Here is a list of the top 11 smartphones that made a mark in the global market this year. This list is compiled by a technology guru.
- SAMSUNG GALAXY S8
SPECIFICATIONS
OS: Android 7.0
Screen size: 5.8-inches
Resolution: 1440 x 2960 pixels
CPU: Exynos 8895 Octa
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64GB
Battery: 3000mAh
Rear camera: 12 MP f/1.7
Front camera: 8 MP f/1.7
The Samsung Galaxy S8 is definitely the best Android smartphone in the world right now. It sports a brilliant Infinity Edge display that covers about 80-percent of the body. The design is certainly almost flawless.
Some people say “All that glitters is not gold” but the S8 definitely proves them wrong. Coupled with all the flashiness, the phone also has decent battery life, an excellent camera and top notch performance. With all of that combined, you get not only the best-looking smartphone, but one of the top performing smartphones in the universe. Yes, the universe!
The 5.8-inch S8 is perfect, but if you are a fan of big screen displays, Samsung also offers the Galaxy S8plus, which comes with a massive 6.2-inch display.
There is one problem with the phone, which is placing the fingerprint sensor next to the camera.
2. IPHONE X
SPECIFICATIONS
OS: iOS 11
Screen size: 5.8-inches
Resolution: 1125 x 2436 pixels
CPU: Apple A11 Bionic
RAM: 3GB
Storage: 64/256GB
Battery: 2716mAh
Rear camera: Dual 12MP
Front camera: 7 MP f/2.2
I know I called the iPhone X an overrated piece of metal but let’s call a spade a spade, this phone was certainly one of the trending smartphones this year but that still doesn’t change how I feel about the metal phone.
The first thing that strikes you about the design is the 5.8-inch AMOLED display. It’s stunning nevertheless.
Aside from the screen you have got Apple’s impressive A11 Bionic processor, a fantastic dual camera with portrait lighting mode, and FaceID (which has been imperfect right from the launch). However the iPhone X costs a considerable £999 which is quite expensive.
Apple is slowly morphing into a luxury goods company and I hope they do not end up like Vertu
3. GOOGLE PIXEL 2 XL
SPECIFICATIONS
OS: Android 8
Screen size: 6.0-inches
Resolution: 1440 x 2880 pixels
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64/128GB
Battery: 3520mAh
Rear camera: 12MP f/1.8
Front camera: 8MP f/2.4
Big Google does not fail to give us a top notch smartphone when we need it. Whether it is the excellent camera, the metal-and-glass chassis, the oodles of power involved or just the fact that the OS and virtual assistant work perfectly with the hardware.
Google has definitely improved this 2017 and now has clear vision for its flagship smartphones. The design is distinctive and the Pixel 2 XL’s edge-to-edge screen makes it the one to go for.
Also if you are not a fan of big screens, there is the the 5-inch Pixel 2 .
4. ONEPLUS 5T
SPECIFICATIONS
OS: Android 7.0
Screen size: 6-inches
Resolution: 1080 x 2160 pixels
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
RAM: 6/8GB
Storage: 64/128GB
Battery: 3300mAh
Rear camera: Dual 16MP f/1.7 + 20MP f/1.7
Front camera: 16MP f/2.0
OnePlus took the mobile world by storm in 2014 with one goal, to be the flagship killer and I think with its latest smartphone, the OnePlus 5T, it has finally achieved that goal. The OnePlus 5T comes with an impressive 6-inch edge-to-edge display and dual camera set up with portrait mode. It also has very powerful specs, a lightning fast fingerprint sensor, and a great premium design.
5. IPHONE 8 PLUS
SPECIFICATIONS
OS: iOS11
Screen size: 5.5-inches
Resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels
CPU: Apple A11 Bionic
RAM: 3GB
Storage: 64/256GB
Battery: 2691mAh
Rear camera: Dual 12MP
Front camera: 7 MP f/2.2
If you prefer iOS to Android and do not want to spend money on the iPhone X, this should be your first choice.
It comes with a similar design to the iPhone 7 and a glass back that makes it heavier. The glass casing supports wireless charging.
The iPhone 8 Plus’ hardware has received the biggest overhaul, now packing Apple’s fast A11 Bionic processor. The dual camera has also received a significant upgrade, now a better sensor and smart software powering it. To finish it off, the iPhone 8 Plus comes in a running iOS 11, Apple’s latest mobile OS.
