Manufacturers of mobile devices have stepped far forward, equipping conventional phones with large amounts of RAM, powerful processors, and high-quality cameras. This allows them to be used not only for their intended purpose, but also for work. The article will discuss the concept of “flagship smartphone”, its specific differences and the leaders occupying top positions in the ranking of flagships.
What does a flagship smartphone mean?
A flagship smartphone is a device in the manufacturer’s line that focuses on innovative technologies and is characterized by an expanded range of functionality and top-end content.
Flagship smartphones are characterized by the following features:
- latest versions of data transfer protocols (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB);
- support for various communication bands, including 4 and 5G;
- innovative formats of sound and video recordings;
- high-tech identification methods (fingerprint, face or iris reading);
- possibility of contactless payment using NFC, etc.
Obviously, you will have to pay for the benefits of operating a flagship. For example, a headset for an iPhone will have to be purchased for an additional fee, and in some Samsungs the power supply is not included as standard.
Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact
Compact and convenient model, fits very well in the hand, which means greater convenience when handling the gadget. But the smaller size led to such a significant drawback as a small battery capacity.
- Dimensions – 65 x 135 x 12.1 mm.
- Processor – Qualcomm Snapdragon 84.
- RAM – 4 GB.
- Own memory – 64 GB.
- Screen resolution – 2160 x 1080 pixels.
- Battery capacity – 2870 mAh.
Sony Xperia XZ2
The Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact model hardly reaches the level of a flagship, since with its smaller size not only the battery capacity has suffered, but also the quality of the processor.
The price of the smartphone is around 39,000 rubles.
How to identify a flagship phone
There are criteria by which a gadget can be classified as a flagship. These include the following:
- CPU;
- memory;
- camera, etc.
The characteristics of each of the listed criteria are presented below.
CPU
The flagship difference is performance. In terms of their characteristics, processors are superior to computer platforms. The speed of operation depends on how powerful it is. Energy efficiency has a direct impact on autonomy. This means that a more powerful processor is needed not only for games and benchmarks, but also for improved camera performance using neural networks or working with augmented reality.
High-performance processors include the latest generations of Qualcomm Snapdragon and MediaTek. They contain the functions of implementing artificial intelligence, cooling, supporting demanding games and other nanotechnologies.
Memory
A regular and flagship smartphone can have the same amount of memory. However, on a modern device its speed is much higher. This can be explained by the fact that fast UFS 3.0 memory is rarely found in the mid-price segment. The flagships use the UFS 3.1 version, the read speed of which is 1.7 GB per second.
New models have a large amount of high-speed built-in and RAM memory, which directly affects the speed of information processing and storage. Moreover, it becomes possible to expand it.
Camera
New technologies, on the basis of which new lines of flagship smartphones are created, also affect cameras. As a rule, the latest devices have several cameras equipped with high-aperture optics. The advantage is that intelligent photo and video processing technologies, new shooting modes and formats, including 8K, are supported. The camera on a modern phone essentially incorporates the main features of a professional camera (the presence of an ultra- and wide-angle camera, depth of field sensors, portrait selfie cameras). This allows you to create the clearest video or photo possible.
HTC U11 EYES
Modern, reliable smartphones are true quality combined with minimalism. A significant advantage of this model is its affordable price, which ranges from 25,000 rubles.
- Dimensions – 74.99 x1 57.9 x 8.5 mm.
- Processor – Qualcomm Snapdragon 652.
- RAM – 4 GB.
- Own memory – 64 GB.
- Screen resolution – 2160 x 1080 pixels.
- Battery capacity – 3930 mAh.
Every user will say that the 4 GB RAM and Snapdragon 652 processor are not up to the level of a flagship, but HTC was able to prove the opposite. The flagship HTC U11 EYEs performs well in all operating modes. The Super LCD 3 display allows you to completely immerse yourself in the image, now not only movies, but also simple pictures look more saturated.
HTC U11 EYES
For a 6-inch screen, the battery capacity may seem small, but this is not so. One battery charge is enough for one day of productive work. There is also a fast charging function – Quick Charge 3.0.
Differences between flagship models and regular ones
Flagship models will differ significantly from conventional mobile devices. Moreover, this applies to both appearance and content.
Manufacturers of top smart phones use more expensive materials and elements to create the case: metal frame, solid body, tempered glass, protection from dust and moisture, etc.
Coming to the internal specifications, the latest gadgets use ultra-powerful processors that provide them with high speed and performance.
In simple words, flagships have higher specifications than simple smartphones. However, for the average user who only needs to use the device for its intended purpose (correspondence, calls, access to the Internet, etc.), a budget product is sufficient.
Honor View 10
Manufacturer of high-quality and durable smartphones. Honor View 10 is a direct confirmation of this. All the characteristics of this phone allow us to classify it as a flagship.
Honor View 10
- Dimensions – 74.98 x 157 x 6.97 mm.
- Processor – Kirin 970.
- RAM – 4 or 6 GB depending on the configuration.
- Own memory – 64 or 128 GB.
