10. Motorola Moto G4
The Motorola Moto G4 is a big phone, sporting a full HD, 5.5-inch display. While not the best display on the market, the Moto G4 performs well enough for its price point.
It features a slicker design than previous Motorola offerings, and comes equipped with a splash- and dunk-resistant protective coating. It has a microSD slot for expandable storage, and it features a surprising lack of bloatware from the manufacturer.
Its midrange chipset and 2-gigabytes of memory means that it isn’t the most powerful phone on the market by any stretch — but its performance-to-price ratio warrants it a place on this list. While many budget-phone manufacturers have stepping up their game — and their prices — the Motorola Moto G4 still retains its budget-conscious crown.
It currently retails, unlocked, for $150 from Amazon – An unbeatable deal.
9. OnePlus 3
The OnePlus 3 improves on a number of issues that users had with its predecessor, and retails at a price that makes its premium features a bargain.
The OnePlus 3 has a vivid and bright 5.5-inch screen, and is powered by 6-gigabytes of RAM. In the camera department, the OnePlus 3 features a 16-megapixel rear camera, and a 8-megapixel selfie shooter.
It has 64 gigs of internal storage, but the lack of a microSD slot could put some people off. Additionally, its battery life isn’t the best on the market.
But even still, the OnePlus 3 is a fantastic value for its retail price of $400 — and offers some premium Android features at a fraction of the cost the big companies are charging.
8. LG G5
LG has returned to the smartphone game with an innovative flagship.
The company’s newest flagship features a 5.3-inch QHD display, and has a Snapdragon 820 chipset and 4-gigabytes of RAM — putting it head-to-head with most premium smartphones currently on the market.
The G5’s most interesting feature is its modular design. The removable portion of the phone’s chassis — which allows you to access its battery — allows you to attach accessories to the phone, including modular components that provide additional hardware controls, improved battery life, or a superior music-listening experience.
A 32-gigabyte version currently sells for $650.
7. Nexus 6P
The Nexus 6P, a collaboration between Google and the Chinese-based Huawei, is a cheaper phablet than other flagships, but it can still hold its own against its competition, spec-wise.
The Nexus 6P has a 5.7-inch screen, 3 gigabytes of RAM, and ships with either 32-, 64-, or 128-gigabytes of storage.
Camera-wise, the Nexus 6P comes equipped with a 12.3-megapixel rear-facing camera, and an 8-megapixel front camera. Both are snappy, and perform well in low-light conditions.
The Nexus 6P’s 3450 mAh battery can last all day without concern. Its all-metal construction speaks to its premium design, but some people have complained about the camera bulge on the back of the device.
The Nexus 6P retails at $499 — a steal for an unlocked phone with its features.
6. HTC 10
HTC has done it again with its newest flagship: the HTC 10.
The HTC 10 features a premium design, with an all-aluminum and glass body. The phone features exceptional attention to detail in its construction, and it’s water-resistant, too.
It comes outfitted with a Snapdragon 820 processor, and 4-gigabytes of memory, making it snappy and smooth. It ships with 32-gigabytes of storage. Additionally, the HTC 10’s 12-megapixel rear and 5-megapixel front cameras perform well enough, taking photos that can stand up to most flagships today.
Where the HTC 10 really stands out is in its audio capabilities. Its BoomSound speaker setup can pump out some of the best sound from a smartphone today. And the phone delivers remarkable, high resolution audio when headphones are plugged in.
It currently retails for $629 in the US.
5. iPhone SE
Apple did something extraordinary this year: it brought back an old design, and made an exceptional handheld in a small package.
It’s pretty apparent that most premium smartphones have screens that push 5+ inches. Awesome for a display, but not so awesome for people with smaller hands, or those who want a smaller phone without sacrificing premium specifications.
That’s where the SE comes in.
The iPhone SE has a 4-inch screen, and the same innards that are included with the 6s — including a 12-megapixel rear camera, Retina display, an Apple A9 processor, and 2-gigabytes of RAM.
All of that, in a compact and classic design — for one of the cheapest prices Apple has slapped on its smartphones. For people who want the best specs in a smaller device, few can compete.
The iPhone SE is currently available for $399.
4. LG V10
LG’s V10 is a bit of a clunker of a phone. But its dual, front-facing cameras helps it stand out among the crowd.
The V10 features a vivid 5.9-inch screen with a resolution of 1440 x 2560 — but 2.1 inches of that screen is taken up by an always-on notification and shortcut display. It ships with 4-gigabytes of memory, and a 3,000 milliamp-hour battery that should last you all day.
Camera-wise, the V10 has a 16-megapixel rear camera that takes great looking photos. Its signature feature is the inclusion of two, 5-megapixel front-facing cameras: one of which can snap pictures at a wide, 120-degree angle. That allows you to fit your entire group — and even some of your background — into your next selfie.
It currently runs for around $579.99, depending on where you shop.
3. Samsung Galaxy Note 5
No list of the best smartphones would be complete without an offering from powerhouse manufacturer Samsung.
The Note 5, according to many reviewers, is probably the best phablet currently on the market. It features a 5.7-inch display with an included stylus.
It’s a slick phone with a premium design, and ships running Android 6. The Note 5 features Samsung’s signature premium display, a snappy and high-quality camera, and wireless charging. It has 4 gigs of RAM and either 32-gigabytes or 64-gigabytes of storage. It shoots 4K video with its 16-megapixel camera, and has a responsive fingerprint scanner.
Some downsides to the phone include the lack of a swappable battery, and a missing microSD slot — meaning that the storage isn’t expandable. Some critics, especially long-time Note users, have been vocal about these flaws. But it doesn’t change the fact that the Note 5 is one of the best on the market.
For its premium features, an unlocked Note 5 retails for $600.
2. iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus
Apple is at the top of the smartphone game for a reason, and its 6s Plus is solid evidence for why.
The iPhone 6s Plus is outfitted with a 5.5-inch 1080 x 1920 full HD display. It can shoot 4K video footage with its improved, 12-megapixel camera that also has optical image stabilization. It’s also been reported that the 6s Plus has one of the year’s longest lasting smartphone batteries. The iPhone 6s Plus features Apple’s powerful A9 chipset, giving it snappy and premium performance.
A standout feature of the 6s Plus is 3D touch. An Apple-exclusive that can tell the difference between soft and hard screen presses, and trigger different functions based on them.
Of course, one of Apple’s downfalls is that the base model only comes equipped with 16-gigabytes of non-expandable storage.
But with premium features comes a premium price: the 6s Plus starts at $799 without a contract.
1. Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
Samsung’s latest flagship is truly a work of art — and considered by many to be the best smartphone currently available.
The phone features a beautiful, waterproof design, with a signature screen that curves around the sides of the phone — making it compact without sacrificing any display space.
It features a sharp, 5.5-inch AMOLED screen. Its screen is never off, either — it displays the time and your notifications as long as the phone still has juice in it.
The 12-megapixel rear facing and 5-megapixel front-facing cameras are spectacular. The video and audio quality are exceptional, and the fingerprint scanner is fast and snappy. It ships with fast charging capabilities as well.
The phone is currently available from Samsung for $749.99 — but you can shop around and get it for much cheaper.