6. HTC U11
SPECIFICATIONS
OS: Android 7.0 Screen size: 5.5-inches
Resolution: 1440 x 2560 pixels
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
RAM: 4/6GB
Storage: 64/128 GB
Battery: 3000mAh
Rear camera: 12MP f/1.8
Front camera: 16MP f/1.8
The HTC U11 is the biggest overhaul HTC has made to its flagship range for many years. It takes the best bits from the 11 and puts them in a sexy glass and metal casing, with a bit of extra innovation thrown in. The camera, battery life and performance is really good as well. HTC really worked on the criticisms of the previous generation devices, and created their best ever flagship smartphone so far.
It is great to see HTC innovating with the squeezable edges, which make interacting with the easier, and the minimal tweaks that they have made to the stock. Android OS are amazing, making this one of the best smartphones in 2017.
7. HUAWEI MATE 10 PRO
SPECIFICATIONS
OS: Android 8.0
Screen size: 6-inches
Resolution: 1080 x 2160 pixels
CPU: Kirin 970
RAM: 4/6GBS
Storage: 64/128GB
Battery: 4000mAh
Rear camera: Dual 20MP + 12MP Leica
Front camera: 8MP f/2.0
The Huawei Mate 10 Pro is the latest flagship from the Chinese smartphone giant, and I really, really like it. It is an ideal smartphone if you need a powerhouse for business, but it is also got a lot of features which make it great as a personal device as well.
I love the Mate 10 Pro’s Leica-branded dual camera, which can capture high quality images, and the OS is coming on leaps and bounds as well.
One of the best features packed into this powerhouse is the mobile-PC experience when you hook it to an external display. It only needs a USB-C to HDMI cable, rather than a powered dock, making it more portable more useful.
But it’s not very perfect though, The UI still lags a little bit behind its competitors, as does the camera. While we love the design, it’s a little more generic than the likes of Samsung and Google. Despite its flaws, you will definitely enjoy using it thanks to a neat blend of design and features. Plus, the battery life is amazing.
8. LG G6
SPECIFICATIONS
OS: Android 7.0
Screen size: 5.7-inches
Resolution: 1440 x 2880 pixels
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 821
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 32/64GB
Battery: 3300mAh
Rear camera: Dual 13MP
Front camera: 5MP f/2.2
I still remember LG’s gimmicky G5 smartphone with its unimpressive design. I could not help but pity LG. They tried so hard. This time LG has finally decided to make a good-looking, premium smartphone free from gimmicks. There are a lot of features I love here: that wide-angle screen is great, the bezels are tiny, and the dual-camera is really handy. But it is still far from a perfect phone. LG used a 2016 chip-set, so it is not the most efficient smartphone available, and the custom UI running over Android Nougat is not the best out there. It also feels less premium than its rivals. Certainly, LG has done enough to redeem itself from the unfortunately unsuccessful G5 last year. It is not the best Android phone released in 2017, but I do not think you will regret buying it, especially if you can pick it up for a decent price.
9. HONOR 9
SPECIFICATIONS
OS: Android 7.0
Screen size: 5.1-inches
Resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels
CPU: Kirin 960
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 32/64GB
Battery: 3200mAh
Rear camera: Dual 20MP + 12MP
Front camera: 8MP f/1.9
The Honor 9 is a really good smartphone, it also has a solid design, decent camera, and high-end specs. There are a lot of neat touches too, I like the single navigation key, and the dual camera is capable of taking some striking images.
The Honor 9 is 100% solid in every key respect, although, it may lack that little bit of innovation which makes a phone an amazing Android flagship.
10. MOTOROLA MOTO Z2 FORCE
SPECIFICATIONS
OS: Android 7.1
Screen size: 5.5-inches
Resolution: 1440 x 2560 pixels
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
RAM: 4/6GB
Storage: 64/128GB
The Moto Z2 Force is designed to be sleek and sophisticated, as well as durable with the ability to survive a beating (This does not mean you should strike it with a baseball bat to test it). That is mainly down to the screen, which features a thick, toughened outer layer which won’t break, no matter how hard you try (logically).
The casing is also quite rugged, with a strong aluminum skeleton, the Moto Z2 Force does not look like it belongs in a workman’s tool box but it is definitely a solid phone. The specs are up there with every other device on this list, and the ecosystem of the Moto Mods is impressive too.
11. LENOVO P2
SPECIFICATIONS
OS: Android 7.0
Screen size: 5.5-inches
Resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 625
RAM: 4GBS
Storage: 64GB
Battery: 5100mAh
Rear camera: 13MP f/2.0
Front camera: 5MP f/2.2
The Lenovo P2 does not look pretty, there is no sexy bezel-less display, and it does not have an amazing camera unfortunately. I added it to this list because of the battery life.
It does have one the best battery life compared to any phone on this list. If all you care about is battery life, this smartphone is definitely for you, but Lenovo also did good job elsewhere, as well, with a decent metal build, great display, and solid UI design. All in a pretty affordable package.
Source: nairaland
