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vendredi 5 août 2016

Best Android phones with expandable memory

A few years ago, smartphones with expandable storage were starting to become a dying breed. It makes sense, too – Google hasn't included support for microSD expansion in their Nexus handsets for years. Something must have changed, though, because the company included support for adoptable storage in Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

Related: Best Android phones

This is making microSD support popular again, and today we are making it easy for you to find a good smartphone with expandable storage. We have created a list of our very favorite phones with microSD support, so let's get started!

Editor's note – We will be updating this list as more devices hit the market.

Update, August 2016: This month we removed the Motorola Droid Turbo 2 and LG V10 to make room for the Moto Z/Moto Z Force and the ZTE Axon 7.

Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge

Samsung did a killer job with their 2015 flagship smartphones, the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. Design-wise, many would say those two phones were close to perfect. The company forwent a plastic design and instead included glass front and back panels with an aluminum frame. They weren't without their flaws, though. The S6 and S6 Edge didn't offer expandable storage or removable batteries — two features Samsung has been known to include in all its smartphones for years.

Now the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge have made their way to the masses, and they fix many of the problems the S6 line introduced last year. While they don't offer removable batteries, Samsung included expandable storage on both handsets in case the 32 GB of on-board storage isn't enough. Samsung mostly stuck to the same design this time around, though they did shrink down the camera bumps on the back and made the devices a little thicker to make room for larger batteries.

In terms of specs, these are top-of-the-line smartphones. They come with Quad HD Super AMOLED displays, Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processors, 4 GB of RAM, great 12 MP rear-facing cameras and run the latest version of Android. Instead of featuring the same screen sizes this time around though, Samsung kept the S7 at a smaller 5.1 inches, while the S7 Edge has been bumped up to a larger 5.5-inch panel.

Seriously, these are some incredible smartphones. They are a little pricey, but all in all, we think the high asking price is worth it.

Specs

Samsung Galaxy S7

5.1-inch Super AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 577 ppi
Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
4 GB of RAM
32 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 200 GB
12 MP rear camera, 5 MP front camera
Non-removable 3000 mAh battery
Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9 mm, 152 g

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 534 ppi
Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
4 GB of RAM
32 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 200 GB
12 MP rear camera, 5 MP front camera
Non-removable 3600 mAh battery
Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
150.9 x 72.6 x 7.7 mm, 157 g

Buy the Samsung Galaxy S7 Buy the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

Moto Z and Moto Z Force (Droid Editions)

Motorola (well, Lenovo actually) is doing something different with their flagship phones this year. Instead of releasing just one flagship under the Moto X moniker, they've decided to release two new smartphones that do things a bit out of the ordinary. The Moto Z and Moto Z Force not only bring flagship-level specs, but also support for modules.

These modules, called Moto Mods, attach to the back of both phones via magnets. There are only a few available right now, but they actually bring some handy features to the phones. You can purchase an external battery module, a powerful speaker, and even a projector!

They both have killer specs, too. Both devices come with a 5.5-inch Quad HD AMOLED display, a Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, plenty of on-board storage, expandable memory, and run Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box. You might be wondering – what's the difference between these two phones? The standard Moto Z is super thin at only 5.2mm in thickness, but it only comes with a 2600mAh battery. The Moto Z Force is thicker, has a 3500mAh battery, and also has a shatterproof display.

These aren't the cheapest phones on the market, but they're certainly some of the best.

Specs

Moto Z

5.5-inch AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 535ppi
Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
4GB of RAM
32/64GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256GB
13MP rear camera, 5MP front camera
Non-removable 2600mAh battery
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
153.3 x 75.3 x 5.2mm, 136g

Moto Z Force

5.5-inch AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 535ppi
Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
4GB of RAM
32/64GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256GB
21MP rear camera, 5MP front camera
Non-removable 3500mAh battery
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
155.9 x 75.8 x 7mm, 163g

Buy the Moto Z from Verizon Buy the Moto Z Force from Verizon

ZTE Axon 7

ZTE's Axon Pro from 2015 was a good phone, but it fell short in a few key areas. It came to market with only one storage option, no expandable memory, and the dual camera setup on the back of the device felt a bit gimmicky. Not only does the company's latest flagship fix all of those problems, it brings much more to the table.

