Best Overall
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
Great | Differentiating FeaturesThe fastest camera of any smartphone and it produces excellent photos. Awesome battery life. Attractive, waterproof design. Strong performance.
Good | Most Have It
MicroSD card slot is included. Wireless charging.
Average | Competitors May Be Better
In some markets, Galaxies are still tied to carriers for distribution and updates. TouchWiz is not for everyone (though not horrible by any means). No USB Type-C.
There’s no doubt that the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is the best smartphone on the market. Samsung has addressed pretty much every complaint about the Galaxy S6 with this fantastic device, bringing back critical features like the microSD card slot, while adding in a larger battery and a much more powerful Snapdragon 820 (or Exynos 8890) SoC.
The display in the Galaxy S7 Edge is still class-leading, and the curves to either edge are part of a beautiful, metal design. Samsung managed to make this the first Edge-series device that’s actually comfortable to hold, plus the inclusion of water resistance makes this handset more resilient than its competitors. Did we mention there’s also a fast fingerprint sensor?
One of the most compelling reasons to purchase the Galaxy S7 Edge is its camera, which packs fantastic image quality alongside an extremely fast ‘Dual Pixel’ autofocus system. You’ll be capturing images faster than any smartphone on the market with the S7’s camera, plus there’s a great range of features like 4K recording and a very respectable front-facing camera.
If there’s any reason not to buy the Galaxy S7 Edge (aside from premium pricing), it would be the lack of direct software updates. But in general this is the best smartphone on the market, and its little brother, the Galaxy S7, is just as good for those who don’t want a 5.5-inch device.
Honorable Mention
It may not pack the same all-round excellence as the Galaxy S7 Edge, but the HTC 10 is a really solid device that brings HTC back into contention. It’s fast, it has a great camera, and the build quality is simply stunning. Plus you also get a skinned version of Android that isn’t terrible, which is something you can’t say about many of the HTC 10’s competitors.Best for Enthusiasts
Google Nexus 6P
Great | Differentiating Features
Runs bleeding-edge stock Android, including Google’s latest betas. Premium metal build with fast fingerprint sensor and USB Type-C.
Good | Most Have It
Solid camera and battery life. Large 5.7-inch 1440p display. Performance is still really solid. Decent value for a phone of this size.
Average | Competitors May Be Better
No microSD card slot.
It made the list last year, and it’s still on it this year: the Huawei-made Google Nexus 6P is the best enthusiast smartphone you can currently buy, and that’s for one simple reason: software. Not only does the 6P run stock Android, complete with the latest security updates and a level of polish seldom seen in OEM devices, but you also have access to Developer Previews of the latest versions of Android.
No device currently on the market runs Android N, but owners of the Nexus 6P (and other recent Nexus devices) have been able to test it out for months now. Getting a sneak preview of new features is always an attractive thing to enthusiasts, and the promise of fast updates for several years after launch should appeal to everyone.
The Nexus 6P is no slouch from a hardware perspective either. The Snapdragon 810 may not be as fast as the latest silicon from Qualcomm, but it’s a very capable chip for powering the large, high-resolution 1440p AMOLED display. The all-metal build is fantastic – easily the best on a Nexus device – as are inclusions like USB-C and a rear fingerprint sensor. The camera delivers solid photos, too, making the lack of a microSD card slot one of the few complaints about this device.
Best of all, it won’t cost an arm and a leg to purchase the Nexus 6P: the handset can be found for several hundred dollars less than current-generation flagships. It’s not the cheapest device going around, but it could be a better value decision than the Galaxy S7 Edge or HTC 10.
Runs bleeding-edge stock Android, including Google’s latest betas. Premium metal build with fast fingerprint sensor and USB Type-C.
Good | Most Have It
Solid camera and battery life. Large 5.7-inch 1440p display. Performance is still really solid. Decent value for a phone of this size.
Average | Competitors May Be Better
No microSD card slot.
It made the list last year, and it’s still on it this year: the Huawei-made Google Nexus 6P is the best enthusiast smartphone you can currently buy, and that’s for one simple reason: software. Not only does the 6P run stock Android, complete with the latest security updates and a level of polish seldom seen in OEM devices, but you also have access to Developer Previews of the latest versions of Android.
No device currently on the market runs Android N, but owners of the Nexus 6P (and other recent Nexus devices) have been able to test it out for months now. Getting a sneak preview of new features is always an attractive thing to enthusiasts, and the promise of fast updates for several years after launch should appeal to everyone.
The Nexus 6P is no slouch from a hardware perspective either. The Snapdragon 810 may not be as fast as the latest silicon from Qualcomm, but it’s a very capable chip for powering the large, high-resolution 1440p AMOLED display. The all-metal build is fantastic – easily the best on a Nexus device – as are inclusions like USB-C and a rear fingerprint sensor. The camera delivers solid photos, too, making the lack of a microSD card slot one of the few complaints about this device.
