Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+
Samsung’s flagship devices for 2018 were the big announcement from MWC this year. Both the Samsung S9 and S9+ feature the same super AMOLED quad HD+ curved screen as last year’s S8 and S8+(5.8-inch on Samsung S9 and 6.2-inch on Samsung S9+). A big design change is on the rear of the phone where the fingerprint scanner has now moved below the camera module making it easier to access. Samsung S9 price is 57900 INR onwards
Samsung has focused mainly on the camera aspect of its new devices. The S9 comes with a 12MP rear camera whereas the S9+ has dual 12MP rear cameras. Both phones have optical image stabilization, dual pixel autofocus for faster focus speed and a new feature of automatic variable aperture (f1.5 or f2.4) for improved low light photos. In addition, the Galaxy S9 devices are also capable of recording videos in 960fps slow motion – a feature that was only available on Sony phones up till now. For selfie lovers, S9 phones have an 8MP camera with f1.7 aperture for great selfies even in low light.
Hardware specifications have got an upgrade to flagship octa core processor and option of 64/128/256GB for storage. The Galaxy S9 comes with 4GB RAM and 3,000mAh battery whereas the S9+ features 6GB RAM with 3,500mAh battery. Other impressive features common on both devices include IP68 water proofing, rear fingerprint scanner, wireless charging, USB Type-C port, 3.5mm audio jack, stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos surround sound support, dual SIM slot and Iris scanner. For wireless connectivity, Samsung offers 4G, VoLTE, dual band WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0 and NFC. For those interested, the phones are already available for pre-booking in India via Samsung’s Online store at a payment of Rs 2,000. Samsung S9+ price is 64900 INR onwards..
Nokia 8 Sirocco
Nokia launched multiple devices at MWC 2018 but the highlight of their range is the Nokia 8 Sirocco edition. The Sirocco edition is an updated variant of Nokia 8 which was the company’s flagship for 2017. One of the big changes on the Sirocco edition is the design. Nokia has opted to go for a full glass body which looks stylish and premium. In addition, the Nokia 8 Sirocco edition has a 5.5-inch p-OLED curved screen with 18:9 aspect ratio which adds to the overall premium appearance of the phone. Another feature that Nokia has upgraded is the camera. The Sirocco edition has a newer dual camera setup with a 12MP plus a 13MP sensor and Carl Zeiss optics. Hardware specifications are Snapdragon 835 processor, 6GB RAM, 128GB storage and a 3,260mAh battery with wireless charge support. Other features include 5MP wide angle front camera, rear fingerprint scanner, USB Type-C port and Android Oreo out of the box.
Nokia 7 Plus
The other big launch from Nokia is the Nokia 7 Plus. This is the company’s other flagship device with emphasis on design as well as performance at a mid-range price point. It is machined from a single block of 6000 series aluminium and has a ceramic coating on the body. The 7 Plus features a 6-inch IPS display with 18:9 aspect ratio which means the overall size is the same as a phone with 5.5-inch screen. On the rear is a 12MP camera + 13MP camera setup with Carl Zeiss optics, dual pixel autofocus and dual tone flash whereas on the front is a 16MP camera with Zeiss optics. Nokia 7 Plus is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage and has a large 3,800mAh battery. Other features include rear fingerprint scanner, USB Type-C port and Android 8.0 Oreo. Nokia 7 plus price is €399 and Nokia 8 Sirocco price is €749.
Sony Xperia XZ2
After years of following the same design for their smartphones, Sony has moved to a new design with the Xperia XZ2. The XZ2 is the company’s first offering with an 18:9 aspect ratio display also. It has a 5.7-inch IPS screen with a resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels in an all glass body. The phone is IP68 certified for water and dust proofing as well. Xperia XZ2 is also the world’s first smartphone capable of recording 4k HDR video and 960fps slow motion video in full HD resolution. The rear 19MP camera has predictive phase detection autofocus and laser autofocus whereas on the front it has a 5MP selfie camera. It has the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage and a 3,180mAh battery. Other features include rear fingerprint scanner, stereo speakers, USB Type-C port, wireless charging and Android 8.0. Sony XZ2 price is €800
Asus Zenfone 5Z
The Zenfone 5Z is amongst the first smartphones to move to the notch style screen after the Apple iPhone X. It has a 6.2-inch IPS display with a 19:9 aspect ratio which means the overall size of the phone is the same as a phone with a traditional style 5.5-inch display. The phone features top of the line Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB storage and a 3,300mAh battery. On the rear is dual 12MP camera with 4-axis optical image stabilization, Artificial Intelligence (AI) scene detection feature and real-time portrait effect. AI has been implemented in various other areas of the phone as well including charging, storage, display and performance management. Other features include rear fingerprint scanner, face unlock, USB Type-C port and stereo speakers. Asus Zenfone 5Z price is €479 onwards.
