Flagship phones are high-end smartphones that offer cutting-edge features and technology. They’re the pinnacle of a manufacturer’s phone lineup and designed to appeal to discriminating customers.
Tech enthusiasts agree that phones like Apple’s iPhone series, the OnePlus 6T, and the new Oppo Find N5 represent the flagships of their respective brands. However, the term’s loose definition leaves room for interpretation.
Display
Historically, the term flagship meant the best or most important ship in a fleet. Today, it can refer to a single phone or an entire series of smartphones. For instance, a phone from Samsung’s Galaxy S series is a flagship. Similarly, Google’s Pixel phones are called flagships.
Unlike other smartphones, most flagships feature premium displays. They are usually OLED and have high resolutions. Moreover, they are also more responsive than their cheaper counterparts. They can quickly change colour and brightness, as well as display settings and modes. These features help users get the most out of their devices.
In addition to these display enhancements, flagship phones have other features that make them stand out. For example, the OnePlus 6T features a unique Glyph interface that lets users customize notifications and apps. It also includes a feature that silences notifications when you need to focus. You can even choose to have certain “essential” notifications light up the Glyph interface.
Flagship phones are designed to be the best in their class. But the industry is becoming more and more crowded, with many flagships looking the same. Some manufacturers have even opted to release new flagships every year instead of improving existing models. However, this is a difficult proposition because yearly releases can lead to customer fatigue. For example, a new flagship phone may only have small improvements over its predecessor.
Camera
Flagship phones offer best-in-class cameras for the price. They have powerful processors that can process large amounts of data to produce high-resolution images and videos. These smartphones also come with powerful software for image editing, including popular tools like retouching and cropping. Some flagship smartphones also offer features like HDR and portrait mode to enhance your shots.
While megapixel counts do matter, most people don’t want to receive 200MP images in their inboxes. However, a phone’s camera isn’t just about the number of pixels; it’s also about the quality and flexibility of its sensors.
The latest flagship phones take image processing to the next level with a new generation of advanced sensors. The Pixel 9 Pro, for example, keeps the same tried-and-true triple-lens setup as its predecessor but improves on it with an upgraded Google-designed Tensor G4 chip and new editing capabilities. Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro offers an impressive combination of camera hardware and software, too. The phone’s new dual-lens telephoto sensor adds up to 5x optical zoom and improved low-light performance, while an updated version of the camera app makes it easier to adjust shooting settings.
Meanwhile, Sony’s Xperia XZ3 continues to offer premium camera controls for both photo and video, even as the brand loses its edge in the smartphone market. These include professional dials for various shooting modes, a dedicated Cinema Pro app, and a headphone jack.
Processor
The best flagship phones are powered by the latest mobile processors. These chips can easily handle complex tasks like photo and video editing. They can also handle demanding games and provide crystal-clear audio. Flagship phones also tend to have higher clock speeds and faster graphics cores than other smartphones.
Every year, phone companies release new flagship devices with cutting-edge hardware. Then, the old flagship phones are upgraded to match the new models with software updates. That way, consumers can still enjoy the latest features on their phones without having to buy a new one.
Even though smartphones are constantly evolving, yearly flagship releases make sense for most companies. That’s because most people who want the best possible experience are willing to spend a bit more on their devices.
Flagship phones are essentially the fastest and most expensive mobile devices on the market. They are a good choice for anyone who wants to use their phone for work, gaming, or photography. However, if you want a high-quality phone for a reasonable price, mid-range or budget flagship phones are a great option.
It’s important to remember that there is no strict definition of a flagship phone. The name is derived from the term “flagship ship,” which refers to the lead vessel in a fleet. This could be a cruise ship, aircraft carrier, or other type of vessel.
Battery
Phones have come a long way since the early days of nickel metal hydride batteries. These took ages to charge, ran down quickly and had a short lifespan. Then came lithium ion cells, which can be recharged faster, last for longer and are less likely to get damaged by overcharging. These have become commonplace on budget phones and mid-range models, but premium handsets used to focus more on cameras, design and performance than battery life.
That has changed in recent years, as flagships have topped the best battery lists regularly. This may be because mobile silicon is getting more efficient, larger phones allow for bigger batteries or a combination of both. But whatever the reason, smartphones with large screens and a host of features are now lasting longer than ever before.
If you’re after a top-of-the-line flagship that will give you all-day battery life, then look no further than Samsung’s S24 Ultra. It’s a bit thicker than other flagships, but it has a massive 22,000mAh cell inside. That should be enough to see you through a demanding day with plenty of power left over, and two days is within reach for many people.
The latest Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro offers a similar experience, with a 4,000mAh cell and an impressive 6.4-inch pOLED display that can be viewed at a 144Hz refresh rate. This will easily see you through most tasks, and the phone can be refuelled from empty to 90% in under an hour using a fast charger.
