Although we’re barely entering the fourth month of 2020, the tech world has no doubt continued to develop at breakneck speed, releasing smartphones of different capabilities that leave us users spoilt for choice. From tech giants like Samsung and Huawei to more niche brands like realme, here’s our roundup of smartphones you can consider to get for your next handheld tech upgrade.
SAMSUNG GALAXY S20 SERIES
Category: Flagship
Samsung’s new series of flagship devices introduces a brand-new camera architecture that combines AI with Samsung’s largest image sensor yet. Designed for our daily lives, the Galaxy S20 comes with an entirely new camera system that is powered by AI to produce the best in every image.
With a large image sensor available for the Samsung Galaxy S20 series, camera resolution has significantly increased to produce more detailed images with added flexibility for editing, cropping and zooming as well as rich image quality even in low light situations. The S20 and S20+ comes with a 64MP camera, while the S20 Ultra comes with a 108MP camera and the option to shift dynamically between the high resolution 108MP mode and a 12MP mode.
All phones in the series also comes with the all-new Space Zoom technology that uses a combination of Hybrid Optic Zoom and Super Resolution Zoom, which includes AI-powered digital zoom that allows you to zoom in close even if you are far away. The Galaxy S20 and 20+ allows for up to 30x zoom while the S20 Ultra uses AI-powered, multi-image processing to reduce quality loss for its Super Resolution Zoom of up to 100x.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 Series comes in Cosmic Grey, Cloud Blue and Cloud Pink. The Galaxy S20 ($1,298), Galaxy S20+ ($1,498), and Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G ($1,898) are available for purchase at Samsung Experience Stores, M1, Singtel, Starhub, major consumer electronics & IT stores, and online at the Samsung Online Store, KrisShop, Lazada and Shopee.
OPPO FIND X2 PRO 5G
Category: Flagship
Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 and boasting a 120Hz QHD curved AMOLED screen, the OPPO Find X2 Pro 5G delivers upgraded holistic photography and video experience with the fastest 65W SuperVOOC Flash Charge 2.0 technology and built-in 5G capability.
The screen automatically adjusts the brightness of the display in different environments, ensuring that you get the best and clearest display no matter the lighting. Supporting a wide colour coverage that is 64 times greater than the conventional 8-bit screen, the Find X2. Pro provides an accurate colour display of approximately 0.8 JNCD in its default display mode.
Equipped with the most powerful and versatile Ultra Vision Camera System, the Find X2 Pro features a combination of 48MP wide-angle lens, 48MP ultra-wide-angle lens and a 13MP periscope telephoto camera which allows for the phone’s 10x Hybrid Zoom and 60x Digital Zoom capabilities. Combined with the customized IMX689 sensor exclusively created by Sony, the phone’s All Pixel Omni-directional PDAF technology is able to achieve 100% pixel focusing, making it the first smartphone to support 12-bit photo capture.
The OPPO Find X2 Pro 5G ($1,699) comes in Black Ceramic and Orange Vegan Leather with 12GB Ram and 512GB ROM. The phone is available for purchase at Singtel, Starhub, M1, OPPO Concept Stores, and online at Shopee and Lazada.
HUAWEI MATE XS
Category: Foldable
Building on its predecessor, the Huawei Mate X, the Huawei Mate Xs is the latest 5G foldable handset which presents an unparalleled user experience with powerful 5G connectivity and cutting edge design.
The Mate Xs comes with a new and improved version of the Falcon Wing Design which features more than 100 interlocking parts that work together to minimise the crease on the unfolded screen for a seamless viewing experience. It also adopts a Double Aerospace-grade Optical Polyimide Design which maintains the screen performance while offering safe, durable and foldable technology.
When folded, the Huawei Mate Xs is a dual-screen smartphone featuring a 6.6-inch main screen and a 6.38-inch secondary screen. When extended, the smartphone becomes a mini-tablet that features an immersive 8-inch FullView Display. In addition to its impressive foldable display, the Mate Xs also houses a SuperSensing Leica Quad Camera along its sidebar. The camera system features a 40MP SuperSensing Wide camera, 16MP Ultra-wide camera, 8MP Telephoto camera and 3D Depth Sensing camera which can capture a wide range of photographic scenarios from the scenic landscape and group photos, to extreme close-ups of small objects.
The Huawei Mate Xs ($3,788) comes in Interstellar Blue and is available for purchase at all Huawei Concept stores, selected M1 and Starhub shops, selected consumer electronic stores, and online at Lazada and Shopee.
SAMSUNG GALAXY Z FLIP
CATEGORY: FOLDABLE
Designed for ultimate portability, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is the Korean tech giant’s next addition to their foldable category that folds into a compact palm-sized device.
When opened, the screen size nearly doubles to reveal a stunning 6.7-inch display which features an Infinity Flex Display with Samsung’s proprietary bendable Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG), giving it a slim, sleek and premium look. The phone closes easily with the help of the new Hideaway Hinge that is backed by a dual CAM mechanism which ensures every flip and fold is smooth and stable. The Galaxy Z Flip can stay open at a range of angles, like a laptop, and integrates Samsung’s new sweeper technology which uses nylon fibers crafted by micro-height-cutting technology to repel dirt and dust.
