Tag: HTC

Top Smartphones…2016 Edition

Posted on by ja3techreviews

Seriously, the year is already over?!?!  Really?!?!  2016 was a, well, an interesting year, to say the least. From the Note 7 debacle, to the “wtf was that” called the LG G5, the overall dip in consumer spending as a whole, and Microsoft unable to give away phones, we scoured and identified the Top devices of 2016; the best little nuggets, shall we say, and composed this list ranking them.

For all you newbies and faithful alike, I break this down into two categories, well three this year, but more on that later, described as follows: (i) top premier smartphone – smartphones over $399 (ii) top budget smartphone – smartphones at or under $399. Bear with me as these are my honest opinions based on devices reviewed throughout the year. Hopefully you agree, but if not, just sit back and enjoy.

TOP PREMIER SMARTPHONES
1) Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge – You have to tip your hat to a company that learns from its mistakes.  The Galaxy line took some hits in 2015 due to poor battery life, lack of sd card expansion, and overly aggressive RAM management.  Call all problems corrected.  And just as a caveat, I’m not a big Samsung fan, but even I was amazed by the glory that were these two devices.

2) iPhone 7 and 7 Plus – Another bland offering from Apple this year, but what it lacks in that certain “Je ne sais quoi” is surely offset by the continuation of great software optimization, introduction of dust and water resistance (IP-67 certification), outstanding camera, and improved battery.  Again, the design matriculates along the boring scale, so something still to improve on, Tim Cook.

3) Google Pixel and Pixel XL – Didn’t like it and still don’t like it (for my own personal usage) but it still stands as one of the elite devices of 2016 for it’s impeccable camera in all lighting, great software and hardware synergy, and amazing screen.  If it was, say, $360 cheaper, it could arguably be the best device of the year, in my opinion.

4) LG V20 – LG may not be winning in overall popularity among consumers, but year-on-year, they keep cranking out gems.  The V20 does not deviate from that.  The secondary screen continues, and the battery life would make anyone pleased, so another great one from the South Korean maker.

5) OnePlus 3T – Yes, OnePlus devices have finally peaked above the budget threshold.  It was always a matter of time, but the company continues churning out the best “bang-for-your-buck” phones.  A whopping 6GB of RAM, impressive all-day battery life, all inclusive cellular connectivity, dual-sim capable, and sleek design are propelling Carl Pei’s baby to the head of the class in the industry.  For someone who still likes rooting and rom-ing, OnePlus is your ticket to paradise, so pack your bags, we leave tonight.

6) Motorola-Lenovo Moto Z Phones- Modularity done right is a truly splendid thing, and this was done right (take notes G5).  Motorola-Lenovo continues its grasp of fantastic designs and innovations, and I’m excited for what they will showcase in 2017.

7) Xiaomi Mi Mix – Bezzle-less?  Yup, bezzle-less display!  Truly, I don’t know if anything else needs to be said.

8) HTC 10 – So HTC dropped the “One” moniker and the front facing speakers, but kept the smooth, aluminum unibody figure, while improving both software and hardware performance. Still, something was missing from this one, as I could never call it a true “flagship” device, nor worthy of daily driver material.  But the once left for dead company finds itself resurfacing towards relevance….continue that climb young one!

9) HP Elite x3 – Everyone who knows me, or reads my articles, knows I have a certain soft spot in my heart for Windows devices.  Enter the HP Elite x3, a device that got right what the Lumia 950 got wrong.  The hefty $649 price tag keeps this from being an easy recommend, but from performance to style, this was a hot device.

10) Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe – When the heck did Asus phones get above $300?  Well, this was a year of exceptions, and the Zenfone did not escape those nasty clutches!  I loved testing this devices, as the pillars making a great device were present, but the only pillar I could not accept, the $659.99 price tag.  Much like I stated about the Pixel phones, a steep price reduction would put this in “must buy” territory.

BEST BUDGET SMARTPHONES
1) ZTE Axon 7 – I was over the moon in love with this device and still am (review still coming in a 6-months after format).  Great battery with quick charge capabilities, phenomenal audio experience, great screen quality, fantastic call quality, and outlandish RAM capacity makes this my past, current and future daily driver for awhile.  At the consumer-friendly $379.00 off-contract, you are getting a flagship-like experience for budget-like bucks.

