Five upcoming flagship smartphones of 2018 that will blow you away
2018 has been a good year for the smartphone industry. We've seen a number of devices being launched that may not have reinvented the wheel altogether, but have been pretty solid upgrades on what was already available in the market.
From big name flagships to budget offerings, we've seen quite a lot. However, with months left to go, we're in for more blockbuster announcements.
Here's looking at the best that's yet to come.
iPhone XI
Despite there appearing to be no consensus on the name of the upcoming iPhones, most analysts expect Apple to unveil three smartphones to take on Google and Samsung this year.
The Cupertino-based tech giant is expected to release an updated version of the iPhone X with a 5.8-inch screen, a larger 6.5-inch model ( expected to be called the iPhone X Plus), and a new mid-range model that will feature a 6.1-inch display and borrow elements of both the iPhone X and the cheaper iPhone 8 variants. Interestingly, Apple, which had only started using OLED displays for its iPhones only last year, is now expected to equip all three phones OLED displays sourced possibly from its rival, Samsung.
Though the mid-range and 5.8-inch models are expected to do well, it is the iPhone XI that is expected to be the one that ends up being the flagship once it's announced on Septemeber 12.
OnePlus 6T
Chinese smartphone maker, OnePlus, has the odd habit of launching two flagships every calendar year. It's done so for two years now. As such, we won't be surprised if it comes out with its next flagship phone, the OnePlus 6T later in November or December this year.
Although there is no confirmation yet, the speculation is that the device is expected to be 5G-ready. In terms of design and specs, the device is expected to resemble the Oppo R17, and sport a glass design with a triple camera set-up at the back. At the front, it is expected to come with a 6.4-inch AMOLED display and an in-display fingerprint sensor.
Pixel 3 XL
Another big smartphone that is expected to make way to the market later this year is the Pixel 3 XL.
The successor to Google’s Pixel 2 XL, the big display device is expected to sport an iPhone X like notch and bring with it some interesting updates and features.
In terms of specs, reports claim the Pixel 3 XL will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor with 4GB of RAM. The display is said to be 6.7-inch panel running a resolution of 2,960 x 1,440. The setup is expected to be powered by a 3430mAh battery pack which could come with support for wireless charging.
Nokia 9
Finnish smartphone maker, Nokia, has already launched a slew of impressive devices this year. However, it looks like the company may still be left with a couple of tricks up its sleeves.
Reports suggest the company is set to announce its 2018 flagship, which it will call the Nokia 9. Adding strength to such rumours is the fact that a new Nokia phone has been spotted on China's 3C certification site, which suggests this could be the high-end Nokia phone we have been waiting for.
The phone is expected to be powered by the latest Snapdragon 845 chipset and rumoured to sport a penta-lens setup – which is now closer to being possible after HMD recently acquired the PureView trademark from Microsoft.
Vivo X23
The next flagship smartphone from Vivo is expected to be a special one, as reports suggest it could come with a massive 10GB of RAM – the highest yet for a smartphone.
There is not much known about the phone in terms of features and specifications, but the massive amount of RAM should mean the device could sport the best in class hardware, including Snapdragon 845 and at least 64GB of storage memory.
The rear camera module on board is rumoured to be a 52-Megapixel lens. If true, this should make the Vivo X23 one of the best in class for clicking pictures.