The 10 Hottest New Mobile Phones Of 2019

Along with three new iPhones, 2019 has also seen big phone launches by Samsung, Google, LG and OnePlus.

Top Smartphones

2019 gave us our first look at the foldable future of the smartphone category, with the game-changing launch of Samsung's Galaxy Fold (after a false start and a few months of tweaks, of course). The year also gave us three new iPhones, with Apple placing greater emphasis on the LCD model in the new lineup, the iPhone 11, rather than on the two high-end OLED models, the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max. Google also expanded its Pixel lineup to include entry-level models, while other mobile phone makers including OnePlus and LG also came out with strong smartphone offerings in 2019 to compete with the likes of Apple, Samsung and Google.

In the following slides we've rounded up our picks for the 10 hottest new mobile phones of 2019.

Get more of CRN's 2019 tech year in review.

Apple iPhone 11

Apple's iPhone 11 features the same 6.1-inch LCD display as its predecessor iPhone XR, but with a $50 price cut, dual camera and improved performance. Compared to the single rear camera on the iPhone XR, the iPhone 11 moves up to dual rear 12-megapixel cameras. In addition to a wide-angle camera, the iPhone 11 introduces an ultra-wide camera with a 120-degree field of view for taking expansive shots. The iPhone 11 also adds Apple's latest processor, the six-core A13 Bionic, while Face ID is also now 30 percent faster and supports more angles, Apple said.

Apple iPhone 11 Pro

The iPhone 11 Pro offers a display size on par with that of the iPhone XS, at 5.8 inches, and identical resolution as well, at 2,436 x 1,125 pixels. The iPhone 11 Pro features a nearly edge-to-edge screen (and camera notch), up to 1,200 nits of brightness and OLED display technology. The phone moves up to a triple-camera setup on the rear, with Apple adding an ultra-wide camera to join the wide and telephoto cameras. The iPhone 11 Pro also provides enhanced performance with the A13 Bionic processor and expanded battery life, with the device able to last "up to four hours longer" than the iPhone XS does.

Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max

The iPhone 11 Pro Max also sticks with the same 6.5-inch display size as its predecessor, the iPhone XS Max. The nearly edge-to-edge OLED display will remain at the same resolution of 2,688 x 1,242 pixels, as well, and will offer up to 1,200 nits of brightness. Otherwise, the iPhone 11 Pro Max is comparable to the iPhone 11 Pro—with the A13 Bionic processor and a triple rear camera system of ultra-wide, wide and telephoto cameras. The larger device offers a bit more battery life, with the iPhone 11 Pro Max able to run up to five hours longer than the XS Max, according to Apple.

Google Pixel 3a XL

Amid rising prices for premium smartphones, Google announced the launch of new Pixel-branded smartphones this year that feature a lower price tag. The Pixel 3a XL is the larger model of the two 3a devices, with a 6-inch OLED display featuring resolution of 2,160 x 1,080 (402 pixels per inch). The device offers a sizable battery (at 3,700 mAh) and the phone comes with many of the key features of the higher-end Pixel devices, including camera capabilities such as Night Sight, Portrait Mode and Super Res Zoom. Notably, the Pixel 3a XL includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is omitted from the higher-end Pixel phones.

Google Pixel 4 XL

Google's Pixel 4 XL features a 6.3-inch OLED display with QHD+ (537 ppi) resolution. Probably the most unique feature introduced with the Pixel 4 XL is "Motion Sense," which brings hand gesture control to key apps in the phone. Examples given by Google include swiping over the phone to silence a call or an alarm, or to skip a song. The Pixel 4 XL also adds a second rear camera to its setup, with a 16-megapixel telephoto camera joining the 12.2-megapixel main rear camera. New capabilities coming with the Pixel 4 XL rear camera system include dual-exposure controls and a wider-range portrait mode.

LG G8 ThinQ

This year, LG debuted its newest flagship, the G8 ThinQ, which stands out with some quirky features. The 6.1-inch smartphone includes a feature that LG is calling "Air Motion" commands, which lets you wave your hand to perform functions such as answering calls, increasing the volume and snoozing an alarm. Users can also log in using a scan of their palm as a new form of biometric authentication. Additionally, LG says the display on the G8 ThinQ is actually also the phone's speaker, which the company says helps to provide clearer, more-immersive sound. The LG G8 ThinQ is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor and features an OLED display with QHD+ resolution.

OnePlus 7 Pro

The OnePlus 7 Pro features a 6.67-inch "Fluid AMOLED" display with a 90 Hz refresh rate, which aims to provide a smoother display appearance. The smartphone also offers slim bezels around the QHD+ display, and the screen curves around the edges of the phone, as well. Meanwhile, the OnePlus 7 Pro comes with three cameras (including a 48-megapixel main camera); fast-charging capabilities for its 4,000 mAh battery; dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos technology; the Snapdragon 855 processor and up to 12 GB of RAM; and an in-display fingerprint sensor.

Samsung Galaxy Fold

Samsung's nearly $2,000 foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Fold, arrived in North America in September after its initial scrapped launch in April. When opened, the Galaxy Fold offers 7.3 inches of display space, using Samsung's Infinity Flex Display technology. When closed, the Galaxy Fold has a 4.6-inch display on its top cover, which can be used to access apps as normal. The foldable display makes use of a sophisticated hinge system that allows users to open and close the Galaxy Fold smoothly. The industry's first mainstream foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Fold also comes with Samsung's Galaxy Fold Premier Service. The service allows buyers to consult with a "Fold Concierge" to walk them through using and caring for the device.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus

For the first time in the Note series, Samsung this year launched two sizes for the Note—with the Note 10 Plus coming as the larger model at a massive 6.8 inches. The Note 10 Plus offers expanded brightness of up to 800 nits outdoors, as well as resolution of 3,040 x 1,440, or 498 pixels per inch, on the AMOLED display. Business-friendly features include easier connectivity from the phone to the DeX Android desktop; with the Note 10 Plus, users can access their DeX desktop on a PC or Mac by plugging into the computer using a USB-C to USB-C cable that is included with the phone.The Note 10 Plus is also impressively thin for having such a large screen (at 0.31 of an inch thick) and lightweight, too, at 0.43 of a pound.

Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus

Samsung's Galaxy S10 Plus features a 6.4-inch AMOLED display with QHD+ resolution. Key enhancements include a third rear camera—a 16-megapixel ultra-wide lens for capturing large scenes, offering a 120-degree field of view. Another key new feature of the Galaxy S10 is Wireless PowerShare, which offers the ability to wirelessly charge other Qi devices by placing them on the back of the S10 Plus. For the battery, the device moves up to 4,100 mAh and offers a high-end configuration featuring 12 GB of RAM and 1 TB of internal storage. The Galaxy S10 Plus also introduces an "ultrasonic" in-display fingerprint scanner for improved log-in.