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2019’s Handsets of the Year
It was a dazzling year for new phones, writes ARTHUR GOLDSTUCK, as he makes his choice of the best handsets of the year.
Mid-range: (R4,001-R10,000)
- LG G8 ThinQ (from R9,000)
The G8 ThinQ is as good as almost anything coming from the better-known smartphone brands, and may be better than the rest in one department: software. It is the world’s first smartphone with advanced palm vein authentication, or Hand ID. It identifies owners by recognising the shape, thickness and other characteristics of the veins in the palms of their hands. Placing a pre-registered hand in front of the front-facing camera for a split second unlocks the G8, regardless of ambient light.
- Nokia 7.2 (from R6,000)
The Nokia 7.2 features a 48MP triple camera with Quad Pixel technology and Zeiss Optics. It also introduces a range of Zeiss bokeh styles, exclusive to Nokia smartphones, that recreate the way legendary Zeiss lenses produce high visual impact and signature blur. It includes an ultrawide camera with a 118-degree field of view, and a 20MP selfie camera.
- Huawei Nova 5T (from R10,000)
It’s all about the camera. A rear array of quad cameras comprises a 48MP main camera, 2MP Macro lens, 2MP Depth-assist lens, and 16MP Ultra Wide Angle lens with Artificial Intelligence (AI) image optimisation to help scene selection. The selfie camera is a 32MP sensor and also features AI for image optimisation.
- Samsung Galaxy A50 (R5,000-R6,000)
A feature-rich, 6.4-inch budget smartphone with a 25MP main camera offering 26mm wide-angle lens and f/1.7 aperture – almost in line with the flagships, It includes an 8MP ultra-wide camera, and a 5MP depth-sensing sensor for bokeh shots.
Read more about the low mid-range, and entry-level handsets.
