Having a cell phone these days has become so important to the everyday lives of people that it feels like college should hand you one along with your diploma when you graduate.
For people who work in creative fields, a smartphone is more than just a way to check Facebook or play the latest version of Angry Birds on. The right smartphone can be an important tool if used correctly and can help you establish your brand and grow your business.
With smartphones being so prevalent, and a seemingly endless list of options for you to choose from, we wanted to clear out some of the clutter and put a focus on those smartphones that help you do what you do better and easier.
We hope that our list of the Best Smart Phones for Creatives in 2019 can help you find the perfect smartphone for you and your work. First though, with all of the options out there, we should start with what you should look for in a smartphone before you spend any money.
Let’s begin, shall we?
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What to Look For When Buying a Smart Phone
It can get very confusing when you start to go shopping for a smartphone, especially if you need one to help you in your career. Like many other things that you will go shopping to help your business grow, there are certain details that you need to look for before handing over your credit card.
To help, we wanted to point out a few key things you should consider when you start to consider which smart phone to buy.
iOS vs Android
To the unfamiliar, when you buy a smartphone, it will use one of two operating systems, iOS or Android. While there are people out there who like one over the other for various reasons, having an idea of which one will help you choose the one that works best for you.
- Android
The Android operating system easily dominates the number of smartphones in the world and it is a no-brainer why. There are many more phone options with Android on them than iOS and it can also provide more options for users when it comes to the display, design, price, and capabilities. Being an open OS, Android users have a much easier time customizing their phone with available launchers and widgets.
To some, a major downside of using an Android OS can be the time it takes between updates to the operating system. There are a couple of exceptions to this however as phones offered by Google get updates directly from Google. Before buying an Android phone, it’s a good idea to learn when or if the next update is coming.
- iOS
While Android is on the most phones around the world, the iOS platform appears on the world’s most popular phones – the iPhone. Every Apple device, from the iPad to the latest iPhone release runs on this operating system. Many people will choose these phones because of their simplicity to use as Apple products tend to be very user-friendly. Apple does a very good job notifying users of updates to their OS but unlike Android, it is a closed OS and doesn’t allow for too much customization but is also more secure than Android because of this.
Screen Size
If you’re looking for a phone to use as part of your creative field, choosing a screen size can either hinder or help your work flourish. Typically, you will want to stay away from phones will smaller screens, anything 5 inches or smaller won’t give you the area you’ll need to do the kind of work you need to.
Screens that measure anywhere from five to five and a half inches like the Samsung Galaxy S7 are good if you want to view playback of any video that you may have shot, but don’t allow for a lot of freedom when it comes to editing or sketching on the phone. The screen size here is too small to be an adequate option if that’s what you’re looking to do.
Any screen that is 5.5 inches or larger such as the iPhone 8 Plus has been given the nickname of phablets. This is because the size of their screen makes them almost a small tablet. Phones with this screen size are best suited for sketching, drawing, jotting down notes, and many other functions you may need to do. While the screen size is useful, the price of these phones will be on the higher side.
Camera & Video
It is becoming more and more common to see people use the cameras on their phone as their primary camera than owning a DSLR or other type of camera. This is because, in the time since smartphones were first released, the camera now matters more than the processor inside of the phone.
While many smartphone cameras will tout that the camera will take pictures with a 12-megapixel camera, you should pay more attention to other factors such as the features on the camera, its speed, aperture and most importantly, image quality.
If you shoot a lot of videos, you not only want to pay attention to the resolution but also the frame rate. With the tech available now, a camera that shoots video at 60 fps with a 4K resolution is considered to be cutting edge technology. But if that footage is shaky, it doesn’t matter how good it looks. Look for a lens that offers optical stabilization and not digital.
Storage
When you buy a phone to work on your career, many of the business apps that you are likely going to need will be pretty big in size. If you don’t have a phone with enough internal storage you could be keeping your work from growing. Many phones that are released today start with a storage capacity of 32GB and can go all the way to 128GB, If you work in a creative field, picking a phone with a higher amount can help you keep all of those apps running and make it easy to save your videos and photos.
Battery Life
Not every phone battery is created equal. There can be many factors that can affect your phone’s battery life – screen size, processor, and even the operating system. A good judge of a phone with a good battery life will last more than ten hours while on 4G LTE surfing. That will give you a good judge of the quality of the battery.
Pro tip: When you first get your phone, don’t charge it until it fully dies after turning it on. While it might not be confirmed, many believe doing so will help the battery once you charge it to 100% from a dead battery
Price
This is everyone’s lowest common denominator when it comes to buying any piece of technology. People want to be sure that if they are spending a lot of money that they are getting a quality piece of tech. With a smartphone, we would advise not to go cheap. While the price may cause you to do a double take, picking a cheaper phone could affect your productivity down the road.
