IDC expects the memory shortage to create a difficult trade-off for the wider industry in 2026. Volumes are likely to decline, but average selling prices are forecast to rise as vendors pass on higher component costs and prioritise profitability over scale. IDC’s analysis suggests the memory shortage will slow the market and solidify Apple and Samsing’s dominance even further.

IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker show global smartphone shipments rose 2.3 per cent year-on-year in Q4 2025 to 336.3 million units, taking total shipments for the year to 1.26 billion units, a 1.9 per cent increase.

However, IDC says those figures mask problem s caused by an unprecedented shortage of memory components that emerged late in the year.

IDC warns supply disruption will push the smartphone market into decline in 2026, with the severity and duration of the downturn dependent on how long memory constraints persist.

“This is widely considered an unprecedented supply chain disruption. Larger players will be better able to secure advantageous supply and workable price points.”” said Ryan Reith, group vice president for Worldwide Client Devices at IDC. 

Consolidation

IDC says the memory shortage is already affecting the top of the market.  Apple and Samsung last year expanded their combined global smartphone share to 39 per cent, up from 37 per cent a year earlier, as smaller vendors struggled to absorb cost increases and supply volatility.

Premium demand remained resilient, with consumers pulling forward purchases in anticipation of price rises. This favoured strong brands, deep supplier relationships and pricing power.

Apple and Samsung pull ahead

Apple closed 2025 as the world’s largest smartphone vendor for the third consecutive year. Record shipments and a strong rebound in China were driven by the iPhone 17 series. Apple also delivered its highest-ever revenue in a single quarter in Q4, underlining its ability to push average selling prices higher even as components became harder to secure.

Samsung delivered its strongest fourth-quarter growth since 2013, fueled by demand for its Galaxy Z Fold 7 and momentum in its AI-enabled Galaxy A-Series. IDC notes that Samsung’s breadth across premium and mid-range devices gives it additional flexibility as memory availability tightens.

Francisco Jeronimo, vice president for Worldwide Client Devices at IDC, said both vendors used Q4 to strengthen their market positions. “Apple and Samsung consolidated their leadership in the smartphone market by driving strong sales in the premium segment and reaching all-time high average selling prices.”

Rising prices, falling volumes

For UK operators, retailers and channel partners, IDC’s warning is clear. As memory constraints squeeze supply and push prices higher, the market is likely to tilt further towards Apple and Samsung, whose scale allows them to secure components first, manage cost inflation and dictate portfolio strategy.

Francisco Jeronimo, vice president for Worldwide Client Devices at IDC (below), said both vendors used Q4 to strengthen their market positions. “Apple and Samsung consolidated their leadership in the smartphone market by driving strong sales in the premium segment and reaching all-time high average selling prices.”  

Verizon Business is partnering with Thames Freeport and Nokia to deploy private 5G networks across several key industrial and logistics sites along the River Thames Estuary, including DP World London Gateway, Port of Tilbury, and Ford Dagenham.

The Thames Freeport is one of eight government-designated freeports in England These are special economic zones along the River Thames that benefit from relaxed customs, tax, and planning rules to stimulate trade, innovation, jobs, and green investment

 The network will allow Thames Freeport to overlay advanced use cases such as AI-driven data analytics, predictive maintenance, process automation, autonomous vehicle control, safety monitoring, and real-time logistics orchestration

The project represents one of the largest private 5G rollouts in a European port and is intended to provide the digital infrastructure for advanced industrial applications such as AI-driven analytics, autonomous vehicles, and real-time logistics management.

Nokia will supply the hardware and software for the network using its Digital Automation Cloud (DAC) platform and MX Industrial Edge (MXIE) technology. The private 5G infrastructure will be used to support operational improvements and data-driven automation across port and manufacturing environments.

The deployment includes:

• DP World London Gateway and Logistics Park – the UK’s largest deep-sea container port, with capacity for over 3 million units annually and a 9.25 million sq ft logistics hub.

• Port of Tilbury – handling 16 million tonnes of cargo a year, the site serves sectors including construction, automotive, and food & drink.

• Ford Dagenham – London’s largest manufacturing site and a key location for automotive production.

The networks are designed to support use cases such as predictive maintenance, smart cargo tracking, process automation, and environmental monitoring.

Thames Freeport stakeholders, including DP World, Forth Ports and Ford, will oversee localised network usage, allowing tailored deployment according to each site’s needs.

The infrastructure is also expected to support regional economic development initiatives, including job creation and training programmes. Thames Freeport has stated its aim to generate 5,000 jobs by 2030.

This deployment comes as UK ports and logistics operators increasingly look to private 5G as a way to digitise operations and improve efficiency in areas with complex connectivity requirements.

The initiative adds to Verizon’s global portfolio of private wireless network deployments, and follows similar industrial 5G projects with manufacturing and logistics clients in the US and Europe.

“A flexible, high-performance connectivity platform is critical to our long-term vision,” said Martin Whiteley, CEO, Thames Freeport. “Our investment in private 5G is not an incremental network upgrade—it’s the backbone of a technological transformation fuelling our long-term multi-stakeholder mission, which includes operational excellence for tenants

David de Lancellotti, VP of Enterprise Campus Edge Sales at Nokia added “Private wireless and industrial edge are the foundations for the digital transformation of industrial sites. The Thames Freeport deployment is a landmark example of this evolution at scale”

Location: Hampstead

1st Place: O2

Product Range: 5   Product Knowledge: 5   Value Knowledge: 5   Questioning Ability: 5

Sales Ability: 5   Shop Appearance: 4   Score: 29

O2 stole the show this edition. The store was busy and every sales assistant was attending to a customer. I had to wait for a good ten minutes, but was approached by a very chirpy and cheerful salesman.

