Best Smartphones of 2016 So, you want to buy a new phone? If you're looking for the best smartphone of 2016, you've come to th...
So, you want to buy a new phone? If you're looking for the best smartphone of 2016, you've come to the right place. We will guide you through the hottest mobile phones of the year to save you time when you go to your local phone shop.
We continually update this best smartphones feature to reflect recent launches, recognize price changes, and ensure 2016's latest devices appear alongside the best of 2015 (and before, if applicable). All the listed devices have been fully reviewed by us. 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.
Be sure to let us know what you think is the best smartphone in the comments below.
We continually update this best smartphones feature to reflect recent launches, recognize price changes, and ensure 2016's latest devices appear alongside the best of 2015 (and before, if applicable). All the listed devices have been fully reviewed by us. 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.
Be sure to let us know what you think is the best smartphone in the comments below.
Samsung Galaxy S6/Samsung Galaxy S6 edge
Samsung needed change and the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edge was the result. The standard S6 is the more affordable of the pair, but the S6 edge takes the win for great looks: it's a phone that will turn heads with its dual-edge display.
The Samsung Galaxy S6 ditches Samsung's tired design for a body that's more interested in quality. There's no more plastic, instead you have a slick body, comprising a metal frame which sandwiches Gorilla Glass both front and back.
There's a fantastic display on the front. The Super AMOLED panel gives deep blacks and plenty of colour vibrancy, only really marred by not creating the cleanest whites around. It offers a super-sharp Quad HD resolution, although it's questionable whether this brings any real benefits in daily use - the same criticism we have of all other handsets with this resolution, but found here condensed into a 5.1-inch display. The S6 edge benefits from additional information down the sides.
Both are slick and fast, with heaps of power from the Exynos octa-core chipset and 3GB of RAM. They also support both common standards of wireless charging, which should be of interest as the battery is no longer replaceable and the battery life is a little on the short side. There's also no microSD card slot on either due to the fixed body design.
However, the performance from the 16-megapixel rear camera is one of the most consistent and impressive from any smartphone you'll find. The experience is wrapped in a TouchWiz interface that's slicker, cleaner, and less intrusive than ever before. Then there's the fingerprint scanner that works just as well as it does on the iPhone. In short, these are Samsung's best phones ever.
You should buy the Samsung Galaxy S6 for the best Android experience of 2015, made more attractive by falling prices. It's now £479. The Samsung Galaxy S6 edge comes in at £549, if you want a little more flair, and all the excitement.
The Samsung Galaxy S6 ditches Samsung's tired design for a body that's more interested in quality. There's no more plastic, instead you have a slick body, comprising a metal frame which sandwiches Gorilla Glass both front and back.
There's a fantastic display on the front. The Super AMOLED panel gives deep blacks and plenty of colour vibrancy, only really marred by not creating the cleanest whites around. It offers a super-sharp Quad HD resolution, although it's questionable whether this brings any real benefits in daily use - the same criticism we have of all other handsets with this resolution, but found here condensed into a 5.1-inch display. The S6 edge benefits from additional information down the sides.
Both are slick and fast, with heaps of power from the Exynos octa-core chipset and 3GB of RAM. They also support both common standards of wireless charging, which should be of interest as the battery is no longer replaceable and the battery life is a little on the short side. There's also no microSD card slot on either due to the fixed body design.
However, the performance from the 16-megapixel rear camera is one of the most consistent and impressive from any smartphone you'll find. The experience is wrapped in a TouchWiz interface that's slicker, cleaner, and less intrusive than ever before. Then there's the fingerprint scanner that works just as well as it does on the iPhone. In short, these are Samsung's best phones ever.
You should buy the Samsung Galaxy S6 for the best Android experience of 2015, made more attractive by falling prices. It's now £479. The Samsung Galaxy S6 edge comes in at £549, if you want a little more flair, and all the excitement.
Apple iPhone 6S
The iPhone 6S takes a strong design and supercharges Apple's smartphone. The iPhone 6S might be an "incremental" model, with no changes to the exterior design, but under the skin there's a lot that's new in the iPhone 6S.
A natural starting point is the display. Although it isn't the highest resolution handset out there, Apple has introduced pressure sensitivity to the new iPhoneand called it 3D Touch. It's not unique, but the depth to which Apple has empowered this new feature stands it aside. Being able to trigger alternative actions, peek into apps and then pop them open, changes navigation around the phone.
This is a more powerful handset than previously, so things are slicker and faster, but there's also been a refresh to the camera, the first update in a long time. A new 12-megapixel sensor powers proceedings, with new features, including 4K video capture. You can now take Live Photos, bringing movement to stills, as well as an improved selfie experience, with the display firing as a flash.
The result is an iPhone in which it looks like not much has changed, but in reality, it has. It's a better, faster, more engaging experience than it was the last time around. It is, however, still one of the most expensive smartphones around at £539, and although it offers a premium experience, some will see that the iPhone is behind the curve in some areas, such as display resolution.
A natural starting point is the display. Although it isn't the highest resolution handset out there, Apple has introduced pressure sensitivity to the new iPhoneand called it 3D Touch. It's not unique, but the depth to which Apple has empowered this new feature stands it aside. Being able to trigger alternative actions, peek into apps and then pop them open, changes navigation around the phone.
