Tuesday, 26 September 2017

Best phone in the UAE for 2017: the 10 top smartphones we've tested

Update: Two new entries in the list - the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 and the Honor 9 -
how will that shake up our definitive order of the best phones on the market?

Thinking of buying a new phone? We've got the best smartphones of the moment all listed here - and we've got the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus handsets duking it out with the iPhone at the top of our list.

Here's the ranking we've spent hours whittling down to a top ten. We take into account the power, specs, design and, most importantly, value for money of each handset.

(If the price is too high, check out our list of the best cheap handsets that won't cost you more than AED 1000). 

Best smartphone

For those in a rush, here you go: the Samsung Galaxy S8 is the best smartphone in the world.

A new stunning design, amazing screen and great camera combined make it for the best phone you can buy right now. Be sure to take a look through the full best phone ranking though to know what's best for your needs.

HTC  is back with another effort aimed at becoming the phone you want to have in your pocket - and this one has squeezable sides.

You read that right - and unfortunately, they don't really add a lot. But wait! Beyond that this is a very impressive phone, getting the basics right across the board.

The camera offers some brilliant snaps and has a strong HDR mode, the audio performance (combined with the bundled buds and headphone upgrader in the box) is excellent and the two-tone design is thoroughly unique.

It doesn't do enough to topple the Galaxy S8, but if you're looking for something a bit different the U11 is a phone that won't disappoint.

Read the full review: HTC U11 

  • What's next? The HTC U12 will be next in line, but we know nothing about that yet - except that it probably won't be called the U12 as HTC keeps messing around with its naming strategy.

Also consider: It's hard to know what to recommend here, as there's nothing that really compares on the market right now. However, with the price you'd probably look at the Galaxy S8 or the LG G6 as something a bit different.

The LG G6 has struggled to make it into our best phones list for the simple reason that it was too expensive. It had the same high price as most other flagship phones and yet still used last year's processor from Qualcomm, which is going to limit its lifetime.

However, now it's a big cheaper it's a better option. The cameras are strong, the battery management improved (and should last longer over the lifetime of the phone) and that large, 18:9 display is really great for watching movies on.

This is a phone that just feels better than the sum of its parts, and with the lower price it's one that we're happy to recommend. The great news is that LG's phones often keep falling in price, so this handset could become even better value in a few months' time.

Read the full review: LG G6 review

  • What's next? There's little information out at the moment regarding the LG G7, but we do think that it'll be taking the Snapdragon 845 as LG looks to make its phones among the most powerful on the market once again. However, it's also worth keeping an eye on the LG V30, as that could be the phone the G6 wanted to be in terms of power.

Also consider: Like what you see, but need more screen real estate? You you'll want the Google Pixel XL - the 5.5-inch brother of the Pixel which boasts an eye-popping QHD (that's 2K) resolution. 

We thought the days of the 4K phone were over, but Sony's back and reinvigorated the technology by cramming in HDR compatibility... which really makes videos stunning.

Sure, there's not masses of HDR content out there, but the tech makes even the most mundane image look brighter and more colourful, and the rest of the phone is impressively powerful.

The camera is capable of exceptional pictures, the slow motion capabilities are insanely great in the right light and the raw grunt of the handset is up there with the very best - if you're a Sony fan, you'll love this phone.

Read the full review: Sony Xperia XZ Premium

  • What's next? Sony cooked up the Sony Xperia XZ1 at IFA 2017, but that isn't really a rival to this powerhouse. If there were a sequel, we'd expect it in early 2018, but we've seen no whisper of such a thing yet.

Also consider: The easiest comparison here is to the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus - they're both impressive phablets with excellent HDR screens, so it really depends which brand you're most attracted to.

The Honor 9 is still something of a rarity - a phone that excels in many places, offers many flagship specs but doesn't cost a huge amount.

There's nothing particularly exciting about the handset itself - the iterations from the Honor 8 are all to really talk about - but if you're after great design, superb performance and loads of little flourishes to make this a top phone, it's really one to look at.

Read the full review: Honor 9 review

The new iPhone is rather iterative: it comes with a similar look and feel to previous models, but it's still the iPhone many will hanker for...and we're just days away from delivering our iPhone 8 review too.

Apple's refusal to lower the price of its flagship phones over time also harms its place in the list, but then again, if you're an iPhone fan you'll probably look past the cost.

That doesn't mean it's a bad phone though. Actually, far from it - with a power boost under the hood, water resistant and a decent camera upgrade all on offer there's enough to keep potential buyers interested.

There's no point upgrading from the 6S to 7, but if you're currently using an iPhone 6 or older then the jump to the 7 is a smart one.

