The following international smartphones are recommended for consideration if previous options were not appealing:
The Oppo Find N5, priced at £1,106, is the world’s slimmest foldable book-style phone at 3.6 millimeters when open. Despite not being available in the UK or Europe, its features include a 6.62-inch cover display and an 8.12-inch inner display, a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB storage, a 5,600-mAh battery, and intensive camera specifications. However, software issues and the challenges of importing deter potential buyers.
Xiaomi Poco F7 Ultra and F7 Pro, priced at £649 and £499 respectively, mark Poco’s entry into higher-end territory with the F7 Ultra featuring a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and a high-resolution 6.67-inch display. Despite the price increase over previous series releases, the early-bird price makes the F7 Ultra attractive, whereas the F7 Pro offers a more traditional option with older configurations.
Realme’s 14 Pro+ at €530, with a color-changing finish, has notable specifications including a triple-lens camera, a substantial 6,000-mAh battery, and a 6.83-inch OLED display. However, the chipset is limited, and it lacks wireless charging.
The Xiaomi 15, at £899, offers a compact alternative with a 6.36-inch screen. While it possesses a decent triple-lens camera, its conservative design may not justify the high price given the software issues similar to its Ultra counterpart.
Honor Magic 7 RSR, priced at £1,550, presents a luxury design with advanced camera technology and high storage capacity but struggles to justify its premium price point.
- Oppo Find X8 Pro, available for £1,099, marks a return to the UK and Europe. Although polished with a quad-lens camera, it’s expensive and software bloat may be off-putting.
Additional options include:
Honor 200 Pro at £499, offering a versatile camera and strong AI features but suffering from design criticisms.
Xiaomi Mix Flip for £749, a flip phone with durable displays but minimal unique features.
Nubia Z70 Ultra, priced at £749, praised for its display and battery life but hindered by inconsistent camera and software quality.
Oppo Reno 12 Pro at £395, notable for its cameras but let down by design and performance.
Xiaomi 14T Pro for £470, representing a budget-friendly option with solid performance but lacking features like wireless charging.
- OnePlus Nord 4 at £369, offering good performance and battery life but no wireless charging.
Phones to potentially avoid include:
Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 for £1,085, limited by regional availability and camera quality.
Realme GT7 Pro, priced at £774, with satisfactory specs but lacks wireless charging and wider availability.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro+ at £369, overshadowed by its predecessor and plagued by performance issues.
Xiaomi Poco F6 and F6 Pro, priced at £268 and £339 respectively, provide solid performance but suffer from software limitations and reduced support.
Motorola Edge 50 Pro at £399, offering limited updates and subpar processing power.
- Nubia Flip 5G for £419, although previously affordable, it faces average performance and software challenges.
