Featured
Hot new phones offer choice at the top
Three powerful new name-brand phones mean anyone in the market for a mid-to-high-end smartphone is spoiled for choice, writes ARTHUR GOLDSTUCK.
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.
- Arthur Goldstuck is founder of World Wide Worx and editor-in-chief of Gadget.co.za. Follow him on Twitter on @art2gee and on YouTube
