Top 10 Best Mobiles for Business 2021

Choosing a personal mobile is a matter of cost, style and platform preference usually. Choosing a business mobile, however, is a little more complex. Sure, cost, style and platform preference may well still come into it but size, performance, battery life, durability and more all have to be factored in too.

Given the sheer volume of different phones from different manufacturers on the market it’s important to know what you want from a mobile before you go shopping.

As business mobile and mobile contract providers, here at Keeley Travis we know our phones pretty well and so, in an effort to make your decision making process a little easier, we decided to compile our top 10 mobile phones for business in 2021, each with their own unique benefits.

In no particular order then…

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

When money is no object then you can’t go far wrong with the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. Boasting a massive 6.8″ screen, a superb camera and the current fastest processor available for Android, the S21 Ultra is your go-to option.

Battery life is excellent, lasting up to two days quite easily and the overall user experience is smooth thanks to the high refresh rate of the screen.

If it’s power and screen size you’re after this phone has it in spades. And, of course, if photos are your thing there’s probably only one better camera out there – on the iPhone 12 Pro Max.

If you like to use a stylus with your handheld then the S21 Ultra can do that too – but you have to buy it separately.

Downside? Samsung software. It can be quite clunky to use, it’s pretty cluttered making it less intuitive than other Android phones and ads pop up in the most annoying of places – like the weather app, for example. I mean, who needs that?

Price wise you’re right at the top end but you can sacrifice a bit of power to save money with the S21 and S21 Plus, both of which which cost a little less and you may be able to get a deal on them.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

There are two reasons to opt for the Note 20 Ultra over the S21 Ultra – first, the built in stylus, which will save you a pretty penny on buying it separately, second the huge battery and screen, which trumps the S21; 4,500mAH and 6.9″ respectively!

The Note is a versatile and powerful piece of kit, ideal for when you’re out and about and have to take notes on the fly without worrying about the phone dying on you.

Oh, the camera is pretty tasty too.

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max

If your work involves a lot of photography and/or video then the camera is the most important feature and you simply cannot get better than the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Three rear cameras offer standard wide, ultra wide and telephoto options, whilst the camera sensor is larger than in any other phone allowing it to gather more light and produce better image quality in most lighting conditions.

There is also a much improved image stabilisation feature providing sharpness, even in low light.

There are some drawbacks with this phone though – it’s HUGE, making it more difficult to handle. You MAY prefer the standard iPhone 12 in this case.

Caterpillar CAT S61

If you work in the field a lot – construction, say – then your number one consideration for your phone will be durability, in which case look no further than the Caterpillar CAT S61.

Manufactured by heavy equipment company Caterpillar, the C61 is a rock. Drop proof to 1.8m, able to survive in up to 5 metres of water for up to an hour and meeting the MIL-SPEC810G standard for device hardiness, the S61 will stand up to whatever you throw at it.

It’s also pretty useful for the type of job that would require such toughness, with its thermal imaging camera, air quality monitor and laser measuring tool.

Oh, and just in case you somehow manage to damage the screen, Caterpillar do free screen repairs. We fancy this phone just for that!

OnePlus 9 Pro

The OnePlus 9 Pro is not exactly a direct challenge to the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, lacking its power, but it is a viable alternative, not least because it is significantly cheaper and, key for those who like a smooth experience, it is free from Samsung’s bloatware and ad heavy apps.

But it’s not just that – the OnePlus 9 Pro offers reverse wireless charging (from 1% to 100% in just 43 minutes!), a 120Hz adaptive display and a camera that’s much improved on previous OnePlus models.

It’s arguable you get more bang for your buck overall with the OnePlus over the Samsung given its price point. A worthy consideration, for sure.

Microsoft Surface Duo

The only foldable phone on the list – because we’re not yet QUITE convinced by foldable screens for business – the Microsoft Surface Duo earns its spot thanks to its productivity benefits.

Microsoft have worked hard on the software to provide a (near) seamless experience between PC, laptop and phone through the MS software suite. If you know what you’re doing it’s very possible you’ll love this phone for work.

Unfortunately, that’s where the appeal ends. The camera is average (and that’s being generous), it looks terrible and it doesn’t support 5G. ANd yet for pure work purposes, it’s pretty good.

If you can stomach the hefty price tag, that is…

Apple iPhone 12 Mini

Size is definitely not everything so for those of you that require a smaller phone we highly recommend the iPhone 12 Mini.

There’s no compromise on power, style or camera as it boasts all its big brother, the iPhone 12, has to offer. Same processor, same same quality build, same camera, same 5G support…

It’s just…smaller. And slightly cheaper.

Even so, the 5.4″ screen is big enough for most tasks and far easier to use one handed, with even those with the smallest hands likely to be able to reach the top of the screen with their thumb.

This is the top pick in the “small” mobile phone category.

Blackberry Key2 LE

If you’re one of those who yearn for simpler times or need to feel the touch of a keyboard beneath your fingertips then the Blackberry Key2 LE is the phone for you.

Of course, these days that’s just a gimmick, not a reason to choose the Blackberry as a business phone. No, you’d do that because it is enterprise ready.

It is compatible with MDM solutions and has zero-touch deployment capabilities. Around a 22 hour battery life, dual account support and a software locker, allowing duplicate apps, the Blackberry Key2 LE could be the answer for businesses looking to quickly and easily deploy a volume of phones to staff that allow them to do their jobs.

Google Pixel 5

With Google phones you get pure Android, no bloatware, which is in itself a reason to opt for it over the likes of Samsung especially (unless you need ALL THAT POWER!). But more than this, if your company runs on Google Workspace (formerly GSuite) then choosing a Google phone to operate remotely makes perfect sense.

And even if it doesn’t, the Google Pixel 5 is an awesome mobile for business. 5G ready, of course, the Pixel 5 still holds the crown for best mobile camera thanks to Google’s software and security is top notch thanks to regular updates to the OS and Google’s suite of apps.

The price is significantly better than the likes of Samsung and Apple too, if that’s a consideration.

Google Pixel 4A

Last but by no means least we have the Google Pixel 4a, the most affordable 5G ready mobile currently available.

You’re not going to get oodles of RAM, though there is enough so you’ll never notice unless you run it hard, there’s no wireless charging, no face unlock and it’s plastic.

But it’s CHEAP (under £400), the camera is as good as any thanks to Google’s brilliant image processing software and it’s 5G ready (did we mention that?).

The perfect phone for those on a budget or looking to deploy many phones to staff.

Of course, no matter which one you opt for, you’re going to need a competitive mobile contract for your business – that’s where Keeley Travis comes in.

We can help you get the best business mobile deals, including hardware or SIM-only, with the likes of O2, Vodaphone and EE. Find out more here or call us now on 0161 683 4247.