He greeted me and asked me how could he help me and I told him I was looking for a new phone and SIM deal as I just arrived in the UK few months ago and was also looking for making calls to India. He then asked me which phone am I interested in and since the new Google Pixel 7 was out, I thought I’ll inquire about the phone. He instantly told me that it was a brilliant choice as the phone had promotional offers going on.

He went on to give me a little background about the phone like the release date, a few specs and also told me he would pre-order it for me if I was happy with the deal he was offering.

As he was checking for deals on the system he was talking to me about the reviews of the Google Pixel 7 and made small talk to avoid awkward silences. This made the conversation free-flowing and easy.

He then made me select the storage and data and I opted for 128GB storage and 20GB of data. He offered me tariff of 30GB data with unlimited calls and texts for £18.99 and £3 for international calling. However, since the phone was offering promotional offers, I didn’t have to pay that £3. He still warned me that the calling wouldn’t be free but I would be charged a minimum of 4p per minute.

He then filled me in about the insurance options and offered me a three year warranty as part of the promotional tariff. I was also told the phone was interest free and I could switch to a new phone within three months.

After asking me to cap my spending towards the phone, he gave me a breakdown of how much I would be spending for the data package and the device and it amounted to £70 per month. Even though it was on the higher side, it seemed like a fair deal to me because it included a extra perks like cheap international calls, three year warranty and many others

Overall my experience at O2 was a very pleasant one, the sales assistant was knowledgable, informative and had a friendly approach. I felt well-informed about the tariffs offered and even though he asked me if I wanted to go ahead with the pre-order, he wasn’t forceful.

2nd Place: Vodafone

Product Range: 5   Product Knowledge: 4   Value Knowledge: 5   Questioning Ability: 4

Sales Ability: 3   Shop Appearance: 4   Score: 25

Coming in second place is Vodafone. As I entered the store I was instantly greeted by a sales assistant and he asked me what was I looking for.

I told her I wanted to buy a new phone and SIM and I’m looking for affordable deals. He asked me what model I was looking for, how much data per month and if I was a Vodafone user. I told him I was looking to switch from Lyca to O2 and opted for the same Google Pixel 7.

He then went on to his system to search for affordable tariffs, and while he was looking for deals, he suggested I buy the phone directly from Google or any online website like Amazon, and just take a SIM only deal, as I would end up paying more if I chose a device and SIM plan. I liked how transparent he was about this information, and was considerate about my spendings as I told him I was a student.

He then told me that the retail cost of any phone would be split into three to six months at zero per cent interest and over that select an airtime package, which makes the combine deal expensive. He then gave me a breakdown of the tariff which came up to £24 for the device on a two year contract, £23 for 25GB of data bringing my total to £47 per month. Additionally I would have to pay £5 for 100 minutes or £10 for 500 minutes of international calling and an upfront of £30. This tariff was cheaper than O2, but the sales assistant told me if I went for the SIM only deal I would get 60GB of data for £18, which would be so much cheaper. I liked how he made me think economically.

He also mentioned that if I wanted to look for a phone which was as good as the Google Pixel 7, he suggested I go for the Samsung Galaxy S22 as it was on sale on Amazon and I could get the SIM plan from Vodafone.

At Vodafone I felt like all my needs were taken care of. The sales assistant didn’t force me to take deals that would benefit him, but gave me ways to get more benefits for a lesser price.

3rd Place: Three

Product Range: 3   Product Knowledge: 3   Value Knowledge: 2   Questioning Ability: 2

Sales Ability: 2   Shop Appearance: 2   Score: 14

Coming a couple of points behind Vodafone was Three. When I entered the busy store, it took a while before I was approached by the sales manager. He asked me if I needed any help, and I went ahead and told him that I’m looking for a device and SIM plan and as I have just arrived from India, I need international calling as well.

After hearing my request he asked me what phone I was looking for and I told him the new Google Pixel 7. Just like all other providers he too asked me if I had a bank account so that relevant background checks can be done.

He then looked up tariffs without asking me how much data and storage I would need, and just before I could tell him, he came up with a price of £48 per month, not mentioning what would be included in it. I then asked him the cost for international calls and how much of data would I get paying £48, he told me it would be unlimited data and £10 for unlimited international calls.

Though the deal was a good one, he showed no interest in drilling down to the details of the plans. He did not mention how much upfront cost I would have to pay and how much of the money would go towards my device and data plan and the length of the contract.

Our conversation lasted for just four minutes in total. Being a manager he had no intention in making me pursue this deal further and was laid back.

All in all, though I was being offered unlimited data and unlimited international calls for £10, there were so many questions unanswered. There was zero effort from the manager to give me clear information about the tariff he offered.

EE: 4^th place

Product Range: 3   Product Knowledge: 1   Value Knowledge: 2   Questioning Ability: 2

Sales Ability: 1   Shop Appearance: 3   Score: 12

Fourth place this issue belongs to EE. All the stores I visited were busy, but EE was the busiest of them all. I had to wait for almost ten minutes before I was approached. The sales assistant was laid back as well. He asked me what I was looking for and when I told him I was looking to buy the new Google Pixel 7 and a SIM plan with international calling, he straight went on to his system, without asking me how much data and storage I needed.