2) ZTE ZMAX Pro – Get the crown out because ZTE cemented itself as most improved manufacturer of the year banging out two elite phones at pauper prices.  The ZTE ZMAX Pro, much like the Axon 7, shares a pleasurably unique user experience with little-to-no sacrifices. Being T-Mobile and MetroPCS exclusives knock down its rating from a potential top placing, but we can hope for the unlocked version, making this a must by for 2017.

3) Alcatel OneTouch Idol 4s – If a girl, or guy for you ladies, can cook, clean, hold you close, buy you presents, and care for you on those down days; they are a keeper.  The same can be said about the Idol 4s, as the attractive build, nice user interface, decent battery, came packaged with a Incipio case, screen protector, JBL Headphones, and VR headset for the low price of $399.00.  Idol 4s, will you marry me? For all you Windows junkies, she has a cute sister too (Idol 4s Windows).

4) Huawei Honor 5x – Building off their Nexus 6p inspired success in the Western Hemisphere, Huawei launched the Honor 5x budget device at CES earlier this year, and what a launch it was. Nice processing power, dual-sim capable, impressive call clarity, and a fingerprint sensor on a sub-$200 device made this an early recommend.  Even today, at retailer discounted prices, I still feel this is one of the better phones of the year.

5) Xiaomi Mi Note 2 – Xiaomi seemingly will be one of the best manufacturers we may never hear about in the US.  Churning out another wonderful device in the Mi Note line was a foregone conclusion for one of the top sellers in China, and during my testing, I was suprised by the zippy iPhone-esque clone.  Again, its radios are tuned for Asia and Eastern Europe, but for a Wi-Fi only device, you could do no wrong getting this.

6) Nextbit Robin – The startup company hoped on making waves in 2016, but instead, sales indicate merely a belly-flopping thud.  Currently going for as low as $179.99, a device sporting a now, only 2-generation old capable processor, front facing speakers, fingerprint sensor, and acclimating cloud storage, this falls in the great budget finds of the year.

7) Huawei Honor 8 – The Honor 8 was the Kat Dennings of phones.  It had the most amazing curves, glorious backside and magnificent display jammed into a nice little frame. But the user experience was more like Cait Jenner, as it was marred by poor (and that is being polite) battery life and and a quirky EMotion user interface.  That being said, if you value style, and a stunning one at that, over substance, the Honor 8 is for you.  And currently going for $299.99 with extras, it’s priced for us all.

8) Motorola-Lenovo Moto G4 and G4 Play – These probably would have fallen in the upper-tier of phones…six years ago, but for 2016, the sub-1080p display and lower-end processors were overcome by the immaculate battery life and zippier than expected performance.  Factor in a price tag under $200, and you just found the recipe for a happy entry-level device or a great backup device.

9) LeEco Le Pro 3 – I wanted to use a Pepe Le Pew pun but I shall refrain.  This newcomer in the US market has been turning heads with its first, yet quality offering.  The launcher and its layout prove problematic for Android experts, but slapping on a new launcher, you have something fabulous all for under $279.99

10) LG K7 – Debuting in January, my initial thoughts were this was merely replacement or interim phone material, but after my testing period, the Snapdragon 210-enabled device performed well above its specs.  Accompanied by LG’s stylistic and durable design for under $100.00….I smell a winner!

My father used to tell me, find the humor in a bad situation.  So folks, I bring you the new category for this year…

MOST ENTERTAINING SMARTPHONES…FOR THE WRONG REASONS

1)  Samsung Galaxy Fireball f/k/a Galaxy Note 7 – Was it going to start a fire or not?  Was it going to singe the hairs on your crotch or legs?  “Probably” was the answer for both these questions, and because of that, it was the most entertaining device of the year.  You may go for your nightly slumber only to wakeup and run screaming for the exits. But you must admit, any phone requiring you keep a fire extinguisher and some burn compound handy makes for good times.

2)  LG G5 – WTF?!?!  I know what LG was attempting, finally making the long awaited modular devices a reality, but this turned into a hot mess from jump.  If the G5 was a person, she would be that one girl who shows up at a party with a combed over weave, purple top with lime green skirt, and some knock off Jordan’s….like I said, a HOT MESS!

