Weekly poll: the best flagship and best mid-ranger from IFA 2018

02 September 2018
The Xperia XZ3 and Axon 9 Pro are pretty lonely at the top as this year's IFA was focused mainly on mid-range devices.

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  • K
  • Kangal
  • RN8
  • 03 Sep 2018

Walter C. Dornez, 03 Sep 2018Yeah, it would also lose the waterproofing. Hopefully, batt... moreHonestly, I think we can improve/forgo removable batteries if:
- we get good IP68 waterproofing
- have large batteries (4,000 - 6,000mAh)
- get fast-charging
- and have a Power Brick/external battery charger.
......that's for the daily use case for Road Warriors.

As for long-term servicing?
- have a strong Aluminium/Stainless Steel/Titanium/Kevlar unibody
- design the phone to be removable from the front (ie Pixel 2/iPhone 8 Plus)
- that way cracked screens are first layer to be removed, followed by the battery second layer, and lastly the motherboard and IO in the bottom layer which sits within the sturdy metal shell.
- this makes the phone sturdier than the old plastic ones and the new glass ones
- and also makes it easy to service, and put in fresh batteries after 3 years (or earlier)

    • e
    • engineer
    • PA7
    • 03 Sep 2018

    Mobilemaster, 02 Sep 2018I voted for the XZ3, and the U12 Life. The XZ3 has a great ... morexperia has been long known having a good battery enurance, only defeat by motorola force line in endurance, able to survive more than 2years just like motorola (samsung note line just a year). base on self experience

      • ?
      • Anonymous
      • uJD
      • 03 Sep 2018

      Phones with notches and without 3.5mm jacks should be removed from the poll.

      The best should have no compromise.

        Anonymous, 02 Sep 2018Sony did it because the sales of their wireless headphones ... moreTrue, which means that Bluetooth listening would be great.

          AnonD-632062, 02 Sep 2018Yup, I too wish for they added an IR blaster and an FM Radi... moreYeah, it would also lose the waterproofing. Hopefully, battery tech gets better, though software optimization seems to play a big part. One example for a phone that lasts long on a smaller battery would be the LG V30 and the G7. Both phones last longer than their batteries would be expected to

            • S
            • SAM
            • mDX
            • 03 Sep 2018

            XPERIA XZ3 & LG G7 One Rocks.
            Hope the make great comeback in 2018

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • kch
              • 02 Sep 2018

              All of those battery size too low.

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • vaq
                • 02 Sep 2018

                How can anyone go past the 835 chipset in a MIDRANGE category? Its a steal compared to the rest.

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • C2v
                  • 02 Sep 2018

                  flagship? most of these devices look like mid-range, anyway, if these are my only options i'd purchase any one except sony and huawei.

                  Also, i'm waiting for OnePlus 6, i have 5T and still is a great device, probably will give 5T to my younger brother and buy 6T

                    Anonymous, 02 Sep 2018I would more interested in sony xperia xz3 if it had the sa... morethe Xperia was designed in Sweden and Japan, and manufactured in Thailand, not China

                      I voted for the XZ3, and the U12 Life. The XZ3 has a great display, stereo speakers, good battery life(I hope), and the most important thing, no notch, but sadly again no 3.5 mm jack.
                      On the other hand, I like how the U12 Life looks, but in my opinion they should have added some more colors. The camera I think is good, and the battery is not bad either. And what is the most important, NO notch, and YES 3.5 mm jack! So good job HTC, or whatever company built this device.

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • uNV
                        • 02 Sep 2018

                        Anonymous, 02 Sep 2018I would more interested in sony xperia xz3 if it had the sa... moreSony flagships get 2 years of software updates!

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • uNV
                          • 02 Sep 2018

                          Walter C. Dornez, 02 Sep 2018Yeah, I see what you mean. I think, however, the fact that ... moreSony did it because the sales of their wireless headphones increased after the removal of headphone jack. Also they have LDAC!

                            • D
                            • AnonD-632062
                            • Hxc
                            • 02 Sep 2018

                            Walter C. Dornez, 02 Sep 2018Yeah, I see what you mean. I think, however, the fact that ... moreYup, I too wish for they added an IR blaster and an FM Radio to the Note9 to make it nearly make it a perfect phone. Maybe add in a removable battery too, but I guess that would be asking for way too much....

                              AnonD-632062, 02 Sep 2018Well, if you got used to it, good for you. But OEMs should ... moreYeah, I see what you mean. I think, however, the fact that the lack of a headphone jack provides urgency for making the tech better. I do agree that a lot of companies have done it for no reason. I get why Apple has done it, but I don't get why Sony and HTC had done it. I also really wish for the return of the IR blaster in Samsung phones, but otherwise, no complaint with them. They have some very nice phones

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • L2Z
                                • 02 Sep 2018

                                I would more interested in sony xperia xz3 if it had the same price as zte axon 9 pro. Both phones are made in china and will not have two years of software support from manufacturer. Unlocked bootloader would save the devices from becoming obsolete so fast.

                                  My midrage vote was LG G7

                                    That's an easy win for the XZ3, this is a big step in the right direction from Sony.

                                      • H
                                      • H-1
                                      • aXL
                                      • 02 Sep 2018

                                      While the axon came pretty much as expected, the XZ3 showed that Sony is getting more mature with each release.

                                      If this keeps on the XZ4 or 5 might be the best device of its year.

                                        my preffered brands was not there. So I voted for Sony, although it was not my preferred brand but I do still since I have a high respect and trust with them compared with that other available choice(s) there. My preferred brand/smartphones will always be (from) Apple and Samung. Never in a million years I will ever trust those Chinese phones no matter how cheap or very promising they are.