Every year, mobile technologies are developing faster and faster, and manufacturers already have to release several flagship smartphones a year in order to keep up with competitors. In 2016, many high-end devices were presented, both expensive and more affordable offerings. In this article we have collected the most worthy representatives of the smartphone market.
Since its release, the Apple smartphone has held first place in the list of the most powerful smartphones according to the AnTuTu service. The hardware basis is the updated A10 Fusion processor, which uses four computing cores, half of which are responsible for performance, and the other two for economical energy consumption. The user received more RAM (3 GB) and permanent memory (32/128/256 GB) at his disposal.
Apple put the flagship in a waterproof smartphone, adding glossy and matte black colors that quickly gained popularity among buyers. A special feature of the Plus version is a dual camera consisting of 12-megapixel sensors and providing 2x optical zoom and a bokeh effect in portrait photography.
In addition, the Apple device finally acquired stereo speakers, which provide louder and better sound (but lost a 3.5 mm jack, which was approved by few of the company's fans). It can also be noted that the device runs iOS 10 out of the box.
One of the best-selling smartphones around the world. The device stands out for its premium design due to the glass coating and metal frame, as well as a Super AMOLED display curved on both sides with a resolution of 2560x1440 pixels. The device is equipped with a Snapdragon 820 or Exynos 8890 chipset (depending on the region of delivery) - both chipsets provide excellent performance. For those for whom 32 GB of internal memory is not enough, support for microSD cards up to 256 GB is provided.
The gadget is equipped with one of the best cameras on the market - a 12-megapixel sensor with Dual Pixel technology, f/1.7 aperture, optical image stabilization, LED flash and support for video recording in 4K format. The front camera also has good image quality with a 5 megapixel resolution, f/1.7 aperture, panoramic shooting mode and the ability to use the screen backlight as a flash.
The smartphone supports a variety of accessories, including the Gear VR virtual reality headset, the Gear 360 camera and the Samsung Gear S2 smartwatch.
The flagships Pixel and Pixel XL were the first devices released exclusively under the Google brand. The device body combines metal and glass in an unusual way; the device is protected from water and dust with an IP53 certificate. The gadget contains advanced hardware, including an accelerated Snapdragon 821 processor, 4 GB of RAM, 32/128 GB physical memory, which is complemented by the Android 7.1 Nougat software platform with a built-in Google Assistant virtual assistant and a special launcher.
Although there is no memory card slot, the user gets unlimited cloud space for storing full-size pictures and 4K videos taken with the “best mobile camera.” On the back panel there is a 12-megapixel main camera with larger pixels, f/2.0 aperture, LED flash and phase detection autofocus. In addition, the company has developed an improved HDR+ mode and provided electronic stabilization during video shooting in 4K resolution. The front camera shoots with a resolution of 8 megapixels.
Although the Chinese company has promised to introduce only one smartphone per year, it has announced another flagship with a great design, high-end specifications and an attractive price tag. For your money, the user gets a 5.5-inch screen with a proprietary Optic AMOLED panel and a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, a powerful Snapdragon 821 processor, 6 GB of RAM, 64/128 GB of internal memory and a 3400 mAh battery with function fast charging.
In addition to high-end equipment, the flagship features a good camera with a 16-megapixel sensor, f/2.0 aperture, phase detection autofocus, LED flash, optical and electronic stabilization, the latter can be used even when recording video in 4K format. Although out of the box the smartphone operates under Android control 6.0 Marshmallow, the manufacturer has already prepared an update for it to Android 7.0 Nougat.
Towards the end of the year, the powerful Huawei Mate 9 smartphone was announced. The device turned out to be quite compact for its size and, with a screen diagonal of 5.9 inches, is comparable to the 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus. The device has a long battery life thanks to a powerful 4000 mAh battery with fast charging support. The company's latest Kirin 960 processor, operating at 2.4 GHz, is responsible for performance.
Fans of mobile photography will also be pleased with this purchase: on the rear panel there is a dual camera with 20-megapixel and 12-megapixel modules, optical image stabilization, hybrid autofocus and LED flash, and in the front there is an 8-megapixel front camera. Another feature was the pre-installed Android 7.0 Nougat software platform.
The manufacturer took care not only of the filling, but also of the outer shell of the device - its “body” is 98% made of durable metal. There is no 3.5 mm jack, and the headphones are connected via a Bluetooth connection. It is also worth noting a solid 4070 mAh battery with support for fast charging, which will ensure high autonomy of the device.
Among the remaining characteristics: a 5.5-inch Full HD screen, a 16-megapixel rear camera with fast autofocus and an 8-megapixel front camera.