This is a more powerful handset than previously, so things are slicker and faster, but there's also been a refresh to the camera, the first update in a long time. A new 12-megapixel sensor powers proceedings, with new features, including 4K video capture. You can now take Live Photos, bringing movement to stills, as well as an improved selfie experience, with the display firing as a flash.
The result is an iPhone in which it looks like not much has changed, but in reality, it has. It's a better, faster, more engaging experience than it was the last time around. It is, however, still one of the most expensive smartphones around at £539, and although it offers a premium experience, some will see that the iPhone is behind the curve in some areas, such as display resolution.
Nexus 6P
The Nexus 6P was launched alongside the Nexus 5X, a premium counterpoint to it's more affordable LG-built rival. The Nexus 6P is manufactured by Huawei, the first time this Chinese company has been involved with the Nexusprogramme. It's also the most accomplished Nexus handset to date and for many will be the default choice for Android super phone.
It has a full metal body and although the design perhaps doesn't challenge the interest in the Samsung Galaxy S6 or S6 edge, it's certainly something that will appeal to those looking for that premium sheen. Nexus is no longer just about affordability, now it's about desirability too.
There's plenty of power in this 5.5-inch device and a display that's full of detail and pop, dripping in vibrancy with deep inky blacks. The fingerprint scanner on the rear is incredibly fast too, and there's USB Type-C on the bottom for simple connection to your charger.
There's a camera that's capable of some great shots in all conditions, with the hardware outperforming the software in this instance. The HDR mode (auto) is a little slow, even if it gets great results.
This is a pure Android handset, debuting Android 6.0 Marshmallow and again makes a case for how consumer friendly this software is without all the additions you'll get elsewhere. Priced at £449, it undercuts most flagships. It might lack a few flourishes and additions, but it's a wonderful Android handset.
It has a full metal body and although the design perhaps doesn't challenge the interest in the Samsung Galaxy S6 or S6 edge, it's certainly something that will appeal to those looking for that premium sheen. Nexus is no longer just about affordability, now it's about desirability too.
There's plenty of power in this 5.5-inch device and a display that's full of detail and pop, dripping in vibrancy with deep inky blacks. The fingerprint scanner on the rear is incredibly fast too, and there's USB Type-C on the bottom for simple connection to your charger.
There's a camera that's capable of some great shots in all conditions, with the hardware outperforming the software in this instance. The HDR mode (auto) is a little slow, even if it gets great results.
This is a pure Android handset, debuting Android 6.0 Marshmallow and again makes a case for how consumer friendly this software is without all the additions you'll get elsewhere. Priced at £449, it undercuts most flagships. It might lack a few flourishes and additions, but it's a wonderful Android handset.
OnePlus 2
OnePlus has been shaking things up in the smartphone world. The Chinese company might not have the high street profile that Samsung or Apple do, but in the underworld of smartphone geekery, OnePlus is overload.
That's due in many parts to the great value proposition that OnePlus presents. There are few other places where you'll get this grade of hardware for this price, undercutting the likes of budget darlings Huawei in many cases.
In 2015's model, the OnePlus 2 presents great build quality at a price that many will find surprisingly cheap, along with slick performance from OxygenOS, its customized Android interface, and great battery life.
There are shortcomings, like the lack of NFC and specifications that don't quite rival the best out there. The OnePlus 2 isn't so much the flagship killer, but it decimates the mid-range and sub-premium bracket.
OnePlus has also dropped the invite system so it is simple to buy. At £239, it's money well spent.
That's due in many parts to the great value proposition that OnePlus presents. There are few other places where you'll get this grade of hardware for this price, undercutting the likes of budget darlings Huawei in many cases.
In 2015's model, the OnePlus 2 presents great build quality at a price that many will find surprisingly cheap, along with slick performance from OxygenOS, its customized Android interface, and great battery life.
There are shortcomings, like the lack of NFC and specifications that don't quite rival the best out there. The OnePlus 2 isn't so much the flagship killer, but it decimates the mid-range and sub-premium bracket.
OnePlus has also dropped the invite system so it is simple to buy. At £239, it's money well spent.
Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+
The Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ takes one of 2015's most innovative models and expands it. Swelling the edge+ up to 5.7-inches over the original 5.1, it's a leap forward in screen size, even if much of the specification remains the same. For many, with the absence of the Note 5, it's the S6 edge+ that takes all the glory in the big screen stakes.
The Samsung Galaxy S6 family offers some of the best camera performance around and that's repeated on the S6 edge+, combined with a great fingerprintscanner and some innovative features in those curved display edges.
Some might say that the curves are a little under utilized and in reality, the S6 edge+ doesn't have quite the feature set as the Note Edge that it replaces, or the Note 5 that it sits alongside. That's a bitter pill to swallow considering that this handset is one of the most expensive devices on the market, at £629.
It's a showpiece, that's for sure, but in the battle of the big devices, Samsung's own Note will edge it out in terms of functionality - if it's on sale in your country.
The Samsung Galaxy S6 family offers some of the best camera performance around and that's repeated on the S6 edge+, combined with a great fingerprintscanner and some innovative features in those curved display edges.
Some might say that the curves are a little under utilized and in reality, the S6 edge+ doesn't have quite the feature set as the Note Edge that it replaces, or the Note 5 that it sits alongside. That's a bitter pill to swallow considering that this handset is one of the most expensive devices on the market, at £629.
It's a showpiece, that's for sure, but in the battle of the big devices, Samsung's own Note will edge it out in terms of functionality - if it's on sale in your country.
