After a few weeks of arguing with myself, I finally bought an iPhone 11, its awesome and I love it. I love the color; I love how fast it is, and I adore the camera. There is just one thing that is irking me. Every time my friends pull out their big, shiny phones, my premium new phone looks tiny in comparison.
Is it possible to have screen size envy? I don’t know, but every time I see my iPhone 11 next to its bigger brother the pro max, I feel a little small. Big screened phones, or ‘phablets’ as they have been unfortunately nicknamed, aren’t for everyone, but once you go big, it’s hard to go back.
Whether I stick with my gorgeous green iPhone 11, or migrate to a bigger phone remains to be seen, but in the meantime, I thought I would round up the four best phablets you can buy right now. Yes, I’ll put myself through screen envy all over again, anything for you guys.
iPhone 11 pro max
Starting the party right with my personal favorite of the phablets, the iPhone 11 pro max. Simply put, if you’re an Apple fan, this is the best phablet you can buy. With an incredible OLED screen and a camera system capable of professional quality images, the pro max takes out my top spot. If you are an Android fan, ignore this one and keep reading (and please don’t hate me.)
Screen size: 6.5 inches
CPU: a13 Bionic
RAM: 4 GB
Storage options: 64/256/512 GB
Samsung galaxy note 10+
If there was an Android phone that would make me switch, it would be the note 10 plus. The edge to edge display makes Apples look old fashioned, and the S-pen is as close as you’ll get to a professional graphics tablet without spending thousands. With blistering performance and futuristic looks, the note 10+ might just be the king of the phablet.
Screen size: 6.8 inches
CPU: Exynos 9825
RAM: 12 GB
Storage options: 256/512 with ability to expand via micro SD slot.
Asus ROG 2
Everyone loves a good wildcard entry, and they don’t come much wilder than the Asus ROG 2. As if the styling didn’t give it away, the ROG 2 is a smartphone aimed squarely at gamers. With a powerful GPU and a 120hz screen, the ROG2 is capable of rivaling a games console in graphical fidelity. Add a Bluetooth controller, and you have a credible mobile gaming system. Oh yeah, I’m pretty sure it makes calls too.
Screen size: 6.59 inches
CPU: Qualcomm SDM855 Snapdragon 855+ (7 nm)
RAM: 8/12 GB
Storage options: 128/256/512 GB or 1 TB
Google Pixel 4 XL
Google has made waves in the smartphone market with the Pixel, and the fourth generation sees many improvements. The 4 XL features a big 90hz screen for smooth motion and has the best-rated camera in a smartphone. If you want a phablet for photography, this is the one to get.
Screen size: 6.3 inches
CPU: Qualcomm SDM855 Snapdragon 855+ (7 nm)
RAM: 6 GB
Storage options: 64/128 GB
2019 was the best year for big-screen smartphones yet, with many devices worthy of your consideration. The four smartphones I have chosen offer enough to distinguish themselves from the competition, but it’s in no way a definitive guide for the best smartphone. For me, the iPhone 11 is perfect, for a hard-core gamer, an Asus ROG2 would be the better choice.
Go to your nearest Harvey Norman or electronics store and try out some phones for yourself. Who knows, maybe 2019 is the year you join the phablet family.
