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MagyarOur take on the top 10 bestselling smartphones on Amazon
While most users in the US prefer getting their phones subsidized via a contract with their carrier, many also look for an outright purchase of a fully unlocked phone if they sense changing carriers often or just need a backup phone. Amazon offers a good selection of unlocked phones from popular brands along with some sweet deals and price-cuts. Therefore, it makes sense to have a look at the Amazon bestseller list to see which unlocked smartphones are popular among buyers and what makes them tick. If you are looking for category-specific options, the following articles might be useful —
Bestselling smartphones on Amazon
Position | Total Rating | Date | Image | Model | Height | Weight | Size | Resolution | OS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 79.8 % | 11/2019 |  | Samsung Galaxy M30s Samsung Exynos 9611 ARM Mali-G72 MP3 4 GB Memory, 64 GB UFS 2.1 | 8.9 mm | 188 g | 6.40" | 2340x1080 | Android 9.0 Pie |
| 2 | 78.3 % | 05/2019 |  | Huawei P30 Lite HiSilicon Kirin 710 ARM Mali-G51 MP4 4 GB Memory, 128 GB eMMC | 7.4 mm | 159 g | 6.15" | 2312x1080 | Android 9.0 Pie |
| 3 | 87.1 % | 09/2019 |  | Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max Apple A13 Bionic Apple A13 Bionic GPU 4 GB Memory, 64 GB SSD | 8.1 mm | 226 g | 6.50" | 2688x1242 | Apple iOS 13 |
| 4 | 75.5 % | 07/2019 |  | Samsung Galaxy A20e Samsung Exynos 7884B ARM Mali-G71 MP2 3 GB Memory, 32 GB eMMC | 8.4 mm | 141 g | 5.80" | 1560x720 | Android 9.0 Pie |
| 5 | 79.1 % | 05/2019 |  | Samsung Galaxy A40 Samsung Exynos 7904 ARM Mali-G71 MP2 4 GB Memory, 64 GB eMMC | 7.9 mm | 140 g | 5.90" | 2340x1080 | Android 9.0 Pie |
| 6 | 74.9 % | 08/2019 |  | Samsung Galaxy A10 Samsung Exynos 7884B ARM Mali-G71 MP2 2 GB Memory, 32 GB eMMC | 7.9 mm | 168 g | 6.20" | 1520x720 | Android 9.0 Pie |
| 7 | 80.7 % | 11/2019 |  | Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro Mediatek Helio G90T ARM Mali-G76 MP4 6 GB Memory, 128 GB UFS 2.0 | 8.79 mm | 200 g | 6.53" | 2340x1080 | Android 9.0 Pie |
| 8 | 87.4 % | 03/2019 |  | Samsung Galaxy S10 Samsung Exynos 9820 ARM Mali-G76 MP12 8 GB Memory, 128 GB UFS 2.1 | 7.8 mm | 157 g | 6.10" | 3040x1440 | Android 9.0 Pie |
| 9 | 79.8 % | 01/2020 |  | Samsung Galaxy A51 Samsung Exynos 9611 ARM Mali-G72 MP3 4 GB Memory, 128 GB UFS 2.0 | 7.9 mm | 172 g | 6.50" | 2400x1080 | Android 10 |
| 10 | 84.9 % | 12/2018 |  | Huawei P Smart 2019 HiSilicon Kirin 710 ARM Mali-G51 MP4 3 GB Memory, 64 GB eMMC | 7.95 mm | 160 g | 6.20" | 2340x1080 | Android 9.0 Pie |
Editor's Note
The Amazon bestsellers list provides an idea as to what categories and brands of unlocked smartphones are preferred by end-users. This list is dynamic and changes almost on a daily basis. The current selection of smartphones reflects the bestseller ranking at the time of writing. New smartphones populate this list often so we will be keeping this list up to date on a monthly basis. The purchase links at the end of each product description take you directly to the product listing. We've also included a Pricecompare tool to help you with alternate options, if available.
BLU phones seem to be receiving good patronage in the US so we've included them in this article, although we haven't tested them ourselves yet.
Note: NotebookCheck receives a small affiliate commission for products purchased via the included Amazon links.
1st – Samsung Galaxy M30s
At the time of writing an Amazon exclusive the Samsung Galaxy M30s offers a ginormous 6,000 mAh battery. Thanks to support for 15 W quick charging it can be filled back up in acceptable time. Accordingly, the smartphone should last a very long time. See more in our upcoming review.
Gigantic battery, large screen, and small price. The Samsung Galaxy M30s is an exciting device.
At 6.4 inches the Samsung Galaxy M30s is a comparatively large smartphone. Like most Samsung smartphones it comes with am AMOLED display and is priced at around $250.
Pricecompare
2nd - Huawei P30 Lite
The “Lite” Moniker in the Huawei P30 Lite should be taken very seriously. Compared to Huawei’s high-end smartphones this device offers run-of-the-mill mid-range technology that does not set it apart too much from its similarly priced competitors. Except for the camera, that is. The P30 Lite offers an excellent high-resolution front-facing camera. Its price dropped to acceptable levels, and the device offers a modern design, good build quality, and large albeit somewhat slow storage.