Well everyone, that concludes the top smartphones of 2o16.  Tell me what you think in the comments section, whether you agree or disagree.  Thanks and stay tuned for more!

Google Pixel Launch: What We Learned

Posted on by ja3techreviews

October 4th was a date marked on every techies calendar, as Google promoted and teased a great unveiling.  Inclusive of all the hype and premeditated leaks, calling yesterday a great unveiling still constitutes as a mild understatement.  Ditching the popular Nexus line, Google revealed what they say was a project nearly ten years in the making with the new Pixel lineup.  You might be asking, “So, why the change?”  That’s a good question! Google states, the Nexus program was a tool showcasing the latest and greatest versions of Android, devoid of skins and unadulterated, paired with the best hardware of OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) such as LG, Samsung, HTC, Motorola, and Huawei; all previous Nexus phone designers.  For a six year period, the preset goals were achieved as these fusions provided us in the tech community some of the greatest phones of their respective years.  Granted, some where greater than others, hmm, I’m looking at you Nexus 6, but overall a successful campaign nonetheless. Now, Google wants to shift gears from not just providing a clean Android experience, but also designing and making its own devices. Enter the new Pixel and Pixel XL phones, accompanied by the Google Home, Google Wi-Fi, Daydream View VR Headset and Chromecast Ultra.

Occupying certain niche needs, I anticipate great success for the Google Home and Wi-Fi. Both allow for the continued push towards more technically sound and interactive homes, and I think both achieve this in grand fashion.  Granted, these are merely Google’s interpretation of products currently on the market, namely the Amazon Echo and OnHub Blue, but at their perspective price points, could provide competition for consumer attention.  I wasn’t as impressed with the Daydream VR Headset as I honestly believe this is still a gimmicky-purchase and not a must have for any buyer, but much like the home products, the price point would make this hard to ignore come holiday time.  I still prefer Samsung’s VR Headset because the more impressive build, but Daydream does allow a greater experience across all apps in the Android market over the former.  Not much needs to be said about the Chromecast Ultra, other than it’s an upgraded version from previous incarnations, with allowance for 4K UHD (ultra high definition) picture quality.  Again, for anyone with a 4K compatible television and $70 to burn, this is a fantastic option.

But you’re probably wanting info on the stars of the the event, the Pixel and Pixel XL phones.  Still reeling from the abrupt Nexus divorce, my honest feelings for these devices are lukewarm; at least for the time being.  The new 4.7″ and 5.5″ devices looked like a re-hash of phones already on the market, thus lacking a new approach I was anticipating.  I kept telling my buddy that they looked like the freakish three-way combination of the HTC 10, iPhone 6s and Honor 8.  All are great looking devices, but just don’t look quite right together.  Whenever I get my hands on review models, my initial thoughts may change, but if this the “girl” we decide to date after our great relationship with Nexus, she may need to put on a little more makeup before we go out.  Just saying!  However, the new color names are extremely catchy with the Very Silver, Quite Black and Really Blue.  Again, the overall phones look odd to me, but the Quite Black color scheme with the two-toned silver bottom accent looked cool.  In their totality, not anything groundbreaking with the hardware as we have 1080p and Quad-HD AMOLED panels, with the Snapdragon 821, 4 GB of RAM, bottom mount speakers, Gorilla Glass 4 and 32/128 GB ROM options; so solid if not spectacular.  But much like the Nexus phones, the newest Android version Nougat 7.1, will be the differential from other devices. Being the first shipping with this version baked in, 7.1 is utterly fantastic and a major step forward.  Newer launcher, Google Assistance, and revised Google Now functionality make this a near must-buy, as I was blown away with how intuitive the operating system has become.  I was ready to hand over my credit card right there on the spot!  Then Google announced the pricing and my credit card couldn’t find its way back into my wallet fast enough.  Starting at $649 for the lower-end variant and going up to $799, these seem destined for a similar fate of the Nexus 6 as a good device until you look at the price-to-value aspect.  Google does believe these are premium devices competing with the likes of Samsung’s S-line and the Apple iPhone, and I agree somewhat, as this is great software and hardware, but this seems way too pricey.  Using the Nexus pricing as a baseline, if these were in the $399-$549 price range, I could see this being hard to keep in stock.  But as much as $799?  I just see a slew of competition from other makers like Oneplus, Alcatel, Huawei/Honor, and LG being more enticing buys and keeping more Benjamins in your pocket. Additionally, knowing a ROM for the still glamorous Nexus 6p (or other Nexus devices), should be available soon makes this any even harder recommend.  At least for me.