After sometime, he asked me if I was looking for the Google pixel 6, but I told him it was the Google Pixel 7. He then told me that the 7 pro was the new one and not the 7 and that showed he was not aware about the latest release.

He then showed me his tablet and randomly started reading numbers from it, not explaining what they meant and whether he was showing me costs for the device only or the airtime plan.

I was confused and asked him to tell me how much would I be charged for the phone and SIM together, he again just showed me a couple of numbers on his tab. After asking him again about my monthly spendings towards the phone and SIM, he said it would start from £57 for 10GB data, which was so expensive compared to the other deals.

He did not bother breaking down the costs and explaining the deals well. The store was quite busy with customers lined up waiting to be attended, so I’m not sure if they were willing to give proper time to address people’s queries.

Realme is back with a newer edition of its latest flagship model, the Realme GT. The master edition of the device is designed by Japanese industrial designer Naoto Fukasawa who aimed to design the smartphone like a “suitcase”, reflecting his love for travel.

The launch of the device comes after Realme became the fastest brand ever to ship 100 million smartphones, taking just 37 months to hit the target according to Strategy Analytics.

A glance at the specs of the the device will show that Realme is once again delivering higher specs at a low price – a trend that has been a staple of the brand since its inception in 2018.

But how does the Master Edition of Does the smartphone compare to the excellent original?

Hardware specs

· OS: Android 11, Realme UI 2.0

· Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 778 5G

· Screen: 6.43 inches

· Resolution: 1080 x 2400 pixels

· Memory: 8GB RAM

· Internal storage: 128GB, 256GB

· Rear camera: 64MP x 8MP x 2MP

· Front camera: 32MP

· Video: 4K@30fps

· Battery: 4300mAh

· Charging: 65W fast-charging

· Connectivity: WiFi 802.11, Bluetooth 5.3

· Dimensions: 159.2 mm x 73.5 mm x 8.0/8.7 mm

· Weight: 174/178 g

Design

Realme has used vegan leather on a few of its devices and this feature returns for the latest iteration of the device. While this is a great touch, I was sent the Cosmos Black version of the device which has a slight maroon tint when light is shone on the back of the device. 

The smartphone is designed by Fukasawa and offers a unique overall look and feel, but also sticks to the winning smartphone formula employed by smartphone vendors today. 

There is a single loudspeaker on the bottom of the phone and a 3.5mm headphone jack which is always a nice touch these days. 

There is a 32MP camera on the front in the form of a hole punch selfie camera and the back of the phone has three cameras on the top-left of the device. 

Overall, the smartphone does feel like a flagship, as it should. 

Camera

The main 64MP camera set-up performs quite capably and captures vibrant colours very well. The smartphone comes with three cameras on the back of the device and has a 32MP selfie camera. 

The macro camera worked pretty well here and captures some awesome close-up shots, while the 64MP mode is also pretty useful. 

Although saying this, the overall quality of images diminishes slightly with the ultrawide lens which is quite disappointing but expected at this price point. 

A few images can be found below:

Performance

Only one place to start with the performance and that is with the fast charging. Yet again Realme provides astonishing fast-charging capabilities. Here, it’s 65W, and like the original, charges the smartphone in just a little over 30 minutes. 

The battery runs for around a day which is quite good considering the charging time is so short. 

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G chipset is a great addition here, offering a smooth all-around performance that is pretty identical to the original Realme GT. While it may not perform as well as the Snapdragon 888 in terms of benchmarks, I didn’t expect anything too drastic in terms of differences to the original variant of the smartphone. it’s important to note here, however, that this device works just as well as the original, with no major lags or glitches. 

With this device, I was extremely impressed with its gaming performance. The smartphone uses a Vapor Chamber Cooling System which it has inherited from the original Realme GT, and at no point did the device start to heat while gaming. That, coupled with 8GB of RAM resulted in a smooth gaming experience that rivals the likes I’ve had on a higher-end device such as the OnePlus 9 Pro. 

The AMOLED display comes with a 120Hz refresh rate (which can be changed), offering gamers top graphics for games such as Call of Duty and PUBG among others. But the display impresses beyond just gaming, offering an overall smoothness that will be hard to top amongst other mid-rangers. 

The GT Master Edition runs Realme UI 2.0 on top of Android 11 and works very quickly. It rivals the OnePlus and OxygenOS in terms of general speed which is mightily impressive for a device that is a few hundred pounds cheaper. 

The fingerprint reader works as fast as the charging does which is always a nice bonus. 

At a glance

• Speed – 5/5
• Camera – 4/5
• Battery – 5/5
• Design – 4/5
• Value – 4.5/5

The Realme GT Master Edition is a worthy successor to the original. While Realme may be releasing smartphones quicker than other vendors, competitors will be worried if the vendor keeps churning out quality devices as it has done in the past few months.

The Master Edition delivers a solid overall experience that punches well above its weight for a mid-ranger and rivals the likes of the OnePlus 9 Pro in most departments.

The price of the Realme GT Master Edition starts from 399 USD. The 6GB + 128GB prices on 399 USD, and 8GB + 256GB prices on 449 USD.

UK release dates will be announced soon.

