Top 5 smartphone launches of 2019

Does the tech geek in you come alive every time a new smartphone hits the market? Can’t really blame you though. Every single phone out there seems to be outdoing the previous one in terms of unique features at unparalleled prices. The sad truth is, you cannot really go spending your salary on every one of them. But if you are that eager to upgrade your phone game in 2019, here are the most anticipated launches we suggest you look out for:

Xiaomi Mi 9

Its official launch is confirmed in Europe and China, although the Mi 9 SE and Mi 9 Explorer will apparently be available only in China. This model will be launched in Piano Black and two new colours: iridescent blue (Ocean Blue) and pink (Lavender Violet). It will run the 7nm Snapdragon 855 processor with Adreno 640 graphics, with 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 64GB, 128GB or 256GB storage. The Explorer Edition will feature 12GB of RAM, along with an upgraded primary camera. The selfie camera is of 20 megapixels. Newer features include an in-display fingerprint sensor that is 25% faster than in the Mi 8 Pro and Explorer, Game Turbo mode, a system-wide dark mode, and a customisable Always-on Display.

Samsung Galaxy S10

With the press conference held on 20th February, the Galaxy S10, the 10th smartphone in this series, is now official. This is going to have many bettered features compared to its upgrade. The screen (now much bigger at 5.8in, 6.1in and 6.4in displays) now occupies 93% of the front surface of the device, with a new Dynamic OLED Infinity-O panel using a punch-hole style notch for the 20Mp selfie camera. This phone will run on Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 or Samsung's own Exynos 9820 chip. Storage and RAM options now go as high as 512GB and 12GB respectively, and there's a microSD slot to add a further 512GB.

 OnePlus 7

This brand made all the right noise since its launch. Having attained vast popularity within a short span of time, it is no surprise that they are expanding their range with the 7. This model is rumoured to be another winner equipped with high-end features at an affordable price tag. According to speculation, features will include the Snapdragon 855, fast UFS 3.0 storage and the triple-lens rear camera that was expected for the OnePlus 6T before it, as well as that phone's in-display fingerprint sensor.

Google Pixel 4

Google’s much-awaited launch from its home brand will hit the markets in October this year, so tech geeks, you have time to get your savings in order! Rumours suggest that Google as usual will push the boundaries of features with this new launch. So expect an all-screen front, with a dual-lens selfie camera and dual speakers built directly into the display and no notch in sight. Get prepared to up your photography game with dual-lens camera with 2x optical zoom. Performance will improve without a doubt, since we are talking the Snapdragon 855.

Huawei Mate X

Huawei’s big launch of 2019 is going to be big- both in terms of publicity and the actual size of the phone. With this launch, Huawei enters the foldable phone race with Samsung’s Galaxy fold, but the manner of execution is rumoured to be different. While we are expecting a slim and handy model, the prospect of the screen being wrapped both around the front and back has us worried about scratches. But Huawei seems confident about its product, because it has been priced at a whopping £1970.