The quality of pictures you can get from your phone and the convenience of having it always at easy reach have rendered standalone cameras all but obsolete. These four phones are among the best of the best CNET has found in phones we’ve reviewed in the last year.
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Apple iPhone X
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/apple-iphone-x/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding)
The good: A great blend of handheld comfort and a big, gorgeous OLED screen. Rear telephoto camera outshoots the 8 Plus in low light, and the front camera snaps impressive portrait selfies. Face ID generally works fine.
The bad: New interface and no home button mean major adjustments, and key features such as the Control Center are harder to reach and use. It’ll take time for most apps to be optimized for notched screen. The phone is hella expensive, and the all-glass design means a case and an insurance plan are musts. Shorter battery life than iPhone Plus models.
The cost: $999.00 to $1,199.99
The bottom line: iPhone X is an overdue and winning evolution of the iPhone, but you’ll need to leave your comfort zone to make a jump into the face-recognizing future.
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Samsung Galaxy Note 8
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/samsung-galaxy-note-8/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding)
The good: The Galaxy Note 8 tops Samsung’s already excellent S8 and S8 Plus with dual cameras and a boatload of stylus tricks. It’s the most feature-rich Android phone you can buy.
The bad: An expensive phone, the Note 8 has more features than most people will need. Samsung’s portrait mode can be finicky. The poorly placed fingerprint reader repeats the Galaxy S8’s worst design flaw.
The cost: $819.99 to $949.99
The bottom line: The Galaxy Note 8 retakes the throne as the ultimate Android phone for now, but some intense competition is just over the horizon.
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Google Pixel 2 XL
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/google-pixel-2-xl/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding)
The good: The Pixel 2 XL perks up the already excellent Pixel 2 with more screen space. It has a fantastic camera, waterproofing and the Google Lens feature that helps you learn more about the world around you.
The bad: The camera’s Portrait Mode doesn’t work as smoothly as its competitors’ dual camera. Its battery doesn’t last as long as others in its caliber and the phone has no headphone jack or wireless charging. The displays on some handsets have irksome screen problems.
The cost: $774.00 to $849.99
The bottom line: A bigger, sharper screen and thinner bezels make the Pixel 2 XL the more desirable Google phone, but some early units have been dogged by screen issues.
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LG V30
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/lg-v30/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding)
The good: The LG V30 almost has it all: a great camera, speedy processor, huge OLED screen, excellent battery life, waterproofing, wireless charging, microSD storage and the best headphone jack on a phone.
The bad: Ergonomic quirks can make the V30 awkward to hold. You may miss some shots due to slow camera autofocus. Carrier-specific versions come with annoying bloatware and logos.
The cost: $749.99 to $840.00
The bottom line: The LG V30 is a rock-solid alternative to Samsung’s Galaxy S8 Plus and the Google Pixel 2 XL. If it fits your hands and your photographic needs, you won’t be disappointed.
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The following CNET staff contributed to this story: Section Editor Jessica Dolcourt, Senior Editor Sean Hollister, Senior Associate Editor Lynn La, Senior Editor Scott Stein and Senior Editor Laura K. Cucullu. For more reviews of personal technology products, please visit www.cnet.com.
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