Smartphone buyer's guide: November 2018 edition

21 November 2018
Decisions, decisions, decisions. The holiday season is upon us and 'tis the season of joy and happiness. But it could also be one of the most stressful events each year because them presents won't buy themselves, will they? That's why we decided to pitch in and hopefully make some of those decisions easier for you.

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Qwerty2018, 24 Nov 2018Then, both of them are NOT for u, dude... 3.5 mm jack ..... moreI'm just concerned about MIUI. I'm not sure if it would still be fluid after 2 years.
Plus I've read that F1's cameras aren't good.

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    • Qwerty2018
    • wrn
    • 24 Nov 2018

    drake parker, 24 Nov 2018Can anyone help me choose between the OnePlus6 & Galaxy... moreThen, both of them are NOT for u, dude...

    3.5 mm jack .............................. checked (for listening music)
    big RAM ................................... checked (for MANY tasks; watching Youtube while ALL social media apps run on the background)
    SD845-level SoC & ISP ........ checked (for the best gaming experience & photography)
    Liquid cooling ......................... checked (for sustaining long gaming session & 4K recording)
    4000 mAh battery capacity ... checked (for sustaining ALL activities)

    The result: Pocophone F1!
    Buy 2 of it (in case something shitty happened), and u are going to be okay for the next 4 years (assuming a Pocophone only last 2 years of heavy use, as I have Redmi Note 4x and it has been working like champ since day 1 with moderate use)

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      • m20user
      • rwq
      • 24 Nov 2018

      An excellent writeup, thank you GSMArena.

      Thoroughly enjoying my new Mate 20 Pro along with my old Galaxy Note8 being my backup, I am done with phone shopping this year, the Mate 20 Pro is serving me well with its best in class battery life, best camera around and fantastic UI performance.

      I will use this article when suggesting device for family and friends who are shopping for new devices.

      What would be a great addition to this is adding older Flagships from the year before eg. Galaxy Note8, Mate 10 Pro, Pixel 2 XL and LG V30, all of which are being heavily discounted and would be a better buy than newer Mid end devices.

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        • Qwerty2018
        • wrn
        • 24 Nov 2018

        mehtasameer2087, 24 Nov 2018Check the quality of the material being used ,don't compare... moreIT'S POLYCARBONATE, FFS...

        There's no 'Quality Material' when it comes to Polycarbonate!
        Moreover, do u know who made (old) Nokia's device? The same factory that now belongs to Foxconn, the company who manufactures Pocophone!

        Stop being smart(ass) when u don't even know what Polycarbonate material is!

          Qwerty2018, 23 Nov 2018when Nokia use polycarbonate backcover for 99% of their pho... moreCheck the quality of the material being used ,don't compare Nokia lumias to Chinese junk

            Can anyone help me choose between the OnePlus6 & Galaxy S9?
            I currently own the Samsung Galaxy Alpha, which I've had for the past 4 years, and I've been saving money for a new phone since the past 3-4 months.
            I'm someone who keeps his phone for 2-3 years at least.
            I listen to music and browse YouTube A LOT, an avid user of social media too. Am a moderate gamer and photographer.
            The battery should be enough to last at least a single day or till the evening. Don't use NFC.
            I want the phone to be fluid and stutter free for the time that I'd have it.

            The Alpha I own legit has a pathetic battery life which has me charging it AT LEAST 4-5 times a day! Had it not been for that, a lousy selfie camera, constant stutters and lags here and there from the last year or so, and a recently damaged 3.5mm jack I'd still keep my Alpha. So battery life is very important for me.

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              • Note 5
              • 3iY
              • 24 Nov 2018

              Nrlastest, 23 Nov 2018I learnt something when smartphones came up and remember. W... moreThats true, but problem nowdays is with OEMs. Every week or two, there is a new smartphone, with similar spec, or better, or similar design, better, so its hard to have that one smartphone more than month with so many options outside, for some reason Huawei/Honor, Xiaomi is the most frequent with new phones on the market.

