Smartphones Compared

OPPO retains title as best-rated smartphone brand in Australia

When you think of smartphones, you’ll probably think of the latest iPhone and Samsung Galaxy. And that’s OK. But if you’re willing to look a little further, you may find even better value from one of the ‘challenger’ brands. Many of us simply want the best phone money can buy, but that doesn’t always mean the most expensive phone is the best! So, how do you know which new smartphone you should splash the cash on? That’s where Canstar Blue can help.

Our customer satisfaction ratings are designed to help you decide which smartphone to buy based on the experiences of people just like you. We’ve surveyed more than 1,700 Aussie smartphone users to get their feedback on the device they own. Their reviews are reflected by the star ratings you see above, with brands rated across eight important categories, including camera quality, speed, user friendliness, battery life and value for money – all the things you think about when deciding which phone to buy.

Best Smartphones in Australia

The seven brands included in our latest smartphones review were rated in the following order for overall customer satisfaction:

• 1^st OPPO
• 2^nd Samsung
• 3^rd Sony
• 4^th HTC
• 5^th Apple
• 6^th Huawei
• 7^th Nokia

That’s right, Apple is down in fifth place! But more importantly, OPPO has topped the ratings for the second time in as many years – that’s an awesome endorsement of the Chinese brand that is clearly keeping Aussies happy.

Samsung, Sony, HTC, Apple and Huawei all achieved four stars overall. It was just three stars for Nokia, suggesting the latest iterations of the once iconic phones are struggling to replicate the success of their predecessors.

While Apple, Sony and HTC all recorded top marks in some areas, OPPO was a clear winner once again, scoring five-star reviews on durability/longevity, battery life, appearance & style and value for money, in addition to overall satisfaction.

Which telcos sell smartphones?

If you’re looking to pick up a new smartphone on a plan, you’ll have a few choices for which provider you can go with. The big three telcos all have plans with most of the popular smartphones, while the smaller providers tend to offer one or a few of the more popular phones. The following table lists which of the more popular smartphones are available from Australian telcos and the contract lengths:

Smartphone Plans & Prices

So, if you want to get your hands on a brand new smartphone, what are your options? You could buy the handset outright and pick up a great SIM-only deal. Or you could sign up to a phone contract with one of Australia’s big telcos – Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone – or even a smaller provider (such as Southern Phone, TeleChoice or Woolworths Mobile). Here is a selection of plans from our database that are available with various smartphones, listed in order of monthly price. This table includes sponsored links.

Brand	Features	Max Data**/billing period	Advertised Cost^^/billing period
	$50 Handset Plan Unlimited standard national calls & SMS Unlimited texts to any country $29 set up fee min. cost $1,229 over 24 month plan period	20GBMax Data**/billing period	$50Advertised Data^^/billing period	Go To Site
	Green 40 Unlimited standard national calls & SMS min. cost $960 over 24 month plan period, plus any device repayments	30GBMax Data**/billing period	$40Advertised Data^^/billing period	Go To Site
	Large Unlimited standard national calls & SMS min. cost $50 over one month plan period, plus any device repayments	35GBMax Data**/billing period	$50Advertised Data^^/billing period	Go To Site
	$55 Red Plus Plan Unlimited data*(capped at 1.5Mbps after 80GB) Unlimited standard national calls & SMS 2000 international minutes to Zone 1 countries, 200 minutes to Zone 2 countries min. cost $55 over one month plan period, plus any device repayments	80GBMax Data**/billing period	$55Advertised Data^^/billing period	Go To Site
	$65 My Plan Plus Unlimited standard national calls & SMS Stream Optus Sport data free min. cost $1,560 over 24 month plan period, plus any device repayments	60GBMax Data**/billing period	$65Advertised Data^^/billing period
	Large Plan Unlimited standard national calls & SMS Data-free music and sports streaming No excess data charges Access the free Telstra Air WiFi network 5G network access included until 20 June, 2020 min. cost $80 over one month, plus any device payments	100GBMax Data**/billing period	$80Advertised Data^^/billing period	Go To Site
View all mobile plans listed on Canstar Blue			**^^View important information

OPPO: The Chinese brand making waves in Australia

For the second year in a row, OPPO has dominated Canstar Blue’s ratings – an impressive achievement for a company that’s frequently out-sold and out-marketed by Apple and Samsung. The manufacturer is already well-established with buyers in its home market of China, but is continuing to make inroads internationally with discerning Western customers who want an alternative to the iPhone.

