Classic
smart phones
Best and new Classic smartphones...
...The modern smartphone has taken a long 26-year journey to reach us in 2018, and it's changed a lot along the way. It’s an evolution that's taken the market by storm!
What were once large and bulky luxury items have become small, compact devices we can’t live without. In fact, 77% of Americans own a smartphone, according to Pew Research Center, and 95% of Americans own a cell phone of some kind.
The history and evolution of the smartphone is important to understand, because it gives us a glimpse of where we've come from, and of what's coming. That goes for improvements in technology as well as consumer trends.
So let's take a look at just how far we've come.
Samsung Galaxy S20/S20 Plus...
...It's hard to know where to start with the Galaxy S20 Ultra, because Samsung has really gone to town here, from the 100x digital zoom on the rear camera to the huge 6.9-inch AMOLED display you get around the front. It's the priciest of the S20 models, and it shows.
Of course it's a stunning phone to look at, something you would expect from Samsung at this stage. Inside you have some of the best internal components you're going to find in a handset in 2020. And then around the back is one of the best and most versatile cameras on the market.
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 222g
Dimensions: 166.9 x 76 x 8.8 mm
OS: Android 10
Screen size: 6.9 inches
Resolution: 1440 x 3200
CPU: Exynos 990 / Snapdragon 865
RAM: 12GB/16GB
Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB
Battery: 5,000 mAh
Rear camera: 108 MP wide + 48 MP periscope + 12 MP ultrawide + 0.3 MP TOF
Front camera: 40MP + 40MP
REASONS TO BUY
+Superb dual-lens camera+Blazingly fast+Great battery life+Lovely design and build+Impressive audio
iPhone 11 Pro Max...
...The ultimate iPhone is also the best phone you can buy period. The iPhone 11 Pro Max has vaulted past the Android competition to become the top camera phone, thanks to a new Night mode for much better photos in low light and a versatile ultra-wide lens. Plus, improved Smart HDR gives you superior portraits. Apple has upped the ante on video quality, too, with extended dynamic range and smooth cinematic stabilization.
The iPhone 11 Pro Max also offers the fastest processor yet with its A13 Bionic chip, a more durable design and a 6.5-inch OLED display so bright that it makes other phones look dingy. I wish Apple offered more than 64GB of storage, but once you add in nearly 12 hours of battery life, fast charging and more immersive audio you have the nearly perfect smartphone.
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 188g
Dimensions: 144 x 71.4 x 8.1 mm
OS: iOS 13
Screen size: 5.8-inches
Resolution: 1125 x 2436
CPU: Apple A13 Bionic
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64/256/512GB
Battery: 3,046mAh
Rear camera: Triple 12MP Ultra Wide-Angle + 12MP Wide-Angle + 12MP Telephoto
Front camera: 12MP + TOF 3D Depth Sensor
REASONS TO BUY
+The best phone camera so far+Incredible OLED screen+Fantastic battery life
Huawei P30 Pro...
...The P30 Pro is a statement from Huawei, with the Chinese smartphone manufacturer declaring that its new flagship will "rewrite the rules of photography".
It aims to do that with its quad camera system which offers a 5x optical zoom, 10x hybrid zoom and huge 50x digital zoom, along with bold claims for low-light performance.
What’s in the box
- 40W fast charger
- USB-C earbuds
- A basic clear case
Design
- 158 x 73.4 x 8.4mm
- 192g
- Waterdrop notch
- Curved display edges
Display
- 6.47 inches
- 1080 x 2340, 19.5:9
- OLED
- HDR10, DCI-P3
- 398 ppi
- Always-on display
Performance
- Huawei Kirin 980
- Octa-core
- Mali-G76 MP10
- 8GB of RAM
- 128, 256GB
Battery
- 4,200mAh
- 40W fast charging
- 15W wireless charging
Reverse
Camera
- Standard: 40 MP, f/1.6, OIS
- Pixel-binned 10MP images
- Ultra-wide: 20MP, f/2.2
- Telephoto: 8MP, f/3.4, OIS
- Time-of-Flight camera
- 32MP selfie camera
XIAOMI MI 9T PRO...
...The Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro handset builds on the excellent Xiaomi Mi 9 to add even more in the way of functionality and features – and it ditches the front display notch to give you even more in the way of screen (the 20MP selfie camera is moved to a motorised pop-up unit).
The internal hardware spec is remarkably premium considering its super low price point, too, with a lightning fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 powering the whole operation. You really don't have to worry about battery life, either, with the large 4,000mAh battery delivering a day to a day and a half medium-strength usage on a single charge.
