For the vast majority of people, the smartphone has supplanted all other gadgets in terms of the way we communicate, gather information, record events and manage our daily lives. Smartphones have evolved to the point that many are comparable in processing speed with many PCs. We literally carry what we would have been a super computer several decades ago in our pocket with that device holding the sum of our lives – data, behavior, pictures, videos, etc. In fact, the top smartphones for 2018, have more features and functionality than those behemoth super computers of the past.
Like many other important purchases in our lives, the choice of smartphone often takes many items into consideration. Some people are looking for the best value for the price and don’t really care about all the bells and whistles or brand for that matter. Others are more concerned about design, number of features, memory, processing speed, OS, battery life, etc. Price is of lesser concern for these shoppers. They want the best money can buy. Then there are a great many shoppers who are looking for specific needs: Screen size, camera resolution, memory, memory expansion features, security features, etc. So shopping for a smartphone can be a very complicated and personal process, especially when taking a look at the top smartphones for 2018.
1. OnePlus 6
Weighted Score: 8.85
OS: Oxygen – Android™ Oreo
Price: $579
CPU: Snapdragon 845
RAM: 6/8 GB
Display Size/Resolution: 6.28 inches/1080×2280 pixels
Storage: 64 GB/128 GB/256 GB
Camera: 16 mp
Battery Life: 8.4 hours
For the price, it is hard to beat this phone. Sure, you’re not going to get all the bells and whistles but the OnePlus 6 packs a lot of value into the price. Fast processor, full HD display, decent camera, excellent RAM and storage on the basic model. You would be hard pressed to find a better value for a smartphone.
2. Samsung Galaxy S9/S9 Plus
Weighted Score: 8.75
OS: Android™ 8.0 Oreo
Price: $699/$799
CPU: Snapdragon 845
RAM: 4/6 GB
Display Size/Resolution: 5.8 inches/6.2 inches – 1440×2960 pixels
Storage: 64 GB/128 GB – Expandable Memory up to 400 GB
Camera: 12 mp
Battery Life: 10.5 hours
If you want a super premium phone at a reasonable price, the Samsung Galaxy S9 or S9 Plus would be a great pick. It packs a big Super AMOLED 6.2 inch display, is water resistant, has the super fast Snapdragon 845 processor, plenty of RAM and storage that can be expanded up to 400 GB. The camera is more than serviceable and features super slow-motion and adjustable aperture. Samsung has come up with arguably the best Android phone on the market.
3. Huawei Mate 10 Pro
Weighted Score: 8.4
OS: Android™ 8.0 Oreo
Price: $649
CPU: Kirin 970
RAM: 6 GB
Display Size/Resolution: 6 inches – 1080×2160 pixels
Storage: 128 GB
Camera: 20 mp
Battery Life: 14.4 hours
The Huawei Mate 10 Pro may not be a brand or phone you here a lot about but it packs a lot of value and features into the price. The screen is a 6 inch full HD, so while not OLED like the Apple, it isn’t too shabby. The phone is water resistant and, at 6 GB, there is plenty of RAM and storage at 128 GB. However, what you’ll really like about the phone is the camera and battery life. If you’re a camera nut, you’ll love this phone. Best camera phone on the market, with the exception of the Huawai P20 Pro.
4. Huawei P20 Pro
Weighted Score: 8.35
OS: Android™ 8.1 Oreo
Price: $899
CPU: Kirin 970
RAM: 6 GB
Display Size/Resolution: 6.1 inches – 1080×2240 pixels
Storage: 128 GB – Expandable Memory up to 400 GB
Camera: 40 mp
Battery Life: 14.3 hours
You would think the newer, more feature rich Huawei P20 Pro would be ranked higher than the older Huawei Mate 10 Pro, but while this is a better phone, it has a price tag that is roughly $200 more at $899. However, make no mistake, this is a fantastic phone. From its large 6.1 inch display to excellent battery life and a camera that is second to none on the market, the Huawei P20 Pro has lots of bang for the buck.
