We review the high-end mobiles that we still expect in 2018

Although we have already seen a large part of the high-end devices for this year, we have yet to receive a few as they deserve. Without going any further, Samsung has yet to announce its next Galaxy Note 9 phablet. Huawei, for its part, will do the same with the Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro. Sony is another company that will set the bar very high with the Xperia XZ3. And they are not the only ones. LG still has to show the LG V40 ThinQ in society and, of course, Apple still has a lot to say with its next iPhone.

If you are a bit lost and want to put in order all the high-end devices that are missing for this 2018, do not stop reading. We review them all.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 (August 9)

One of the great devices for this year will be announced in New York on August 9. We refer, how could it be otherwise, to the Galaxy Note 9. From what we know thanks to the leaks, the device would follow the trend of the Note family, large screen, stylus, although with news in the power section, camera and performance. The panel would have a size of 6.4 inches with a resolution of 1,440 x 2,960 and a density of 514 pixels per inch. They would be basically the same figures that we already saw in its predecessor.

At the design level, we don't expect much change. That is, the Note 9 would be very similar to its older brother. However, rumors agree that we would have an additional fifth button, although for now the function that it would have is unknown. Some argue that it could be a physical camera trigger. The button would be added to those that are now present on the Note 8: Bixby button, lock and volume up and down. Also, it should be noted that the Galaxy Note 9 would have frames even smaller than the previous generation. Little by little the infinite screen will be truly infinite.

On the other hand, the phone would come powered by an eight-core Exynos 9810 processor. It is the same SoC present in the Samsung Galaxy S9, which works at a clock speed of 2.9 GHz. It can be said that it consumes 20% less than its predecessor, the Exynos 8895 and is up to 40% more powerful. As far as RAM is concerned, it is possible that the South Korean will launch a version for South Korea with 8 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage. However, in this part of the world we would have to settle for 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of space, which would not be bad either.

On a photographic level, the Note 9 would have a new technology, recently announced by Samsung. We mean ISOCELL Plus, thanks to which CMOS image sensors would capture more light for sharper and brighter images, even in the darkest conditions. As discussed at the time, ISOCELL PLUS would add 15% more sensitivity in night photos. As for the rest of the features that we expect, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 would also have a larger battery, 4,000 mAh (with fast charging and wireless charging). The terminal could land on the market for around 800 euros (version with 128 GB of space and 6 GB).

iPhone (September)

September is the month chosen by Apple for some years to announce new iPhones. For this year the company would have prepared three models with different benefits and prices. From what is known to date, those in Cupertino would launch an iPhone with a 6.1-inch LCD screen, another, known as iPhone X Plus, with a 6.5-inch OLED panel. Finally, they would also put on the market an update of the current 5.8-inch iPhone X , which would be the most restrained of the three, but with a screen that would far exceed that of the current iPhone 8.

As is logical, there is a lot of expectation in this regard, especially with regard to the economic issue. The iPhone X was one of the most expensive mobiles of 2017, with a price that exceeds 1,000 euros and received many criticisms at the time. TF International Securities' analyst and Apple expert Ming-Chi Kuo recently released an investor note discussing the possible value of these three models.

• iPhone X 5.8 '': Between 670 and 770 euros to change
• iPhone X Plus 6.5 '': Between 800 and 900 euros to change
• iPhone 6,1 '' LCD: Between 500 and 600 euros to change

Taking this rumor into account, the company would lower the 1,000 euro band and there would be no iPhone that would exceed it this time. This is essential if you want to continue competing with Samsung and Huawei, two of your strongest rivals. As for the rest of the features, the phones would have the new A12 processor, iOS 12 system, which will be available when they land on the market. It is also said that one of the versions could include a triple camera photographic system on its rear to improve 3D perception and zoom capabilities.

LG V40 ThinQ (September)

September will be an intense month. In fact, LG is also scheduled to announce the LG V40 ThinQ, a high-end terminal that could hit the market in October. As far as we know, this new model would boast a feature that would position it above some of its rivals. According to rumors, it would have up to five cameras in total. Three would be located in the main part (20, 16 and 13 megapixels) and the other two in the front. The objective would be to enhance the portrait mode and enjoy a much more advanced facial recognition system.

On the other hand, this model would have an OLED screen, which would occupy more than 90% of the front. Of course, we would have to deal with a notch or notch in its upper part, which would house the speaker and the two front sensors. The device would also arrive powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, the same one that is available in the LG G7 ThinQ, the current flagship of the South Korean company.

Sony Xperia XZ3

Another of the models that we will possibly know as soon as starting September or at the end of this month is the Sony Xperia XZ3, the next flagship of the Japanese. The terminal would be announced at the IFA in Berlin, and most likely launched weeks later. We really don't expect too many changes at the design level. It would remain faithful to the unibody style that characterizes the brand so much. However, it is believed that Sony could reduce the frames further, as the current trend has been, so that the screen gains a greater role. This would have a size of 5.9 inches with a QHD + resolution (2,880 x 1,440 pixels) and an aspect ratio of 18: 9.

Inside there would be space for a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, which would be accompanied by 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. On a photographic level, the company would have taken a liking to this double camera. In case you don't know, Sony was one of the last companies to join the dual sensor trend. It did so with the Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium last February. This team came with a dual sensor of 19 and 12 megapixels with the ability to record video in 4K. Apparently, your next mobile would not only include this double sensor on the front, but also on the front. Of course, for now the resolutions of these four sensors are unknown.

However, the most recent rumors maintain that the standard model would not have this double camera, as happened last year, but its camera would grow to 48 megapixels with a front that would reach 12 megapixels. On the other hand, the new Xperia XZ3 would also include Quick Charge 4.0+ fast charging, as well as an Adreno 630 GPU.

Huawei Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro (mid-October)

For the last quarter of the year, Huawei would have reserved two powerful and high-end mobiles that will make many of its rivals tremble. The Huawei Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro could be announced in mid-October with really interesting features. Both would arrive with 6.3 and 6.9-inch screens, respectively. Its processor would be a Kirin 980, a SoC manufactured in 7 nm, composed of Cortex A-77 cores (at least 4 of them) and with a maximum speed of 2.8 GHz. It is expected to have 20% more performance and 40 % less consumption than its predecessor. From what is known, at least one of the models would have 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage.

Likewise, it is also said that the Mate 20 would equip a 4,200mAh battery, thus exceeding the 4,000 mAh of the P20 Pro. It would also have Android 9, being one of the first phones to include it as standard. Another feature that is rumored is that it could come with the fingerprint reader under its screen.

But these are not the only models that are expected before the end of the year. Xiaomi, for example, plans to announce the Mi Mix 3, also in September. The device would arrive with very small frames and a fingerprint sensor on the screen. For their part, the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL phones are speculated to be official in September or October. Given that its predecessor was unveiled in October, the company is likely to follow the same launch pattern this year as well. Other teams that we expect are the Meizu 16 and Meizu 16 Plus for August 8, as well as the OnePlus 6T and Honor V11, although already for November. In December, just before the end of 2018, Honor could announce the Honor Magic 2.