The last couple of years have been pretty stale in terms of smartphone design. It was the bezel-less form factor that revitalized the market and every device maker wanted to make such a device. Let’s all admit one thing first — bezels are not pretty. They add no value to the design of a smartphone and are literally a waste of hardware space. Sharp was one of the first companies to try and get rid of bezels with their Aquos Crystal back in 2014. Xiaomi’s first attempt at bezel-less phones was the Mi MiX that was released last year. Catching the drift, Apple also came up with their own version of bezel-less phones — the iPhone X. The iPhone X has eliminated almost all bezels except for a bump at the top, which houses the front camera lenses, proximity sensors, and etc. To the shock and awe of many smartphone users, the iPhone X has been priced at $1,000, which is a huge price tag for a smartphone. So, those of you who want the experience of a bezel-less smartphone without having to shell out a fortune, check out the following options.
1. Maze Alpha
Maze is a Shenzen-based Chinese smartphone company that is offering a borderline bezel-less smartphone like the Xiaomi Mi Mix at a fraction of the price. Now, the next question is whether the specs are worth the price. The phone is priced at $150, packs a MediaTek Helio P25 processor and 4GB RAM and runs on Android Nougat. It has a 4,000-mAh battery unit and a rear dual-camera setup with a pair of 13-megapixel and 5-megapixel sensors. The Alpha also packs 64GB internal memory, which is expandable up to 256GB via microSD. Considering these factors, one has to agree that the Maze Alpha is a steal for the price.
2. LG Q6
LG has clearly taken the bezel-less form factor to the heart with the introduction of their flagship smartphone, the LG G6. Unlike Samsung, LG didn’t stop at limiting the bezel-less form to just their flagship series. LG recently introduced three new budget smartphones — the LG Q6, the LG Q6 Plus, and the LG Q6a. All of them sport the bezel-less look. Starting at $321, these are some great options for people craving to enjoy the bezel-less design without burning a hole through their pockets. The phone boasts of a 5.5-inch IPS Full HD display, powered by a Snapdragon 435 processor, 3GB RAM, and a 3,000-mAh battery unit, and runs Android Nougat version 7.1.1. It also offers 32GB of internal storage, which is expandable up to 256GB. The Q6 also houses a 13-megapixel camera at the back and a 5-megapixel selfie shooter.
3. Sharp Aquos S2
After their first bezel-less device that set the trend, Sharp has come up with the Aquos S2. This time, the Japanese company has made a smartphone that looks a lot like the Essential PH-1. As far as the specifications go, the Aquos 2 sports a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS LCD display, packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 processor, 4GB RAM, and a 3,020-mAh battery unit and runs Android Nougat 7.1.1. The Aquos S2 offers 64GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 256GB via microSD. It houses a rear dual-camera setup with a pair of 12-megapixel and 8-megapixel sensors and an 8-megapixel front camera. The price of the Aquos S2 starts at $370, which makes it a great buy.
4. Essential PH-1
The Essential PH-1 or Essential Phone is the first offering from the company. Essential was founded by Andy Rubin, the creator of Android. He left Google and started this company to explore his own technological dreams. The result led to the making of a gorgeous bezel-less modular smartphone that boasts of some of the best specs in the market. With a titanium and ceramic body, this has to be the most rugged phones on this list. The Essential PH-1 sports a 5.7-inch QHD display that has an aspect ratio of 19:10. Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB RAM, and 3,040mAh battery, the PH-1 offers 128GB of internal storage. It also comes with dual cameras at the back with two 13-megapixel sensors. The sensors use RGB and mono image fusion technology to create the images. The Essential Phone is priced at $499 in the US.
5. Xiaomi Mi MiX 2
Xiaomi’s second bezel-less offering – the Xiaomi Mi MiX 2 – has been launched globally this year. It is definitely an improvement over the previous iteration and boasts of offering top-notch specs at a reasonable price. The Xiaomi Mi MiX 2 is powered by a Snapdragon 835 processor, 6GB RAM, supported by 3,400mAh battery, and runs Android Nougat 7.1. The phone comes in three variants based on internal storage capacity of 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB. The phone has a 12-megapixel camera at the back with dual LED flash and an aperture level of f/2.0, and a 5-megapixel front camera. The Mi MiX 2 costs ¥3,299, which roughly converts to $535.
6. Samsung Galaxy S8
Samsung stunned the world with their flagship bezel-less device, the Galaxy S8, which is being widely considered as the best-looking phone this year. The phone has an array of features that make it the flagship device of Samsung. The S8 packs a Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB RAM, 3,000mAh battery, 64GB internal storage with a hybrid SIM and microSD card slot, and runs Android Nougat 7.1.1. The S8 comes with a 12-megapixel f/1.7 rear camera with dual-pixel technology and an 8-megapixel front camera. The 5.8-inch curved glass super AMOLED display with 1440p resolution gives it a premium look and offers a great smartphone experience to its users. The price of Samsung’s Galaxy S8 starts at $725 and is an attractive option compared to any other phone launched this year.
7. Google Pixel 2 XL
The Google Pixel 2 XL is the most recently released phone on this list and is already making headlines as one of the best phones in the world. The Pixel 2 XL is one of Google’s flagship duo this year and is bezel-less unlike its partner, the Pixel 2. The Pixel 2 XL has scored a whopping 98 on the DxOMark website, the highest ever rating received by a phone camera. The Pixel 2 XL sports a 6.0-inch QHD+ OLED display, powered by a Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB RAM, and a 3,520-mAh battery unit. The phone comes in two variants based on internal storage capacity of 64GB and 128GB. It also runs the latest Andoird Oreo 8.0. Pixel 2 XL has a single rear camera with a 12.2MP sensor and dual-LED flash and an 8MP selfie camera. The Google Pixel 2 XL is priced at $849 which makes it the costliest phone on this list as well.
Say Hello to Style
With so many alternatives to Apple iPhone X, it is natural for anyone to avoid spending so much money on such an expensive phone. The bezel-less look has received so much appreciation that it’s really hard to resist. With time, this feature will hopefully be introduced more in budget smartphones and then there would be no need to buy costly phones to experience stunning display with zero bezels. The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.
