Year in Review: From Samsung to Apple, top 5 premium smartphones of 2019

Business Standard takes a look at the top five premium smartphones launched in 2019. Read on for a list of 5 best smartphones launched during the year

Best smartphones 2019: Premium smartphone makers seemed to be in a course correction mode in 2019. From fast charging capability to multi-optic camera modules and software optimisation for enhanced user experience, smartphone makers brought to the table some of the technological advances that had been long overdue. At the same time, smartphone manufacturers moved their focus from technical specifications to optimisation, features and algorithms, setting precedents for the industry to follow in the upcoming year.

Business Standard takes a look at the top five best smartphones launched in 2019. Here is the list:

Samsung Galaxy Note 10+

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ is one of the most versatile in the premium smartphone segment. Besides top-notch specifications, the smartphone boasts premium optics, a multi-purpose digital pen (SPen), a curved dynamic AMOLED screen with HDR10+ support and a high-capacity battery with 25W fast-charge support. Moreover, the phone is powered by the Samsung One user interface, which is one of the best Android operating system-based UIs designed for easy one-hand operations.

Build	Display	Processor	Battery	Camera	Launch price
Glass-metal	6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED QHD+, Gorilla Glass 6, HDR10+	Exynos 9825	4300 mAh	Rear: 12MP + 12MP + 16MP + ToF Front: 10MP	Starts at Rs 79,999

Apple iPhone 11 Pro

From triple rear cameras to better on-battery time and improved operating system, the iPhone 11 Pro — like it elder sibling iPhone 11 Pro Max — addresses the gaps that had for long dragged Apple smartphones behind their Android peers. The phone also boasts enhanced security and privacy features like location service permissions and Sign in with Apple, which the company introduced earlier this year at its annual worldwide developer’s conference.

Build	Display	Processor	Battery	Camera	Launch price
Glass-metal	5.8-inch XDR OLED, Dolby Vision, HDR10, 120Hz touch-sensing	A13 Bionic	-	Rear: 12MP + 12MP + 12MP Front: 12MP	Starts at Rs 99,900

Huawei P30 Pro

This smartphone excels as an imaging device, but it is not its only area of strength. The Huawei P30 Pro has a premium glass-metal construction, OLED display, high-capacity battery with fast-charge support and feature-rich user interface. These make it tick all the right boxes — something you expect from a premium smartphone. In terms of imaging, the phone has a multi-optic camera system capable of up to 50x zoom, besides other features like ultra-wide photography, night mode, etc.

Build	Display	Processor	Battery	Camera	Launch price
Glass-metal	6.47-inch OLED fullHD+, HDR10	HiSilicon Kirin 980	4200 mAh	Rear: 40MP + 8MP + 20MP + ToF Front: 32MP	Starts at Rs 71,900

Samsung Galaxy S10+

This smartphone was the first to pack the Samsung dynamic AMOLED screen with HDR10+ support. Besides, it has the 3.5mm audio out port, which was later not used in the Samsung Galaxy Note 10-series smartphones, hinting future premium smartphones from Samsung might also give it up. The phone has top-notch specifications, a premium camera module, ample RAM and internal storage, and the capability to turn supported big screens and monitors into full-fledged computers, powered by the Samsung DeX computing platform.

Build	Display	Processor	Battery	Camera	Launch price
Glass-metal	6.4-inch dynamic AMOLED QHD+, Gorilla Glass 6, HDR10+	Exynos 9820	4100 mAh	Rear: 12MP + 12MP + 16MP Front: 10MP + 8MP	Starts at Rs 73,900

OnePlus 7 Pro

This was the first premium smartphone from the Chinese smartphone brand OnePlus, which specialises in midrange products. The OnePlus 7 Pro boasts a curved fluid AMOLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate in QHD+ resolution, another first for the brand. Besides, the phone offers the fast-charge support, a premium glass-metal build, stereo speakers and sleek OxygenOS user interface based on the Android operating system. Though not a gaming smartphone, this phone has a dedicated gaming mode that makes it one of the better regular smartphones matching the performance of gaming-centric smartphones.

Build	Display	Processor	Battery	Camera	Launch price
Glass-metal	6.67-inch fluid AMOLED QHD+, Gorilla Glass 5, HDR10+, 90Hz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 855	4000 mAh	Rear: 48MP + 8MP + 16MP Front: 16MP, Pop-up	Starts at Rs 48,999