How are flagships different from budget smartphones? What is a flagship smartphone? What does the flagship model mean.
In the lineup of any manufacturer, a special place belongs to flagships - devices that combine all the best that this or that company can offer. We have compiled for you a selection of the top flagships for the beginning of 2018, which will feature the coolest and most uncompromising smartphones on the market.
New flagships of 2018
Samsung - Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus
Few releases have made as much noise lately as the Galaxy S8 from Samsung's Koreans. Everyone was waiting for this flagship, because the public understood that the company would need to present something non-standard and 100% successful in order to exonerate for the failure with the Note 7. And the expectations were met.
S8 came in two versions - standard and Plus, they differ in screen diagonal: 5.8 and 6.2 inches, respectively, as well as in battery capacity. And it is the screen that is the main trump card of the smartphone, the "infinite" SuperAMOLED display with Quad HD + resolution occupies almost the entire front of the S8, and it looks very cool.
The other characteristics do not fail either: the S8 has a top processor Exynos 8895, 64/4 GB of memory with support for cards up to 256 GB, cameras with 12/8 (f / 1.7) MP and a battery for 3000/3500 mAh (depending on modifications). In terms of the combination of qualities, the S8 surpasses any other flagship on the market - this smartphone is really the best that you can buy right now.
Samsung - Galaxy S8
Lg g6
LG G6 is made in the same concept as S8, externally, these smartphones are even slightly similar. LG's flagship was presented earlier, it was he who became the first device on the market with a display ratio of 18: 9.
Surely each of us, studying information about a particular mobile phone, met the phrase "flagship smartphone". Lenovo K900, Apple iPhone 6S and many other models often refer to this term. At the same time, ordinary users do not always understand how such mobile phone from others, what they should expect when acquiring categories.
In this article, we will tell and analyze how it differs from simple devices. We will also give examples of phones that can definitely be called “flagships” and explain why.
The concept of "flagship"
The very term to which the article is devoted came from the phrase "flagship". This is how one of the ships that exercises command is characterized.
By analogy, this term, transferred to the mobile market, can refer to one - the most prestigious, productive, expensive device. Thus, the company-developer claims: “This phone is the flagship. It is more powerful, faster and more convenient than all the others. " Buyers, in turn, can be guided by such a model and make their choice either in favor of it, or another, cheaper device.
A review of smartphones shows that the flagship, as a rule, is produced in the form of some kind of unique technological solution and appears in the form of a novelty. This creates an artificial demand for this device... The tools for promoting such a phone include a massive advertising campaign. How to find out what a flagship smartphone is in each specific line of devices, read on.
Criteria for evaluation
In fact, with the search criteria for the flagship model, everything is quite simple. More often than not, the manufacturer's price is a hint. After all, it is logical that the most advanced and powerful phone will also be the most expensive.
In addition to the price, attention should be paid to technical specifications... This concept includes such indicators as the performance of the processor device, volume random access memory, the number of cores and their type), its life (this is affected by the battery capacity), the operating system and a number of other options. All this is indicated in the description for each phone - and according to these indicators, you can confidently identify the best flagships of smartphones.
You can guess which model is the flagship, and by the date of its release and presentation of the device. Of course, the most advanced, powerful and expensive phones are always new. Smartphone flagships are constantly updating in order to diversify the range and, in addition, to stimulate additional sales. You don't have to go far for an example - take a look at Apple, which releases a new model every six months, creating a real sensation.
Who is cooler?
In fact, it is difficult to compare the flagships of smartphones and say which one is cooler. And the thing is that almost any most advanced phone is equipped with the most high-tech stuffing - a new processor, colorful display, strong battery and an advanced wear-resistant casing. Due to this, each such device is “the best”. Therefore, the difference between those of them that are released in the same period of time (say, in the interval of 1-2 months) lies solely in the company that developed it, and in its vision of the “ideal smartphone”. In all other respects, almost all flagships are the same.
Marketing
True, there is another point of view regarding this issue. Some analysts of the mobile device market argue that the very concept that we are talking about in the article does not exist. They explain what a flagship smartphone is by saying that it is a marketing decision to “promote” one particular model in all sorts of ways. In fact, they take a phone with strong characteristics and high-quality (according to the developers) design and begin to actively advertise. For this, of course, it is called the "flagship" to show that this is the best that the user can get.
If you look at this category of phones from this point of view, then you really should conduct a review of the flagships - smartphones, positioned as “the coolest” by their manufacturer.
Characteristic
In order for the user to understand more about the flagships, within the framework of the article we will conduct a brief overview of some of the most famous models. All of them are widely advertised in the media and various reviews, and some have been in the limelight for more than a year. Thus, a review of smartphones in this category will give us the opportunity to compare them and, perhaps, even choose the best one.
Apple iPhone 6S
Of course, we'll start with the world famous iPhone. It is believed that this phone is the best in the world in all categories, and it is the embodiment of simply the most advanced technology available to mankind.
But this is not the case. The device is certainly good, but it is also “just a phone”. The device is powered by the A9 processor, which has two cores. Despite their small number (as it may seem to users of Android gadgets), the phone shows simply wonders of performance. In addition to speed, it also allows you to enjoy impeccable design (sleek shapes, brushed metal, iOS 9 graphics) and useful options like unlocking the screen with Touch ID.
What is there to describe - the iPhone is the most popular device, despite its high cost in relation to other phones. Obviously for a reason.
Sony Xperia Z3 + DS
Apple isn't the only one with its cool phones. For example, sony... The flagship smartphone in its lineup is the Xperia Z3 + DS. Although the device is built on Android and does not have an apple logo on the back cover, it costs a little less than the iPhone. Ask why is this?
Well, we won't talk about the design for a long time - and it is so clear that the device is presented in a beautiful, framed metal case, which is pleasant to hold in your hand. In addition, there is a powerful eight-core processor (every 4 cores are clocked at 1.5 GHz and 2 GHz). This device will definitely not hang, slow down or glitch, so be sure!
Further, we can mention the complete waterproofness of the case - if you drop your Sony into a puddle, you should not panic. There is also a powerful 20MP camera and a colorful Triluminos Display for viewing photos in the best quality.
Again, since this is a flagship, the price goes up to $ 800.
Lg g4
Another interesting Android model is developed by LG. It retails for the same price as the previous phone and costs around $ 800. At the same time, the phone has its own advantages, the most obvious of which is design. It can be seen that the developers did their best to create the concept of a “phone for the successful”. In particular, the leather insert on the rear panel looks interesting, and even pleasant to the touch.
In addition, you can point to a high-quality screen with a display with a density of 543 pixels per inch. This is a lot - the quality of the image on the device matches the quality of the picture on the leaflets that are distributed to you near the metro.
The performance of the model is also at the level - 6 cores with a clock frequency of 1.6 GHz allow you not to worry about system requirementsbefore launching another colorful game.
Also, if customer reviews are to be believed, the phone has an excellent build body, a high-performance 16-megapixel camera and laser autofocus function. Rest assured that the gadget takes the best pictures you can imagine on a device of this class. Look at the LG G4 - and you will understand
Samsung
Of course, the Korean corporation Samsung also has a flagship device. We are talking about a model whose presentation took place shortly before the article was written. What is remarkable about Samsung phones is the positioning of each of the presented versions of devices as “the best” in one class or another. For example, the A7 is currently the best in the budget flagship smartphone category (since it only costs about $ 400).
There is also the Galaxy S6 (we already mentioned it at the very beginning of the article). This device will cost almost $ 1,100, as it is equipped even better than the same iPhone 6S. Let's say there is a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display with a high-quality picture and a pixel density of 577 ppi.
There is also a super-powerful eight-core processor (4 cores with a clock frequency of 1.5 GHz and 2.1 GHz). In addition, the developers paid special attention to the design of the device, the materials from which the phone is made.
Finally, another flagship device from the Koreans - Samsung Note Edge. It also has strong characteristics, but is presented in a different class of gadgets - with a 5.6-inch display (like the A7, but more expensive).
In fact, the Korean giant is trying to fill all the niches at once, presenting phones in different classes. We can judge this at least by the number of devices produced by the company on a regular basis. Samsung has several dozen models that are constantly being updated and replaced with newer ones. There is a constant rotation in which you can see the flagships.