First of all, it is worth noting the attractive design of the smartphone, metal case which is produced using ALKALEIDO technology, which gives the surface a special shine. Like many other flagships this year, the device received protection against water and dust according to the IP65/68 standard.
The device is ideal for those who love photography, as it is equipped with a 23-megapixel rear camera with 5-axis optical stabilization, LED flash, predictive laser autofocus and an IR sensor. The front panel houses a 13-megapixel front camera. Fast and smooth operation will be ensured by the Snapdragon 820 chipset with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of physical memory.
To meet the rapidly changing conditions of the smartphone market, Xiaomi has released updated flagships Mi5S and Mi5S Plus. The advanced version is distinguished by a dual main camera, implemented using Qualcomm Clear Sight technology, and a fingerprint scanner on the back (while the younger model uses an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner). The smartphone borrows its stylish metal body design from its predecessor.
The equipment fully meets flagship standards: 5.7-inch screen with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, Snapdragon 821 chipset, 4/6 GB of RAM, 64/128 GB of permanent memory and a 3800 mAh battery.
Through trial and error, the Chinese manufacturer has finally announced a truly flagship smartphone that combines elegant appearance and excellent hardware with innovative functions. The hardware is based on the Samsung Exynos 8890 processor, previously used only in the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. The powerful chipset is complemented by 4 GB of RAM and 64/128 GB of physical memory.
The display uses an AMOLED panel, also made by the South Korean brand, with a diagonal of 5.7 inches and a resolution of 2560x1440 pixels. To supply the widescreen screen with energy, a 3400 mAh battery is provided with support for fast charging. The fingerprint sensor is capable of not only reliably protecting user data, but also quickly measuring heartbeat.
A 12-megapixel rear camera with hybrid autofocus, a 10-LED flash and 4-axis image stabilization paired with a 5-megapixel front camera will provide high-quality pictures and videos. In addition, the flagship is perfect for music lovers.
Conclusion
The past year has been very fruitful for many mobile manufacturers. In the article, we described the most high-end offers on the smartphone market. Don’t forget also about excellent devices in the mid-range and even budget price categories, which have already gained such advanced characteristics as a metal body, curved display, dual camera and others.
Illustrative material AndroidCentral.com | CNET.com
This “Best Smartphone of 2016” ranking will feature the top 10 best smartphones for summer 2016. The “Best Smartphone of 2016” rating was compiled based on customer reviews from Russia’s largest online stores. Only those smartphone models that scored at least 50% of fives on a five-point scale were rated. The technical characteristics of smartphones and the price/quality ratio were taken into account.
In the TOP 10 ranking of the best smartphone of 2016, Microsoft Lumia 950 XL takes 10th place.
Lumia 950 XL is a top-end Windows smartphone from the world famous company Microsoft. The model is an enlarged modification of the 2015 flagship with a larger screen diagonal. Lumia 950 XL is a phablet equipped with a 5.7-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2560x1440 pixels, a pixel density of 518 ppi, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protective glass and a light sensor. The device is armed with a powerful computing platform based on an eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor with a frequency of 2 GHz, an Adreno 430 video chip, 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage. internal memory expandable with cards microSD memory. The main 20-megapixel camera with autofocus and dual LED flash, which records video in 4K resolution 3840×2160 pixels, also deserves special attention. Microsoft Lumia 950 XL – a technologically advanced Windows phablet for performing a wide range of tasks modern tasks. The average price of Lumia 950 XL is 37,190 rubles.
In the TOP 10 ranking, the best smartphone of 2016 takes 9th place
Apple iPhone 6s - updated version iPhone models 6. In this case, we can say that the changes are not only evolutionary, but also quite innovative. In addition to standard improvements in camera quality and speed, the company has developed and implemented new touch screen technology in the iPhone 6s, which expands the capabilities of controlling the device. The display has an additional touch layer - 3D Touch, which senses touch force; now, depending on the pressing force, additional functions and context menus, as well as new gestures. In addition to this, the device body contains a Taptic Engine module, which is responsible for feedback when you tap on the screen. The heart of the smartphone is now the proprietary Apple A9 processor, which allows not only to make the interface work at lightning speed, but also to demonstrate excellent performance in games with increased graphics quality. The traditional strength of the Apple iPhone line, the camera, has also been redesigned, and now the main iSight camera is represented by a 12-megapixel sensor, with the ability to record 4K video. Apple case iPhone 6s is made of durable 7000-grade aluminum. Average apple price iPhone 6s - 57,800 rubles.
