The competition in the mobile market is incredibly tough. To attract the attention of buyers, manufacturers need to release smartphones every year that impress with their elegant design, powerful battery, an excellent camera and have interesting options like facial recognition.
Introducing you flagships of smartphones in 2018 from the most famous manufacturers... We will not rank them from the worst model to the best, since each new product has both its own "zest" and weaknesses, which we will talk about.
Sony Xperia XZ2
The cost is 59,990 rubles.
Sony's 5.7-inch flagship smartphone for 2018 has the same square shape as previous models, but with a curved back and rounded edges. As a result, the design looks both modern and laconic.
This phone is capable of 4K HDR video recording thanks to Qualcomm's Snapdragon 845, so you can create your own content that looks great on any HDR-capable screen.
4GB of RAM isn't the absolute maximum capacity for modern phones, but most users don't need more. But 64 GB of built-in data storage will not be enough. However, you can always increase your data storage by 400 GB.
In the Xperia XZ2, Sony has updated its 3D modeling function, allowing users to model people, food and other objects using the 19MP rear camera in higher resolution. In addition, using the main camera, you can shoot video at a resolution of 960 frames per second.
Pros:
- You can play HDR content right on your device.
- Excellent speakers that music lovers will surely appreciate.
- Dynamic Vibration technology creates an immersive experience by adjusting vibration intensity along with volume. This works with any content that has sound.
Minuses:
- Extremely slippery.
- Not too powerful 3180 mAh battery.
Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
Price - 74,990 rubles for the version with 256 GB.
The S9 Plus is equipped with a dual 12-megapixel camera with autofocus, optical stabilization, and support for two apertures - f / 1.5 and f / 2.4. The aperture size can be changed automatically depending on the lighting conditions.
A welcome change is the location of the fingerprint sensor. On the Galaxy S8 and Note 8, it was in the worst spot imaginable - to the right of the camera sensor. It was inconvenient and not thought out at all. The sensor in the Galaxy S9 Plus is exactly where it should be - right below the camera, in the middle.
The Galaxy S9 Plus has a fantastically beautiful 6.2-inch bezel-less display, 6GB of RAM, and 64GB to 256GB of user storage. The processor that is installed in the smartphone - Exynos 9810 or Snapdragon 845, makes the most productive smartphone for today.
Pros:
- One of the nicest smartphones on the market.
- The display is 15 percent brighter than the Galaxy S8 lineup.
- There is a headphone jack.
- There is an expandable memory storage.
- Includes headphones with Dolby Atmos support.
Minuses:
- The phone is very fragile, the display is easily scratched, and the glass back will collect all your fingerprints.
- The battery capacity is 3500 mAh. With heavy use (video calls, social media, sending emails, watching YouTube videos), the Galaxy S9 Plus will last about six hours.
According to unconfirmed information, in August 2018 Samsung will release a new flagship Galaxy Note 9, with fast Qi wireless charging, and a 4000 mAh battery. Earlier there were rumors that the Galaxy Note 9's fingerprint sensor would be built into the screen, but this assumption has not been confirmed by real facts or inside information. However, Samsung can prepare a pleasant surprise for users.
Apple iPhone X
Cost - 75,432 rubles for the version with 256 GB.
In the 2018 flagship smartphone ranking, there are models that look very similar to the 5.8-inch iPhone X. And not surprisingly, the newest Apple gadget is a radical change from previous iPhones, and it seems to be affecting the mobile industry as well as strong as the first iPhone.
The Touch ID has been removed from the iPhone X in favor of the new Face ID biometric security system. It uses two modules to project 30,000 infrared dots onto the user's face, and then reads the data to unlock the phone.
Top processor Apple A11 Bionic, 128 or 256 GB of flash memory and one of the best cameras (12 / 12MP) DxOMark ratings make the Apple iPhone X an excellent choice as a luxury smartphone. Unless, of course, this year the Cupertino-based company does not present something more stunning.
The iPhone X's 2,716mAh battery may seem a little too small compared to other flagships, but Apple has done an excellent job of optimizing its hardware and software.
Pros:
- Frameless design.
- Convenient and fast interface.
Minuses:
- No expandable memory storage.
- Face ID can malfunction, although it does provide facial recognition 99% of the time.
Xiaomi Mi 8
Price - from 420 dollars.
The newest Xiaomi phone comes in three versions.
- "Regular" Xiaomi Mi 8 with a fingerprint sensor on the back.
- Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer Edition, which is very similar to Mi 8, but comes with a transparent body, an under-screen fingerprint scanner and 3D scanning to unlock the user's face.