Lenovo P90
Not all “top-end” devices are offered at the highest possible price. There is, for example, the Chinese flagship of smartphones, which was released by Lenovo. This is the P90 model, priced at $ 400. The device is equipped with powerful cameras (13 and 5 megapixels), a quad-core processor from Intel, a colorful display operating on Full HD technology.
Together with a 4000 mAh battery, the phone offers the user exactly the set that is necessary for basic tasks. Both the functionality and the performance of the model make it an indispensable assistant in any situation.
HTC One M9
HTC also recently introduced its flagship, the One M9. It will cost the buyer more than the previously presented phone - $ 900. But the device has an even more powerful "heart" (4 cores with a clock frequency of 2 GHz, and 4 - with 1.5 GHz), a high-quality 20-megapixel camera, a slot for a memory card, a 2840 mAh battery. These technical parameters make the device very convenient and “nimble” in everyday use.
As for the additional options, they include an attractive metal body (built according to the "tiered" principle), on the camera lens, a magnetic sensor and more.
However, as for this flagship, the reviews about it are not the most flattering. There are a lot of comments that the device is heating up, or that the lens glass is glued crookedly. Of course, such defects should not be on best device lineup.
Huawei Ascend Mate7
Another Chinese manufacturer, Huawei, also has a flagship. The company is releasing the Ascend Mate7, a business smartphone priced at $ 550-600. The device, like the ones described above, is offered with an 8-core processor capable of switching between cores during the execution of tasks. This ensures maximum performance.
As for additional options, here is available, for example, the ability to unlock the screen by touching the back cover of the device. The thing is that a special sensor is installed on it, capable of accurately reading data about the user's fingerprint. Decent response to the sensor on the Home button (like the iPhone and Samsung).
conclusions
In this article, we have described some of the most common top-end device models on the market. As you can see, all of them have advanced technical stuffing, presented in the form of a powerful processor, high-quality camera and display, and a capacious battery. Also, which is typical, in the "flagships" they also rely on additional options. For example, this is the design of the device, its ergonomics, interface, some functions that make everyday operations that we carry out with a smartphone easier and more accessible.
In fact, the flagship differs from an ordinary device only in the set of these very "additions" and, of course, in the level of performance. If you need a phone for some more mundane purposes - communication and banal surfing on the net, then it is not necessary to purchase a “top” model either. And, on the contrary, if you want to get the best copy of those that are present in the manufacturer's lineup in order to work with the most productive and stylish device, take the "flagship" - you will not regret it.
The arms race in the smartphone market is an exciting process that leaves few people indifferent. In recent years, the presentations of such giants as Apple or Samsung have become central events in the cultural life of all mankind; their outcome depends on how tomorrow will look.
In order to keep up with the course of history, we have collected and analyzed the most significant models of the most famous brands for today and present to your judgment the flagships of smartphones of 2018-2019, which will surprise you a lot if you have not updated your mobile device for a long time.
No. 10 - Meizu Pro 7
Price: 32,000 rubles 
Ever since the mobile phone market was changed once and for all by the arrival of the first iPhone, design has been largely off the table. No, of course, every year the gadgets became more and more perfect, fit an increasingly incredible screen into a compact body, experimented with colors and materials, but in general, we have not seen anything radically new for a long time. The Meizu developers decided to break the calm and released a device with a second screen on the rear panel, which caused discussions that have not subsided until now about whether this makes practical sense or whether the Chinese engineers were just trying to stand out from the competition.
Well, it turned out to stand out, but not only by the display. Chinese flagships of smartphones in 2018-2019 ceased to look like amusing imperfections, Meizu Pro 7 combines high-performance hardware with stylish design and amazing ergonomics, the quality of the dual camera module does not leave you indifferent, and the sound is not inferior to many players. In general, the model is extremely interesting and worth the money.
No. 9 - Nubia Z17
Price: 28,000 rubles 
An excellent device from a brand that is not yet very well known in Russia. Working on latest version operating system Android, Z17 offers top-end hardware for quite reasonable money, namely the eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 MSM8998 2450 MHz with the Adreno 540 graphics accelerator, which can easily cope with the latest games in the gaming industry at maximum settings, as well as 4 gigabytes of operational and 64 internal memory - very good.