After the release of the OnePlus 9 Pro, the Chinese vendor has delved back into the mid-range market with the release of its latest ‘Nord’ device – the OnePlus Nord CE 5G.

Last year’s OnePlus Nord was one of the brand’s best selling smartphones of all time and it aims to replicate the success of that device with the CE 5G.

The phone has largely similar specs to its predecessor but makes a few concessions in order to accommodate 5G capability and reach a lower price point, making it a direct competitor to other smartphones in the price range. The likes of Nokia, Oppo, and Realme will be worried to see OnePlus enter the mid-range market with a smartphone that has a pretty impressive all-around performance.

Rarely do we see a newer version of a smartphone retail at a lower price point, but OnePlus will hope that the £299 retail price will help it sell as much or perhaps more than the OnePlus Nord.

Design and display

OnePlus’ latest device ditches the Gorilla Glass of previous models meaning this particular device feels less durable than the previous iteration with its plastic covering.

Despite that, as with most OnePlus devices, the smartphone is still a great looking device and has an 84.9 per cent screen-to-body ratio for its 6.43-inch screen – which isn’t the best but still looks good with its 90Hz fluidAMOLED display.

While a few other smartphones may offer a 120Hz screen among this price range, those devices use LCD rather than AMOLED and there isn’t a greatly noticeable difference between the display.

The OnePlus NORD CE 5G is just 7.9mm thick and weighs in at 170g. It is the slimmest OnePlus device since the OnePlus 6T and feels a lot better in hand compared to other devices around the price range like the mammoth Nokia X20.

Unlike the high-end smartphones of today, the device does indeed come with a 3.5mm headphone jack. It is available in Blue Void, Charcoal Ink and Silver Ray. There are also a number of great screen cases available for the device which you can see below. 

 Hardware specs

• OS: OxygenOS based on Android™ 11
• Processor: Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 750G 5G mobile platform
• Screen: 6.43-inches
• Resolution: 2400 x 1080 pixels
• Memory: 6GB/8GB/12GB
• Internal storage: 128GB/256GB
• Rear camera: 64MP x 8MP x 2MP
• Front camera: 16MP
• Video: 4K video at 30fps
• Battery: 4500 mAh
• Charging: Warp Charge 30T Plus fast charging
• Connectivity: 5G, 4G, WiFi 802.11, Bluetooth 5.1
• Dimensions: 159.2 x 73.5 x 7.9 mm
• Weight: 170g

Camera

The smartphone comes with a three-lens camera system which is a bit of a downgrade on the initial NORD device which featured four rear cameras and two front cameras. 

Despite that, the main camera improves from 48MP to 64MP and the NORD CE 5G features an 8MP ultra-wide lens and a 2MP mono lens. The smartphone also comes with a 16MP selfie camera.

The camera set-up performs quite capably and captures vibrant colours in a way only OnePlus devices can. The ultra-wide camera doesn’t make any sacrifices in terms of quality like so many other devices do. 

Images and the lovely colours they captured can be found below:

It doesn’t have the macro camera that the original NORD device came with which is slightly disappointing but there is still a plethora of different camera modes and features such as the Nightscape mode which doesn’t capture the best images. 

Performance

The OnePlus NORD CE 5G is powered by the Snapdragon 750 5G processor which offers a significant 20 per cent CPU and 10 per cent GPU boost over its predecessor.

The NORD CE 5G is available with 12GB of RAM for £369 which is quite frankly ridiculous at this price point. The same is offered on flagship Samsung, Huawei and OnePlus smartphones at prices close to £1000. This results in a premium quality overall experience, that may not be completely noticeable to users upgrading from 8GB RAM but they will almost certainly benefit from the longevity that 12GB RAM offers.

Gaming was wonderfully smooth with no issues with lag at any stage. The smartphone capably handles games like Call of Duty and PUBG with no problems at all and rivals flagships in terms of delivering a pure gaming experience. 

The dedicated gaming mode coupled with the impressive display is more than enough to sway hardcore gamers into buying this device.

One of the major improvements the CE 5G makes over the original NORD is the battery life. The 4,500mAh battery provides around eight or nine hours with heavy to moderate usage while the smartphone is also compatible with 30T Warp Charging which charges the device fully in just under an hour. It also charges 70 per cent in half an hour according to the vendor but it was slightly under in my tests.

OxygenOS deserves a mention here. It’s so simple to navigate compared to other Android skins I’ve used in the past. As an iPhone user, I haven’t ever considered moving to Android, but OnePlus’ OS would be the one I would go for if I were to ever make the jump.

At a glance

• Speed – 5/5
• Camera – 3.75/5
• Battery – 4.5/5
• Design – 3.75/5
• Value – 4.5/5

Verdict

The OnePlus NORD CE 5G is a great mid-ranger that finds a solid place amongst its competition. 

It has a nice albeit plastic design and works capably in almost all departments, while exceeding expectations in others. 

The OnePlus NORD CE 8GB/128GB variant is available from Amazon, John Lewis, Three and OnePlus.com for £299.

The OnePlus NORD CE 12GB/256GB variant is available from Amazon, John Lewis, Three and OnePlus.com for £369.

The mid-range market is perhaps one of the most competitive in the smartphone industry today. With several vendors jockeying for position to take control of the £250+ market, Nokia adds its own device to the fray with the release of the Nokia X20.