Best of all, it won’t cost an arm and a leg to purchase the Nexus 6P: the handset can be found for several hundred dollars less than current-generation flagships. It’s not the cheapest device going around, but it could be a better value decision than the Galaxy S7 Edge or HTC 10.
Best from Apple
Apple iPhone 6s Plus
Great | Differentiating Features
Software and hardware is integrated superbly. Fantastic camera. Outstanding performance and display. One of the best phone builds.
Good | Most Have It
Proven fingerprint sensor. Decent battery life.
Average | Competitors May Be Better
No microSD card slot. Expensive across the entire line-up. No longer on the bleeding edge, it's due for an update in a few months' time.
Since Apple releases their new smartphones in the later parts of the year, the iPhone 6s Plus is still the best handset out there for fans of Apple’s ecosystem and mobile operating system. While we have seen some Android handsets released this year with better cameras and powerful hardware, the iPhone 6s Plus still stacks up extremely well.
The iPhone 6s Plus packs performance equal to the best Android devices on the market. Combined with extremely fast storage and outstanding software integration, the 6s Plus feels blazingly fast to use. The camera is still fantastic, the battery life is decent, the fingerprint sensor is fast, and the metal chassis is incredibly well crafted with an attention to detail that’s not seen from most Android devices.
Apple fans still have to suffer through horrible pricing: the iPhone 6s Plus is one of the most expensive smartphones on the market, even though it was released more than six months ago. It’s particularly expensive if you want more than the base 16 GB, as there’s no microSD card slot for cheap expandable storage. However, as this is an Apple device, you definitely get what you pay for.
The iPhone 6s should also be mentioned here as it's nearly identical to the 6s Plus, except the screen and battery are smaller and the body fits more snugly in your hand. For those that want all of the 6s Plus' great hardware in a smaller package, the iPhone 6s is the phone you should buy.
Software and hardware is integrated superbly. Fantastic camera. Outstanding performance and display. One of the best phone builds.
Good | Most Have It
Proven fingerprint sensor. Decent battery life.
Average | Competitors May Be Better
No microSD card slot. Expensive across the entire line-up. No longer on the bleeding edge, it's due for an update in a few months' time.
Since Apple releases their new smartphones in the later parts of the year, the iPhone 6s Plus is still the best handset out there for fans of Apple’s ecosystem and mobile operating system. While we have seen some Android handsets released this year with better cameras and powerful hardware, the iPhone 6s Plus still stacks up extremely well.
The iPhone 6s Plus packs performance equal to the best Android devices on the market. Combined with extremely fast storage and outstanding software integration, the 6s Plus feels blazingly fast to use. The camera is still fantastic, the battery life is decent, the fingerprint sensor is fast, and the metal chassis is incredibly well crafted with an attention to detail that’s not seen from most Android devices.
Apple fans still have to suffer through horrible pricing: the iPhone 6s Plus is one of the most expensive smartphones on the market, even though it was released more than six months ago. It’s particularly expensive if you want more than the base 16 GB, as there’s no microSD card slot for cheap expandable storage. However, as this is an Apple device, you definitely get what you pay for.
The iPhone 6s should also be mentioned here as it's nearly identical to the 6s Plus, except the screen and battery are smaller and the body fits more snugly in your hand. For those that want all of the 6s Plus' great hardware in a smaller package, the iPhone 6s is the phone you should buy.
Best Budget Device
LG G3
Great | Differentiating Features
Unbeatable at $200. The Snapdragon 801 is still a lot faster than Snapdragon 410 handsets. High-end camera still stacks up. 5.5-inch 1440p display.
Good | Most Have It
Has all the features of today’s new budget devices, like microSD expansion and fast LTE.
Average | Competitors May Be Better
Doesn’t run the latest version of Android. Battery life and build quality aren’t amazing.
Considering the current price of the two-year-old LG G3, there is no reason to buy a current-generation budget handset if you’re in the market for something around $200. As an older flagship, the LG G3 offers fantastic value: good luck finding an entry-level device with something as powerful as the Snapdragon 801 or something as crisp as the 5.5-inch 1440p display.
The camera is one of the key areas of the LG G3 that has held up incredibly well since 2014. It's not a stand out like it was two years ago, but it still packs a level of quality one step above current budget devices. Photos taken on the G3 look much better than those captured with last year's top budget choice -- the Motorola Moto G -- plus you get high-end features like 4K video recording, and optical image stabilization for improved low-light photography.
The G3 may not be the absolute cheapest smartphone out there – you can grab something very decent from Xiaomi or Motorola for $100-150 – but there are very few downsides to purchasing this handset. Need fast LTE? The G3 has it. Want expandable storage and a removable battery? The G3 has both of these features. NFC for mobile payments? Another tick, and something many cheaper handsets don’t have.