With the ability to stand on its own, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip allows you to create content for social media feeds hands-free with its 10MP Selfie Camera. The rear 12MP Ultra Wide Camera and 12MP Wide-angle Camera allows for video record with a 16:9 ratio and is able to capture stunning Night Hyperlapse videos or vivid low light shots using Night mode without the use of flash.
You can find out more about the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip in our hands-on review here.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip ($1,998) comes in Mirror Purple and Mirror Black and is available for purchase at Samsung Concept Stores, Singtel, Starhub, M1, and at the Samsung Online Store.
REALME X50 PRO 5G
Category: Flagship
The realme X50 Pro 5G is set to be the brand’s first 5G flagship, and among the first in the world to be equipped with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G processor paired with Adreno 650 GPU. The new Qualcomm processor sees an increase of 25% in the performance of both the CPU and GPU and has an AI processing chip which is two times faster than the previous generation. To ensure maximum smartphone performance, the X50 Pro 5G is built with 5D Stereoscopic Ice Cooling Pro technology which comprises of heat dissipation materials such as VC liquid cooling copper chamber, 3D graphite sheets of multiple layers and thermal silicon pads that can help the phone continue performing at its best.
The phone is equipped with an ultra-large 6.44-inch Samsung Super AMOLED display which offers an aspect ratio of 20:9. It also comes with a 64MP Hawk Eye AI quad-camera which features a 64MP Ultra-Wide-Angle Camera, 12MP Telephoto Lens, 8MP Ultra Wide-angle & Macro Lens, and B&W Portrait Lens on the rear, and dual selfie camera on the front – which includes a 32MP Sony IMX616 sensor main lens with f/2.5 aperture and an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lends with a 105° field of view with f/2.2 aperture.
The realme X50 Pro 5G comes in Moss Green and Rust Red. Pricing and availability will be announced at a later date.
OPPO RENO3 SERIES
Category: MID-RANGE
Following last year’s success of its predecessors, the Reno and Reno2, the all-new Reno3 Series features both the Reno3 and Reno3 Pro, which are engineered with OPPO’s latest technology advancement and outstanding photography capabilities. Both phones will feature Optical-Flow Sub-Pixel Registration which matches and calibrates the sub-pixels on different frames to generate a lower-pixel original image with more information. With the Subpixel Interpolation, the original image will then become a high-resolution image of up to 108MP.
Powered by the all-new ColorOS7, the Reno3 Pro will have the world’s first 44MP + 2MP Dual Punch-hole Camera on OLED screen to deliver next-level photography performance. The 44MP Primary Camera delivers high-definition selfies that captures details such as the subject’s facial texture and ornaments with application of binocular bokeh. The dual punch-hole design offers excellent hands-on experience which improves the experience of selfie-taking.
The Reno3 comes with a 48MP Ultra-Clear Main Camera, 8MP Ultra Wide-Angle lens (for 109-degree images), 13MP Telephoto lens, and 2MP Mono lens, while the Reno3 Pro comes with a 64MP. Zoom Quadcam that includes a 64MP Ultra-Clear Main Camera, 13MP Telephoto Lens, 8MP Ultra Wide-Angle Lens, and 2MP Mono Lens.
The OPPO Reno3 ($549) comes in Midnight Black and Sky White while the OPPO Reno3 Pro ($749) comes in Auroral Blue and Midnight Black. Both phones are available for pre-order from now till 9 April 2020 on the OPPO Shopee Flagship store, and will be available for purchase island-wide from 10 April 2020.
HUAWEI P40 SERIES
Category: Flagship
Singapore is set to be the first country in Asia to launch the latest flagship Huawei P40 Series with the P40 and P40 Pro, powered by Kirin 990 5G to deliver integrated 5G connectivity with the most comprehensive 5G band support, robust AI performance and power efficiency. Equipped with the Huawei Quad-curve Overflow Display, the phone’s display takes on a Demi bullnose edge on all four sides that is inspired by the art of water motion in nature. The super narrow bezels and streamlined round corners ensure a near borderless look that provides an immersive viewing experience and ergonomic hold.
Built in the Huawei P40 Series is the advanced Ultra Vision Leica camera system that delivers outstanding photographic results with ultra wide-angle, wide-angle and telephoto lenses. The Huawei P40 comes with a rear 50MP Ultra Vision Wide-Angle Camera, 16MP Ultra-Wide Angle Camera, 8MP Telephoto Camera, and front 32MP Selfie Camera, while the P40 Pro comes with a rear 50MP Ultra Vision Wide-Angle Camera, 40MP Cine Ultra-Wide Angle Camera, 12MP SuperSensing Telephoto Camera, 3D Depth Sensing Camera, and front 32MP Selfie Camera and Depth Camera.
The Huawei P40 series also introduces the Huawei Golden Snap which includes AI Best Moment, a new smart photography feature that chooses the best frames from a moving picture. AI Remove Passerby and AI Remove Reflection also allows for easy edits to remove unwanted subjects and glare from the frame. Bokeh effects are also supported for videos which allows users to add progressive Bokeh to help highlight the main subject of the footage.
You can find out more about the Huawei P40 Series in our in-depth coverage here.
The Huawei P40 ($1,048) and Huawei P40 Pro ($1,448) will be available in Silver Frost, Blush Gold and Deep Sea Blue. The phones will be available for purchase from 4 April 2020 at all Huawei Concept Stores, major telco outlets, selected consumer electronic stores, and online at Lazada and Shopee.
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