There you have it!  Stay tuned for the upcoming reviews of all these devices.

 

Why Google…Why? Our Relationship with Nexus is Over

Posted on by ja3techreviews

If I may quote every girlfriend I’ve ever had, EVER, “I think we should breakup, but can we still be friends?”  Yes people, sadly this is the current state of affairs for the soon-to-be defunct Nexus line of products.  That being said, I know each “relationship” endures its ups-and-downs and the last few years have been like a roller coaster, but how could this be the end?  Why Google…Why?  (Crying) I’ve given you the best years of my life and this is how you re-pay me?

For those of you not familiar with the Nexus program, here is your quick tutorial:  Google first introduced a Development program for its operating system (OS) where developers could purchase “developer-specific” phones free of SIM restrictions, which was a stark contrast for the heavily carrier-subsidized devices of the time.  Google proposed a full product expansion, fusing with original electronic manufacturers (OEMs) such as HTC, Samsung and LG, naming a few, creating a synergy of hardware and software innovations for sanctioned devices, witnessed over the last seven years.  This was dubbed the Nexus Program, and in January 2010, the very first Nexus collaboration spawned the Google Nexus One by HTC.  At the time, the HTC-made Nexus was a gem with a 3.7” inch display, 512mB of RAM, and the then blazing 1GHz Qualcomm Scorpion CPU, but more importantly, established the “treat-inspired” Éclair Android Operating System (OS) as a launch pad for further OS advancements.  Deemed an entry level phone by today’s standards, the Nexus One was every bit the flagship for its time and provided a platform for Google to showcase both its advancing OS and a vision for the future of mobile technology.  And showcase it did, as new followers would flock to the tech giant by the thousands, as rooting and rom-ing became the trending activities.  Not to mention, the Nexus line inspired OEMs further development in creating better devices geared to handle both entertainment and productivity needs of consumers.  One could argue a great partnership for all was created with an optimistic outlook for what the future may hold.

If the introduction of the Nexus One was the dating phase, then its successors proved a gracious courting period.  Ups-and-downs of any relationship occurred, but over the next few years, Google unveiled multiple OS follow-ups in FROYO, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean, and my personal favorite Kit-Kat. Each more feature-packed than its predecessor, and with momentum and popularity growing in Android as a whole, this was parlayed into greater success for each subsequent Nexus.  Sales improved year-over-year, culminating in the vast popularity of the 2013 Nexus 5, running the then newest version Kit-Kat.  The LG-made device comprised three components making it nothing short of fantastic: an impeccable design and build, the newest version of Android, and a price-tag well within most consumers’ budgets.  The Nexus 5 was a stunning device, falling just short in acclaim to other Android offerings such as the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, LG G2, and HTC One; none of which could offer the pure Android experience followers craved.  Honestly, it could be said the apex of the programs success was achieved in the Nexus 5, as it was quite the banger.  On a personal note, mine is still running smooth as ever with the Dirty Unicorns ROM, and its one of the rare phones I will have a hard time letting go.

