The competition in the mobile device market is incredibly tough. To attract the attention of buyers, manufacturers need to release smartphones annually that impress with an elegant design, a powerful battery, an excellent camera and have interesting options such as identification by the user's face.
Introducing you 2018 flagship smartphones from the most famous manufacturers. We will not rank them from the worst model to the best, since each new product has its own “highlight” and weaknesses, which we will talk about.
Sony Xperia XZ2
Cost - 59 990 rubles.
The 2018 5.7-inch Sony flagship smartphone has the same square shape as previous models, but has curved back and rounded edges. As a result, the design looks both modern and concise.
This phone is capable of recording 4K HDR video thanks to Qualcomm's Snapdragon 845, so you can create your own content that looks great on any screen that supports HDR.
4 GB of RAM is not the absolute maximum capacity for modern phones, but most users no longer need it. But 64 GB of internal data storage will not be enough. However, you can always increase data storage by 400 GB.
In the Xperia XZ2, Sony has updated its 3D modeling function, allowing users to create models of people, food, and other objects using the rear 19 MP camera in higher resolution. In addition, using the main camera, you can shoot video with 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 allows you to achieve the effect of presence by adjusting the intensity of vibration along with the 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. Aperture size may change automatically depending on the lighting conditions.
A nice change is the location of the fingerprint sensor. On the Galaxy S8 and Note 8, it was in the worst place you could imagine — to the right of the camera’s sensor. It was inconvenient and not thought out at all. The sensor in the Galaxy S9 Plus is exactly where it should be - right under the camera, in the middle.
Galaxy S9 Plus has a fantastically beautiful bezelless 6.2-inch display, 6 GB of RAM and from 64 to 256 GB for storing user data. The processor that is installed in the smartphone - Exynos 9810 or Snapdragon 845, makes the smartphone the most productive today.
Pros:
- One of the most beautiful smartphones on the market.
- The display is 15 percent brighter than that of the Galaxy S8 line.
- There is a headphone jack.
- There is expandable storage memory.
- Included are headphones with Dolby Atmos support.
Minuses:
- The phone is very fragile, scratches easily appear on the display, and the glass back panel will collect all your fingerprints.
- Battery capacity - 3500 mAh. With heavy use (video calls, social networks, sending emails, watching videos from YouTube) Galaxy S9 Plus will last about six hours.
According to unconfirmed information, in August 2018, Samsung will release the new flagship Galaxy Note 9, with fast Qi wireless charging, and a 4000 mAh battery. Previously, there were rumors that the fingerprint sensor of the Galaxy Note 9 will be built into the screen, but this assumption is not confirmed by real facts or insider information. However, Samsung may prepare a pleasant surprise for users.
Apple iPhone X
Cost - 75 432 rubles for the version with 256 GB.
In the ranking of flagship smartphones in 2018, there are models that look very similar to the 5.8-inch iPhone X. And no wonder, the latest “apple” gadget is a radical change compared to previous iPhones, and it seems to affect the mobile device industry so as much 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 points onto the user's face, and then reads data to unlock the phone.
The top-end Apple A11 Bionic processor, 128 or 256 GB of flash memory and one of the best cameras (12/12 MP) rated by DxOMark make Apple iPhone X an excellent choice as a representative smartphone. Unless, of course, this year the company from Cupertino does not present something more stunning.
The battery of the iPhone X (2716 mAh) may seem too small compared to other flagships, but Apple has perfectly optimized its hardware and software.
Pros:
- Frameless design.
- Convenient and fast interface.
Minuses:
- No expandable storage.
- Face ID may work with errors, although it provides face recognition in 99% of cases.
Xiaomi Mi 8
Price - from 420 dollars.
The latest Xiaomi phone is available in three versions.
- “Normal” Xiaomi Mi 8 with a fingerprint sensor on the rear panel.
- The Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer Edition, which is very similar to the Mi 8, but comes with a transparent case, an on-screen fingerprint scanner and 3D scanning to unlock the user's face.
