THE BEST SMARTPHONES OF 2017 TO GET FOR YOUR LOVED ONES
This Year 2017 has witnessed the release of a lot of powerful smartphones but among these are the top bests. The Apple company brought out the IPhone 7 and recently released the IPhone X while Google in collaboration with HTC, have released the Google pixel. Please Go down the list and see the best you can get for your loved ones. Going in descending order, the first on the list is the:
1. THE IPHONE 7/7 PLUS
While the Apple iPhone 7/7 Plus may visually appear to be a slight upgrade over the 6s/6s Plus, the improvements are enough to make the new iPhone an easy choice for millions. Water resistance, improved cameras, more RAM, a larger capacity battery, a faster processor, and stereo speakers are all compelling updates.
Apple has always done well with the larger phones in the battery life area and my 7 Plus is stunning. I can go for many hours without worrying about charging it up and only the Moto Z Force Droid has lasted me longer.
Water resistance is becoming one of my core requirements for smartphones, especially for phones I like to carry out running in the rain with me. The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus add IP67 water and dust resistance.
One controversial change is the removal of the headphone jack. I personally have had issues with a couple headsets, but Apple includes an adapter and a pair of Lightning earbuds so it's tough to complain.
The larger iPhone 7 Plus has an additional rear camera for telephoto and bokeh pictures, but the software to enable the portrait bokeh effect has not yet been released.
Check out the my full review of the iPhone 7 Plus (9.3 rating) and Jason's iPhone 7 review (9.0 rating). CNET also has reviews of the iPhone 7 Plus (8.8 rating) and iPhone 7 (8.7 rating).
2. THE GOOGLE PIXEL/PIXEL XL
Google just announced the Pixel and Pixel XL and these are the only devices on my list that I have yet to test out. However, they are the newest phones from Google, built by HTC, and have already done well with some initial camera testing and hands-on experiences.
Google did something that no one else has with a large and small device -- it included the same exact specifications with the only differentiator being the size. I wish Apple would use this strategy, rather than always limiting the smaller form factor device. Due to availability, I actually ordered the smaller size Pixel for myself yesterday.
The Pixel has a 5 inch display while the Pixel XL has a 5.5 inch display. Both are the only devices launching with a Qualcomm 821 processor. Other key specs include 4GB of RAM, 32 or 128GB of internal storage, 12.3 megapixel camera and 8 megapixel front facing camera, and Android 7.1 Nougat.
The Android 7.1 Nougat operating system on the Pixel phones include Google Assistant and will have some unique features not found on other Android 7.1 devices.
The Google Pixel is priced at $649 and $749. The Google Pixel XL is priced at $769 and $869. It's interesting to see Google launch these phones at prices rivaling the iPhone and Galaxy devices and I'm looking forward to testing one out.
3. THE SAMSUNG GALAXY S7/S7 EDGE
While the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 may be the ultimate Samsung flagship, the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are still fantastic smartphones that won't be upgraded for another six months or so. These smartphones have industry leading specifications, refined design, and capabilities that had me almost awarding it a perfect 10 in my review. The only con I could come up with for the S7 was that it is a fingerprint magnet and for the S7 Edge that the edge screen sometimes facilitated inadvertant screen presses. This is no longer an issue on the Note 7, thanks to the design of the sides.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge have extremely fast cameras that take incredible photos and video, responsive fingerprint scanners and advanced Samsung Pay support, water resistance without the fuss of ports, elegant refined design with the use of metal and glass, and it also launched with sweet offers from US carriers and Samsung.
While wireless charging is just a convenience, Samsung has everything you could want in a phone in the S7 and S7 Edge to make using one a sheer joy.
CNET also awarded the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge an Editor's Choice award so there's little doubt that Samsung has one of the best smartphones available today.
4. THE MOTO Z/Z FORCE DROID
It's been a while since I've been impressed by a Motorola phone, but the Moto Z and Moto Z Force Droid look great, feel great, and perform well. These phones incorporate a modular design that actually makes sense and works well.
The Moto Z is available as a GSM unlocked phone for $699 with the Moto Z Force Droid coming out as a Verizon exclusive, available for $720 (32GB) and $770 (64GB).
The Z Force Droid edition adds a shatterproof display, which is something we don't see often today. Both phones have high resolution displays, leading internal specifications, a water repellent nano-coating, and battery life that lasts longer than an iPhone 7 Plus.
The Moto Mods are priced from $19.99 (shell) to $299.99 (projector and camera), but they snap on and off easily and are very functional. Hopefully we will see more mods added to the collection.
Check out my full Moto Z Force Droid review and the one from CNET.
5. THE LG V20
LG doesn't get much respect in the mobile space. I label them the Rodney Dangerfield of smartphones, but thankfully the upcoming LG V20 takes the best of the LG G5 and LG V10 to offer a powerful enterprise smartphone with a removable battery, microSD expansion card slot, and IR transmitter in a phone with a metal back and integrated drop protection.
