Screen, camera, action: how to choose a new smartphone

Buying a smartphone isn't the easiest of tasks so here's how to get the best bang for your buck 
Whenever you’re looking for a new smartphone, get to a shop and try it out if you can
PAU BARRENA / Contributor / Getty images
Holly Brockwell22 March 2018

I’ve just got back from the massive Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, where all the big players of the mobile world show off their new stuff (except Apple, which does its own thing).

I hope you’re due an upgrade soon because there are some amazing handsets coming up.

Best smartphone for value

OnePlus 5T

OnePlus 5T
OnePlus

OnePlus has a large following among the geek clique for making great phones for prices so cheap it’s suspicious. The 5T boasts a full HD screen, quick-charging battery, the same Snapdragon processor as the Pixel 2, huge amounts of memory and storage, dual rear cameras and a headphone slot — all for just under £500 for the highest-spec model. Bargain.

£449-£499

Best smartphone for all-rounders

Samsung Galaxy S9

The Samsung Galaxy S9 is the best phone out there. From the gorgeous, curved quad-HD+ screen to the incredible dual-aperture camera that makes nightclubs look like daylight, the S9 is hard to beat. It’s waterproof, has wireless charging, and still includes a proper headphone jack too. Take that, Apple.

£739

Best smartphone on a budget

Honor 7X

Honor 7X
Honor

A lesser-known name in the smartphone market, Honor is an offshoot of the massive Huawei and makes phones for a younger, cooler crowd.

The 7X is a third of the price of many flagship models yet still offers plenty to love. There’s a full HD edge-to-edge screen, dual-lens camera, loads of storage and a large battery. It looks good —and so will your bank balance.

£240

Best smartphone for pictures

Google Pixel 2XL

Google Pixel 2XL
Google

Both Pixel 2 phones have a high-end Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, plenty of memory and storage and gorgeous HD screen, but the battery on the 2XL is especially strong, and the camera superb.

There’s no 3.5mm headphone jack, but it comes with an adapter.

£699

Best smartphone for purists

Google Pixel 2

Google

Go for a Pixel 2 if delayed updates are a deal-breaker. As a Google phone it’ll be first in line for upgrades to the operating system.

Other manufacturers are unreliable, especially when a phone gets past that grand old age of six months.

£629

Holly’s star pick

Samsung Galaxy S9+

Samsung Galaxy S9+
LLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images

If you can stretch to it go for the S9+. It’s not just an oversized version of the S9 it’s simply a better phone. The battery is bigger (as is the screen), you get an extra camera (two on the back) and more memory.

£869

What to look for when buying a new smartphone

Consider how you really use your phone. It’s nice to have top-end specs but it’s also nice to have a holiday — if you’re not gaming, do you need all that processing power or would you rather have the money?

Other things to consider:

Are you usually near a power point or do you need your phone to last all day and night? Do you want to carry an adapter, or should you pick a phone with a 3.5mm headphone port?

I like a waterproof phone with wireless charging, a superb camera, and a big, glorious screen —so no points for guessing which of the handsets is my pick (OK fine, it’s the S9 Plus).

And whatever you’re looking for, get to a shop and try it out if you can — there’s no substitute for real hands-on experience when you are picking something that’s going to be your best friend for 18 months or more.

  • Holly Brockwell is the founder and editor of tech blog Gadgette

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