Apple iPhone X
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/apple-iphone-x/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding)
The good: A great blend of handheld comfort and a big, gorgeous OLED screen. Rear telephoto camera outshoots the 8 Plus in low light, and the front camera snaps impressive portrait selfies. Face ID generally works fine.
The bad: New interface and no home button mean major adjustments, and key features such as the Control Center are harder to reach and use. It’ll take time for most apps to be optimized for notched screen. The phone is hella expensive, and the all-glass design means a case and an insurance plan are musts. Shorter battery life than iPhone Plus models.
The cost: $999.00 to $1,199.00
The bottom line: iPhone X is an overdue and winning evolution of the iPhone, but you’ll need to leave your comfort zone to make a jump into the face-recognizing future. ———
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/samsung-galaxy-note-8/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding)
The good: The Galaxy Note 8 tops Samsung’s already excellent S8 and S8 Plus with dual cameras and a boatload of stylus tricks. It’s the most feature-rich Android phone you can buy.
The bad: An expensive phone, the Note 8 has more features than most people will need. Samsung’s portrait mode can be finicky. The poorly placed fingerprint reader repeats the Galaxy S8’s worst design flaw.
The cost: $684.99 to $949.99
The bottom line: The Galaxy Note 8 retakes the throne as the ultimate Android phone for now, but some intense competition is just over the horizon.
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Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/samsung-galaxy-s9-plus/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding)
The good: The Galaxy S9 Plus one-ups the excellent Galaxy S9 with a second rear camera for taking portrait photos.
The bad: Battery life fell short of last year’s model in our early tests, and the Galaxy S9 Plus suffers from the same under-baked extras as the smaller Galaxy S9. The dual-aperture camera tends to overexpose low-light photos in auto mode.
The cost: $839.99 to $929.99
The bottom line: Samsung’s Galaxy S9 Plus is the more robust Galaxy S9, and the one for power users to get.
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Google Pixel 2
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/google-pixel-2/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding)
The good: Google’s Pixel 2 has a superb camera with OIS and excellent low-light shooting. It’s water-resistant and Google Lens calls up a trove of information to help you explore your surroundings.
The bad: The phone’s battery doesn’t keep pace with the Pixel’s competitors and its Portrait Mode isn’t as smooth on dual-camera phones. Its design feels dated and it doesn’t have wireless charging or a headphone jack.
The cost: $599.00 to $699.00
The bottom line: Buy the Pixel 2 for the best camera on any Android phone and fast Google updates, but skip it if you can’t live without a headphone jack or a standout design.
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The following CNET staff contributed to this story: Section Editor Jessica Dolcourt, Senior Associate Editor Lynn La, Senior Editor Scott Stein and Senior Editor Laura K. Cucullu. For more reviews of personal technology products, please visit www.cnet.com.
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