first big launch of the year. The "tank" of the South Korean Samsung was announced in February and in mid-March the premium range was already being marketed as the new exponent in Argentina.

Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G has a quad rear camera (ultra-wide, wide and dual telephoto lenses) that features an upgraded 108MP professional sensor, from which you can capture 12-bit HDR photos with 64 times color data brighter and three times wider dynamic range.

For the first time on a Galaxy device, you can shoot in 4K at 60fps on all lenses, including the front and rear four, so you can switch to a different perspective with the same quality. Also, with the 12-bit RAW file option, the user will be able to edit every last detail of their photos.

It also features a 100x Ultra Zoom that works with Samsung's first Dual Telephoto lens system, one 3x optical and one 10x optical, both equipped with Dual Pixel (2PD) AF; so you can capture clear shots even at a great distance. With this magnification, for example, you can take amazing quality photos of the Moon without having to make too many adjustments.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra is available for around $199,999.

Motorola Moto G100

Moto G's best-selling cell phone family turned ten in March, and to celebrate it they launched a new model along with a total change in their nomenclature. For the brand, the numbers represent the price level of the product, where the highest correspond to the most premium members of the moto G family.

The moto g100 came to replace the G9 with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 series processor, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, 5000mAh battery, 5G connectivity and Wi-Fi 6.

Thanks to its 6.7-inch CinemaVision screen, your entertainment experience is unique. In addition, it offers a camera system with a 64MP ultra-high-resolution main sensor with Quad Pixel technology and a 16MP dual front camera.

The moto G100 also features Ready For, a versatile platform that unleashes the power of the phone by amplifying everything it's capable of. With it, games can be moved from the phone to the big screen, among other things. Or feel like they're inside the room during video calls.

Apps can also be used on a desktop screen, providing more space, ideal for work and play. It is achieved at 90 thousand pesos.

Motorola Edge 20 Pro

The motorola edge 20 pro was the last major launch of the year for the second largest cell phone manufacturer in Argentina. This model stands out for a large memory capacity with 12GB of RAM that adapts to the style of daily use with the powerful latest generation Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 processor.

In regards to the image, the Edge 20 Pro marked the debut among Motorola teams of a screen with a refresh rate of 144Hz, the highest available in conventional smartphones that give it a unique sensation of image fluidity .

It also offers a triple camera system, with a 108MP main camera, one of the brand's most powerful sensors to date with a 1/1.5” optical format, and thanks to its innovative periscopic lens for telephotography and its super 50x zoom, capture photos from a distance without losing sharpness.

Like the Moto G100, it lets you unleash the power of your smartphone with the Ready For platform, which amplifies all your phone's features to a TV or monitor simply by connecting via HDMI cable or wirelessly. The price? $109,999.

Xiaomi Redmi 10 Pro

The Chinese brand officially landed in July with a proposal that covered the tenth generation of its Redmi Note 10 family, in which the Pro version with a 108-megapixel camera particularly stood out.

According to its functions and characteristics, the Redmi Note 10 Pro version has a 6.67-inch AMOLED panel and a 120Hz refresh rate, like the recent iPhone 13 Pro Max. This means the screen refreshes 120 times per second, whether you're gaming or scrolling through content on a website, so the fluid look and feel is extreme.

In the camera section, the main 108-megapixel camera of the Redmi Note 10 Pro captures outstanding images even in low light. By activating the night mode and its macro lens, it makes the images more precise with up to 2 centimeters away from the object than the rest of the Redmi Notes.

It also has an interesting "Clone" function that is used to create composite images or videos. You just have to capture the same subject and replicate it in different parts of a scene, giving the feeling that there are really several. However, this feature isn't as easy to use as it sounds: you need a clean background and steady hands to attempt good shots.

