SMARTPHONE SPECIAL.... CHOOSE YOUR NEXT SMARTPHONE

CHOOSE YOUR NEXT SMARTPHONE

Now that the Mobile World Congress is old news, smartphone makers have readied the next set of devices ready for an India launch. Karan Bajaj rounds up some of the major upcoming phones, so hold off on that purchase

OnePlus 6

OnePlus 6 is easily the most anticipated phone of this list. OnePlus has been sharing details in piecemeal before the launch — small teasers reveal a little bit more about the phone in the says leading up to the launch. What we know for sure is that the phone will have a notch style display (similar to the one on Oppo F7/Vivo V9). Also confirmed are the specifications: Snapdragon 845 with 6/8GB RAM, waterproofing and a 256GB storage option for the first time. The most recent teaser revealed that the OnePlus 6 has a glass back and this could also mean wireless charging. Besides this, we expect the smartphone to offer a 3,300mAh battery with Dash Charge support, dual rear camera setup with OIS, a wide angle front camera, 3.5mm audio output and latest Android 8.1.

LG G7

Not much is official about the successor to the G6 but there are plenty of leaks. Like most other new Android flagships, it’s almost certain that the G7 will have a notch style display. We’re guessing the G7 will retain flagship status with a 2k resolution display as opposed to the FHD+ resolution the others have. Hardware is expected to be a match to other flagships, so you can expect a Snapdragon 845 with 6GB RAM and at least 64GB of storage. In the camera department, there’s a dual camera with a wide angle mode and possibly an aperture of f1.4. Some leaks also suggest that the phone will have a dedicated hardware button to invoke Google Assistant. Also, the phone will most likely be named LG G7 ThinQ, a nod to the multiple AI features LG has baked into Android 8.1.

Asus Zenfone 5Z

This is Asus’ flagship offering and is powered by the latest Snapdragon 845 processor. You should start getting used to the notch now because this phone will have a 6.2-inch notch-style display. Other specifications include dual rear cameras (12MP + 8MP), 4/6/8GB RAM, 64/128/256GB storage and a 3,300mAh battery. It has an 8MP front camera, USB Type-C port, rear fingerprint scanner, expandable storage and fast battery charging.

Honor 10

Honor 10 is the next major series of phones from the global major. The phone was recently announced in China but the official global launch is confirmed for mid May 2018. It has a notch style display — as you would expect. It’s a 5.8-inch IPS LCD with an extra tall 19:9 aspect ratio and resolution of 2280 x 1080 pixels. While we’re expecting a sub US$ 500 price, it should still have Huawei's top-end Kirin 970 processor, 6GB RAM, 3,400mAh battery and 64 or 128GB storage options. Honor 10 will also have a 24MP + 16MP rear camera setup with f1.8 aperture and phase detect autofocus. Up front is a 24MP selfie shooter. Other features include a front fingerprint scanner, USB Type-C port and 3.5mm audio jack.

Sony Xperia XZ2

Looks like Sony has finally moved on from its boring, blocky design and opted for a new curvy shape on the XZ2. This will also be the company’s first device with an 18:9 aspect display — it’s a 5.7-inch LCD with a resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels. Inside is a Snapdragon 845, 4/6GB RAM, 64GB storage and a 3,180mAh battery. It has a 19MP primary camera with predictive phase and laser autofocus capable of recording 1080p video at 960fps. Other features include 5MP front camera, expandable storage, USB Type-C, fingerprint scanner and wireless charging.

Mi Mix 2s

This is the successor to the Mi Mix 2 and it continues with the same all-screen design — rear fingerprint, slim bezels on three sides and no notch in sight. Mix2s also has the same ceramic body and a 6-inch screen but this time, you also get wireless charging. Hardware has been upgraded to the latest Snapdragon 845 coupled with 6/8GB RAM, 64/128/256GB storage and a 3,400mAh battery. And people complaining about the camera can rejoice too, because the camera gets a big boost. Mix2s has a dual 12MP camera setup with 4-axis OIS and dual pixel phase detection autofocus.

Moto G6 Range

The Moto G6 range includes three devices — G6, G6 Play and G6 Plus. All three share similar design, come with Android 8.0 and feature 18:9 aspect ratio displays. G6 and G6 Play have 5.7-inch screens while G6 Plus has a 5.9-inch screen. The Moto G6 is powered by a Snapdragon 450 with 3/4GB RAM, 32/64GB storage and a 3,000mAh battery. The G6 Play has a Snapdragon 430, 2/3GB RAM, 16/32GB storage and a large 4,000mAh battery while the G6 Plus runs on a Snapdragon 630 with 4/6GB RAM, 64/128GB storage and a 3,200mAh battery. Where the Moto G6 Play has a single 13MP rear camera, the G6 and G6 Plus both feature dual 12MP rear cameras. Common features include 8MP front cameras with front LED flash, Dolby Audio support, fast battery charging and fingerprint scanner.