It’s difficult for the electronics industry. Broken utility lines, falling sales and dizzying changes in consumer behavior are the be-all and end-all in 2020. With that in mind, the fact that Europe’s biggest tech show somehow managed to avoid cancellation is a small miracle.
IFA 2020 is hardly going as usual. There were far fewer starts than usual and the excitement for the show is downright subdued. Nevertheless, the Berlin trade fair is the quasi-official start of the decisive autumn season, and many companies have taken the opportunity to bring new devices to the market.
We have rounded up the most important smartphones that have been announced in the past few weeks, both on-site at IFA and through virtual events from around the world.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2
Samsung’s foldable is back with a vengeance. Compared to the daring but flawed original Fold, the new Galaxy Z Fold 2 looks like a real generation leap. Indeed, it seems implausible that only a year separates the two leaflets.
We’re still waiting for the reviews to be released, but the Z Fold 2 seems to fix some of the biggest issues of the first model while making a huge improvement in design. The external screen is bigger and better, and new ultra-thin glass protects the internal one. The Z Fold 2 is not only a futuristic real transformer, but also embodies all of Samsung’s smartphone know-how. In short, the Z Fold 2 is a lot of phone (or tablet), albeit for a lot of money.
Try It: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 Buying Guide: All You Need To Know
Asus ZenFone 7 Pro
The things phone manufacturers will do for a flawless screen … Where ZTE buried the selfie camera under the pixels, Asus flipped the script with an ingenious pivoting camera. In its second incarnation, the Asus ZenFone 7 Pro differs from all other cell phones with its swiveling camera. Not only does this enable crop-free viewing, it also gives users the best selfie cameras on any phone right now.
The ZenFone 7 Pro isn’t (just) a funky phone. It’s a serious flagship that has a lot of power and a range of features that will satisfy most users. It’s not without its flaws, however, as we detailed in our review – Asus had to sacrifice water resistance and weight to accommodate the flip cam.
Our opinion: Asus Zenfone 7 Pro review: part smartphone, part vlogging camera
Realme X7 Pro
Realme had some announcements to make at IFA, and in fact, it was one of the few major smartphone manufacturers to hold a real press event at the show. The emerging Chinese brand announced significant expansion into Europe as well as the international release of the Realme X7 and X7 Pro along with the new Realme 7 series and several accessories.
The Realme X7 Pro is powered by MediaTek’s flagship Dimensity 1000+ chip and features a 120 Hz AMOLED display, 8 GB of RAM, 256 GB of storage, a 4,500 mAh battery and a quad camera setup with a 64 -Megapixel main sensor. It’s no sucker and if you know Realme the price will be very good.
ZTE Axon 20 5G
People remember the best, but they also remember the first. ZTE won the race to announce the first phone with an under-screen selfie camera with the Axon 20 5G. It’s a huge achievement that had to bring several technologies together. The invisible camera is a triumph of minimalism that instantly makes potholes and mechanical solutions appear obsolete.
While the Axon 20 5G is a world first, it is in fact not a top of the line phone. ZTE relied on the Snapdragon 765G and opted for affordability and efficiency over the raw muscles of the Snapdragon 865. A generous battery, fast charging and a versatile camera set complete the picture.
Continue reading: Snapdragon 765G versus Snapdragon 865
Moto One 5G
Recognition: Supplied by Motorola
Aside from the Edge, Motorola has mostly focused its attention on the affordable devices in its One range. With the Moto One 5G, the range makes the leap to the new connectivity standard and makes 5G an even more accessible offering.
Granted, there isn’t much to write about the Moto One 5G that looks like a rebranded Moto G 5G Plus. The Snapdragon 765 processor has become the norm in the sub-premium segment, but it only has 4 GB of RAM. The battery has at least a generous 5,000 mAh.
Samsung Galaxy M51
The value proposition here is simple: battery for days. With its 7,000 mAh battery, the Galaxy M51 simply outshines other phones in its price range. The battery is actually the largest of all the phones Samsung released in 2020. The 25W charging speed is decent too.
The Samsung battery champion, which is available for only 360 euros, hits the mark with other specifications too. You get a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display, Snapdragon 730 chip, 6GB of RAM, and a quad camera setup. Not bad for the price. It’s also a breath of fresh air when you prefer form to function.
That concludes our look at some of the most interesting phones to hit the market in the past few weeks. Several other devices were either featured or had international releases at IFA 2020, including the Realme 7 and Realme 7 Pro, the Samsung Galaxy A42, Nubia’s Red Magic 5S, and the Oppo F17 Pro.
Which is your favorite
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