Business phones: The best ones to get in 2019

If you want to buy a smartphone for personal use, there are tons of options to choose from. However, consumer phones don’t always quite cut it for business use. Companies and entrepreneurs usually want phones that are more powerful than the average handset and come equipped with various security features. The good news is that there are plenty of business phones out there to choose from. Here are the best business phones you can get!

Best business phones:

Editor’s note: We’ll be updating this list of the best business phones regularly as new ones launch.

1. Samsung Galaxy Note 10 series

The S Pen is the main reason that puts the Galaxy Note 10 and 10 Plus among the best business phones you can get. Samsung’s stylus lets you quickly make notes, sign documents, and even change slides during a PowerPoint presentation.

The phones feature the Samsung Knox platform that protects them against intrusion, malware, and more malicious threats. They also have Secure Folder on board, which keeps all your sensitive files private by storing them in an encrypted space. And for times when you want to boost productivity, you can use Samsung Dex to hook up the phones to an external monitor for additional screen real estate.

The Galaxy Note 10 phones offer plenty of power for business users. Thanks to the Snapdragon 855 or Exynos 9825 chipset — depending on the region — and as much as 12GB of RAM, you can expect the devices to handle just about any task with ease.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 specs:

Galaxy Note 10 Plus specs:

2. Google Pixel 3 series

The Pixel 3 and 3 XL both run stock Android, which means you’re getting a clean, bloat-free software experience. There are no extra apps on board like you get with a lot of phones from other manufacturers, most of which you’ll likely never use and can’t get rid off.

Both phones are guaranteed to get software as well as security updates for three years after launch — until October 2021 — so you should be safe from security bugs that might be discovered during that time. Since the Pixel 3 and 3 XL are stock Android devices, they will also be among the first in line to get these updates.

You get plenty of power thanks to the Snapdragon 845, which isn’t the latest chipset but is still suitable for heavy users. The Pixels also have one of the best smartphone cameras you can currently get and the innovative Active Edge feature that allows you to quickly launch Google Assistant just by squeezing the edges of a phone.

Pixel 3 specs:

Pixel 3 XL specs:

3. OnePlus 7 series

There are a couple of reasons why the OnePlus 7 Pro is among the best phones for business you can get. It has a large 6.68-inch display, plenty of power under the hood, and the Warp Charge technology that gets the battery from zero to 100 percent in no time at all.

There are a few great software features on board, some of which have security in mind. These include App Locker, which secures your data-sensitive apps from prying eyes — learn more here. The phone also has a pop-up selfie camera, which is great for entrepreneurs worried about privacy, as the camera is hidden when not in use.

The OnePlus 7 offers less than the Pro model but is still a great business phone. It offers the same software experience and also sports a fast charging technology, although the charging rate is reduced from 30W to 20W. It’s also powered by the same chipset. However, you’re getting a smaller display — which may be a plus for some — two rear cameras instead of three, and a smaller battery. There’s no pop-up selfie camera on board either. There are a few other differences between the two phones, which you can check out here.

OnePlus 7 Pro specs:

OnePlus 7 specs:

4. Moto Z4

The Moto Z4 supports Moto Mods, which attach to the back of the phone and either give it new functionality or improve existing ones. There are quite a few Moto Mods available, but those that are best suited for business users include a battery and a projector — check them out here. There’s also a Moto Mod available that transforms the Moto Z4 into a 5G device.

The Moto Z4 isn’t as powerful as the OnePlus 7 Pro of the Galaxy Note 10 Plus, as it packs the mid-range Snapdragon 675 chipset along with 4GB of RAM under the hood. However, that’s still good enough for most business-related tasks you’ll do on your phone.

You get a single 48MP camera at the back, an in-display fingerprint scanner, and a near-stock Android experience. The phone also sports a headphone jack that’s missing on most high-end phones these days and offers great battery life.

Moto Z4 specs:

5. BlackBerry Key2 series

No list of best business phones would be complete without a BlackBerry device. The BlackBerry Key2 is among the few phones that still sport a physical keyboard. This makes typing a bit easier for some, although the keyboard does eat away quite a bit of screen real estate.

The keyboard has a few extra features as well. You can swipe in any direction on it to scroll through apps and web pages and program up to 52 shortcuts. The phone also features a few privacy-focused apps like Private Lock, which is a fingerprint-protected app that lets you hide things you normally wouldn’t want to appear in the main parts of your phone.

For those who want to save some money, the Key2 LE is the better option — get it here. You still get the same keyboard and software features as with the regular phone, but the handset takes a hit in the horsepower, battery, and camera departments. Nevertheless, it’s still a great option for business users.

BlackBerry Key2 specs:

BlackBerry Key2 LE specs:

6. Samsung Galaxy S10 series

If you don’t see yourself using the Galaxy Note 10’s S Pen but want a Samsung phone for your business needs, consider getting one of the Galaxy S10 phones. All three — the Galaxy S10, S10 Plus, and S10e — feature the Samsung Knox security platform and software features like Secure Folder, just like the Note phones.

You also get a headphone jack, expandable storage, an IP68 rating, and more than enough power under the hood. The Plus model offers the most of the three, offering the largest display and two front-facing cameras. Most of its other specs and features, including the in-display fingerprint scanner and triple-camera setup, are the same as those of the regular Galaxy S10.

If you’re looking to save money, the Galaxy S10e is the one for you. It costs the least but also has the smallest display, sports two rear cameras instead of three, and comes with a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. Its display also doesn’t have those fancy curves on the sides.

Samsung Galaxy S10e specs:

Samsung Galaxy S10 specs:

Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus specs:

7. Google Pixel 3a series

The same reasons that make the Pixel 3 and 3 XL great business phones apply to the Pixel 3a and 3a XL as well. The handsets offer a clean software experience without tons of third-party apps pre-installed. They will also get Android and security updates until May 2022 — for three years after their debut.

The phones sport a near identical replica of the great camera you get on the Pixel 3 phones as well as the Active Edge feature that lets you quickly summon Assistant, which can help you create a note, set a reminder for a meeting, make an important call to a client, and so on. They are also cheaper, but they do offer less in the specs department.

The Pixel 3a and 3a XL are mid-range devices, packing the Snapdragon 670 chipset under the hood along with 4GB of RAM. That’s less impressive than the high-end Snapdragon 845 you get in the Pixel 3 phones, but it’s still good enough for day-to-day business task you’ll be doing on your phone.

Pixel 3a specs:

Pixel 3a XL specs:

8. CAT S61

The last model on our list of the best business phones is the CAT S61. It’s not the most powerful device on the market or the latest. It’s also very niche, which means it’s not for everyone. The reason we included it is because it’s a great choice for those in the construction business or for those who need something rugged and durable.

The handset features a thermal camera that can measure temperatures of up to 400 degrees Celsius. It also includes a laser that measures things up to 33 feet away and a Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) that can detect air quality every 30 seconds. Impressive!

As you you tell just by looking at it, the CAT S61 can take a beating. Not only is it IP68 rated for protection against water and dust, but its aluminum frame also meets the MIL-810G standard that allows it to survive six-foot drops. Other things worth mentioning is that the 5.2-inch display can be used with wet hands or while wearing gloves and that the battery is quite large at 4,500mAh.

CAT S61 specs:

These are the best phones for business in our opinion, although there are a few other great options out there as well. We’ll make sure to update this list with new models once they hit the market.