The primary competition in the segment comes from Chinese vendors such as Xiaomi and Realme, who have both released high spec, low-cost devices in recent months.

The Nokia X20 sits at the top of the smartphone vendor’s latest range of devices. Nokia has emphasised being eco-friendly with the launch of its latest range, and Nokia owner HMD Global is offering customers the opportunity to plant trees with each purchase by going to the Nokia website. The trees are planted once the smartphone is registered.

Design

The Nokia X20 is a unit of a smartphone. The screen is covered in Gorilla Glass 5 and the case is made of plastic. The smartphone has a 6.67-inch screen full HD+ screen and a screen-to-body ratio of 79.7 per cent which is less than impressive.

On first impression, the Nokia X20 is quite a heavy device, weighing in at 220g which is significantly heavier than other flagship devices including the OnePlus 9 Pro which feels light in comparison at 197g. Whether the weight of a device makes a difference is unique to each specific user, but it was worth noting that this is one of the heaviest devices I’ve used in recent months.

Like other mid-rangers, the device comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack on the bottom of the device and also has a fingerprint sensor on its right. Face unlock is also an option.

Quite a few smartphone vendors have used the circular embossed camera design on the back of the phone and I love this design almost every time it is used. Nokia’s partnership with Zeiss is evident with both logos on the back of the device, and the back of the smartphone is a pleasure to behold.

The smartphone is available in both Nordic Blue and Midnight Sun with both variants looking equally attractive in my view.

Hardware specs

• OS: Android 11
• Processor: Qualcomm SM4350 Snapdragon 480 5G
• Screen: 6.67-inches
• Resolution: 1080 x2400
• Memory: 6GB/8GB
• Internal storage: 128GB
• Rear camera: 64MP, 5MP ultra-wide, 2MP macro, 2MP depth
• Front camera: 32MP
• Video: 1080p@30fps
• Battery: 4470mAh
• Charging: Fast charging 18W
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0
• Dimensions: 168.9 x 79.7 x 9.1 mm
• Weight: 220g

Camera

The smartphone boasts a 64MP quad-camera set-up and captures images in 16MP resolution. The camera also features a 2MP macro lens and a 2MP depth sensor.

The camera is a major improvement on the Nokia 8.3. It captures images brimming with natural detail in good lighting. Daylight images are bright and impressive for this price range and this came as a welcome surprise.

The only major hindrance was the focusing of light which took some time to adjust. Focus largely remains on the well-lit environment as opposed to the darker object, there doesn’t seem to be any way to change this other than changing the camera angle.

While it doesn’t impress like the similarly priced Realme 8 Pro’s 108MP camera, it does a good enough job. Images taken by the camera can be seen below:

The Dual-Sight mode is a welcome addition here. It lets users capture videos from two different perspectives which you can view on a 50/50 screen. It’s a very innovative idea that I’d like to see explored further in future devices.

Performance

The Nokia X20 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G processor which is common for this price range and comes with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM.

Android 11 is offered here out of the box and three years of security updates which Nokia have promised for their last few devices.

Performance is generally good and gaming, in particular, ran smoother than I expected it to. It had no problem running games such as Call of Duty and PUBG on higher frame rates and I didn’t see any noticeable lag at any point during my time using the smartphone.

Away from gaming, the device works perfectly well too. At no point did I experience any glitches or freezes on major apps such as Instagram or Facebook and it seems as ever, Nokia has delivered once again in the performance department.

The X20 also offers 18W fast charging for its 4470mAh battery.

And battery life is a highlight of the device as it has been with Nokia devices in the past. The 4470mAh battery life survives comfortably for a day of frequent usage. The 18W charging is decent, but other smartphone vendors are offering much faster charging at this price. To put it simply, 18W fast-charging will not cut it at this price and this is an area where Nokia has to make significant improvements.

At a glance

· Speed – 4/5

· Camera – 3.5/5

· Battery – 3.75/5

· Design – 4/5

· Value – 3.5/5

With that said, the Nokia X20 is a device made for Nokia purists. Competition in this particular segment is far too strong for Nokia to be releasing a smartphone that lacks in quite a few departments.

I suspect that before the emergence of Chinese challenger brands, this device would certainly have been seen as a revolutionary one in the market. While it has impressive aspects, it doesn’t flourish as I hoped it would.

Despite that, the design is spot on, the three years worth of security updates is a welcome addition and 5G connectivity at this price is still impressive. 

Although, HMD Global and Nokia will need to make improvements in a series of different departments to compete in the uber-competitive sector of the market.

The smartphone is available from the Nokia website for £299.99.

Realme’s rapid slate of releases continues with its latest flagship Realme 8 Pro. The Chinese vendor’s latest smartphone comes just months after the 7 Pro and features a few upgrades with the upgraded 108MP camera being the primary improvement. 

This enhancement has, however, come at the expense of other features. The fast-charging and the selfie camera have both been downgraded slightly from the previous device to accommodate the new 108MP camera. 

It is worth noting that this smartphone isn’t 5G-compatible and given Realme’s recent history, a separate 5G variant of the device could be introduced in the near future. 

With that said, the Realme 8 Pro delivers more of what we’ve come to expect from the company. Realme delivers yet another sub £300 smartphone packed with plenty of impressive features that punches well above its weight. 

Design 

On first impressions, the device feels pretty light compared to other smartphones and weighs in at just 176g.