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 191g
Dimensions: 156.7 x 74.3 x 8.8 mm
OS: Android 9.0
Screen size: 6.39 inches
Resolution: 1080 x 2340 pixels
CPU: Snapdragon 855
RAM: 6GB-8GB
Storage: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB
Battery: 4000mAh
Rear camera: 48 MP f/1.8 + 13 MP f/2.4 + 8 MP f/2.4
Front camera: 20 MP f/2.2
REASONS TO BUY
+Flagship-level design chops+Some of the most powerful specs around+Price is very appealing
ONEPLUS 7T PRO...
...This is one of the best-looking, most well-specced phones we've seen in the past year, there's no doubt about that – from the pop-up selfie camera to the fantastic 6.67-inch screen, the OnePlus 7T Pro exudes quality.
A special mention for the OxygenOS software that OnePlus puts on its phones: it features some really good ideas, and in some ways improves on the stock Android that Google provides. Spend a few hours using it and you'll see what I mean.
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 206g
Dimensions: 162.6 x 75.9 x 8.8 mm
OS: OxygenOS / Android 10
Screen size: 6.67 inches
Resolution: 1440 x 3120
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
RAM: 8GB / 12GB
Storage: 256GB
Battery: 4085mAh
Rear camera: 48MP f/1.6 + 8MP f/2.4 + 16MP f/2.2
Front camera: 16MP f/2.0
REASONS TO BUY
+Beautifully well designed phone+Top-end specs+OxygenOS really impresses
SAMSUNG GALAXY S10 PLUS...
..The Galaxy S10 phones remain on sale, and even though they've been replaced by the Galaxy S20 range, they're still excellent choices – and better value than ever. The Galaxy phones are also doing something truly different from the iPhone and other rival flagship handsets. Whereas competitors have rushed to clone the notched screen design that first gained prominence with the iPhone X, Samsung has taken a dramatically different approach with its Infinity-O design.
Admittedly, that Infinity-O design isn't the prettiest thing to leave the Samsung R&D lab and definitely takes some getting used to. However, it has allowed Samsung to fit the S10 Plus with an expansive 6.4-inch AMOLED panel – that's the same size as the Galaxy Note 9 – while simultaneously shrinking the physical size of the smartphone compared to the Galaxy S9 Plus, which sports a 6.2-inch screen...
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 175g
Dimensions: 74.1 x 157.6 x 7.8mm
OS: Android 9.0 (Pie)
Screen size: 6.4-inches
Resolution: QHD+
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 / Exynos 9820
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB
Battery: 4,100mAh
Rear camera: Triple 16MP Ultra Wide-Angle + 12MP Dual Aperture + 12MP Telephoto
Front camera: 10MP + 8MP Depth Sensor
REASONS TO BUY
+Expansive 6.4-Inch Quad HD+ AMOLED+Up to 1.5TB storage via MicroSD card+Awesome Live Focus images from front-facing camera
SONY XPERIA 1...
...As you can probably see, the biggest thing – literally – about this phone is it's 6.5-inch 21:9 4K display which, for the uninitiated, is the preferred aspect ratio for watching films (or movies, as the Americans call them) and TV. If those are two things that you like to do, then look no further than this beast of a handset.
The issue is, as we said in our review, is that while this display is a thing of beauty – crisp, huge, vibrant – the phone has a rather underwhelming battery, which means the screen appears dim unless cranked right up to near maximum. Crank that brightness up though, and the viewing experience is truly superb. Just don't expect that battery to run for days on end.
The phone's super tall size also makes it somewhat unwieldy, especially when it's in a normal-sized pocket. Now, of course, this applies to many big phones (Galaxy Note, we're looking at you), but the pure length of this handset – combined with its above-average weight – exacerbates the problem...
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 180g
Dimensions: 167 x 72 x 8.2 mm
OS: Android 9.0
Screen size: 6.5 inches
Resolution: 1644 x 3840 pixels
CPU: Snapdragon 855
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 128GB
Battery: 3,300mAh
Rear camera: 12MP (wide), 12MP (telephoto), 12MP (ultrawide)
Front camera: 8MP
REASONS TO BUY
+Huge, unique display+Powerful processor+Immersive audio+Dust and waterproof
GOOGLE PIXEL 4
...The Google Pixel flagship phones have a lot going for them and easily make it on to our best smartphones list. Leading the way again, of course, is the camera: Google has added a second lens this time around, meaning even better shots (and even pictures of the stars).
Elsewhere you've got a modest specs bump over last year and the pure stock Android experience that the Pixel phones are known for. Sometimes the strength of a phone lies in what it doesn't have, rather than what it has.
A couple of cool features worth mentioning are Face Unlock, which makes it easier than ever to get in your phone, and Motion Sense, which lets you control music playback, silence alarms and more with a wave of your hand.
