Best smartphones you can buy right now: February 2016
With so many different (yet similar) smartphones from so many brands from across the globe, one may start feeling a bit lost. Which one of those many is the best phone you can buy right now, in February 2016?
THERE IS NO ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL DEVICE
December is a great month if you want to buy a new phone: a bunch of brand new devices have recently arrived on the market (including the new iPhone 6s series and Galaxy Notes!), and many older devices are getting hugely discounted. This applies not just to high-end phones: affordable phones with the latest hardware and new features have also arrived in heaps recently, giving you plenty of choice. This is truly the best time to buy a new smartphone - you get the newest, most powerful hardware that will be relevant and up-to-date for the longest period of time.
There is no definite one-size-fits-all device, though, and that's why we explore all the options, trying to help you narrow down the choice to some outstanding devices that we think won't disappoint you. We're also breaking them down by categories: after all some people prefer a large, phablet-sized device, while others may want a more conventionally-sized pocket sidekick. We don't go into all that much detail (for those details, make sure to read our in-depth reviews), but we do focus on the most important highlights for each phone. With no further ado, here are the best phones you can buy right now.
Very best phone in a regular size from a brand you trust:
The Apple iPhone 6s is the world's fastest-selling smartphone at the moment, and it will certainly break quite a few records in sales.
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Nexus 5X
The Google Nexus is back.
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LG G4
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As a bonus, the LG G4 is a 5.5-inch device with a thin side bezel and a nice size for its 5.5" screen. It comes in plastic and a slightly more expensive leather version, and you should get the leather one - it's a much smoother, premium feel for the device you will carry every day in your pocket. And finally: yes, the annoying lag from the LG UI in the G3 is practically non-existent on the G4, which feels refreshingly quick.
If you prefer a large phone with a great camera (phablets):
Apple iPhone 6s PlUS
The iPhone 6s Plus is practically a larger iPhone with all the great novelty that comes in the iPhone 6s: the same impressive new 3D Touch functionality, the improved Apple A9 system chip and the much faster, SSD laptop-grade memory speeds, and finally, the new 12-megapixel iSight rear camera that takes more detailed images and captures 4K video.
Yes, it is slightly better: we like that you can use the interface in landscape mode, we love the presence of optical stabilization that contributes to even better images, and we love the larger battery and rock solid, nearly two-day battery life that you can get on Apple's phablet.
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iPhone 6s Plus specs
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Nexus 6P
The Nexus 6P was not a surprise: what was a surprise was just how good it seems to be.
The phone is already available for purchase at the Google Store (shipping times are currently for November), and its biggest advantage is its pure, unaltered version of Android that runs buttery smooth. In early 2016, performance is still an issue for many top-tier Android phones that do stutter occasionally (much less than before, but still), and the Nexus 6P seems to be as close to not having those issues as possible.
Then, it's got the guarantee for quick updates and in the notoriously slow Android ecosystem, this is a huge plus for both those who care about security, and those who just want the latest features.
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Nexus 6P specs
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Samsung Galaxy Note 5 | Galaxy S6 Edge +
PRICE - RS.47,900/-
The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 / Galaxy S6 Edge+ (we'll look at the two in one take as - save for the S Pen - they are identical) are the finest Samsung large phones on sale right now, the Note5 in the States, and the S6 Edge+ in Europe and most of the world.
They are beautiful: glass on the back and the front (a sexy curvature on the S6 Edge+), a slim body and great color options. Samsung has really come a long way from the dark ages of its pimply, plastic, cheapo feeling Galaxy S5.
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If you want the absolute best battery life and a rugged phone:
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The S6 Active sports a 5.1-inch display with a resolution of 1440 x 2560 pixels (Quad HD), a fully sealed body with IP68 water and dust protection, as well as the beefy Exynos 7 Octa system chip. At the end of the day, though, it is the whole package with the outstanding battery that really makes this phone stand out.
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Samsung Galaxy S6 Active
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If you want something more compact:
Sony Xperia Z5 Compact
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Rather unfortunately for many, the way of evolution has proven to be towards larger and larger screen sizes and now it's hard to get a contemporary Android phone with good performance under a 5" envelope. The Xperia Z5 Compact, however, does deliver just that: a no-compromise performance courtesy of the top-of-the-line Snapdragon 810 system chip and Sony's best 23-megapixel camera.
The Sony Xperia Z5 Compact features a 4.6-inch screen with slim bezels that make it a very compact device for its size, it has that signature eye-catching Sony design and remains usable with a single hand.
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Sony Xperia Z5 Compact
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Apple iPhone 5s
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Big phones are just not everyone's cup of tea (at least not yet), and that's why there is still a market for extremely compact devices that you can easily use with a single hand.
The iPhone 5s - despite its age - is one of the best such phones you can get at the moment: it offers top-notch performance, a great and consistently reliable camera, and the rich in features and apps iOS 9.
