Smartphone Awards 2018!

The Smartphone Awards 2018 video opens with Marques Brownlee framing a year of mobile launches as a comprehensive awards show. He explains the structure: multiple categories, each with a winner, a runner-up, and an honorable mention when deserved. The host emphasizes that the phones of 2018 varied widely in design, hardware, and software, making a year-end recap both necessary and challenging. Throughout the opening segments, he previews the categories ahead, signaling a detailed breakdown of big phones, compact phones, cameras, battery life, design, budget options, and notable disappointments. The narrative then transitions into the first category, Best Big Smartphone, where the Galaxy Note 9 is highlighted for its display, battery, storage expansion, and S Pen features, establishing a high bar for large devices. The runner-up in this category, the Huawei Mate 20 Pro, is noted for a slightly smaller footprint yet still delivering a substantial 6.4 inch display, a strong battery, and a triple camera setup that broadens focal length options. The discussion moves forward to the Best Small Smartphone, with the iPhone XS presented as the standout in a shrinking compact segment, thanks to its performance, camera system, and iOS ecosystem, followed closely by a Pixel 3 as the runner-up with its smaller footprint and strong stereo speakers. Next, the Best Camera category crowns the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL for their software-driven image quality, HDR processing, Night Sight capability, and superior overall photo output, while the iPhone XS is recognized for video performance and audio quality as a strong secondary option, and Huawei Mate 20 Pro earns an honorable mention for its versatile triple-camera system. The video continues to Best Battery Life, Design Award, and Best Budget Phone, highlighting Huawei Mate 20 Pro again for stamina, the Oppo Find 10’s bezel-less design as a bold styling statement, and the Xiaomi Pocophone F1 as a standout budget pick that delivered exceptional value. The Biggest Bust category singles out the Red Hydrogen One for underwhelming performance despite hype, and the Most Improved award goes to the Razer Phone 2 for turning a gaming-focused device into a more daily-drivable flagship. Finally, the MVP of 2018 is awarded to OnePlus 6T, praised for flagship-level performance at a significantly lower price, with the Galaxy Note 9 and Huawei Mate 20 Pro acknowledged as strong runners-up and honorable mentions, respectively. The closing commentary celebrates a diverse and accessible year for smartphones, arguing that the array of excellent devices across categories ensures there is something for every user type, from photographers and fans of high-end hardware to budget-conscious buyers and compact-phone enthusiasts. The host signs off by inviting viewers to reflect on 2018’s mobile landscape and teases subsequent content for the channel.

Topics · technology · consumer-electronics · smartphones · reviews · awards · design