As with any relationship, the honeymoon has to end, right?  Shortly after the success of the Nexus 5, Google broke our hearts by announcing the train ride to Happytown may be coming to an end, and the eventual demise of the program was apparent.  Several leaked reports in late 2013 and early 2014 stated Google planned to do away with the line and work on other endeavors.  I can still hear the echoes of sighs and moans from the Nexus-lovers to this very day.  For many, this was truly a hard pill to swallow as the Nexus line was garnering its largest following and continued sequels seemed only logical.  However, Google further augmented fears by stating it had never intended for the Nexus line to last this long, and the eventuality of its demise was only a matter of time.  Such sour words were never spoken so harshly, as we had already endured the short-lived linger of the Google Play Edition devices, and this news was absolutely devastating.  However, prior to the release of Android 5.0, Lollipop, Google re-assured us Android junkies, the Nexus program would continue for the foreseeable future, giving a gleam of optimism for more great devices on the horizon.  Instead, we got the Nexus 6 smartphone and Nexus 9 tablet, both failing in comparison from previous iterations.  I reviewed both devices, and if you have not read those articles, my thoughts in a nutshell were they seemed “…rushed…” and “…incomplete…”   Additionally, the build quality on the HTC-based tablet seemed a step back from even the Asus Nexus 7 (2013) from two (2) years earlier, but with a much steeper price tag.  Not to mention, the Motorola-made Nexus 6, was not the next installment fans expected, as it was too unwieldy with its 6” display and wide body; nor did it possess the features of the Moto X, a device it closely mimicked, which was one of the top tier devices for the year.  Coupled with its steep price tag, limited availability, and the overall kinks within Lollipop, the majority of us wished Google had ended the relationship.  Although sales reflected modest gains, Nexus enthusiasts will point at these two devices as the weakest in the Nexus lineup thus far, and I can’t blame them.  If I may put my impartiality aside, these devices were terrible.  Overpriced and bland with problems does not win over hearts, and that was everything the previous devices were not.  If I could use an analogy, these were the girl (or guy) you meet at a party that looks so cute under the dark lights, but when you come outside, BAM, no way, Jose!  Yup, and that’s when the relationship went sour.

But much like that person you dated in high school you bump into years later looking good, and I mean REALLY GOOD, the debacle that was the Nexus 6 and 9 were supplanted by the gorgeous Nexus 6p and LG Nexus 5x.  Similar to the metaphor for this article, Google went back to a familiar “partner” for a re-vamp of the popular Nexus 5, with hopes of winning back fans already straying, but also paired with the mega-successful overseas companion in Huawei, resulting in two nearly flawless phones.  The magic was re-created as both these devices showcased the streamlined and very polished Android 6.0 Marshmallow, on beautifully designed hardware.  These two not only met success with the entrenched fans, but also established crossover appeal with new consumers, originally intended for the Nexus 6.  And in the blink of an eye, there we were back in love again.  Alas, the good times were only short-lived as Google has made breakup public, marking the end of the Nexus line and the introduction to a new partner, Pixel.  Additional leaked information states the new Pixel devices will implement additional software and interface tweaks over a vanilla Android skin, and the possibility of a locked bootloader could be a reality.  WTH?!?!  Since these devices are not yet released, we can merely hope for pleasant surprises, as this is such a dramatic deviation from the oft-problematic, but still great relationship we have forged with the Nexus line.

In summation, has it all been good?  No.  Has it all been bad?  Of course not!  You would never stay if it was all bad.  But the Nexus line has been like that difficult relationship that is coming to an end.  Could we be in store for something greater with the upcoming changes?  The possibility certainly exists, but for something ingrained as part of our yearly ritual in the tech world, it will be hard letting go.  Change is certainly inevitable, so here’s to hoping the new relationship proves as fruitful as the last.

A Quick Look at the HTC 10

Posted on by ja3techreviews

HTC 10 Introduction – HTC YouTube

A phone by an other name would be just as sweet….not so fast!  As you all are well aware, flagship season, as I refer to this lovely time of year, is upon us.  We first were introduced to the gorgeous Samsung Galaxy S7 and its radiant glass design, and the the highly innovative and modular motif-based LG G5, both of which I will be discussing in my upcoming reviews.  Apart from the upcoming iPhone, the one device on many reviewers radar was the newest from HTC .  For many, this was more highly anticipated not because of the possible fanfare, but more-or-less, critics and fans alike were wondering what direction the struggling manufacturer would take needing a resuscitation of a brand grasping for continued relevance.  If you recall my article, Best Smartphones of 2015, I ranked the HTC M9, as one of the better devices from last year, but stated a major overhaul would be necessary for the company drowning in staganation.  Well, what we got is the HTC 10, a phone lacking clear direction and merely copying what others are doing, so much so it even dropped the “M” moniker.