The Best Smartphones for Creatives in 2019
Finding the best smartphone that allows you to accomplish a lot of projects while on the go is a dream for many people who work in creative fields. The problem is that there are so many choices out there, finding the best one is as easy as finding a needle in a haystack.
To help, we went shopping on our own and found phones that we would recommend to any of our colleagues. Each link below will take you to more information on the selected phone.
If you’d like to know more about our choices, please continue reading below
- iPhone XS Max $1099
- Samsung Galaxy S10 $679
- iPhone 8 Plus $599
- Honor Play $299
- Google Pixel 3 XL $619
- Sony Xperia XZ Premium $404
- Samsung Galaxy Note 8 $344
- Huawei P10 Plus $439
- Moto Z Play $329
- Honorable Mention – Samsung Galaxy Fold $1999+
Prices are approximate, live rates are shown below.
Best Phones 2019 Compared
![Apple iPhone XS Max (64GB) - Silver - [works exclusively with Simple Mobile]](https://justcreative.com/wp-content/plugins/aawp/public/assets/img/thumb-spacer.png)
The Best Smartphone for Creatives in 2019
Reports have stated that in America alone, adults spend more than 8 hours per day on their phones. It’s safe to say that at this point in human history, we as a species would more than likely be lost without our smartphones.
For many people working in creative fields, it may feel the same way if you’re trying to do things like edit photos or videos on a phone not built for your needs or even an outdated one. If you’re in line for an upgrade, our list of the Best Smartphones for Creatives in 2019 is a good place to start considering what your next phone will be.
So read on, and if you’re reading this on your old smartphone, don’t worry, you won’t hurt its feelings.
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iPhone XS Max
Let’s start right away with a phone that will push you to the limits of your budget. The iPhone XS Max from Apple is the top of the line of smartphones that the Apple manufacturer offers. The 6.5-inch screen is loaded with more than 3 million pixels providing you with a crystal clear image every time. As close to having a mini iPad as you’re likely to get, the Bionic A-12 chip provides unbelievable processing power which will help images render much faster and make you feel like you’re working on a laptop. Being an Apple product, the cameras on both the front and back are near the best ones available.
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![Apple iPhone XS Max (64GB) - Silver - [works exclusively with Simple Mobile]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41zDKNogCmL._SL160_.jpg)
- 6. 5-inch Super Retina display (OLED) with HDR
- IP68 dust and water resistant (maximum depth of 2 meters up to 30 minutes)
- 12MP dual cameras with dual OIS and 7MP True Depth front camera-Portrait mode, Portrait Lighting, Depth Control, and Smart HDR
- Face ID for secure authentication and Apple Pay ⁴
- A12 Bionic with next-generation Neural Engine
Samsung Galaxy 10
There are many people in the world of tech and smartphones who feel that the Galaxy S10 is the best smartphone on the market today. To be honest, it isn’t hard to see why they feel that way. A huge 6.1-inch screen gives you so much space so that the visual projects that you are working on will look amazing with the bright colors and picture clarity that the screen provides. This is a perfect choice for those designers on the move. While the phone is on the pricier side, for those looking for the best Android phone, this one is well worth the price.
The GalaxyS10e (5.8″) is the most affordable and compact, the Galaxy S10 is the standard flagship product and the Galaxy S10 Plus (6.4″) is the biggest and most premium phone in Samsung’s line up, save for the 6.7″ Galaxy S10 5G.
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- The largest battery in a Note, ever. When you have a long-lasting battery, you really can go all day and all night.
- The Note9 has twice as much storage as the Note8, which means more music, more videos, more pictures, and less worry when it comes to space on your phone.
- The Note9 gives you a quick network connection for incredibly fast streaming and downloading, so you can do more, uninterrupted.
- Still amazing on screen, but now the S-Pen has more power off screen. Remotely control different applications and use the S pen to capture shots from far away, scroll, and play music.
- At 6.4", the Note9 has the largest screen of any Galaxy phone. Perfect for gaming and streaming, our Super AMOLED display is bigger than ever before.
iPhone 8 Plus
For those who may not be able to afford the XS Max from Apple, the company is very good about offering other options to help people get work done with an impressive device. The iPhone 8 Plus may have many of the same features that it’s older brother, the iPhone 7 Plus does but for those considering one or the other, the iPhone 8 Plus has a considerably better camera. While it is a dual-camera, unlike other options available, this camera is built to use its 1x and 2x optical zoom feature. While the design is as solid as ever, features such as 3D Touch and Touch ID make it stand out, plus the huge Apple App Store doesn’t hurt either.
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- This iPhone can only work with AT&T and will not work with other carriers.
- 5.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen LCD Multi-Touch display with IPS technology - 1920-by-1080-pixel resolution at 401 ppiA11 Bionic chip with 64-bit architecture, Neural engine, Embedded M11 motion...
- 12MP wide-angle and telephoto camera, 7MP FaceTime HD Camera
- Headphones, SIM Card and SIM ejector tool are not included.
Honor Play
When you first see the price of the Honor Play smartphone, it might cause some red flags to pop up in your mind. A smartphone at a decent price? Something must be wrong here, especially since we advised you not to go cheap with your purchase. However, the Honor Play is an exception. With a 6.3-inch screen, while initially intended for mobile gaming, provides a Full HD+ display and a HiSilicon Kirin 970 chipset meaning that the guts of this phone come pretty close to matching some of the best smartphones out there. If you put a lot of your photography work on Instagram, the 16MP camera can make those shots look spectacular. While we don’t normally recommend a cheaper smartphone, this one is definitely an exception.
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- For USA Buyers : This Smartphone is compatible/will work with any GSM Networks such as AT&T, T-Mobile. For exact 2G GSM, 3G, 4G/LTE compatibility, please check with your network provider in advance...
- Hybrid/Dual-SIM, Network Compatibility : SIM CARD 1 [ 2G GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 and/or 3G 850(B5) / 900(B8) / 1900(B2) / 2100(B1) and/or 4G LTE 800(B20) / 850(B5) / 900(B8) / 1800(B3) / 2100(B1)...
- 6. 3 inches, IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors, 1080 x 2340 pixels,
- 64GB Storage, 4GB RAM, Up to 256 GB (uses SIM 2 slot) micros Card slot
- Android 8. 1 (Oreo), HI silicon Kirin 970, Octal-core (4x2. 4 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1. 8 GHz Cortex-A53), Mali-G72 MP12 | Camera Dual 16, f/2. 2, PDAF, 2 MP, f/2. 4, depth sensor, LED flash, HDR,...
Google Pixel 3 XL
In recent years, Samsung and Apple have been receiving stiff competition from a new competitor on the market: Google. With the Pixel 3 XL, if you do any kind of work in photography or shooting videos, you owe it to yourself to consider this phone. While an f/1.8 aperture and 12.2MP sensor on the main camera is nice, being able to shoot and capture 4K video and also provide an HDR+ feature and the quality the camera provides is astounding. While it does have a bezel on it that many newer phones have done away with, a minor complaint should do nothing to keep you from trying one of the best smartphones for pictures and video.
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- For USA Buyers : This Smartphone is compatible/will work with any GSM Networks such as AT&T, T-Mobile. For exact 2G GSM, 3G, 4G/LTE compatibility, please check with your network provider in advance...
- Network Compatibility : 2G GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 and/or 3G UMTS/HSPA+/HSDPA 850(B5) / 900(B8) / 1700|2100(B4) / 1900(B2) / 2100(B1) and/or 4G LTE 600(B71) / 700(B12) / 700c(B13) / 700(B17) /...
- 6.3" fullscreen display, QHD+ OLED at 523ppi, 18.5:9, Corning Gorilla Glass 5
- 64GB storage | 4GB LPDDR4x RAM Memory
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, 2.5 Ghz + 1.6 Ghz, 64-Bit Octa-Core, Adreno 630, Pixel Visual Core, Titan M security module | Rear camera : 12.2MP dual-pixel, 1.4 μm, Autofocus + dual pixel phase detection...
Sony Xperia XZ Premium
Sony is a name that is synonymous with consumer electronics and this brand awareness extends to those using their products in business applications as well, especially when it comes to cameras like the one in the Xperia XZ Premium which uses their Motion Eye technology to help record super slow-motion video at 960 frames per second. Another neat feature is the camera predictive capture which starts to buffer the image right before you press the shutter and then once you do, gives you four images to choose from. The other big draw of this smartphone is the 4K HDR display which was the first smartphone to have this option and still makes everything you playback on it look amazing.
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- Memory: 64GB / 4GB RAM, OS: Google Android 7.1 (Nougat), CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, Display: 5.5 inches, IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors, Camera: 19 MP/ 13MP, Sensors:...
- Unlocked cell phones are compatible with GSM carrier such as AT&T and T-Mobile, but are not compatible with CDMA carriers such as Verizon and Sprint.
- Please check if your GSM cellular carrier supports the bands for this model before purchasing, LTE may not be available in all regions: 2G bands: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 , 3G...
- This device may not include a US warranty as some manufacturers do not honor warranties for international items. Please contact the seller for specific warranty information.
