The iPhone 13 Pro Max is arguably the best big phone you can buy. It has the same crushing performance and exquisite camera you’ll find on the iPhone 13 Pro, but with an upgraded 6.7” OLED screen.

So, what about that display? Unlike the regular iPhone 13, the iPhone 13 Pro Max gets Apple’s new ProMotion adaptive refresh rate technology, which goes up to a super-smooth 120Hz when needed, or down to a battery-saving 10Hz when not. For the most part, this is a fantastic display, offering class-leading brightness and contrast, together with characteristically wide viewing angles.

It’s worth pointing out, however, that this screen’s 1,284×2,778 resolution means it can’t display quite as much detail as some other big rivals. While that could be an issue if you often work with lots of information – a spreadsheet app, for example – it’s still more than enough to show full HD content. And while you might fit more of your game world on the screen with some other large phones, nothing comes close to the frame rates you’ll get from the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s incredible processor.

This is an insanely expensive phone, and there could be better options if you’re mostly interested in multimedia or detailed apps. If you can live with slower performance and an inferior camera, you could save money with a refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max. However, if you want the best big phone for games or moviemaking, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is unrivalled.

The Pixel 6 Pro is Google’s biggest phone yet, or at least, its 6.7” screen is the biggest yet found on a Pixel. It’s a cracker, too, featuring a 1,440×3,120 resolution that helps it render beautifully sharp images. As you’d expect from a high-end OLED, there’s a 120Hz variable refresh rate, and stunning brightness, contrast and colour.

This phone isn’t all about its screen, though. It’s distinctive to look at, and Google’s own Tensor processor gives it a few party tricks you won’t find anywhere else. These range from automatic transcription and translation services, through to Magic Eraser – which automatically touches out unwanted parts of your photos.

Like other Pixels, the Pixel 6 Pro will be one of the first phones to get security and operating system updates. The Pixel 6 range launched with Android 12, and Google promises updates to October 2024 – probably including Android 15.

While its looks aren’t for everyone, and it won’t win every performance drag race, Google’s first truly high-end phone performs well and feels different. Enhanced by Pixel-only features and Google support, it’s a big phone to hold on to.

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G has nothing less than a 6.9” display, making it one of the biggest smartphones you can buy. Or at least, you could, until Samsung discontinued the Note lineup. Now if you fancy one, you’ll need to look for a refurbished Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G. So why would you want to?

Well, there’s no getting away from that screen. It’s a beautiful OLED panel offering a 1,440×3,088 resolution, and up to a 120Hz refresh rate. But more than that, it works with the supplied S Pen to support a whole range of inputs. From note-taking, through drawing, documenting or just scribbling, this is a great way to capture your thoughts.

At the back there’s a three-camera setup featuring a mighty 108MP wide lens and a 5x optical zoom. Processing power comes from Samsung’s Exynos 990 chip which, while not the best, still gives plenty of grunt. And the phone’s big 4,500mAh battery ensures you can make the most of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G all day long.

This isn’t the newest device. Launched in August 2020, it shipped with Android 10 and is currently upgraded to Android 11. Android 12 is expected around the end of 2021, and Samsung has pledged to include a further update to Android 13, along with security updates until around August 2024. All this, together with 5G, makes this a cheaper big phone option with truly long-term appeal.