A variety of OPPO phones are available in Australia, with outright prices ranging from $269 (for the OPPO A3s) up to just over $1000 (for the OPPO Find X). You can also grab the similarly-priced OPPO R17 Pro series which has prices starting at $899. No matter what your preferred price point, it’s likely that OPPO has a device to suit your needs, including mid-range options between $300 and $600 upfront.

OPPO’s smartphones run on its own ColorOS version of Android, and the brand is known for its stylish design: if you’re looking to move away from Apple, OPPO’s Find X and R17 releases mirror the iPhone aesthetic and ease-of-use, but offer a lower price tag. The company’s phones are also known for including great cameras and overall impressive performance, although specific results will depend on which model you decide to buy.

Overall, it’s not surprising that OPPO has come out on top once again — it’s a great alternative to Samsung or Apple, and its devices offer excellent customer satisfaction across a range of price points. But if you’re unsure if OPPO is right for you, read on for a guide to the seven smartphone brands in this year’s review.

OPPO R17 Pro plans and prices

In addition to being available to buy outright, OPPO’s latest phones are also on sale with plans from Vodafone, Optus, Telstra, TeleChoice and Woolworths Mobile. OPPO’s hero product, the R17 Pro, is available on contract from Vodafone and TeleChoice, while the older R15 Pro is offered by Telstra and Optus.

R17 Pro prices:

• Vodafone: From $59.97 per month ($24.97 handset payment with $35 Red Plan, over 36 months)
• TeleChoice: From $57 per month (with 4GB plan, over 24 months)

R15 Pro prices:

• Optus: From $55 per month ($10 handset payment with $45 My Plan Plus, over 24 months)
• Telstra: From $72 per month ($22 handset payment with $50 Small Plan, over 36 months)

Below are some of the other postpaid plans you can pair with your OPPO device; prices listed don’t include any device repayments. Plans are listed in order of price.

Brand	Features	Max Data**/billing period	Advertised Cost^^/billing period
	LIVE $35 Plan Unlimited standard national calls & SMS Unlimited texts to any country min. cost $840 over 24 month plan period, plus any device repayments	13GBMax Data**/billing period	$35Advertised Data^^/billing period	Go To Site
	$45 Red Plan Unlimited standard national calls & SMS 1000 international minutes to Zone 1 countries, 100 international minutes to Zone 2 countries min. cost $45 over one month plan period, plus any device repayments	30GBMax Data**/billing period	$45Advertised Data^^/billing period	Go To Site
	$45 My Plan Plus Unlimited national calls & SMS Stream Optus Sport data free min. cost $1,080 over 24 month plan period, plus any device repayments	4GBMax Data**/billing period	$45Advertised Data^^/billing period
	Small Plan Unlimited standard national calls & SMS Data-free music and sports streaming No excess data charges Access the free Telstra Air WiFi network 5G network access included until 20 June, 2020 min. cost $50 over one month, plus any device payments	15GBMax Data**/billing period	$50Advertised Data^^/billing period	Go To Site
View all mobile plans listed on Canstar Blue			**^^View important information

Apple iPhone 11 plans and prices

Apple continues to nail five-star ratings for user friendliness, explaining why so many Australians are remaining loyal to the iPhone brand. If you’re looking to buy an iPhone on a plan, Telstra, Optus and Vodafone all sell the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR models, with starting prices for the 64GB XS listed below.

