Our
best smartphones list covers all operating systems, all sizes, and prices, so
you'll be armed with everything you need to consider when choosing to buy your
next device.
Of
course, the most important factor in buying a new device is making sure you
have the best smartphone for you. The best for your budget, the features you
need, the size that feels right and platform that suits you best.
10. Sony Xperia Z5
The
Xperia Z5 is Sony's 2015 flagship and the last model of the Z series,
replaced by the X series in February 2016. When it launched, it pushed
changes in the camera, offering a new 23-megapixel sensor that is now
seen in the newer Xperia X models. It's a good performer, but it is hampered by
slow software, making the experience a little lacklustre.
9. BlackBerry Priv
BlackBerry's
Priv was the company's first Android handset and it is a serious handset
worthy of serious consideration, whether you're a BlackBerry fan or an Android
fan. The slider handset with its huge 5.4-inch display, offers all
the benefits of the latest Android devices, with a physical keyboard that
BlackBerry users will find familiar.
It's
blessed with BlackBerry Hub and a range of BlackBerry shortcuts and features
reinvented for Android. It's not the fastest handset around, the camera
isn't the best and it lacks a fingerprint scanner, but it is an innovative
handset that offers some charming twists. The Priv is also now available
for £399 compared to its £549 launch price.
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8. Motorola Moto X Play
The
Moto X Play's attraction comes from the huge battery, meaning it offers some of
the best endurance you'll find in an Android handset. Yes, this is the phone to
pick if you want it to last not just through the day, but through the night and
the following day too.
It's
a mid-range handset, offering Motorola's Moto Maker customisation, but it isn't
the most powerful or exciting handset around. You miss out on a
fingerprint scanner and the camera isn't great in low light either but for
those of you after a clean Android experience, Moto's customisation and a great
battery life, this could be the phone for you.
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7. Huawei Mate S
The
Huawei Mate S has a design and build that challenges the
greatest devices out there. The 5.5-inch Full HD display isn't the
sharpest around, but it's pressure sensitive on the top luxury model and
that brings some individuality to this device.
Even
opting for the Mate S models that lack the pressure sensitive display gives you
a great smartphone experience though. There's plenty of power, microSD
expansion, great performing cameras, and a battery that will get you through
the day. Huawei's EMUI software skin isn't brilliant, but a little tweaking and
you'll have a very nice big screen experience that's a third cheaper than big
brand rivals.
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6. LG G5
The
LG G5 offers a module-based design that allows for additional accessory units
which can be added for new features and operation. The dual-camera is
something special, the Quad HD screen looks the part, and with Qualcomm's
Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB RAM and QuickCharge 3.0 to boot, there's all the
power you could need.
The
metal body looks and feels plastic though and while it's great there is a
fingerprint sensor on board, it's a little small and not as foolproof as some
competitors despite its clever rear positioning. The LG G5 is there for
innovation and point of difference, but it may not be the smartphone for
everyone.
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5. OnePlus 3
The
OnePlus 3 is one of the best smartphones on the market this year, especially at
its £329 price point. As with its predecessors, the OnePlus 3 offers
incredible value for money. It has many of the same features and specifications
as smartphones twice its price and there is a lot to be said for that.
The
all-metal finish is sleek and sturdy, making it feel like a genuinely
premium device and the display is fantastic too, even if it isn't Quad HD
resolution. The company may have shied away from the "flagship
killer" branding this year, but the OnePlus 3 lays down the marker for
what you can get for just over £300.
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4. HTC 10
The
HTC 10 addresses many of the criticisms of the HTC One M9, focusing on the
things that matter in a smartphone, and ditching many of the
distractions. The HTC 10 is built to the high quality standard you expect
from HTC, and it's a handset that solid and serious.
The
5.2-inch display packs a Quad HD resolution, power comes from the Qualcomm
Snapdragon 820 chipset and 4GB of RAM, while there is OIS on both the
front and back cameras. The result is power, performance, great design and
camera performance, held together with fuss-free software that's slick, fast
and free from bloat.
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3. Apple iPhone 7 Plus
The
Apple iPhone 7 Plus offers more new features to the iPhone party than its
smaller sibling, but they come with a price, which is why this device sits a
little lower down our list. Like the smaller device, the design sees
refinement rather than overhaul, with Apple removing the headphone jack, hiding
the antenna bars and adding waterproofing.
It's
a worthy upgrade from the iPhone 6 Plus or iPhone 6S Plus, with excellent and
improved camera capabilities, along with power and battery performance. The
iPhone 7 Plus is big and heavy, as the range always has
been, but it is incredibly well-built, capable and well-rounded. It's just
well expensive too with a starting price of £719.
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2. Samsung Galaxy S7
The
Samsung Galaxy S7 takes what the SGS6 started and refines it. It tweaks
the design slightly, adds IP68 water and dust protection and brings the
microSD card back. Internally, there's plenty of power for a slick
performance from the Exynos or Qualcomm chipset and 4GB of RAM,
alongside a wonderfully vibrant Quad HD AMOLED display.
A wide range
of functionality is offered through Samsung's TouchWiz beautifully optimised
reworking of Android, while improved battery performance and a consistent
and dependable camera give you the recipe for one of the most compelling
smartphones on the market.
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1. Samsung Galaxy S7 edge
The
flat SGS7 handset is certainly one of the most appealing devices out there, but
the S7 edge pips it to the post, taking pole position as the
most desirable handset around. The Samaung Galexy S7 edge
fuses power with performance, offering a 5.5-inch display with a Quad HD
resolution and plenty of punch, but differentiating itself with those curved
edges.
The
build quality matches the best of the handsets out there and the addition of a
microSD card slot makes this handset all the more practical, while the bigger
size over the SGS7 gives more space for battery. It's slick and fast and every
inch the flagship experience, topped-off with a slick fingerprint scanner and a
camera to deliver the whole smartphone package
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