8 /10
- Record-breaking screen brightness
- Impressive 200 Mpx telephoto lens
- High-level performance
In the competitive landscape of top smartphones, while giants like Google and Samsung solidify their positions, Chinese brands are making a strong push with compelling new devices. Each manufacturer is focusing on different aspects – photography, battery life, or AI – depending on the specific smartphone model. The high-end market, in particular, is dynamic as we head into the late winter months. Here are three phones that have stood out to us this month.
9 /10
- Continuous optical zoom
- Noticeable improvement in battery life
- Excellent screen brightness
- Super zoom optique continu
- Autonomie en nette progression
- Excellente luminosité de l’écran
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra, the brand’s new flagship device, arrives with a clear ambition: to deliver the best smartphone photography experience. Developed in collaboration with Leica, it features a 1-inch main sensor that captures light like no other, resulting in incredibly natural and detailed images. Another standout feature is its innovative continuous optical zoom telephoto lens, delivering excellent results up to 30x zoom. Portrait mode is also highly accurate, thanks to the addition of a ToF sensor.
On the endurance side, Xiaomi has increased the battery size to 6,000 mAh, offering solid battery life. However, while the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip delivers phenomenal raw power, it can cause the phone to heat up. A significant investment, but one that delivers on its promise of versatility.
8 /10
- Record-breaking screen brightness
- Impressive 200 Mpx telephoto lens
- High-level performance
The Honor Magic 8 Pro maintains Honor’s signature design with its massive circular camera module. However, this hides significant technical improvements. The manufacturer is making a bold move with an OLED display capable of reaching a record brightness of 4,629 nits. Under the hood, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor delivers impressive raw power, effectively managed by thermal management that prevents overheating.
On the software side, MagicOS 10 draws inspiration from iOS for its fluidity and style. In photography, the 200 Mpx telephoto lens steals the show, delivering stunning images up to 10x zoom. However, the European battery is limited to 6,270 mAh, generous but less than the Chinese version. This Magic 8 Pro stands out as a bold alternative to the usual Apple and Samsung flagships.