In the TOP 10 ranking, the best smartphone of 2016 takes 8th place
The design of the smartphone attracts with a monolithic metal body. The original decision of the Chinese engineers was to change the Home button - the banal round sensor button became oval. The rear camera is the main highlight of the model. It has a resolution of 20.7 megapixels. This high resolution of the Meizu MX5 smartphone is provided by the new generation Sony Exmor RS IMX230 photosensor. Its uniqueness lies in its laser autofocus technology, which allows you to take photographs even while moving. The screen of the new smartphone is 5.5 inches with a resolution of 1920x1080 Full-HD and a density of 401 ppi, which undoubtedly ensures high image clarity, since pixels will not be visible when it is brought closer together. The safety of the Meizu MX5 screen is guaranteed by Gorilla Glass 3 - it protects the display as much as possible from damage. The smartphone runs on 64-bit MediaTek processor Helio X10 with 8 cores and 2.2 GHz frequency. Video card in the PowerVR G6200 device with a 64-unified pipeline and frequency GPU 700 MHz. The battery has become a little more powerful, its capacity (3150 mAh) allows you to intensively use the smartphone for quite a long time. The operating system has been updated to version 5.0 Lollipop. The average price of Meizu MX5 is 25,400 rubles.
In the TOP 10 ranking, the best smartphone of 2016 takes 7th place
Everything here is quite modern: the Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 platform, 2 GB of RAM (there is also a KIW-AL10 version with 3 GB), 16 GB of flash memory expandable via a microSD card. Seriousness of claims Huawei Honor 5X is confirmed both by materials - the front panel is covered with glass, the back is made of metal with plastic inserts on top and bottom, and by the choice of colors. Narrow frames around the screen allow the device with a 5.5-inch screen, LCD display with IPS matrix and Full HD resolution, not to turn into a monster that does not fit into any pocket. Feature The Huawei Honor 5X smartphone has quite powerful and well-placed speakers. It is impossible to block them by placing the gadget on its “back” - the call can still be heard. The average price of Huawei Honor 5X is 16,990 rubles.
In the TOP 10 ranking, the best smartphone of 2016 takes 6th place
Home ASUS feature ZenFone 2 has a neat design with a sufficient number of functions. Built-in ASUS TruVivid technology guarantees rich and dynamic images on the screen. The main camera with Real Tone flash and 13 MP resolution is equipped with innovative PixelMaster technology. As for the front-facing 5-megapixel camera, you can simultaneously edit the picture while shooting, and the panoramic self-portrait function allows you to take a panorama image with the optimal viewing angle. Productive work ASUS ZenFone 2, whose dimensions are 15.25 cm high, 7.72 cm wide and 1.09 cm deep, is guaranteed by the Android Mobile Technology Platform 5.0 (Lollipop) operating system, which copes with this very efficiently. The 4-core Intel Atom Z3560 1.8 GHz processor + PowerVR G6430 GPU quickly synchronizes the work of all applications, thanks to RAM - 2048 MB, built-in memory is 16 GB, and by installing a memory card it can be increased to 64 GB. Long uninterrupted operation in offline mode guaranteed by a 3000 mAh battery. We must admit that the price of the ASUS ZenFone 2 smartphone is acceptable, so the device deserves to be bought. The average price in Russia for ASUS ZenFone 2 is 19,620 rubles, and in GearBest the price as of January 20, 2017 is 13,919 rubles.
In the TOP 10 ranking, the best smartphone of 2016 takes 5th place
The Lenovo P90 Pro smartphone comes with a stunning 5.5-inch Full HD display. The P90 Pro quad-core processor is the perfect combination of extreme performance and energy efficiency. Lenovo P90 Pro lasts a really long time. This is a fully functional smartphone that does not require constant recharging - the 4000 mAh battery provides up to 45 hours of talk time and up to 27.5 hours of active standby time. Effortlessly capture all of life's exciting moments at any time of the day or night with the excellent 13-megapixel rear camera with autofocus and 5-megapixel front camera. The range of built-in Lenovo DOit applications on your device gives you a wide range of possibilities. The P90 Pro smartphone supports high-speed LTE (4G) data networks. The P90 Pro is equipped with a large storage capacity, which is enough to save many photos and videos. The Android™ 4.4 operating system delivers unparalleled performance with optimized memory and improved touchscreen responsiveness. The average price of Lenovo P90 Pro is 16,000 rubles.
