Best Smartphones To Give As Christmas Gifts In 2018

When it comes to Christmas gifts, a smartphone is a good pick since most people do just about everything with it nowadays. With the smorgasbord of handsets in the market, however, it’s not easy to find the perfect one. Things to consider when shopping for a smartphone include budget and the person it’s meant for, be it a tech geek or a kid who might need one that’s built to last.

With that said, here are five of the best smartphones to give as Christmas gifts in 2018.

Google Pixel 3/Pixel 3 XL

It’s easy to see why the Pixel 3 is a top pick here. First off, the camera is simply awesome and is arguably the best out of all the current Android phones, beating two-, three- and even four-lensed rivals. Particularly, it stands out from the competition thanks to its impeccable low-light photography performance. And the best part is that it delivers a pure Android experience and is promised to receive timely security patches.

Now the main differences between the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are that the latter has a larger display, notch and bigger battery.

The price starts from $799.

iPhone XS

The iPhone XS is probably the best iPhone to come out yet from Apple. The phone's size just feels right in the hand, it sports an impressive dual-camera setup ­— just like the iPhone XS Max — and it has the specs to deliver a speedy performance.

If budget is an issue, the iPhone XR (starts from $749) is a good alternative to the iPhone XS, though it’s missing a few features here and there, and instead of an OLED display, it’s got a slightly less vibrant LCD display.

Price starts from $999.

Samsung Galaxy Note9

When it comes to Android phones, the Galaxy Note9 is among the top. It has got the hardware for power users, features that make a smartphone scream high-end and a premium appearance. Not to mention it also comes with the S Pen, a stylus that can make taking notes easier or even take pictures at a distance.

Price starts from $999.99.

OnePlus 6T

Basically, the OnePlus 6T is a phone with high-end specs and features that’s available at a mid-range price. It’s got a dual-camera setup on the back, Android Pie out of the box, a speedy processor and an in-display fingerprint scanner.

Price starts from $549.

Moto G6

For the shopper on a budget, the Moto G6 is an excellent choice this Christmas. It’s the perfect blend of price, performance and usability. It can do basic stuff really well, and it’s got a pretty big 3,000 mAh battery to keep the lights on.

Price starts from $249.