High-end phones inched dangerously close to premium flagships this year and the line is now ever so thin. With a handful to choose from, these are our picks for the best high-end smartphone. Stay tuned for the winner announcement next month.
In 2018, there’s a thin line between an out and out flagship and a high-end smartphone. The year saw hardware reserved for flagships trickle down to more affordable price range. But with lesser prices, comes bigger compromises. To find the best high-end smartphone for 2018, we not only looked at what the smartphones offer in terms of sheer performance, but also the overall package including the camera, design and the display. Keeping that in mind, here are the nomination for Zero1 Awards Best High-End Smartphone for 2018:
OnePlus 6T
The OnePlus 5T last year was the winner in this segment, and the OnePlus 6T this year has a strong, compelling case in repeating the feat. The OnePlus 6T features a big, bright AMOLED display, flagship hardware under the hood and a premium glass design outside. The phone’s primary feature is the speed at which it functions and it’s raw performance (especially in gaming) can put other expensive flagships to shame. The OnePlus 6T is one of the nominees for the best high-end smartphone and we are currently evaluating whether it should be the winner. Click here to buy.
Xiaomi Poco F1
What the OnePlus 6T offers at around Rs 40,000, the Poco F1 offers at almost half the price. Of course, there are niggling compromises here and there, but as far as pure performance is concerned, the Poco F1 is right up there with the expensive flagships. The device from Xiaomi’s new sub-brand packs a Snapdragon 845 SoC coupled with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. It also has a liquid-cooled copper heat pipe inside to improve peak performance. As far as raw performance is concerned, the Poco F1 definitely makes a strong case for itself as the best high-end smartphone of 2018. Stay tuned to find out the results. Click here to buy.
Asus Zenfone 5z
Replicating OnePlus’ success, Asus also launched a high-end phone with flagship-grade specs at a very reasonable price and the Zenfone 5z is a commendable effort. Making full use of the AI Engine in the Snapdragon 845, the Zenfone 5z offers a bevy of AI-centric features that are interesting, to say the least. It also offers an ultra wide-angle camera in that price range and is the only smartphone to do so in that price range. The Asus Zenfone 5z is being evaluated presently and is one of the nominees for Best High-End smartphone of 2018. Click here to buy.
Honor 10
The Honor 10 launched early this year with looks that can put the expensive flagships to shame. It has a gradient glass design, that the company would go on to replicate in most other phones launched later in the year. The Honor 10 also is quite compact with minimal bezels and the notch on top. While the UI in Honor 10 may not be the most aesthetically pleasing, it’s packed with features that are useful and interesting. There’s ample amounts of AI including in the camera which works to bring a visible change in the way photos are processed. You either like or hate it, but one thing’s for sure, the Honor 10 is a decent choice for someone looking to buy a high-end smartphone. We are evaluating whether the Honor 10 deserves the numero uno position in the high-end segment. Stay tuned to find out the winner. Click here to buy
Samsung Galaxy A7
The Samsung Galaxy A7 breaks the trend of mid-range Samsung phones staying under the shadows of the flagships. It’s the first Samsung phone to tout a triple-camera setup. It also has a slim profile with the fingerprint sensor embedded in the power button on the side. The phone is also decently fast with an octa-core Exynos 7-series chipset paired with up to 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. The phone brings some unique features to the table in the high-end segment. As a result, the Samsung Galaxy A7 is a nominee for the best high-end smartphone of 2018. Click here to buy.
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Subhrojit Mallick
Eats smartphones for breakfast. View Full Profile