In the TOP 10 ranking, the best smartphone of 2016 takes 4th place
Thanks to the non-separable body, the Redmi Note 3 Pro smartphone feels like a monolithic device; it is almost impossible to get creaks or play from individual elements from it. The smartphone uses a 5.5-inch diagonal IPS screen with a resolution of 1080×1920 pixels; the matrix is covered by protective glass with an oleophobic coating. The display shows a fairly high-quality image, with good viewing angles and natural colors. One of the main differences between Note 3 Pro and Note 3 is the new Snapdragon 650 chipset using a 64-bit six-core processor, the Adreno 510 GPU is responsible for video processing. The device runs Android 5.1.1 OS, complemented by the proprietary MIUI 7.1 shell. The firmware here is global, all interface languages and Google services. Redmi Note 3 Pro is a dual-SIM device, but the slot is designed for one Micro-SIM and one Nano-SIM (instead of which you can use a microSD memory card). There is only one radio module; both SIM cards can operate in 3G and 4G networks. Installed in Redmi Note 3 Pro non-removable battery capacity 4000 mAh. The main camera received 16 megapixels. The average price of Redmi Note 3 Pro is 11,290 rubles.
In the TOP 10 ranking, the best smartphone of 2016 takes 3rd place
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium is the world's first smartphone with a 4K display. The fifth-generation flagship from Sony received an IPS Triluminos display with a resolution of 3840x2160, which, combined with a 5.5-inch screen diagonal, gives an incredible pixel density of 806 ppi. In order to live up to its name in terms of performance, the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium is equipped with a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 system-on-chip, complemented by an Adreno 430 graphics core. The memory in the smartphone is implemented as befits a top-end device of 2015: 3 GB of RAM memory and 32 GB of storage, as well as the ability to expand the latter figure using microSD memory cards. The body of the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium also corresponds to the “Premium” prefix and is made of glass and metal. With the smartphone, Sony has set a new bar for photographic capabilities in smartphones. The main camera uses a 23-megapixel sensor with support for 4K recording. The average price of Sony Xperia Z5 Premium is 53,200 rubles.
In the TOP 10 ranking of the best smartphone of 2016, LG G4 takes 2nd place
The LG G4 smartphone is the company's flagship in 2015. The top smartphone model combines all the advanced solutions and the latest developments of the company in the field mobile technologies. The most noticeable feature at first glance is the 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 2560x1440, which allows for image clarity of 538 dpi. The display is made using IPS technology and, combined with ultra-high resolution, produces a gorgeous image. The LG G4 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 system-on-chip, which includes a six-core 2+4 processor with all cores supporting 64-bit computing. The powerful Adreno 418 video core is also responsible for graphics performance. 3GB of RAM will allow you to forget about heavy applications unloaded from memory and allow your smartphone to become truly multitasking. The software capabilities of the smartphone are represented by the Android 5.1 operating system. LG is actively focusing on the photographic capabilities of the flagship, and here the smartphone has something to brag about. The maximum image resolution is 16 MP, there is also the possibility of optical stabilization and focusing using a laser beam. Selfie lovers will appreciate the 8-megapixel front camera. The average price of LG G4 is 27,250 rubles.
In the TOP 10 ranking of the best smartphone of 2016, Samsung Galaxy S7 takes 1st place
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is an evolutionary update of the flagship smartphone with a curved display. In the 2016 generation, the smartphone received an updated system on a chip, now it is an eight-core top-end processor from Samsung - Exynos 8890, made using a 14 nm process technology. The latter feature should have a positive effect on heating and energy consumption. The amount of RAM has increased to 4 GB, and the device has received a slot for a memory card; in some markets it can be combined with a second slot for a SIM card. Photographic capabilities have also been improved; the smartphone received a new camera module with a resolution of 12 MP and an f/1.7 aperture. Newest operating system Android 6.0. Fast wireless charging and fully waterproof. The average price of the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is 52,950 rubles.
Many new products are constantly appearing on the mobile device market. Choosing between them can be a difficult task for an unprepared person. For you, we have compiled a list of 10 mobile phone models released in 2016 that are definitely worth paying attention to. So, we present to you the Top 10 the best smartphones of 2016. The list also includes new products from Chinese phone manufacturers.
1. Samsung Galaxy S7
- operating system: Android 6.0
- Number of SIM cards: 2
- CPU: Samsung Exynos 8 Octa 8890 (8 cores)
- RAM (GB): 4
- Built-in memory (GB): 32
- Camera: 12 Mpx
- Screen (inches): 5.1
- Battery
Samsung does not stand still, continuing to develop the Galaxy line. Their new development is Galasy S7, if not the best smartphone of 2016, then the most popular in Russia for sure. The developers took into account the wishes of customers and returned the slot for memory cards in this model. The camera's resolution has been reduced, but the quality of images taken in low light has been significantly improved. Thanks to the beveled edges of the back panel, the phone now fits more comfortably in the hand.
A powerful eight-core processor and 4 gigabytes of RAM allow this smartphone to be one of the most powerful mobile phones of 2016. At the same time, the battery life ranges from one to two days, depending on the activity of use. The device also supports two standards wireless charging and energy saving mode. And the fans latest technologies I'll be impressed by the ability to use my phone as a screen for virtual reality glasses. Plus: the developer claims that the smartphone is reliably protected from water.
