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Ashish Narsale lists the features of the phones that are the rage this festive season.
Apple iPhone X
Photograph: Kind courtesy apple.com
Apple unveiled its 10th anniversary edition recently and named it the iPhone X (Ten).
As rumoured, the iPhone X is all screen display except a notch at the top that embeds its Face ID sensor and cameras.
It is Apple's first phone to have an OLED display and wireless charging capability along with the iPhone8/8 Plus.
The iPhone X boasts of dual 12 MP cameras, both with OIS.
The dual camera setup delivers a DSLR-like bokeh effect in portrait mode and couples up to give 2X optical zoom.
What's impressive?
12 MP dual camera with OIS and 2X optical zoom.
Face ID, but yet to be tested in the field.
A11 bionic chip has been quite impressive in benchmark tests.
What's not impressive?
The notch at the top is a distraction; spoils the design.
No finger print scanner.
No 3.5mm jack for analogue ear phones.
No fast wireless charging.
Apple iPhone 8 Plus
Photograph: Kind Courtesy apple.com
Apple unveiled the iPhone 8 and iPhone Plus along with the iPhone X.
The iPhone 8 plus also boasts of a dual 12 MP camera setup, but only one camera has OIS.
Rest of the hardware except the display is same as the iPhone X.
What's impressive?
12 MP dual camera with OIS and 2X optical zoom.
A11 bionic chip has been quite impressive in benchmark tests.
What's not impressive?
The back panel is made of glass to support wireless charging.
Design hasn't changed for a long time now.
No 3.5mm jack for analog ear phones.
No fast wireless charging.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
Photograph: Kind courtesy samsung.com
After the Note7 battery fiasco, Samsung leaves no stone unturned with the Note 8.
The phone comes with an 8-point battery safety check.
This time, the Note 8 houses a dual 12 MP (f/1.7, PDAF & f/2.4, AF) camera setup with OIS and 2X optical zoom.
Follows the Samsung Galaxy S8's design language and comes with Infinity display and curved OLED screen.
What's impressive?
12 MP dual camera setup with OIS on both lenses and 2X optical zoom.
Wireless fast charging.
And not to forget its stylus with added features.
What's not impressive?
No stereo speakers.
Fingerprint sensor placed uncomfortably at the rear.
Google Pixel 2/2 XL
Photograph: Kind courtesy play.google.com
Rather than the phone which packs all the hardware specs as its competitors, with the Pixel 2/2 XL, Google has focused more on the AI and machine learning.
Unlike competition, Google embeds a single camera with dual pixel rather than using dual camera setup for depth sensing to create bokeh or faster focusing on objects.
Google uses its Dual pixel sensor and machine learning to create the same effect.
What's impressive?
12 MP dual pixel camera setup with OIS.
Front firing Stereo speakers.
Active Edge as Squeeze feature.
What's not impressive?
Too much bezel at the bottom of Pixel 2.
No SD card slot.
Samsung Galaxy S8
Photograph: Kind courtesy samsung.com
Samsung got rid of the front physical button to give way to infinity its display.
The physical button is replaced with an onscreen 3D touch button with haptic feedback.
The fingerprint scanner is moved to the rear. Screen curved at the edges, gives the impression of an almost bezel-less phone.
It has almost the same hardware as the Note 8 except the dual camera and the Stylus.
What's impressive?
Wireless fast charging.
Infinity full screen display.
What's not impressive?
No stereo speakers.
Fingerprint sensor placed uncomfortably at the rear.
LG G6
Photograph: Kind courtesy lg.com
Launched a month before the Samsung Galaxy S8, but didn't incorporate the best processor, the snapdragon 835. Still a good phone.
The LG G6's is the first impressive design from LG after a long time.
It also features a dual camera setup, but only does 2X optical zoom, the bokeh effect in portrait mode is missing.
What's impressive?
Sleek design.
What's not impressive?
Dual camera, but no portrait mode.
Old chipset with respect to its counterpart.
Nokia 8
Photograph: Kind courtesy nokia.com
It's been a long time since we heard from Nokia, once the emperor of smartphones. After losing its glory for more than five years now, the Finnish company is back in business.
The Nokia 8 has an impressive built, but misses out on a few flagship features.
It has a dual camera setup. The camera provides simultaneous shooting with front and back cameras, what Nokia calls the 'Bothie'.
The phone is also capable of capturing sound in 360 degrees using the same technology used by Nokia's OZO 360 camera.
What's impressive?
Almost stock android experience.
Well built.
Simultaneous video and photos with both front and rear cameras.
What's not impressive?
Not fully water resistant.
No full vision display.
HTC U11
Photograph: Kind courtesy htc.com
Once successful, HTC lost its way, yielding the space for cheaper Chinese phones.
With the U11, the Taiwanese company is back in the game.
On the U11, the front and back glass body is sandwiched on a metal frame.
The back curved glass surface, what they call Liquid surface, is highly reflective and gives different hues under light.
What's impressive?
Impressive sound through C-type ear buds.
Boom sound speakers.
What's not impressive?
Back curved glass prone to damage.
No dual camera.
Sony Xperia XZ1
Photograph: Kind courtesy sony.co.in
Sony continues to build phones focusing on its camera.
It brings the motion eye camera, its new innovation, to allow for 3D scanning of subject and 960fps slow motion video.
The design is a spoilsport when compared to contemporary flagship phones.
What's impressive?
Impressive camera.
3D Scanning is to look out for.
What's not impressive?
Old school design.
Camera does not have OIS.
No dual camera.
OnePlus 5
Photograph: Kind courtesy oneplusstore.in
OnePlus, a subsidiary of the Chinese BBK Electronics Corporation, unveiled the OnePlus 5, its latest iteration, skipping the number 4 considered unlucky by the Chinese.
OnePlus is known to bring high specs phones at lower prices, but this time that was not to be.
It boasts of an impressive dual setup camera, but misses out on some flagship features.
What's impressive?
Impressive camera.
What's not impressive?
No OIS in camera.
Phone is not water and dust proof.