The best smartphones you can buy today
Which is the best smartphone in 2021? The NextPit editorial team reviews dozens of smartphones every year and examines the camera(s), display, battery, performance, speakers, etc. in great detail. In this list, we will show you our favorites. For the undecided, there's also a smartphone buying guide below as well as details of the smartphones.
The best smartphones in 2021 in comparison
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We've discussed the best smartphones of 2021 backwards and forwards among the editorial team and have come to the above conclusion. But of course, individual winners always depend on personal taste. For example, for those who tend to do a lot of video recording, then it is a no-brainer that the iPhone 13 Pro is the best camera smartphone in 2021. And for those who do not like iOS will be happier with another smartphone, particularly of the Android variation. We had the average user in mind when making our decision, but then again average is just about nobody.
Therefore in the following article, you will first find a general buying guide which features and differences that await you in the best smartphones of 2021. Following that, there is a short description and an alternative recommendation for each category in this article.
Table of contents:
- Buying advice: What smartphones are offered in 2021
- NextPit recommends: The best smartphones of 2021
- Best smartphone of the year: Apple iPhone 13 Pro
- Best smartphone camera in 2021: Google Pixel 6 Pro
- Best smartphone design: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3
- Best value-for-money: Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro
- Best battery life of the year: Xiaomi 11T Pro
- Best foldable in 2021: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3
- Most sustainable smartphone: Fairphone 4
- Best gaming smartphone: ASUS ROG Phone 5
- How did NextPit select the best smartphones?
- Alternatives to buying new
- Upcoming sales at a glance
- Further "Best Of" lists
Buying guide: What smartphones are offered in 2021
Each year, smartphone manufacturers try to add exciting new features to their models, ranging from cameras to batteries and even the form factor itself. Below are a few tips on what to look for when buying a smartphone in 2021.
What features do flagship smartphones currently offer?
- Form factor: Foldable displays are probably the most exciting development in smartphones in recent years. Thanks to flexible displays, the form factors of the smartphones themselves are also becoming more flexible. In 2021, you will have choices between the ultra-compact Galaxy Z Flip 3, the standard brick format from the iPhone to the Xiaomi, or the foldable tablet in the form of the Galaxy Z Fold 3. You can find a current overview of the best foldable smartphones here:
- Cameras: The vast majority of high-end smartphones offer at least three cameras at the back: ultra-wide, standard wide-angle and telephoto. Do not be blinded by the resolution count: The difference between 12 and 108 megapixels is not as big as the numbers suggest. What is more important are factors like the sensor size or the image processing algorithms. You can read more about this in the respective smartphone reviews or in the following article.
- Batteries: You hardly have to worry about battery life this year. Even with intensive use, you can get through the day with the vast majority of models. However, the differences are more stark when it comes to charging: While Xiaomi charges its smartphones completely using 120 watts in a matter of minutes, Apple and Samsung are more conservative. Additional information about batteries and fast charging can be found in the following article.
- Display: First it was 60 Hz, then 90 Hz, 120 Hz, or even 144 Hz: Over the past two years, smartphones have been getting faster and faster displays. At long last, the Pro models from the iPhone 13 range too, have jumped aboard this bandwagon in 2021. High refresh rates ensure a smoother display, whether for gaming or in everyday use. However, the higher Hertz numbers also nibble away at the battery, so manufacturers usually adjust the refresh rates depending on the content being displayed. You can read more about screens via the following article.
- Processing power & other specifications: In 2021, there is hardly any need to worry about ekeing out sufficient performance in a high-end smartphone. All better smartphones offer more than enough power for current games and for everyday life anyway. The same applies to 5G, which is now standard equipment in smartphones. However, you should carefully consider how much memory you need before buying. This is because expansion options like a microSD card slot are almost non-existent in the upper mid-range models.
NextPit recommends: These are the best smartphones in 2021
You want to know more about the different smartphones? In the following segments, we present our favorites and dive into the advantages and disadvantages briefly. Depending on the type of user, there is a perfect choice for everybody.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro: The best smartphone of 2021
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Read the full iPhone 13 Pro review on NextPit
Which is the best smartphone in 2021? The answer depends, of course, on which universe you feel more at home in - Android or iOS. In October, our choice was the iPhone 13 Pro because we think it offers the best overall package across all aspects: from camera and performance to its operating system and ecosystem.
In our review of the iPhone 13 Pro, we were particularly impressed by the new camera features, especially the Cinematic Mode and the Photographic styles. And of course, we're very happy to see that the compact Pro model also has the same camera as the Max version this year.
And then, there are also upgrades like the 120 Hz display (finally!), a longer-lasting battery, the smaller notch, and the more potent SoC yet again. You can find an overview of all current iPhone models in the following link as apart from the iPhone 13 Pro, Apple currently officially carries five more smartphones in its portfolio.
2.2 Google Pixel 6 Pro: Best camera smartphone in 2021
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Check out the Google Pixel 6 Pro review at NextPit
The Google Pixel 6 Pro not only has arguably the most eye-catching camera design of the year, but also the most versatile as well. Yes, Google isn't alone with its flexible camera hardware of ultra-wide, wide-angle, and telephoto lens. But no other manufacturer has delivered camera features as impressive as Google's this year - while also delivering amazing image quality. We're committed to saying that the best camera smartphone in 2021 hails from Google.
But the Pixel 6 Pro is also far more than a glorified mobile camera. The design is certainly a matter of taste, but it is definitely striking - and we like that. The case feels good in the hand and is protected against dust and water according to IP68 certification. The AMOLED display is amazing to look at, offering great display quality and a variable refresh rate from 10 to 120 Hertz.
Finally, the new Tensor SoC performs well and is simply fun to use in combination with the new Android 12 operating system. However, the fact that Google promised three major Android updates and five years of security patches were not enough for all Android fans. There was also criticism for the rather limited amount of small storage and variants (the iPhone offers up to 1 TB!) as well as the (relatively) slow "Quick" charging.
We have reserved the best for the last. With a recommended retail price of $899, the Google Pixel 6 Pro is not a bargain, but is still pleasantly "cheap" for a flagship. And if you can make do without the telephoto lens, the little Google Pixel 6 sibling also offers a great camera experience for just $99. In the following article, we dive into all the differences in detail with the price comparison below showing you the current prices.
2.3 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3: Best smartphone design of 2021
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Click here to read the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 review at NextPit
Boom! Yes, five stars. That doesn't mean the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is the perfect smartphone. But it is our way of honoring Samsung's success in finally creating a new class of devices that is suitable for the masses: foldable smartphones. The Z Flip 3 no longer feels like a fragile prototype, but like an everyday item, thanks in part to its IPX8 certification.
And what a chic everyday object it is! The wow effect of the fold-out display is not lost even after our review that is several weeks old. And when folded, the smartphone is just delightfully small. Samsung has also improved the everyday usability with minor hardware and software improvements. For example, the exterior display is now more useful and offers more functions than its predecessor.
Of course, this smartphone is not free from weaknesses. At just $999, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 resides in the higher price segment for smartphones, but it offers comparatively very little camera performance. And the battery is also not quite as capable as compared to the competition. It is a pity since there simply must be more space for the chassis to store a larger battery.
2.4 Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro: Best value-for-money smartphone in 2021
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Click here for the detailed review of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro
Amidst outstanding flagships that cost around $1,000, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro looks a bit lost here. But despite, or perhaps because of, its low price of approximately $250, this smartphone has earned its place in this "Best of" list. The device makes numerous flagship-class features available to the masses.
That begins with the great AMOLED display, which provides a smooth display at a 120 Hz refresh rate. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G cannot keep up with the stronger SoCs of the 7-series or even the 8-series, but it is sufficient for most games. Only having 5G support would have been good here. In return, there is very decent battery life thanks to the 5,000 mAh cell within.
