1. Apple iPhone XS / XS Max
Simply the best smartphone you can buy today. Just choose a screen size…
Specifications
Weight: 177g / 208g
Dimensions: 143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7mm / 157.5 x 77.4 x 7.7mm
OS: iOS12
Screen size: 5.8 inches / 6.5 inches
Resolution: 1125 x 2436 pixels / 1,242 x 2,688 pixels
CPU: Apple A12 Bionic
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64/256/512GB
Battery: 2658mAh / 3174 mAh
Rear camera: Dual 12MP
Front camera: 7 MP f/2.2
Reasons to buy
+Incredibly desirable
+Massively powerful and fast
+Fantastic HDR screen
+Massively powerful and fast
+Fantastic HDR screen
Reasons to avoid
-Average battery life
The first thing that strikes you about the design is, obviously, the
gorgeous Super Retina OLED screen. It's certainly true that the
edge-to-edge screen looks absolutely stunning, both from a design
perspective and from a technology viewpoint.
Watching
movies on the screen is especially impressive: all of Apple’s OLED
phones support Dolby Vision, which is the most advanced kind of HDR, and
it is supported by Netflix and iTunes movies, too, so there’s plenty of
content. And that counts on both the 5.8-inch XS and 6.5-inch XS Max.
2. Huawei Mate 20 Pro
The best phone in the world running Android
Specifications
Weight: 189g
Dimensions: 157.8 x 72.3 x 8.6 mm
OS: Android 9.0 Pie, EMUI 9.0
Screen size: 6.39 inches
Resolution: 1,440 x 3,120
CPU: Kirin 980
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 128GB
Battery: 4,200 mAh
Rear camera: 40MP + 20MP + 8MP
Front camera: 24MP
Reasons to buy
+Kirin 980 CPU is insanely fast
+Leica-made camera system is superb
+Futuristic in-display fingerprint reader
Reasons to avoid
-None of note
Huawei Mate 20 Pro delivers an experience that leaves absolutely nothing
to be desired and, for all real-world intents and purposes, it is
perfect.
And, with the world's fastest CPU, the lightning fast Kirin 980, a
gorgeous OLED, HDR screen, a knock-out Leica-made camera system, a
next-gen in-display fingerprint reader, a capacious and long lasting
4,200 mAh battery, as well as Android 9.0 Pie out of the box, it soon
becomes easy to see how that high praise was won.
3. Samsung Galaxy Note 9
A superb Android phone that hits hard across the board
Specifications
Weight: 201g
Dimensions: 161.9 x 76.4 x 8.8mm
OS: Android 8.1
Screen size: 6.4-inches
Resolution: 1440 x 2960 pixels
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 128GB
Battery: 4000mAh
Rear cameras: 12 MP f/1.5-2.4 + 12MP f/2.4
Front camera: 8 MP f/1.7
Reasons to buy
+Top hardware
+6.4-inch Super AMOLED screen is stunning
+New S Pen digital stylus works superbly
Reasons to avoid
-4,000mAh battery is only competitive, not standout
-Bixby AI assistant is still definitely a work in progress
With it absolutely stunning 6.4-inch Super AMOLED screen, powerful
internal hardware suite, and advanced new S Pen digital stylus, the Note
9 is one of the absolute best Android phones available today and,
simply put, delivers across the board.
Indeed, when you factor in
the phone's excellent camera system, competitive battery, and audiophile
audio credentials, you realise that this isn't just a work-focused
productivity powerhouse, but a do-anything powerhouse.
4. Apple iPhone XR
The best phone for Apple fans looking for maximum bang for their buck
Specifications
Weight: 194g
Dimensions: 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm
OS: iOS 12
Screen size: 6.1 inches
Resolution: 828 x 1792
CPU: Apple A12 Bionic (7 nm)
RAM: 3GB
Storage: 64/128/256GB
Battery: 2,942 mAh
Rear camera: 12MP
Front camera: 7MP
Reasons to buy
+Modern, bright design
+Liquid Retina screen
+Excellent build quality
Reasons to avoid
-Camera system could be better
-Lacks 3D Touch
If
you're an Apple fan and can't stretch financially to the 5-star
awesomeness that is the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, then a great,
cheaper alternative is the iPhone XR.
The
iPhone XR comes in a variety of attractive, bright colours, features a
quality 6.1-inch HDR Liquid Retina display, Apple's latest and greatest
A12 Bionic chipset, 3GB of RAM, a 2,942 mAh battery, and 64GB of storage
space in the entry model (which can be taken up to 256GB with extra
spend).
5. Huawei P20 Pro
The Huawei P20 Pro remains one of the very best phones available today
Specifications
Weight: 180g
Dimensions: 155 x 73.9 x 7.8mm
OS: Android 8.1
Screen size: 6.1-inches
Resolution: 1080 x 2244 pixels
CPU: Kirin 970
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 128GB
Battery: 4000mAh
Rear camera: Triple 40MP + 20MP + 8MP Leica
Front camera: 24MP f/2.0
Reasons to buy
+Premium design
+Battery life
+Awesome camera
Reasons to avoid
-Software
-'Just' HD screen
The Huawei P20 Pro, despite being surpassed by the Huawei Mate 20
Pro, remains one of the very best phones if you're looking for a
premium alternative to the iPhone X and Samsung Galaxy S9.
We
love the P20 Pro's Leica-branded triple camera. Yes, you read that
right, this camera has three camera sensors, a 40MP RGB, 20MP
Monochrome, and 8MP telephoto. The three lenses are can be used to
capture some very pleasing images.
