Best Smartphones of 2018: Awards for the High-End Category Smartphones

Hello December! We have finally reached the end of another amazing year. 2018 especially was an interesting year for smartphone companies. This year we saw quite a lot of amazing smartphones enter the market. From flagship to classic budget smartphones, from single to quadruple camera smartphones – we saw it all. We have been spoilt for choices like never before when it comes to selecting the latest mobile phones this year. It would be unfair to only pick one smartphone of the year when there are so many options in the market. That’s why we are with our own set of awards for the best smartphones of 2018.

In this list, we are going to award smartphones for various categories based on different features and specifications. Our nominations will only include all the best high-end smartphones of 2018. So, are you waiting to know which smartphone has bagged which title? Take a look at the best smartphones of 2018:  Awards for the high-end category smartphones.

Award #1: Best Android Smartphone of the Year

Android has taken over the world of smartphones. Every new smartphone that launches either runs on Android or iOS. And while Apple only releases 2-3 smartphones every year, there are a lot of OEM’s that design Android smartphones throughout the year. Finding a smartphone that runs on the best Android OS ensures smooth performance, regular updates and fixes, and great haptics.

Here are our nominations for the best Android smartphones of 2018:

• Samsung Galaxy S9+
• Google Pixel 3
• Huawei P20 Pro

Let’s take a look at the comparison table of these 3 Android smartphones:

	Samsung Galaxy S9+	Google Pixel 3	Huawei P20 Pro
Display	6.2-inch Super AMOLED display	5.5-inch P-OLED display	6.1-inch AMOLED display
OS	Samsung Experience 9.0 with Android 8.0 Oreo	Android 9 Pie	EMUI 8.1 with Android 8.1 Oreo
Processor	Exynos 9810 with Qualcomm SD 845	Qualcomm Snapdragon 845	Hisilicon Kirin 970
RAM	6GB	4GB	6GB
Storage	64GB/128GB/256GB	64GB and 128GB	128GB
Rear Camera	12MP + 12MP	12.2MP	40MP + 20MP + 8MP
Front Camera	8MP	8MP + 8MP	24MP
Battery	3500mAh	2915mAh	4000mAh

Overall Score Board Based on Android Experience (out of 5 stars):

Samsung Galaxy S9+ 4.1

Google Pixel 3 4.8

Huawei P20 Pro 4.3

Looking at the comparison table, it might seem like Galaxy S9+ and P20 Pro are way ahead of Pixel 3. However, that’s far from the truth. Google Pixel 3 is the best pick if you are looking for a refined and cutting-edge Android Experience. All thanks to the Android 9 Pie OS, security and software updates come in like clockwork. According to a report on The Verge, Google Pixel smartphones have set the Android standard. Google Pixel 3 comes with the best software experience seen on a smartphone in 2018, which makes it undoubtedly the best Android smartphone of 2018.

Best Android Smartphone of 2018 Winner: Google Pixel 3

Award #2: Best Feature-Filled Smartphone of the Year

Owning a smartphone with the maximum number of features takes the smartphone experience to another level. We saw a lot of new features make their appearance on smartphones this year. Features like in-display fingerprint sensor, triple camera setup, fast charging, and much more were seen on a lot of smartphones. Let’s take a look at the nominations for the best feature-filled smartphones of 2018.

Huawei Mate 20 Pro

• Triple camera setup with 20MP (super-wide shots), 40MP (wide-angle lens) and 8MP (telephoto) sensors
• Support for underwater photography
• A 6.39-inch display with a stunning all-glass design with a new ridged finish
• In-display fingerprint sensor for security and authentication
• 3D Face Unlock which will not get fooled by a picture of the user
• Not just fast charging, this smartphone also supports wireless charging
• Reverse charging feature which allows the Mate 20 Pro smartphone to charge other Qi-compatible devices (how cool is that, right?)
• A powerful Kirin 980 Chipset

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

• A sleek and slender S Pen with Bluetooth connectivity that can be used as a remote control
• The Samsung Dex feature will allow users to connect the Galaxy Note 9 to a PC or laptop to enjoy a user-friendly PC experience
• Smart AI camera with ‘Flaw Detection’ mode
• 4000mAh battery – The largest battery seen on a Galaxy Note smartphone
• An impressive camera with features like HDR and super-slow-motion
• A missing headphone jack, but an amazing audio quality

iPhone XS Max

• Super impressive wireless charging with 7.5W chargers
• Enhanced camera functionalities with features like increased depth of field, larger pixel and low light performance
• Gorgeous large OLED Super Retina display
• The camera will allow users to change the depth of field of a picture after it has been clicked
• Improved waterproofing with IP68 rating – the phone can be dunked in 2m of water for 30 minutes
• Dual SIM support with one traditional SIM card and one eSIM

Overall Score For the Most-Feature Filled Smartphone (out of 5 stars):

Huawei Mate 20 Pro 4.8

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 4.3

iPhone XS Max 4.3

 

