TOP 10 waterproof smartphones (Topic)

In the world of technology, progress is fast - literally every six months, a new generation of smartphones appears with even faster processors and advanced cameras. But what if we need a waterproof device?

Here, the choice is somewhat limited, although more and more smartphones meet high standards of water and dust resistance. Below is a list of 10 recommended devices in this category.

Samsung Galaxy A3

Someone might say that the Galaxy A3 is already an "old man" by today's standards. But buying it can still be beneficial. The device complies with IP68 standard and its Android operating system has been updated to the new version 8.0 Oreo. The A3 is quite compact, although its bezels are still wide. The device has a built-in fingerprint scanner, the presence of which in an inexpensive Samsung was not obvious a year and a half ago.

Inside the device is an eight-core Exynos 7870 processor, supported by 2 GB of RAM. As is usually the case with Samsung, you can count on a great AMOLED screen with the Always On Display feature; although the resolution (720p) is not impressive, it is sufficient for this segment. Users will appreciate the built-in dual-band Wi-Fi, USB Type-C port, NFC connectivity (which is not always the case at this price point) and FM radio. The camera is average and does not offer the ability to record 4K video. The same with the battery: it is quite ordinary.

Motorola Moto X4

Yes, the Moto X4 was launched a year ago, but it remains one of the top smartphones in the Motorola portfolio. The model is equipped with a 5.2-inch IPS Full HD screen, but has large bezels. Because of them, the device is so tall and wide that it seems larger in size than other devices with a 5.5- or even 6-inch screen. The battery capacity is average - 3000 mAh.

The phone should be commended for the efficiently working Android 8.0 Oreo shell, despite the fact that Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 is far from being a "speed demon" and at this price you can find more powerful devices. Also, you will probably like the presence of FM-radio, USB Type-C, Bluetooth with support for the aptX codec. The camera is good too.

Nokia 8

The Nokia 8 is the only smartphone in the ranking that meets the IP54 standard (only resistant to splashing). At the same time, they should be interested, because after the premiere of the successor in the person of 8 Sirocco, the price of the old G8 has dropped significantly (and the new product costs twice as much), and in general it is still a wonderful device.

The described smartphone is powered by a very powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chip, which is complemented by 4 GB of "RAM" and 64 GB of internal memory, expandable using a microSD card. The operating system is "fresh" - Android 8.1 Oreo.

The 5.3 ? IPS screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 5 and is surrounded by large bezels. The matrix is of high quality and has a high resolution of 1440x2560 pixels with a density of 554 dpi. Always On Display is supported, although due to the IPS panel, not AMOLED, it will not be 100% used (black will be highlighted and "eat up" the battery).

A dual camera from Zeiss with optical stabilization works with a bang. The device also features the new Bluetooth 5.0 (albeit without aptX support), USB Type-C, 3.5mm jack and Quick Charge 3.0 support.

Samsung Galaxy A8

Another frameless model from Koreans? The Galaxy A8 is definitely able to compete with the “ex-flagship” Galaxy S7. The AMOLED screen (and again with Always On Display) has a diagonal of 5.6 ? and a resolution of 1080x2220 pixels (the aspect ratio is 18.5: 9). The device has a very convenient size and nice design.

The system operates on an eight-core chip, namely on Cortex-A53 cores, which, however, do not break performance records. Add 4 GB of RAM to this and the device already matches its price shelf.

The camera is livable, but at this price, you can find smartphones with better photo and video quality. 4K recording is also not available. Other details: 3.5mm jack, Bluetooth 5.0 (no aptX support), FM radio, and USB Type-C port (although it works in the 2.0 standard, not 3.0 or 3.1). An important drawback is the outdated version of the "operating system" (Android 7.1). But let's hope that the developers will still update it to the G8.

Sony Xperia XZ1

The Japanese manufacturer Xperia XZ1 is still one of the top models. Wide bezels do not give the device aesthetics, but the technical parameters are quite good.

The "heart" of the smartphone is Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, which functions in tandem with 4 GB of RAM. There are no complaints about the screen - consumers are offered valuable Full HD and HDR support. There are also stereo speakers (although they play mediocre) and a 3.5mm jack (but the maximum volume is low). The former flagship, alas, does not support wireless charging and Quick Charge 3.0, and its camera lacks optical stabilization. The only consolation is the presence of USB Type-C and Bluetooth 5.0, working with aptX HD and LDAC.

Users for whom a 5.2-inch smartphone is already a "shovel" will find it interesting to be more gentle for the wallet Xperia XZ1 Compact with very similar characteristics, but a smaller screen (4.6 ?) with a lower resolution.

Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact

It's easy to guess that the XZ2 Compact is the successor to the XZ1 series. By the way, Sony is already working on smartphones of the XZ3 line, which should appear in stores in late 2018, but for now it is worth focusing on the current flagship series. And if the large version of the XZ1 outperforms its small “brother” in terms of the ratio of parameters and price, in the case of the XZ2, the opposite is true - the compact alternative looks more attractive.

Looking for a small flagship but not an iPhone fan? Your choice, in fact, comes down to only the XZ2 Compact. The smartphone uses a 5-inch IPS screen with 1080x2160 pixels (18: 9 ratio). The display supports HDR and is protected by Gorilla Glass 5. Compared to the XZ1 Compact, the display resolution has increased significantly and the bezels are reduced, but the XZ2 Compact is quite thick (12.1 mm). The fingerprint scanner has been moved from the right side to the rear panel.

The functionality of the XZ2 Compact is provided by the beast processor - Snapdragon 845. True, 4 GB of RAM is unlikely to be characteristic of the top model, but this is still enough. The XZ2 series has improved the camera, but the 3.5mm headphone jack has been removed (and there would have been more room for it). There is a USB Type-C connector and Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX HD support.

LG V30

The LG V30 premiered at the end of 2017, but the model still looks attractive and its price has dropped significantly in almost a year. Of course, the latest LG G7 is better in some respects, but also significantly more expensive.

The V30 uses a 6-inch OLED screen with a high resolution of 1440x2880 pixels, (density is 537 dpi). The display is protected by Gorilla Glass 5.

The Snapdragon 835, which requires no introduction, has found shelter in this model as well. The dual rear cameras are also good and the audio capabilities are great. V30 is Bang & Olufsen, confirming the sound quality of headphones. Other features include a Bluetooth 5.0 module with aptX HD support and an efficient battery.

Samsung Galaxy S9

We could not ignore the latest flagship of Samsung. Anyone who has come across the S9 will understand: there is no longer any point in looking towards the S8 version, which is in many ways worse and at the same time not much cheaper.

Samsung has always been associated with large screens, and the S9's 5.8-inch display ranks among the best on the market. It is made in AMOLED technology and has an impressive resolution of 1440x2960 pixels with a density of 570 dpi. The screen is HDR compatible and protected by Gorilla Glass 5.

The S9 uses an 8-core Exynos 9810 chip that rivals the Snapdragon 845 in performance. But if the processor power is impressive, 4GB of RAM is unlikely. Apparently Samsung wants potential customers to be able to buy the S9 Plus model with 6GB of RAM.

The S9 series also offers an excellent camera. The 3.5mm jack remains here, and Bluetooth 5.0 supports the aptX codec (but not in the HD version). The battery life is average - better on the larger and more expensive S9 Plus. Compared to the S8, the fingerprint reader is better placed.

Huawei P20 Pro

Without Chinese flagships - nowhere! Today the P20 Pro is a top shelf device from Huawei (not counting smartphones from the Porsche Design series). The manufacturer has added as many as three advanced cameras from Leica, which offer resolutions up to 40 megapixels.

The device has a 6.1 ? AMOLED screen, but the resolution is not impressive - 1080x2240 pixels corresponds to a density of 408 dpi. The proprietary Kirin 970 processor is better than its predecessors, but still inferior to the Snapdragon 845. Fans will be satisfied with the amount of RAM - the manufacturer gave as much as 6 GB, but the impossibility of expanding the 128 GB memory using microSD media is no longer very happy. The old Bluetooth 4.2 standard and the lack of a 3.5mm jack add a few more fly in the ointment to the overall picture. But the model has an infrared port and a good battery.

Apple iPhone X

And here is the only representative of the "dynasty" Apple from our list. Of course, we could include models 7 and 8, but the price of the same iPhone 8 Plus is not much lower than the X, and it is also quite bulky. Do not forget that it was with the iPhone X that the fashion for frameless phones began. The short stripe at the top (notch) is an element for everybody: although it has visual flaws (it may seem to some to be "jagged"), it enlarges the working space.

The iPhone X is compact enough - certainly smaller than the iPhone Plus. The processor is record-breaking fast, and the very fact of having iOS means long-term support for the device. X is also the only iPhone with an AMOLED screen. There are no complaints about the camera.

Disadvantages are the lack of a microSD slot and 3.5mm jack, and also does not include a fast charging cable for Mac laptops (you need to buy one).

The Topic of Article: TOP 10 waterproof smartphones.
Author: Jake Pinkman