IFA 2018: Three Smartphones That Stood Out At Berlin Exhibition

IFA 2018 gathered a lot of tech companies, and among them are phone makers who opted to unveil their new handsets at the big Berlin exhibition. Below are three newly announced smartphones that stood out at the event.

Sony Xperia XZ3

The Japanese company surprised everyone when it unveiled the Xperia XZ3 at IFA 2018 because it debuted the Xperia XZ2 just earlier this year. The handset does not come with a drastic design upgrade, but it caught a lot of attention due to the fact that it features an OLED display that is based on Sony’s BRAVIA TV technology, as pointed out by 9to5Google.

The device, which packs a 6-inch quad HD+ screen, is definitely targeted at consumers who want spectacular viewing entertainment on the go for it comes with HDR as well. In addition, the Xperia XZ3 has X-Reality technology that “up-converts” standard dynamic range content to HDR.

The Xperia XZ3 is a flagship device, so it is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 processor and has 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal memory. The phone, which houses a 3,330 mAh batter, is covered in Gorilla Glass 5 for protection and it dons some fancy color options like Forest Green and Bordeaux Red.

Unfortunately, the phone does not come with a headphone jack. But it’s still an outstanding model given its wireless charging functionality and vibration system. It’s also worth noting that the handset features a 19-megapixel MotionEye back camera and a new 13-megapixel front camera with an f/1.9 aperture.

LG G7 One

LG also made a surprising move at IFA 2018 when it introduced its first Android One handset that is actually a variant of its LG G7 ThinQ flagship. What made the device stand out is the fact that it comes with the standard LG G7 ThinQ perks, but it has cleaner and lighter software and, quite possibly, a more affordable price tag.

The LG G7 One is equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. Because it is an Android One handset, it is running Android 8.1 Oreo without LG’s proprietary skin. The device has a 6.1-inch SuperBright LCD display with a screen resolution of 1440x3120. Its screen features Dolby Vision and is HDR10 compliant.

Making the LG G7 One all the more attractive is its IP68-rated metal and glass build and MIL-STD-810G compliant body. Also worth mentioning are its other features like Boombox speaker, a headphone jack with 32-bit HIFI DAC and its Google Assistant button.

BlackBerry Key2 LE

The third standout smartphone at IFA 2018 is none other than BlackBerry’s Key2 LE handset. The very affordable phone features BlackBerry’s signature physical QWERTY keyboard. It does lack some of the features of the Key2, but it delivers the same user experience, 9to5Google noted in a separate report.

Just like the BlackBerry Key2, the Key2 LE comes with a 4.5-inch display that has a 1080x1620 screen resolution. The Key2 LE is very minimally smaller than the Key2, but it does sport the same appearance as the latter.

The new BlackBerry device also has less performance power than its parent phone. The Key2 LE is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636, while the Key2 has the Snapdragon 660. The former also has smaller memory configurations. It only has 4GB RAM and 32/64GB storage options. On the contrary, the Key2 has 6GB of RAM and 64/128GB storage options.

The Key2 LE’s battery capacity is also smaller compared to that of the Key2. The former houses a 3,000 mAh battery, while the latter has a 3,500 mAh battery. Despite the downgrades, the BlackBerry Key2 LE, which runs Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box, is still a remarkable handset for it will retail for only $399. The Key2, on the other hand, has a selling price of $649.99.