Although the cost of the phone is less than that of the flagships of other companies, the device from Nubia has a full range of the most advanced technologies and functions, the owner of the phone has NFC, excellent cameras, high-quality protection against moisture and dust, and much more.
No. 8 - Xiaomi Mi6
Price: 28,000 rubles
The Xiaomi brand, which has earned incredible popularity in Russia, has so many different lines of its smartphones that it is not so easy to choose which model is the flagship. The best hardware available on the market provides the gadget with a considerable margin of safety - it won't be long before games appear that will lack the resources available to the phone. The display of the novelty deserves special attention - the Chinese engineers decided to leave experiments with the aspect ratio and framelessness for other models, and in Mi6 they implemented many unique technologies that are responsible for matching the picture to the wishes of the owner of the device.
Fast, extremely autonomous and very effective, Xiaomi Mi6 broke into the sales leaders in the domestic market as soon as it appeared in the public domain. If you are a longtime fan of the brand - you already know everything, but if you are still skeptical - it's time to try and see for yourself the quality of Xiaomi products.
# 7 - OnePlus 5T
Price: 36,000 rubles 
Nicely made noise this year, the smartphone, which seriously shaken the positions of the permanent market leaders in the person of Samsung and Apple. The filling is the best, the AMOLED display with a diagonal of six inches has practically no frames and looks truly impressive, the main dual camera module shows results no worse than top-end camera phones. High-quality and deep sound, all the necessary wireless interfaces, excellent autonomy with modest dimensions - this year there were significantly fewer claims to this smartphone than to its competitors.
The main and only drawback of the device is the strange policy of Russian retailers, who set the price one and a half times higher than that of Chinese and foreign stores. If online shopping is not a dark forest for you, then purchasing the OnePlus 5T could be your best purchase this year.
# 6 - Sony Xperia XZ Premium
Price: 48,000 rubles 
The Russian buyer has always had a special attitude towards Sony products, and therefore, despite the perpetually inflated price, sony smartphones Xperia has consistently had a high share of sales. With the Xperia XZ Premium, everything is not so simple, yes, if you are looking for a phone with a powerful camera, then, as before, Sony branded equipment shows impressive results, the Cyber \u200b\u200bShot camera is quite capable of replacing a camera and camcorder even if you are a very demanding photography lover, but otherwise have questions.
The design is made in a classic style, so fans of the brand will not be disappointed, but for others the model may seem seriously outdated. The hardware is top-end, but many competitors show better performance on the same hardware. The sound is traditionally good, but the volume could have been increased, but the screen did not disappoint. A masterpiece for Sony fans and a controversial flagship for the rest.
Sony Xperia XZ Premium
# 5 - HTC U11
Price: 36,000 rubles 
This manufacturer has once lost its leading position and the reason for this is clear on the example of this flagship. Everything in it is made at a solid solid level, they did not save on hardware either, but the smartphone does not have a single strong point that distinguishes it from its competitors. Is iron the strongest and well optimized? Yes, but all representatives of this list have the same, and some squeeze more out of it. Is the display high-quality and shows a wonderful picture? Yes, but HTC U11 looks modest against the background of huge diagonals and complete framelessness.
The camera pleases, not having its own unique hardware HTC were able to achieve excellent results thanks to software improvements, but many still shoot just as well. In other words, we have an excellent smartphone in front of us, but it is unlikely that someone other than long-term fans of the brand will decide to buy it.
No. 4 - LG V30
Price: 48,000 rubles 
The new flagship from the South Korean manufacturer was really able to encroach on the seemingly unshakable domination of Samsung and Apple, the phone has already spent enough time in the public domain and has not caused any complaints until now. The screen looks the best on the market, and the minimal bezels and picture quality amaze even advanced users. The performance is quite competitive with the same iPhone X, which costs almost 30,000 rubles more, and besides, it has a lot of complaints from buyers.
Another aspect in which the V30 is quite possibly the best device on the market today is sound. No one has such depth and quality today, and all thanks to a separate sound processor, which has no analogues among mobile devices. A very strong model that will remain a priority for many buyers until the release of the next generation from Samsung.
