The best high-end Android phones of 2018

The high range is that paradise of phones manufactured by companies that do not skimp on expenses: they want the best features, designs and materials for the devices that will represent their brand. Their flagships , the flagships that we will use to compare the capabilities of each manufacturer in all its aspects.

As usual in any sector, each manufacturer decides what profit margin they want to obtain for each terminal and, also, how much they want to invest in each of the details that make up a smartphone. For this reason, the high-end also includes the premium sub-category premium and a wide range of prices in which there is no need to give up anything or pay exorbitant prices -which also exist. So far we have reviewed the best 2018 entry-level terminals and the best mid-range phones of 2018 . Now, let’s see what are the best high-end Android phones of 2018 .

Huawei P20 Pro

A terminal with its own design and the personality of having one of the best cameras on the market: the Huawei P20 Pro is one of the phones of the year. Add up to three Leica lenses in the rear camera, with a 40 MP sensor with aperture f / 1.8, a monochrome of 20 MP with f / 1.6 and, finally, a telephoto lens of 8 MP , f / 2.4 and a hybrid zoom of five increases. It is completed with a front camera of 24 MP and aperture f / 2.0, in addition to the super slow motion of 960 fps at HD resolution.

Chromed edges and rear glass are joined, on the front, with a very long OLED screen , with 18.7: 9 ratio, Full HD + resolution and 6.1 inches diagonal. The interior is equally powerful: a Kirin 970 processor with a neuronal processing unit for its resources related to Artificial Intelligence, 6GB of RAM and 128GB storage. In addition, IP67 and a super charge to fill half of its 4,000 mAh in one hour.

The Huawei Mate 10 Pro is the phablet of Huawei that enters the most elongated trend of the phones of the competition, surpassing the LCD in 16: 9 that are still preserved in its lower version Mate 10. Its 18: 9 , in addition, come in an OLED panel with Full HD + resolution , that is: better contrasts and better autonomy.

It retains the same processor as the P20 Pro and its little brother, the Huawei Kirin 970 chip , but it extends the RAM up to 6GB . It comes with 128GB of storage, expandable by microSD, and Android 8.0 Oreo. As for the autonomy, we can say that it is overrun with its 4,000 mAh and although its front camera remains at 8 MP, the rear camera has a double lens from the Leica brand . A sensor with 20 MP monochrome and another of 12 MP, with aperture f / 1.6. The resistance to water and dust improves that of Mate 10, with IP67 .

The telephone for which the assistants of the Mobile World Congress of this year sighed are still among the most popular, the best and, logically, among the most expensive. The Samsung Galaxy S9 + has 84.2% of its body dedicated to the screen, without a doubt one of its greatest strengths : 6.2 inches of Super AMOLED with QHD + resolution and 18.5: 9 . Rear with crystal and wireless charging to power its 3,500 mAh and an aluminum design that offers a robust body , IP68 certified .

It comes with the Samsung Exynos 9810 processor – although in some markets it came with the Snapdragon 845 -, with 8 cores (4 at 2.8GHz t 4 at 1.7GHz) that collaborate with 6GB of RAM . It has three versions of storage (64/128 / 256GB) expandable to 400GB and the Android 8.0 Oreo with Samsung Experience. The rear camera, dual, comes with 12 MP for each sensor and a variable aperture for the first ( f / 1.5 and f / 2.4 ), and super slow camera mode to 960 in HD resolution.

With a metal and glass body, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 phablet is sophisticated and elegant, as well as a good work tool. One of its main features is its S-Pen , the indispensable tool to reach all the ends of a really long phone: 6.3 inches of diagonal full of pixels thanks to the QHD + resolution (2.960px 1.440p).

An Exynos 8895 processor and its 6 GB of RAM make the engine of a large machine that includes only 64 GB of storage, although these are expandable up to 256 GB per microSD. It comes with Android 7.1.1 and a battery of 3,300 mAh , reduced from its previous version to avoid more scares . The front camera comes with 8 MP and this time the back is dual, with 12 MP per sensor.

