The best Android smartphones in 2018 are much better than they were a year ago with better low-light cameras, faster processors and smarter designs. In addition, some of them have become cheaper.
This would seem to make choosing the right phone an impossible task. This article is an overview of the most worthy models available on the market today, and also gives an answer to the question of which antivirus for an Android smartphone is better.
Samsung Galaxy S9
The best Android smartphone in the world in 2018 just got better. The Galaxy S9 features a surprisingly large 5.8-inch screen and a low-light camera, although the design of the device remains on par with the S8. However, after the release of the phone, it became more difficult to answer the question of which is better - "Android"-smartphone or "iPhone".
The dimensions of the phone, like histhe price, compared to S9 Plus, has decreased slightly. Like last year's model, the smartphone features a stunning 5.8 display that fills almost the entire front of the device, with no unnecessary bezels or a home button.
Samsung has taken feedback from fans regarding the location of the fingerprint sensor and moved it under the camera. While not a perfect solution, it is acceptable as long as there are under-screen fingerprint readers.
Bixby's virtual assistant has gotten better, although it's still inferior to the voice assistants of the market leaders. Despite this, there are so many things to love about the Galaxy S9, including an impressive camera and a 3.5mm headphone jack, that the answer to the question of which "Android" smartphone is the best is obvious.
Google Pixel 2
According to reviews, the advantages of the model are the best-in-class camera, dual front-facing speaker and the ability to get the best applications for an Android smartphone before anyone else. Its disadvantages include a wide bezel and the lack of a standard headphone jack.
Google Pixel 2 may not look much different from last year's model, but the manufacturer has made enough adjustments and refinements to make the smartphone one of the best Android phones.
The high quality of the device is confirmed by its camera. 12.2MP main sensor takes mobile photography to new heights, especially in low light and portraiturePhoto. The footage is sharp even on the move. The small form factor of the Pixel 2 makes it easy to hold the smartphone, and its water resistance is finally on par with the Samsung S8. In terms of performance, a good Android smartphone processor Snapdragon 835 and 4 GB of RAM, together with the Oreo operating system, provide maximum performance.
The phone costs a little more than the best model in the rating, but the high-quality camera and the original OS are definitely worth it. Users looking for a big screen and battery should consider the Google Pixel 2 XL.
LG V30
The advantages of the model are excellent design and a huge number of entertainment features. However, the owners note the high cost and poor quality of the camera.
LG redefined what a flagship smartphone should be like when it released a device with amazing design and performance, but with features that many manufacturers reject.
The phone has a solid camera app, water resistance, FM radio and a 3.5mm headphone port. LG installed a DAC that upscales audio playback to a level that most models cannot offer.
Of course, the user gets all the benefits of the FullVision display, which is almost completely devoid of bezels. The V30 has been equipped with LG's first OLED module for some time now and the quality is fantastic. This technology allows you to view 2K content in HDR, and hasflexible enough to be used in a Google Daydream View headset.
The biggest obstacle for the V30 is the price, which exceeds 50 thousand rubles. But since this is one of the best Android smartphones on the market, there is little chance that its price will drop a little.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
This is a model with 6.3” display, dual camera and 6 GB RAM. Its disadvantages include the impressive cost and somewhat limited battery capacity.
To say that the release of Note 8 was accompanied by a lot of hype would be an understatement. Given the disastrous launch of the Note 7, Samsung had a lot to do and jumped at the opportunity.
According to owners, the Note 8 is the best big phone you can buy. And it differs not only in the size of the screen and the presence of the S Pen stylus. With a new dual-lens sensor and 6GB of RAM, the smartphone delivers superb telephoto and bokeh photography.
But you have to pay for everything. It's a big smartphone, and it's expensive. Reaching the outer edges of the screen requires more finger stretch than any previous Note phone. In addition, the owner is limited to one day of operation, which is lower than expected, likely due to last year's recall. We can say that the difference in battery capacity is noticeable.
Note 8 is Samsung's big home phone, debuting with a dual lens and 6GB of RAM. He made an impression and it is to be hoped that he does not leave the stage in the same way.suddenly, like its predecessor.
OnePlus 6
This is the best "budget" "Android" smartphone and a real flagship killer with high performance and at an affordable price. Unlike the previous model, it's now water-resistant (although not IP-rated), but its screen resolution remains the same at just 1080p.
For some, the OnePlus 6 is the best Android smartphone, and, frankly, they have every reason to be. The Chinese manufacturer has improved the OnePlus 5 and 5T with a great design, a dual rear camera setup, and high-performance hardware including 256GB of RAM.
AMOLED screen is vibrant and bright, despite being "only" 1080p, the fingerprint sensor is fast. The lack of a microSD card slot and a battery that lasts longer than a day spoil the overall experience, but given the cost, the OnePlus 6 is fantastic value for money.
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
This is the flagship model of Chinese manufacturer Huawei, and although its cameras are inferior to the Pixel 2 XL, its screen and battery life are better for equal processing power. The 8-core Kirin 970 has AI capabilities. The CPU is equipped with a neural network that allows it to handle tasks such as translation and image classification without the need to communicate with servers. But there is no guarantee that applications that use these features will appear in the near future.
The advantages of a smartphone arestylish waterproof case, capacious battery, fast charging and stereo sound. Its disadvantages include the lack of a 3.5mm headphone port, poor GUI design, and high cost.
