Can't afford Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL? 5 top phones to choose from
Even as Google readies itself to unveil its latest flagship devices – the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL – leaks and rumours have revealed most things about the two smartphones. The specs no doubt are impressive, and the phones with their hardware and stock Android experience will appeal to a lot of customers.
But the Pixel devices are expected to sport a much heftier price tag when they come to India, especially the Pixel 2 XL variants – the 128GB variant could end up touching the Rs 85k mark. So, for those finding themselves disappointed with the price tag, here are five alternatives you can get without burning a hole in your pocket.
Nokia 8
Nokia 8, launched in India at Rs 36,999, is HMD Global's attempt at winning over the high-end flagship segment of the Indian market. The device comes with some interesting features and internals that could pose serious problems for the Pixel lineup.
The phone comes with a 5.3-inch Glance Screen Quad HD display with an impressive pixel density of 544ppi. The display, Nokia claims, is one of the brightest in the market and capable of producing a maximum brightness of 700 Nits. The 2.5D display is covered with a sheet of Gorilla Glass 5 to guard against scratches and minor falls.
The smartphone maker has included high-end tech under the hood. The phone comes packing Qualcomm's top-of-the-line 835 SoC paired with 4GB RAM and an impressive 3,090mAh battery with QuickCharge 3.0 support that it claims can fully charge the phone in just 30 minutes. It also brings with it 64GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 256GB. There is also a fingerprint sensor embedded into the home button up front.
HTC U11
Arguably the best camera phone available in the market right now, the U11 from HTC's stables does not bring with it flashy dual camera setups, but rather the promise of crisp looking pictures clicked with its 12-megapixel single lens camera, and as such could make for a great alternative to the new generation Pixel phones.
The camera module equipped with HTC's proprietary UltraPixel 3 technology and UltraSpeed Autofocus technologies uses a bright f/1.7 aperture lens and comes with a 1/2.55-inch sensor that results in great low-light performance.
However, the camera is not where all the fun is. The U11 comes with a 5.5 inch 2560x 1440 Quad HD display capable of producing 534 ppi. It also boasts of the top-of-the-line Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage that can be expanded using a MicroSD.
What's best is the phone at Rs 51,999 can be yours for less than the expected price of the 5-inch Pixel 2.
OnePlus 5
Launched months after the 3T hit markets around the globe, OnePlus 5 has taken the smartphone industry by storm and represents a decent upgrade on a phone that is still regarded by many as one of the best in the market. It comes with several important upgrades.
The OnePlus 5 comes with Qualcomm’s top-of-the-line 64-bit Octa-core SoC – the Snapdragon 835. It is the chipmaker's current flagship and is found in phones like Sony Xperia XZ, the US variant of the Samsung S8 and the recently launched HTC U11.
With similar internals as the Pixel 2 and bigger display out in the front, this "flagship killer" is a great alternative to the Pixel 2 and even the Pixel 2 XL.
Galaxy S8
One of the biggest success stories of 2017, the Galaxy S8 is a device that is not just good looking but also packs powerful hardware under the hood. It may not come with a stock Android, but it still represents everything good about the Android platform.
The Galaxy S8 comes to the table with a 5.8-inch 570 ppi Infinity display working at 2960x1440 resolution. The S8 also features a single-lens camera setup with a 12-Megapixel camera at the back. The aperture on the camera is rated at F1.7 and it boasts of autofocus and optical image stabilisation.
In India, the phone comes with an Exynos 8895 chip paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal memory, which can be expanded using a microSD card. There's a 3,000mAh battery to complete a package that Samsung has priced at Rs 57,900 currently.
LG G6
The South Korean smartphone maker's current flagship in the country, the LG G6, may not be on an equal footing as the rumoured Pixel 2 phones, but it's a capable device nonetheless.
Sporting a 5.7-inch IPS Quad HD (2560 x 1440) display with a pixel density 564 ppi, 4GB RAM paired with Snapdragon 821 SoC and a 13-Megapixel primary camera and 5-Megapixel front facing camera — all at a price of Rs 36,990 down from its launch price of Rs 55,000 — makes for a great alternative to the Google-branded flagships for the year.