Mobile World Congress
It’s fair to say this year’s Barcelona launch-fest lacked a wow moment or two, but a handful of handsets did catch our all-seein eye…
Our pick of the new phones on show for 2018
MIDDLE GROUND Nokia 7 Plus
Flagship phones are getting so pricey you’re soon going to have to start selling body parts to be able to afford one. Nokia would prefer you keep your pancreas and buy what it calls an ‘affordable flagship’ instead. The 7 Plus might only set you back £350, but it’s packing all the luxuries you’d expect from a top-end 2018 blower – like an 18:9 screen, twin cameras and a lush ‘ceramic feel’ finish. £350 / nokia.com
HIGHER GROUND Sony Xperia XZ2
It’s not easy being a smartphone in 2018. If you’re not rocking a big ol’ bezel-busting display, you’re not going to turn heads. Sony’s plan is to go hard on three of the biggest letters in modern screen tech: HDR. The Xperia XZ2 has a 5.7in 2160x1080 display, and it can upscale plain SDR content to something very close to HDR. Oh, and 4K HDR video recording is on board too. £699 / sonymobile.com
STONY GROUND Land Rover Explore
We love fancy flagship phones, but the presence of such a gem in your pocket on a mountain hike is only going to worry you. No, you need something rugged. You need – wait for it – the Land Rover Explore. Apparently inspired by the Land Rover Discovery, this rock-hard blower is happy to go for a swim, will withstand extreme temperatures and 1.8m drops, and has a hefty 4000mah battery. £599 / landroverexplore.com