A few months ago, only two phone brands were on the lips of consumers in the market for a new high-end smartphone. It seemed a straight choice between Apple and its iPhone X or 8 Plus, and Samsung with its Note 8 and Galaxy S9+.
But the rivals refuse to be written off. Just in the past month, three powerful new contenders have arrived in South Africa. The Huawei P20 Pro, Sony Xperia XZ2 and Nokia 7 plus have all thrown their frames into the ring of high-end features, although not always at high-end prices.
This means that customers for features are spoiled for choice, and it comes down to comparison of features, along with issues like brand preference and design appeal.
Rather than look at each phone separately, let’s look at them feature by feature.
Connectivity
The Sony XZ2 uses LTE-A, the ultimate 4G standard, and claims a 1.2 Gigabit per second maximum speed. However, this is purely theoretical, as no mobile network in South Africa allows for anywhere close to that. The Nokia 7 plus is also an LTE-A phone, but claims “only” 300 Mbps, which is theoretically possible on a network like RAIN. The Huawei P20 Pro is the slow-coach of the three, with basic LTE, offering a “mere” 150 Mbps, the theoretical maximum offered by Telkom Mobile. Any of these speeds are, in reality, still blazing fast and will stream high-definition video without buffering.
Display
The Huawei P20 pro has the largest display and screen-to-body ratio at 6.1 inches and 82% respectively. The Nokia 7 plus is close, with a 6.0 inch display and 77.2% screen-to-body ratio. In comparison, the Sony XZ2 is positively small, with a 5.7 inch display and 76.1% screen-to-body ratio, due to large bezels around the screen, despite similar body dimensions. Because the phone is heavier despite a smaller display, this gives the impression of it being a lower-end phone than it really is.
In terms of display quality, the Huawei P20 Pro takes the lead with an infinite contrast ratio (usually the higher the ratio, the better) due to its AMOLED display. AMOLED currently produces the best colour replication available on the phone market. Both Nokia 7 plus and the Sony XZ2 use IPS LCD 16-million colour, and have roughly the same display quality.
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Durability
The Sony XZ2 wins in durability, with a waterproof IP65/68 rating, followed by the Huawei P20 Pro, with a water resistant IP67 rating. The Nokia 7 plus has no IP ratings and will not play well with dust and water.
Camera
The P20 Pro pushes the boundaries of phone cameras, introducing a third camera that takes black and white photos. Traditional camera photographers use black and white photographs to determine light in the scene. Huawei’s black and white lens is revolutionary because software determines the best lighting for the scene. This third camera is a boost for the serious smartphone photographer and can produce brilliant content on professional platforms.
Two of the lenses, helped along by software, allow for the bokeh effect, which blurs the background – something the Sony handset does naturally. The P20 Pro makes use of an artificial intelligence engine which predicts the best settings for the photo, depending on scenery and details. The lenses are certified by Leica, one of the best lens makers in the industry.
The Sony XZ2 uses two infrared sensors, similar to those on the Sony Cybershot cameras, which improve auto-focus accuracy and speeds up picture snapping. You may have seen Sony’s camera sensors before: Apple uses Sony’s technology. The XZ2 has the best natural focus and bokeh of the three smartphones.
The Nokia 7 plus has a surprisingly good camera. The dual lens setup allows a bokeh effect through software processing, low-light photos are also surprisingly good and produce very little grain. Both rear lenses are approved by Zeiss, another great lens maker which has backed Nokia smartphones for years.
Battery
Sony has been a pioneer in smartphone battery technology and it is no surprise that the XZ2 introduces new battery protection tools. Other smartphones “trickle-charge” their batteries when charging overnight, consistently keeping the smartphone at 100% charge. This trickle-charging can reduce the lifespan of the battery and charging overnight can reduce the usability of the smartphone. Sony fixes this by learning when the user typically wakes up. The XZ2 will charge until 80%, then turn charging off and charge the rest of the battery to 100% just before wake-up time.
The P20 Pro has the highest battery capacity, with a 4000mAh battery, while the 7 plus follows with a 3800mAh battery. Sony’s XZ2 has “only” a 3180mAh battery, but the smaller display means it can match the others in battery life, particularly with its battery management. The batteries are all non-removable.
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Aesthetics
While burdened with a notch in the top of the screen, which many manufacturers slavishly copied from the Apple iPhone X, the P20 Pro display fills most of the front of the phone. Only the front-facing fingerprint sensor at the bottom prevents the screen from being even bigger. The brilliant blue-tint on the back of the phone is stunning and the cameras barely protrude.
Sony introduces a rounded back on the XZ2, which is easy on the hand but impractical when put down, as the phone rocks when used on a flat surface. The jet-black colour of the device helps it stand out, but this undermined by the large bezel when the display is on.
Nokia excelled in the design of the 7 plus, trimming the smartphone with a copper accent. This deviates from the rose-gold craze which smartphone manufacturers have been copying from each other. The rear-mounted fingerprint sensor is located below the dual rear cameras, echoing the Samsung S9.
Bottom line
The Huawei P20 Pro is a serious photographer’s smartphone. The R15 500 price point is quite steep but the camera quality makes up for the price.
The Sony XZ2 is in it for the long haul. The smartphone is good overall, while the battery saving features will ensure this smartphone lasts well over 2 years. Starting at R12 000, the Sony XZ2 is well worth it if battery and performance are needed for over 2 years.
The Nokia 7 plus is for users who wants the best bang for their buck. It is a very capable smartphone, starting at a recommended selling price of only R6 600.