The great pioneer of ‘all-screen’ phones has returned this year to the charge with its premium phone and, in fact, has recently been available . The Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S has the same model in three different editions in price and performance: at 689 euros from its terminal with an impressive 256 GB of ROM and 8 GB of RAM , the editions of 128 GB and 6 GB by 559 are added euros or 64 GB and 6 GB for 499 euros.

The rest is common for all Mi MIX 2S. The screen represents 81.9% of the body, an IPS of 5.99 inches with FullHD + resolution (2.160px 1.080p), 18: 9 and 3,400 mAh battery with fast charge and wireless charging. Elegant body, sober and with a very reflective ceramic, the Mi MIX 2S has wanted to improve the photographic aspect . It has a dual camera in the back, with 12 MP the two sensors, one with aperture f / 1.8 and the other with f / 2.4 . The processor, a Snapdragon 845 , flies thanks to the help of its 8GB of RAM and makes it one of the most powerful terminals on the market.

The high-end Xiaomi, the Xiaomi Mi 8 , was presented along with two more versions: the Xiaomi Mi 8 SE and the Explorer Edition . Its AMOLEDscreen is 6.21 inches , 18.7: 9 aspect ratio and FullHD + resolution (2.248px 1.080p). It comes with good autonomy, 3400 mAh with Quick Charge 4.0, and the best processor: Snapdragon 845 with variants of 6GB and 8GB in your Explorer Edition. As for internal memory, there are three options: 64 GB, 128 GB and 256 GB.

The cameras of the Mi range have improved a lot. The rear is composed of a double 12 MP sensor with apertures of f / 1.8 and f / 2.4 , the latter with optical zoom. The front maintains the level, with an aperture wide angle lens f / 2.0 and 16 MP . With its edges in regression, the panel occupies 88.5% of the body, even taking into account its notch . Of course his is justified thanks to Face ID, his facial recognition with infrared reading that allows him to work in the dark. In addition, its edition Explorer has transparent back and fingerprint reader under the screen .

We are faced with a high range of fairly standard features. The Pixel 2 XLhas a Snapdragon 835 and 4 GB of RAM that may seem just, but according to our analysis the team behaves with an enviable fluency . It only comes with 64 GB of storage, although it makes up for it with an automatic copy in the cloud, free for all the photos and videos you make.

Its rear camera is 12.2 MP with aperture of f / 1.8 , while the front camera remains at 8 MP and an aperture f / 2.4 . In general, but, its unique rear sensor is combined with Google software to get really remarkable results . With good autonomy with its 3,520 mAh that feeds your screen poled of 6 ” and resolution qHD . The design, one-piece metal body, is pleasant and lightweight

OnePlus 6 was sold as “the speed you need” and the truth is that its features, and the different performance tests that have been done, place it well up on the fastest table. A Snapdragon 845 from Qualcomm that comes in different editions. The price configurations are around 519 euros for 6 GB RAM and 64 GB ROM, 569 euros for 8 GB and 128 GB and the maximum price of 619 euros for the model with 8 GB and 256 GB.

The One Plus 6 has a double rear sensor, 16 MP and 20 MP and a shared aperture of f / 1.7 in addition to a very remarkable front sensor with 16 MP and an aperture f / 2.0. The screen, AMOLED , comes with a very long aspect ratio, with 19: 9 and a Full HD + resolution (2,280px 1,080p) to cover the entire diagonal of 6.28 inches. The battery is 3,300 mAh and comes with the OxygenOS based on Android 8.0 Oreo where, especially thanks to its hardware, everything flows in a remarkable way.

Optional notch , reduced edges and IP68 with a powerful photographic section. The new LG flagship, the LG G7 , mounts a 6-inch screen , QHD +resolution (3.120px 1.440p) and an aspect ratio of the most elongated of the list: 19.5: 9 . The brain of the LG G7 ThinQ is a Snapdragon 845 , and it has variants with 4 GB or 6 GB of RAM .

