Notebookcheck's Top 10 Smartphones

Bigger is better for the Huawei Mate 10 Pro: The 6-inch phablet comes with Huawei's most powerful high-end SoC, 6 GB of RAM as well as 128 GB internal storage. It is also the first device of its kind with dual-VoLTE and LTE Cat. 18. It is shipped with the current Android 8.0 Oreo and offers a full list of features worthy of a high-end smartphone, including a 4000 mAh battery as well as IP67 certification. The panel resolution falls a bit short and you cannot expand the storage via microSD. There is no stereo jack, either, and Bluetooth 4.2 is not the latest version, but you can stream high-resolution audio files via aptX HD.

No doubt: both, the Galaxy S9 and the Galaxy S9+, are amazing smartphones. However, the differences to their respective predecessors are fairly small. Equipped with a new and quite fast Exynos SoC, 6 GB of RAM (S9: 4 GB), and 64/256 GB of UFS 2.1 storage the S9+ has quite a bit to offer. The display has been fine-tuned even further by Samsung and the phone’s already narrow bezels have shrunk once more. The rest of the specs are not any less impressive: LTE Cat. 18, Bluetooth 5.0, microSD slot, IP67-certified, wireless charging, USB 3.1 with support for DisplayPort, fingerprint reader and iris scanner, and much more. Like the new brilliant dual-lens camera capable of adjusting its aperture between f/1.5 and f/2.4.

The visuals of the Apple iPhone 8 are very similar to the previous model. The design is identical, but the rear is now made of glass. This makes it more prone to scratches, but enables wireless charging in return. The display still measures 4.7 inches and Apple has not changed the resolution either. The camera has once again been improved and the processor has got its yearly update. The iPhone now supports AR content, and the entry-level model now has 64 GB of storage, twice as much as before. We like the long battery runtime as well as the dust and water protection (IP67), but we still miss the stereo jack and the speakers could also be better.

The iPhone 8 Plus offers a larger screen and a dual-camera with portrait mode, but the other specifications are identical.

The specifications of the OnePlus 5T are similar to the predecessor. However, the display was not just implemented the right way this time, but now features a 2:1 aspect ratio. This means the resolution got a slight bump and the panel size is increased to 6.01 inches. The manufacturer offers two models. While one model is equipped with 6 GB RAM and 64 GB internal storage, the other one is shipped with 8 and 128 GB, respectively. It has a 3300 mAh battery and manages very good runtimes. We also liked the snappy OxygenOS as well as the good dual-camera during our review.

The lack of storage expansion as well as the protection against dust and water are small issues. Still, it is definitely a high-end smartphone with a really good price-performance ratio.

Since customers did not quite accept the predecessor, LG has completely revised the concept of its flagship model and created a great product. The LG G6 uses an aspect ratio of 2:1 and the display size has increased to 5.7-inches. Nevertheless, it still sits comfortably in the hand. It is the first time that the G series uses a fixed battery. On the other hand, the smartphone is now dust and waterproof and also meets other specifications of the MIL-STG-810G military standard. Thus, the G6 is really robust.

The SoC, a high-end model of the last year, still delivers very good performance. In addition, the phone comes with 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB of UFS-2.0 storage. The cameras have been improved significantly and are really good now. Furthermore, the display is convincing. It already supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision. The only complaint is that not all components are high-end and features such as wireless-charging, larger storage and better audio chip are not available in Germany.

The Google Pixel 2 might look like a slightly outdated smartphones, but both the components and the software are up to date. Thanks to a powerful Snapdragon SoC, 4 GB RAM and 64 or 128 GB flash storage, respectively, the specs of the small Pixel model are rather average among the high-end competition. The great camera and the latest Android versions for the next couple of years (guaranteed for three years) are two highlights.

We also liked the two stereo speakers as well as the IP certification against the entry of dust and water during our review. Unfortunately, the manufacturer dropped the MIMO WLAN technology compared to the previous model, so the transfer rates could be better. There is no dual-SIM or storage expansion via microSD, either.

If you prefer a more modern design approach with a 2:1 display, you should have a look at the bigger sibling Pixel 2 XL.

After last year's fiasco, Samsung's Galaxy Note 8 is once again an exceptional phablet with pen support. Similar to the current Galaxy S models, it features an aspect ratio of 2.06:1 with a diagonal size of 6.3 inches. It is well equipped with 6 GB of RAM as well as 64 GB of internal storage, especially since the latter can be expanded via microSD. The dual-camera of the Note 8 is a new feature, and the second lens can be used as 2x optical zoom, but it captures less light than the wide-angle lens. The Note 8 does not reveal many drawbacks. The fingerprint scanner is now at the back, and the position is not perfect. The speaker could be better, and we are not fully convinced by the location features either.

The anniversary iPhone features a 5.8-inch OLED screen with a resolution of 2436 x 1125 pixels, which makes it the largest panel surface on an iPhone yet. It is also the first OLED screen on an iPhone and sports the best screen-to-body ratio. Apple waives the fingerprint scanner and uses the new facial recognition Face ID instead, which works well in all lighting conditions. The Apple iPhone X is powered by an A11 Bionic SoC. Potential buyers can choose between 64 or 256 GB of storage.

The smartphone feels good in the hand, despite the pretty high weight. The dual-camera was convincing in the review and can record 4K at up to 60 frames per second, supports a great Portrait mode as well as dual OIS. The iPhone X does not reveal any major downsides, but Apple still waives expandable storage and the stereo jack. The battery runtimes could be a bit longer as well.

The HTC U11 is a thoroughly well-made smartphone and features a display with classic 16:9 format. Its unusual color options make it an eye-catcher. The features are high-end and no reason for complaints. We would only wish for a faster microSD slot. The camera is really good and is one of the best ones currently available in smartphones. While the battery life is good, it slightly falls behind the competitors'.

The Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact uses a classic 16:9 screen with a 720p resolution. This does not sound like a lot, but it is completely sufficient for sharp images on the 4.6-inch screen. The smartphone is powered by Qualcomm's current flagship SoC in combination with 4 GB of RAM as well as 32 GB of fast UFS storage, which can be expanded via microSD card. The smartphone is also protected against dust and water according to IP68.

We also like the long battery runtimes, a good camera, and the current operating system Android 8.0 Oreo during our review. It is unfortunate that Sony only includes a weak power adapter, so the supported quick-charge technology cannot be utilized.

If you prefer a slightly larger smartphone with a higher-resolution screen and more storage, you should consider the sibling Xperia XZ1, which also managed a very good result in our review.