The main camera relies on a 108-megapixel sensor from Samsung and delivers solid results. However, you should not expect miracles from the ultra-wide-angle camera and the dual telephoto camera, and neither is this a performer in low-light conditions. Of course, the significantly lower price compared to the aforementioned devices would require sacrifices somewhere.
After the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro was announced in March 2021, you can expect one or another special offer in the coming weeks.
2.5 Xiaomi 11T Pro: The best battery life of 2021
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Click here for the detailed review of the Xiaomi 11T Pro
The Xiaomi 11T Pro boasts an impressive speed record: In just 17 minutes, the 5,000 mAh battery can be charged to 100 percent. Instead of charging the smartphone overnight, you can now perform everyday charging while showering and brushing your teeth. Insane.
The screen of the Xiaomi 11T Pro is also impressive, having won Ben over in the review. However, that's about it for its major strengths. Although there's plenty of processing muscle thanks to the Snapdragon 888 SoC, the smartphone cannot run at its full potential due to overheating problems. The camera system has a 108-megapixel sensor and 8K video recording capability, but picture quality is somewhat disappointing in reality.
The bottom line is, the Xiaomi 11T Pro is a specifications monster that is less than the sum of its parts. If battery and charging performance are your primary concerns, then you are in the right place.
2.6 Samsung Z Fold 3: The best foldable of 2021
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The full review of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 can be found here.
What we wrote about the Flip at the beginning also applies to the Galaxy Z Fold 3: Samsung's foldables have grown up and matured. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is more rugged than its predecessor and feels more adult-like, and more of a complete device. It offers the same IPX8 certification as the Flip 3 model, but is also significantly more expensive with a starting price of $1,799 and will thus probably remain an exotic device that is out of reach of the masses.
But it is an impressive exotic nonetheless. The two 120 Hz displays are gorgeous, and thanks to amazing performance and continuously improved software, it is really fun to use in everyday use. Only when you game does the thermal throttling occasionally throw a wrench in your plans, and the battery life is not exactly outstanding either.
The cameras perform decently but cannot keep up with current flagships which is a bit disappointing considering the initial cost. Well, the successor of the Galaxy Note series is just a workhorse, and not a photo pro; even if there is a "first" in the Z Fold 3, as far as the camera is concerned. Samsung hides the selfie camera under the display which offers less spectacular results in reality than it sounds.
2.7 Fairphone 4: The most sustainable smartphone of 2021
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Read the Fairphone 4 review at NextPit
Yes, the Fairphone 4 is neither the slimmest, nor the prettiest, nor the fastest smartphone. And considering what it offers, it's not cheap either. But: Fairphone does everything in its power to ensure that the smartphone is produced in a sustainable manner and under fair working conditions. Furthermore, the smartphone comes with a five-year warranty, and Fairphone plans to roll out Android updates until 2027.
The hardware can also be upgraded: Besides the battery, you can also replace the camera modules or the memory, for example. The solid build quality also gives us hope that the smartphone will last much longer than just the industry-standard of two years.
Of course, there is also a downside: For a recommended retail price of €579 (there are no plans for the Fairphone 4 to be sold Stateside), you will receive far less power in the Fairphone 4 than in handsets from Xiaomi and its ilk. At least the Snapdragon 750G SoC offers solid performance and is also capable of 5G support, but will that still be sufficient in 2027? We shall see. The included cameras also performed surprisingly well for a small manufacturer. The bottom line is, the Fairphone 4 offers a well-rounded overall package and has thus earned four out of five stars.
2.8 Asus ROG Phone 5: The best gaming smartphone of the year
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Read the Asus ROG Phone 5 review on NextPit
With the Asus ROG Phone 5, the manufacturer has given the ROG Phone 3 from last year a worthy successor. The smartphone offers very high performance levels thanks to the Snapdragon 888 chipset and paired the SoC with enough cooling power to counteract thermal throttling.
In addition, there is a very smooth AMOLED display with a 144 Hz refresh rate, a great battery life thanks to a 6,000 mAh battery, and a somewhat simpler design. Beyond that, you'll find familiar benefits of ROG Phones that consist of Air triggers, a high digitizer sampling rate, and matching accessories like an additional external fan.
Less convincing is the camera module which only offers a 64 MP main camera, a 13 MP ultra-wide-angle camera, and a macro sensor at 5 MP. While that's not necessarily bad, it's just not good enough for a flagship. As a gaming phone, the Asus ROG Phone 5 is also not exactly lightweight and compact. However, that certainly won't bother you if you're looking for such a device to get your game on wherever you are.
How did NextPit choose the best smartphones in 2021?
Anyone who is considering buying a smartphone for over $1,000 or the hereabouts is likely to be quite familiar with the smartphone world. After all, there has to be a fundamental interest in investing the price of a used small car on a mobile phone!
Before you commit to a purchase, take a hard-look look at the spec sheet. Make sure the phone of your choice meets all your requirements. Flagship Android and iOS smartphones can easily last for several years thanks to frequent updates. Picking up the flagship smartphone is therefore also an investment for the future and should therefore be carefully considered.
So take a good look at the smartphone and if possible, get a hands-on before you buy. Do you like the software? Are you bothered by elements such as a plastic back or a huge notch in the display? For these reasons, the rankings in the above list are not set in stone. Everyone has different preferences and needs, and so, one smartphone that works for you might not work for your other half. All these things should be considered before you swipe your card.
Alternatives to buying new
Refurbished, sale units, and used smartphones
If removing the protective film for the first time on your new device does not cause you to jump for joy, you can pick up more expensive smartphones from the second-hand or refurbished market. It is particularly advisable to use devices that carry a refurbished guarantee. These are used smartphones that have been checked and refurbished by reputable companies to ensure that they are in tip-top condition. Refurbished devices are particularly exciting to check out when they come with an extended warranty. This is how you protect yourself when picking one up just in case the handset gives up the ghost just a few weeks down the road.
Of course, you do not have this advantage when buying a used smartphone from private owners on platforms such as eBay, eBay classifieds, or other portals. However, used devices can be found for significantly reduced prices here, as there are no additional costs because the middleman has been cut out. With the so-called 'sale', you also secure older models that online shops still carry in new condition but which are no longer in production.
Promotions and sales
Towards the end of the year, each consumer electronics device that you purchase is accompanied by an even greater risk of stumbling upon a cheaper offer just a few weeks down the road. This can be attributed to sales like Black Friday and its associated Black Week, Amazon Prime Day, Singles Day, and Cyber Monday, all of which are discount days in the months of October and November, which are meant to prime the economy before the Christmas shopping frenzy season begins. Since smartphones are one of the most popular consumer electronics devices in the market, you should keep your eyes peeled for great deals. You can check out the dates for this year's sales and promotions in the table below:
Upcoming sales days
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| Singles Day | November 11, 2021 |
| Black Week | November 23 to 27, 2021 |
| Black Friday | November 27, 2021 |
| Cyber Monday | November 30, 2021 |
It's best to keep an eye on our homepage on these days. Because we search for offers in every online shop and manufacturer's website and assess the offers according to their value. As in this article, you can inform yourself with further reviews and news about the respective devices before buying.
Sign up for a contract with a service provider or an installment plan
If your old smartphone is completely broken and cannot be used, leaving you in desperate need of an immediate replacement, you can always opt for an installment plan that covers several months of payments. Normally, this is seen in the traditional framework of smartphone contracts, where you obtain a new smartphone for free for a monthly surcharge or for a lower one-time payment. Generally speaking, restrictions of a particular smartphone model to a specific network operator no longer exists today. However, there is still the risk of paying more for the device at the end of the contract compared to buying it outright now.
On the other hand, you also obtain cheaper prices with a monthly financing plan. You pay off the purchase price of the new device across an agreed number of monthly installments sans contract and with 0% interest. Such financing packages are extremely popular, but it also comes with its own risks. For instance, if you lose your new smartphone immediately after buying it or if it breaks, you will still honor the remaining installments for a device that can no longer be used or is limited in functionality.