The LG V20 has a larger unique secondary front display similar to the V10, a second wide-angle rear camera, the ability to take standard and wide-angle selfies, a rear fingerprint scanner, and solid metal and glass construction. It's the first non-Google phone to launch with Android 7.0 Nougat so unlike Samsung you won't have to wait months to see the upgrade to the current version of Android.
LG continues to provide an IR transmitter in its phones so you can control your TV and other media right from the phone. The camera on the LG V20 still stands out above the crowd with manual video recording capability that gives you full control over the mics and other advanced recording settings.
There are not yet any LG V20 retail units out for full reviews, but you can check out my preview of an early pre-production device. Pricing has not yet been revealed, but the phone should be launching later this month.
6. THE ONE PLUS 3
OnePlus has made a few phones over the past couple of years, but each has disappointed me in some way. I purchased the OnePlus 3 in June and was completely satisfied. It is available for just $399 and for that price you aren't likely to find such a powerful smartphone.
It feels much like an HTC 10, but the customization, more RAM, and longer battery life make it compelling. It does have a 1080p display so the resolution is not as high as an HTC 10, but it is priced significantly lower.
OnePlus has shown it can update the phone regularly as well with a few updates already made since its release. It has some awesome customization options and is one of my favorite low price smartphones.
Sandra Vogel gave it a 9/10 rating in her ZDNet review. CNET awarded the OnePlus 3 an 8.9/10 in its review.
7. THE HONOR 8/8 PRO
Huawei makes some amazing smartphones, but most Huawei-branded devices are not available in the US. Huawei recently launched its first Honor-branded device in the US with the Honor 8 and it's an incredible smaller Android smartphone.
The Honor 8 is powered by a Kirin 950 processor with 4GB of RAM. It has a 5.2 inch 1080p display, 32GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot, dual rear 12 megapixel cameras, and an IR port.
There are plenty of customizations in the software, including Knuckle Sense technology. The dual cameras help you capture some unique photos too.
The Honor 8 feels amazing in your hand and at just $400 it is tough to beat. I awarded the Honor 8 a 9.3/10 in my review and it continues to get better.
8. THE HTC 10
After testing the HTC 10, I purchased my own black model. It has since been passed to my wife since I'm not that enthusiastic about its camera performance or limitations on customization.
No other phone can match the audio experience of the HTC 10. If you use your phone for music or videos and like having a pocketable device that is built to withstand life's daily movement, this phone is for you.
HTC has come a long way with the cameras, introducing the first front-facing camera with OIS. The rear 12 megapixel UltraPixel 2 camera with OIS is its best yet, but there are still a few software tweaks to be made to beat out the Samsung Galaxy S7 and LG G5. My wife is perfectly happy with the camera, but I see too much light blow out in most photos.
The price continues to drop on the HTC 10, making it a more attractive option. It is currently priced at $549, which is $150 less than the retail price.
I awarded the HTC 10 a a 9.5/10 in my review, but I think that was a bit high after testing out the latest Samsung and Apple phones.
9. THE BLACKBERRY DTEK60
The BlackBerry Passport was my favorite BlackBerry device, but BB OS10 doesn't have much of a future. On a whim, I purchased a BlackBerry DTEK60 and think it's the best BlackBerry I've tested in a long time. After the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was recalled and I had to remove it from my list, the DTEK60 quickly made the jump to at least number 9.
Enterprise users looking for a high quality, reliable Android device with timely monthly Android security updates and a fairly stock Android device without loads of bloatware, then the BlackBerry DTEK60 is a great choice.
The BlackBerry DTEK60 has some of the latest high end specifications in a sleek form factor. It's the first BlackBerry with a fingerprint scanner, on the rear, and great sounding dual front-facing stereo speakers.
Communications efficiency is a priority on the DTEK60 with the BlackBerry Hub serving as a functional, essential part of the software experience. The DTEK BlackBerry app is helpful for keeping the DTEK60 user informed of the security status while a number of other BlackBerry customizations help provide an enhanced security experience.
I awarded the BlackBerry DTEK60 an 8.8/10 in my review and with a better camera and some basic water resistance it could jump into the top five.
10. THE ZTE AXON 7
Reasonably priced Chinese smartphones are making their way to the US and ZTE offers up a compelling solution with its Axon 7 device. I haven't had the chance to try one so cannot share my own experiences with this large $400 smartphone.
The Axon 7 improves upon previous Axon devices and has many of the same specifications as the OnePlus 3 and HTC 10. It includes a 5.5 inch 1440p display, 20 megapixel camera, full metal unibody design, Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, microSD expansion card slot, and more.
The Axon 7 is focused on the media experience with hi-res audio support, dual front-facing stereo speakers, and good camera performance. It's not the best Android smartphone around, but it offers plenty in a $400 package.