The OS is coming on leaps and bounds as well, and the design and feel of this device really is fantastic.
6. Google Pixel 3 XL
One of the best phones for photography lovers
Specifications
Weight: 175g
Dimensions: 158 x 76.7 x 7.9 mm
OS: Android 9.0 Pie
Screen size: 6.3-inches
Resolution: 1440 x 2960 pixels
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64/128GB
Battery: 3430mAh
Rear camera: 12.2MP f/1.8
Front camera: 8MP+8MP f/1.8 + f/2.2
Reasons to buy
+Superb camera
+Pure Android 9.0 Pie out of the box
Reasons to avoid
-No in
-screen fingerprint reader
-Battery life is unspectacular
The Google Pixel 3 XL is one of the best smartphones going, and
especially so if you prioritise camera quality and want a vanilla
software experience that comes straight from Google. It ain't cheap, but
it offers Apple levels of prestige and premium.
Indeed,
whether it's the excellent camera, the metal-and-glass chassis, the
oodles of power involved or just the fact that the software and virtual
assistant work in perfect harmony with the hardware, Google gets a hell
of a lot right with the Pixel 3 XL.
7. Samsung Galaxy S9
A quality all-rounder that is now available at some truly amazing price points
Specifications
Weight: 163g
Dimensions: 147.7 x 68.7 x 8.5mm
OS: Android 8.0
Screen size: 5.8-inches
Resolution: 1440 x 2960 pixels
CPU: Exynos 9810 Octa
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64GB
Battery: 3000mAh
Rear camera: 12 MP f/1.5
Front camera: 8 MP f/1.7
Reasons to buy
+Amazing design
+Almost flawless
+Now available at low prices
Reasons to avoid
-Bixby AI is half
-baked
-Similar to Galaxy S8
The Samsung Galaxy S9, despite being outshone by the absolutely
stunning Galaxy Note 9 and even more fantastic Huawei Mate 20 Pro, is
still a quality Android phone, boasting a brilliant Infinity Edge
display which occupies 84-percent of the body and cutting-edge guts.
Yep,
this futuristic smartphone is one heck of a looker, and Samsung managed
to resist the temptation to add an iPhone X-style notch, too, which is
definitely a good thing to our mind, as it helps the phone maintain its
own identity.
8. Honor 10
The best smartphone available right now for amazing value
Specifications
Weight: 153g
Dimensions: 149.6x71.2x7.7mm
OS: Android 8.0
Screen size: 5.84-inches
Resolution: 1080x2280 pixels
CPU: Kirin 970
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 128GB
Battery: 3400mAh
Rear camera: Dual 16MP + 24MP
Front camera: 8MP f/2.0
Reasons to buy
+Great price
+Excellent design
+Fantastic camera
Reasons to avoid
-Not waterproof
The
Honor 10 is a fantastic smartphone, partnering a young, hyper-modern,
and eye-catching design with good hardware and an impressive suite of
features, including some genuinely impressive AI functions.
The
fact that this phone costs just £399 is absolutely nuts, too, especially
when you take into account its hardware benchmarks that are right up
there among those logged by much more expensive handsets.
9. OnePlus 6T
A beautiful Android smartphone with speed that kills
Specifications
Weight: 185g
Dimensions: 157.5 x 74.8 x 8.2mm
OS: Android 9.0
Screen size: 6.41-inches
Resolution: 1080 x 2340 pixels
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128/256GB
Battery: 3700mAh
Rear camera: Dual 16MP f/1.7 + 20MP f/1.7
Front camera: 16MP f/2.0
Reasons to buy
+Incredibly fast with big benchmark scores
+Priced lower than some flagships
+Beautiful and premium build
Reasons to avoid
-Not waterproof
-No wireless charging
-Similar to OnePlus 6
The
OnePlus 6T is one of the absolute fastest Android phones on the market.
Its combination of the high-end Snapdragon 845 CPU, powerful Adreno 630
GPU, and a whopping 8GB of RAM (that's 4GB more than the Samsung Galaxy
S9), means that the OnePlus 6T smokes much of the opposition in terms
of benchmark scores.
The phone's use of Android 9.0 Pie and
OnePlus' own light skin of vanilla, OxygenOS, adds to this rapidity,
too, with menu navigation as well as app loading and switching a buttery
smooth experience.
10. Sony Xperia XZ3
A premium build, stunning screen, and Android 9.0 Pie out of the box
Specifications
Weight: 193g
Dimensions: 158 x 73 x 9.9mm
OS: Android 9.0
Screen size: 6.0-inches
Resolution: 1440 x 2880 pixels
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 64GB
Battery: 3300mAh
Rear camera: Dual 19MP
Front camera: 13 MP
Reasons to buy
+Lithe new 18:9 form factor
+Premium aluminium and glass build
+Stunning Bravia-engineered screen
+Android 9.0 Pie out of the box
Reasons to avoid
-Camera system isn't as good as XZ2 Premium's
-Beaten in benchmarks by other flagships
Sony
delivers a fast and stylish refresh to its technically impressive
Xperia XZ2 with the Xperia XZ3, bringing in a stunning new
Bravia-engineered 6-inch,18:9 QHD+ HDR screen, as well as a premium new
aluminium and glass design.
This
notch-less, OLED beauty also comes packing some rock solid competitive
hardware, too, with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 CPU, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of
storage space, and a 3,300 mAh battery delivered. Combined this hardware
delivers flagship level performance in games and apps.
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