Smartphone buyer's guide: November 2018 edition

Flagships

If money is not an issue at all and you want the cutting-edge technology and the latest models in your pocket, then you've come to the right place.

€800: Samsung Galaxy Note9

• Highlights: Notch-free 6.4" 1440p AMOLED, variable aperture for the main camera
• Concerns: Bloatware

The Galaxy Note9 packs everything Samsung has achieved throughout this year - the largest Super AMOLED Infinity display, the fastest Exynos/Snapdragon chipset, dual-camera with variable aperture, excellent battery life, and, of course, the new active S-Pen.

€800: Google Pixel 3 XL

• Highlights: Notched 6.3" 1440p P-OLED, top-quality camera and portraits, pure Android
• Concerns: Only 4GB of RAM

The Google Pixel 3 XL remains one of the best performers when it comes to single-camera experience and does them portraits really well. It has a large 6.3" P-OLED 1440p screen with a notch, dual-selfie camera at the front, and vanilla Android by Google with the fastest updates around.

€900: Huawei Mate 20 Pro

• Highlights: Notched 6.39" 1440p AMOLED, Kirin 980 chip, the most versatile (triple) camera, 40W charging
• Concerns: Proprietary NM card slot

The new Mate 20 Pro is a one-stop smartphone for everyone who cares about having camera versatility and the most cutting-edge features. It has a flagship AMOLED screen and chipset, as well as jaw-dropping 40W SuperCharge, but the camera is just outstanding. It has ultra-wide snapper, regular wide camera, and 3x telephoto shooter with OIS. Combined those can do great macro shots, 5x hybrid zoom, different portraits, variable aperture, there are even some special film modes and slow-mo.

€1000: Apple iPhone XS Max

• Highlights: Notched 6.5" 1242p Super AMOLED, Apple A12 chip, great camera with Smart HDR, IP68-rated (up from IP67)
• Concerns: No 3.5mm adapter in the box, fast-charger sold separately

Apple finally answered all those requests for an X Plus version with the new XS Max. It has the largest mobile screen Apple has ever used, still as bezel-less, notched, and OLED-ish. Inside the XS Max is also the fastest chip available, and Apple's most sophisticated camera setup yet with Smart HDR and a new take on the portraits.

Expanded dynamic range (HDR-like) for all 30fps videos is available always, as well as wide stereo audio capturing on all clips. The cinematic (OIS+EIS) stabilization has improved across the board, too.

If luxury is your thing, then you have a choice between the Huawei Mate 20 RS Porsche Design and the Oppo Find X Lamborghini Edition.

€1700: Huawei Mate 20 RS Porsche Design

The Mate 20 RS Porsche Design has identical internals and screen with the Mate 20 Pro but enjoys a far flashier appearance and a much richer retail package.

€1700: Oppo Find X Lamborghini Edition

The Oppo Find X Lamborghini Edition wraps the regular Find X with slick black carbon-fiber, in true supercar fashion, and there is a new black UI theme with golden accents.

Other upgrades over the regular Find X (and its pop-up cameras) include 50W SuperCharge, and 512GB internal storage.

When you are paying so much for a phone, it's only natural to get it with a nice packaging. Inside the fancy box, this special edition of the Find X comes with a 50W SuperVOOC charger and a super nice braided USB cable to go with it. A pair of Oppo O-Free wireless earbuds with golden Lambo accents have also made it into the box. Finally, there is a proper matching case, too.