Best New Smartphones to Buy
The mobile market is always an exciting and vibrant area for tech innovation, with big brands releasing boundary-pushing new handsets on a regular basis.
When your current smartphone gets a little long in the tooth and you are ready to upgrade, the amount of choice available might overwhelm you. To make life easier, here are the main devices to consider buying this year.
High end – Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2
If money is no object and you want the best of the best from your smartphone, whether you are taking photos, video conferencing for productivity purposes, or playing online roulette to relax, the Galaxy Z Fold2 deserves your attention.
Its biggest selling point is the large, fully foldable main screen, which covers a full 7.6 inches and means that it is like having a tablet computer with you at all times, without the portability problems this brings.
This second-gen foldable phone is also better than its predecessor thanks to the larger 6.2-inch secondary screen mounted on the outer surface, as well as an overhauled hinge design which means it is less liable to mechanical issues arising with use.
Factor in software that is designed to take advantage of its split-screen capabilities, a powerful chipset for seamless performance, and an overall premium feel and heft, and you have a flagship smartphone that is hard to beat.
Time for an Upgrade? Best New Smartphones to Buy
Mid-range – Google Pixel 5
The goalposts defining what makes a mid-range mobile has really shifted in recent years, spurred on by super-expensive devices from Samsung and Apple. That makes the newest own-brand model from Google comparatively affordable, while also giving users a lot of bang for their buck.
Users are likely to be sold on this smartphone based on its class-leading camera capabilities. It has a 12-megapixel snapper for general shooting purposes, as well as a 16-megapixel secondary lens with ultrawide capture functionality. Real photography experts know that pure pixel counts are not all you need to go on, so the fact that the Pixel 5 smashes the competition in everything from color accuracy to high dynamic range performance should seal the deal.
Performance is also solid for the price, with the Snapdragon 765G processor managing to keep the unadulterated Android operating system and all of the apps that run on it feeling snappy to use. The OLED display is beautiful to behold as well as boasting a 90Hz refresh rate, which helps make it feel even speedier.
An unfussy yet attractive all-metal chassis, which is also waterproof and provides wireless charging compatibility, gives the Google Pixel 5 the edge over its competitors.
Budget – Xiaomi Redmi Note 9
You could buy almost 10 units of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 for the price of a single Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2, and if you look at the functionality of the two on paper, you might wonder why anyone would choose the latter.
This Chinese brand manages to cram a 48-megapixel camera, 5020mAh battery, and up to 128GB of storage onboard its wallet-friendly smartphone.
Other points of note include the competitive if not groundbreaking Helio G85 chipset, a built-in fingerprint scanner for security, and a fairly simple implementation of Android.
The massive 6.53-inch screen is perhaps the top reason to pick the Redmi Note 9, as it gives you plenty of space for enjoying games, movies, and productivity apps while out and about.
The fact that there really is a good smartphone for every budgetary niche is reassuring, especially since quality is consistent across the board and even the most affordable handsets are cutting edge.
