Modern technologies make it possible to fit the power and performance of a personal computer in an ordinary smartphone. And, despite the fact that the most popular are the models of the middle price segment, many prefer to pay more to always have on hand a high-tech flagship from a popular manufacturer.
This review details the top 10. most powerful phones 2018, as well as the parameters on which the power of the gadget depends.
What power depends on
The first thing to know when choosing a good smartphone is what power is and what characteristics affect it. Powerful (according to benchmark indicators) smartphones are distinguished by the ability to launch and maintain the fast operation of numerous applications. If the phone starts to “slow down” when you start three or four programs, then most likely you should think about choosing a more technological model.
CPU
The processor is the first thing you need to pay attention to. The correct and fast operation of applications depends on its performance. There are many trusted manufacturers on the market, so when choosing the best chipset, you need to rely on three indicators:
- The number of cores - allows you to process commands in parallel, which significantly increases the power of the smartphone. The number of requests that the processor can execute directly depends on the number of cores. But this does not mean that an eight-core smartphone will certainly be better than a dual-core one, because the processor frequency is another important parameter.
- Frequency is the number of pulses per second (measured in GHz), on which the speed of the smartphone directly depends. But increasing the frequency will inevitably lead to overheating of the device and high battery consumption. Therefore, it is important to strike a balance between high frequency and the number of cores. To date, the average frequency is considered to be the processor frequency above 1 GHz.
- Manufacturer - this indicator is directly related to the quality of the board, its materials and assembly. In the last decade, the market has replaced Chinese-made products, so choosing a manufacturer has become a difficult task. But there is a list of companies that have proven themselves in the production of high-quality processors:
- Intel
- NVIDIA
- Apple
- MediaTek
- Qualcomm
- Samsung
RAM
This parameter characterizes the volume of the buffer zone for storing information about current tasks and throughput. Even with a good processor, the lack of sufficient RAM will adversely affect the operation of the device. To date, the optimal amount of RAM is 3-4GB.
Graphics Accelerator
This microprocessor controls the processing and output of graphic information, is responsible for the performance of games, 3D-graphics and frame rate. This option will be primarily interesting for gamers and fans to watch videos on a smartphone.
But, unlike a PC, in a compact smartphone, the graphics core and processor are integrated into one board, so you cannot select individual components for the powerful operation of the device - this is what the manufacturers do.
Currently, really powerful and high-performance phones have graphics adapters:
- Mali
- Ardeno
- Powervr
- GeForce
Persistent memory
The presence of a large amount of read-only memory allows the passage of more data without connecting external devices.This ensures that you can download and play as many applications as possible. Currently, the optimal amount of read-only memory is 32GB.
Top 10 most powerful smartphones of 2018
This ranking contains the best flagship smartphonesequipped with advanced technological components to increase power. The top also includes Chinese companies that have established themselves as reliable manufacturers of mobile devices.
This selection will help you choose the most powerful of the latest smartphones of 2018 for games and mobile applications, the purchase of which will not leave serious gaps in the buyer’s pocket.
Nokia 8 Dual Sim
The average price is 24,300 rubles.
Nokia's long-awaited triumphant return to the list of top-end smartphones was marked by the release of a new high-tech flagship. It is equipped with durable Gorilla Glass 5 and a fingerprint sensor on the front panel. The dual main camera and infrared rangefinder provide excellent focus and high-quality images.
Qualcomm’s flagship processor with 8 cores is responsible for the fast operation of the phone, thanks to which Nokia’s new product takes the leading position in the list of synthetic benchmarks and is an attractive offer for lovers of high-quality games on a smartphone.
ZTE Nubia Z17
The average price is 26,000 rubles.
The system components of this smartphone are so well selected that its hardware will be relevant for at least a couple of years, even for the most modern games. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor and the Adreno 510 graphics accelerator allow you to accelerate the performance of the gadget to space speeds.
In terms of speed, Nubia is difficult to compete with: there are no delays even when working simultaneously with multiple applications. This is facilitated by the function of two windows, which allows you to split the screen into two independent zones. All this comes with a decent camera with a lot of effects, a fingerprint scanner, an accelerometer, light and proximity sensors, and a stylish metal case.
Sony Xperia XZ
The average price is 21,300 rubles.
Sony is sure to add new features to each of its flagships. So the Xperia XZ has the ability to support multiple windows, manually adjust the shooting settings and work longer due to the increased battery capacity. Among the rare features, the ability to take the phone in the shower or wash under the tap stands out. Special plugs protect the gadget from moisture and dust (IP68 protection level). However, it is still impossible to completely immerse a smartphone in water, because the plastic covers do not withstand even a little pressure.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor and 3GB RAM, which allow working with "heavy" applications, despite the presence of only 4 cores, are responsible for the speed of work.
Samsung Galaxy S8 +
The average price is 34,000 rubles.
Outwardly, this phone is difficult to confuse with other devices: almost the entire front side is occupied by a huge screen of 6.2 inches, and only on top there is a small strip for the camera. This configuration gives the design of the smartphone a unique style and sophistication.
The internal set of functions will also please with its originality. The first thing that catches your eye is a lot of all kinds of sensors that are responsible for various functions. Fingerprint sensor, retina scanner, 3D accelerometer, heart rate sensor, face scanner, Hall sensor, proximity and light sensors, radio module, and all this in an aluminum rim under the Corning Gorilla Glass 5 shockproof glass. Complementing all this is a classic Qualcomm processor and graphic Accelerator Adreno 540.
Asus ZenFone 5
The average price is 26 900 rubles.
On both sides, the gadget is equipped with Corning oleophobic glass in a metal edging. The prints on it are practically invisible, and scratches appear only after a long time of active use.The 12MP camera does not have high-definition photos, but the panoramic shooting function of 120 degrees, a five-axis camera stabilizer and an intelligent scene recognizer provide opportunities for experimentation.
The responsive Snapdragon 636 chipset is responsible for the performance. And, although it is inferior in power to other models from this list, the 1.8 GHz clock speed in conjunction with the Adreno graphics adapter accelerates the smartphone to good speeds.
Xiaomi Mi 6
The average price is 27900 rubles.
The flagship gadget is equipped with a quick charge function of the battery, which allows you to raise the battery level by 50% in 15 minutes. Also, Mi 6 has a small size and beveled edges that feel equally good in the palm of your hand and look from the side.
The small smartphone has the latest processor, which first appeared in such an inexpensive model. Together with a modern graphics accelerator, the 8 cores of this monster, combined with 6GB of RAM, can even pull out online games, showing dizzying performance.
Huawei Honor View 10
The average price is 29 900 rubles.
For the excellent operation of the phone meets the productive chipset HiSilicon Kirin 970 and the latest generation graphics adapter Mali-G72. In conjunction with large RAM, this makes View the most powerful smartphone in its price range. The latest neural network module NPU has the capabilities of artificial intelligence: it learns in the process of work, studying its favorite applications, lifestyle and daily routine of its owner, optimizing and improving its work. The fragile filling is securely hidden in a reinforced case and shockproof Corning Gorilla Glass.
Long-term operation is provided by a capacious 3750 mAh battery, which allows the smartphone to work in talk mode for up to 22 hours.
Oneplus 5
The average price is 32 900 rubles.
In a short time, the unknown OnePlus brand has reached the top of the most popular and purchased models. This was facilitated by a good price / power ratio and a decent layout of hardware.
The rugged anodized aluminum case combined with the rounded screen completely replicates the more expensive iPhone 7 Plus. Also, from the more expensive apple counterpart, the highest performance was taken, supplemented by an impressive 6GB of RAM.
The battery allows the smartphone to work up to two days in the medium settings mode, which is a good indicator for modern gadgets.
Huawei Mate 10
The average price is 39 000 rubles.
In fact, the Mate 10 is an expanded and more complete version of the previous Huawei model. But there are obvious differences: the processor from HiSilicon is equipped with the popular among the flagships of this year and the rapidly developing artificial intelligence technology. With its help, the smartphone’s camera is able to recognize the time of day, face and scene, changing the configuration of the settings, algorithmize the input text, and identify the most common words by offering them to the user. Also, thanks to the AI, the processor remembers applications that are used more often than others, and launches them in accelerated mode, saving energy and time.
Of the external features, a monolithic metal case and a stylish 20MP dual camera on the rear panel for near and far focus stand out.
Apple iPhone 8
The average price is 44 900 rubles.
Neither disproportionately large sizes, nor the relatively small amount of RAM, nor the tiny battery size prevent the iPhone 8 from taking first places in synthetic performance tests. The reason for this is the latest generation A11 Bionic processor, which supports AI algorithms, which can only be found in devices of the Apple family.
In addition, the phone’s camera is capable of recording 4K video at a recording rate of 60 frames per second and taking great photos. The screen is able to maintain white balance depending on the light, and the case itself has high moisture protection, allowing you to drop the device into the water without serious consequences. All this makes Apple's new flagship the most sought-after smartphone in the world.