If you need to use more than one phone number with the same device, you can do it thanks to one of the best smartphones with Dual SIM technology.

By Alba Mora, PCWorld Editor

Having two SIM cards in the same mobile phone is possible thanks to Dual SIM technology, which translates into the presence in a smartphone of two or more slots for this type of card, corresponding to different phone numbers.

You'll probably want to take advantage of this feature if you need separate numbers for work and personal use, but don't want to carry around two separate devices.

Having a dual SIM can also benefit you if you want to have two different types of contract and use one for calls and text messages, and the other for browsing the Internet. You can also use one SIM in your country and another if you often travel abroad.

In addition to listing the 12 best mobile phones with two SIM cards, we will give you the keys to consider before making the purchase. You will also be interested in consulting what the best contract rates are for single SIMs or for the purchase of a new smartphone.

Comparison: What is the best Dual SIM mobile of 2021?

Xiaomi Mi 11 - The best mobile with Dual SIM

The Xiaomi Mi 11 is a fantastic terminal considering the price. In it, you will find the fastest chip on the market, a nice screen, good cameras and an attractive industrial design.

True, some will miss an IP rating, although in our case what we would have preferred was a macro lens instead of a telephoto lens. The battery and the software experience are also not convincing.

However, the Xiaomi Mi 11 is still very worthwhile and will be the best option for someone who prioritizes the possibility of using two SIM cards without spending an exorbitant amount.

More information: Xiaomi Mi 11 Review

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra - The Dual SIM mobile with the best camera

Although the previous generation disappointed us, it seems that Samsung has stepped up with the Galaxy S21 Ultra, which offers practically everything you could ask for from an Android flagship (although the price and size will be too much for some).

Its camera is probably the best camera of any mobile on the market, with a 108 MP main lens accompanied by an ultra wide angle and two telephoto lenses with different levels of zoom.

The expansive 6.8-inch display offers both WQHD+ high resolution and up to 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. It's also compatible with the S-Pen stylus, so it can be used for work and design.

More information: Review Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

Oppo Find X3 Pro - The Dual SIM mobile with the best screen

The Oppo Find X3 Pro is a fantastic mobile no matter how you look at it. The 6.7-inch QHD+ panel (10-bit, 120Hz) is one of the best on the market, and Oppo pairs it with 65W charging (30W wireless charging), a 4,500mAh battery, and amazing cameras.

Of course, you will have to live without a periscopic zoom lens, as Oppo opts for a new microlens capable of making microscopic close-ups. The design is equally unusual, as the camera module is embedded directly into the glass of the chassis.

When it comes to performance, it's hard to beat the Oppo Find X3 Pro. Everything else is joined by a Snapdragon 888 chip, 512GB of storage, and 12GB of RAM.

More information: Review Oppo Find X3 Pro

Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra - The Dual SIM mobile with faster charging

The Mi 11 Ultra arrives with some of the best components on the market, from its internal specifications such as a powerful camera, a beautiful screen, and both wired and wireless fast charging.

But not everything is perfect. For starters, its price isn't the most affordable, and software updates aren't promised.

Although, to tell the truth, surely the biggest drawback of all is its design. The Mi 11 Ultra is big and, because of the camera module, it's also quite ugly.

More information: Review Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy S21 - The easiest Dual SIM mobile to use

On paper, Samsung has made improvements over the previous generation, such as 5G as standard or the latest Snapdragon 888/Exynos 2100 chip.

However, although they are obviously improvements, the company's priority has only been to update it so that it goes online on the market. Instead, it has not innovated as on other occasions to distinguish itself from the rest.

The Galaxy S21, and its entire family, is a good alternative to the iPhone, but it is just that. If you want a flagship that stands out for its revolutionary technology, look elsewhere.

More information: Samsung Galaxy S21 Review

OnePlus Nord 2 - Best mid-range mobile with Dual SIM

The successor to last year's best mid-range phone, the original OnePlus Nord, is none other than the OnePlus Nord 2.

With excellent performance, 5G, Oxygen OS and a main camera almost more typical of a flagship, Oppo once again prioritizes those features that its users want.

It's true that there are some premium features you won't find on the Nord 2, like wireless charging or water resistance, but these will be the only sacrifices.

More information: OnePlus Nord 2 Review

OnePlus 8 Pro - Incredible Features

It could be said that the OnePlus 8 Pro is the company's first premium mobile, as it has finally presented a device with features that its fans have been demanding for a long time: wireless charging and IP68 water resistance.

That makes it a direct rival to Samsung phones and, despite having seen a logical increase in price, it still offers better value for money than many other smartphones. OnePlus allows you to save.

The OnePlus 8 Pro has the best camera ever seen in a company mobile and, although it is still behind some of its rivals in terms of software, the hardware is one of the best on the market.

More information: Review OnePlus 8 Pro

ZTE Axon 30 Ultra - Flagship with best value for money

The ZTE Axon 30 Ultra is a good option and offers great value for money. It is a flagship that stands out in practically all aspects: from its 6.67 "AMOLED screen (144 Hz) to the Snapdragon 888.

It has three 64 MP lenses and a x5 telescopic lens, so we are in front of a versatile camera that offers quality images, rich in details and with a good color balance.

In fact, the results are similar to those obtained with the Galaxy S21 Ultra or the iPhone 12 Pro, but with a clear difference: you can get them at a much better price.

More information: Review ZTE Axon 30 Ultra

Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro - The best cheap Dual SIM mobile

The Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro is not perfect. Having a big battery means it's voluptuous, the cameras could be better, and MIUI 12 leaves a bit to be desired, but that doesn't stop it from being a great option for those on a budget.

