The Latest and Greatest Smart Phones of this Year
It’s the most integral piece of technology that most anyone owns in modern day: the all-mighty smart phone. This device has become a necessity on par of that of a set of keys or one’s wallet when leaving home, as most wouldn’t dream of venturing out into the world without it. But how many of us actually know much about this little wonder that we tote around in our pockets, purses and backpacks day in and day out? Here we have considered design, function and performance to discover the most impressive smart phones of the year.
1) iPhone X ($999) 
Despite the debate sparked among consumers over the daunting cost of this device, we would have to say that the Apple’s latest smart phone is worth the price. The device features a 5.8 inch OLED display with some of the most realistic color display, quality and viewing angles that we have seen on a phone. This edge-to-edge “bezel-less” design does not include a home button, providing a sleek design and slight learning curve when adapting to the device’s new gestures. This top notch display is paired with an A11 bionic chip that makes this device the fastest performing smart phone on the market today.
Looking to the iPhone X’s photography abilities, its rear dual 12 megapixel cameras allow for great low-light performance. Perhaps the real show-stopper is this device’s “TrueDepth” camera, which provides excellent facial recognition and bokeh effect when using the camera in portrait mode. Combined with its long-lasting battery life and improved durability, this smart phone is perfect for sharing event photography on the go.
2) Google Pixel 2 ($850)
A close second to the iPhone X, this device is the only smart phone on the market that can effectively compete with Apple’s security, timely software updates and software design. Featuring the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, this device offers smooth, speedy processing paired with a 6 inch OLED display (aka, great color display). A few of the most impressive aspects of this phone is its high-performing voice assistant and its “Now Playing” feature which automatically identifies music playing in the background to display the song name and artist.
The Google Pixel 2 features a 12.2 megapixel camera with excellent low light performance, utilizing HDR to allow for faithful representation of scenes with a strong dynamic range. As with the iPhone X, the Google Pixel features a portrait mode, which is perfect for event photography. Unfortunately, as with the iPhone X, one major drawback is this the elimination of the headphone jack in this phone. A set of wireless headphones is a must for the music lover when using this device.
3) Galaxy S9 ($840)
This near bezel-free design features a compact 5.8 inch screen, with high color performance and a breath-taking infinity display that fits comfortably in the palm of your hand. With an excellent battery life and impressive durability, this smart phone is a workhorse for those working from home or on the go.
As far as Galaxy S9 photos, its single 12 megapixel camera with variable aperture features excellent low-light performance. This camera also boasts slow motion recording, adding to the versatility of this device. Another great feature with this device’s camera is the ability to switch between normal and “Pro mode”. The camera’s normal mode will create a great image with a tap of the shutter, or the “Pro mode” allows for users to manually adjust the device’s aperture for the more experienced photographer.
4) OnePlus 6 ($529)
A great bang for your buck, this affordable smart phone offers great performance with its Snapdragon 845 processor. With instinctive and easy to learn gestures, this device’s 6.28 inch display features the now standard nearly “bezel-less” display seen in the majority of smart phones on the market today. However, one draw back is that this device does not offer as strong of battery life as others that have made this list.
The OnePlus 6 boasts a dual 16 and 20 megapixel rear cameras, while also offering a 16 megapixel front-facing camera. Both lenses are optically stabilized, allowing for better, sharper images when the lighting conditions are less than perfect, or if you aren’t the steadiest shooter. The OnePlus 6 camera performs better in low last than previous devices, creating images with less noise and distortion than before. Despite the low performing battery life of this device and its incompatibility with Verizon or Sprint, this smart phone is a great option for those seeking a device with impressive performance for an affordable price.
5) Huawei P20 Pro ($885)
Although this brand may not be as familiar as Apple or Android for smart phone users, the performance of this device cannot be overlooked. The Huawei P20 Pro features a 6.1 inch display with full-HD display. This means that although the color display of this play may not be as high-performing as other options, its battery life is improved significantly. Another unique aspect of this device is that it can be submerged in fresh water up to one meter for up to 30 minutes, making it a great option for those needing a reliable, durable phone while working outdoors or on the run.
The Huawei P20 Pro offers camera image stabilization in its three rear-facing cameras. This device features a 40 megapixel main sensor, paired with a 20 megapixel black and white and a 24 megapixel front facing camera. This allows for improved versatility and increased performance when photographing in low light.
Overview
The most important thing to bear in mind when shopping for a smart phone is to prioritize just what you’re needing most from your device. Whether you’re looking for a long lasting battery while working on the road, or desperate for better low-light performance when photographing events, it’s important to find the device best suited for your needs in a world where smart phones have become the primary vehicle for communication, making connections and sharing memories with others.
