Best smartphones to get in 2018

The iPhone X marked Apple’s first venture into OLED displays and the practice continues with the new XS. So what's the difference between these two phones? A mere three grams. That said, Apple has made a couple of improvements, you just won’t spot some them with the naked eye. What you can see though is the addition of the gold colour phone, brought over from the iPhone 8 range and the new dual SIM system which means you can compartmentalise travelling or work lines easier.

Now, to the cooler bits. With increased water and dust resistance, this means that your phone can submerge in up to three metres of water instead of one, speaker and stereo volume also get a 25% boost so it’s a plus for those who watch videos on the kitchen counter or do a lot of conference calls. We bet your millennial attention spans are interested AF now.

The Pixel 2 XL may not be the best but is probably the smartest Android phone around. Integrated with pre-installed apps like Google Lens and enhanced with Google Assistant, getting info about anything and everything is almost seamless. The fingerprint sensor is also situated at the back – a smart, intuitive move by Google.

Overall, it represents the absolute best that Google’s Android operating system has to offer, with the latest Android Pie features, no bloatware, and an industry-leading 12-megapixel camera that's stunning. Also, Google Assistant excels much better in the art of conversation than Siri. Win.

With roots in the past, the iPhone 8 is the last of its sort before it ventures into the futuristic with the iPhone X. While it still retains the Touch ID people are fond of, there a upgraded bits too like a better 12-megapixel camera and is waterproof. But not everything is perfect – both iPhone 8s don’t support MicroSD storage expansion so handle that iCloud space wisely and there’s the lack of the headphone jack, but seriously, it’s time to go Bluetooth. If you still want something spiffy but not quite ready for the leap of faith into the smartphone of the future, then the reliable iPhone 8 is for you.

Call it extra but the P20 Pro stands out in the list thanks to its three rear cameras. If night shots and low light snaps are your thing then this phone’s camera will blow you away. The battery life is superb so if you’re out a lot without the means for a recharge, you might want this. Yes it may lack wireless charging and the missing headphone jack but you know you will get through the long dark night with this phone. If size doesn’t matter to you, go for the similar and smaller sibling, the P20.

Perfect on paper, this phone has everything a modern phone can have including wireless charging, full waterproofing, a huge screen, and a headphone jack. And while it looks like the Galaxy S8, it improves the camera even further and also boasts a bright and exceptional OLED screen that stretches to the edges of the device. If you like piling on the accessories, thanks to the popularity of the brand, there’s plenty available on the market.