• Vodafone: From $80 per month ($45 device payment with $35 Red Plan, over 36 months)
• Optus: From $103 per month ($58 device payment with $45 My Plan Plus, over 24 months)
• Telstra: From $95.33 per month ($45.33 device payment with $50 Small Plan, over 36 months)

It’s also worth noting that Vodafone allows you to pay your device off over 12. 24 or 36 months, with 36 months being the cheapest payment each month. Telstra also offers a choice between 24 or 36 months, with 36 months being the cheaper monthly price.

Below are some examples of 24-month postpaid plans available from Vodafone, Optus and Telstra for the 64GB iPhone 11, including current device repayments. Plans are listed in price order, then in order of monthly data; more plans are available by searching our comparison tool. This table includes links to referral partners.

Brand	Features	Max Data**/billing period	Advertised Cost^^/billing period
	Apple iPhone 11 64GB + $55 Red Plus Plan Unlimited data*(capped at 1.5Mbps after 80GB) Unlimited standard national calls & SMS 2000 international minutes to Zone 1 countries, 200 minutes to Zone 2 countries Price includes $49.95 monthly device payment PRE-ORDERS AVAILABLE FROM 10PM AEST, 13/09/19 min. cost $2,519 over 24 month plan period	80GBMax Data**/billing period	$104.95Advertised Data^^/billing period	Go To Site
	Apple iPhone 11 64GB + $65 My Plan Plus Unlimited standard national calls & SMS Stream Optus Sport data free Price includes $41 monthly device payment PRE-ORDERS AVAILABLE FROM 10PM AEST, 13/09/19 min. cost $2,544 over 24 month plan period	60GBMax Data**/billing period	$106Advertised Data^^/billing period
	Apple iPhone 11 64GB + $60 Medium Plan Unlimited standard national calls & SMS Data-free music and sports streaming No excess data charges Access the free Telstra Air WiFi network Price includes $50.00 monthly device payment 5G network access included until 20 June, 2020 PRE-ORDERS AVAILABLE FROM 10PM AEST, 13/09/19 min. cost $2,640 over 24 month plan period	60GBMax Data**/billing period	$110Advertised Data^^/billing period	Go To Site
View all mobile plans listed on Canstar Blue			**^^View important information

Samsung Galaxy S10 plans and prices

Samsung has again achieved a consistent four-star result in this year’s ratings, ranking in second place overall. There’s a wide range of Samsung phones available both outright and on plans, but its top-rated Galaxy series remains a best-seller. The latest release, the Galaxy S10 (along with the S10+ and S10e) is available from Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and Woolworths Mobile, with starting prices for the 128GB model listed below.

• Vodafone: From $72.47 per month ($37.47 device payment with $35 Red Plan, over 36 months)
• Telstra: From $88 per month ($38 device payment with $50 Small Plan, over 36 months)
• Optus: From $79 per month ($34 device payment with $45 My Plan Plus, over 24 months)
• Woolworths Mobile: From $57.47 per month ($37.47 device payment with $20 Extra-Small Plan, over 36 months)

More plan options for your Galaxy phone are listed below, again not including device costs. Plans are listed in price order; more plans are available by searching our comparison tool.

Brand	Features	Max Data**/billing period	Advertised Cost^^/billing period
	Small Unlimited standard national calls & SMS min. cost $30 over one month plan period, plus any device repayments	10GBMax Data**/billing period	$30Advertised Data^^/billing period	Go To Site
	$35 Red Plan Unlimited national calls & SMS min. cost $35 over one month, plus any device repayments	5GBMax Data**/billing period	$35Advertised Data^^/billing period	Go to Site
	$45 My Plan Plus Unlimited standard national calls & SMS Stream Optus Sport data free min. cost $1,080 over 24 month plan period, plus any device repayments	4GBMax Data**/billing period	$45Advertised Data^^/billing period
	Small Plan Unlimited standard national calls & SMS Data-free music and sports streaming No excess data charges Access the free Telstra Air WiFi network 5G network access included until 20 June, 2020 min. cost $50 over one month, plus any device repayments	15GBMax Data**/billing period	$50Advertised Data^^/billing period	Go To Site
View all mobile plans listed on Canstar Blue			**^^View important information

Huawei Mate20 Pro plans and prices

Like OPPO, Huawei is a Chinese company with a ‘giant killer’ reputation. Huawei’s devices are known for offering great cameras and serious value for money, and you can pick up the brand’s flagship Mate20 Pro on plans from Optus and Vodafone, for the below prices.

• Vodafone: From $79.41 per month ($44.41 device payment with $35 Red Plan, over 36 months)
• Optus: From $70 per month ($25 device payment with $45 My Plan Plus, over 24 months)

You can pair a new Huawei device with any number of plans from Vodafone and Optus, with more plan options below, although phone payment costs aren’t included. Plans are listed in price order.

Brand	Features	Max Data**/billing period	Advertised Cost^^/billing period
	$55 Red Plus Plan Unlimited data*(capped at 1.5Mbps after 80GB) Unlimited standard national calls & SMS 2000 international minutes to Zone 1 countries, 200 minutes to Zone 2 countries min. cost $55 over one month plan period, plus any device repayments	80GBMax Data**/billing period	$55Advertised Data^^/billing period	Go To Site
	$65 My Plan Plus Unlimited standard national calls & SMS Stream Optus Sport data free min. cost $1,560 over 24 month plan period, plus any device repayments	60GBMax Data**/billing period	$65Advertised Data^^/billing period
View all mobile plans listed on Canstar Blue			**^^View important information

Sony Xperia XZ2 plans and prices

Sony remains one of the most trusted names in electronics and has ranked third overall in this year’s smartphone ratings. The company’s more recent flagship smartphone model, the Xperia XZ2 is unfortunately hard to come by now. It had previously been available exclusively through Telstra, however now you’ll be hard pressed to find a device from the telco. If this device is what you’re after, you might have to do some serious searching online to find it to buy outright.

HTC U12+ plans and prices

HTC has landed solidly in the middle of this year’s ratings, but remains a solid and consistent competitor. The Taiwanese company’s flagship series is its ‘U’ range, with the HTC U12+ a premium Android device that’s packed with high-end features.

Unfortunately, the U12+ isn’t currently available on Australian telco plans, but you can pick up the high-priced phone (or any other HTC device) directly from the manufacturer’s online store. The U12+ is priced at $1,199 upfront, and can be paired with your choice of SIM-only plan.

Nokia 8 plans and prices

There’s more to Nokia than the classic 3310 — the enduring European company continues to release quality smartphones, albeit slightly under the radar. Its Nokia 8 series is a more-affordable, long-lasting alternative to higher-priced options from Samsung or OPPO, with a $899 RRP price tag (or up to $1,199 for the premium Nokia 8 Sirocco).

Nokia offers a great selection of phones across various price tiers, but as with HTC, none of its devices are currently available on Australian telco plans (with the exception of the aforementioned Nokia 3310, which you can pick up from Southern Phone).

Is the hottest smartphone a smart option?

You may be surprised to learn that 58% of survey respondents always buy the same brand of smartphone and while it makes sense for buyers to stick with what they know, getting stuck in a phone rut could mean you’re missing out on a better option. While Apple loyalists may be reluctant to look elsewhere, there are plenty of comparable (and more affordable) alternatives available.

According to Canstar Blue’s survey, almost half of us (47%) prefer to upgrade only when our current phone plan expires, with a relatively small 14% of participants upgrading each year. Unless there’s a problem with your existing phone, there’s really no practical reason for upgrading every 12 months – and with the average plan user spending around $86 per month on their device, chasing the hottest handset can cost you serious dollars.

Even if you do buy over a standard 24-month plan, you don’t need to automatically upgrade to a new phone as soon as your contract expires. If you’re still happy with your handset, you can switch to a SIM-only plan and go month-to-month, rather than locking yourself in to another long-term contract. A contract-free, SIM-only plan is a perfect move for when you’re weighing up your options – and with 12% of survey respondents admitting they regret buying their current phone, it pays to shop around before you commit.

Compare Phones on a Plan