- Mi 8 SE is a cheaper variant with a 5.88-inch screen and a Snapdragon 710 processor against a 6.21-inch screen and Snapdragon 845 in the "older" versions of the Mi 8 and Mi 8 Explorer.
Onboard Mi 8 has 6 GB of RAM and 64 to 256 GB of flash memory. And the Mi 8 Explorer Edition comes with 8GB RAM and 128GB ROM. All three versions will not have a slot for expanding memory.
On the back is a camera with two 12MP sensors. It has optical image stabilization, dual-pole autofocus and portrait mode. Among the Chinese flagship smartphones of 2018, the Mi 8 has one of the best final results on DxOMark for photography and video shooting - 99 points. The Korean Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus scored the same number.
The phone uses AI to detect scenes and apply the best settings, as well as for portrait photography. On the front, there is a 20MP front-facing camera with f / 2.0 aperture, which takes very bright and clear selfies.
It's too early to talk about the pros and cons of all three Mi 8 models. They have not yet gone on sale in Russia.
Huawei P20 Pro
The average cost is 48,750 rubles.
This 6.1-inch bezel-less Chinese smartphone is the flagship killer of 2018, both in design and in camera capabilities. The P20 Pro is available in several colors, including a unique "Twilight" design with a glossy blue-violet gradient that changes color based on lighting conditions.
The model is equipped with three Leica cameras on the back side: 40 MP + 20 MP + 8 MP.
- The main 40-megapixel color sensor provides rich color for photos.
- An optional 20MP monochrome sensor captures additional detail.
- And a third 8MP telephoto lens is used for extra focal length.
The 20- and 40-megapixel sensors lack OIS, but Huawei says AI (artificial intelligence) stabilization will compensate for users' shaky hands. The smartphone also offers the world's first 5X Hybrid Zoom, which combines 3x optical zoom from an 8MP telephoto lens with additional detail from the main sensor.
The 24MP f / 2.0 selfie camera lets you apply a variety of lighting effects to your photos.It also supports AI-based 3D facial modeling technology.
For photo and video shooting, the Huawei P20 Pro scored 109 points in the DxOMark rating. So far, this is the best result of all.
The P20 Pro comes with the hardware we've come to expect from Huawei's flagship device. It is equipped with a fast and powerful eight-core HiSilicon Kirin 970 chipset with neural network module, 6GB of RAM and 128GB of flash memory, as well as a Mali-G72 MP12 video processor, which copes with most tasks.
The new product from Huawei supports both a fingerprint sensor and a face unlock function.
Pros:
- Large and very bright screen - 600 nits maximum brightness.
- Powerful 4000mAh battery.
Minuses:
- There is no 3.5mm headphone jack, but an adapter is included.
- Has no expandable storage.
Honor 10
Price - 29,990 in the maximum configuration.
This is one of three low-cost models in the top 10 flagship smartphones of 2018. The rating, alas, cannot convey all the beauty of the shimmering back of the Honor 10. The Phantom Blue version shimmers in different shades of blue and purple from different angles, while Phantom Green was made to show blue and green hues reminiscent of the northern lights ... If vibrant colors aren't your thing, there are Midnight Black and Glacier Gray options.
The Honor 10 features a Full HD + 5.84-inch display with 2280 × 1080 resolution and a 19: 9 aspect ratio. It comes with the same HiSilicon Kirin 970 chipset that powers the Honor View 10. Whether it's the latest gaming or intense multitasking, Honor 10 won't let you down. This is in part due to the 4GB of RAM and the Mali-G72 MP12 GPU. Flash memory capacity ranges from 64 GB to 128 GB.
The device has a main 16MP f / 1.8 RGB lens and a 24MP f / 1.8 monochrome sensor for extra clarity and detail. The biggest change this year is camera (artificial intelligence - AI) functionality. To switch the camera to AI mode, you need to press the corresponding button in the camera app. When activated, the Honor 10 will automatically adjust its camera settings to best capture the subject in real time. However, it will not be possible to control this process manually.
Honor 10 has every chance of becoming best smartphone of 2018.
Pros:
- Dazzling design.
- The Kirin 970 processor guarantees top-end performance.
- Excellent performance for its price.
- The AI camera really enhances your shots.
Minuses:
- Slippery back cover.
- The main camera has no OIS.
- Battery 3400 mAh.
- There is no way to expand the memory.
LG G7 ThinQ
Price - 51,990 rubles for the version with 128 GB of memory.
The new flagship of the South Korean company is an amalgamation of the best features of the V30 and G6, plus some of the iPhone X. It features a tall and narrow 6.1-inch screen with a 19.5: 9 aspect ratio with thin bezels and a notch that contains: earpiece, front camera , proximity sensor and light sensor.