Best Feature-Filled Smartphone of 2018 Winner: Huawei Mate 20 Pro

Award #3: Best Powerful Flagship Phone of the Year

Every year, smartphone companies work on one or more smartphones that fall under the ‘flagship’ category. These flagship smartphones are the best devices designed by a company during the course of a particular year. Being the best, they are usually built with all the newest features and technologies. Additionally, these smartphones are also the most powerful smartphones. Take a look at the best flagship smartphones of 2018:

• iPhone XS Max – Released 2018, September
• Samsung Galaxy Note 9 – Released 2018, August
• LG V40 ThinQ – Released 2018, October

	iPhone XS Max	Galaxy Note 9	LG V40 ThinQ
Processor	A12 Bionic Chipset	Exynos 9810 Octa with Qualcomm SD 845	Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
RAM	4GB	6GB & 8GB	6GB
Storage	64/256/512 GB	128GB & 512GB	64GB & 128GB
Battery	3174mAh	4000mAh	3300mAh

After taking a look at the table above, it is easy to say that Samsung Galaxy Note 9 comes with more powerful hardware. The smartphone runs on the latest SD 845 processor and also comes with more than sufficient RAM and storage. Furthermore, it also fueled by a strong battery. Nevertheless, iPhone XS Max comes in a close second as a flagship smartphone.

Overall Score For the Most-Feature Filled Smartphone (out of 5 stars):

iPhone XS Max 4.6

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 4.7

LG V40 ThinQ 4.4

 

Best Flagship Smartphone of 2018 Winner: Samsung Galaxy Note 9

Award #4: Best Value Smartphone of the Year

While looking for a smartphone, all of us prefer a device that will offer us the maximum value for our money. We all tend to look for smartphones that feel premium with all the updated features and specifications, but do not cost us too much. Such smartphones are usually termed as the best ‘valued’ and are the best selling mobile phones. Here are our picks for the best flagship-like smartphones that come with an affordable price tag and their most highlighted features:

OnePlus 6T

• A stunning Waterdrop notch display
• Fueled by a 3700mAh powerful battery
• In-display fingerprint sensor
• Immense processing powering with the trending Qualcomm 845 processor
• Smooth user experience and clean UI with Android 9 Pie and Oxygen OS
• Priced at Rs 37,999

iPhone XR

• Multi-touch HD display with IPS technology
• Dual SIM support with eSIM to allow switching between different networks
• Powered by the most powerful A12 Bionic chipset
• Cool features such as Memoji and 3D rendering with the help of AR and Machine Learning
• Amazing camera capabilities with features like Smart HDR and Portrait Mode
• Priced at Rs 76,900

Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018)

• World’s first smartphone with a quadruple rear camera setup
• A scene optimizer mode which automatically improves the images clicked on the smartphone with the help of AI
• The camera is also built with a flaw detection mode which will notify a user about things like – blinks, blurs, back-lighting and smudged lenses
• An ‘Always On Display’ which does not take up the battery life
• Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 and fueled by a 3800mAh battery
• Priced at Rs 36,791

Overall Score Board (out of 5 stars):

OnePlus 6T 4.6

iPhone XR 4.3

Samsung Galaxy A9 4.1

 

Best Valued Smartphone of 2018 Winner: OnePlus 6T

Award #5: Best Camera Smartphone of the Year

And finally, moving on to the last award for the best smartphones of 2018 (high-end category). Camera specifications are something that makes or breaks our decision while buying a smartphone. We all love clicking pictures and selfies and for that, we need a good camera mobile phone. What’s a smartphone without a perfect camera setup, right? Take a look at the best camera smartphones of 2018 & their features:

Huawei P20 Pro

• Triple Rear Camera Setup – 40MP, 20MP & 8MP
• Front Camera – 24MP
• 5X hybrid zoom to zoom in on a subject
• Low light photography and night mode
• Bokeh effect
• Super slow motion at 960 fps
• Selfie to self-portrait for stunning selfies

Google Pixel 3XL

• Single Rear Camera – 12.2MP
• Dual Front Camera – 8MP + 8MP
• Motion auto-focus keeps your subject in focus even if they budge
• Night sight for bright low lit images
• Wide-angle group selfies
• Photo booth for automatically capturing a selfie when everyone in the frame is smiling
• Top Shot for taking multiple pictures in burst mode

iPhone XS

• Dual Rear Camera – 12MP + 12MP
• Front Camera – 7MP
• Smart HDR for taking multiple images at different exposures
• Ability to change the depth of field or Bohek effect after the image has been clicked
• A wide pixel helps capture amazing low light photographs
• An impressive portrait mode

Overall Score Board (out of 5 stars):

Huawei P20 Pro 4.8

Google Pixel 3XL 4.7

iPhone XS Max 4.2

 

Best Camera Smartphone of 2018 Winner: Huawei P20 Pro

You can also take a complete look at our detailed infographic showing the different award categories along with the nominations and winners.

(click on the image to view it in full size)

We have finally reached the end of our high-end smartphones of 2018 awards. All the smartphones mentioned on our list have made an impressive debut this year. Stay tuned for our mid-range and affordable smartphone awards.