The slight downside with it lies in the battery life department, where you won't get much more than a full day of use.
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Apple iPhone 5s
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For those on a budget:
Motorola Moto G (2015)
The new Moto G 2015 is a worthy successor to one of the most popular affordable smartphones and it comes with an improved design that now looks much more mature.
The third-generation Moto G also supports the almight Moto Maker, and brings improvements in speed and cameras. It now also comes in a water-sealed body with protection from dust and water, so it can be submerged in water for up to an hour (keep in mind that this only applies to fresh water).
Motorola Moto G 2015
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Motorola Moto G 2015
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Asus Zenfone 2
The Asus Zenfone 2 arrives with a splash: it's one of the best deals on the market, beating phones with similar hardware by a huge margin when ti comes to cost. It comes in a 16GB version with 2GB of RAM for $199 (off contract) and a 64GB model with 4 gigs of RAM for $299 (again, full retail price). We recommend going for the truly beastly 64 gig version which is still half the price of the iPhone and Samsung Galaxies.
Both models feature the powerful Intel Atom Z3580 system chip with four cores running at up to 2.3GHz, and it comes with PowerVR G6430 graphics (the iPhone 6 features the slightly higher class, but still compareable PowerVR G6450). The 13-megapixel camera is also a more than decent performer that does especially well with HDR images. Finally, with a great battery life and extremely quick recharging times, the Zenfone 2 is definitely one of the best budget phones money can buy these days.
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Asus Zenfone 2
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Nokia Lumia 640
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The Nokia Lumia 640 in particular is a very alluring offer in some markets. In the United States, the 5" handset is sold as an AT&T GoPhone for just $65. That's quite the amazing value and US consumers should definitely feel special, as other places across the globe have the phone selling for a much higher price. The Lumia 640 brings a 5" HD panel, an 8-megapixel main camera, and runs on the middling Snapdragon 400 chip. At this price, the phone is definitely a no-brainer for budget shoppers, especially if you don't mind experimenting with Windows Phone.
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Nokia Lumia 640
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If you want to be different than all the rest with something exotic:
Xiaomi Redmi 2
At a full retail price of just RS.6999/-, the Xiaomi Redmi 2 is the latest phone from China that delivers more than you'd expect at that price: a metal body, stylish look and a fingerprint scanner. All of that is powered by the MediaTek Helio X10 system chip with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage (a more expensive model is offered with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage), runs on the feature-rich MIUI custom Android skin and sports a solid camera, so the handset checks all the essentials when it comes to the user experience. In terms of display size, we're dealing with a 4.7-inch screen with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels.
Xiaomi Redmi 2
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Xiaomi Mi 4 (White, 16GB)
The MI 4 by the fast-growing Chinese phone maker Xiaomi has just launched in Asia and it brings an astounding combination of a 5" HD display with a 4,100mAh battery that is reported to deliver one of the best battery lives in the industry. With such an interesting combination, the Redmi 3 is allegedly able of lasting 3 days between charges.
It is also a fairly good looking phone that is made of metal - quite the rarity at its low price - and it runs on the Snapdragon 616 system chip with 2GB of RAM, a 13MP/5MP camera setup that is said to snap very decent images and 16GB of internal storage. 4G LTE connectivity, unfortunately, is limited to Asian and European bands (it supports LTE bands 1/3/7, common in Europe, and 38/39/40/41 for Asia), but lacks support for U.S. carriers LTE bands.
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Xiaomi MI 4
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Meizu m2 Note (Grey, 16 GB)
Meizu, a company with a relatively long history, is the one that has made one of the most appealing Chinese phones of the year: the Meizu M2 NOTE.
The Pro 5 is a device with a sturdy all-aluminum frame that exudes a premium feel, it features a very typical for Meizu design and the clean and good-looking Flyme user interface. With curved glass around the edges and a fairly sleek profile, the Pro 5 is definitely a catchy gadget. In terms of the technical details, it's equipped with a 5.7-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 and it's powered by the Exynos 7 Octa system chip, the same powerful SoC used in the Galaxy S6. The weak part of the Meizu Pro 5 seems to be the camera: it is fast to focus and does well in daylight, but struggles in low-lit conditions.
Meizu m2 Note (Grey, 16 GB) |
Xiaomi Redmi Note Prime (White, 16 GB)
The Mi Note is the best phone of one of the fastest growing phone companies in the world - Xiaomi.
Once known for making Apple knock-offs, Xiaomi's flagship phone is an original design that not only looks great, but seems to be the inspiration for others (that's only a theory, but just look at how similar to it the new Galaxy Note looks!). The Mi Note is an exceptional value for the money: it has that sharp visual style, but also a very-well polished MIUI skin with tons of features and a very smooth performance, it has a great camera, and very good battery life. The big issue with it is that it's not officially available in the United States - you can import it for a slight premium, though, to have a phone unlike any others.
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Xiaomi Mi Note
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