The body of the smartphone is covered in plastic and the screen to body ratio is 90.8 per cent.

The back of the device has the words ‘Dare to Leap’ on it which is an interesting choice and not something we’ve seen from smartphone vendors in recent times. I did, however, ask to see some innovation from Realme and this certainly qualifies so props to them for altering the design slightly.

The smartphone also comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack and a USB-C port.

Hardware specs

• OS: Android 11
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G
• Screen: 6.4 inches
• Resolution: 1080 x 2400 pixels
• RAM: 6GB or 8GB
• Internal storage: 128GB
• Rear camera: 108MP, 8MP, 2MP, 2MP
• Front camera: 16MP
• Video: 4K@30fps, 1080p @ 30/60/120fps
• Battery: 4500mAh 50W fast-charging
• Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0
• Dimensions: 160.6 x 73.9 x 8.1 mm 
• Weight: 176g

Camera

Without the 108MP camera, it would have been tough for Realme to market the 8 Pro as a genuine upgrade on the 7 Pro. However, Realme bringing a 108MP camera to the mid-range is a truly ridiculous feat. 

And the Realme 8 Pro packs a powerhouse of a camera in its latest flagship, delivering on most fronts. 

The Realme 8 Pro uses the Samsung ISOCELL HM2 sensor for its main-camera and daylight shots with the primary snapper were superb. Users are able to shoot at the 108MP resolution which offers fine detail on images and takes fantastic close-up images. 

Colours were bright and true and the detail on the pictures I took were excellent. Below are some examples:

Low-light images were good but details on the images weren’t as good as when using the Night Mode feature which takes an additional five seconds to capture an image.

Performance 

As usual with Realme devices, the battery life and fast charging is supremely impressive. The smartphone’s 50W fast charger charges it to 50 per cent in just 17 minutes and 100 per cent in 47 minutes, placing it amongst the fastest charging smartphones on the market today. 

The fact that Realme can achieve this feat consistently with mid-range and budget phones yet the high-end vendors cannot compete in this area speaks volumes about Realme’s potential in the coming years. 

Yet it seems as though the inclusion of the 108MP camera meant Realme had to make a few sacrifices on this device in terms of specs. The Realme 7 Pro featured a 65W wired charger which is slightly faster than the 50W one included with this device and the 32MP front camera has also been downgraded to 16MP. 

Whether these regressions are justified is up to the user but as someone who doesn’t use the camera as often (particularly in recent lockdown), I would have liked to see genuine upgrades in other areas. 

Like the Realme 7 Pro, the smartphone is powered by the Snapdragon 720G chipset but comes with 8GB of RAM as opposed to 6GB. 

The Realme 8 Pro comes with Android 11 and runs RealmeUI 2.0 and the smartphone worked capably throughout my time with it. I had no major issues with the phone in terms of lags or glitches and while it isn’t as fast as the OnePlus 9 Pro, for example, the Realme 8 Pro works as well as you could hope for.

At a glance

· Speed – 4.5/5

· Camera – 4.5/5

· Battery – 4/5

· Design – 3/5

· Value – 4.5/5

· Price – £279

The Realme 8 Pro is available from the Realme website for £279.

OnePlus launched its latest flagship device on March 31 and the Chinese vendor looks to compete with the likes of Apple and Samsung with another high-end addition to its portfolio.

OnePlus’ 8 Pro was one of the best-reviewed devices last year, so the manufacturer has quite a bit to do to ensure it continues its hot streak of impressive flagship devices.

It helps that the Chinese vendor has placed a clear emphasis on its camera and announced that its latest smartphone would feature a Hasselblad camera as part of a long-term R&D partnership with the Swedish camera manufacturer.

The OnePlus 9 Pro aims to put the other Android vendors on notice but how far does it succeed in doing so?

Design and unboxing

OnePlus doesn’t deviate too much from its tried and tested formulaic design. While it isn’t one of the best-looking phones on the market, its 91.8 per cent screen-to-body ratio will give you a whole lot of screen to enjoy.

The front of the device features a hole punch selfie camera which doesn’t disrupt the experience of using apps. The smartphone also has slightly curved edges which are similar to the Huawei Mate 40 Pro but it doesn’t curve as much as that particular smartphone. 

The Hasselblad quad-camera lenses on the back of the device look as neat and compact as could be expected. The back of the smartphone features a mirror-type design which I am not the biggest fan of. I think that kind of design looks quite outdated, but it does suit the space theme that OnePlus was going for with this device, so they get a pass. Unfortunately I found that without a cover on the phone, the back of the device was prone to fingerprint marks. 

The 9 Pro, unfortunately, doesn’t come with a headphone jack and it is beginning to look like this will be a feature that most flagships choose to abandon in the future. 

The box includes a 65W Warp Charging plug and cable and a phone cover for the device. 

I was also lucky enough to be sent the OnePlus Warp Charge 50 wireless charger which retails for £69.95 and works on non-Oneplus devices, making it a valuable addition to any desktop. The wireless charger charges my iPhone XR quicker than any device cable I currently own.  