- The box contains: Your new device, USB cable, Charger (May be foreign) , Documentation.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
Yes, we can hear you. We already put a Galaxy Note on our list, but hear us out. While the Note 9 is the best smartphone to some people on the planet, it can be quite expensive. Thankfully, Samsung released an earlier version which is just as good for all of your needs. A fantastic camera duo of 8MP on the front and 12MP on the back help you take beautiful photos and the processing power of the Note 8 rivals that of some cheap laptops. The dual lens main camera features a live focus for instant bokeh as well as a strong optical and digital zoom. Though Samsung replaced the Note 8 with a very strong new edition, it still remains one of the best phones you can own, with a reduced price.
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- See more, scroll less. Do more on the go with Galaxy Note8 beautifully spacious 6.3-inch QHD Super AMOLED infinity display-the possibilities are endless.
- Say it your way. Write texts, crop photos and create animated GIFs with Samsungs most advanced S Pen to date. Notes, memos and reminders can even be written on the spot without unlocking your phone.
- Shoot like a pro. Snap professional-quality photos anyone would be proud to share with the worlds first dual camera with optical image stabilization on both lenses.
- Conquer the elements. Worry less about daily wear and tear as the Samsung Galaxy Note8 is both dust- and water-resistant, backed by an IP68 rating.*
Huawei P10 Plus
In the United States, the smartphone market is primarily dominated by either Apple or Samsung, but in other parts of the world, consumers have learned that the name Huawei is a maker of quality smartphones, including the P10 Plus. With its dual Leica cameras allow you to choose whether you take high-quality photos in color or monochrome with a simple flick on the phone with the phone’s software. A wide range of aperture modes will attract photographers as will the 20MP monochrome sensor and 12MP color sensor. The wide range of apertures also allows you to shoot in 4k. While it may not be a huge name in the smartphone market, sometimes the small brands make a better product to appeal to their optimal client.
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- Huawei
- Wireless Phone Accessory
Moto Z Play
A common problem for many owners of smartphones is battery life. With all of the apps, surfing, and games that are on phones these days, batteries are dying faster than ever. With the Moto Z Play, which provides some of the best battery life on the market today. With a vivid, large AMOLED screen and the Snapdragon 625 processor make it faster than some of the similar phones on the market. While the camera isn’t as good as other options, the battery life more than makes up for it and like many of the Apple phones available now, the Moto Z Play has a headphone jack.
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- Transforms with Moto Mods using interchangeable back covers
- Up to 50 hour battery* and TurboPower for up to 9 hours of power in 15 minutes of charging
- Android 6.0.1, Marshmallow with 32GB storage and micro SD card support. Unlocked cell phones will not work with CDMA Carriers like Sprint, Verizon, Boost or Virgin.
- 16 MP laser autofocus back camera and 5 MP front camera
- Brilliant 5.5in 1080P super AMOLED display. Log-in to apps, and even make mobile payments
Honorable Mention – Samsung Galaxy Fold
While it technically isn’t available to the public yet, we couldn’t help but add this phone to our list as an honorable mention. Taking the next step in technology is always risky and with the Galaxy Fold, Samsung is doing just that. While at first glance it looks like any other smartphone, the design is genius in its simplicity.
The phone “unfolds” like a book and turns into a mini tablet with a 7.3-inch screen that displays your images and pictures with HDR+10 and if you’re a photographer, it has six, yes six cameras on it. The downside is that it’s not available in stores yet and when it is, it will be expensive, like $2,000 expensive. While it may not be for everyone, it could be a game changer not only for phones but how creatives do work on the go.
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- 1, 12, 14, 18, 19, 2, 20, 28, 29, 3, 30, 38, 39, 4, 40, 41, 46, 5, 66, 7, 71, 8. Unlocked ATT model. Works for all GSM carriers
- 7.3" Infinity Flex display with 2152 x 1536 resolution, 4.6 inch front display (1280X720 resolution)
- Qualcomm snapdragon 855, 4380 mah battery
- Comes with GALAXY BUDS and Kevlar slim case
- 512GB storage, 12GB Ram
Top Smart Phones Compared
Choosing the Best Smartphone For Your Needs
If you walk into any store that sells smartphones, you could get dizzy from all of the options and all of the specs each one has. It is no wonder then that many people who work in creative fields probably aren’t using a phone that helps them get their work done easier.
Whether that’s an iPhone or a look into the future with the Galaxy Fold, there are some great options out there to help you be more productive and connected on the go. We hope our list of The Best Smartphones for Creatives in 2019 has given you some help if you’re in need of a new phone.
Do you love your phone but its not on our list? Let us know what you use in the comments below!!
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