By purchasing something from a few years ago, you’re not getting the latest version of Android, and LG’s custom skin on the G3 is particularly obnoxious. Battery life might not be as good as current budget devices either, although that’s a sacrifice you have to make for better hardware.
Unbeatable at $200. The Snapdragon 801 is still a lot faster than Snapdragon 410 handsets. High-end camera still stacks up. 5.5-inch 1440p display.
Good | Most Have It
Has all the features of today’s new budget devices, like microSD expansion and fast LTE.
Average | Competitors May Be Better
Doesn’t run the latest version of Android. Battery life and build quality aren’t amazing.
Considering the current price of the two-year-old LG G3, there is no reason to buy a current-generation budget handset if you’re in the market for something around $200. As an older flagship, the LG G3 offers fantastic value: good luck finding an entry-level device with something as powerful as the Snapdragon 801 or something as crisp as the 5.5-inch 1440p display.
The camera is one of the key areas of the LG G3 that has held up incredibly well since 2014. It's not a stand out like it was two years ago, but it still packs a level of quality one step above current budget devices. Photos taken on the G3 look much better than those captured with last year's top budget choice -- the Motorola Moto G -- plus you get high-end features like 4K video recording, and optical image stabilization for improved low-light photography.
The G3 may not be the absolute cheapest smartphone out there – you can grab something very decent from Xiaomi or Motorola for $100-150 – but there are very few downsides to purchasing this handset. Need fast LTE? The G3 has it. Want expandable storage and a removable battery? The G3 has both of these features. NFC for mobile payments? Another tick, and something many cheaper handsets don’t have.
By purchasing something from a few years ago, you’re not getting the latest version of Android, and LG’s custom skin on the G3 is particularly obnoxious. Battery life might not be as good as current budget devices either, although that’s a sacrifice you have to make for better hardware.
Best Flagship for Less
Xiaomi Mi 5
Great | Differentiating Features
Current flagship specs, like a Snapdragon 820, for well under $400. Surprisingly beautiful design.
Good | Most Have It
Can’t complain about a 5.2-inch 1080p display. Pretty decent camera.
Average | Competitors May Be Better
Hard to find in North America and Europe. Xiaomi’s version of Android isn’t for everyone. No microSD card slot.
If you want high-end hardware but don’t want to spend $500-600, it’s hard to go past the Xiaomi Mi 5. This device has it all: the same Snapdragon 820 seen in competing flagships, a great 16-megapixel camera with optical image stabilization, and a decently-sized 3,000 mAh battery, all in an attractive and Gorilla Glass body.
Xiaomi hasn’t cut many corners at all to bring the Mi 5’s price down to around $350. You still get a fingerprint sensor, NFC, USB Type-C, Quick Charge 3.0, dual-band Wi-Fi, wide support for LTE networks, and a large-pixel front-facing camera that shines in low light. The 1080p 5.2-inch display is lower resolution than the best devices out there, though the actual visual difference is minimal.
The one challenge facing people wanting to purchase the Mi 5 is availability. Xiaomi doesn’t directly sell the Mi 5 in North America or Europe, but it can be imported through popular online stores like OppoMart for as little as $320 for the 32 GB variant. Be warned, though: there’s no microSD expansion, so be sure to purchase the amount of storage you need.
Current flagship specs, like a Snapdragon 820, for well under $400. Surprisingly beautiful design.
Good | Most Have It
Can’t complain about a 5.2-inch 1080p display. Pretty decent camera.
Average | Competitors May Be Better
Hard to find in North America and Europe. Xiaomi’s version of Android isn’t for everyone. No microSD card slot.
If you want high-end hardware but don’t want to spend $500-600, it’s hard to go past the Xiaomi Mi 5. This device has it all: the same Snapdragon 820 seen in competing flagships, a great 16-megapixel camera with optical image stabilization, and a decently-sized 3,000 mAh battery, all in an attractive and Gorilla Glass body.
Xiaomi hasn’t cut many corners at all to bring the Mi 5’s price down to around $350. You still get a fingerprint sensor, NFC, USB Type-C, Quick Charge 3.0, dual-band Wi-Fi, wide support for LTE networks, and a large-pixel front-facing camera that shines in low light. The 1080p 5.2-inch display is lower resolution than the best devices out there, though the actual visual difference is minimal.
The one challenge facing people wanting to purchase the Mi 5 is availability. Xiaomi doesn’t directly sell the Mi 5 in North America or Europe, but it can be imported through popular online stores like OppoMart for as little as $320 for the 32 GB variant. Be warned, though: there’s no microSD expansion, so be sure to purchase the amount of storage you need.
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