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                • Michael
                • Dhm
                • 24 Nov 2018

                Why did they mention in camera department
                Xiaomi note 5 AI and didnt mention xiaomi note 6 pro!?

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                  • Note 5
                  • 3iY
                  • 24 Nov 2018

                  no, 22 Nov 2018Is the mi 8 lite battery bad ( as the post says that it has... moreIt is not bad, just average. Problem is that even Xiaomi have similar priced phones with 4000mAh, or 5500mAh..
                  If you want orientation, battery life in Mi 8 Lite (global version) is worse than in Note 5, but better than in Mi A2.

                    • N
                    • Note 5
                    • 3iY
                    • 24 Nov 2018

                    Qwerty2018, 23 Nov 2018when Nokia use polycarbonate backcover for 99% of their pho... moreAlu/metal is still the best (if you dont need wirelles charging). About Nokia and polycarbonate and that nobody was bashing them (at least in flagship segment _ yes it is, users). Does Nokia exist anymore? Where are those new polycarbonate Lumias from 2017-2018? Maybe thats a reason why Microsoft failed, plastic fantastic for 500€ is not was good enough in 2015 (no matter how good photo and camera is). When arrive Pocophone F2 with metal/alu build and hopefully, without notch, at least without that big notch like in F1, it will be even better buy. Plastic phone is not good in 2018 even for 100 + $, just because there is another options.

                      • N
                      • Note 5
                      • 3iY
                      • 24 Nov 2018

                      ZinovievBG, 23 Nov 2018About Xiaomi Note 5 AI Dual - "Bad: No manual mode or 4K ... moreNo, you dont. 1080p in 60fps is the highest in Note 5 (with MIUI 10.0.4.0) with stock camera app. If you mean for Redmi 5 Plus (in India that phone is Note 5), well 4k recording was there with MIUI 9 also.

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                        • 8" Tablet Phone
                        • nI8
                        • 24 Nov 2018

                        I have the best value phone...it's an 8" tablet phone. It can make 2G and 3G phone calls out of the box. It's water resistant and you can replace the battery if needed. Also, it doesn't need a special tool to change the SIM. Cost me less than $200 brand new.

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                          • x vs xz
                          • nux
                          • 23 Nov 2018

                          In my case with 350euro price is xz1compact the best camera performer. Surely others can shoot sharp, full of detail or noiseless, colorful but this one can do both at 12mp and as bonus you get more real colors from triple layer sensor. Same as it was with camera beasts 808, 1020, 950, that were soon cheap because of OS, but their camera performance was not.

                            Anonymous, 23 Nov 2018120Hz screen for a gaming phone is pointless if there are n... moreSadly, consumers can easily be fool. Manufacturers, on the other hand, would love that.

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                              • Jon
                              • nx1
                              • 23 Nov 2018

                              Audiophile phones?

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                                • PrashBricks III
                                • dWu
                                • 23 Nov 2018

                                Give me a phone with a screen less than 5 inch, a headphone jack and physical buttons and I will be happy. I would like usb-c and wireless charging as well.

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                                  • DkV
                                  • 23 Nov 2018

                                  Batai15, 23 Nov 2018It is a joke? Honor play with good camera? Man my redmi not... moreDid u use a honor play it camera quality is better than
                                  Poco f1

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                                    • NotRelevant
                                    • J7N
                                    • 23 Nov 2018

                                    Qwerty2018, 23 Nov 2018The "best" "smart" phone for gaming... LOL ... How is it... moreThis comment made my day! Lol...

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                                      • ZinovievBG
                                      • nU5
                                      • 23 Nov 2018

                                      About Xiaomi Note 5 AI Dual -
                                      "Bad: No manual mode or 4K video recording (only with a 3rd party app)"
                                      With MIUI 10 and stock camera you have 4K Video :)

                                        • m
                                        • mobi
                                        • 6Pp
                                        • 23 Nov 2018

                                        Where is HTC U12+ in the camera phone????

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