Read the full review: iPhone 7

  • What's next? Well, that's easy - it's the iPhone 8, and we've got a big, in-depth review of that coming very soon for you to enjoy.

Also consider: If you want to save yourself a bit of money then the iPhone 6S is still an excellent smartphone. It looks identical to the 7, also runs iOS 10 and has the benefit of still having a headphone jack. Those wanting something a bit bigger should look at the iPhone 7 Plus – the best iPhone currently around. 

The OnePlus 5 is one of the more affordable devices in this list and offers one of the best Android phone experiences on the market. It comes with a more refined and comfortable to hold design than previous OnePlus handsets as well as dual-cameras round the back and some phenomenal power under the hood.

There's a 1080p 5.5-inch AMOLED display on the front and inside is the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor and you have the choice of either 6GB or 8GB of RAM. The battery life isn't incredible on the OnePlus 5, but it rivals a lot of the other devices you'll find on this list.

There's still no microSD support on the OnePlus 5, much like previous OnePlus phones, but you do have the choice of either 64GB or 128GB of internal storage.

The true highlight of the OnePlus 5 is the price though and this may will be one of the best devices for you on this list if you're looking to spend as little as possible on a top-of-the-range phone.

Read the full review: OnePlus 5

  • What's next? We expect the OnePlus 6 to launch at some point in the future, but considering the OnePlus 5 launched in June 2017 it'll likely be a very, very long way off.

Also consider: If OnePlus isn't doing it for you, then check out the Moto G5 Plus which has slightly less power, but a still very strong feature set, a lower price tag and a new metal design.

If you're worried about whether the new Galaxy Note 8 will be any good, don't be - it's an excellent handset that rivals the best on the list, despite being 'productivity-focused'.

The large Infinity Display on the front slots in far more screen than you'd expect from a phone this compact, the S Pen is something not a lot of other phones can offer and the all-round speed is almost breathtaking at times.

The new dual camera is really what separates it from the Galaxy S8 duo (if you're not bothered by the stylus features) and while it's expensive, it's certainly worth looking at if you want a brilliant smartphone.

Read the full review: Samsung Galaxy Note 8

iPhone 7 Plus

The iPhone 7 Plus is the best iPhone available right now, giving you a whole heap of power, water resistant body, not one, but two cameras on the back and super slick performance - although it's just been upgraded by Apple, and you can read all about that in our iPhone 8 Plus review.

The 7 Plus does use the same design as previous handsets, and Apple's removed the headphone jack and upped the price - but if your pockets are deep and headphones wireless you'll love the 7 Plus.

The camera is a big improvement on the 6S Plus, while the improvement in power makes usage even slicker and battery life is better than previous iPhones.

Read the full review: iPhone 7 Plus

  • What's next? Well, the new iPhone 8 Plus has been announced and is currently going through TechRadar's labs for proper testing. Will it be the best on the market?

Also consider: The standard iPhone 7 is very good too, with a more manageable form factor and lower price point it's the phone that's likely to appeal to a wider audience - but for those looking for Apple perfection it has to be the 7 Plus. 

The Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus fits a monstrous 6.2-inch curved display into an acceptably large body that doesn’t feel too different from its predecessor, the Galaxy S7 Edge and it's roared up our charts thanks to some nice price drops of late.

That’s not all that’s impressive. It features the best phone display, chipset and camera of any phone to date, plus it’s still water- and dust-resistant and it features 64GB of internal storage plus a microSD card slot for expandable storage.

The battery life is very good, it can power the next generation of mobile VR games and it has software that rivals stock Android. 

Aside from Bixby and some slightly clunky biometrics, the Galaxy S8 Plus is the perfect phone for anyone looking to maximism smartphone screen real estate. 

Read the full review: Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus

Also consider: If the Galaxy S8 Plus is proving a little too big for your hands, then the more compact Galaxy S8 could be right up your street. It still sports the impressive Infinity Display while its 5.8-inch screen is still sizable without being overbearing.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 is the best phone in the world for a few reasons, but none more so than the display: it makes every other handset on the market look positively antiquated.

The camera is still excellent, the screen quality the best that can be found right now and it's smashed through all our benchmarking tests. 

While it costs a lot to own, there are a lot of premium reasons for the premium price, and with the screen Samsung has managed to find some impressive innovation at a time when there's very little to be found in smartphones.

Read the full review: Samsung Galaxy S8

Also consider: Fancy even more screen? Then you'll want to check out the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus with its gigantic 6.2-inch offering. It too offers the bezel-less Infinity display design and exactly the same internals too. It is even more expensive though.



from TechRadar: Phone and communications news http://www.techradar.com/news/best-phone-in-the-uae-2017-the-10-top-smartphones-weve-tested
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