We have arrived at Q3 2023 with the majority of flagship devices already launched by Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, OnePlus, Vivo, Huawei and Honor. What hasn't been launched is that Google hasn't launched the Pixel 8 series yet. But Google has never offered their devices in Malaysia so we ignore their offerings this year.
The last time we produced a perfect device was in 2018. It has been a while since this series was produced so in conjunction with Malaysia Day tomorrow we are reviving it. As Malaysia is the amalgamation of Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore, our hypothetical perfect device will incorporate the best components we have selected from various smartphone manufacturers.
Frame – iPhone 15 Pro Max
The titanium frame of the iPhone 15 Pro Max is our choice because it provides the highest durability and at the same time reduces weight. It also looks more "sexy" than the usual aluminum frame. Apple is not the first company to use the exotic metal which has been used in the SR-71 Blackbird fighter jet and the Alpha nuclear attack submarine. In the world of smartphones Essential PH-1 and Vertu Signature Touch are two of the first with a titanium body. To be a perfect device it needs to have durable elements that go beyond the average smartphone.
Screen – Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung is the best screen manufacturer on the market right now. The panel of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra in our opinion looks like a Samsung smart TV in a small size. The visuals look alive with the most beautiful colors and have a high definition for use in the hottest sun situations.
Even if iPhone, Vivo, Oppo, Asus and Xiaomi screens are used, all these manufacturers use screens produced by Samsung Display. Therefore we feel it is good to choose the S23 Ultra screen because we have not met any owners of the device who are not satisfied with it.
Processor – Apple A17 Pro
Yesterday the Apple A17 Pro benchmark score appeared on Geekbench 6 confirming its status as the processor with the most powerful CPU of 2023. It recorded around 10% performance improvement over the A16 Bionic but up to 44% higher than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 For Galaxy which is the best chip for the device Android. Looking at the history of A-series chips, next year's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 may still not be able to match the A17 Pro.
This chip is so powerful that the PC/console games Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil Village, Death Stranding, and Assassin's Creed Mirage will be playable directly on the iPhone 15 Pro. No other Android device can do that at this time. Obviously the best processor chip component is only one and it is the Apple A17 Pro.
RAM – 24GB LPDDR5X RAM
2023 will be the year the RAM size offered on smartphones finally reaches 24GB RAM. Redmi K60 Ultra, OnePlus Ace 2 Pro and Realme GT5 are three examples of devices with extreme sizes launched this year. Is this large RAM size a gimmick? We can say yes. But in building a perfect device we can't rely on the components we want to use. Therefore 24GB LPDDR5X memory is our choice.
Storage – 1TB UFS 4.0
Rumors that 2TB smartphones will become a reality this year have yet to become a reality. But Samsung, Apple, Honor, Xiaomi and OnePlus all offer this storage on their flagship models. What we realize is that UFS 4.0 storage is very fast with the application installation process now passing in a blink of an eye with the help of fast 5G internet. For a perfect 2023 device, 1TB UFS 4.0 storage is necessary. Bonus if there is support for adding another 1TB of memory using a micro SD card like on the Sony Xperia 1 V.
Camera – Xiaomi 13 Ultra
“The best camera” is a hot topic of conversation . I personally like the S23 Ultra camera system because it is the most consistent with the most stable zoom system up to 100X. But I also agree that not everyone likes Samsung's colors and the camera has shutter lag.
The Sony Xperia 1 V camera is solid with a 1″ sensor but the camera app is too complex like the Sony Alpha digital camera. Without the basics of photography, the Sony Xperia 1 camera is impossible to use for ordinary people. Therefore the Xioami 13 Ultra camera wins by default due to the combination of 50MP wide angle 1″, 50MP ultra wide angle, 50MP telephoto 5X and 50MP telephoto 3.2X. In terms of ability it is the most versatile in various situations. It can also do 120X zoom.
Video – iPhone 15 Pro Max
For photography Xiaomi is the choice but in terms of video recording we have to choose the capabilities of the iPhone 15 Pro Max. It can record ProRes 4K 60p HDR directly to an SSD connected via a USB-C port. This feature is the same as any professional videography camera on the market. Video recorded using the iPhone 15 Pro Max also passes ACES standards as well as in spatial 3D mode for the Vision Pro headset. No other device on the market has capabilities as good as this one.
Audio – ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
Audio is often encoded on smartphones. Speakers are sometimes mono and even if they are stereo they are not symmetrical so they produce an unbalanced video. On the ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate we reached audio Nirvana because it is balanced. The phone's stereo speakers shoot forward like the HTC One M7's BoomSound system which was the first to use this configuration.
It's so loud that it doesn't need to be set to the highest level. With it in front of the audio directly to the ears of the user. There is no problem of the speaker grille being obstructed by the palm of the hand holding the device during a COD Mobile session. The 3.5mm audio jack is also still provided making the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate audio system the best this year.
Battery – 6000 mAh – ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
Once again the ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate component is taken this time the battery. The 6000 mAh battery is the largest used on a flagship device this year providing endurance for daily use. With 5G finally arriving in Malaysia, many are starting to notice that their phone battery life has dropped slightly compared to the 4G era. The rule of thumb is that the bigger the battery, the longer it lasts and the less often it needs to be charged.
Charging – 240W Realme GT3
The fastest charging system this year is the 240W SuperVOOC used on the Realme GT3. Developed by Oppo but loaned to their sibling Realme. With this charging system, the Realme GT3's 4600 mAh battery can be fully charged from zero in just 10 minutes. If you think this is fast, Oppo is currently in the process of developing a 300W SuperVOOC charger.
Operating System – Android
iOS, Android or HarmonyOS? Our answer for the best operating system is Android. Best because it gives freedom to users. Apps blocked or no longer exist in the Play Store? Sideload only by downloading the APK file. More customization and launcher options? Android provides flexibility that iOS does not offer which strictly controls their operating system. The perfect device should put more power in the hands of the owners rather than conglomerates obstructing their will.
Virtual Assistant – Google Asssitant
There is only one worthy virtual assistant in our opinion, which is Google Assistant. It's consistently smarter than Bixby, Alexa and Siri. With the Assistant team now revamped to integrate Google Bard's artificial intelligence, we can't wait to see what it's capable of in the near future. Using Assistant feels like dealing with intelligent software. No other virtual assistant in our opinion is on the same level.
Biometric System - Face ID
Seven years after Face ID was introduced with the iPhone X, there is still no comparable biometric system. View the screen and the device is unlocked regardless of the location, time and level of surrounding information. Huawei and Google tried to provide their 3D face scanning system but the integration of Face ID into the iOS operating system makes it difficult to compete.
Face ID can be used to buy apps in the App Store, fill in passwords in apps, verify identity when buying online and make DuitNow money transfers. During the pandemic, Face ID was updated so that it could be used with the Apple Watch. Secretly we hope Face ID is licensed to Android manufacturers because it's a very good biometric system.
Conclusion
What do you think about the Frankenstein device that has been produced from the components of various flagship devices throughout 2023? Do you agree with our choice? If not, please voice your preferred component that can replace our choice in the comment section.