In the case of this Pro version, the 5020 mAh battery life provides up to two days with normal to low usage. Those who are used to generating content on networks, watching videos and playing with their cell phones will see it reduced to just one day or less. Of course, the standard 33 W fast charging function helps recover 59% charge in just 30 minutes. It is 95 thousand pesos.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G

The last Xiaomi model that arrived in the country did so in September. Mi 11 Lite is the smallest of the four members of the family made up of an Ultra, Pro model and the standard Mi 11.

It is equipped with a 64 MP triple camera to capture all your favorite moments and with One-click IA Cinema, the built-in editing software, you can unleash your creativity and stand out by becoming the director of your own life, bringing color to your all your videos thanks to its 8 cinematographic filters.

Regarding its appearance, the new smartphone is available in Argentina in truffle black or mint green. It has finishing details with an ultra-thin design based on the halo ring that surrounds its main camera, adding a touch of style. An almost flat camera module and the fingerprint sensor on the lock button finish completing its aesthetics.

A 6.55“ DotDisplay AMOLED screen with true color technology will allow you to enjoy watching videos or playing your favorite video games on its sharp AMOLED screen. It also features ultra-thin, symmetrical top and side bezels for a larger viewing area. The list value is $107,999 but you can get it cheaper with some offers.

Apple iPhone 13

Apple burst onto the scene on September 14, when Tim Cook revealed the iPhone 13 to the world during the traditional keynote that they hold year after year from Apple Park.

With a design that makes it similar to the iPhone 12, the standard edition of the manzanita cell phone burst in with a new processor, which they called A15 Bionic with six cores (two high-power and four efficient), which stood out for be 50% faster than that of direct competition (Galaxy S21 or One Plus 9, among others).

The iPhone 13 camera also includes Cinematic Mode in videos, which will allow you to play with focus and blur. Similar to Portrait mode, but in videos: if the object in front moves, the focus automatically moves to the background.

According to data provided by Apple, the iPhone 13 battery has about two and a half hours more autonomy than the iPhone 12, especially thanks to the use of larger batteries, OLED screens, the A15 Bionic chip itself and optimizations of the iOS 15 operating system. The standard version is available for $269,999.

iPhone 13 Pro Max

The top-of-the-range version of the Cupertino giant's cell phone family made the expected leap in terms of the resolution of its screens: the 120Hz refresh rate that until that moment they were only the power of cell phones with Android.

The iPhone 13 Pro Max includes a revamped three-camera system, capable of generating an experience similar to that of professional cameras. The chip, meanwhile, is the A15 Bionic from the brand's entry line.

It comes with a 3x optical zoom, a 6-element wide-angle with autofocus and f/1.8 aperture, and a normal lens with f/1.5 aperture. It lets you integrate night mode (for taking photos in low light) on all three cameras, and also integrate a new macro mode on the wide-angle lens, including for slow-motion video.

It has a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED panel, with a brightness of more than 1000 nits, and a notch (the notch in the screen that hides the FaceID sensors) that is 20 percent smaller than the earlier models.

They also incorporate improvements in their batteries, when compared to the iPhone 12 Pro Maxi, extending their useful life by 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Although they were among the last launches of 2021, the complete line up of the iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max will only be on sale in the country on January 15 and with tentative prices confirmed ranging from 269,999 to 369,999 in the 128GB storage configuration, 299,999 to 399,999 in the 256GB, and 369,999 to 469,999 in the 512GB.

It should be noted that Apple is not part of the productive pole in Tierra del Fuego from which the rest of the tariffed smartphones come. Therefore, these new products from the technology giant must pay internal taxes, tariffs and VAT, in addition to making approvals, making the price of the product more expensive. This series of tax causes differences between the price of the official points -Mac Station or iPoint- and the publications of Mercado Libre.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G

The new generation of Samsung folding cell phones was presented worldwide at the beginning of August, but they only arrived in Argentina at the end of September. In particular, the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G model is a versatile smartphone, focused on the multitasking user, which provides an entertainment experience and features similar to tablets, but without losing the typical pocket format.