What do you think of this approach as well as our selection? Which models have we missed out on which do you think deserve to be included in the list? Let us know in the comments!
More "Best Of" lists on NextPit
- The best smartphones under $200
- The best smartphones under $300
- The best smartphones under $400
- The best gaming smartphones
- The best foldable smartphones
- The best camera smartphones
This article was republished on 27 October 2021. Existing comments have been preserved.
My LG V30 has just turned 3 years old and its battery has been worn out over time. I 'm also tired of being stuck with android 9. Should I replace the battery or should I wait for the Galaxy s22 Ultra and buy it?
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Staff
3 weeks ago Link to commentIf Android updates are important, one option to consider (depending on where you live) is the Pixel 6.
I don 't like google 's design approach, as well as I don' t like the stock Android OS. Because of that, I 'm not considering devices with a non-customized UI. I 've also been a Samsung fan in the past (I also liked the Touchwiz UI), so the Google Pixel is definitely not a good choice for me!
Last, but not least, only samsung devices allow to disable fast charge, meaning that I can choose to charge at a maximum of 5V and 2A ( or maybe 3), no matter how much powerful is the charger I use.
Pixel and Fairphone are the only phones of interest to me on the list. My phone is more productivity focused and so gaming level features aren't worth the money. I've been very satisfied with mid tier phones for quite a while now.
I guess I don't wAnt to wave a flag. None of these interest me at all
I think LG phones are good
Motorola Edge should be released soon,and with Samsung now struggling with the sales of there new S20 models,they have got stop over pricing there phones,or they will be struggling soon,and its there own problem cause by copying the pricing policy of Apple
OnePlus is too expensive to merit best value.
The upgrades are coming day by day but there is some new phone nowadays and it is amazing
Thanks
Been Using Galaxy Note 8 for 3 years and S10+ for awhile and they have the best Specs and Features!! Lovin' it!!
I've been using the s10+ since it's release. This phone is simply a pleasure to use. I really have no complaints. All the premium features. Display, cameras & battery are excellent, there is no finer even after 8 mos of very heavy use!
I'm rockin a Samsung Galaxy S10 and loving it, my only gripe is the lack of an LED notification. That said its great so far. My wife has the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ and she says its the best device shes ever owned. Does anyone know when Samsung is releasing android 10 & the new One UI 2?
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Admin
Oct 29, 2019 Link to commentOnly expensive ones
Android phones are the best in terms of cost because iPhones are expensive! Recently, one of my friends has bought Huawei P30 Pro. This phone has excellent features and less price.
£234 as 'best value'?! Come off it. My Moto G5+ was £159 nearly 2 years ago, the G6 and its Play version are now similarly priced...
While I'm at it, imo it's high time smartphone users, makers and commentators started demanding that ALL battery-powered devices (not only phones...) have batteries that can be replaced by the user. Getting a new phone because the battery is failing is simply unsustainable - and we all KNOW that in our hearts of hearts...
The Mate 20 X has the best battery life. I get around 11-13 hours of screen on time daily. The S9+, Note 9 would be one of the best phones if they gave us a non edge screen version. I'm not a fan of the curves.
Why is there a crappy iPhone on the middle of your main image when you are talking about android. No android user would be stupid enough to fall into the the Apple arena. I would rather not have a phone then buy Apple. Bring on the Galaxy F. I have used all of the phones above and in my opinion the Samsung Note 9 and Galaxy S9 are by far the best paired with the Galaxy watch they are fantastic.
The s9 series for me are the best phones on the planet. Design, display and of course every premium feature. They are the swiss army knife of all phones. Viewing movies & videos are an extreme pleasure, there is no finer. These and the Huawei mate 20pro are the absolute best phones money can buy!
I think Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and Huawei Mate 20 Pro are the best. Next year I will probably be buying P30 Pro.
I found the Umidigi s2 pro to be even better than the Samsung S9 and it only costs a little over $500.00! Cheers! 👍😀
WEll xz2 is better than s9, don't know why they put s9 and p20 at the top
Honor 7X / Huawei Mate SE
LG Stylo 4 (Cricket Wireless has 3gig Ram 32gig ROM 6.2 screen built in stylus)
Moto E Supra (Cricket Wireless has 3gig Ram 32gig ROM 6.0 screen LED flash on front and back laser auto focus 5000 mAh battery)
Those are all decent no contract phones for around the $180-$200 range (I guess we won't see a new ZTE for a while?). It's a bummer there are no shops where you can walk in and check out and Honor or Huawei (that seals the deal).
For years, "compact smartphone" was synonymous with the low-end...
Seriously?? Have you ever heard of the high end xperia compact series? Don't mention only the X compact which is a mid range old device. Put in your comparison the XZ1 compact which is way better than the competition.
Why don't you do a best for hearing impaired? You seem to always over look us.
Note 8 best phone on the planet period!
That true
It's almost like a Samsung
It is July of 2018 and the Note 8 is as great of a phone as it was nearly a year ago. The much touted S9+ camera routinely over exposes in low light and if your subject isn't graveyard still it will result in a blurry photo. The Note remains a top contender.
Android Pit:
Pixel 2 / 2XL are best for photography.
Also Android Pit:
Camera blind test results: Samsung and Apple on top as Pixel 2 tanks
https://www.androidpit.com/camera-blind-test-results-samsung-apple-on-top-pixel-2-tanks
S8 best phone
True but wait on the Samsung galaxy 9 to launch
I think the Honor 7X / Mate 10 impressed me enough to buy both this year ( Huawei gets a 👍 from me)
For dirt cheap? The ZTE Blade Z Max from MetroPCS is alright (I wouldn't mind a 2nd Gen Axon7)👍
I'm pretty happy with my LG V30. Samsung is junk.
I'll bet you loved your bootloop
I'd like to see the razor phone, essential phone, the OnePlus 5T added to the list.
The just announced Huawei Honor 7X is a $300 successor to the Huawei Honor 6X (5.9 screen, bigger battery, 4 gig RAM, etc) 👍
https://m.gsmarena.com/huawei_honor_7x-8880.php
This list is so wrong in so many ways that makes me wonder why people like this make this kinda of articals. looking only for specs are really sad. honor 6x vs xiaomi Mi A1, samsung worst device after 1 year of use....you pick only for design? all makers have now 18:9..and better they dont have distorced corners like samsung has...one plus 5 is just a bad. its a beta device, needing every week for "fixes", its a win on paper..on real life...not really. htc u11 is kinda better in every aspects...and you only give better on alternative in photos? lolol but whos me to contest this pro list...lol
You say the Galaxy S7 variants as the best under $500 but the LG G6 subjectively the better phone.
Better CPU.
Better camera.
Better or more sturdy build.
Newer phone.
Better bootloop too.
yea umm neither the g6 or v30 have bootloop issues. quit trolling
Its realy nice
I'm really expecting androidpit to be renamed samsungpit as you really are biased in every way to samsung! Funny that you say the S8 and S8 plus are the absolute best smartphone out there at the moment but there's better phones out there that are better and cheaper, as i said the xzpremium dosent even get a mention by androidpit erm samsungpit and its better in everything even antutu gives it higher marks. So lets give other phones a bit more of a mention instead of this continual samsung favouritism?
Nope. Samsung is objectively the best. Every other manufacturer takes their cues from them. Sorry, it is what it is. I own an HTC U11 life and an S8.
As someone that has had an Essential PH-1 for a week. I find that it didn't make the list a surprise. I don't understand how you can list phone like the OnePlus 5 as one of the best when it's not a viable option for at least 40% of the American market. I'm on Verizon and any phone that is not compatible doesn't matter.
No love for the U11?? Shocked at its absence from the list.
It's not the best phone yet but it may have a chance
Bit dated but xzpremium is better than the s8 but doesn't get a mention! why.
Because it objectively can't compete.
xzp has gigantic bezels and a horrible camera. s8 has a lot more features and is a much more manageable size and shape.