2. Xiaomi Mi5
- operating system: Android 6.0
- Number of SIM cards: 2
- CPU
- RAM (GB): 3
- Built-in memory (GB): 32
- Camera: 16 Mpx
- Screen (inches): 5.15
- Battery: 3000 mAh (Quick Charge 3.0, wireless charging)
This smartphone is often compared to the Samsung Galaxy S 7. They are indeed similar in many ways, starting with the use of glass, the quality of the coating, both sides and rounded corners. This smartphone does not have a slot for memory cards; you will have to be content with a capacity of 32, 64 or 128 GB, depending on the version. At the same time, Xiaomi Mi5 has high performance and successfully solves almost any problem. But you will have to pay for this with frequent trips to the outlet; the phone battery does not last long. But all the shortcomings fade due to the low cost of the phone. It will cost almost twice as much as its competitors, which have similar performance characteristics.
Low cost and high performance allow us to call this smartphone one of the most best phones 2016, in terms of price-quality ratio.
3. LG G5
- operating system: Android 6.0
- Number of SIM cards: 2
- CPU: Qualcomm MSM 8996 Snapdragon 820 (4 cores)
- RAM (GB): 4
- Built-in memory (GB): 32
- Camera: 16 Mpx
- Screen (inches): 5.3
- Battery: 2800 mAh (Quick Charge 3.0)
LG rightfully calls this phone modular. Unlike other smartphones, it has a removable battery. In addition, you can purchase two modules, one of which increases the battery capacity and, due to the location of the zoom and flash keys, will be convenient for taking a large number of photographs. Another module will be of interest to music lovers, as it increases the quality of the reproduced sound to 32 bits. On average, the charge on the phone lasts about 10 hours. It uses a rare type of USB and does not support wireless charging, which is not very convenient.
4.
- operating system: Android 6.0
- Number of SIM cards: 2
- CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 (4 cores)
- RAM (GB): 4
- Built-in memory (GB): 32
- Camera: 12 Mpx
- Screen (inches): 5.2
- Battery: 3000 mAh (Quick Charge 3.0)
This model is a worthy representative among the new smartphones of 2016. In terms of performance characteristics, NTS 10 is in no way inferior to market leaders, and in some tests even beats them. The filling is protected by a metal case that will withstand many falls, but you should not drop it on purpose . The 32 GB memory can be expanded using MicroSD cards. The smartphone boasts very high quality sound. It is worth noting that HTC 10 uses UltraPixel 2 technology. Thanks to this, during testing, the smartphone camera showed the same results as the Samsung Galaxy S7. The disadvantages include the fact that the HTC 10 does not have water protection, like some flagship models from other smartphone manufacturers. Perhaps the price is a little high, but overall, the mobile phone is powerful and functional and rightfully deserves a place in the top ten best smartphones for 2016.
5.
- operating system: Android 5.0
- Number of SIM cards: 2
- CPU: Qualcomm MSM 8916 Snapdragon 410 (4 cores)
- RAM (GB): 2
- Built-in memory (GB): 16
- Camera: 13 Mpx
- Screen (inches): 5.5
- Battery: 5000 mAh
This device stands out primarily for its long operating time and low cost. Therefore, this phone model is one of the best smartphones of 2016 in terms of price-quality ratio. The ability to charge a smartphone once every few days will surprise many, because most manufacturers are chasing performance, forgetting that sockets are not found at every step. The processor is not the latest model and only 2 GB of RAM will not allow you to play games with advanced graphics or get high scores in performance tests. But they are quite enough to solve everyday problems. The phone doesn't support fast charging, doesn't have a super-clear screen or high-quality sound. But it is well suited for a person who wants to stay in touch.
6.
- operating system: Android 6.0
- Number of SIM cards: 2
- CPU: Huawei Kirin 955 (8 cores)
- RAM (GB): 3
- Built-in memory (GB): 32
- Camera: 12 Mpx
- Screen (inches): 5.2
- Battery: 3000 mAh
A distinctive feature of this smartphone is the presence of two main cameras at once, with optics from the legendary camera manufacturer Leica. This allows you to achieve high quality photographs, despite the low resolution of the matrices. In addition, a large number of settings and shooting modes are available, making this device an excellent choice for the avid photographer. Huawei P9 handles modern games well, and the 32 GB memory can be expanded using MicroSD cards. The special coating allows you to quickly clean your phone from greasy fingerprints. The battery lasts on average for a day of work, and fully charged carried out in 1.5 hours.
7.