1. THE IPHONE 7/7 PLUS
While the Apple iPhone 7/7 Plus may visually appear to be a slight upgrade over the 6s/6s Plus, the improvements are enough to make the new iPhone an easy choice for millions. Water resistance, improved cameras, more RAM, a larger capacity battery, a faster processor, and stereo speakers are all compelling updates.
Apple has always done well with the larger phones in the battery life area and my 7 Plus is stunning. I can go for many hours without worrying about charging it up and only the Moto Z Force Droid has lasted me longer.
Water resistance is becoming one of my core requirements for smartphones, especially for phones I like to carry out running in the rain with me. The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus add IP67 water and dust resistance.
One controversial change is the removal of the headphone jack. I personally have had issues with a couple headsets, but Apple includes an adapter and a pair of Lightning earbuds so it's tough to complain.
The larger iPhone 7 Plus has an additional rear camera for telephoto and bokeh pictures, but the software to enable the portrait bokeh effect has not yet been released.
Check out the my full review of the iPhone 7 Plus (9.3 rating) and Jason's iPhone 7 review (9.0 rating). CNET also has reviews of the iPhone 7 Plus (8.8 rating) and iPhone 7 (8.7 rating).
2. THE GOOGLE PIXEL/PIXEL XL
Google just announced the Pixel and Pixel XL and these are the only devices on my list that I have yet to test out. However, they are the newest phones from Google, built by HTC, and have already done well with some initial camera testing and hands-on experiences.
Google did something that no one else has with a large and small device -- it included the same exact specifications with the only differentiator being the size. I wish Apple would use this strategy, rather than always limiting the smaller form factor device. Due to availability, I actually ordered the smaller size Pixel for myself yesterday.
The Pixel has a 5 inch display while the Pixel XL has a 5.5 inch display. Both are the only devices launching with a Qualcomm 821 processor. Other key specs include 4GB of RAM, 32 or 128GB of internal storage, 12.3 megapixel camera and 8 megapixel front facing camera, and Android 7.1 Nougat.
The Android 7.1 Nougat operating system on the Pixel phones include Google Assistant and will have some unique features not found on other Android 7.1 devices.
The Google Pixel is priced at $649 and $749. The Google Pixel XL is priced at $769 and $869. It's interesting to see Google launch these phones at prices rivaling the iPhone and Galaxy devices and I'm looking forward to testing one out.
3. THE SAMSUNG GALAXY S7/S7 EDGE
While the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 may be the ultimate Samsung flagship, the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are still fantastic smartphones that won't be upgraded for another six months or so. These smartphones have industry leading specifications, refined design, and capabilities that had me almost awarding it a perfect 10 in my review. The only con I could come up with for the S7 was that it is a fingerprint magnet and for the S7 Edge that the edge screen sometimes facilitated inadvertant screen presses. This is no longer an issue on the Note 7, thanks to the design of the sides.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge have extremely fast cameras that take incredible photos and video, responsive fingerprint scanners and advanced Samsung Pay support, water resistance without the fuss of ports, elegant refined design with the use of metal and glass, and it also launched with sweet offers from US carriers and Samsung.
While wireless charging is just a convenience, Samsung has everything you could want in a phone in the S7 and S7 Edge to make using one a sheer joy.
CNET also awarded the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge an Editor's Choice award so there's little doubt that Samsung has one of the best smartphones available today.
4. THE MOTO Z/Z FORCE DROID
It's been a while since I've been impressed by a Motorola phone, but the Moto Z and Moto Z Force Droid look great, feel great, and perform well. These phones incorporate a modular design that actually makes sense and works well.
The Moto Z is available as a GSM unlocked phone for $699 with the Moto Z Force Droid coming out as a Verizon exclusive, available for $720 (32GB) and $770 (64GB).
The Z Force Droid edition adds a shatterproof display, which is something we don't see often today. Both phones have high resolution displays, leading internal specifications, a water repellent nano-coating, and battery life that lasts longer than an iPhone 7 Plus.
The Moto Mods are priced from $19.99 (shell) to $299.99 (projector and camera), but they snap on and off easily and are very functional. Hopefully we will see more mods added to the collection.
Check out my full Moto Z Force Droid review and the one from CNET.
5. THE LG V20
LG doesn't get much respect in the mobile space. I label them the Rodney Dangerfield of smartphones, but thankfully the upcoming LG V20 takes the best of the LG G5 and LG V10 to offer a powerful enterprise smartphone with a removable battery, microSD expansion card slot, and IR transmitter in a phone with a metal back and integrated drop protection.
The LG V20 has a larger unique secondary front display similar to the V10, a second wide-angle rear camera, the ability to take standard and wide-angle selfies, a rear fingerprint scanner, and solid metal and glass construction. It's the first non-Google phone to launch with Android 7.0 Nougat so unlike Samsung you won't have to wait months to see the upgrade to the current version of Android.