- Screen resolution – 2160 x 1080 pixels.
- Battery capacity – 3750 mAh.
There is a fast charging function that allows you to restore the battery capacity to half in just half an hour.
The main camera is 16 MP with a monochrome sensor of 20 MP. There is also a 13 MP front camera. Honor View 10 allows you to capture every moment of your life. The price of the phone is 28,900 rubles.
Popular flagship gadgets from various manufacturers
The ranking of flagships is constantly changing. Manufacturers are developing new technologies to improve the functioning of their devices. In 2022, key leaders include:
- Samsung Galaxy S21;
- Apple's iPhone 12 Pro Max;
- Xiaomi Mi 11.
The following are the characteristics of these models included in the top-3.
Samsung
Among the leaders in the ranking of flagships, Samsung occupies a special place. It can be distinguished by its high performance, high-quality camera and powerful battery. The RAM is 12 GB, the internal memory is 256 GB. This is quite enough for installing heavy applications, games, photo and video shooting.
The battery capacity is 5000 mAh, which allows you to retain the charge for a long time during active use of the device. This model is also equipped with 25 w fast charging.
The camera deserves special attention. It is equipped with an excellent zoom, which allows its functionality to be compared with binoculars.
Iphone
Naturally, the TOP 3 couldn’t help but include the iPhone 12 Pro Max, a powerful smartphone with a large screen that is popular in Moscow and other Russian cities. The RAM is 6 GB, the internal memory is 256 GB.
This series is equipped with a 3687 mAh capacitive battery. This may mean that the charge is consumed quite sparingly even during active use of the device.
Of particular importance are the 3 built-in cameras of 12 MP each. This is reflected in the quality of the images, which are excellent both during the day and at night.
Xiaomi
Xiaomi is a budget, but no less high-quality smartphone. It is powered by an octa-core Snapdragon 888 chip which helps in fast and smooth functioning of the device. RAM – 12 GB, built-in storage – 256 GB.
The device is equipped with a cinematic camera, which facilitates the implementation of optical stabilization, clear night photography, creating video effects, recording video in HDR10+ format, etc.
In addition to technical characteristics, this smartphone has a pleasant appearance.
Thus, in order to understand whether it is worth buying a flagship or whether you can opt for a simpler mobile gadget, you need to decide which functions are a priority for the user. If the smartphone is intended to be used as a camera for taking high-quality photo or video content or working in specialized applications, then it is recommended to opt for an expensive option. If the scope of application of the model is limited to calls and correspondence, then a budget device will do.
Sony Xperia XZ2
The standard screen size (5.7 inches) makes this model unremarkable at first, but then impressive functionality is revealed to the user.
Sony Xperia XZ2
- Dimensions – 72 x 153 x 11.1 mm.
- Processor – Snapdragon 845.
- RAM – 6 GB.
- Own memory – 64 GB.
- The maximum available screen resolution is 2160x1080 pixels.
The Sony Xperia XZ2 model is equipped with Dynamic Vibration System technology, which means that the user is completely immersed in the action taking place on the smartphone screen. A high-capacity battery allows you to use the phone at maximum functionality almost all day long.
The price varies between 49,000 rubles.
Latest Hardware
When it comes to flagships, everyone expects outstanding specifications. That is why all top smartphones carry the latest developments in the field of mobile technology. This is necessary in order to meet the requirements and wishes of potential buyers. Yes, budget devices are quite capable of handling most similar tasks, but if you try to run several applications at the same time or constantly switch between them, be prepared for delays, errors and other unpleasant things. That is why only a small part of public sector employees actually support multitasking.
Outstanding gaming performance
This point follows from the previous one. The superior hardware of flagship devices makes them an ideal gaming base - these smartphones will never have any performance issues. In fact, this is the main reason why we play top-notch shooters on budget smartphones. Agree, few people want to watch 15 frames per second on the screen, which turns any gameplay into real torture. Most budget phones are simply not designed for new gaming products. On the other hand, most flagships easily produce more than 30 frames per second, providing smooth animation and a lot of fun.
Full software support
But this point applies primarily to Android devices. The iOS and Windows platforms are more unified in this regard. Most of their applications will run on more budget versions of devices. But if you look at two Android devices from different price ranges, you'll notice that not all the apps available on the more expensive version run on the budget device. Moreover, this applies even to devices from the same manufacturer. And while flagships become real workhorses for the most sophisticated user, budget, inexpensive smartphones support only a basic set of functionality, while secondary capabilities are sacrificed for an attractive price.
More advanced cameras
This is another important difference between flagships and budget phones. Yes, of course, a large number of megapixels in a phone camera does not mean that it is automatically better than its “small” rivals, but flagships can also boast more advanced lenses, sensors and software. And together, all this allows you to take better pictures (especially at night). Flash also plays an important role. If you've noticed, most devices take their best photos on a clear, sunny day. But as soon as you go into a room where there is little light, the quality of the images becomes depressing. Most budget models lack good cameras. Therefore, they produce cloudy, low-quality images. On the other hand, flagship devices with bright flash produce clear photos with lots of detail.