The Huawei P30 Lite is a modern smartphone that cannot set itself apart from its comparatively priced competitors.
The Wi-Fi modem is slow, the number of supported LTE frequencies too low for international travel, and the display does not get particularly bright either. And last but not least the SoC tends to thermal throttle under high load.
Pricecompare
3rd – Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
Apple’s largest 2019 iPhone is the iPhone 11 Pro Max, and at 226 g it is quite hefty indeed. In return, you get long battery life, a very fast Wi-Fi modem, a great OLED display, massive performance, and a good triple-camera.
A well-done update to last year’s iPhone with great battery life.
Instead of a huge number of innovations Apple offers minor improvements instead. However, this doesn’t mean they are not worth their price. Consider the HDR-capable display, the improved camera, especially in low light, wireless charging and fast Face ID unlocking.
Pricecompare
4th – Samsung Galaxy A20e
The Samsung Galaxy A20e is equipped adequately for its price. 32 GB of storage are nothing to write home about and can be found in many other devices in its price range. Storage space can be further expanded via microSD. At the rear, we find a dual-camera with a lower resolution ultra-wide-angle lens that allows you to capture images from different angles.
At first sight a “normal” affordable mid-range competitor. When you look closely, it turns out to be a very well-equipped device at a great price.
The 3,000 mAh battery is also nothing extraordinary in this price range. The A20e further supports NFC and offers a decent camera and fast charging.
Pricecompare
5th – Samsung Galaxy A40
The Samsung Galaxy A40 is a small and affordable member of Samsung’s rebranded range of mid-range devices. At around $200 it offers a compact high-quality case, low weight, and an AMOLED display with high color space coverage rates. Furthermore, the device does not thermal throttle under sustained load.
Thanks to its compact size, its good performance, and its long battery life the Galaxy A40 can be considered the new affordable mid-range benchmark.
When compared to the Galaxy M20 the differences are mainly the higher quality case, the lower weight, and the more compact size. Both devices offer the exact same level of performance.
Pricecompare
6th – Samsung Galaxy A10
Samsung’s entry-level mid-range smartphone, the Galaxy A10, will set you back around $130. It might come in an all-plastic case but offers comparatively high performance for its price, up-to-date software, a dedicated microSD slot, a high-contrast display, and an accurate GPS modem in return.
However, it does also require quite a few compromises that can become quite challenging in everyday situations. For example, the display lacks an ambient light sensor that has become more or less standard in affordable smartphones these days. It also lacks a compass and a notification LED.
At $130 Samsung’s Galaxy A10 is a respectable offering that lacks a few standard features.
Due to its good camera for this price range the Samsung Galaxy A10 deserves our endorsement nevertheless. That is if you don’t mind the missing features.
Pricecompare
7th – Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro
At around $250 the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro offers quite a bit: a high-resolution camera, a large battery, and a fast SoC capable of keeping up with much more expensive high-end smartphones.
Great price-performance ratio in a good-looking case.
Fast charging and a display with a small water drop notch turn the Redmi Note 8 Pro into a great deal.
Pricecompare
8th – Samsung Galaxy S10
The Samsung Galaxy S10 is Samsung’s 2018 flagship smartphone that was offered in three different models. In addition to the S10, Samsung also sold a larger S10+ as well as a more affordable S10e.
Its highlights include a great in-display fingerprint reader, microSD-expandable storage, a great display, good stereo speakers, and plenty of performance.
The cameras continue to play in the big league but are not capable to keep up with the real pros in this field, namely the Huawei P30 Pro. In return, the Galaxy S10 is the king of the hill when it comes to recording video.
An overall excellent flagship smartphone with a few flaws.
As is often the case Samsung’s claims to battery life are nowhere near what you would expect of a high-end smartphone these days. In addition, the SoC thermal throttles under load and face detection is not particularly reliable.
Pricecompare
9th – Samsung Galaxy A51
Samsung’s Galaxy A51 is nowhere near perfect. Truth be told both performance and battery life are below average, and browsing the web turned out to be slower than on other similarly priced devices. However, it is a quintessentially solid and good smartphone that customers seem to respect. The compact case looks pretty good, the camera is very powerful thanks to its four lenses, it offers a wider variety of supported LTE frequencies than its predecessor, and it remained comparatively cool to the touch even under load.
Samsung’s modern and well-designed software is updated regularly, at least according to our experience.
The Samsung Galaxy A51 is a quintessentially solid and good mid-range smartphone.
The Galaxy A51 may not be the mid-range benchmark, but it also lacks any serious flaws and seems to be a very popular choice among customers.
Pricecompare
10th – Huawei P Smart 2019
The Huawei P Smart 2019 has become even cheaper since it was first introduced, but it was worth a look even when brand-new and sold at full price. It offers decent performance, a modern design with narrow bezels, a good display, and a camera that is more than adequate enough for quick snaps.
A good smartphone that offers a lot for its price.
The Huawei P Smart 2019 should suffice for most requirements, except for battery life. In addition, the case was fairly susceptible to scratches, and Wi-Fi performance was average at best. Nevertheless, it has become so cheap that it fully deserves our endorsement.