First, I would like to clarify this is not a bashing of HTC or the HTC 10, merely the humble opinion of one reviewer who is not impressed by what I see.  I have been an avid user of HTC for many years now.  From time-to-time, I dust off my ancient HTC Amaze, and merrily go about my day with a phone I still love using.  And, I STILL feel like a boss when I pull out the fantastic M8, with those boom-sound speakers, in all its aluminum body glory.  Those phones were the embodiment and staples of the company.  A company resting its hat on a clean, user-friendly Sense UI and one of the greatest audio experience on a mobile device.  The camera was always a weak spot but what is beauty without a blemish.  Last year produced more of the same with the HTC M9, with the only deviations from previous versions being a shift of the power and volume buttons, which was largely unnecessary, and a continuation of the design of past M-series devices.  All-in-all, this was not bad, but in the fickle consumer world, buyers want continuous improvements as justification for spending money upgrading each year.  What we got was a case of, “If it ain’t broke, we probably aren’t going to put the time and effort to fix it”, as I was hard pressed in identifying an significant changes from M8 to M9.  As evidence by many other manufacturers, 2015 was the year of the fingerprint reader and Quad HD displays, none of which were present on the M9.  I read articles from fellow reviewers stating a shift to a higher resolution display, and minor augmentations of the body design and user language would make all the difference for what we believed would be dubbed the HTC M10.  Nope!  What we got was a Frankenstein clone in a hollow attempt to stay relevant.  Well, don’t color me impressed!

Because this is merely an initial thought and not full review, I won’t go through my standard review format.  However, I will tell the basics and specifications of the phone.  We now have the bump to a 5.2″ Quad HD resolution on a Super LCD display, with a Snapdragon 820 chip, 4GB of RAM, and expandable memory in addition to the 32/64GB on board storage.  Included is also a fingerprint sensor, a seamless metal body with chamfered edges, and Hi-Resolution (Hi-Res) audio outputs.  They cleaned up Sense UI, as its more vanilla Android Marshmallow with a few HTC tricks, but still very nice clean interface.  For those of you whom are audiophiles, be prepared to be underwhelmed.  As previously mentioned, I think of this as a Frankenstein clone phone, as only the body design is reminiscent of what I thought was the HTC calling card.  The dual front facing speakers from previous are replaced with one front speaker and a bottom facing “woofer”.  In all honesty, the sound was not as punchy for me, as highs were just okay, but bass sorely lacked, in my limited usage thus far.  Again, this was from someone expecting the same sounds from the M8 and M9, but I am feeling letdown so far.  The sound is good, but not HTC-esque sound.  And although they kept the same design language, I couldn’t help but think this phone looks like if the OnePlus 2 and LG G5 had a baby.  Seriously, that’s what it looks like to me!  Couple that with it went with near Nexus-like vanilla android, a la Motorola, and through in some Apple-compatible features; this seems like an attempt from a company whose back is against the wall, so they borrowed from everyone attempting to lure you in.  In my opinion, this is not a company re-inventing itself from its core characteristics, just throwing out something done before by others.  Also, did I tell you this phone will debut with a $699.00 price tag?!?!  No way, HTC!  Go sell crazy somewhere else because we are all stocked up here.

In being a reviewer, it’s my job to try and be as impartial as possible and help equip you with information as consumers.  Therefore, I reserve the right to change my thoughts and opinions as I give the the full review treatment.  But, I must attest to being a HTC fan, and thus keep asking myself the question, “Where did we go wrong”, but will keep vigilant during the review.  As is customary, my closing thoughts are for the price and what is available out there right now, I would not recommend this, but that opinion may change.  Please check back for the full review and have a great day!

 

Best Smartphones of 2015

Posted on by ja3techreviews

Ah yes, winter is finally here, and as we wind down this incredible year, I would like to take a look back at which manufacturers titillated us with their naughtiest and nicest offerings. Share with me as I announce my best smartphones of 2015.

For sake of ease, I broke this down into two categories: (i) best premier smartphone (ii) best budget smartphone – best smartphones at or under $399. Bear with me as these are my honest opinions based on devices I’ve reviewed throughout this year. Once again, these are my OPINIONS predicated on matrices I preset to give quantitative scores for ranking purposes. Hopefully you agree, but if not, sit back and enjoy.

BEST PREMIER SMARTPHONES
1) Samsung Galaxy Note 5 – With its stunning Quad-HD display, incredible S-Pen functions, and everything we loved about the Galaxy S6 (with some minor improvements as well), it’s hard not to rank this as the best smartphone of the year. Rumblings are Samsung already has production set to trump this one; sounds intriguing.