- operating system: Android 6.0
- Number of SIM cards: 2
- CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 (6 cores)
- RAM (GB): 3
- Built-in memory (GB): 32
- Camera: 23 Mpx
- Screen (inches): 5.2
- Battery: 2620 mAh
This smartphone will be good choice for a person who wants to get good performance and many accessible features without overpaying for a well-promoted brand. Without a doubt, we can say that the Sony Xperia X is one of the best smartphones of 2016. The body is made of metal, unlike many modern smartphones, which use glass on both sides. Performance is at the level of models in the price category from 30 thousand rubles, it is quite enough to solve everyday problems. The camera is high-resolution and differs from others by the presence of tracking autofocus, which predicts where the subject will be. Perhaps the main drawback is that the battery is not very powerful, which affects autonomy.
8.
- operating system: Android 6.0
- Number of SIM cards: 2
- CPU: MediaTek Helio X25 (10 cores)
- RAM (GB): 4
- Built-in memory (GB): 32
- Camera: 21.16 Mpx
- Screen (inches): 5.2
- Battery: 2560 mAh (mCharge 3.0)
Since Meizu began its history with the production of MP3 players, the sound in this smartphone is better than that of the rest of the list. The screen has good viewing angles, which allows you to watch videos with a large group. Performance is at a decent level. Meizu Pro 6 performs well both in games and when performing ordinary tasks, and there are no slowdowns. This is not surprising, because here the ten-core processor works with 4 GB of RAM. Such power, coupled with a small-capacity battery, affects autonomy. In normal use, the smartphone will last about a day. The Meizu Pro 6 phone, thanks to its technical characteristics and relatively low cost, is one of the best smartphones of 2016.
9.
- operating system:Windows 10 Mobile
- Number of SIM cards: 2
- CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 212 (4 cores)
- RAM (GB): 1
- Built-in memory (GB): 16
- Camera: 8 Mpx
- Screen (inches): 5
- Battery: 2000 mAh
The only member of our list who uses it as an operating room Windows systems 10. It may be intimidating by its small battery capacity, only 2000 mAh. But this smartphone does not use the most powerful processor, plus the operating system is well optimized. So it lasts for 2 days with not very active use. And if desired, this period can be extended twice. The phone copes with everyday tasks and watching videos without any lag, as long as you don’t run several applications at the same time. Its camera allows you to take good pictures. The quality of the reproduced sound is also excellent.
10. Apple iPhone SE
- operating system: iOS 9
- Number of SIM cards: 2
- CPU: Apple A9 (2 cores)
- RAM (GB): 2
- Built-in memory (GB): 16
- Camera: 12 Mpx
- Screen (inches): 4
- Battery: 1624 mAh
The list of the best phone models for 2016 would be incomplete without a smartphone from Apple. Its body is very similar to that of the iPhone 5s, but the hardware has changed significantly. Its modest dimensions make it easy to fit in your pocket, but not everyone will like the small four-inch screen. A dual-core processor combined with 2 GB of RAM easily solves all everyday tasks. You can safely browse the Internet with a variety of open tabs, play the latest games and watch videos. Models with 16 and 64 GB of memory are available; there is no slot for memory cards.
The best smartphone of 2016| Video
Price: S7 – 49,990 rubles, S7 edge – 59,990 rubles
Last year's Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edge were good, but far from perfect. This year, the Koreans did a very competent job of correcting the bugs: they returned the memory card slot, added protection from dust and water, increased the battery capacity and made the devices more convenient, while maintaining a recognizable design.
And all this in combination with the new powerful proprietary Exynos 8890 chip, a cool AMOLED screen with Always On function and one of the best flagship mobile cameras. Resounding success was not long in coming, even despite the high prices.
Best Camera: Google Pixel
Price: from 50,000 rubles (not officially sold in Russia)
It seems a little strange to give this title to a smartphone whose photo module does not even have an optical image stabilizer. But Google Pixel takes advantage not with hardware, but with software algorithms.
The bet on the always-on HDR mode worked flawlessly: users like bright photos with rich colors and no dips in dark and light areas. We expect a similar approach in competitors’ flagships in the coming year.
Optimal balance: Honor 8
Price: from 27,990 rubles
For the second year in a row, Huawei has managed to release the most balanced smartphone in the price category “up to 30,000 rubles.” Honor 8 is such a golden mean between affordable “mid-rangers” with weak cameras and uncompromising flagships.
The gadget has a glass body that shimmers beautifully in direct rays of light, a powerful and stable processor and - most importantly - a cool dual camera. It is the latter, combined with regular discounts in the manufacturer’s official online store, that makes the device a very attractive purchase.
