There is no ‘best’ phone for real estate professionals as everyone’s needs differ. You may prioritize the phone’s operating system for better communication apps, while your co-worker may put more importance on the two-way camera to take selfies at his desk. I sat down with smartphone enthusiast Jeremy de Souza to break down this year’s top phones. Let’s take a look at what he told me re: the best phones from world’s leading smartphone brands in 2017:
iPhone 7 Plus
Get the simple and intuitive iOS on Apple’s newest phone. As with all iPhones, the iPhone 7 plus offers great compatibility with other Apple products. The iPhone 7 Plus has a great dual lens camera that comes with a DSLR type bokeh effect with great filters for photo editing. Though it has a mediocre battery size of 2900 mAh, the iPhone 7 Plus is optimized for great battery life, keeping your phone running all day and into the next. The iPhone 7 Plus also has the most storage of all smartphones, with a whopping 256 GB of storage (however, it doesn’t come with expandable storage). Look out for the iPhone 7s and iPhone 8 to be released in September 2017.
Google Pixel
The power of Google on a phone. No Android phone offers better software than the Google Pixel. Despite not having a dual lens camera, the Google Pixel also has one of the best point-and-shoot camera of any smartphone. The Google Pixel 2 will be launched around October 2017.
OnePlus 5
No top of the line phone offers greater value than the OnePlus 5. The OnePlus5 offers a 16 Megapixel Dual lens camera, 8 GBS of RAM, the latest Snapdragon 835 processor and a 3300 mAh battery at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of only $539USD. If you want a top of the line phone at a low price, you can’t go wrong with the OnePlus 5.
Samsung S8/S8+
No one does design better than Samsung. The exterior of the beautiful S8/S8+ is made of glass. Take a look, it’s beautiful. With the S8+, get crystal clarity with the industry’s best display. It has a curved 5.8”/6.2” screen with a resolution of 1440x2960 pixels and a pixel density of 529 pixels per inch (ppi). Also, keep your eyes out for reviews of the Samsung Note 8 and its unique ‘S Pen’ that was released on August 23rd, 2017.
Moto Z Play
Over several years, Motorola has rightfully earned the reputation as a highly reliable phone capable of running smoothly and handling multiple demanding tasks. In terms of performance, the Moto Z Play lives up to expectations. With its highly optimized system and a 3510 mAh battery, the Moto Z Play outclasses both the iPhone and Google Pixel in battery life, giving you one of the longest lasting battery lives of all top end phones.
Huawei P10 Plus
Although the Samsung S8+ holds the title for best display, the Huawei P10 Plus is a close second. The Huawei P10 Plus has a resolution of 1440x2560 pixels and a pixel density of 534 ppi which is actually denser than that of the Samsung S8+. With a highly optimized system and a 3750 mAh battery, the Huawei P10 Plus will run smoothly throughout your day without lag or low battery. Watch for the Huawei Mate 10 to be launched in October 2017, which is expected to be the most powerful smartphone Huawei has ever made.
BlackBerry KEYone
Blackberry makes a comeback? The BlackBerry KEYone, the first BlackBerry phone made by smartphone maker TCL Communications, is arguably the best BlackBerry phone since the days of the BlackBerry Curve. Running on the Android 7.1 OS, the BlackBerry KEYone comes complete with BlackBerry’s signature keyboard. Each key on the keyboard can be used to launch anything you want on your phone, a great feature that can increase productivity. Unlike BlackBerry’s first Android phone the BlackBerry Priv, the BlackBerry KEYone is a highly optimized phone that sports the best battery life of all smartphones in 2017. It also comes with the same camera hardware as the Google Pixel, making it great at capturing photos. At a great price of $550 USD, the optimized phone with its 3505 mAh battery will keep you running for more than 24 hours.
HTC U11
The HTC U11 will give you the performance you expect with its high processing power and optimized system. What sets the HTC U11 apart is its video capturing capabilities. HTC U11 takes remarkably high quality videos in 3840x2160 pixel 4K resolution or 1920x1080 pixel (1080p HD) resolution with 120 frames per second with a 3d audio capturing ability where the more you zoom in, the louder the subject sound is. If you want a phone with the great video recording capabilities, the HTC U11 is a great choice.
HP Elite x3
The HP Elite x3 stands alongside the iPhone 7 Plus as the only flagship phones in 2017 to not run on the Android OS. Unlike the iPhone, the HP Elite x3 runs on the Windows 10 Mobile OS. Supported by a massive 4150 mAh battery, the HP Elite x3 sets for the ambitious goal of being your phone, laptop and desktop in one device. The pro: have all your work always accessible in the palm of your hand. The con: you won’t have access to many of the apps that you would have been able to get on your iPhone or Android device. If the apps you need are available on the Windows 10 Mobile app store, you’re a Microsoft user and you want to be one of the first in real estate to benefit from the forthcoming consolidation of your computers and phones, try out the HP Elite x3.
Sony Xperia XZ Premium
Like the Huawei P10 Plus, the Sony Xperia XZ Premium competes with the Samsung S8+ for the best smartphone display in 2017. Although superior technology allows the Samsung S8+ to hold claim to having the best display, the Sony Xperia XZ Premium actually beats the Samsung S8+ when you compare their specs. The Sony Xperia XZ Premium has a screen resolution of a remarkable 2160x3840 pixels and a pixel density of 801 ppi. The Sony Xperia XZ Premium also has the highest resolution autofocus camera in industry with 19 MegaPixels. In addition, the Sony Xperia XZ Premium competes with the HTC U11 for best video camera, and has the unique ability to shoot high quality slow motion video, a unique feature that could be great in capturing outdoor shots of properties.
LG G6
Like other glass phones, the LG G6 is water and dust resistant. Unlike other glass phones, the LG G6 is uniquely shock resistant as well. With a sleek design, 1440x2880 pixel 561 ppi display as well as good photo and video taking capabilities the LG G6 checks in at a great price of around $600 USD. Watch for the LG V30 and LG V30 Plus (around $700 and $875 USD respectively) to be launched later this year. The LG V30 will be compatible with Google’s Daydream VR headset.
Android Essential Phone
Made by the makers of the Android OS themselves, the Essential Phone boasts a unique ceramic and titanium design. Unlike any other smartphone, the Essential Phone has a snap on 360 degree camera, allowing you to take your brokerage’s videos to the next level. Unfortunately, the camera on the Essential Phone is not as good as the cameras of other top-of-the-line phones. Without the added software included by most other branded phones, the Essential Phone focuses on the ‘essentials’, giving you a smartphone with supremely optimized software. Get the best experience out of your Android OS by getting a phone made by the guys you made Android.
Want to get the full breakdown of each of the top phones of 2017? Get the full breakdown of each phones’ review ratings, operating system, durability, screen size, display specs, camera, camcorder, processor, memory, storage, battery and price here!
If you haven't already, check out our blog on Top 10 Considerations for Real Estate Professionals in Choosing a Smartphone.
Interested in a breakdown of the best budget phones currently on the market? Let us know in the comments below!
