It seems like a lifetime since Apple’s late cofounder Steve Jobs introduced the first iPhone in a 2007 keynote address.
He described the product as a combination of “a widescreen iPod with touch controls”; a "revolutionary mobile phone"; and a "breakthrough internet communicator".
And with that, the age of the smartphone began.
Perhaps the most astonishing development of this age has been how a luxury product became an integral and indispensable part of life. The sole purpose of a phone had been to make calls, or if you were tech savvy to send a text. But today smartphones are like technological Swiss army knives.
From an e-wallet that stores credit card details, to hotel room key, or a newsstand, smartphones have matured as they have proliferated.
One of the most popular uses of these devices is to capture images. Indeed, smartphones have become the world’s most popular type of camera, challenging the likes of Canon, Nikon and Olympus.
Now smartphones boast high-quality cameras, simple interfaces and excellent mobility, which means even the most inexperienced user can take great shots.
With competition at an all-time high, smartphone manufacturers are locked in a race to develop new and improved models – whether faster processors, more advanced graphic chips, or the latest fingerprint sensors.
Business Traveller Asia-Pacific surveys the cream of the smartphone crop.
SAMSUNG GALAXY S6 & Galaxy S6 Edge
RELEASE DATE April 10, 2015
RETAIL PRICE US$680
It’s safe to say that the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are game changers. The two models marked a turning point for Apple, and large numbers of Android users switched allegiance to get their hands on the new models.
For its latest salvo in the battle for supremacy, Samsung has the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge.
The new models sport a metal unibody design, giving them a more luxurious feel than their predecessors, which had been criticised for their plastic exteriors.
Both phones come with 16 megapixel (MP) rear cameras, while the front-facing cameras are 5MP – perfect for sharp selfies.
Screen resolution for both phones is 2,560 x 1,440 pixels on a 5.1 inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display. The big difference between the models is that the S6 Edge’s glass display is curved at two edges, with an edge-to-edge design that may even make Apple jealous.
And both models support wireless charging.
HTC ONE M9
RELEASE DATE March 16, 2015
RETAIL PRICE US$649
At first glance, the HTC One M9 is virtually indistinguishable from its predecessor, the M8. However, the new model comes with an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, versus its predecessor’s quad-core CPU, thus ensuring a lag-free user experience.
Perhaps most significantly, the M8’s UltraPixel rear-facing camera has been replaced with a more mainstream 20MP image sensor.
Storage is a hefty 32GB, which can be expanded by up to 128GB through a microSD card. With its unibody aluminium frame and 5-inch 1,080p display, the device’s build is exceptional.
Furthermore, the phone’s highly touted “BoomSound” speaker system has been upgraded and now boasts Dolby Audio tuning technology.
MOTOROLA MOTO E
RELEASE DATE February 25, 2015
RETAIL PRICE US$119 (3G), US$149 (LTE)
Simple and honest, this no-frills entry-level smartphone does what it sets out to do: offer good performance at a competitive price.
The Moto E comes with 4GB of internal memory, which can be expanded by up to 32GB with a MicroSD card.
Its 4.5-inch QHD (quad high definition) screen is made from Corning Gorilla Glass, and its 1980mAh battery has staying power for heavy usage.
Motorola has launched 3G and LTE versions of the Moto E. The latter’s browsing speed is quicker, but that comes at a US$30 premium to the 3G model. Available in black or white. Both models come with a 5MP rear camera.
MEIZU MX4 Pro
RELEASE DATE December 2014
RETAIL PRICE US$579
Who said Chinese electronics firms aren’t a threat to the likes of Apple and Samsung?
Meizu’s newest smartphone comes with a gorgeous 2k LCD screen that boasts an astonishing resolution of 2,560 x 1,536 pixels.
Taking a page out of the iPhone’s book, the MX4 Pro packs a fingerprint scanner. Known as mTouch, the security feature unlocks the phone in half a second.
However, it is the rear camera that truly shines. It boasts a 20.7 megapixel Sony sensor and super fast (0.3-second) focus, and is capable of capturing professional shots.