The most original flagship: Xiaomi Mi Mix
Price: from 49,000 rubles (not officially sold in Russia)
The most unusual smartphone this year was presented not by famous brands with a long history, but by the Chinese from Xiaomi. The virtually frameless Mi Mix with a 6.4-inch diagonal and a ceramic body is impressive at first glance.
The sound here comes from the display instead of the speaker. It vibrates at a specific frequency and it really works! It’s even a little pity that in pursuit of the wow effect and record performance, the developers completely forgot about cameras and good battery life.
Android for the demanding and budget conscious: OnePlus 3
Price: 31,990 rubles
The noble Chinese OnePlus 3 has a powerful Qualcomm chipset (Snapdragon 820), 6 GB of fast LPDDR4 RAM, an AMOLED display, two good cameras (16 MP main and 8 MP front) and 64 or 128 GB of permanent memory.
And all this, along with a 3000 mAh battery, is packed into a neat and thin metal case. A real dream for the most demanding and thrifty - from gray suppliers the gadget costs less than 30,000 rubles.
Recently, an improved version of the gadget was released - OnePlus 3T with Snapdragon 821, a 16-megapixel selfie camera, 128 GB of memory in the base and a more capacious 3400 mAh battery. It’s intriguing, but there’s no talk of saving here: in Russia such a device costs about 40,000 rubles.
Best compact: iPhone SE
Price: from 34,990 rubles
The Apple gadget also becomes the best among compact smartphones of the year. We are, of course, talking about the small iPhone SE, into which the Americans managed to fit the powerful hardware from last year’s iPhone 6S. If this fact suddenly outrages you, then try to find at least one 4-inch Android smartphone with a decent camera and high performance.
Big Smartphones of the Year: Huawei Mate 9 and iPhone 7 Plus
Price: Huawei Mate 9 – from 45,000 rubles (not officially sold in Russia), iPhone 7 Plus – from 67,990 rubles
In August, it seemed that the title of best smartphone of the year with a large diagonal was assigned to the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 by default. But it didn’t work out - problems with the battery led to fires, a worldwide recall of the model and a halt in production.
Now the only alternative in the premium class is the 5.9-inch Huawei Mate 9, which is not yet officially sold in Russia with a very decent dual camera Leica and the brand new Kirin 960 chip, which is not much inferior to the Snapdragon 821.
In a small but very desirable line Apple smartphones It also has its own super-shovel – the iPhone 7 Plus. This time it differs much more from the usual “seven”: the camera is equipped with a two-fold “zoom” and can programmatically blur the background when shooting portraits.
It’s just a pity that since the iPhone 6 Plus (2013, by the way), Americans haven’t bothered to improve ergonomics. As a result, the 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus is almost identical in size to the 5.9-inch Huawei Mate 9.
Best Power Optimization: Moto Z Play
Price: 34,990 rubles
It would be logical to mention at this point some plump and faceless smartphone with a 5000-10000 mAh battery, but the Moto Z Play looks much more appropriate here. Yes, it’s expensive (35 thousand rubles in Russia). Yes, strange design. Yes, the performance and camera are not the best.
2016, and now it’s time to choose the most worthy smartphones.
10th place: Xiaomi Mi5S
Xiaomi continues to release two flagship smartphone per year. The good Mi5 of the first half of 2016 was replaced by the more advanced Mi5S.
It has an all-metal body, maximum hardware (with the most powerful Snapdragon 821), an excellent Sony photo module, a large battery and a traditionally low price for its characteristics.
The main disadvantage is the non-ergonomic body - due to the large curve, the smartphone fits worse in the hand and tends to slip out of it, while the narrow ends dig into the palm. In addition, we found the touch-sensitive Home key not very convenient (with the fingerprint scanner sometimes not working).
9th place: Meizu Pro 6
Another Chinese has taken 9th place in our ranking. And although after it an updated version of Pro 6s has already been released, which eliminated the main disadvantages of Pro 6 - not the most outstanding camera and battery life, it is still difficult to buy it in Belarus.
The smartphone itself is very balanced and somewhat reminiscent of the iPhone 7. Moreover, its good build, comfortable, well-translated shell, excellent screen and reference sound make Meizu Pro 6 a worthy Android replacement for Apple's flagship (at half the price). We mentioned the disadvantages above.
8th place: OnePlus 3
This year, the “flagship killer” OnePlus 3 was named by reviewers as one of the best smartphones of 2016.
However, for some reason the manufacturer decided to speed up the annual update cycle and released it a few months later updated version— . It has a slightly more powerful processor (Snapdragon 821 versus 820), 16 megapixels front camera(instead of 8) and a more capacious battery.
However, this did not greatly improve the original, which also lost in price after the release of the new device.