The LG G7 ThinQ comes with the most powerful specs available for the best flagship smartphones of 2018. It is powered by a Snapdragon 845 processor with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage or 6 / 128GB respectively.
LG phones have always excelled in sound quality and the G7 ThinQ is no exception to this rule. It boasts 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC support and DTS: X 3D Surround Sound technology. For now, this is more of a feature for the future, as the content you are watching or listening to needs DTS: X support, which is not yet available.
LG's new product now has an 8-megapixel front camera that captures selfies with good color reproduction and natural skin tones. The phone also has a portrait mode.
The main camera consists of two 16/16 MP modules. The main sensor has an aperture of f / 1.6 compared to f / 1.9 for the second, wide-angle sensor, as well as optical stabilization. The camera's AI is able to analyze the scene and the objects inside it and automatically provide filters to make the photo look better.
Pros:
- The screen brightness can be boosted to 1000 nits, which is useful when reading text in direct sunlight.
- 3.5mm headphone jack.
- Expandable memory storage.
Minuses:
- Battery with a capacity of only 3000mAh. With it, the phone will work from morning to evening, but it will need recharging at night.
Meizu 15
It costs 27,980 rubles for the version with 128 GB.
In April 2018, Meizu announced its new smartphone, Meizu 15. This release is timed to coincide with the manufacturer's 15th anniversary. The white version of the device has a luxurious ceramic lid. The rest of the versions are content with polished aluminum.
The smartphone is equipped with a 5.46-inch display with a resolution of 1920 × 1080. This means it retains the 16: 9 aspect ratio but has minimal bezels and the screen takes up 79.8% of the body.
The fingerprint sensor is not the only way to unlock the Meizu 15. The company has also added face unlocking, although it is not as fast as the iPhone 10 version.
Inside the device are: a 3000 mAh battery, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset, 4 GB of RAM and from 64 to 128 GB of internal storage without expansion options.
Meizu 15 is equipped with one of the best rear cameras in its price range. The main 12MP sensor has an f / 1.8 aperture, while the secondary sensor is a 20MP black and white sensor with an f / 2.6 aperture. The camera has 4-axis optical image stabilization, laser autofocus, 3x hybrid zoom, and a dual-color six-LED flash.
There are still few reviews about the smartphone. The lack of NFC can be distinguished from the obvious disadvantages. On the plus side, there is a headphone jack.
ASUS ZenFone 5Z
You can buy it for 35,990 rubles.
A version of the 6.2-inch ASUS flagship with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of flash memory will soon arrive in Russian stores. For now, users will have to be content with the 6/64 GB option, respectively.
In appearance, ZenFone 5Z strongly resembles the iPhone X. Above the screen in the upper part, it has a "bang", although not as large as that of the "apple" gadget.
The smartphone is equipped with a dual rear camera (12/8 MP, the main sensor with an aperture of f / 1.8, the second - wide-angle, 120 degrees) with optical stabilization, macro photography and autofocus, a slot for microSD memory cards, and has a headphone jack. The main camera can record 4K UHD video at 60fps.
Pros:
- Superior performance with Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor.
- Large, bright screen with vibrant colors.
- Great sound quality.
Minuses:
- Not very powerful 3300 mAh battery.
- No wireless charging.
Nokia 8
Price - 29,990 rubles.
The company's current favorite is the Nokia 8, which is shiny and durable. It is clad in a metal case, has a 5.3-inch screen with a traditional aspect ratio (16: 9), a Snapdragon 835 processor, 4/64 GB of RAM and ROM, respectively.
The battery capacity is quite sufficient for a small screen and not too "gluttonous" processor - 3090 mAh. Plus Nokia has done a good job of optimizing power consumption.
Like most other flagships, the Nokia 8 has a 13/13 MP dual main camera. Both the rear and front (also 13MP) cameras are licensed by Carl Zeiss. This means that after taking a photo the user will be pleasantly surprised by the result.
Pros:
- There is the possibility of expanding the storage of memory.
- There is a 3.5mm headphone jack.
- Clean and modern Android interface.
Minuses:
- Meager set of camera settings. For example, exposure cannot be corrected.
- No wireless charging.
We advise you to postpone the purchase of Nokia 8. The fact is that according to various foreign sites, the flagship Nokia 9 will be released in September this year. It will be equipped with a 5.7-inch display, the latest Snapdragon 845 processor and a triple camera - 41 MP + 20 MP RGB sensor + 9.7 MP monochrome sensor for sharper shots. The front camera will receive a resolution of 21 MP. Nothing is known about the price of the new item.