It’s the 8th day in our 12 Days of Christmas gift idea list, so consider one of the best smartphones of 2018—the Google Pixel 3 and Samsung Galaxy Note 9.
This wasn’t an easy choice. Having tested all the top handsets this year, selecting a pair above all others was a difficult task. The Pixel 3 and Galaxy Note 9 both competed against the likes of the iPhone XS, LG G7 ThinQ, Samsung Galaxy S9/S9+ and Huawei P20 Pro (and Mate 20 Pro), among others.
Despite the tight race, there are some distinct reasons why these two devices made it to the Christmas list.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9
I go over a lot of the details in the full review and video for the Note 9, and I suggested it wasn’t necessary to upgrade from the Note 8 and Galaxy S9. I stand by that conclusion, but for anyone else looking for something new, this is a phone delivering a unique experience.
The large display is a factor, though I would say the S Pen is equally so. For the first time, Samsung made it more than just a stylus, utilizing the onboard button to control certain features and apps on the phone. I used it often for snapping photos or starting a video. Without question, it proved to be one of the easiest—and best—phones to shoot photos with. The camera’s layout and performance wasn’t dramatically different from the Galaxy S9, save for some AI features to help recognize scenes or flaws, like blurriness and closed eyes.
The pen is a rarity in the smartphone world. It’s not something typically seen in other phones, at least in the sense that a pen doesn’t come included. Buying a third-party stylus is always an option, but this is different. The Note 9 is the kind of phone I can see both an average consumer or business user wielding. While I’d like to see Samsung commit to a purer version of Android, the software overlay has improved over the years.
Bixby is built-in, though I have a personal preference for Google Assistant, which is also readily available. Battery life is excellent for a phone its size, and I still notice it a few months since it launched.
Then there’s the screen. Big, bright and vibrant, the 6.4-inch Super AMOLED is easy on the eyes. It never hurts that you can easily enjoy watching video on it, too. The overall size doesn’t make it quite as portable as other handsets with big screens, so if you’re cool with that, you will probably like everything it has to offer.
Google Pixel 3
Technically, I could lump in the larger Pixel 3 XL into this, but I tended to gravitate more to the smaller model. Why? Because it’s easier for one-handed operation, and there are no real performance discrepancies between the two models.
To me, the Pixel 3 combines three things that I think people would want in a phone. It uses stock Android, meaning there is no overlay software, so it feels lightweight. Software updates software also come in faster. It has one of the best cameras ever made for a smartphone to date. And, last but not least, it offers superb battery life.
The extras aren’t bad, either. A wide-angle selfie lens on the front. Wireless charging support. Google Assistant ready to go when you want to use it. There’s a fluidity to the Pixel 3 that is hard to deny. It’s smooth, fast and efficient. Consistent updates also keep it running the latest software, with Google’s guaranteed update schedule of three years to look forward to.
Watching video or playing games on the Pixel 3 is also great. Not that I found it all that different from the Note 9, which has a similar screen size to the Pixel 3 XL, just that it’s yet another thing the phone does well.
In my review, I also noted the unique integration with the Pixel Stand wireless charger. The phone basically becomes a Google Home when resting on it, and also does cool things with compatible smart home products. For example, the Nest Hello smart doorbell will send a live view from its camera whenever someone rings it.
The excitement of a new phone
Getting a new phone is exciting for anyone, considering how personal it becomes. Finding the right model for a loved one may not be so easy when factoring in the cost and experience attached. As our 12 Days of Christmas series continues, these two handsets stand out as our picks for the best smartphones of 2018.
Click here to see all the smartphones available at Best Buy this holiday season.
WOW!!! EXCITING
Either of these two phones would be great to win because they both have big enough screens where I will actually only hit one letter and not 2 or 3 at one shot. Fingers crossed 🙂
These phones look like they have some cool functionality.
Sometimes I wonder if I should switch over from Apple, but the truth is that I don’t want to have to set up everything again if I switch to a new phone.
I say that now, but if Nintendo ever releases a smart phone, I’m jumping ship day 1.
i have never had a smartphone! i am still using a 12 year old flip phone! i have bought my gifts for everybody else, would be nice for me to get something i also want..don’t you think! ;)) happy holidays!
OMG. what a perfect gift for a xmas present to my self
looks like an awesome phone thanks Best Buy!
my hubby is in desperate need of a new phone and this one would fit the picture!
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