LG continues to provide an IR transmitter in its phones so you can control your TV and other media right from the phone. The camera on the LG V20 still stands out above the crowd with manual video recording capability that gives you full control over the mics and other advanced recording settings.
There are not yet any LG V20 retail units out for full reviews, but you can check out my preview of an early pre-production device. Pricing has not yet been revealed, but the phone should be launching later this month.
6. THE ONE PLUS 3
OnePlus has made a few phones over the past couple of years, but each has disappointed me in some way. I purchased the OnePlus 3 in June and was completely satisfied. It is available for just $399 and for that price you aren't likely to find such a powerful smartphone.
It feels much like an HTC 10, but the customization, more RAM, and longer battery life make it compelling. It does have a 1080p display so the resolution is not as high as an HTC 10, but it is priced significantly lower.
OnePlus has shown it can update the phone regularly as well with a few updates already made since its release. It has some awesome customization options and is one of my favorite low price smartphones.
Sandra Vogel gave it a 9/10 rating in her ZDNet review. CNET awarded the OnePlus 3 an 8.9/10 in its review.
7. THE HONOR 8/8 PRO
Huawei makes some amazing smartphones, but most Huawei-branded devices are not available in the US. Huawei recently launched its first Honor-branded device in the US with the Honor 8 and it's an incredible smaller Android smartphone.
The Honor 8 is powered by a Kirin 950 processor with 4GB of RAM. It has a 5.2 inch 1080p display, 32GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot, dual rear 12 megapixel cameras, and an IR port.
There are plenty of customizations in the software, including Knuckle Sense technology. The dual cameras help you capture some unique photos too.
The Honor 8 feels amazing in your hand and at just $400 it is tough to beat. I awarded the Honor 8 a 9.3/10 in my review and it continues to get better.
8. THE HTC 10
After testing the HTC 10, I purchased my own black model. It has since been passed to my wife since I'm not that enthusiastic about its camera performance or limitations on customization.
No other phone can match the audio experience of the HTC 10. If you use your phone for music or videos and like having a pocketable device that is built to withstand life's daily movement, this phone is for you.
HTC has come a long way with the cameras, introducing the first front-facing camera with OIS. The rear 12 megapixel UltraPixel 2 camera with OIS is its best yet, but there are still a few software tweaks to be made to beat out the Samsung Galaxy S7 and LG G5. My wife is perfectly happy with the camera, but I see too much light blow out in most photos.
The price continues to drop on the HTC 10, making it a more attractive option. It is currently priced at $549, which is $150 less than the retail price.
I awarded the HTC 10 a a 9.5/10 in my review, but I think that was a bit high after testing out the latest Samsung and Apple phones.
9. THE BLACKBERRY DTEK60
The BlackBerry Passport was my favorite BlackBerry device, but BB OS10 doesn't have much of a future. On a whim, I purchased a BlackBerry DTEK60 and think it's the best BlackBerry I've tested in a long time. After the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was recalled and I had to remove it from my list, the DTEK60 quickly made the jump to at least number 9.
Enterprise users looking for a high quality, reliable Android device with timely monthly Android security updates and a fairly stock Android device without loads of bloatware, then the BlackBerry DTEK60 is a great choice.
The BlackBerry DTEK60 has some of the latest high end specifications in a sleek form factor. It's the first BlackBerry with a fingerprint scanner, on the rear, and great sounding dual front-facing stereo speakers.
Communications efficiency is a priority on the DTEK60 with the BlackBerry Hub serving as a functional, essential part of the software experience. The DTEK BlackBerry app is helpful for keeping the DTEK60 user informed of the security status while a number of other BlackBerry customizations help provide an enhanced security experience.
I awarded the BlackBerry DTEK60 an 8.8/10 in my review and with a better camera and some basic water resistance it could jump into the top five.
10. THE ZTE AXON 7
Reasonably priced Chinese smartphones are making their way to the US and ZTE offers up a compelling solution with its Axon 7 device. I haven't had the chance to try one so cannot share my own experiences with this large $400 smartphone.
The Axon 7 improves upon previous Axon devices and has many of the same specifications as the OnePlus 3 and HTC 10. It includes a 5.5 inch 1440p display, 20 megapixel camera, full metal unibody design, Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, microSD expansion card slot, and more.
The Axon 7 is focused on the media experience with hi-res audio support, dual front-facing stereo speakers, and good camera performance. It's not the best Android smartphone around, but it offers plenty in a $400 package.
So, in your quest to get a nice smartphone for your loved ones, children or even yourself, considering your budget, you can go for the pricier IPhone 7 plus or the Chinese budget ZTE Axon 7 depending on your likes. Merry Christmas and happy Smarphone Year.
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