Hardware specs

• OS: Android 11, OxygenOS 11
• Processor: Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888
• Screen: 6.7 inches, 90.3 per cent screen-to-body ratio
• Resolution: 1440 x 3216 pixels
• Memory: 8GB RAM, 12GB RAM
• Internal storage: 128GB, 256GB
• Rear camera: 48MP, 8MP telephoto, 50MP ultra-wide, 2MP depth
• Front camera: 16MP
• Video: 1080p@30fps
• Battery: 4500mAh
• Charging: Fast charging 65W, 50W
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2
• Dimensions: 163.2 x 73.6 x 8.7 mm
• Weight: 197g

Camera

As previously mentioned, OnePlus has placed a renewed focus on its camera set-up and its partnership with Hasselblad is a huge deal for the vendor. 

The first note to make about the camera is that it works best in well-lit conditions. The photos I captured produced sharp, detailed imagery that was brimming with natural colour using the standard camera. This is a major focus for OnePlus and the images clearly show a focus on natural colours and sharp detail. 

Yet I sometimes felt that the images felt that they were sharpened a bit too much for my liking in quite a few photos that I had taken.

However, in environments that do not have great lighting, the colours do not pop as I expected them to which is unfortunate. 

This was the only real major concern I had with the camera and while it still may not rival the likes of the Huawei Mate 40 Pro in the camera department, it is still a major step forward for OnePlus. 

Saying that, the OnePlus 9 Pro’s 50MP ultra-wide camera works superbly and offers a much larger scope in images than most cameras on the market. 

The telephoto camera offers a 3.3x zoom and it doesn’t offer anything extraordinary compared to the likes of Huawei and Samsung. Close up photos worked very well as evidenced below: 

Video quality, meanwhile, is a mixed bag. The smartphone allows users to shoot 8K 30 or 4K 120 videos but neither looked as good or included as many features as some of the other flagships on the market today. 

While OnePlus still has quite some way to go in the camera department, I suspect the new and improved camera courtesy of the Hasselblad partnership will garner the South Korean company plenty of new fans. 

Performance

The OnePlus 9 Pro is powered by the Snapdragon 888 chipset which is currently the fastest processor that chip manufacturer Qualcomm currently offers. The device also comes with either 8GB or 12GB of RAM and on first use, the device immediately feels like a flagship that rivals the iPhone 12 and Samsung S21 just because of the sheer speed it when loading up apps. 

This speed isn’t something brand new to this OnePlus device but it continues to be mightily impressive and I’d be surprised if it wasn’t among the fastest smartphones on the market today. 

The device also provides IP68 water and dust resistance which is a valuable addition to any high-end smartphone. 

The 4500mAh battery can charge with either the 65W wired charger or the 50W wireless charger that I mentioned earlier. The battery life on this device is average for a top-of-the-range device but certainly bad by any stretch of the imagination. 

Having frequently used the device throughout the week, I found that it lasted around a day which falls short of some of its competition. 

This isn’t too much of a problem, however, with the super-powered charging which ensures that the smartphone charges as quickly as possible. 

The wired charger included in the box charges the phone from 0-100 per cent in less than 30 minutes which completely mitigates the average battery of the device since it charges so quickly.

The 50W wireless charger fully charges the phone in just over 40 minutes, which, again, is supremely impressive and a welcome addition if you choose to buy it. 

At a glance

· Speed – 5/5

· Camera – 3.75/5

· Battery – 4/5

· Design – 4/5

· Value – 4/5

· Price – £829

Verdict

While the OnePlus 9 Pro is a flagship device for the South Korean vendor, the 8GB/128GB variant of the device is priced at £829 – less than the £1000 mark and other flagships on the market, making it the perfect, slightly cheaper Android alternative. 

While it may still need work in the camera department to rival some of its more expensive rivals, the OnePlus 9 Pro has a lot going for it. The speed and fast-charging of the device stick out as highlights and while it may not excel in other aspects, it certainly performs well enough to justify its position in the market. 

The OnePlus is an important device for the market, and the vendor could be on the cusp of greatness. There will be great anticipation for what they do next. 

The OnePlus 9 Pro is available for £829 in Morning Mist, Stellar Black, and Pine Green here. 

Doro’s latest 780X feature phone aims to provide the most user-friendly device to its target market of over 65s. The 780X is an upgrade on the Doro 580X and offers several key functions that allow seniors to connect with their loved ones in the easiest way possible. 

Doro has always done a commendable job in appealing to its audience and the 780X most certainly keeps that promise. A Doro study has found that over half (56 per cent) of people in the UK aged 65 and over suffer from either poor mobility, vision, dexterity, or hearing and according to the vendor, the Doro 780X provides the perfect solution.

Features

• GPS-enabled Response button, giving the user peace of mind.
• Safety timer – alerting responders if the timer is not deactivated within a set time window. This can be set before a variety of activities, giving the user an allocated time to complete a task. If not deactivated within the allocated time window, it will raise the alarm in case an incident has occurred
• Loud and clear sound with HAC
• Easy-to-read display with large font size
• Large, clear buttons with three-speed dial keys
• Headphone jack with a USB charging port
• IP54 rating – protecting the phone from exposure to excess dust, bumps and knocks, and water splashes
• Cradle included in the box

Design and unboxing 

The Doro 780X has perhaps the most straightforward design ever seen on a smartphone. While it may look like a kid’s toy to some, it caters wonderfully to its target audience of over 65s with three large speed dial buttons which makes it easy for seniors to get in touch with their loved ones. The speed dial buttons replace the numbers that are seen on traditional feature phones.

The phone comes in a standard white and black colour and includes the Doro response button which is located on the back of the device. This is a number that can be called in the case of an emergency and where assistance is needed.