I'm not sure about the overall performance of HTC U11 but I saw the camera samples shared by the "HTC Offcial FB Page" and they were mind-blowing.
Have HTC U11+ myself and it's absolute one of rhe best...
S8 I said pretty cool phone
Let's wait for the end of the year. There will be Pixel 2 and S8 note and probably many more great devices.
No LG phones again!! Come on people why are you so biased against LG? The V20 and the G6 should be on the list.
Mark, with so many bootlooped phones in the past consumers are pretty disgusted with LG! I keep reading reviews that state never again LG! They are still involed with a class action lawsuit! Yikes!
and V30
V20 and G6 are Old. And nowhere near the best Android smartphones available today.
I personally love the Axon 7 by ZTE. I haven't looked back since I've gotten it.
Agreed !👍
The ZTE AXON 7 still rocks with my Huawei Mate 9
I've now tried several games including asphalt 8, plants v zombies 2, fifa mobile, song pop and there is no lag. Loading times are fairly brisk. The specs of one plus 3t sound good though. I chose s7 as I like slightly smaller phone. I did own one plus x and it felt like a project half finished. The auto brightness was forever adjusting itself, speaker was horrid lag was bad despite components being fine. I think poor software optimisation was to blame and rooting it nearly fixed it. One plus wanted owners to mention problems on forums so they could gradually fix them. I just wanted something that worked on purchase and sold it. I think one plus has come a long way since then.
As you might have gathered the s6 struggled with ram management and wasn't great for games. The s7 seems to not have this problem. What sort of games do you like? I fancy downloading some to test out how good the s7 is at these. It scores highly in benchmarks but so did the s6.
I play games that probably wouldn't be your style like Dragonvale and Dragonvale World. Games where u can pay for extra content and u need friends via FB. I've played Dragonvale (the original) for over 5 yrs since it was released but World is newer and supposedly 3D, I played as a beta tester before official release and now as they get bigger lag is bad and it takes time for buildings to load from square boxes. Plus I need more speed in an area where speed means success or failure when buying items in a world market. When it comes to other games I have kept all the consoles I ever bought and the games and prefer these to online gaming. I get motion sickness from 3D and discovered this back when Doom was the game to play.
I'm looking for an upgrade from a Samsung Galaxy S6. I need a gaming phone, the S7 has 4G ram but OnePlus 3T has 6G ram. I don't know enough about specs to choose wisely but have always used Samsung. Can anyone tell me what would be the phone to choose for best gaming experience without the lag?
Yvonne, I use the s7edge. I can't say anything bad about this phone. I've have used it for over a year. Just as fast as the day I bought it, especially with the Nouget update. The display, camera, IP68 are excellent. Plus it's in the 500.00 range. It's the best phone I have ever used. Take a peek at it!
I have an s7. Camera is amazing. It beat my compact system camera (csc) for twilight pictures and pictures zoomed out in good light. In low light it loses to my csc but beats my compact camera. Impressive. Battery life is reasonable. Usually makes a day. I have been using it lots. Performance is very good although there is still a little lag and stutter for which I blame marshmallow. I haven't used android that doesn't have this issue. It's miles better than my old z3 plus. Speaker could be better but that's it for negatives. Screen is superb and it feels nice in the hand. The fire issue concerned only the note 7 not the s7 edge. One plus 3 looks tempting but a bit big for me and also not available on O2 refresh upgrade. The new Google pixel might beat the Samsung with less bloat ware and even better camera if it didn't have no expandable memory. What were they thinking.
I have a Galaxy J7 (2016) and it's amazing. Under $200, fast (it runs Marshmallow 6.0), battery lasts and pics are great.
so great , its awasem .
I have the Motorola droid turbo 2 and absolutely love it. I'm running 6.0.1 and it gives me a lot of options that other phones would need root to do, pretty good cam, excellent battery life and rapid charge. Damn good processing, the ONLY thing I hate is the bootloader is locked tight and there still isn't a solid exploit to get root! If you're worried about security Motorola has it! It's a real difficult phone to crack
The Moto Z Play unlocked is inexpensive, and I can talk to it while it is lying by my bed, to set an alarm, call someone, whatever. Don't even have to reach for it. The camera is terrific and battery life is usually at least 2 days of moderate use.
Mac E Pooh
I can not open play store
I hope this helps you & anyone who's having trouble with apps (including Play store & Services and system functions) closing, crashing etc even after a factory reset. An APK mirror (read the info regarding what it is & does if you're not familiar) I've never had to use the others but the Play Services and it saved me when I couldn't even get to factory reset because of the continual closing of my phone's system functions. Just follow the 3 step instructions from the developers (check the # of your version, download and install) Let me know if it helped, if you do it!
Login to your google account.
i think one plus 3 is the real winner when compared to price and specs
Think everyone that buys an Samsung S7 should be supplied with a free fire extinguisher!
That's the note 7. S7 and s7 edge not affected.
Idiot
Galaxy S7 edge, amazing smartphone by Samsung. I have never seen a smartphone like this.
ya you r right its best
I Like the APPLE IPHONE 6S
But it's iOS bro, So I won't count in androidpit. :)
Samsung S7 edge is one of the Best phones to buy but its the pricing of phones that make them more popular nowdays, batterylife is were Samsung at last deserves some respect with the S7 models after the Note 7 saga carrying on, galaxy S5 and Note 4 seems to be the Best value phones as we got the Best options on these phones the removable battery & micro sd card slot and no more worrying about how much batterylife you have left
OnePlus3 and Sony Xperia Z5 are two best Android smartphones.
I am commenting again of this post and this time I've forgotten Samsung Galaxy S7
Nope. Z5 is not usefull above 30 degrees celsius. Screen starts dimming. Build quality sucks. Try push on the back of the phone. Started with z1 and z5 is my last sony phone. Chinese phones rule.
If it's like z3 plus it overheats and grinds to a halt to protect itself.
yeah i agree that Sony Xperia is one of the best.
I read that too on this article http://andronuts.com/10-most-awaited-phones-2017.html
OnePlus 3 is fastest, Samsung Galaxy S7 is low-cost and Sony Xperia Z5 is best of Selfie-freaks. Cool..!
I don't understand why you have missed out reviewing ZenFone 3 which is good and value for money.
Depending on which network you're on as no 4g on some such as o2
the title is incorrect. it should be "The Most Expensive (Rip-off Priced) and Show-off Phones for 2016". There is no such thing as the best phone etc as most users never use more than about 10% of the phones` features. It is a fact that phones are dirt cheap and then advertised to levels of "WANT" that people buy it on CREDIT just to show off.
Absolutely...here,here. I've been hoping to find someone of a like mind... I've seen it. People who buy top dollar stuff, don't use it..., don't know how to. Just 'cause it looks good sitting on the bar... Shmuck city. I've got Nexus 9,i see no reason the get anything more than the most basic handset...
its absolutely right man.......while searching best........the price is not an issue.....
Agreed,cheap zenfone 2 user here,knowing how to use apps to there full potential is far more important than how fast or how good the phone looks.
I want sony z6. Actually I have z3plus dual but z5 dual and z5 premium is disappointing me because same SD 810 chipset same ram 3gb not improvements front facing camera with flash. Z5 not use 2k. Full HD I want QHD and amoled display like samsung. Much battery 🔋 life 3200mah. Sony does not provide us. So I want slim phone 6.00 mm thickness. I hope z6 provide us all above demand.
How bout the phone u use now Z3+
Man you gotta give the 6P and 5X some points for purity!
6p most especially its a great phone
Agreed. Nothing on the list is even interesting while I have my 6P.
This is so old article. AndroidPIT please bring, every year, this article in August or September month as most of the flagship phones are released till 8th or 9th month of the year. Thus we get good view of best phones in the market at particular price range and specifications. Also you will not be needing to edit the article more often as this article, which needs an urgent update.
