Top Flagship Smartphones Of MWC 2018
We saw a lot of new Smartphones appearing in the MWC 2018 starting form super low-end Android Go devices to premium tier Flagship devices. So, the main highlight in flagships was definitely the Snapdragon 845. However, some manufacturers have also gone with an older Snapdragon 835. Anyway, these are the Top Flagship Smartphones of MWC 2018.
Samsung Galaxy S9 | S9+
The Galaxy S9 & the S9+ were definitely the biggest players of this MWC & though they are not a complete makeover of the previous generation but, they are more powerful & have a few extra feature additions that really helps the device stand out.
The highlighting specifications include, a 2940×1440 (18.5:9) Super AMOLED Display that is 5.8 inches for the regular S9 & 6.2 inches for the S9+, a Snapdragon 845 (in the US) or an Exynos 9810 (in the rest of the world) SOC, 4GB (in the S9) or 6GB (in the S9+) LPDDR4X RAM, 64 or 256 Gigabytes of UFS 2.1 Internal Storage, 12MP f-1.5 to f-2.4 Variable Aperture Rear Camera (for the regular S9) or 12MP f1.5 to f-2.4 Regular + 12MP f-2.4 Telephoto Camera (for the regular S9+), 8MP f-1.7 Front Facing Camera, Iris Scanner & a 3000 mAh (for the S9) or a 3500 mAh (for the S9+) Battery.
Compared to the S8 & S8+, the main upgrades have been done in the Camera with that variable aperture lens, the more powerful CPU, the Iris Scanner & the Stereo speakers as the Earpiece now doubles as the secondary speaker.
ASUS Zenfone 5Z
The ASUS Zenfone 5Z is the flagship from ASUS for 2018. It comes in the same chassis as the regular Zenfone 5 but, it has flagship hardware inside.
The highlighting specifications include, a 6.2 inch 2246×1080 (19:9) Super IPS+ Display, a Snapdragon 845, 4GB or 6GB or 8GB of RAM, 64GB or 128GB or 256GB of UFS 2.1 Internal Storage, 12MP f-1.8 (Regular) + 8MP (120° Wide Angle) Rear Cameras, 8MP f-2.0 Front Facing Camera, 3300 mAh Battery.
Compared to the Zenfone 4 Pro, the Zenfone 5Z is big step up in terms of the tech packed inside. The Notch is definitely a personal preference thing but, the updated design, the new Snapdragon 845, the Stereo speakers, the AI capabilities in the Software & specially the lower price point makes it a very good option in the flagship territory.
Sony Xperia XZ2
The Sony Xperia XZ2 line-up finally brings a new design language to the Sony Smartphones. So, the XZ2 finally has a fresh design, an 18:9 Display & of course flagship specifications.
The highlighting specifications include, a 6.2 inch 2160×1080 (18:9) IPS Display, Snapdragon 845, 4GB RAM, 64GB Internal Storage, 19MP f-2.0 Rear Camera, 5MP f-2.2 Front Facing Camera, 3180 mAh Battery.
We’re happy that Sony finally moved on to a new design & that’s probably the biggest differentiator between this device & it’s predecessors. However, there are some exclusives like the super slow-mo 960 fps Video at 1080P, 4K HDR Video etc.
Nokia 8 Sirocco
The Nokia 8 Sirocco edition is basically a 2018 makeover of the original Nokia 8 from last year. The design has changed quite a bit & the Display now wraps up around the corners kinda like what Samsung does with their S-series flagships. The Dual Cameras on the Back are also much minimalistic compared to last years setup.
The highlighting specifications include, a 5.5 inch 2560×1440 (16:9) pOLED Display, Snapdragon 835, 6GB RAM, 128GB Internal Storage, 12MP (Regular) + 13MP (Telephoto) Rear Cameras, 5MP Front Facing Camera, 3260 mAh Battery.
Though the Nokia 8 Sirocco hasn’t adopted the trend of latest 18:9 Displays & even does not come with a Snapdragon 845, we still think that it’s a step in the right direction for Nokia flagships. At least from the design aesthetics perspective.
“We’ll also like to give Honorable Mentions to LG V30 ThinQ & Vivo Apex (though we’re not sure if it has a flagship grade CPU or not).”