- Mi 8 SE is a cheaper version with a 5.88-inch screen and a Snapdragon 710 processor against a screen of 6.21 inches and Snapdragon 845 in the “older” versions of Mi 8 and Mi 8 Explorer.
On the "board" of Mi 8 there is 6 GB of RAM and from 64 to 256 GB of flash memory. And the Mi 8 Explorer Edition comes with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of ROM. All three versions will not have a memory expansion slot.
On the back is a camera with two 12-megapixel sensors. It has optical stabilization, bipolar autofocus and portrait mode. Among the Chinese flagship smartphones of 2018, Mi 8 has one of the best DxOMark final results for photo and video shooting - 99 points. The same number of Korean Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus scored.
The phone uses AI to identify scenes and apply the best settings, as well as for portrait photography. On the front panel is a 20-megapixel front camera with f / 2.0 aperture, which makes 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 frameless Chinese smartphone is the killer of the flagships of 2018, both in design and in camera capabilities. The P20 Pro comes in several colors, including a unique “twilight” case with a glossy blue-violet gradient that changes color depending on the lighting conditions.
The model is equipped with three Leica cameras on the back: 40 MP + 20 MP + 8 MP.
- The main 40-megapixel color sensor provides rich color photos.
- An optional 20-megapixel monochrome sensor captures additional details.
- And the third 8-megapixel telephoto lens is used for extra focal length.
20- and 40-megapixel sensors do not have optical stabilization, but Huawei claims that stabilization using AI (artificial intelligence) will compensate for the trembling hands of users. The smartphone also offers the world's first 5X Hybrid Zoom, which combines triple optical zoom from an 8 megapixel telephoto lens with additional details from the main sensor.
A 24 MP selfie camera with f / 2.0 aperture allows you to apply various lighting effects to your pictures. It also supports AI-based 3D face 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 “stuffing” we expect from Huawei's flagship device. It is equipped with a fast and powerful eight-core HiSilicon Kirin 970 chipset with a neural network module, 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of flash memory, as well as a Mali-G72 MP12 video processor, which perfectly copes with most tasks.
New from Huawei supports both a fingerprint sensor and a face unlock feature.
Pros:
- Large and very bright screen - maximum brightness of 600 nits.
- Powerful 4000 mAh battery.
Minuses:
- There is no 3.5 mm headphone jack, but an adapter is included.
- Does not have expandable storage memory.
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 flickering rear panel of Honor 10. The Phantom Blue version shimmers with different shades of blue and purple from different angles, while the Phantom Green was made to show blue and green shades reminiscent of the northern lights . If vibrant colors don't suit you, there are Midnight Black and Glacier Gray options.
The Honor 10 is equipped with a Full HD + 5.84-inch display with a resolution of 2280 × 1080 and a 19: 9 aspect ratio. It comes with the same HiSilicon Kirin 970 chipset that the Honor View 10 is equipped with. Whether it is the latest games, or intensive multitasking, Honor 10 won't let you down. This is partly due to 4 GB of RAM and the Mali-G72 MP12 GPU. The amount of flash memory is from 64 to 128 GB.
The device has a main 16-megapixel f / 1.8 RGB lens and a 24 MP f / 1.8 monochrome sensor to provide additional clarity and image detail. The biggest change this year is camera functionality (artificial intelligence - AI). To switch the camera to AI mode you need to press the corresponding button in the camera application. When activated, Honor 10 automatically changes the camera settings to best capture the subject in real time. However, controlling this process manually will not work.
Honor 10 has every chance to become the best smartphone of 2018.
Pros:
- Dazzling design.
- The Kirin 970 processor guarantees top performance.
- Great features for its price.
- AI cameras really improve the pictures.
Minuses:
- Slippery back cover.
- No OIS on the main camera.
- 3400 mAh battery.
- There is no way to expand the memory.
LG G7 ThinQ
Price - 51,990 rubles for a version with 128 GB of memory.
The new flagship of the South Korean company is a combination of the best features of the V30 and G6, plus a bit from the iPhone X. It is equipped with a tall and narrow 6.1-inch screen with an aspect ratio of 19.5: 9 with thin frames and a recess in which are located: 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 equipped with a Snapdragon 845 processor with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal memory or 6/128 GB, respectively.