Thanks for the comment Charudatt, we update the article when we have a new device to add. I've updated it now with our latest thoughts. Let me know what you think of it :)
Like google pixel.
Glad to see xperia getting some justice :)
I still think the Blu Life Phone Series is the best. I mean at $160, for an unlocked android phone. You can't get much better. Remove one of the P's in http to have access to the link: httpp://amzn.to/1tpLpRa
I was looking through your list /reviews of Samsung phones but didn't see the one I was interested in. The Samsung J3.Can I have a review of this particular phone.
HomTom HT10 - 10 cores!
2x 2.3 GHz ARM Cortex-A72
4x 2.0 GHz ARM Cortex-A53
4x 1.4 GHz ARM Cortex-A53
Main Camera Resolution - 21.46
Display Size - 5.5 Inch
Display Resolution - 1080 x 1920 Pixels
Ram - 4 GB
Rom - 32 GB
Full specification
www.china-prices.com/phone/6027/homtom-ht10
LG Stylo 2 ($170) -- better specs than that piece of shit from Motorola -- Cricket Wireless will have their version available this Friday the 13th (I'm told Boost Mobile will have their version available , too)
http://www.androidauthority.com/lg-stylo-2-cricket-690861/
Blu vivo 5 best budget phone at the price of $199. It outperforms some phones that cost $450 + , this is a list more like a comercial for a handful of brands what a shame cause you left off some good phones because their name isnt samsung or sony
The list can be much better !!
I have a note 5 and a iPhone 6 and can't decide which one to use
Is the camera performance exactly the same on the Z5 and the Z5 Compact?
RedMi Note 3 32Gb gold version should be in the list!!
xiaomi mi5 and redmi note 3 are missing in the list
Got to agree with you that the Z5 has the best camera! although a lot would disagree! daytime photos on my Z5 are fantastic and night shots which the phone comes in for a lot of criticism with some tweaking are just as good as anything. But have to say the phone itself is the best I've ever had.
Nexus 6p
For god's sake. How can you actually just use the 2015 list with just the galaxy s7 added? Seriously.....horrible editorial team
They also added the OnePlus 3...
How many people have bought Sony Xperia Z5 ?
i used a z5 compact and own a z3 compact. Z3 compact feels much better! And way better price
To make the best of the best phones list. I think a phone need to have durability. So it can be dropped several times without being destroyed and water resistant . Also sustainability so it can last for years. You need to be able upgrade memory via Micro SD, and be able to replace a failing battery easily. The S7 lacks the durability with it's all glass design and only part of the sustainability with Micro SD support. I think the Note 4 is still the best phone Samsung has produced for those reasons. LG is on the verge of taking the title away. The LG V-11 due out later this year my take the crown away form the Note 4 if they add the IP 68 rating to it.
I really don't understand your love of the OnePlus 2. I was sadly disappointed in it.
When is lollipop 5.1 available for Vodafone prime ultra 6??
I know the note 4 is not new but I'm interested in what others think of it? I've tried other phones but I always end up going back to my trusty note 4
I have a Note 4 almost two years ago. It's an excellent device that has everything I need and everything a device must have: excellent camera, brilliant screen, wonderful performance and a long etc.
This phone has too much development, in this moment I'm running a Note 5 port ROM, without words.
Also battery life is great, despite it's big screen, Samsung do an excellent battery management (in my opinion).
Few devices can beat Note 4, for me, a device made to last.
And I also think the Mi5 deserves a spot on the list. The top version if it's not better at least comes close to the S7- not so glossy and sparkling like a mirror and has got great camera stabilization. And the low end version is definitely best in under 400USD range.
But doesn't the Z3 Compact have better battery life than the Z3?
They all look terrible. "Why don't we make a good looking phone guys, without a massive dumb button on the front" "pfft silly, what's the point in that?"
I have Motorola Moto g 2nd gen and I already have android marshmallow.
S7 is hardly an upgrade to my Note 5. Pass.
its all through away garbage. In 2-3 yrs, all these phones will be garbage. Like disposable lighters. Who cares!
OBVIOUSLY, The S7 will be the best. No surprise there.
It's regurgitated S6 trash.
Well......I've had a Z5 Compact since November 15 and I can't fault it except for the Battery, it doesn't last as long as my previous Z3 but it's still good and the Exmoor CCD is gorgeous, I've got a 1080p Sony Camcorder and the Z5 is equal to it plus it does 4k Video recording as well but does it eat up the Mb's, about 100mb a min @ H264 and 60mb @ H265.
Do you have any overheating and throttling issues with the Z5 Compact?
z3 compact is my number one choice! So sad that it broke):
No:-[ not a Samsung again.
Guys, if anyone likes phablets, do try huawei mate 8 if you could find one. It's a great phone apart from Samsung s7 edge. Especially the mocha brown colour is really adorable!
Z5 i nowhere near best camera on phone. LG G4, V10, S6, S6 edge - they all have better cameras. S7 especially.
What a bullshit article. The lowest version of the mi5 is less than 400 and it still includes the snapdragon 820. Yet the one plus two.
Nexus 6P for sure but right now can't go for it so whichever phone suits your budget & requirements and able to deliver good performance is the best phone for you.
Nexus 6P
The new Samsung s7 has everything you would ever need. Perfect in every way. Great job Samsung
I just got the Galaxy S7 yesterday and it's awesome! I just switched from and iPhone 5S :)
Wise move. Great choice.👍
Just got Samsung Galaxy A5 and I love it. High end not for me. Rip off!
Nice list. One thing I'm interested in is a phone that has a 1080p display, micro SD slot, NFC, marshmallow, a decent camera, a fingerprint sensor, and which works on verizons network for under $400. A removable battery would be a bonus. The nexus 5x comes close. Pretty much sounds like a dream.
Gotta show my oneplus x some love. Here in Canada the OPX has the right lte bands(in the US it is missing one). Really a good phone for cheap. It is hard(impossible) to find good 5" phones anymore.
I have moto g 2015 and its really a fine mobile
Personally, I have the Nexus 6, and I love it!
I just can't part with mine, love my Nexus 6 too.
Very informative article but I would like to suggest another brand to be included in this list, iDROID USA is making extraordinary smartphones which have lots of cool features. The best android smartphones by iDROID USA include models like Tango 2, Royal V5, Tango A5 etc. I personally own a Tango 2 which has a Gorilla glass screen and a front flash to take selfies in the dark.
Thanks for the tip. Haven't heard about them before. The BLU phones look interesting as well, but unfortunately they don't mention them here.
If the Samsung S6 or S6 edge is getting a 1st place rating it's not because it actually deserves it. It has no removeable battery and the one it has is weak at best. No option for expandable storage since they wanted to make SD cards obsolete. Frankly, Samsung's latest offerings are pure junk. They are all flash because they wanted to make something that resembled an iphone yet they failed to follow the market trends in that people today want versatility and Samsung shot themselves right in their own azz on this one. No matter how good that phone looks, you will find more knowledgeable people will agree that an unlocked Galaxy S3 blows both S6 models out of the water when it comes to WHAT MAKES SENSE!. All that power and memory they are trying to put in their phone is not even necessary but they sure think we all would fall for their gimmick. We were content with having the option to buy extended batteries and SD cards for expandable storage and instead of keeping the customer base happy, they decided to go and try to prove a point that they can make iphone's too. How stupid. What a waste of time and money. Way to go Samstupid. Since Samsung is starting to lose a very big following (follow the well known Android forums and you can verify this) as they are not recognizing what makes sense but instead fell right into the snare of what the majority of knowledgeable cell phone users call PURE STUPID. Way to go Samsung what will you not think of next!?
Yes I agree!
