In the Android world, there is no denial that Snapdragon chipsets are better than Exynos, Kirin or MediaTek SoCs in almost every aspect. Be it battery efficiency, graphics performance, or mobile connectivity — Qualcomm surpasses almost all the chipmakers and is only slightly behind Apple’s A-series chips. Qualcomm also has a solid modem business and that’s what makes this chip manufacturer distinct from others. In December last year, Qualcomm announced its flagship SoC Snapdragon 865 and the headline feature was predictably 5G connectivity. In addition, the Snapdragon 865 has seen almost 25% performance jump from the last-gen 855 SoC. So if you are someone who wants a top-tier smartphone with Snapdragon 865 then go through our list below.
Snapdragon 865 Smartphones You Can Buy Right Now
1. Realme X50 Pro
Realme X50 Pro is not only the first device to launch with Snapdragon 865, but also the first one to come with 5G capability in India. Along with that, it brings up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 256GB of dual-channel UFS 3.0 storage. So far, it seems X50 Pro is the most premium device released by Realme which has an AMOLED display and support for 90Hz refresh rate. Further, Realme X50 Pro features a primary 32MP Sony IMX616 sensor with an 80-degree FOV and an 8MP ultra-wide-angle sensor with a 105-degree FOV. In all aspects, the Realme X50 Pro 5G is top-notch and you can definitely rely on this hardware.
Buy from Flipkart: Starts at ₹37,999
2. iQOO 3
Just after the day Realme launched the X50 Pro, iQOO unveiled its flagship smartphone, iQOO 3 that packs the latest Snapdragon 865 by Qualcomm. However, iQOO has announced two variants of iQOO 3: one with 5G capability and another one without 5G support. Since 5G is not ready in India and will take at least two years to deploy the infrastructure, the non-5G variant is a far better value for money given that it’s much cheaper as well. So if you are looking for a Snapdragon 865 phone then iQOO 3 has you covered with both 5G and non-5G variants.
- Buy iQOO 3 from Flipkart: Starts at ₹36,990
- Buy iQOO 3 5G from Flipkart: Starts at ₹44,990
3. Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+, S20 Ultra (US Model)
If you are from the US and looking for the best Snapdragon 865 phone then I would recommend the Samsung Galaxy S20 series. Unlike the global variant that comes with Samsung’s homegrown Exynos chip, in the US, the Galaxy S20 series packs the Qualcomm processor due to patent issues. In addition, you will get 5G support on all the S20 variants and that is powered by Qualcomm’s X55 5G modem which is much better than Exynos’ 5123. Simply put, the Galaxy S20 series with Snapdragon 865 is a beastly combination and you simply can’t go wrong with it.
Buy from Samsung: Starts at $999
4. Mi 10 and 10 Pro
Just after Samsung’s launch, Xiaomi released its flagship duo Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro and both the devices come with Snapdragon 865. The duo has an AMOLED panel with a punch-hole display, 5G support, 108MP quad-cameras, and huge battery packs. On top of that, you also get a 90Hz refresh rate display so that is awesome. Having said that, it’s unlikely you will get Mi 10 in India, but if you are from China or Europe, you can easily grab this Snapdragon 865 phone.
Check Out the Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro
5. Sony Xperia 1 Mark II
While everyone seems to have written off Sony, the company is still releasing flagship-grade smartphones with top-of-the-line specs. Recently, Sony unveiled its Xperia 1 Mark II and it’s powered by the latest Snapdragon 865 chipset from Qualcomm. Do note that Xperia 1 II is also Sony’s first 5G smartphone and it includes Qualcomm’s X55 modem. The chipset is accompanied by 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage and it will be available for order this Spring starting in Europe.
Check Out the Xperia 1 Mark II
6. LG V60 ThinQ
With major smartphone makers like Samsung and Xiaomi releasing their flagship smartphones in February, LG couldn’t delay further and unveiled the V60 ThinQ. It goes without saying that the V series is LG’s flagship lineup so it comes with the latest and most powerful processor, the Snapdragon 865 by Qualcomm. Other than that, the smartphone also has support for 5G and is backward compatible with other legacy networks as well including 4G, 3G, and 2G. Further, you can make it a dual-screen device using the foldable case.
7. ZTE Axon 10s Pro
Axon 10s Pro by ZTE is another Snapdragon 865 smartphone that you can buy in the US. Similar to other flagship phones, Axos 10s Pro brings 5G support and is packed with Qualcomm’s Adreno 650 GPU for powerful graphics performance. The smartphone also packs a 48MP image sensor, 4000mAh battery, up to 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM. Not to mention, you also get a microSD card slot for expandable memory just like Samsung devices.
Check Out the ZTE Axon 10s Pro
8. Sharp Aquos R5G
If you are from Japan then Sharp has you covered with a Snapdragon 865 phone. The company recently introduced its latest flagship, the Aquos R5G. It packs the octa-core Snapdragon 865 processor with 5G on board. Since it’s Sharp, the 6.5-inch screen seems pretty good in QHD+ resolution. In addition, the Sharp Aquos R5G also brings 120Hz refresh rate display which is commendable. So if you want a flagship Android smartphone with the 865 processor, Sharp Aquos R5G is a decent option in the Japanese market.
Upcoming Smartphones with Snapdragon 865
9. Redmi K30 Pro
One of the most anticipated smartphones of 2020 is undoubtedly the Redmi K30 Pro. According to some sources, the K30 Pro is going to be launched in China in early March and then it will make its way to Indian and Europe. Just yesterday, Qualcomm confirmed that K30 Pro will indeed come with the latest Snapdragon 865 processor. In addition to that, 5G has also been certified for K30 Pro, but it will be left to be seen if Redmi brings the 5G capability to India. In any case, the K30 Pro, similar to its predecessor will bring top-notch hardware at an affordable price. Who does not love that? So if you want an affordable flagship then hold your horses till late March or early April for an India launch.
10. OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro
After the K30 Pro, if there is another device that evokes the same level of excitement then it’s the OnePlus 8 series. As always, both OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro will come with the latest octa-core Snapdragon 865 SoC and it has been confirmed by Qualcomm itself. Other than that, both the devices will have a high refresh rate display supposedly 90Hz for the standard variant and 120Hz for the Pro model. Since the Adren650 GPU has gone through a lot of improvement, we expect OnePlus to strike a fine balance between high refresh rate and battery efficiency. So, if you are looking for a proper flagship that can give Samsung Galaxy S20 a run for the money then wait till late March.
11. Zenfone 7
After Asus released Zenfone 6 and Asus 6Z in India, the company is back into the mobile business. Earlier, there were rumors that Asus will not bring flagship smartphones in India and instead will focus on gaming phones like ROG I and II. However, Qualcomm confirmed that Asus is indeed working on a Snapdragon 865 phone and will soon launch the device in many markets. If we go by Asus’ earlier lineup, it’s certain that you are going to get a clean stock Android experience with powerful hardware, multiple-camera system and maybe this time, a higher refresh rate display.
12. Oppo Find X2
Oppo was all geared up to launch its flagship Find X2 at the MWC this year, but due to cancellation of the event, now the launch is moved to March 6. It goes without saying that you will get the flagship Snapdragon 865 processor packed in a huge 6.5-inch AMOLED screen. Further, the display has a refresh rate of 120Hz in 3K resolution which is simply phenomenal. If there is one thing that defines this device other than Snapdragon 865 SoC then it’s Oppo’s truly exceptional display technology. So wait till March 6 and I am sure you won’t be disappointed.
13. Nubia Red Magic 5G
Last year, Nubia had launched itsRed Magic 3 and 3s in India and got a pretty good response from the mobile gaming community. On similar lines, we are expecting that the new Nubia Red Magic 5G will also come to India with all the bells and whistles. In its report, Qualcomm confirmed that Nubia Red Magic 5G is being developed on the Snapdragon 865 platform and it will launch soon since the device has passed the TENAA certification. Other than that, Nubia Red Magic 5G will be packing a 144Hz display which is excellent. So if you are a mobile gamer and want a gaming flagship with top-notch 865 processor then wait for a month or two for Nubia’s official launch.
14. Asus ROG Phone 3
After a considerable success of ROG Phone I and II in India, Asus is set to unveil the third successor ROG Phone in the next few months. And unsurprisingly, it’s equipped with the Snapdragon 865 processor which got confirmed by Qualcomm itself. Rumors also suggest that Google Stadia will come pre-loaded on Asus ROG Phone 3 so that is quite exciting for mobile gamers. Not to mention, the ROG Phone 3 will have a 120Hz refresh rate display just like its predecessors. Further, Asus will also introduce a slew of gaming accessories so that is great. To conclude, if you want a gaming phone, we recommend you to wait till early May and then decide between ROG Phone 3 and Nubia Red Magic 5G.
15. Black Shark 3
The Black Shark 3 is finally being launched on March 3 and it does come with the latest and powerful Snapdragon 865 SoC by Qualcomm. In fact, AnTuTu revealed that Black Shark 3 is, by far the most powerful 865 phone as it broke all previous records on the benchmarking app– surpassing the Realme X50 Pro and iQOO 3. In addition, it comes with 12GB of RAM, 512GB of internal storage and a 120Hz refresh rate display with 3120×1440 pixel resolution. So from all aspects, Black Shark 3 seems a solid device, but it might just be limited to China and perhaps Europe only.
16. Lenovo Legion Gaming Phone
Smartphone makers have been creating sub-brands to project gaming-centric phones which include Black Shark by Xiaomi, ROG phone by Asus, Nubia by ZTE and so on. To tap this market, Lenovo is also launching the first gaming flagship under its Legion brand. And as expected, the device is powered by the Snapdragon 865 SoC and comes with a host of new features and optimizations. Further, it’s rumored that Lenovo Legion phone will have faster charging over 55W which is simply crazy. Currently, the Realme X50 Pro holds the position of fastest charging smartphone with a 65W power rating. All in all, it’s going to be interesting to see how Lenovo shapes the Legion brand in the smartphone world with Snapdragon 865 on its back.
17. Sony Xperia Pro
While Sony unveiled the Xperia 1 Mark II, it also hinted at a possible Xperia Pro that is going to launch in the next few months. And similar to Mark II, it will come with the Snapdragon 865 SoC and Qualcomm’s X55 5G modem. The main difference between the two devices is that Xperia Pro will have support for both mmWave 5G and sub-6GHz 5G networks. On the other hand, Mark II is limited to just sub-6GHz 5G networks. In essence, the Xperia Pro will be the first device by Sony which will have support for real 5G networks. However, keep in mind, mmWave network is scarce at this point even in the US and 5G-ready regions. Nevertheless, if you want support for complete 5G bands, you can get the Sony Xperia Pro in the coming months.
Pick the Best Snapdragon 865 Phone
So that is our comprehensive list of smartphones with Snapdragon 865 onboard. After Qualcomm’s event in December, now we are seeing a high number of smartphone launches with the 865 SoC and it’s only going to increase in the coming months. If you want a top-tier smartphone, I would recommend you to wait till March or April as OnePlus and Redmi are going to unveil their flagship phones somewhere in the middle. Anyway, that is all from us. We will be continuously updating the list so stay tuned with us as we will keep updating the list with more Snapdragon 865 phones.
Abubakar Mohammed
