2018 saw the release of brand-new Apple and Android smartphones, featuring new and improved technology. Taking into consideration the hardware and affordability of these new phones, the top five smartphones for 2018 have been compiled below.
5. Motorola Moto G6
Considered by many as a budget phone, the Moto G6 has some notable qualities. The 5.7” phone has a Snapdragon 450 processor and a 3000mAh[1] battery. The G6 sports two rear cameras, one with 12 megapixels (MP) and a one with 5MP. These cameras record in 1080p, slow motion, and time lapse. The front facing 8MP camera supports the same specs as the rear-facing camera, and features group selfie, beautification, and manual mode. Furthermore, the G6 protects its user’s identity with a fingerprint reader and face unlock. The G6 storage can range from 32GB to 64GB and either 3GB or 4GB of RAM. While this is certainly not the best phone on the list, the price tag of $180 makes the G6 a perfect phone for those on a budget.
4. Google Pixel 3
The Pixel 3 is the smallest phone at only 5.5,” however, this does not limit the impressive array of features. The Pixel has a Snapdragon 845 processor and 4GB of RAM. Pixel users receive unlimited cloud storage as well as 64GB, or 128GB, of internal storage. Google has also added a Titan m security chip to protect the phone from malware attacks. The Pixel’s most impressive feature is it’s 12.2MP dual-pixel rear camera with 1.4μm pixel size. It features autofocus and image stabilization to make photos clearer and sharper. Videos can be recorded at 1080p, 720p or 4K. As for the price, the Pixel will cost around $677.
3. iPhone XS/XS Max
Apple exceeded expectations with the release of the new iPhone XS and XS Max. The XS and XS Max are the same phone, however, the XS Max is a lot bigger, coming in at 6.5” when compared to the 5.8” XS. The capacity of the XS model starts at 64 GB and can expand to 512GB. The dual back cameras support both wide angle and telephoto pictures along with the ability to record videos in 4K. The cameras also feature OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) and autofocus for better motion photography or recording. With the $1,000 starting price, this is the most expensive phone on our list.
2. Samsung Galaxy Note 9
The Note 9 has a 6.4” screen, Snapdragon 845 processor, and 4,000mAh battery. Additionally, the phone starts with 128GB of storage and 6GB of RAM and can be expanded to 512GB of storage and 8GB of RAM. The two rear-facing 12MP cameras support wide-angle and telephoto pictures as well as 4K and 1080p video recording. However, these features come with a price tag of $900.
1. OnePlus 6T
Topping the list is the OnePlus 6T. The OnePlus’ storage starts at 128GB and 6GB of RAM, which can be expanded to 256GB and 10GB of RAM. A Snapdragon 845 processor and 3700mAh battery will give users a fast, long-lasting device. Additionally, the OnePlus has two rear-facing cameras, one with 16Mp and the other with 20MP. This allows for 4K, 1080p, or 720p recording and super slow motion. The front 16MP camera also records at 1080p or 720p. The most unique feature of this phone is its fingerprint scanner being built into the screen. The OnePlus allows users to simply touch the screen to unlock their phone, instead of touching a button. With a price tag of $549, it is also one of the cheapest high-end phones.
Author: Emily Cieslewicz, IT Tech Assistant
References:
“Best Phones for 2019.” CNET, CNET, www.cnet.com/topics/phones/best-phones/.
Quora, www.quora.com/What-does-mAh-say-3-000-mAh-mean-in-a-battery.
[1] mAh means milliampere hour. This is a unit of electric charge and it’s the most common way to express the capacity of small batteries.