5. Samsung Galaxy Note 8
Weighted Score: 8.25
OS: Android™ 7.1.1 Nougat
Price: $799
CPU: Exynos 8895
RAM: 6 GB
Display Size/Resolution: 6.3 inches – 1440×2630 pixels
Storage: 64GB/128GB/256GB – Expandable Memory up to 256 GB
Camera: 12 mp
Battery Life: 8.9 hours
The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is the only hybrid phone/tablet on this list. It also sports the largest display out of any phone on this list. Memory is excellent as is storage, which is expandable up to 256 GB. What really sets this device apart though, is the S Pen, giving you that notebook feel.
6. Apple iPhone X
Weighted Score: 8.1
OS: iOS 11
Price: $1,099
CPU: A11 Bionic
RAM: 3 GB
Display Size/Resolution: 5.8 inches – 1125×2436 pixels
Storage: 64GB/256GB
Camera: 12 mp
Battery Life: 10.5 hours
Well, iPhone users won’t like us ranking the Apple iPhone X this low, but it is justified. We use a variety of features to weight the score of each phone, price being one of them. Make no mistake though, the iPhone X is the best smartphone on the market period. From the lightning fast A11 Bionic processor to the crisp OLED display, this iPhone beats all others. However, you pay a price. A hefty one. Not that Apple user care about that but we just couldn’t ignore it.
7. Google Pixel 2/2 XL
Weighted Score: 8
OS: Android™ 8.0 Oreo
Price: $799/$849
CPU: Snapdragon 835
RAM: 4 GB
Display Size/Resolution: 5 inches/6 inches – 1080×1920 pixels/1440×2880 pixels
Storage: 64GB/128 GB
Camera: 12 mp
Battery Life: 12.1 hours
The good things about the Google Pixel 2: Battery life is outstanding, the display on the Pixel 2 XL is expansive, the camera is fantastic as well. RAM is good and storage is comparable to other phones. So, this one of the better Android phones on the market but the price, in comparison to the Samsung Galaxy S9 and the OnePlus 6, place it a little farther down our rankings.
8. LG V30
Weighted Score: 7.8
OS: Android™ 7.0 Nougat
Price: $699
CPU: Snapdragon 835
RAM: 4 GB
Display Size/Resolution: 6 inches –1440×2880 pixels
Storage: 64GB/128 GB
Camera: 16 mp
Battery Life: 6.3 hours
There is a lot to like about this phone. At 6 inches, the screen is large and has sparkling OLED display, making resolution very crisp. The processor is fast, RAM is good as is storage. Where the phone really excels is in the audio/visual experience. Audio is fantastic, and the camera is a cut above.
9. LG G7 ThinQ
Weighted Score: 7.7
OS: Android™ 8.0 Oreo
Price: $829
CPU: Snapdragon 845
RAM: 4 GB
Display Size/Resolution: 6.1 inches – 1440×3120 pixels
Storage: 64GB – Expandable up to 2 TB
Camera: 16 mp
Battery Life: 8.4 hours
This is the best phone LG has made and the price reflects it. The ThinQ has a large 6.1 inch display with an aspect ratio of 18:9 and Quad HD+ resolution of 1440 x 3120, creating a great viewing experience. The sound on the ThinQ is comparable, if not better, than the LG V30. It has the super-fast Snapdragon 845 processor and plenty of storage through its Micro SD slot, which allows memory to be expanded up to 2 TBs, and the camera is one of the best on the market. Not a bad phone but, like the Pixel 2, pricey.
10. Apple iPhone 8/8 Plus
Weighted Score: 7.4
OS: iOS 11
Price: $699/$839
CPU: A11 Bionic
RAM: 3 GB
Display Size/Resolution: 4.7 inches/5.5 inches – 750×1334 pixels/1080×1920 pixels
Storage: 64 GB – 64 GB/256 GB
Camera: 7 mp / 12 mp
Battery Life: 9.5 hours
If you can’t afford the iPhone X and still want that cool Apple phone, the iPhone 8 or 8 Plus is what you’re looking for. At close to $400 less in price than the iPhone X, the 8 Plus has the best processor on the market with the A11 Bionic, the traditional user interface that many iOS users love, a familiar design, a great camera and an upgraded display over earlier iPhone models. Apple iPhone enthusiasts will love this phone.