It also has a charging slot and a headphone jack on the top of the device with the volume buttons on the right side of the phone. 

The box comes with a charger and a charging dock for its incredible battery life.

Performance

The phone has a battery life of up to 330 hours’ standby time and eight hours with frequent use on a single charge which is not only phenomenal for a feature phone but also perfect for seniors. 

There aren’t too many savvy features on the phone but users can download the Response by Doro app which allows loved ones and relatives to access a user’s phone remotely from their own iOS or Android device. 

This can be done in the form of adjusting screen brightness or changing the ringtone volume and is a vital addition that separates Doro from its competition. 

Verdict – 4/5

Speed – 4/5

Battery – 5/5

Design – 4/5

Value – 3.5/5

The Doro 780X retails for £139.99 which might be slightly too expensive for over 65s, but those willing to spend over £100 on a feature phone will be pleasantly surprised with how easy this phone is to operate. 

Delivering exactly what it says on the tin, the Doro 780X is perhaps the best option for those looking for a straightforward, easy-to-use experience.

Oppo has exploded onto the UK mobile scene in the last couple of years with an array of smartphone launches.

Its latest smartphone is the Reno 4 Pro 5G, which at £649.99, isn’t the cheapest for a mid-range smartphone.

But how does this handset stack up?

It’s crazy to think Oppo launched the first Reno in April 2019, during a press event in Zurich. You know, the type of event that was done with people present and not virtually? Oh how us guys at Mobile News miss those days!

Since then, the Reno 2, 3 and now 4 have been released. I was lucky enough to review the Reno 2 last year and really loved the phone, so much that I still use it now for its camera work.

So about a year on, it seems a good idea to see how the Reno series has evolved.

Specs  

OS: Android 10 with ColorOS 7.2

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G (7nm)

Screen: 6.55-inches

Resolution:  1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio

Memory: 8GB/12GB RAM

Internal storage: 128GB/256GB ROM

External memory: No

Rear camera: Triple camera 48MP x 13MP x 12MP

Front camera: 32MP

Video: 1,080p @ 30fps

Battery: 4,000mAh

Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS, NFC and USB type C 3.1

Dimensions: 159.6 x 72.5 x 7.6 mm

Weight: 172g

Design

Kicking off with the design it’s smart and elegant but nothing too dissimilar to most smartphones on the market.

It reminds me of CCS Insight chief of research Ben Wood referring to the similarity of so many handsets as a “sea of sameness” and it seems apt here.

But that’s not to say it’s a bad thing, it’s smart and it works and this particular handset is relatively light considering its size.

As for the size of the Reno 4 Pro 5G, it’s 6.55-inches and houses the small 32MP lens in a punch-hole type design in the top left corner.

While on the back there is the triple camera set-up, laid out in the form of a traffic light.

The particular model we have been sent over is galactic blue, while it is also available in green, space black, white and pink.

Camera

The real test of any smartphone these days is the camera quality, because everyone needs the best snapper for their Instagram or favoured social media platform.

Now unfortunately I’ve not been able to take vibrant photos of beaches this year as I did with my Reno 2 review last year on holiday, but I was able to take some cool snaps none the same.

Unlike the Reno 2, the Reno 4 Pro 5G comes with a triple-camera set up as opposed to a quad camera.

But that doesn’t mean the overall quality of photos is compromised, in fact from it. With the 48MP main camera, you can take some impressive snaps. It’s also supported with a 12MP ultra-wide lens and 13MP telephoto camera.

And while a number of brands have focused heavily on zoom features, this phone doesn’t seem as fussed, with only 20x zoom.

I was a big fan of the ultra-wide lens as you’ll see in some of the images below, while on the front the 32MP selfie camera provided some real clear imagery.

Performance and storage

Oppo’s latest Reno is powered by Snapdragon’s 765G processor which is one of the chipsets to integrate a 5G modem.

Unfortunately due to the lockdown I’ve not been able to fully experience the 5G capability of the handset where I live, but have enjoyed a steady 4G service.

I’ve also been lucky enough to have the maximum 12GB of RAM, so this phone has run as smoothly as a brand new computer, it’s very slick and effortless.

And I think Oppo has done a great job with it’s fingerprint sensor too, which is works with almost minimal effort and better than the Reno 2 I reviewed last year.

But I think the battery and the fast charging has impressed me the most.

It has a hefty 4,000mAh battery that should easily get you through the day and more, while charging from zero to half can take just over 10 minutes.

A slight downside is the absence of reverse wireless charging, but as I’ve seen before this is something that can be hit or a miss.

As for the OS, it runs on Android 10 and uses Oppo’s own UI, ColorOS 7.2.

Verdict 4.5/5

Speed – 5/5

Battery – 5/5

Design – 4/5

Camera – 5/5

Value – 4/5

Overall I think the Reno 4 Pro 5G is a solid effort from Oppo.

The fast-charging battery and the crisp camera set-up are two of its more impressive features.

I do think that for a mid-ranger it’s a bit on the pricey side and there might be similar alternatives available at a cheaper price.

But Oppo has delivered another smart handset that could do very well in the UK, and with Huawei’s troubles, it means that Oppo’s opportunity to make some serious strides in the European market is even greater.

Price: £649

Availability: From Oppo, EE, O2, Carphone Warehouse, Amazon, Virgin Media, John Lewis and Very.co.uk