Pricecompare
Test Results
| Samsung Galaxy M30s | Huawei P30 Lite | Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy A20e | Samsung Galaxy A40 | Samsung Galaxy A10 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S10 | Samsung Galaxy A51 | Huawei P Smart 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Response Times | ||||||||||
| Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 10 ? | 54.4 ? | 7 ? | 44.4 ? | 10 ? | 38 ? | 38.4 ? | 5.6 ? | 26 ? | 50.8 ? |
| Response Time Black / White * | 8 ? | 31.2 ? | 2.8 ? | 20.8 ? | 8 ? | 16 ? | 20 ? | 4 ? | 24 ? | 27.2 ? |
| PWM Frequency | 118 | 245.1 ? | 349.7 ? | 245 | 77 ? | 240.4 ? | 242.7 | |||
| Screen | ||||||||||
| Brightness middle | 600 | 451 | 790 | 475 | 358 | 451 | 669 | 701 | 589 | 458 |
| Brightness | 597 | 430 | 790 | 473 | 370 | 430 | 630 | 705 | 589 | 440 |
| Brightness Distribution | 95 | 90 | 97 | 93 | 94 | 90 | 87 | 98 | 94 | 85 |
| Black Level * | 0.55 | 0.35 | 0.22 | 0.42 | 0.35 | |||||
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 2.5 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 6.8 | 7.4 | 5.44 | 4.8 | 3.7 | 2.22 | 1.4 |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 7.17 | 4.4 | 3.4 | 13.4 | 12.5 | 11.94 | 9 | 10.3 | 8.24 | 3.8 |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 2 | 2.5 | 1.9 | 8.7 | 4 | 7.8 | 6.2 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 2.4 |
| Gamma | 2.013 109% | 2.22 99% | 2.23 99% | 2.33 94% | 2.084 106% | 2.206 100% | 2.24 98% | 2.1 105% | 2.111 104% | 2.22 99% |
| CCT | 6399 102% | 6422 101% | 6466 101% | 9385 69% | 7078 92% | 9149 71% | 7846 83% | 6553 99% | 6508 100% | 6235 104% |
| Contrast | 820 | 1357 | 2050 | 1593 | 1309 | |||||
| Heat | ||||||||||
| Maximum Upper Side * | 36 | 42.3 | 40.1 | 35.1 | 42.4 | 38.7 | 37.1 | 37.4 | 39.9 | 35.5 |
| Maximum Bottom * | 33.9 | 42.9 | 42.3 | 34.3 | 41.5 | 38.7 | 36.6 | 37.3 | 39.3 | 36 |
| Idle Upper Side * | 27.3 | 36.1 | 35 | 29.7 | 27.6 | 29.2 | 33.8 | 28.8 | 26.6 | 32.9 |
| Idle Bottom * | 28.4 | 32.4 | 32.4 | 28.7 | 27.9 | 29.8 | 28.7 | 27.8 | 26.5 | 27.7 |
| Battery Runtime | ||||||||||
| Reader / Idle | 2206 | 1248 | 2618 | 1432 | 1689 | 1489 | 1893 | 1259 | 1689 | 1293 |
| H.264 | 1269 | 685 | 1346 | 753 | 825 | 802 | 984 | 842 | 846 | 464 |
| WiFi v1.3 | 1154 | 515 | 909 | 715 | 643 | 753 | 864 | 427 | 698 | 506 |
| Load | 336 | 198 | 408 | 250 | 277 | 276 | 212 | 170 | 289 | 257 |
| Power Consumption | ||||||||||
| Idle Minimum * | 1 | 0.91 | 0.92 | 0.66 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.79 | 0.61 | 0.9 | 0.84 |
| Idle Average * | 1.9 | 2.41 | 2.9 | 1.63 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 2.32 | 1.27 | 1.7 | 2.21 |
| Idle Maximum * | 2.4 | 2.43 | 2.94 | 1.67 | 2.3 | 2 | 2.38 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 2.23 |
| Load Average * | 5 | 4.57 | 3.65 | 2.77 | 7.4 | 5.4 | 4.72 | 6.17 | 5.2 | 4.2 |
| Load Maximum * | 6.3 | 7.57 | 6.18 | 3.66 | 8.6 | 6 | 7.68 | 8.55 | 6.6 | 7.86 |
* ... smaller is better
Benchmarks
| PCMark for Android - Work 2.0 performance score (sort by value) | |
| Samsung Galaxy M30s | |
| Huawei P30 Lite | |
| Samsung Galaxy A20e | |
| Samsung Galaxy A40 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A10 | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy S10 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A51 | |
| Huawei P Smart 2019 | |
| Geekbench 5.4 | |
| Single-Core (sort by value) | |
| Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | |
| Multi-Core (sort by value) | |
| Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | |
| AnTuTu v8 - Total Score (sort by value) | |
| Samsung Galaxy M30s | |
| Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy A51 | |
| PUBG Mobile - HD (sort by value) | |
| Huawei P30 Lite | |
| Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy S10 | |
