Now might be a good time to upgrade to a new smartphone. And if you’re in the market for a premium device that will help you more easily work from home, there are plenty of new options from which to choose.

Here are a few new smartphones to consider, each with features that will enhance both work and play, and with price points ranging from affordable to start saving now.

Samsung Galaxy A71

This Android-based device has a 6.7″ AMOLED Infinity-O display, long-lasting 4,500 mAh battery with fast charging, quad camera, and a dedicated gaming interface for downtime that includes features like Frame Booster, which provides smooth, lifelike motion in graphics and Game Booster that learns your usage patterns to optimize functions of the phone, like battery, temperature, and memory. The four cameras, meanwhile, are great for taking all kinds of shots, from ultra-wide to macro and depth, perfect if you want to pose for a new professional headshot. You can access all of the typical Samsung apps including Bixby, Samsung Pay, and Samsung Health, and the phone is protected by Samsung’s Knox security platform. $600

TCL 10L

Now that TCL is no longer manufacturing BlackBerry devices, the company has launched its own series of smartphones, including the TCL 10 L. The focus on TCL 10 series devices is to offer premium features at an affordable price point of under US$500. The 10L is powered by a Snapdragon 7-665 Octa-Core processor and comes with a 6.53″ FHD + Dotch display, HDR video viewing, quad camera set-up including ultra-wide-angle, macro, and depth cameras, and long battery life. Adaptive Tone and Reading Mode auto-adjusts the display to suit different settings while the Eye Comfort Mode helps reduce harmful blue light. It isn’t available yet but you can sign up to be notified when it is. It’s anticipated price point stateside is about US$250.

LG V60 ThinQ

This device adopts a dual screen design that is sort of a hybrid between a standard smartphone and the new foldable designs. Offering 5G technology, it has features like upgraded audio, video, and photo capabilities, and two rear cameras with support for 8K video recording along with four high-performance microphones for recording sounds from different directions and Voice Bokeh to separate voices from background noise. This makes it a great option for content creators. With a 6.8″ OLED display, 5,000 mAh battery, and Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor, it’s a fast workhorse device. The best part: you can get it now for $0 with a two-year term from Bell or Koodo.

 

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip

Samsung’s foldable phone is, of course, about as premium as they come both in terms of features as well as design. It consists of a 6.7″ display that folds up to be half its size (about 4″ each) via a Hideaway Hinge. The Infinity Flex Display with Samsung’s proprietary bendable Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG) is seamless to use, both open and closed. And it has all of the features you’d expect from a premium phone, including access to Google Duo for video chats, premium video recording features, Multi-Active Window and Multi-Window Tray for multitasking with multiple apps, Samsung Health, Samsung Pay, and Knox security. $1,820

Huawei P40 Pro

With an Ultra Vision Leica Quad Camera, Kirin 5G chipset, and Quad-Curve Overflow Display, this phone is an impressive option to consider. Capture stunning images and videos, including 4K time lapse and review them on the OLED display, which offers up to 90Hz frame refresh rate. Rated IP68, it is splash-, water-, and dust-resistant and operates on the EMUI 10.1 system, which is based on Android 10. With 8GB RAM and a 4,200mAh battery with Huawei SuperCharge (using the SuperCharge cable and charger), it is an ideal phone for hard workers and content creators. Check out our review of this phone. Pricing and availability are coming this summer.

Apple iPhone SE

Even Apple’s supposed mid-tier phone is still worthy of being considered a “premium” device. And this second-generation version of the SE offers a 4.7″ Retina HD display, Touch ID, and A13 Bionic chip to enable improved battery life and Qi wireless charging, and a great single-camera system that includes Portrait mode. The phone is dust- and water-resistant so you can safely use it by the pool in the backyard or at the beach – it can be submerged in up to one metre of water for up to 30 minutes. The True Tone display adjusts the white balance to match ambient light for a natural viewing experience. It also supports Dolby Vision and HDR10. Use the Haptic Touch for Quick Actions, including animating live photos, previewing messages, rearranging apps, and more. Save critical passwords in iCloud Keychain and use Touch ID for secure login, to authorize App Store purchases, and confirm Apple Pay transactions. And enjoy blazing fast speeds with Wi-Fi 6 and Gigabit-class LTE, along with a Dual SIM with eSIM for using two phone numbers to keep business and personal calls separate. Starts at $599. In addition to receiving a free one-year subscription to the Apple TV+ streaming service with purchase, Apple will also be donating a portion of the proceeds from (PRODUCT)RED versions of this device to the Global Fund’s COVID-19 Response.

 

Related:  COVID-19