Best new smartphones: Samsung Galaxy Note 8, OnePlus 5, Moto Z2 Play reviewed and rated

THERE’S never been a better time to buy a new smartphone, and we’ve gathered up five of the best, including the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, for review.

SPRING has sprung and new smartphones are blooming.

There’s no better time to be in the market for a new handset, with Apple poised to unveil new iPhones next week, Samsung ready to show off its biggest phone yet, and plenty of competition from Google Android handsets of all prices.

Here are five of the latest smartphones, reviewed, to make your choice easier.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

4.5 out of 5 / $1499 / samsung.com/au

Samsung's Galaxy Note 8 smartphone brings back the stylus.

IT boasts a record-breaking, 6.3-inch screen, brings back the S-Pen, adds super handy software tweaks, and hosts all the inclusions you’d expect in a top phone — water-resistance, 64GB storage, an expandable memory, more RAM than some computers, and even a standard headphone jack. But the new Galaxy Note’s best feature is its dual 12-megapixel camera with optical image stabilisation and Live Focus mode. Samsung is playing catch-up in the dual camera business, of course, but its take is well executed, letting you choose between telephoto and wide-angle perspectives while you take a photo and change your mind after you’ve captured it. You can also sharpen or further blur portrait backgrounds captured in Live Focus mode. This smartphone does have two notable drawbacks, however. First, it has a smaller battery. Second, its rear fingerprint scanner is awkwardly placed. It’s no longer right beside the camera (there’s a flash beside it now, thankfully) but it requires a long reach up a tall phone.

OnePlus 5

4 out of 5 / $599-$699 / oneplus.net/au

The OnePlus 5 smartphone features high-end features and a mid-range price.

This surprise addition to the Australian smartphone market — at one of the busiest times of the year, no less — offers top-tier features for a mid-range price. Its dual cameras offer high resolution, crisp focus, plus portrait and zoom modes, it will accept two SIM cards at once, and its fingerprint scanner is accurate and front-and-centre on the device. It also boasts a surprising amount of power (up to 8GB RAM), a Snapdragon chip, standard headphone jack, USB-C connection, and a iPhone-inspired mute switch on one side. Its 5.5-inch screen doesn’t match the resolution of top models, and it won’t let you add more storage or dunk it in water, but if you can forgo these luxuries, the OnePlus 5 can give you access to top features at almost half the price of its peers.

Lenovo Moto Z2 Play

3.5 out of 5 / $699 / motorola.com.au

Motorola Moto Z2 Play

The latest Moto smartphone not only ticks most must-have boxes but lets users add more features later. The 5.5-inch smartphone offers a capable 12-megapixel camera out back, a 5-megapixel selfie camera up front, a water-repellent coating, 64GB storage, and space for a memory card. Its Google Android menus are clean, but there are also some handy Moto shortcuts (like twisting the phone to open its camera) that you can enable in the menu. The Z2 is also compatible with Moto Mod accessories, like the new JBL speaker that adds plenty of volume if some bulk. Its battery is not as large, its screen is not as crisp, its camera is not as impressive, and it’s not as fast as its more expensive peers, but those interested in adding and subtracting features from a phone should appreciate this offering.

Oppo R11

3.5 out of 5 / $649 / jbhifi.com.au

The Oppo R11 has an iPhone feel and a lower price.

If imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, Oppo is showering the Apple iPhone in compliments with this handset. The R11 is a suspiciously familiar 5.5-inch smartphone with rounded corners, square icons, and a camera menu so much like iOS you might either gasp or feel right at home. Its dual cameras deliver a 2x zoom or portrait effect, and there’s a 20-megapixel front camera for selfies. Unlike its Apple forefather, you can boost this phone’s 64GB memory with a MicroSD card, and it doesn’t offer water resistance. It also lacks the grunt and speed of the similarly priced OnePlus 5 handset.

Alcatel A3 XL

3 out of 5 stars / $179 / alcatel-mobile.com

The Alcatel A3 XL features a 6-inch screen for a budget price.

This phone is designed to accommodate people with big-screen dreams but tiny budgets. For less than $200, it delivers a 6-inch display with reasonable clarity, an 8-megapixel rear camera with some manual controls, a rear fingerprint scanner, and the latest Google Android software. It is a on the slow side when it comes to operation, and its built-in 8GB storage will need an immediate boost from a memory card, but it’s much more user-friendly than its price suggests.

Originally published as Best new smartphones: Samsung Galaxy Note 8, OnePlus 5, Moto Z2 Play reviewed and rated