2) iPhone 6s and 6s Plus – I am ranking these together because more-or-less, they are identical devices, sans the size difference and a camera upgrade. Everyone knows I am not a huge fan of Apple, but I must give props to them on a magnificent looking and well performing phone. Did they steal features from previous devices? Yes, but who doesn’t nowadays. If you are not an Android or Windows junkie, the gorgeous build and overly expansive App Store will make you run, not walk, to get this phone.

3) Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge – The “cousin” of both the Note 5 and S6 ranks slightly above the latter due to the ingenious edge display. During my testing did I find much use for it? No, but I can attest the few videos I viewed were enhanced by this design feature. Even though it closely resembles the S6, I found myself just more impressed by this one. Definitely worth an upgrade if you are coming from the S5 or interested in a new Samsung device.

4) LG V10 – Even though it was a recent release, we will give it a pass as it is such an impressive device. It makes me think, if the LG G4 and the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge had a baby, this is what it would look like. Compliments aside, I still wonder why the secondary display is on the top, but as I said in a previous writing, LG knows how to make stunning phones. From the massive yet glorious 5.7” display, to the premium feel, and “yes” SD card storage and removable battery, make this a no-brainer for a converted or long time LG fans.

5) Samsung Galaxy S6 – I remember at the end of last year, Samsung stated a few minor tweaks would be in store for the upcoming S6…a few minor tweaks, huh? Oh yeah, you just dropped the SD card slot, shed the removable battery, changed from a plastic to all glass and metal design, changed the processing chip, and upped the price; but yeah, just a few minor tweaks! Jokes aside, when I first saw this, my jaw dropped to the floor. It is a stunning piece of craftsmanship and I enjoyed my testing time. You ask, why only five on the list then? Well, poor battery life and the very breakable glass design pulled it down from the original #1 spot earlier in the year. It is without a doubt, one of the best devices of the year and a must have upgrade for anyone ready to turn in their S4 or Note 3.

6) Nexus 6P – Over the last two years, I have been thoroughly impressed by such devices as the P8 and Mate 7, and thus, find myself becoming a huge fan of Huawei. This Chinese manufacturer reminds me of LG with its use of nice designs, premium feel in the hand, only diminished by its convoluted user overlay. Nexus 6P shows it’s a boss of a phone and corrects the overlay issue by running Stock Android. So you have a great design, incredible display, front-facing speakers, coupled with the fact you will be first-ish (sorry, Motorola has been the first for Android updates the last year-and-a-half) for OS updates, makes this all the more appealing.

7) LG G4 – The “little brother” to the LG V10, the G4 was the first of many incredible devices to be launched this year. You may ask “…why so low on the list then…” and that has more to do with how many amazing devices came out this year, as opposed to something LG did wrong. From the beautiful display, to the micro sd card slot and removable battery inclusion, and the ingenious application multi-function feature, there is little to disapprove.

8) Motorola Moto X Pure/Style – Whatever the name is, Motorola continues its dominance of putting out simple yet outstanding devices. Utilizing an outstanding design, pure Android OS software, and an understated price tag, you cannot go wrong with the Moto X Pure/Style. And “yes”, for all you who still use your devices to make and receive phone calls, Motorola continues producing cellphones with great reception and call quality. What’s more, Moto-maker adds the icing to the cake, allowing a fully immersive level of customization not present by other manufacturers.

9) OnePlus 2 – Carl Pei, the founder of OnePlus, sought out two (2) years ago to change the game, so to speak, and we’ve witnessed his precision in doing so. A small off-shoot of the OPPO family, OnePlus followed up its success of the OnePlus One to bring an even more outstanding offering in the OnePlus 2. Lack of NFC debate aside, there is little to dislike in this year’s entry.

10) HTC One M9 – Like the saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” HTC held true to this in carrying over many features from the One M8 to the new One M9. From the outrageous boom sound speakers, to the crisp display and expandable storage, there was little to dislike. However, HTC needs to understand, a few tweaks here-and-there will be necessary for next year’s M-series phone to make this list.

HONORABLE MENTION: ZTE Axon Pro, Microsoft Lumia 950/950 XL, Huawei Mate 7, Blackberry Priv, ZTE Nubia N9, Sony Xperia Z5 Premium

BEST BUDGET SMARTPHONES
1) OnePlus 2 – See everything from previous entry about OnePlus 2, and just remind yourself all that for just $389.00 off-contract.