From memory, the LG G7 offers two options: 64 GB or 128 GB, expandable by microSD up to 2TB. The battery is 3,000 mAh and, in addition to wireless charging , comes with Quick Charge 3.0 . As we said, the camera comes with very good features: it is a double sensor of 16 MP each, the first being a super wide angle with aperture f / 1.9 and 107 degrees, and the second with f / 1.6 and 71 degrees. The 80-degree front wide-angle lens remains at 8 MP and aperture f / 1.9 .

The LG V30 has a 6-inch OLED screen with QHD + resolution (2.880px 1.440p) FullVision and 18: 9 aspect ratio. LG is committed to equip this device with a Snapdragon 835 processor , with up to 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of ROM storage.

The rear sensors have 16 MP and aperture f / 1.6 on one side and a wide angle of 13 MP and f / 1.9 on the other, with the second sensor accompanied by the lens of 120 degrees, not forgetting the front camera of 5 MP and f /2.2 . The battery does not exceed 3,300 mAh , with wireless charging via USB-C and Android operating system 7.1.2 Nougat. In addition, it has IP 68 certification that puts it in very good conditions to compete with the rest of the terminals on this list.

The extended and improved version of the Moto Z2 Play , the Moto Z2 Force , appeared last August as one of the last phablets , now that the vast majority of phones already have diagonals usually greater than 5.5inches, as we are checking in this same list. In your case, this terminal has 5.5 inches in a P-OLED panel with QHD resolution (2.560px 1.440p).

The phone is all fluid: it comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor and has 6 GB of RAM to reinforce that great performance. For storage comes with 64 GB of expandable ROM up to 2 TB. It is light and comfortable ( 6.1 mm thick and only 143 grams ) and that’s why its battery stays at 2.730 mAh . The camera comes with double lens at 12 MPper sensor and aperture f / 2.0 , one of them monochrome, while the front camera is 5 MP with aperture f / 2.2 . Record in 4K and 30fps.

The HTC U11 + is the evolution of his HTC U11 that arrived a little late to the trends that marked the market for high-end phones, but he did it in style. With a bright metal design and quite remarkable frames, however, its Super LCD panel reaches 6 inches , 18: 9 format and QHD + resolution (2.880px 1.440p). His Snapdragon stayed on a Snapdragon 835 and the phone landed with 4 GB and 6 GB versions of RAM and 64 GB and 128 GB of expandable ROM storage up to 2 TB per microSD.

Gestures are one of its peculiarities: it responds with different actions when tightening the phone thanks to its lateral sensors . In addition, it has a 3,930 mAh battery with fast charge Quick Charge 3.0 and a good section of sound with HTC BoomSound technology . Its main camera, the rear one, has a single 12 MP sensor , aperture of f / 1.7 and very good results, in addition to a 4K recording , while the front camera is 8 MP with aperture f / 2.0 . Bluetooth 5.0, IP68, NFC and a very good performance of its Sense layer running under Android 8.0 Oreo complete your cover letter.

The Xperia XZ2 has an IPS LCD panel that finally reaches 5.7 inches with FullHD + resolution and what we can call “classic” 18: 9 . The processor is a Snapdragon 845 that arrives with 4 GB justitos of ram memory, although the yield is fluid. The photographic section is remarkable: its rear sensor includes 19 MP with stabilization with Motion Eye and the front comes with 5 MP and its 3D Creator for selfies in relief. In addition, its cameras can record with super slow motion mode at 960 fps with resolutionFullHD or in normal mode with 4K resolution and up to HDR .

His fingerprint sensor for the first time leaves the side to be placed in the back, although with a slightly low position, perhaps. The autonomy is good, with 3,180 mAh that come with fast charging and wireless charging and that surely take up a good part of the 11.1 mm thickness of the terminal and its almost 200 grams of weight. Includes Android 8.0 Oreo with its Xperia Launcher customization layer and an IP68 certificate .

This Nokia comes with Android 8.0 Oreo and is the first pure, Android One, of the list. Its autonomy depends on the 3,260 mAh and wireless chargingand its dual system of rear sensors have 12 MP and 13MP , with apertures of f / 1.75 and f / 2.6 respectively, the latter with optical zoom. Bluetooth 5.0, NFC and IP 67 complement its technical characteristics.