Tech review: Do I really need a $1,000 phone?

By: Jeremy McEvoy

Junior Photo Editor

Tech Review: Do I Really Need a $500 Phone?

Tech Review: Phones for Students on a Student Budget

“Groundbreaking” updates in technology can overwhelm the decision process of selecting a phone. I hope to help change that. This week, we will look through the up and coming overseas phone market. Names include Xiaomi, OnePlus and our runner up Huawei.

Starting at $150, Xiaomi’s $150 Redmi 7 boasts a 4000mAh battery, an Octa-core Snapdragon 632 CPU, expandable 64GB of storage and dual rear-facing cameras. The large battery assures you will get through the day without getting close to touching a charger. This, combined with Snapdragons 632 highly efficient and fast processor, can sometimes allow two days of use without your phone dying! Definitely the best budget phone on the market.

Next up is the OnePlus 6t. This is arguably the best all-around phone that’s easily accessible in the US. With an Optical in screen fingerprint sensor, a beautiful 6.41-inch AMOLED screen, a fast Snapdragon 845 CPU, Duel 16 + 20mp OI stabilized rear-facing cameras, what’s not to love. Especially when you realize it’s only $570. OnePlus has high standards of quality control as well. Each phone is thoroughly tested before being put in a box and shipped off to you. If even one tiny defect is caught, the phone is scrapped and sent back to the beginning of the assembly line with the broken part being removed. YouTube channel, Linus Tech Tips, did a full video on OnePluses quality control process. The runner up for this category is the Xiaomi Mi 9. Personally, this is the phone I would choose. It’s currently not readily available in the US, so I can’t give it a firm recommendation just yet.

The Poco by Xiaomi features a 4000mah battery, Snapdragon 835 CPU and a 20MP rear-facing camera. You can’t beat the $300 price tag! Similarly to the Redmi 7, you can get up to two days of battery before charging the phone. The camera on this phone is the main selling point though. Youtuber and tech reviewer, MKBHD, ran a blind camera pole. Poco placing second to the Huawei Mate 20 Pro, a $900 phone. Keeping in mind, this also beat the iPhone XS Max and the Google Pixel 3.

If you are looking to watch a lot of videos on your phone, the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 may be the phone for you. The Mi Mix 3 has a 6.39-inch display covering 93.4% of the front of the phone, with no interruptions and no notch! According to mi.com, they are able to achieve this by “the innovative magnetic slider, which stayed working like new after 300,000 intensive test slides.” The whole front of the phone slides down to expose duel 24 + 2MP camera setup and a front facing flash! Sadly, the front facing flash does not work inside of Snapchat. But with a price tag around $500, I don’t think that’s a huge downside!

Huawei brings a lot of promising features to the table, even selling to the US directly. However, in recent news, Huawei has been suspected of stealing user data.

Phones have become a part of our everyday life and there’s no reason to be paying upwards of $800 for a fast phone that takes good pictures.