After a controversial version in 2019 and the one that came during the first year of the pandemic, Samsung took note of the lessons to develop this Galaxy Z Fold3 5G with the necessary improvements, such as protection against water, compatibility with the S stylus -Pen and a larger capacity battery.

Galaxy Z Fold3 5G has as one of the main characteristics of being the first folding of the family in several fields: it can resist more than 1 meter underwater -thanks to its IPX8 certification- and has UDC (Under display camera) that eliminates the selfie camera notch, or "hole" (notch) from the screen, like traditional phones.

With this novelty, the internal camera of the Galaxy Z Fold3, when the device is unfolded, appears located below the screen, providing a more intense visualization. Undoubtedly, this advantage allows you to take advantage of the full extension of the 7.6-inch Infinity Flex Display screen in its unfolded version, and a 6.2-inch HD + Dinamic AMOLED 2X cover without unfolding.

This particular model has an improvement in fluidity since it now reaches a 120Hz refresh rate -the number of times the image is updated on the screen- as opposed to the 60Hz of the previous Z Fold2.

Together with the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G, also foldable but more compact, both devices are part of a new attempt by Samsung to continue in the foldable phones segment. It is approximately 185 thousand pesos.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G

The Z Flip3 is ideal for watching videos on YouTube or a series on any streaming platform without using your hands, thanks to its hinge that allows it to fold up to 90 degrees.

Just when the device is partially folded, the Flex Mode panel gives you new ways to interact with the Z Flip3, offering a more convenient viewing experience by moving video to the top half of the screen and program controls – like brightness and volume – to the lower half.

Thanks to new stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, it's possible to get immersive sound with incredible clarity, depth and spatial effects, no matter what you're watching or listening to. And the new Flex Mode panel feature makes apps look better and easier to use. It comes out 140 thousand pesos.

TCL 20SE

Recognized worldwide for the quality of its screens in the television segment, the Chinese company TCL launched its 20SE cell phone in mid-2020 that it manufactures in Tierra del Fuego. This device is characterized by its immersive screens to enjoy a cinematographic experience that improves work and entertainment dynamics.

For the 20 SE model, TCL perfected its NXTVISION technology, an innovation exclusively developed by the brand, which is the latest in visual technology. The screen is now enhanced to reproduce images in real time, get sharper details, sharper contrasts and more vibrant colors.

Another of the options that it presents is the ultra dimming that allows to eliminate flicker with darker blacks, improves the reading mode with paper-like screens and the now much-needed Eye Comfort mode, which protects you from the harmful blue light generated screens and have a negative impact on people's health.

In its 2021 version, NXTVISION also improves displays from SDR to HDR, thus regulating the clarity of the screen depending on the environment and light condition in which it is located, and proposes an improvement in the reading mode. The same happens with the dark or day mode, depending on the choice of each user. It's cheap: barely more than 35 thousand pesos.

Alcatel 1L

After its previous launches in the country, the Chinese brand brought the Alcatel 1L model to the Argentine market in mid-October. His bet for the input range is a device with a good screen and a powerful battery that aims to capture the young user who is looking for his first smartphone or the elderly with a price of less than 20,000 pesos.

The Alcatel 1L has a dual camera optimized with Artificial Intelligence, where scene detection is automatically optimized with 121 different models that act in real time to obtain images that resemble professional cameras. This enables sharper portraits to be taken by blurring the background in real time for professional portraits with a depth effect.

For non-brand users, the 1L takes selfies in low light conditions, thanks to the 5MP front camera with LCD flash, and beautifies them in real time with the Artificial Intelligence-powered Facial Beauty software ( AI).

On the back it has a dual camera module with scene optimizer to capture better photos.

The 4000 mAh battery, which lasts all day on a single charge, and a screen-to-body ratio of 6.22” HD+ Large Display with mini notch, with 87.18% width, make up the rest of the technical characteristics.

At the design level, it has radial details with dynamic reflection of light inspired by the moving windmill and a pattern of concentric microcircles with grooves. The price is cheap: less than 20 thousand pesos.

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