With wireless charging and full waterproofing included too, there aren't many marks against the Pixel 4 (and its bigger sibling the Pixel 4 XL). Battery life could be improved, but there's so much that's good here, it's not too much of a problem.
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 162g
Dimensions: 147.1 x 68.8 x 8.2 mm
OS: Android 10
Screen size: 5.7-inches
Resolution: 1080 x 2280 pixels
CPU: Snapdragon 855
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 64GB/128GB
Battery: 2800mAh
Rear camera: 12.2MP f/1.7 + 16MP f/2.4
Front camera: 8MP f/2.0
REASONS TO BUY
+Camera is simply fantastic+Pure stock Android+Face Unlock works very well
...The reasons to buy a Pixel phone are the same as ever with the Pixel 4 – that pure Android experience, the power of Google Assistant, and the magic that Google can do with photos (including astrophotography, this year). The Pixel 4 adds some nice touches as well, like Face Unlock and the Recorder app. Most of this is the AI and software at work though – and it feels as though the hardware side is less of a priority for Google.
LG V40
...The LG V40 ThinQ was released in 2018 as the flagship phone for the Korean electronic megacorporation. It brings to the table a lot of the same features as other premier phones released around the same time. When you're looking at a plethora of phones, all with the same processors and RAM, it's hard to choose which one is right for you. At that point, it’s the little things that make one model better than the other.
LG's previous flagships have been great, but they tend to not get the same attention as major releases from Samsung and Apple. It's a shame, really, because the V40 ThinQ is one of the best Android phones to come out in 2018. Its amazing camera configuration, Quad DAC, and almost-stock Android interface make it a truly feature-packed Android phone.
Whether or not the V40 ThinQ is worth it or not really depends on the user. We tested this phone in all kinds of real-life applications to help you determine if this is the right phone for you.
Specs
- Product Name V40 ThinQ
- Product Brand LG
- SKU 6305718
- Price $949.99
- Product Dimensions 6.25 x 2.98 x 0.31 in.
- Warranty 1 year
- Compatibility CDMA, GSM, EDGE, EV-DO, GPRS, HSPA+, LTE
- Platform Android
- Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
- GPU Adreno 630
- RAM 6 GB
- Storage 64 GB internal (microSD card compatible)
- Camera Three rear-facing, two front-facing
- Battery Capacity 3,330 mAh
- Ports USB-C, 3.5mm headphone jack
- Waterproof IP68
What We Like
- Camera is packed with options
- SD card compatibility
- Great screen
- Amazing sound with Quad DAC
Nokia 9 PureView
...Nokia 9 PureView includes two RGB f/1.8 12-megapixels sensors and three monochrome f/1.8 12-megapixel sensors. There's also a dual-tone LED flash and a Time Of Flight (ToF) sensor for video capture, too.
All five cameras will fire each time you press the shutter, Nokia says. For those who struggle with maths, that results in a single 60-megapixel photograph. Nokia 9 PureView is also capable of panoramas, which can quickly tot up to more than 240-megapixels.
Obviously, it's not all about the number of megapixels, but those who want to blow-up their images onto canvases and posters should take a look at the Nokia 9 PureView.
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 172g
Dimensions: 155 x 75 x 8mm
OS: Android 9.0 Pie
Screen size: 5.99 inches
Resolution: 1440 x 2880 pixels
CPU: Snapdragon 845
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 128GB
Battery: 3320mAh
Rear camera: 12MP f/1.8 + 12MP f/1.8 + 12MP f/1.8 + 12MP f/1.8 + 12MP f/1.8
Front camera: 20MP
REASONS TO BUY
+Packed with photo tricks+The most powerful Nokia
Motorola Z4
...The Moto Z4 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 processor and 4GB of RAM. It's nearly identical to what you'll find in the Pixel 3a XL, though its processor is theoretically faster. Overall, performance on the Z4 is solid. There's no lag when opening apps, and multitasking between a dozen or so apps is effortless.
PROS
- Supports 5G with Moto Mod on Verizon.
- Excellent battery life.
- Good overall performance.
Cameras
The Moto Z4 has a single rear camera that clocks in at 48MP with a f/1.7 aperture. While 48MP sounds substantial, image output actually comes in at 12MP since it combines four pixels to create a single, more crisp pixel for the final image. This is similar to the sensor used on many phones like the Pixel 3a XL and the Sony Xperia 10 Plus. The front-facing camera comes in at 25MP.
The top of the phone holds a SIM and microSD card slot, while the bottom is home to a USB-C charging port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Both the volume rocker and a textured power button sit on the right. The power button is relatively small and the volume rocker can be hard to reach with small hands, but both are responsive and offer a satisfying click.
