Finally, welcome to the V.I.P. section of the guide. The money-is-no-object segment offers plenty of choices this year. And that is before we have even seen the iPhone 8 or the Samsung Galaxy Note8.
Speaking of Apple smartphones, though, it is worth noting that now seems like a bad time to shoot for an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus. With the looming release of what could potentially be two regular models and a special anniversary one, prices are bound to fall soon. Plus, you wouldn't want to drop flagship cash on a phone that will no longer be a flagship two months from now.
We've had a really strong premium segment lineup this year. Choosing the right one for you will likely come down to design preferences and picking the exclusive features that work best for you.
Samsung's Infinity display design really shook things up and finally rocked the tired old "slab" aesthetic we have been living with for years. And the new form factor is more than just a fashion statement too.
Samsung Galaxy S8
Specs
Build: Metal frame with glass back, IP68 waterproof
The smartphone industry is finally dropping clear signs that it is on board with the ongoing multimedia push towards wider screens, and the S8 and S8+ duo is among its pioneers.
Samsung Galaxy S8+
Specs
Build: Metal frame with glass back, IP68 waterproof
One thing the S8 pair skipped on yet again is a dual-camera setup. This does mean no clever loseless zooming, advanced portrait mode or wide-angle photography. You do get an excellent 12MP Dual-Pixel camera, which has been enhanced further by Samsung's new "Multi-Frame Image Processing".
Next up is the HTC U11. It might not have the marketing backing of the Samsung star duo, but it can still mostly match it in a specs race. You'll be missing out on the Infinity display with skinny bezels and the 3.5mm audio jack, but the "Liquid Surface" design has its own appeal.
HTC U11
Specs
Build: Metal frame with (liquid) glass back, IP67 waterproof
Plus, the HTC U11 has the unique squeeze-sensitive frame on its side too. While a little gimmicky, it does hold some potential and is fun to play around with.
As another phone of distinctive looks, the Sony Xperia XZ Premium bets on a mirror finish that looks gorgeous - as long as you manage to keep the fingerprints away. And Sony really went all out with the camera department this year. It's special triple-stacked sensor with a RAM buffer chip allows for some really unique modes, like 960fps HD video and Predictive Capture.
Sony Xperia XZ Premium
Specs
Build: Metal frame with ALKALEIDO back, IP68 waterproof
And last, but not least, there is Google's own Pixel pair. The Pixel XL is the only reason why our list stretched all the way to €900. These are exuberantly expansive devices, not to mention ones that are unavailable in most countries and in limited stock in some of the others.
The very distinct appearance of the two phones is certainly not everyone's cup of tea either, but this are Google's phones and there's nothing in the market quite like them.
Google Pixel
Specs
Build: Metal body (glass window on the back), splash resistant
Like we said in the beginning, there are really no wrong choices at the utmost high end of today's smartphone market. That being said, we really didn't manage to do all these great devices justice with the few sentences we shared on their distinct individual traits.
Be sure to hit up our reviews for a more in-depth look at any device in the buyer's guide that caught your eye. The opinion sections on the specs pages are a great resource for getting additional first-hand impressions and answers to specific questions as well. Happy shopping!
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