Meizu Pro 7 Plus
It is simply necessary to touch on Meizu Pro 7 Plus, since the company has reached a world level in just a couple of years. Now Meizu smartphones cannot be called cheap Chinese models, since in terms of functionality they are quickly catching up with Samsung and Apple.
- Processor – MediaTek Helio X30.
- RAM – 6 GB.
- Own memory – 64 GB.
- Screen resolution – 2560 × 1440 pixels.
- Battery capacity – 3500 mAh.
Meizu Pro 7 Plus
The price of the smartphone is 14,000 rubles.
Why do you need a gaming smartphone? How is it different from a regular flagship?
Author Vyacheslav Pitel · 19:50 12/10/2018
Hello, dear readers of the site Uspei.com. How do you feel about mobile gaming? Do you like to play somewhere in line or on public transport? Of course, you can play on anything, but if we’re talking about serious graphic games, then you need an appropriate phone.
There is even a special class of gaming smartphones. Now, using the example of one of them, I will try to figure out why gaming smartphones are needed, what the state of mobile gaming is, what you can and should play now, what advantages smartphones have over other platforms, and how gaming smartphones differ from any other flagships.
To find out all this, I did some serious research. By the way, while I was thinking about this review, winter came, so another question was added: is this a seasonal phenomenon or not?
Let's start with the background
Mobile gaming arose when progress made it possible to reduce slot machines to pocket-sized options. Since then, it has been improved, separate portable consoles appeared, and so on until phones began to supplant them. Although for some time I had a place in my life for both a smartphone and a psp.
The very concept of mobile gaming implies playing anywhere, primarily to kill time. That is why now there are many casual games that are not very meaningful.
This played a cruel joke on mobile gaming and almost turned the platform into a trash heap with a bunch of free games of the same type, which is why many have already begun to bury mobile gaming. But despite popular belief, he is alive and developing.
For example, in 2022, mobile game developers earned even more than on PC and consoles combined. Almost everyone plays on mobile, how can you not try to reach such a huge audience. Quite expectedly, big studios, who previously worked only with PCs and consoles, came to the smell of money and brought high-quality ports, cloud streaming and new services.
In this regard, 2022 became, to some extent, a turning point and now everything is changing. In addition to casual and primitive toys, really serious projects are appearing, which require long sessions, additional devices, additional controls and the Internet.
That is, you can’t play on a simple phone anymore. Everything was used - gamepads and steering wheels, pistols for augmented reality and glasses for virtual reality; in general, the appearance of various gaming accessories and special phones was quite expected. How do they differ from regular flagship smartphones? Designed for gaming.
The difference between a flagship and a gaming smartphone
When buying a flagship for powerful gaming hardware, you are paying for the most sophisticated camera and other super features, even if you don’t need them. In gaming smartphones, in theory, you pay for a combination of only what you need for games - a large screen, powerful hardware, good cooling, a capacious battery, high-quality sound and all sorts of gaming functions in the system.
For example, Xiaomi Black Shark has a special button “turn your phone into a game console” - when pressed, all unnecessary applications are closed, memory is freed, performance is optimized and all notifications are turned off.
And we’ve already talked about the gaming monster ASUS ROG Phone - it’s generally “a suitcase of gaming gadgets in one set.”
Equipment
Many of the devices listed above are already included here: all kinds of controllers, docking stations for playing on a monitor with a mouse, keyboards, external cooling systems and a bunch of other things that are compatible only with specific phones.
Screen
In addition to the fact that it must be large, bright and high-resolution, some gaming smartphones are equipped with fast matrices with a high refresh rate so that the picture is smoother, the eyes are less tired and it is comfortable to play with virtual reality glasses.
Well, how can we do without a special game design, the same principle works here as on a PC - everything that can be played on with the addition of a cooler wrapper and RGB backlighting can be sold at a higher price. But there is also a plus - gaming smartphones look truly original, more practical and tenacious materials are often used, and ergonomics are generally at a higher level. This is definitely a plus against the background of the same type of black glass bars.
Look at Xiaomi Black Shark - it has a very cool body, everything except the screen is metal and matte plastic. Beautiful and practical. The relief on the back cover prevents the phone from slipping out of your hands and at the same time creates a gap for ventilation during games. I wanted this phone for myself exactly after I held it in my hands.
Some interesting statistics: the majority of mobile gamers play not outside or even at school, but at home, so the weather doesn’t matter.
Screens. Bigger and better.
One of the favorite special disciplines for competing premium devices is screen size and quality. In pursuit of leadership, they are constantly increasing their size and resolution, trying to overtake their class rivals and leaving budget models behind. HD resolution (720p) has finally been pushed into the budget segment. Quad-HD (2160p) is slowly but surely becoming the Business Class standard, and a number of flagships have already set their sights on 4K resolution. However, not everything is so simple here, because devices with Full-HD (1080p) resolution have also appeared among “state employees”.