No. 3 - Huawei Mate 10 Pro
Price: 39,000 rubles 
The new flagship from Huawei amazed the community not only with the highest characteristics of the filling and even more advanced functionality of the proprietary shell, but also relied on the development of neural networks, which other manufacturers are still handling extremely carefully. Artificial intelligence in the description of the gadget is not mentioned for a catchphrase, its activity invisibly accompanies you while using the smartphone constantly, it is especially successful in coping with tasks related to photo and video shooting.
The device not only surprises with its innovative designs, but also with dignity withstands comparisons with flagships from other giants, the performance shown in various benchmarks is not inferior to either Samsung or Apple.
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
# 2 - Samsung Galaxy Note 8
Price: 54,000 rubles 
Despite the fact that almost a year has passed since the release of this model, it has not lost its relevance and to this day it leads various tops of sales. Of course, this is not a small part due to the popularity of the brand, but the technical relevance of the smartphone is striking - for a whole year we have not seen anything superior in performance Galaxy Note 8 devices, and there is no need to talk about the design - every second Chinese company sees it as their duty to release a model that exactly copies this flagship.
Of course, this device has only a few weeks to live as a flagship, at the end of January the South Korean company promises to present a new generation of mobile devices, but we have probably not had such a long dominance of one model until now.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
# 1 - iPhone X
Price: 79,000 rubles 
Completes our rating best flagships smartphones 2018-2019, which caused a lot of noise in the fall, a novelty from Apple. This year the company presented two new models at once, and the iPhone X went on sale a little later, and therefore the excitement around was unthinkable. Whether the expectations were justified is difficult to judge, the amount of technical defects unusual for the manufacturer caused a wave of indignation among buyers around the world, who stood in queues for several days to purchase the device.
If we close our eyes to this, then the iPhone once again amazed everyone with its ability to squeeze the maximum out of not the most perfect hardware, new innovative ideas implemented on the basis of a proprietary shell, as well as pricing - we have never seen such expensive mass-produced smartphones. Almost a year remains before the release of the next generation, and therefore all the main tests for the brand are still ahead, the fate of the mobile device market will largely depend on how it will withstand them.
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Most smartphone manufacturers highlight the top devices in their product line, which they pin their hopes on. Such devices are usually called flagships. The flagship is a smartphone that features advanced functionality and is superior in equipment to other models of the manufacturer. The term migrated from the navy, where the most powerful ship in the squadron is called the flagship, on board which the command is located.
A flagship doesn't necessarily have the best of the mobile world. If the manufacturer is engaged in the production of budget pipes (like many Chinese companies), then the flagship can correspond to the middle class. This state of affairs can be observed, for example, at Philips or Fly. Their tops can only compete with the "average" Samsung or LG. Nevertheless, these are full-fledged flagships against the background of the most massive inexpensive smartphones for $ 100-300.
In their advanced smartphones, manufacturers strive to embody all the advances and new technologies, ready for practical use. If a company has its own powerful research base, then the latest developments are used. Firms that use third-party components do not have access to them. In this case, use the best parts that are freely available. Processor suppliers are firms such as Qualcomm or MediaTek, memory is purchased from Samsung, Hynix or Elpida, and displays are purchased from Sharp, Samsung, JDI or LG.
Samsung flagship series
Samsung is the premier flagship manufacturer in the smartphone world. Top-end devices of the company are such not only in the model range of the manufacturer, but also in the market as a whole. This is possible due to the concentration of huge resources, the presence of its own departments for the development and production of components, as well as large-scale funding.
Samsung's flagships are equipped with the fastest RAM and permanent memory, the latest Exynos Octa processors, Super AMOLED ultra-high (2.5K) resolution screens and quality cameras... All these parts of smartphones are made by Samsung independently and are not available to other companies until the jackpot is made from the sale of new products.
Series samsung flagships Galaxy S (2010) to Galaxy S6 (2015)
Samsung's flagship line is galaxy smartphones S. Top phablets belong to the Galaxy Note series. It is in these smartphones that the main achievements are concentrated.
Apple flagships
Apple has a different approach in terms of the release of flagships. Unlike Samsung, the company does not have its own production facilities. Components are supplied by third-party contractors who also assemble. As a result, Apple does not have the ability to fit the most advanced parts. And the lineup, against the background of competitors, looks more modest. Therefore, there are no obvious flagships among the iPhone. Almost every iPhone (except for models positioned as budget ones, like the 5C or SE) can be called a flagship.
