“These are the phones which use the latest and greatest chipset from Qualcomm”

The tech inside our pocket devices is advancing at a stupendous pace. So much so, that saying the growth has been exponential might actually be an understatement. These days, smartphones with octa-core processors, crisp 2K displays and even 8 gigs of RAM are nothing out of the ordinary. In fact, chip makers like Qualcomm are working day in and day out to make their next mobile processors big upgrades in terms of performance. The latest processor, or mobile platform as Qualcomm likes to call it, is the Snapdragon 835, which as expected has been the go-to choice for many premium smartphones this year. The octa-core processor not only packs better performance and enhanced battery life, but is also the brand’s first chip to utilise the 10nm FinFET manufacturing process. All this means that the new chip is not only a powerhouse, but is also quite easy on power consumption and physical space. If you’re wondering which are the top smartphones that make use of the Snapdragon 835 SoC, you’ve come to the right place. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best Snapdragon 835-powered smartphones available in India.

HTC U11 (Rs 47,999)

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In more ways than one, the U11 is like a ‘make it or break it’ phone for HTC. In recent times, the Taiwanese giant has been unable to match up with its competitors, despite releasing some capable smartphones. However, the U11 is different. Not only does it pack some serious power under the hood with a Snapdragon 835 SoC and 6GB of RAM, but it also looks quite stellar with its highly reflective liquid glass design. A 5.5-inch 2K display, IP67 dust and water resistance, BoomSound Hi-Fi edition speakers and an excellent 12MP Ultrapixel 3 rear camera… you name it, and the U11 has it. That is, unless you ask for a headphone jack, because the smartphone gives the beloved port a miss. However, the highlight of the device is its Edge Sense technology, which allows you to squeeze the sides of the smartphone to initiate various actions, as per your liking. It can be set up to open the camera, launch Google Assistant or open any specific application you desire. Add to that the fast and fluid HTC Sense UI atop Android Nougat, and the U11 already looks quite enticing.

Related read: HTC U11 review

Sony Xperia XZ1 (Rs 44,990)

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Announced at this year’s IFA event in Berlin, the Xperia XZ1 carries forward Sony’s signature OmniBalance design with thick bezels on the top and bottom of the 5.2-inch Triluminous full HD display. The screen itself is protected by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 5, and is among the few to support HDR content. The smartphone also offers super slow motion video capture at 960fps, as well as Predictive Capture, thanks to its Motion Eye camera. All this is packed inside a water-resistant body which also houses a 2,700mAh battery with features like Smart Stamina 3.0, Qnova Adaptive Charging as well as Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0. The inside ticks a Snapdragon 835 SoC, coupled with 4GB of RAM, Adreno 540 graphics, and 64GB of internal storage that can be expanded further via a microSD card. The XZ1 also comes with a 3D Creator app, which blends 3D scanning with AR. 

Related read: Sony Xperia XZ1 first impressions

OnePlus 5 (Rs 32,999 onwards)

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The OnePlus 5 is the brand’s most expensive smartphone till date, yet it manages to offer flagship-grade experience at a considerably lower price than other premium smartphones. Inside the metal unibody of the OnePlus 5 (which strikingly resembles the iPhone 7 Plus) are a Snapdragon 835 SoC and up to 8GB of RAM. With its stock-like interface, OxygenOS is fast and fluid as ever. The OnePlus 5 also marks the brand’s entry into the dual-camera game, with the combination of 16MP + 20MP snappers at the rear. The primary sensor comes with an aperture of f/1.7, while the secondary 20MP camera uses a telephoto lens which comes with an aperture of f/2.6. The pair offers better portrait shots with depth-of-field effect as well as 2x lossless zoom capabilities. Meanwhile, the fascia is still dominated by a 5.5-inch full HD Optic AMOLED display, which should help the 3,300mAh battery to last even longer.

Related read: OnePlus 5 review

 Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 (Rs 35,999)

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Xiaomi’s latest flagship smartphone, the Mi Mix 2, quickly landed in India without much of a delay. The smartphone is the successor of the original Mi Mix which caught attention around the world due to its near bezel-less design. The smartphone comes with a ceramic back panel, held together by an aluminium chassis. The only bezel you’d actually notice around the 18:9 5.99-inch full HD+ display is at the bottom, albeit that is also one of the slimmest on a smartphone. On the other hand, a Snapdragon 835 SoC and 6GB of RAM provide the power to the phone, while a 3,400mAh battery provides the required fuel to run the hardware. For optics, the phone comes with a 12MP rear camera with 4-axis OIS and a 18K gold plated ring around it, whereas the front houses a 5MP selfie snapper. 

Related read: Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 review

Google Pixel 2 / 2 XL (Upcoming – Rs 64,000 onwards)

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There might be a ton of smartphones out there, but if you wish to experience Android the way it was meant to be, then there are no better devices than the recently-launched Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. While the standard Pixel 2 doesn’t get much of a design upgrade up front, the Pixel 2 XL now features a larger 6-inch QHD+ P-OLED display with an aspect ratio of 18:9 and minimal bezels. Both smartphones feature an IP67 rating and front-facing stereo speakers, but give the headphone jack a miss. The device also features Active Edge technology which lets you invoke the Google Assistant by just squeezing the phone. Under the hood, the phones are powered by a Snapdragon 835 SoC, 4GB of RAM and up to 128GB of internal storage. Both phones run Android Oreo out of the box, with three years of promised updates. Interestingly, Google says that its 12.2MP primary camera is capable of producing excellent Portrait shots without a second camera, thanks to its software algorithms and machine learning.

Related read: Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL first impressions

Nokia 8 (Rs 36,999)

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The first true android flagship from Nokia under HMD Global, the Nokia 8 launched in India in September this year. The handset flaunts a 5.3-inch QHD display and is crafted out of Series 6000 Aluminium with IP54 certification. The hardware side of the phone looks promising with a Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of expandable storage, while the software side is equally promising with stock Android Nougat. The brand promises that the phone will soon receive the Android Oreo update. One of the key highlights of the Nokia 8 is its dual 13MP rear cameras, which come with Carl Zeiss optics. 

Related read: Nokia 8 review

So that’s it… for now. Why is that? It’s because there’s another smartphone speculated to launch in India with a Snapdragon 835 SoC – the LG V30. The V30 is a loaded smartphone with a bezel-less design, a 6-inch QHD+ display, a Snapdragon 835 SoC, 4GB of RAM, dual cameras, quick charging and what not. Stay tuned for more coverage on the V30 in it launches in India. Meanwhile, for those wondering why the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ (review) doesn’t feature in the roundup, it’s because the duo comes sporting Exynos processors in India. So, which of these smartphones is the one you’d want in your pocket? Do let us know in the comments section below.