And this is why I will hang onto my Galaxy S5 "on FREEDOMPOP" until I eventually replace it with a Nexus or a Note 4 (that will also be on "FREEDOMPOP"). I'm done buying ridiculously expensive new phones that don't work any better than a slightly older phone, just so I can pay AT&T, Verizon or Sprint a huge amount of money each month for terrible service.
that's a matter of opinion. I have the S6 and it's great. No battery or lag issues. Samsung pay is great. The camera launches very quickly and the pics are near perfect. Most people don't use anything near 32 gb and the pictures I do take store nicely in the cloud whereas a SD card can easily corrupt and I will most likely be upgrading in two-years so a removable battery is moot since I never used the one I had with my G4. No gimmick there. Samsung is now able to compete.
And with respect to micro SD card slot, oddly enough Samsung still manufactures and sells micro SD cards. Go figure.
I couldn't agree more.
Did you come up with your name all by yourself?
*Extra credit: do you have a tinfoil hat on? Ever?
What??? How could you forget Nexus 6p? It is an excellent phone and no bloatware. Samsung is filled with apps that run your battery down every time.
Sony z5, sadly, is far from having best camera on smartphone. Actually its camera is bad.
Hello,
according to me - Nexus 6p definitely.
I recently hacked wifi password using android phone. You can search on Google "how to hack wifi password in 2 minutes"
Guys do try this :)
Thanks for very informative and nice article :)
I would also go for Nexus 6p ! :)
you obviously don't how to use it properly?
The Sony has the worst camera ever. From the z2 upto the Z5. Really it's a disappointment and not just in the camera.
The best android phones according to you sport Touchwizz??? If you say so....
Typed on a proper Android device - Nexus 6p.
I use Nova
I detect so much burn from Samsung haters! AndriodPIT got it spot-on.
The S6 is an amazing phone. I was reluctant at first selling my S5 to get it, but as soon as I brought it home I fell in love with it. Amazing feel to the hand and great features. I couldn't care less about the non removable battery (that's what battery packs are for should the occasion arise) or the lack of SD card (I trade it for the faster UFS 2.0 internal memory anyday).
Good job Sammy!
I can't believe that the Nexus 6P didn't make not even one spot on the best new phone list!
I don't think any phone without Micro SD support and removable battery should even be in the running for best phone. None of the phones on your list have both features. Consumer Reports rates the S6 under the S5 because of these features. You call them the best?
Why?
I can't see half of the screen vertically in my LG g3 is there any way to fix.
This is not really a great list. Where did the Moto X Pure Edition go? And how can any features make up for a non removable battery and no as card slot? Seriously.... Samsung sucks.
The Moto X Pure is a better $400 phone than the One Plus 2. One Plus botched that phone. Poor band support, kludgy OS. no SD card, no NFC and a heavily throttled 810.
Most people don't even miss it.
G4 feels too cheap to be number 1
How can Samsung Galaxy S6 rate so high when it has problems w/ battery life, a non replaceable battery, and a missing memory card drive? Plus, wasn't there a problem with the exelerometer? (sp?)
No issue with my battery. Why do you need a replaceable battey, most people will NEVER replace it. SD cards are slow and deteriorate quickly. Bye bye pics!!
Ummm... I think you forgot Moto X Pure Edition!
Such a shame they didn't include best phone for music.
I have had the HTC One M8 for 2 years now, and due to their latest failures I am hesitating in buying their next flagship.
I know that even now the M8 is in the top 3 best smart phones for music (even though its old), if not the best.
But I am doubting whether their next flagship will be worth its price. So I'm looking for the next best alternative.
Doesn't the Sony Xperia Z5 come with a built in DAC? If music is important to you then that would be the one to go for.
In Premium budgets for me Microsoft Lumai 950XL and Sony Xperia Z5 Premium are the devices that win my heart.
When it comes to the mid budget devices then I must say that Motorola Moto X Play and Style both are the best one.
And in the budget segment who can ever forget the Motorola Moto G 2015, just gifted one to my sister on her birthday and it's just awesome.
I liked the Lumia, I just couldn't do without a couple specific apps
India is a home to some of the top iphone app development companies, delivering, supporting and monetizing iOS apps for global clients. Businesses in United States, Germany, Australia are sourcing their Android app development initiatives to companies in India.
Because it's cheap.
What about Nubia z9 mini
Great Work!!! Writers!!
Moto G, when I get past my insane desire for spec's and bling, its not what I want but it really is all I need...
multi core processor and decent screen, in the UK on a very very cheap contract it's basically free....
It's just about the best bang for my bucks I'm ever gonna get..
i am surprised that why NOTE 5 and HUAWEI MATE S is not on ghe lidt
they are beasts friends
Yeah, the Note 5 is a terrific device
you've omit an error about the samsung galaxy note 5. I think samsung galaxy note 5 is the best phone of 2015
LG G4 is the Best phone and its got the Best camera! Try one and you will see its #1
THX...
Please go listen to your Journey records, and leave the tech to those in the know.
Pls.update me tnx
nexus 6 is best
At what updates! That's all that makes the nexus 6 best! It does not have the best camera!
I would say the LG G4 is the Best phone out there!
S6 is best of all time! but just lack Sd card support and removable battery
So its not the best, get a LG G4 if you want thee Best phone out there!
And it doesn't need either
i m comportable with HTC, SAMSUNG and HUAWEI just love their phones otherwise others are not my type
LOL since when does the 2014 moto x has "Touchwiz UI" and a S Pen???? Big mistake guys hahaha
LoL this is worst rateing ever
Please anyone who would be able to help me to update Samsung s4 to lollipop
Not all devices are ready for Android lollipop, your supporter will be releasing the upgrade when they're ready.
You got to upgrade to at least a S5 if you want lollipop. Kit kat is just as good.
So does my ZTE ZMAX get the Marshmallow upgrade or the Lollipop upgrade, and if so what is the difference. Thank You..
I had the zmax & I believe that one don't upgrade to lollypop. I upgraded to lg stylo
OK thank you
I'm waiting to see an article on "The best Android sewing machines of 2016"
Because its about time Android gets used as a sewing machine OS for custom stitches and automated routines without end!
I'd say Android makes more sense on a sewing machine than on a television!
These are nice phones, im happy LG G4 made it, even though i didn't buy it cause im waiting for that rumored "super premium phone from them. hehe. that could be the number one if not note 5!! :bd #lgfan
Get the G4 you won't regret it! It's the Best phone out there! Best camera too!
Toooooo Wrongg
Galaxy note 4, it's the best phone I've owned and I have owned quite a few, my girlfriend just picked up the sony Xperia z3, and after playing with it for awhile I'm surprised that Sony's not selling a Crap ton of these, now I just have to convince her to let me take in the tub for some underwater photography, it's truly the one want for my gn4, the waterproofing that is.)
The Galaxy S6 is a good phone but in my personal opinion battery life puts it out of he number one slot for me. the LG G4 should probably be in the number 1 slot.
One truly great cell phone missing from this list is the Motorola XT1225 (aka Moto Maxx and Droid Turbo).
This phone has a two day battery with a 15 minute recharge to 80% capacity, 64GB memory, 3GB RAM and a 21mp camera to name a few features. It also allows you to ring your phone plus send and receive phone texts through your computer via a Motorola Connect extension on a Chrome browser. My carrier ATT doesn't offer this phone yet so I bought one online through Fusion Electronix, got a great price and the discount ATT gave me for buying a phone actually saves me money over leasing this phone from Verizon. Look into it. You'll like what you see.
wtf is oneplus one
Flagship from asus is coming out (or rather HAS come out)
Asus Zenfone 2 ze551ml. 4gb ram, 64gb rom, intel 64bit quad core 2.3ghz.
still waiting on mine to arrive, but looking purely on specs, it beats most of the devices here on the list.
Sadly i can talk about the specs only for now, until i have it in my hands.
On a side note, never thought the s6 was such a big bump up from older models until i read this article. Guess i gave up on samsung (all previous andro's i owned were samsung) because of low customer support.
My personal opinion is: Great choice.