Despite all this, the Xiaomi terminal has many virtues. Its incredible specifications offer exceptional performance. Plus, it has a nice display and absolutely fantastic battery life.

It is hard to believe that, with everything you get, Xiaomi asks so little for the Poco X3 Pro, without a doubt one of the best cheap phones of the year.

More information: Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro Review

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro - The Dual SIM mobile with the best value for money

This Chinese phone is one of our recommendations from Xiaomi's current lineup, even if it's not at the level of the Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro. We'd love it to have an OLED panel, wireless charging and some design improvements, but we can let it go. taking into account everything that it does include.

The incredible value for money of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro means you get a lot for little. That includes the powerful Snadpragon 865 processor, a 144Hz screen, a 108MP camera, an incredible battery, and 5G connectivity.

All this is difficult to find in a mid-range model. Quite simply, the Mi 10T Pro's specs are hard to beat and more so at such an affordable price.

More information: Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro Review

Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G - The thinnest Dual SIM 5G mobile

Although the Mi 11 Lite with 4G is already impressive, the version with 5G is even more so, since it is neither thicker, nor larger, nor heavier, and it does offer more power. In addition, it includes a more powerful processor.

The Mi 11 Lite 5G offers a very complete experience and a lot of performance for the price that is asked for it. However, we can consider it a mid-range mobile, so don't expect authentic premium quality.

If you are looking for the thinnest phone on the market, here it is. But if this is not the most important thing for you, there are other options of a similar price that will also convince you.

More information: Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G Review

OnePlus 8T - Mobile with Dual SIM recommended

If you leave aside the price, the OnePlus 8T seems to have nothing that attracts special attention being an update of the OnePlus 8. But the truth is that when you do look at what it costs, considerably less, you will see that you start to like it plus.

The arrival of the 65W charge and the 120Hz screen are two interesting novelties, even if they are somewhat technical features that most users will not notice. The changes that Android 11 brings and the always-on screen are also welcome.

As for the hardware, the camera is the big one, but here it is even worse if we take into account that OnePlus has decided to include the same lens as in the OnePlus Nord. This is the great challenge of the OnePlus 8T: it's fine, but the Nord is better.

More information: OnePlus 8T Review

Sony Xperia 1 III - Mobile with Dual SIM recommended

If the Xperia line proves anything, it's that Sony likes to stay away from its rivals. In this sense, the Xperia 1 III manages to debut functions, features and technologies never seen before.

Although similar to the 1 II of the previous year, new buyers will have to choose if they think that collection of unique functions does for them.

In fact, to its credit, rivals like Apple and Samsung offer better selfie cameras, brighter screens, and longer-lasting batteries, along with better software compatibility.

More information: Review Sony Xperia 1 III

Keys to keep in mind before buying a mobile phone with Dual SIM

1. How does Dual SIM technology work?

Unfortunately, most manufacturers do not offer much information on how Dual SIM technology works and simply announce that their product can work with dual cards.

In this sense, they do not usually specify the size of the cards that can be used with the model in question or if both cards are compatible with 4G connectivity. The only thing left for you is to do a quick search on the Internet to be on the safe side.

All the smartphones on this list work using the Dual Standby method. That means both cards are on standby for the whole time and you can only use one of them at a time.

It will not be necessary, however, to change the SIM manually or to restart the phone every time you want to use the other one. That yes, if you are calling by phone with one of them, you will not receive the calls that make you in the other number.

2. What is the difference between Dual Standby and Dual Active?

We have announced that the mobiles in this list come with Dual Standby because only one can be used at a time. There is also the Dual Active method, which allows you to have two phone lines working and receiving calls simultaneously.

If you have an Android phone, its operating system has a menu where you can specify which SIM card you want to use for calls, video calls, messages and mobile data. You can choose a SIM for each feature or opt to be asked first.

3. 3G or 4G connectivity?

There is something very important regarding 4G connectivity that must be taken into account before buying a Dual SIM mobile: this mobile phone can only be used with one of the cards at the same time.

In addition, you must specify in your smartphone settings which of them you want to use with this 4G connectivity. Of course, if you are using it on one of the cards and you receive a call on the other, this connectivity will be disconnected.

Instead, you can use both cards at the same time with a 3G mobile phone, which is somewhat slower when you want to watch streaming videos or perform other tasks on the Internet than fourth-generation connectivity.

4. Where are the contacts stored?

You may be worried about where the contacts of both SIM cards will be saved, since no one likes the idea of ​​losing them by mistake. By default, these will be saved in the contact list of your smartphone.

You also have the possibility to hide the contacts of one of the cards. In the 'Contacts' app on your mobile, tap on the three vertical dots, followed by 'Contacts to show'. Now you can select the contacts from one of the two SIMs.

5. What price are you willing to pay?

One of the factors to take into account is, obviously, the budget you have for a Dual SIM smartphone. You will see that in this classification there are mobiles for all pockets: from €100 to €700.

6. What other benefits do you need?

On the other hand, you should not be guided only by whether a smartphone has Dual SIM technology or not. You should look at the other features it offers as if it were any other mobile and analyze whether or not they adapt to your needs.

Note: We may receive a small commission for each purchase made through the links on our page, but this is at no extra cost to you. This does not affect our editorial independence either. More information.

Author: Alba Mora, PCWorld Editor

More than 5 years of experience in the sector, and a lifetime of passion for technology, allow Alba to properly analyze the latest in smartphones, tablets, laptops and accessories for all your devices.

Recent articles by Alba Mora: