With but a few months left in the year, it’s a great time to purchase a new phone, especially if you’re looking for something powerful. October proved to be quite a month for smartphone enthusiasts, thanks to the introduction of a couple of key flagship models.
If you are a Verizon subscriber and looking to pick up a new handset, you’ve got plenty to consider. We’re here to help!
What follows are the best Android phones you can purchase from Verizon. These are in no particular order and all are worth your money.
LG V40 ThinQ
The LG V40 ThinQ features a 6.4-inch QHD POLED display. 6GB of RAM and a Qualcomm 845 round out the main specs of this flagship. Storage is your choice of 64GB or 128GB of internal with microSD expansion.
The V-series continues its lineage of content creation with an additional third rear camera. This brings the combination to a 12MP f/1.5 lens plus a 16MP f/1.9 wide-angle lens and a 12MP f/2.4 2X optical zoom lens. There are even a double 8MP and 5MP front-facing camera layout.
LG also keeps the 3.5mm headphone jack in an age where companies are consistently abandoning it and adds a QuadDAC for superior audio playback. Lastly, the phone offers all-day battery life with a 3,300mAh power cell.
Google Pixel 3
What can be said of Google’s latest flagship that you likely haven’t already heard? The phone is the real deal and it’s the best experience Google has offered to date.
The hardware isn’t all that different from last year’s model but there’s enough changed in the software and overall experience to justify itself. Moreover, the design looks similar to its predecessors but moves in a slightly different direction.
We simply love that wireless charging is finally present in the Google family. It’s one of those features we’ve come to rely on and the Pixel Stand makes it even better.
The camera experience is unlike no other and is a seriously impressive and compelling reason to consider the phone. When everyone else goes with two and three cameras on the back Google pushes forward with one super-smart and excellent sensor.
Google Pixel 3 XL
The bigger, longer lasting version of the flagship model, this one gives users 6.3-inches of screen. And, with a 3,430mAh battery power source optimized by Android 9, you’re getting amazing, all-day performance.
The specs might not be as high as what other companies are putting out but that’s really noticeable on paper. Most users aren’t going to push the octa-core processor and 4GB RAM to their limits anytime soon.
READ: Pixel 3 XL first impression
We’re big fans of the pure Android operating system and how cohesive it feels with Google’s hardware. If you’ve ever had a Nexus phone or previous Pixel, this will be a welcome upgrade.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9
The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 has many of the best aspects of a flagship phone. It has the best display, the best stylus, the best specs (almost), the most storage… the list goes on.
So, what do we love about the Samsung Galaxy Note 9? Well, kind of everything, Let’s start with that display. The 6.4-inch Super AMOLED panel is the largest ever on a Note device. If you’re a power user or someone who is looking to get a little work done while on your commute, all of that real estate makes those tasks even easier. Combined with the ability to have multiple apps open at the same time, this thing is productivity powerhouse.
Read more:
- Nine tips and tricks for the Samsung Galaxy Note 9
- Tips and tricks for your Samsung Galaxy Note 9 S-Pen
Speaking of productivity, the S Pen is worth its weight in gold for professionals. Sure, you could always use it sign documents or easily write emails. But, now that the S Pen has Bluetooth built-in, you can even more. The pen has programmable actions depending on the app you have open. That means if you’re conducting a presentation with slides, it can advance your slide show. Want to take a great selfie with a group of friends? Set your phone down, take a step back and use the S Pen to capture the perfect picture. The possibilities are almost endless.
Samsung listened to its users and fixed the one thing people could previously complain about: battery life. Samsung was understandably gun-shy after the Note 7 debacle and didn’t put the envelope with the Note 8. That’s not the case with today. The Note 9 features a 4,000 mAh battery that promises all all-day battery life. If you’re running dry, you can either use a fast charger to top off and get through the day or throw it on a wireless charging dock to charge while you’re doing something else.
If you have $1,000 to pony up, it’s hard for us to recommend another device!
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 purchase links: Verizon | Amazon | Samsung
LG G7 ThinQ
Embrace the notch! LG certainly has with the LG G7. The latest flagship from the South Korean giant features a notched 6.1-inch IPS LCD with a 3120 x 1440 resolution. Last year we saw phones finally break through to the 18:9 aspect ratio, but now we’re seeing device manufacturers like LG push that to an insane 19.5:8.
The display is surrounded but incredibly small bezels and features a small chin on the bottom of the phone. If you’re alright with a notch, you might agree that this is a pretty handsome phone.
Like most 2018 flagships, the LG G7 features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC, 4 or 6 GB of RAM, and 64 or 128 GB of RAM. A 3000 mAh battery might feel underwhelming but LG promises all-day battery life and there’s quick charge onboard for when you need to top off.
Where LG hopes to differentiate itself is in its AI capabilities. AI is starting to feel like a buzzword right now, but LG hopes that some new camera functionality and smart battery capabilities are enough to win customers over.
LG G7 purchase links: Verizon Wireless | B&H Photo | Best Buy
Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus
Samsung’s newest phones are also its best phones. The Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus came out less than a month ago to high praise around the tech industry. While there aren’t huge changes from last year’s Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus, there didn’t need to be for Samsung to stay atop the Android latter.
The most notable new addition to the devices is the dual mechanical aperture lens. Depending on your lighting, the lens will change between a f/1.5 aperture and a f/2.4 aperture. This allows the camera to let in more light when it needs it. In practice, pictures look absolutely fantastic, just like they did last year.
The new camera setup does improve the reduction of noise in low-light situations and maintaining fine lines in pictures. While most may not notice a difference, it is there and camera hounds will know what to look for.
Read more: How to get Android 8.0 AOSP on the Galaxy S9
Another notable change is how Samsung is differentiating the two devices. While last year’s devices both featured a single camera and 4 GB of RAM, that’s not the case this year. Spending the extra ~$120 on the Galaxy S9 Plus will get you an extra 2 GB of RAM (to 6 GB total) which matches the Galaxy Note 8. It also has a dual camera system, where the S9 just has a single shooter.
Despite their differences, the devices are largely the same. Both feature the brand new Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor that promises better performance and better battery life. Both have all-day battery life and Android Oreo on board, along with Samsung’s own software enhancements.
Samsung Galaxy S9 purchase links: Verizon Wireless | Amazon | Best Buy
Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus purchase links: Verizon Wireless | Amazon | Best Buy
Google Pixel 2 XL
This phone really need no introduction. Google’s own flagships are nothing short of excellent. Despite some early issues, the Google Pixel 2 XL is still the flagship of choice for many power users.
The devices feature Google’s vision for the Android operating system, running the most build available at Android 9 Pie. The small additions that Google has added into pure Android make the Pixel devices a joy to use and some of the fastest and smoothest on the market. If there’s one thing Google does right, it’s software.
Read more: The Google Pixel 2 XL has changed how I take photos
Another thing that Google absolutely nailed is the speaker setup. While they aren’t the loudest in history, they sound great and speakers pointed toward you are always going to sound better than ones pointed away from you. We absolutely love the speakers on the Google Pixel 2 XL.
Last but certainly not least is the camera. The Pixels have what is widely seen as the best camera in a smartphone on the market. The camera app is dead simple and just takes great shots. A portrait mode gives a great depth-of-field effect, and pictures feel true to life and give plenty of detail. If you want the phone with the best camera, the Pixel 2 XL is still a no-brainer.
Google Pixel 2 XL purchase links: Amazon | Best Buy | Google Store | Verizon Wireless
by AndroidGuys via AndroidGuys
Posts
No comments: