10: Nexus 5X
Update: New Samsung, LG and HTC phones have all been inducted into our best Android phone club in the last couple of months, so the list has been reset for June 2016.
The best Android phones on the market a year ago are getting even better in 2016, with better cameras, processors and apps, and some of them are coming in at cheaper prices.
That has made deciding between the overwhelming number of handsets a seemingly impossible task. The good news is that we’re on top of it. It’s sort of our job to write phone reviews.
While our official best phones list serves its purpose for a wider audience, including iPhone lovers, there are plenty of Google-powered phones that deserve extra focus. You demanded it.
That’s why we put together a list of the best Android phones that we keep updating every month, way faster than you can download and install Android Marshmallow and Android N.
Nexus 5X
Smaller, but still (almost) perfectly-formed
OS: Android 6 | Screen size: 5.2-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 1920 | RAM: 2GB | Storage: 16GB/32GB | Battery: 2700mAh | Rear camera: 12.3MP dual | Front camera: 5MP
Nexus 5X is a fantastic phone choice for someone who is okay with a basic-looking design on the outside, above average specs on the inside and the latest Android software throughout.
That pretty much sums up Google’s affordable 5.2-inch phone. Its screen isn’t little by any hand stretch, but doesn’t make you strain for fingers like most phablets. If it wore a t-shirt, it’d be a size medium.
There’s a pro and con to the Nexus 5X price in the US. It’s available off-contract for $299, but you won’t be able buy it at AT&T, Verizon or any other carrier. That means no installment plans. Don’t worry, this seems like a lot upfront, but it’s way cheaper in the long run.
9. OnePlus 2
9. OnePlus 2
A bargain handset of flagship proportions
OS: Android 5.1 | Screen size: 5.5-inch | Resolution: 1920 x 1080 | RAM: 3GB/4GB | Storage: 16GB/64GB | Battery: 3,300mAh | Rear camera: 13MP | Front camera: 5MP
The OnePlus 2 proves that the OnePlus One was more just beginner’s luck, as with high-end specs and an impressively low price it’s just as hard to resist as the first one was.
If the big and bright 5.5-inch 1080p display doesn’t get your attention the powerful Snapdragon 810 processor and up to 4GB of RAM probably will.
It’s a fairly stylish handset too, especially if you shell out a little extra for a wooden back, and with a fingerprint scanner and even USB Type-C included it offers far more than you could ever expect for the money.
There are some compromises. There’s no NFC or fast charging for example and the camera is hardly market-leading, so if money is no object something like theSamsung Galaxy S6 would make for a better all-round phone, but there are few handsets around which are as good value as this.
8: Nexus 6P
8. Nexus 6P
The most premium Nexus yet still undercuts rivals
OS: Android 6 | Screen size: 5.7-inch | Resolution: 2560 x 1440 | RAM: 3GB | Storage: 32GB/64GB/128GB | Battery: 3,450mAh | Rear camera: 12.3MP | Front camera: 8MP
Samsung still has the edge when it comes to Android phablets, but the Nexus 6P makes for a convincing alternative.
It’s not as expensive as the Galaxy S6 Edge+ yet it has almost as good specs, a premium metal build, decent speakers and the latest version of Android.
Its 5.7-inch QHD screen looks great, there’s an accurate fingerprint scanner on board and it will get Android updates faster than most rivals.
The camera bulge on the back is a little ugly and the Nexus 6P lacks some high-end features like wireless charging and optical image stabilisation, but that’s a small price to pay for a top phone at a not quite top end price.
7: Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+
7. Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+
OS: Android 5.1 | Screen size: 5.7-inch | Resolution: 1440×2560 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 32GB/64GB | Battery: 3000mAh | Rear camera: 16MP | Front camera: 5MP
If you loved the idea of the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge but wished it was a little bigger the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ is for you.
It’s almost the same phone, with that dual-curved display still the star of the show and yet still a little bit pointless, though undeniably good looking.
But curves aside it’s a top notch QHD screen and if anything it’s even better for being stretched out to 5.7 inches.
The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ also has a brilliant 16MP snapper, a speedy fingerprint scanner and oodles of power, packing in an octa-core Exynos 7420 processor and pumping the RAM up to 4GB, from 3GB on the standard S6 Edge.
Sadly this phablet version still suffers its compact companion’s main issue, namely battery life, which at no more than a day really doesn’t cut it for a flagship, despite the inclusion of both fast and wireless charging. That holds it back, but in most other ways this is easily the best phablet money can buy.
See the best Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ deals
6: LG V10
6. LG V10
It’s all about the selfie cam for LG’s big phone
OS: Android 5.1.1 | Screen size: 5.7-inch | Resolution: 1440 x 2560 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 32GB/64GB | Battery: around 3,000mAh | Rear camera: 16MP | Front camera: 5MP (120 degree wide angle)
The LG V10 is the perfect phone for selfie-obsessed millennials with hands as big as their egos. It’s also a lot of fun for camera-happy solo travels who want to forgo the embarrassing selfie stick.
It has a 5MP front-facing camera with a 120 degree angle lens that captures your face, your friends’ faces and even the background in ultra-wide photos. The forthcoming LG G5 achieves a similar feat with its rear-facing camera.
The LG V10 specs are fast enough, though not the fastest on the market, and the rugged rubber back makes it durable, if a tad ugly. Nothing good can be said about LG’s software or the higher than average price.
5: Samsung Galaxy Note 5
5. Samsung Galaxy Note 5
As slick as its glass back
OS: Android 5.1.1 | Screen size: 5.7-inch | Resolution: 1440p | Memory: 4GB | Storage: 32GB/64GB | Battery: 3,000mAh | Rear camera: 16MP | Front camera: 5MP
If you think bigger is better and the pen is mightier when it comes to the best Android phones, then the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 sounds like the phablet-sized phone for you.
Its 5.7-inch screen gives you ample room to doodle with the S Pen, and while it’s certainly bigger in the hand, than the Galaxy S7, its curved back makes it easy enough to hold if you have a large grasp. I also got better use of split-screen multitasking and the camera on this beast of a phone.
Gone is the plastic casing of older Note phones that you may be upgraded from, but be warned: the microSD card slot and swappable battery are missing too. Expandable storage may come back to the Samsung Galaxy Note 6 in a couple of months.
4: LG G4
4. LG G5
The best innovation in a smartphone we’ve seen
OS: Android 6 | Screen size: 5.3-inch | Resolution: 2560 x 1440 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 32GB | Battery: removable 2800mAh | Rear camera: 16MP | Front camera: 8MP
LG is trying something quite different with the LG G5. It’s a modular phone meaning you can swap out certain features and plug in another when you need something else.
Here this means you can grab the bottom of the phone and pull it out to put in another module that either offers higher audio quality or an easier to grip camera.
It also features a 5.3-inch 2K display as well as 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. You won’t be disappointed with the spec here as well as the 16MP rear facing camera you have to play with.
The design of the LG G5 isn’t to everyone’s taste. But if you like the look of this phone and you’re not put off by the price, you should buy the LG G5.
3: HTC 10
3. HTC One 10
Not 10/10, but the best phone for music by far
OS: Android 6 | Screen size: 5.2-inch | Resolution: 1440 x 2560 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 32GB | Battery: 3000mAh | Rear camera: 12MP | Front camera: 5MP
HTC takes third place on our best Android phone list with the gorgeous HTC 10. The HTC 10 has a new design with but if you’re a fan of the HTC look don’t worry, it shares a lot of its design language with past HTC handsets.
It has a 5.2-inch 2K display, which makes watching video gorgeous, as well as some strong spec under-the-hood including 4GB of RAM and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset.
The camera technology is a big focus for HTC though. A 12MP sensor may not sound like much, but it makes some gorgeous images on the back and there’s a 5MP front-facing camera to capture your selfies too.
2: Samsung Galaxy S7
2. Samsung Galaxy S7
Samsung now owns second place as well
OS: Android 6.0.1 | Screen size: 5.1-inch | Resolution: 1440 x 2560 | RAM: 4GB |Storage: 32GB | Battery: 3,000mAh | Rear camera: 12MP | Front camera: 5MP
Second place goes to the Samsung Galaxy S7. The Galaxy S6 was our favorite Android phone of 2015, but now the Galaxy S7 has improved on it in almost every way.
There’s a brand new waterproof design with a variety of little changes that make it much more comfortable to hold.
It doesn’t look as innovative as the Galaxy S7 Edge with its curved display, but this version is much more compact than the Galaxy S6 Edge+.
The issues come in the high price and the fact there’s only one storage version. But you can always buy a microSD card, up to 200GB, and get a bit of extra room.
If you’re looking for one of the best, high-end phones in the world right now – this Android is a great choice.
Source: techradar.com
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I can't WAIT to get rid of my Galaxy S5. And after reading all about the S6, aside from the camera, I'll make sure to stay clear of that too.
thanks to many faulty issues with the UI, miserable camera software, the horribly sluggish and flimsy Lolipop (seriously? That was the best name?), amongst other issues, this has been a form of slingshot of a desire for a different brand- led possibly by the LG or….Lord help me….the iphone- but unlikely.
The deal breakers are: removable battery and SD slot.
This latest phone shows me that Samsung will stay behind the curve and follow in the shadows of better quality machines because of not bringing to the market a device that is First, reliable and Secondly, not full of B.S options which not requested by the majority of users.
It also shows Samsung to be a compay that makes one step forward while taking two steps back Or one step back without any overall improvement but being that little child nipping at Apples heals, trying to be like it but failing to target the required audience and do it with a not strong OS.
someone tell me which one of these is or has a great prepaid plan for it
Looks like I spent my money 'foolishly'; the Sony Xperia Z is not even in Techradar's top 10…
Wondering why the HTC One doesn't carry the "Recommended" label in its listing when it is number one here and has a 4.5/5 rating as do other "Recommended" phones. I agree with the #1 ranking btw, I have the One and I love it, most trouble-free phone I have had out of the box, runs great,has features I use, and it good-looking too. I definitely recommend it!
"[The Samsung S6 is] not cheap and the average battery and lack of
a microSD card slot might put you off.."
Yes, it does. It puts me off. When Samsung brings back removable storage and battery (Galaxy S7 anyone?) I will consider upgrading. Otherwise, no.
Whoa!
Samsung has lost the crown, even at Techradar!
Can you feel the Earth shaking?
What baffles me is that you did some heavy rearranging on the other places of the chart, guys.
What's with that?
Nice to see HTC getting some recognition for a change. I'm a heavy user, and the M8 has been the toughest, most reliable, and most enjoyable phone I've ever had. Fast all the time without resets that some phones require, and great battery life does not hurt either.
Its #1 actually
"After the disappointing Galaxy S5" it was only disappointing if you were dumb enough to go from a S3 to a S4 THEN an S5, which is pretty stupid considering the S4 was a disappointment. The S5 was a huge improvement from the S3. OOOOOOHHHHHH "l u x u r i o u s metal and glass build" you mean hot and slippery glass, or otherwise THE EXACT SAME AS AN IPHONE???? Do you guys work for Samsung?!!???
"Packed full of extras like fast charging and a fingerprint scanner" the S5 has a fingerprint scanner, it sucks but still shows you have NO CLUE what you are talking about, just a biased review. "All that power is hard on the battery" nice way of saying the battery sucks.
"the average battery and lack of a microSD card slot might put you off"? Put you off, it is what makes Android, ANDROID. If you review CARS, please don't mention GSXR's or CBR's or any other motorcycles. The fact that it Samsung made the next iPhones should immediately disqualify it from the list, the fact that you praise it so much and the way you say what you say disqualifies YOU from anything credible you may ever say, you don't matter and PEOPLE SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE GARBAGE YOU WRITE.
Samsung has great paper specs but in benchmarks the real life end results is piss or given the hardware. The Samsung bloatware is terrible.
I'd prefer Moto or Lg over Samsung. It's become more cultish than mac.
I've had the Nexus 6 for two months. Initially I loved the phone, but I easily cracked the screen with a minor drop. It cost $175 to repair through Motorola. The very next day I cracked the screen again. The only device I've had that was unable to handle minor drops without cracking with the iPhone 4. If the rest of Motorola's line-up is as brittle as the Nexus 6, I would not recommend.
LG G4. Love it.
i though Oneplus one should on the list as it is the first one make bamboo vision available ,and also perfect price with CM OS,as it is Chinese brand phone ,Flosmall seems more professional .
It's not all lollipop's fault, it doesn't help but a lot of the Samsung performance issues are the bloatware and simply poor coding. I bought the Gtab s 8.4 and it had trouble scrolling web pages without freezes and chop. This was with noting running but chrome. It was using 2G of the 3G ram just to idle before opening apps. That's terrible.
Samsung is gearing up to main stream Tizen their OS. The 2 year plan is to start moving away from android. (at least that's the idea…) fail.
Oh yeah? you mean the phone you can't buy and has over 5 million people on the wait list? Dafuq is the point of even mentioning it exactly?
Dude, samsung was #1. They start with number 1 phone and with number 10. They give 10 and end on #1, saving the best review for last. Other wise why would you read the entire article.
On the same boat here, what phone did you go with? and how do you like it?
I am sporting Skyrocket 2, and find that its just enough. Sure I would love 300+pi but for now this just works and not over priced. All other are just not efficiently utilized yet. The only thing I wish is better camera like in Nokia 920 for every day usage.
?
it's #1
It looks like Huawei is making the new 2015 nexus 6. Huawei has been doing some REALLY good phones recently, so I am pretty excited for this.
That's because Samsung became lazy and are like drunk chickens with no heads running around trying to find their place in this world, offering a very unreliable device.
believe me….I've had the S3 & S5….. never again.
Not sure about HTC One at No 1 position but otherwise not a bad list.