So you are telling me that the Galaxy S5 does not make the top 10 list and all those other non-Samsung phones are better? I'm gonna have to call bulls**t.
I just can not imagine that a $179 Motorola is a better phone than the S5. That's just for starters...
:)
Yeah this whole list is fake man.
They are forgetting one of the most famous device by launched last year and still its rocking. OnePlus One.
My middle finger is pooping up for you noob androidpit.com :)
Thanks you noobs
ikr
Dude, they've gave out statistics.
i own a G3 and it was well deserved at no.3 and the M9 mannn if the overheating issue and the camera i didnt like the m9 not worth it to upgrade m7 to m9 look the other way like the s6 or the g4 even the Note5 or the Next Nexus
Hi ,please Up date android 4.1.2 tablet asus fonepad 7, thanks,mazrouei
Why there is no mention of Motorola Turbo...?
No Galaxy Note edge, it is a awesome phone, note 4 is almost the same. I don't agree with your list. Imho
"Let's put the S6 and the S6 Edge, that is just a variant, in the same position of the ranking, but let's not put Note Edge together with Note 4 because... We don't want to! :D"
Yeah man samsung company sucks just because of their integrated os Touchwiz. Now i m never gonna buy any sasmung phone in my whole life.
Even i'll prefer to live without any phone instead of samsung's laggy devices.
You are absolutely right, S6 is the worst phone I have had in recent time. So many software issues, I will never buy Samsung phone again. Living in regret now.
@Alex That's interesting. The S6 edge is the best phone I've ever had and I can honestly attest to the fact I've had zero software or any other problems whatsoever. How is that possible? Can you explain that?
Nexus ? - No external - (SD-card) memory ???!!! - You must be kidding !!! The best ?!!! Who writes these articles ? - And for who's fee-for-task agreement ?!!!
Stfu Bojan. I made an account just to say that.
Good for you. But now that you are a member, might try sharing something inteligent and constructive. Or come back when you grow up a year or two or ten.
I think a sort of favourite sports team loyalty and debate is not particularly constructive? However, what I think IS relevant is the overriding principle that ALL these great Android phones really satisfy their owner. I'm on my 2nd & 3rd Galaxy Mega 6.3 (1st cracked & then wrecked by so called repairer so now have new 1 plus 1 spare! - so perfect are they FOR ME!) The point is that they ARE great and really do now satisfy our need for excellent, truly effective Mobiles. I recall how I was mocked initially for the huge size of the Mega - now they're all that size and who would want less when you can actually see and read whole web pages, messages, images, etc.,! The I-Phone is a joke by comparison - AND - my Galaxy 10 3G Tab, acquired when I was still on a teeny Galaxy S1, is an equally redundant piece of rubbish when the Mega does all it (the Tab) can do and more MUCH BETTER! All these new Androids are terrific and aren't we, as owners and users thereof of, lucky!
C'mon! 2014 phones in the "Best Android phones in 2015"?
Please....
The year just started, these are all the best at the moment. Also, this list is dynamic, Kris updates it all the time.
Yeah, I know.
But it would be better if he made the list when the 2015 smartphones begin to be released.
Indeed, 2015 is still the year of the smartphones as we can see they continue to grow in the market. I really Sony Xperia Z3 because it has unique features and specs that are really great help for your daily and technology lifestyle.
worthless without the amazing moto x 2014. it has the screen which counts battery life for my usage is one and half day almost . it has the smartness which makes it different from the list . if nexus 6 can make to the list no reason moto x can't, its smaller but smarter nexus 6. Name any device in this list which can be compared to moto voice , moto action . Its named the smartphone of the year by Forbes because it tells you the highest end specs and price don't necessarily propose the highest end user experience .
And Forbes is an absolute authority in smartphone department... pfffft...
nothing is absolute my friend everything is relative ....no one is the authority either even this article
Agreed! But I think this list is a pretty good one, objectively speaking.
Surprising there are no comments on the Galaxy Note4.
I'm in the market for my first Android phone after using an iPhone since its first launch. These reviews and comments are invaluable. Of course I am now suffering analysis paralysis but desperate. My current phone is almost bricked; it rings audibly sporadically no audibles for texts, and phone conversation only functional if on speaker. Goodbye iPhone, it's iPhucked.
Here is the one you need to know: Note 4 is a beast, a phone like no other, a category of its own. If you buy it you won't regret it. A bit big some may say, but there are bigger phones that can't compare to it.
Greetings to all first of all, although it is hard to believe I've read quite all comments on this post, actually I'm a lover of smartphones since ANDROID hit home .. But being a poor country practically as far as technology terms (VENEZUELA) I could more than hold three smartphones which are BLACKBERRY CURVE 8330 BLACKBERRY CURVE 9360 and now own the SONY XPERIA SL, thank GOD I achieved this year the possibility to get me a phone outside and I thought of several I have visited many forums and pages like this and seeing images, videos, photos, tests, etc ... I have come to the decision 3 phones, actually have never liked the SAMSUNG phone but I think they've done a great job with regard to hardware and software, but the material they are made simply do not convince me, that's why I obtado by these three decisions: MOTOROLA MOTO X (2014), LG GOOGLE NEXUS 5 Then SONY XPERIA Z3 COMPACT .. If I would buy out the MOTOROLA MOTO MAXX but money does not reach me, so help me to decide between those 3 phones. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!
Although now 8 months old, l agree that the S5 should be in the top 5. It's been an easy phone to live with any has awsome specs. The plastic build does not bother me as it has been in a rubber back cover all this time, and had I bought a HTC M8, the premium aluminium body would have been in a rubber back cover. At least the S5 has an awsome camera, and gives me the opportunity to use the Gear, which has come to in very handy.
Moto Maxx? Droid Maxx? kkk
I really wonder .. how could you make this list without mention of note 3 or nexus 5 .. I think they are still high end devices right now .. great performance ..
looking forward to the lg g 4 in 2015 and all the other phones to come Happy Holidays.
the lg g 3 is the best phone in the world this is how it should be
1-lg g 3
2-galaxy note 4
3-nexus 6
4-Sony z 3
5-oppo f 7
6-xiomi 3
7-HTC m8
8-galaxy s5
9-one plus
10-Motorola moto x
and there is the other oppo phone I forgot the name but its the thiness phone in the world and could easily get on the list .
So what about the Droid TURBO? I dont see it in the list...
?
?
?
I think the HTC One E8 deserves consideration based on specs vs price...plus I just bought one :)
I would put my Moto Droid Turbo up against most of those any day but it's not listed. Moto G???
Seriously? No OnePlus One? Sigh. With a FHD 5.5" screen and a 2.5Ghz quad processor and 3GB of RAM, how could it not be on this list?? If you didn't put the Nexus 5 on here, at least put the OnePlus One...
How is the Moto X (2014) not on this list? Nearly every review site I've been on has it with AT LEAST four stars.
Hey Ronald, I also rated the Moto X (2014) four stars (just), but compared to the devices on this list I can't think of a compelling enough reason to put it on here compared to the others: the screen is only just ok, the camera sucks and the battery is pretty bad. In my estimation, all of the phones on this list have less issues than that!
you may be the admin sir but I am sorry you are not totally correct about your view on moto x 2014 , which has actually shown how can smart phone be really smart and affordable at the same time . Your list has got nexus 6 that means you have purposely overlooked moto x . good luck with that but the verdict it out now moto x is the smartphone of the year
Not even close mangesh, give it a rest already.
Hahaha!
Note 4 king definitely
Haha, I thought you might agree @Richard
whay mi3 is not in the list??
I don't think Moto G deserves a place in here.I use a Asus Zenfone 5 which is far better than Moto G.
Am I reading it right? Two terrabyte storage for the LG??? My PC doesn't have this kind of storage! And why do all the others have a maximum of 128GB??? Can it be that there has been made a mistake?
Sjaak, it is true, it's just that LG shares the limit of what the tech itself can handle, whereas everyone else tells us what their phone can handle in terms of what is actually available. Right now, 128 GB on a microSD card is the limit, but it won't be forever.
