Tech Product Audit

Best Smartphone

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There are 3 categories of best smartphone that we will be highlighting in this year list.  They are namely:

Best overall smartphone

2018 was the year of the notch, the result of smartphone-makers trying to make a screen with minimal borders.

Not only did this goal lead to the notched display, but it also sped up the adoption of features such as the in-display fingerprint sensor.

But innovative as the new approaches may be, they often lacked polish.  However this is not the case with Samsung Galaxy Note 9, with its tried-and-tested design and features.

It is not as forward-looking as the Huawei Mate 20 Pro.  And its camera, though very good, is not an amazing as the one on the Google Pixel 3.  But the Note 9 is the best well-rounded smartphone.

It has everything you would need in a smartphone and more, such as its built-in stylus, which has some new tricks and is more useful.

It even has a headphone jack, which most phones have dropped it.  Our only grouse – Samsung is still behind others in updating the Note 9 Android software to the latest version.  But nevertheless, overall it is still the best smartphone of the year.


Best Value-for-money smartphone

Top smartphones have become more expensive this year.  But there are many affordable models that offer a near-flagship-experience for less.

The best value-for-money phone is Xiaomi Pocophone F1 which is a third-the-price of the latest flagship phones.

Thanks to its powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, the F1 performs as well as any Android flagship smartphone.  It may not have extras such as wireless-charging or waterproofing, but it has a good display, a decent dual-camera system and a large battery that is good for almost two days of use.


Best smartphone camera

The smartphone camera is getting better each year, especially in the flagship smartphone category.

It has become a nitpicking exercise this year, with the likes of the Google Pixel 3, Huawei Mate 20 Pro, iPhone XS and Samsung Galaxy Note 9 all performing superbly in various lighting conditions.

In the end, Google Pixel 3 stands out based on its still-image quality straight from the vamera.  This is especially so for night photography.  The Pixel 3‘s Night Sight feature is amazing in rendering dark landscapes into beautiful nightscapes that are sharp and devoid of image noise.  It is something other smartphones are unable to achieve.

Best Router

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Although Wi-fi 6 (also known as 802.11ax which is the newest Wi-Fi standard) routers are coming out near end of this year, compatible devices will not be available till next year. This will result in a lack of support until then.

Hence for this year, we will choose best router on the prevailing 802.11c standard instead. This is the TP-Link Deco M9 Plus router.

It is a mesh router that uses multiple nodes to improve your home’s Wi-Fi coverage. It also has a built-in smart home hub that can control compatible smart gadgets such as smart hubs and smart lights.


While this concept is similar to last year’s Samsung Connect Home mesh router, the Deco M9 Plus offers better wireless performance.

It also includes Trend Micro’s software for parental controls and security.

Best Smart Watch

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This year, luxury brands such as Hublot and Montblanc took notice of the smartwatch genre and came up with their own models.

The Montblanc Summit 2 looks like a classic timepiece, but comes with a built-in heart-rate monitor and improved waterproofing.

Samsung and Huawei delivered better smartwatches with the Galaxy Watch and Watch GT respectively, both of which offer great features at affordable prices.

But none can match the Apple Watch Series 4 in terms of usability and exquisiteness.  It is still the best smartwatch right now, with its sleek design, useful health features such as fall detection, and overall superb performance.

Best Laptop

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There are 3 categories of best laptops that we will be highlighting in this year list.  They are namely;

Best UltraBook

Dell’s premium ultra-portable laptop, the Dell XPS 13, has consistently been ranked among the favorite ultrabooks of the year.

The 2018 edition is no different.  Its new design – its first in years – makes it slightly more compact and thinner than its predecessor.

Dell has also reduced the already-thin bezels on the XPS 13‘s screen, which helps to make its 4K display stand out even more.

Like the previous model, its front Web-camera is located below the display, which is less than optimal.  Dell has upgraded this camera, though, to an infrared version that can unlock the laptop via facial recognition.

Other tweaks include using a new thermal material to shield users from heat generated by the laptop, which worked as advertised during our test.


Best Hybrid Laptop

Hybrid laptops have settled into two general designs in recent years.  they have either a detachable keyboard or a 360-degree hinge to let them transform into a laptop or a tablet.

HP’s Spectre Folio, though, changes this up with a clever two-in-one design that seems inspired by foldable tablet covers.

The entire computer is integrated into a non-removable leather folio that looks luxurious and feels more intimate than the usual cold metallic build.

Its fan-less processor is not as fast as the average laptop chip, but is snappy enough for normal use.

More importantly, its low power draw means it will get you through a typical workday on a single charge.


Best Gaming Laptop

The near-bezel-less trend spread to gaming laptops this year, with PC-makers launching slim gaming notebooks with narrow borders.

While there was no lack of contenders from the likes of Aftershock, Gigabtye and MSI, the standout was the Razer Blade 15.

While its gaming features and performances are comparable with those of its competitors, the Razer Blade 15’s unibody aluminum chassis feels well-built compared with the sometimes-creaky feel of its rivals.

It also earned bonus points for being quieter than many other laptops wihle running a game at full tilt.

Best Game

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This game called “God of War” is based on the Norse mythology, with its epic fights, is one of the rare non multi-player game that is on the market.

This is a great father-son journey which reminded us that single-player games can be fun and highly engaging. And all this without the toxicity and abuses commonly found in online games nowsaday. This fantastic game will engaged you at least for a full out 25 hours. Not to be missed.

Running a close second is Red Dead Redemption 2, with its meticulously crafted open world and excellent story.

What make God Of War the winner is a tightly paced narrative and fluid combat mechanics that are more enjoyable than the clunky controls in Red Dead Redemption 2.