Smartphone reviews: iPhone 11 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S20, Huawei P40 Pro+ and more
Experts from IT Pro give their verdicts on the latest models
Multiple cameras, sparkling video and even the functionality to make calls… there’s no doubt that smartphone developers are taking tech to the next level.
Writers from IT Pro, TheWeek.co.uk’s sister publication, have been busy testing some of the new mobiles on the market in 2020, including the Apple iPhone 11 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S20.
Here we take a look at their verdicts…
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Apple iPhone 11 Pro
Review by Jonathan Bray, IT Pro Considering how good its rivals are, the iPhone 11 Pro is simply too expensive. But there is no getting around the fact that the 11 Pro is a brilliant phone. It looks much nicer than the photos suggest and its cameras are beyond compare. It shoots amazing video, and its battery life is a huge improvement on last year’s flagship iPhones. If you’re an Apple devotee and don’t mind splashing out, this is the phone to buy. The only thing to decide is whether to stick with the pocket-friendly iPhone 11 Pro or opt for the giant-sized iPhone 11 Pro Max. Price: £958 exc VAT (64GB).
Samsung Galaxy S20
Review by Adam Shepherd, IT Pro Samsung has earned a place as one of the top three smartphone manufacturers in the world, and its latest crop of devices looks to be its most promising yet. While not a radical departure from previous iterations, the new Galaxy S20 and S20+ are attractive and well-specced. If they prove to be as good in practice as they look upon first impression, Samsung will probably have another solid hit on its hands. Price: £799 for the S20 and £999 for the S20+.
Huawei P40 Pro+
Review by Bobby Hellard, IT Pro
The Chinese firm has launched a new series of flagship phones - the P40, the P40 Pro and the P40 Pro+ - the latter of which is the biggest, and possibly the best, of the three. The P40 Pro+ looks like another knockout device from Huawei. It has a huge display, exciting AI features and superzoom cameras. Price: £1,300 (launching in June).
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Review by Adam Shepherd, IT Pro The Galaxy Z Flip is by far the best implementation of a foldable phone we’ve seen yet (with the caveat that we still haven’t got our hands on a Surface Neo or Duo), and it seemingly solves many of the problems faced by both its predecessor and the Motorola Razr at a stroke. Before Samsung starts getting too much of a big head, however, it should be noted that the Flip does not solve the biggest issue with foldables – they are a solution looking for a problem. Short of removing the need for a phone stand when making a video call or watching a video, there is no practical reason we can see that a foldable phone would be preferable to a normal, non-foldable one. Is the Z Flip the best foldable phone around? It looks like it. Does that make it a good phone? Not necessarily. Price: £1,300.
OnePlus 7T
Review by Bobby Hellard, IT Pro If you purchased a OnePlus 7 and felt slightly disappointed by the lack of razzamatazz, then the 7T is what you’re after. It looks better, it feels better and has that extra camera in a futuristic-looking dome. But, you’ll need to cough up more than the £499 you spent on the 7 - £150 more, to be precise. At £549, the 7T is more expensive than the Google Pixel 4 and not far off the S10 (still well behind the iPhone, though) which suggests that the company’s miraculous run of producing pound for pound value is over. However, this doesn’t have the shoddy battery life of the Pixel 4, or the small display issues and is still more than £100 cheaper than Samsung or Huawei’s flagships. It’s no longer as much of a bargain, but it is still a belter. Price: £549.
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