Sony Xperia Z3 is peerless. Sony company always come up of unique and first of its kind smartphone that makes you drool once you've seen it.
many good phones are missing. biased list.
I think xiaomi mi3 should have been included.
I think xiaomi mi3 should have been included.
u r right...
mi3 the smartest phone ever...
"Sony recently dropped the Xperia Z3". Smash. No wonder their profits have gone to the dogs.
Oppo Find 7 and Huawei Ascend Mate 7 are both great Android Smart Phones. If I do not finance a "no contract" Moto X (+1)? I will be seriously looking into either of these Android Smart Phones (sorry OnePlus One, but you're silly tactics just to get an invite to purchase, are not going to impress most of the public) ...
Thank you for an interesting article, Kris Carlon :-)
I'm falling in love with huawei ... I'm looking forward to have mate7 in my hand! :)
Sony has released the Xperia Z3 smartphone to take on the very best from Samsung, HTC and Apple. What makes this smartphone unique and a must have is its features being waterproof.
What about the OnePlus one? For me it's better than any of the phones on this list
You're so right, it's the fastest and nonsense phone. Never settle! and cheap.
Hey Pedro, not sure if you caught the earlier versions of this article but the OnePlus was on here, it was just bumped after the addition of the Z3. I agree it's a great phone but we have to draw the line somewhere.
I agree about drawing lines, but I kind feel that Sony's Z3 & Z3 Compact should be one entry. Since the alternate version of the Oppo Find 7 was listed with it (and the 7a lower spec alternate at that--maybe it shouldn't even have been mentioned on a best list) the text portion could've been longer to extol appropriate virtues to each version, then specs listed side-by-side, like the Find 7 & 7a. Oh, disclosure, I have a OPO (and a Note 4) and I'm totally in love with it!
if value for money is considered, then S5 won't be in the list
The S5 is my pick, it offers finger print id, water resistant, beautiful soft touch back, probably the fastest processor out of the bunch and usb 3.0 for very fast recharge time, not to forget ultra power saving mode...
So far no phone released this year have tempted me to switch from the Nexus 5. I think I may keep it for another year.
Kris, how on "god's green earth" (figure of speech) lol , could you all ever call the htc one m8 bulky? Thats is absurd. Heavy? Maybe in comparison to the plethora of plastic devices out there. But you get a feeling of a solid device in your hand with the all metal htc. Also, it really should have been #1. Better UI, front facing speakers, better design, better battery life, more vivid screen, Faster, and more likely to receive faster updates due to htc advantage and the unintrusive sense 6 ui. I think tge G3 is an awesome phone. I just think the m8 is a better overall phone. Between the m8 and the g3, i would say the g3 was bulky because it is wider, making it a bit harder to hold in the hand too. Just my 2 cents. Thanks!
We all have personal preferences, for you it's M8, for me it's Z2. Since I tried almost all the phones on this list, and if I really have to force myself to be objective, I would say G3 is overall the best device at the moment. Forced objectively, I would say that Z2 is also better than M8. But, that doesn't matter in the end. Enjoy the M8, m8 :)
Hey Scott, thanks for your pick. I think you and @Robert Reid could have an interesting debate about the Z2 vs M8 question! I still think the M8 is heavy and bulky though! :D
Your rating of the Z2 placing 3rd because the 4K overheats shouldn't be a consideration considering many others do not have this feature (M8 does not and cannot be added by software). Its a very high tech offering (something to make a big noise about that will lead others). It doesn't overheat on normal use. Additionally the Z2 offers significant waterproof prowess, the very best camera, with 3GB ram with 3200mAh battery (M8 2600mAh)! The M8 is barely an upgrade of its predecessor.
The Z2 beats the M8 (easily) on many levels including many beneficial software comforts like being lag free during navigation and UI generally (if it isn't broken don't fix it). As NDTV Gadgets said "the M8 will appeal only to those who either place a high value on design, or seriously dislike Samsung and Sony. We're less enthusiastic about the M8 than we are about the inevitable price cut the M7 will receive. HTC seriously needs a reinvention, and the One (M8) is not it."
I appreciate your note that it was a tight race for 3rd spot, but considering these points it shouldn't have been. The Z2 is the outlier.
Dear sir, I wholeheartedly agree.
Obviously there's more to it than just the 4K overheating issue, that was simply an example, but I love your input and the fact you have facts to support it. For me, the speed and feature set of the M8 puts it above the waterproofness and a higher resolution camera. The Z2 camera has a lot of issues (not that the M8's doesn't!) and the M8 battery is superb, despite its size. But of course, you have to make a call somewhere and I guess we just ended up on different sides of the line. Hit the forum and share your top ten!
The Huawei Ascend P7 is a quality Android Smart Phone (in my opinion). I am also impressed by the Oppo Find 7 (more than the OnePlus - in my opinion). Both are perfect for the "no contract" market (as are the Nexus 5 and Moto X - in my opinion):...
Samsung and Sony maintain their superiority via an ability to offer their product(s) globally - an important issue that both Huawei and Oppo need to improve upon, if they are to enter the Top 10. I did enjoy this article, overall, because it also hints at what the future holds (ie Nexus 6, Moto X2, etc) ...
I agree on basically everything you said, except the part about how Samsung and Sony maintain their superiority. While it is certain that global availability of their devices plays a major role in their supremacy (regarding sales, mind you), their devices are still undoubtedly better devices on every front then the counterparts from Huawei and the likes.
I love my Moto X!
I love mine too!
Very grateful Motorola got mentioned for 2 Devices (proud Moto X user)
Oppo looks like it will steal One Plus's thunder (better customer service is a plus)
Huawei should be in Top 10 for 2015 (push Sony off the list)
The Ascend P7 would have been number 11 - in fact it almost was number 10 but I couldn't deny the importance of the Moto X (and Huawei aren't easily accessible everywhere)
Sony hate much, huh? Huawei is not even close to push anyone off the list, let alone Sony. And motorolas are basically midrange devices in mildly interesting packages, shouldn't be on the list at all. See, I can do that too.
Totally agreed with you.. I'm also a Moto X (2nd GEN) user and I can't be happier with my device.. Aside the small battery and not so good Camera, the Moto X is by far the smartest phone out there!
For me, Nexus 5 and Moto G should be in the top 5. They were the best bang for buck in their respective price ranges and pretty good performers too.
Z2 wasn't a great improvement on the Z1 and we all know the story about S5.
Well, thank god it's not about you. The list is about best of the best and those two you mentioned can be thankful they are on the list at all.
The list is not about the best of best or flagships. It is about the phones which were successful overall and were able to deliver what was promised and what we expected of them.
Sorry, "best android phone" can only be and is about flagships. Delivering in hardware is an absolute minimum. Hardware inferiority can be tolerable if the phone in question has supremacy in other categories, but that rarely, or rather never happens. A mediocre device is usually just a mediocre device. There is simply no way comparing Moto G or Nexus 5 with the likes of S5 or Z2. Of course, those two are amazing phones in their own way, but they're a level below the top (in case of Nexus 5, Moto phones are even worse). So, the list as is right now is rather good, but Moto phones should be off the list and the order should be changed here and there, e.g. Nexus 5 should be on the last place etc.
The Nexus 5 can make the list but not the G2......what is going on here?
The theory is that why would you buy a G2 when you can have a G3? Trust me, as much as we all love the Nexus 5 , I expect it to disappear from this list when the N6 arrives too.
Well, if we talk about best of the best, Nexus 5 shouldn't be on the list at all, motorolas as well. G2 also, old device.
Bojan dude you're the man(sorry if you're a girl I'm not sure the gender of "Bojan") when it comes to phones. You're all rooted with cyanogen mods and what not huh? I cracked up when you told mangesh I think it was to give it a rest. He just refuses to let go of his moto or whatever it was. hahaha