Having no opportunity (and no special desire) "in the forefront" to embody new technologies, Apple prefers to work on the quality of implementation. The company's policy is that it is better to thoughtfully implement a proven technology than experiment with a new one and "catch" bugs in it. Therefore, the iPhone is a flagship, despite the fact that "on paper" its characteristics can be attributed to the maximum of the middle class.
Other flagship smartphones
LG is releasing flagship smartphones in the G line, where it also embodies cutting-edge developments in screens and cameras. Sony until 2016 promoted the Xperia Z series, in which they also installed the best displays (up to 4K) and cameras (up to 22 MP) of their own production. Now the flagship is the Xperia X series.
Other companies do not have such a powerful production and research base, therefore they are forced to use third-party developments. The only exceptions are Huawei, which make their own Kirin processors. HTC produced until 2016 top smartphones in the One M series, but the latest flagship of 2016 is named HTC 10, without additional letters.
The most difficult thing is with the determination of the flagships for the Chinese. If Xiaomi and Meizu have this easy (Mi and MX series, respectively), Lenovo, ZTE, Huawei, Oppo do not release special series, which include only pronounced flagships. And the wide range of models does not allow us to unambiguously single out the “best” smartphone of the company.
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Mobile users often wonder what a flagship is. This term is often used for various consumer electronics... We often hear phrases such as "flagship device", " flagship smartphone"And" flagship features ", but we have little understanding of what it all means. In fact, these terms do not have a clear definition, since each person may have their own understanding of the word "flagship".
The meaning of the term
If we turn to history, then we can come to the conclusion that this word has nothing to do with smartphones. Initially, the flagship was called the ship, on board which was the commander of the navy. As a rule, such a vessel was marked with the officer's flag. Hence we can conclude that the word "flagship" is in a sense a synonym for the word "main". That is why flagships are usually called the most advanced mobile devices in the lineup of a particular manufacturer.
If you want to better understand the meaning of a word, then first of all you need to turn to dictionaries to find out its official definition. It turns out that the flagship is not just a navy ship. This word may have another meaning - "the best and most important item from the system or group."
It appears that mobile developers have used an alternate meaning of the word to refer to their best smartphones. But the question arises whether the devices that are called flagships are really the best on the market. The problem is that mobile devices become obsolete very quickly. What is currently considered a flagship may become obsolete in just a few months.
Most often, the manufacturing company uses this word to refer to the smartphone, which it considers to be its best product at the moment. Thanks to this approach, everything becomes immediately clear. As a result, distinguish flagships from regular phones it becomes very simple. Flagship status is automatically assigned to the best universal phone company and is independent of features or specifications. The flagship is considered the most popular device in demand, regardless of whether it has the most advanced features. Even manufacturers of relatively cheap mobile devices have their own smartphones that also fall under this definition.
Flagship usually represents everything that a single company has to offer within one phone. In this case, the manufacturing company itself decides which device is considered the main one, in fact, depriving its customers of this right. Flagship usually has all or most of the features that the company has developed at the time of its release. For example, the Samsung Galaxy device, which has 4GB of RAM, is considered the main one, despite the fact that the OnePlus 3 has 6GB of RAM. The new flagship must have the best characteristics compared to its predecessor.
Such a mobile phone will always be compared to other devices. The company is trying to make its Flagship as effective as possible, so that it looks worthy against the background of competitors. But contrary to popular belief, the main phone may not always be the most expensive in the lineup. Recently, there has been an interesting trend when manufacturers are increasingly leaning towards the so-called budget flagships. Such devices are compared not with expensive competitors' phones, but with those devices that are in the same price range with them.
Since all smartphone manufacturers designate certain devices as flagships, buyers will pay attention to them first. If the phone is assigned such a status, then it automatically falls into a certain category, which makes it stand out among the huge variety of less popular devices. But what are the defining characteristics that make a phone a flagship?
It can be assumed that such a smartphone must necessarily have functions that are considered standard among competitors. For example, a device with a 1080p display cannot get Flagship status as all companies are already migrating to Quad HD.