LG phones have always been distinguished by high-quality sound 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 virtual surround technology. At the moment, it is rather a function for the future, since the content that you are watching or listening to needs DTS: X support, which is not yet available.
New from LG now has an 8-megapixel front camera that takes selfies with good color reproduction and natural skin tones. The phone also has portrait mode.
The main camera consists of two 16/16 MP modules. The main sensor has an f / 1.6 aperture compared to f / 1.9 for the second, wide-angle sensor, as well as optical stabilization. AI cameras are able to analyze the scene and objects inside it, and automatically provide filters, as a result of which the photo will look better.
Pros:
- The screen brightness can be increased up to 1000 nits, which is useful when reading text in direct sunlight.
- 3.5mm headphone jack.
- Expandable Storage
Minuses:
- The battery capacity is only 3000 mAh. With it, the phone will work from morning to evening, but it will require recharging at night.
Meizu 15
It costs 27,980 rubles for a version with 128 GB.
In April 2018, Meizu announced its new smartphone, Meizu 15. This release is dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the manufacturer. The white version of the device has a luxurious ceramic cover. Other versions are content with polished aluminum.
The smartphone is equipped with a 5.46-inch display with a resolution of 1920x1080. This means that he retained the aspect ratio of 16: 9, but has a minimal frame, and the screen occupies 79.8% of the body.
A fingerprint sensor is not the only way to unlock Meizu 15. The company has also added unlocking to the face of the owner, although it does not work as fast as with version 10 of the iPhone.
Inside the device are: a 3000 mAh battery, Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset, 4 GB of RAM and 64 to 128 GB of internal storage without expandability.
Meizu 15 is equipped with one of the best rear cameras in its price category. The primary 12-megapixel sensor has an f / 1.8 aperture, and the secondary sensor is a 20-megapixel black and white sensor with an f / 2.6 aperture. The camera has four-axis optical image stabilization, laser autofocus, triple hybrid zoom, and a two-color flash with six LEDs.
There are few reviews about the smartphone yet. Of the obvious minuses, one can distinguish the absence of NFC. Of the benefits - the presence of a headphone jack.
ASUS ZenFone 5Z
You can buy for 35 990 rubles.
Soon, Russian stores will receive a version of the 6.2-inch flagship ASUS with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of flash memory. So far, users will have to be content with the option with 6/64 GB, respectively.
In appearance, the ZenFone 5Z strongly resembles the iPhone X. Above the screen at the top, it has a “bang”, although not as big as the “apple” gadget.
The smartphone is equipped with a dual rear camera (12/8 MP, the main sensor with an f / 1.8 aperture, the second is wide-angle, 120 degrees) with optical stabilization, macro photography and autofocus, a microSD memory card slot, and has a headphone jack. The main camera can record 4K UHD video at 60 frames per second.
Pros:
- Superb performance with Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor.
- Large, bright screen with rich colors.
- Great sound quality.
Minuses:
- Not very powerful battery with a capacity of 3300 mAh.
- No wireless charging.
Nokia 8
Price - 29 990 rubles.
The company's current favorite is the Nokia 8, 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 sufficient for a small screen and not too "gluttonous" processor - 3090 mAh. In addition, Nokia has done a good job of optimizing power consumption.
Like most other flagships, Nokia 8 has a 13/13 MP dual main camera. Both the rear and front (also 13 MP) cameras are licensed by Carl Zeiss. This means that by taking a photo the user will be pleasantly surprised by the result.
Pros:
- It is possible to expand the storage of memory.
- There is a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
- Clean and modern Android interface.
Minuses:
- A meager set of settings for the camera. For example, exposure cannot be adjusted.
- No wireless charging.
We advise you to wait a bit with 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 with RGB sensor + 9.7 MP monochrome sensor, which allows to sharpen the picture. The front camera will receive a resolution of 21 MP. About the price of new items is not yet known.
