Currently, The Snapdragon 845 is the top dog when it comes to performance. It’s available on various top-end devices across a wide price bracket in our market.

Making a choice with so many options can be a demanding task today we attempt to do just that. Which one should you choose? In no particular order here are our top five picks that you should consider.

In the News: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 with 5G compatibility, better AI performance revealed

Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL

Price: $799.99 and $899.99 respectively for the 64GB models.

You simply can’t go wrong with Google’s flagship with stock android and top-tier internals.

Specifications

• Processor: Snapdragon 845.
• Memory: 64GB/ 128GB storage and 4 GB RAM (no external storage option available)
• Camera: 12.2 MP f/1.8 rear camera, and a dual 8 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), f/2.2, 19mm (ultrawide) front facing cameras
• Display: 5.5 inches, (~77.2% screen-to-body ratio) Resolution 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio with 443 PPI density
• Battery: 2915 mAh battery (Pixel 3), 3430 mAh battery (Pixel 3XL)
• OS: Android 9.0 (Pie)

Also read: 4 Titan M features that make Pixel 3 more secure than other Androids

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

Price: $899.99 (128GB model)

Samsung has updated their Note lineup and is a solid choice for power users.

Specifications

• Processor: Snapdragon 845 (also available with Samsung’s homegrown Exynos 9810)
• Memory: MicroSD support up to 512 GB (uses SIM 2 slot) Internal 512 GB with 8 GB RAM or 128 GB with 6 GB RAM
  Camera:  Rear-facing dual 12 MP, f/1.5-2.4, 26mm (wide) and 12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto). Front facing 8 MP, f/1.7
• Display: 6.4 inches (~83.4% screen-to-body ratio) Resolution 1440 x 2960 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~516 PPI density)
• Battery: 4000 mAh battery
• OS: Android 8.1 (Oreo)

Also read: Samsung Galaxy Note9 vs Galaxy Note8: 11 key talking points

Pocofone F1 by Xiaomi 

Price: $319.95 (64 GB, Global version)

Pocofone F1 is Xiaomi’s answer to One Plus and is the cheapest phone with the Snapdragon 845 currently on the market.

Specifications

• Processor: Snapdragon 845
• Memory: MicroSD, up to 256 GB (uses SIM 2 slot) and Internal 256 GB, 8 GB RAM or 64/128 GB, 6 GB RAM
• Camera: Rear 12 MP, f/1.9, 5 MP and Front 20 MP, f/2.0
• Display: 6.18 inches (~82.2% screen-to-body ratio) Resolution 1080 x 2246 pixels, 18.7:9 ratio (~403 PPI density)
• Battery: 4000 mAh battery
• OS: Android 8.1 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie)

OPPO find X

Price: $779 (128GB import)

The Oppo find X is an exotic phone with an immersive display and great performance.

Specifications

• Processor: Snapdragon 845
• Memory:128/256 GB, 8 GB RAM
• Camera: Motorised pop-up 16 MP, f/2.0 and 20 MP, f/2.0 rear facing and front Motorized pop-up 25 MP, f/2.0
• Display: 6.42 inches (~87.0% screen-to-body ratio) Resolution 1080 x 2340 pixels,19.5:9 ratio (~401 ppi density)
• Battery: 3730 mAh battery – Standard model and 3400 mAh battery – Super Flash Edition
• OS: Android 8.1 (Oreo)

One Plus 6T

Price: $549 (128 GB with 6 GB RAM)

One Plus has had an increasing number of followers globally over the past several years and the 6T takes it up a notch.

Specifications

• Processor: Snapdragon 845
• Memory: 256 GB, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB, 6/8 GB RAM
• Camera: 16 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 20 MP (16 MP effective), f/1.7, 25mm (wide) rear facing and 16 MP, f/2.0 front-facing cameras
• Display: 6.41 inches, 100.9 cm2 (~85.6% screen-to-body ratio) Resolution 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~402 PPI density)
• Battery: 3700 mAh battery
• OS: Android 9.0 (Pie)

Also read: How does OnePlus 6T compare to iPhone? From an Apple user’s perspective

Which one should you pick?

Since just listing out top five smartphones that use the 845 isn’t challenging enough we thought we’ll add in a little contest. A famous Youtuber once perfectly summed up the 5 pillars which contribute to a good smartphone experience they are,

• Performance
• Battery Life
• Display
• Camera
• OS experience

Depending on the kind of user you are, you might want to go with a device that comes out on the top of a certain category.

Note: Although all of the smartphones listed above are strong with these 5 pillars of excellence we would like to highlight segment leaders in each of the qualities.

Performance

Popular to contrary belief just sticking in the best processor chip in a phone doesn’t mean that it has the best performance. Various factors come into play when smooth user experience is considered.

Software optimization, Ram management, core clock speeds determine the phone’s user experience.

Our pick?

One Plus 6T

You might be surprised that we picked the One Plus 6T over the google pixel 3 and 3XL but Oxygen OS is a near stock Android experience and with user-friendly bits here and there coupled with that massive 8 GB of ram and best in class memory management courtesy of “project boost” by One Plus the OP 6T is a beast when it comes to performance.

Google’s pixel 3 and 3LX comes in close but is let down ever so slightly by the limiting 4 gigs of RAM. Google will probably address this issue in future software updates but until then the 6T takes the cake.

Battery Life

Winner?

Pocofone F1 by Xaiomi

Many may not prefer MIUI but Xiaomi has really worked on battery optimisation and with a 4000mAh battery it really shows, even under heavy usage the phone easily lasts throughout the day with some juice left to spare.

Runner-up would be the One Plus 6T with its lite Oxygen OS and generous 3700 mAh battery.

Display

Drum roll, please!

Oppo find X

With a staggering 93.8% screen-to-body ratio and a stunning AMOLED screen with bright colours, the Find x is a value proposition for anyone looking for a notch-free immersive display for gaming and content consumption.

Runner-up would be the Note 9 with its huge 6.4-inch 1440 x 2960 super AMOLED panel if you don’t mind the top and bottom bezels or if you’re into gaming the Asus ROG phone with the butter smooth 90 Hz display comes highly recommended.

Camera

Say cheese!

Google Pixel 3 and 3XL

Camera quality has always been a strong point of the Pixel series and the latest iteration doesn’t disappoint. Now, one might argue that there are many other phones with bigger sensors and with a different setup with multiple cameras with a higher DXOMARK score and that is exactly why the pixel is all the more impressive to our eyes.

The fact that the Pixels are able to match and sometimes even surpass the other cameras in natural color reproduction, sharpness, portrait mode and the infamous HDR+ with just a  single sensor and a bit of code speaks volumes of effort put into optimizing the sensor and easily makes it our pick.

Runner-up would be the Samsung Note 9.

OS experience

Well, this one is a bit tricky because people are inherently different and each look for various aspects in their OS experience to an Android purist the Pixel series is easily the top pick while tinkerers who like to customise would install a custom ROM the choice is up to you.

To us, however, the purest OS is always the best one and hence Google’s own Pixel 3 and 3XL takes the cake. The runner-up has to be One Plus 6T as it is the closest you could get to stock android with a few thoughtful customisation features.

In conclusion, you really won’t complain by going with any of the devices in this list but if you’re looking for something specific these choices would do the trick.

Well, that’s our top 5 picks for the best Snapdragon 845 phones on the market in 2018.