Smartphones are more than just tools through which we communicate with others. For some, they are status symbols. The logo on the back of their smartphone means more than the features.
But what if you don’t care about brands and just want a good smartphone?
Once you stretch beyond the main smartphone brands, there are so many ways to get value for money.
Huawei is one of the fastest growing smartphone manufacturers in the world. Their expertise lies in mimicking the features of top smartphone brands and offering it for less.
The Huawei P8 Lite has a 5.2” HD screen, 8MP front camera and a 12 MP back camera. Under the hood lies an octave-core processor and Android 7.0 Nougat. Besides 3GB of RAM, it also comes with all the usual bells and whistles such as a fingerprint sensor, expandable storage, and a stunning, modern design.
Impressively, the battery is 3000 mAh which is enough for a whole day of intense use.
All this for £179 unlocked from giffgaff.
Nokia dropped the ball a little after missing the start of the smartphone era. However, they are trying to launch a comeback. Much like a boxer with a bruised ego, Nokia is giving it their all.
The Nokia 5 follows the trend of thin bezels by having a 5.2” HD screen that sucks you in. Design-wise, Nokia have taken a note from Apple’s MacBook line. The body is made from a single piece of aluminium. This results in a smartphone which feels expensive.
Nokia has gone above and beyond with the front camera. An 8MP front camera ensures that group selfies look vibrant and clear when shared on social media. An octave core processor provides a smooth Android 70 Nougat.
There is also a fingerprint reader on the home button which makes unlocking the phone secure and easy.
At £159 unlocked from giffgaff, this is really good value for money. Sure, the name “Nokia” doesn’t have the same ring; however, this is still a fantastic smartphone which should cost much more.
The Moto G5 is the best smartphone with regard to value for money.
Let me explain.
The Motorolla Moto G5 is made from aluminium. This gives it a high end feel. It comes with a 5-inch screen which is right on the Goldilocks sweet spot for smartphones. It isn’t so small that it feels like a toy and it isn’t so big that it looks ridiculous.
The Moto G5 comes with fast charging, wide-angle 5MP selfie camera, expandable storage, 2GB RAM (deep breath) and an octave core processor. Plus, it has all the bells, whistles and trimmings you would expect from a top smartphone.
At just £139 unlocked, the Moto G5 should cost at least double. Due to the design and features, this would make a good gift.
Sony has a long history of making great cameras and music hardware. They also tend to go full throttle with their smartphones.
The Sony Xperia XA1 isn’t a flagship, but it has the features of one.
Let’s start with the frankly ridiculous 23MP camera. It has a wide angle which enables you to capture more. Shift to the front camera and you will find an 8MP camera with good performance.
As you would expect from Sony, the smartphone is beautifully crafted with a solid frame. The HD screen is full width with incredible detail.
Sony brought in many features from their high-end cameras and televisions. The camera processes each image in less than a second and balances it out to be more true-to-life. You can also capture video in HDR mode. Even when stretched to fit a 50” HD television, memories still look as detailed as the day you saw them.
3GB of RAM, Android 7.0 Nougat, and multiple sensors complement the phone. The battery is rated for 7 hours of video or up to 10 hours of talk time. Aside from all this, you aren’t missing out on a thing because all the standard high-end features are also present.
Final thoughts
A good smartphone isn’t necessarily one with a big name or huge marketing budget. We are lucky to live in a time when the means of production are plentiful. In fact, you could travel to China and get your ideal smartphone made in front of you.
Look past the hype and focus on the features and design language which matters to you. Hopefully, you found this post interesting. What is the best smartphone you have ever used? Share your thoughts with the community in the comments section below.