Google Pixel 2 XL
This is a super clean Android with another great phone camera. Users are concerned about the lack of stereo speakers and waterproofing. The model offers an unalloyed OS experience, as well as a larger, higher-resolution display than the Pixel 2.
The original interface brings joy, and the 12-megapixel camera provides high-quality pictures. The fingerprint sensor not only protects the smartphone, but also uses gestures to make it easier to access the notification panel. This eliminates the need to drag your thumb to the top of the screen.
The price of the smartphone is quite significant, but there are no stereo speakers, a slot for a memory card and protection against moisture. Still, it's an excellent flagship device, powerful in every way, including VR-ready and Google Daydream View VR.
Moto Z2 Force
Motorola's modular phone has a thin, shockproof design, but with a weak battery and no moisture protection.
If you don't want to buy a flagship smartphone, the Z2 Force might seem like a relatively safe option that outperforms its competitors in many ways. This was made possible thanks to the MotoMods modular system, which expands its capabilities in a broad sense.
The phone is equipped with everything you need, including a dual rear camera, a Snapdragon 835 processor and a crisp OLED display, but it can be supplemented with a line of Motorola mods that, for example, allow it to project TV shows and movies on the wall, print photos, print high-quality snapshots (with the Hasselblad add-on), and play the best games for Android smartphones with the GamePad module.
These innovative mods range in price and can add up to quite a hefty sum, but there is no other phone that has this capability other than the next model to venture into Motorola territory.
Essential Phone
According to user reviews, this smartphone has an impressive design and support for a huge number of technologies. However, the owners note that its add-on port has yet to prove itself, and the coating of the case attracts fingerprints.
Essential Phone is an amazing attempt by one of the creators of Android. The manufacturer offers a bezel-less 5.57-inch screen, which before the introduction of the iPhone X was (and still is) the only "Android" device that comes closest to eliminating display bezels without sacrificing design.
In addition to the looks, which can be talked about for a long time, for their price, which was recently reduced to a more affordable 32 thousand rubles, Essential phones have a lot of power.
Despite the lack of water resistance, headphone jack and OLED display found in other flagship smartphones,the model has enough unique qualities that allow it to stand out from the general background. A real-world example is a port for add-on modules. Someday he may achieve the success of Motorola's MotoMods, but so far he has not shown his potential.
However, the smartphone is very good. Even if mods aren't the main motivator for buying it, there are plenty of reasons to choose Essential. The titanium-coated chassis, clean software with no add-ons or manufacturer "improvements", an impressive screen, and 128GB of storage all make this a great product.
HTC U11
According to user reviews, this is a phone with an excellent camera and excellent sound. The impression is spoiled by half-damp Edge Sense and a slightly dim screen.
HTC U11 features a 5.5” 2K display for great video viewing, 4GB RAM, a good Snapdragon 835 Android smartphone processor, and shrunk sides (literally) to launch apps quickly.
However, camera technology is still the focus of HTC. The 12MP resolution may not sound like much, but the main sensor delivers great images, while the front-facing 16MP sensor takes selfies.
LG G6
This is an outdated but good and inexpensive "Android" smartphone with a large 5.7" display, waterproof case, but old chipsets and too much price.
LG G6 is an excellent phone with premium design, excellent QHD screen and smart dualcamera on the back, which gives the wearer more room to express their creativity.
But the fact that the manufacturer decided not to increase the speed of the processor, not upgrade the camera and leave the same price does not allow the LG G6 to take a higher place in the list of the best Android smartphones. This does not detract from the fact that the G6 is an innovative product. The display looks great and it has potential, from the camera and battery to the overall performance of the phone. In addition, it has become even cheaper - the price has dropped to 25 thousand rubles.
Which antivirus is better for an Android smartphone?
Without a phone security app, even the best models can be at risk of malware infection. The best antivirus for Android smartphones can not only detect and remove unwanted programs, but also offer a range of privacy and anti-theft features. These include the ability to back up contacts and photos, track a phone using GPS, take a picture of a thief using the device's camera, send commands to a lost or stolen smartphone using text messages, and even use a smart watch to find it.
Shareware Norton Mobile Security also has excellent security and doesn't scare off users who don't want to pay 1600 rubles. in year. Its call blocking, text message blocking, and contact backup capabilities are available to everyone, as is its superior anti-theft protection. The best paid feature ischecking installed software and applications on Google Play for security and privacy risks. The password manager and app lock work well, as does the new $2,000 VPN. per year.
Avast Mobile Security and CM Security Master provide a rich feature set even in their free options and tend to score highly in malware detection tests. They have a VPN and a custom blacklist. But Avast's anti-theft and blocking features don't work very well, and CM Security Master's malware detection rates vary from month to month.
Lookout Security & Antivirus was one of the first mobile antivirus and has a good reputation among Android users. But the company no longer allows its software to be evaluated by independent testing labs, so it's hard to judge the quality of its work.
PSafe DFNDR is an easy-to-use and full-featured application, and the cost of its paid version, which eliminates ads, is only 320 rubles. Has many free features. But in tests, the malware detection rate is unstable.
According to experts, the best paid antivirus for Android is Bitdefender Mobile Security (about 1000 rubles per year), which offers near-perfect malware protection with a wide range of other features and Android Ware clock support. However, you cannot set up scheduled scans and there is no fully functional free version.