In addition, ISO sensitivity runs up to 1,600, which ensures the camera performs well in low-light conditions.
SONY XPERIA Z3
RELEASE DATE September 19, 2014
RETAIL PRICE US$569
Sony’s latest high-end offering, the Xperia Z3 is a more refined version of 2013’s Z2. And it’s waterproof.
With a high-quality finish, the Z3 features corners made of nylon, which is more resilient than other materials usually used in smartphones.
The phone’s 5.15-inch LCD screen is similar to that found on Sony’s own BRAVIA television sets.
The Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor clocks in at 2.5GHz, and there is 3GB of built-in memory. Most impressively, for gamers at least, is the fact that the Z3 can be fully integrated with the Sony PlayStation 4.
The model’s new “Remote Play” feature enables users to stream PS4 games directly to the phone.
MICROSOFT LUMIA 640 XL
RELEASE DATE April, 2015
RETAIL PRICE US$245
Microsoft may have gobbled up Nokia’s mobile device business, but it’s chosen to remain loyal to the original Lumia lineup.
The mid-tier Lumia 640 bears more than a passing resemblance to previous Nokia iterations. But under the hood, a different story emerges.
Like the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, the Lumia 640 comes in two sizes – a 5-inch model and a 5.7-inch XL version.
We like the latter for its superior camera specs (13MP as opposed to 5MP for the rear camera, while the front-facing camera is has a full HD 5MP sensor as opposed to a 0.9MP one).
The battery life is also better on the XL version, offering up to 24 hours of 3G talk time – six-and-a-half hours more than the 5-inch model.
GOOGLE NEXUS 6
RELEASE DATE November, 2014
RETAIL PRICE US$649
Many consumers appreciate the larger screens of “phablets” – mobile devices that combine smartphone and tablet form factors.
Google’s new Nexus 6 likely appeals to these users.
Both 32GB and 64GB versions of the phone are powered by a 2.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 805 processor and pack 3GB of RAM.
In addition, the 6-inch QHD AMOLED PenTile display boasts a resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels.
The 13MP rear-facing camera, which sports the same LED flash as the Moto X, is more than capable of taking high-quality shots.
NUBIA Z9 MAX
RELEASE DATE March, 2015
RETAIL PRICE RMB2,499 (US$400)
Chinese company Nubia recently unveiled its newest high-end smartphone.
The Nubia Z9 Max is a 5.5-inch phablet that comes with 16MP rear-facing camera, and a super fast f2.0 lens.
Most impressively, the sensor is capable of recording 4K video (horizontal resolution of 4,000 pixels).
The phone sports a metal frame, while an all-glass back that calls to mind the type of high-quality finish first seen with the iPhone 4.
Under the hood is a Snapdragon 810 processor, which has more than enough horsepower to effortlessly tackle smartphone tasks.
Our only quibble is that the design looks like a rip-off of the iPhone 6 Plus.
BLACKBERRY LEAP
RELEASE DATE April 24, 2015
RETAIL PRICE US$275
At first sight, the new BlackBerry Leap is an anomaly compared to other phones by the Canadian brand.
Featuring an “all-touch” design with no physical keyboard, the Leap may not look like a classic BlackBerry, but it still boasts the brand’s highly touted security and productivity features that corporate users adore so much.
The phone has a five-inch HD display, 16GB of storage and an 8MP rear camera. In addition, it boasts all-day battery life for heavy use.
Unlike most phones that feature either Android or iOS operating systems, the Leap uses the company’s own BlackBerry 10 OS.
IPHONE 6S & IPHONE 6S PLUS
RELEASE DATE TBC
RETAIL PRICE TBC
While Apple has yet to unveil any details of its upcoming flagship smartphone products, this has not stopped the rumour mill from going into overdrive.
Expect to see very little difference in the phones’ appearance, as historically the “S” series has come out nearly identical to the preceding models.
Performance will be upgraded, likely with an A9 processor superseding the A8 found in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.
We expect Apple’s next offering will come in two sizes; there is also talk that Apple will introduce a lower-spec model known as the iPhone 6C.