2) Microsoft Lumia 640/640 XL – Since taking over the Lumia moniker from Nokia, Microsoft re-introduced itself into the smartphone race with a solid winner. Although a budget device in every facet, this checked all the boxes of what you want in a great phone. Near crystal clear call quality, adorable display, solid speakers, great camera for the pricing, and a solid OS, make-up for a not-so-stellar but improving App market. For what you get at a sub-$100 price, you won’t be upset

3) Asus Zenfone 2 – If you’ve read my review on this phone, you will realize I want to put this under the Best Premier Smartphones category, but because of the price, it certainly falls under budget, but with a solid asterisk. From the incredible display, large customization options, solid performance, and continual updates from Asus, it’s hard not to call this one of the top-20 best phones of 2015…overall!

4) Nexus 5X – The successor to its famous “little brother” of 2013, the Nexus 5, the Nexus 5X follows in the “family” footsteps with a quality build, great interface, solid performance, and stock Android to boot…bootloader pun intended. It falls at the top of the budget tier line, but several current promotions put it at under $350.00, which I call “budget” in the era of $800 and up premium phones. Little bro can cheerfully say with pride “That’s my brother!”

5) Oppo R7 – What can be called the parent company to OnePlus, Oppo continued making innovative devices this past year. The Oppo R7 without a doubt slides right into one of the best budget devices of the year. Improving on the popular R5, Oppo kept the slim design, re-introduced a 3.5 mm jack, and kept a gorgeous display. Although not a major player in the North American market, tech heads have lauded Oppo due in part to their consistent updates, great options in customization, incredible speaker quality, and snappy performing devices.  Those very reasons are why we find the R7 as one of the best budget smartphones of 2015. Coupled with its current $349.00 promotion price, I say it’s a great product on a budget.

6) Motorola Moto G – Motorola was once the top dog in the emerging smartphone industry back in the mid to late 1990s and early 2000s. Unfortunately, much like the ebb and flows of life, they found themselves on the outside looking in to the likes of new big dogs Samsung, Apple and LG in current 2000s. Since its first introduction two years ago, the Moto G evolves gracefully, while still maintaining its budget status. What’s not to like about a solid offering for under $179? Plus, if you’re still looking for a last minute Christmas gift, several U.S. retailers are offering such an incredible device for as low as $99.00. Not too shabby!

7) Motorola Moto E – Take everything you like about the Moto G, shrink the body a little bit, add LTE bands, and voila, there you have the Moto E. I really tried not to like this device due to my own prejudices based on its price, but couldn’t help falling in love with it. Now, the Moto E shows more function over form, but at such a highly consumer friendly price, you can’t help but pick one up. If you are lucky like me, you may be able to catch another retailer’s blowout sell and nab one for $9.99. Really impressive!

8) BLU Life One X – Although coming out at the tail end of this year, we had to add the BLU Life One X to our listing of great budget offerings. In standard form, BLU continues to pump out impressive, budget friendly offerings, but the Life One X may stand above the crowd in BLU-ville. A solid 1080p, with LTE coverage for some bands, and a well performing MediaTek CPU, the Life One X could challenge as one of the best bang-for-your-buck smartphones for the first part of 2016. Couple a quality device and a $149.00 price tag; it has the makings of everything this list embodies.

9) Alcatel One Touch Idol 3 (5.5”) – Wait a minute…nice looking display, great JBL earphones and sound quality, reversible UI and all under $299.00? No, can’t be! However, Alcatel managed to do just that. I must mention the call quality wasn’t the best during my review, and I also observed some software stuttering, which account for its fall on our list. But, for an already established manufacturer throwing its foray into a competitive mid-tier market, we like what we see.

10) OnePlus X – Oneplus founder, Carl Pei, continues to show he knows the smartphone business. Taking what people liked in the original OnePlus One, modify the body to a breathtaking glass/metal body, and you have another OnePlus hit! Also, marketing it at an insane sub-$250.00 price point won’t hurt in winning over any would-be consumers. You sacrifice NFC and the loss of a few LTE bands, but overall, a premium device for small change won’t make anyone fell like a Grinch this Christmas.

HONORABLE MENTION: BLU Vivo Air LTE, Xiamoi Mi Note Pro, Kyocera Hydro, Huawei P8 Lite, LG G4 Stylus/Stylo