Buyers of OnePlus 3 can still count on a high-quality build, a 5.5-inch Full HD AMOLED display, 6 GB of RAM, an excellent 16 MP main camera and decent battery life.
7th place: Moto Z
Moto Z is, one might say, the first smartphone that fully mixed the “blood” of Motorola and Lenovo.
Unlike last year's flagships, there is a completely different design, an ultra-thin body (5.2 mm), and the ability to attach modules that expand the functionality of the device.
The modules here are “fastened” to the back cover. In addition to an additional battery (the most useful addition), there can be, for example, a projector, a powerful speaker and even a Hasselblad camera.
The undoubted advantages of the Moto Z include the ultra-clear and bright 5.5-inch Quad HD display and powerful hardware. The main disadvantage is the short battery life.
6th place: Apple iPhone SE
Our top list includes one of the main surprises of this year - the compact and powerful iPhone SE.
The smartphone combines a body and a 4-inch iPhone screen 5s, as well as the hardware and main camera of last year's iPhone 6s. As a result, we have before us the most powerful compact gadget of 2016.
If you want a flagship, but don't like "shovels" and you have no prejudices about iOS, then the iPhone SE will be an ideal option.
5th place: Google Pixel and Pixel XL
This year, Google introduced its very first “branded” smartphones (Motorola gadgets at the time when Google owned this company do not count).
The 5-inch Pixel and 5.5-inch Pixel XL received maximum at the moment technical characteristics and, according to the Internet giant, the best mobile camera (with which, however, not all observers agree). In addition, buyers of Google phones will be able to traditionally count on pure Android and its prompt updating.
With all this, Google gadgets have a rather controversial two-color design and a high cost (at the level of the iPhone 7/7 Plus).
4th place: LG G5
LG continues to “search for itself” in the smartphone market. Having abandoned the volume rocker on the back cover, the company came up with a modular design - the lower part of the smartphone snaps off and, thanks to replaceable modules, allows you to turn the gadget into a compact camera or an advanced music player.
However, users were not enthusiastic about this idea, given the low practical value of “friends” (as LG called replaceable modules) and their high cost.
But the LG G5 and its simplified version G5 SE (differing only in a weaker processor and less RAM) have another very big plus - this is its dual camera. Unlike the cameras in the Huawei P9 and iPhone 7 Plus, the cameras work independently of each other.
The first takes good wide-angle shots, which is very useful when traveling, the second is simply one of the best mobile cameras of 2016, comparable to that of the Samsung Galaxy S7 or Google Pixel.
In addition, the LG G5 boasts powerful hardware, good sound and a distinctive design - with a rounded top above the display and “futuristic” back cover. The biggest disadvantage of the device is its short battery life.
3rd place: Huawei P9
This year, Huawei for the first time equipped its flagship with a dual camera, developed, moreover, together with the famous Leica. However, the smartphone received a high third place in the rating not only because of it.
Huawei P9 is one of the most balanced gadgets in the ranking. There is an excellent design and case materials, an optimal screen size for many (5.2 inches) with an optimal resolution for it (Full HD), fast hardware, a comfortable shell, a good battery and excellent sound.
The dual camera allows you to take very high-quality pictures, including in poor lighting. And all this is emphasized by a very affordable price.
2nd place: Apple iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 7
Apple's "Sevens" turned out to be quite controversial gadgets. On the one hand, they have the most powerful hardware in the world of smartphones, excellent screens, protection from water and dust (a first for Apple), good cameras (and the Plus version also has a double one with 2x optical zoom), an excellent fingerprint scanner and a polished to shine iOS 10.
But on the other hand, there is a very controversial rejection of the 3.5 mm jack, touch Home button(not understanding gloves) and still the same slow charging.
This year, for the first time, Apple did not report record sales for the first weekend, and analysts predict a further decline in demand for Apple gadgets. However, the American company still holds the second place in smartphone sales in the world, selling only a few models.
1st place: Samsung Galaxy S7 edge and Galaxy S7
Photo: CNET I would like to put the Galaxy Note 7 in first place, however, for the entire 2016, the Galaxy S7 edge and its “younger brother” Galaxy S7 had to take the rap.
An ultra-clear (Quad HD) curved 5.5-inch screen, a glass and metal body, powerful hardware, a large battery, protection from water and dust and one of the best mobile cameras in the world - all this allows the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge to become the leader in our rating .
We decided not to separate the smaller Galaxy S7 with a flat screen from it - after all, it has the same style and the same advanced characteristics as the edge. By the way, there are rumors that the Galaxy S8 will not have a flat screen at all - users liked the curved options so much.
What other smartphones are worthy of being in the top 10 of the outgoing year? Write to us about it in the comments!
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