It has a big 5.5-inch Quad HD AMOLED display, the latest Snapdragon processor, plenty of RAM, multiple storage options, and yes, expandable memory up to 256GB. It also sports some killer front-facing speakers, all-day battery life, a great camera, and a sleek, attractive design. While certain parts of the software could use a little more polish, the ZTE Axon 7 goes toe-to-toe with the best in the Android market. It's also inexpensive at only $400, making this an even more attractive option for folks looking to score a solid flagship device.

Specs

5.5-inch AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 538ppi
Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
4/6GB of RAM
64/128GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256GB
20MP front camera, 8MP rear camera
Non-removable 3250mAh battery
Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
151.7 x 75 x 7.9mm, 175g

Buy now from Amazon

HTC 10

HTC needed a saving grace this year, and the 10 just may be it. The Taiwanese company finally designed a phone that's different enough from its predecessor yet still sports a familiar design language. With an all-metal chassis, front-mounted fingerprint sensor and a new-and-improved speaker setup, the HTC 10 easily made its way to our best Android phones list.

Under the hood, the 10 comes with some killer specs. A 5.2-inch Quad HD display, Snapdragon 820 processor and 4 GB of RAM are in line with most other flagships this year, and it also comes with expandable storage up to 200 GB and a 3000 mAh battery that will have no problems lasting an entire day on a single charge. HTC also improved the camera this time around, which was a big flaw in last year's One M9 flagship.

All in all, the HTC 10 is an awesome device. Great specs and a solid build quality are what you'll get here… what more could you ask for?

Specs

5.2-inch Super LCD5 display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 565 ppi
2.15 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
4 GB of RAM
32/64 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 200 GB
12 MP rear camera, 5 MP front camera
Non-removable 3000 mAh battery
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
145.9 x 71.9 x 9 mm, 161 g

Buy the HTC 10

LG G5

While the Galaxy S7 series is a minor refresh in terms of design, the LG G5 sees a massive departure from the design language used in the G series, ditching the rear volume/power setup that first debuted with the LG G2. The G5 also adopts a unibody metallic design that has a removable cap for access to the removable battery and a port for modules that allow users to expand the phone's capabilities by adding a camera grip and other special accessories.

The distinctly different design of the LG G5 may not be for everyone, but there's little denying that LG has went out of its way to try and innovate in a market where big changes like this aren't all that common.

Spec wise, we're looking at a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 with 4 GB RAM, a 5.3-inch display, and 32 GB storage with microSD for expansion. The specs here are certainly impressive all across the board. It's also worth mentioning that LG has revamped its software, making it faster and less bloated. One controversial move with the software, however, is the removal of the app drawer in favor of what LG says is a "simplified experience."

Specs

5.3-inch IPS LCD display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 554 ppi
Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
4 GB of RAM
32 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 200 GB
16 and 8 MP dual rear cameras, 8 MP front camera
Removable 2800 mAh battery
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
149.4 x 73.9 x 7.7 mm, 159 g

Buy the LG G5

Motorola Moto X Style (aka Pure Edition)

With the original Moto X, Motorola proved you don't need to have the latest specs to get a great user experience. With the second generation, the Lenovo-owned company took no chances and double-downed on the spec side as well, packing the new Moto X (2014) with a dense 5.2-inch AMOLED screen, a beefy processor, and a capable 13 MP camera. But with the Moto X Style, Motorola reaches the perfect balance between performance, simplicity, price and… well, style.

By Style we are mostly referring customization capabilities, a factor which has been an integral part of the Moto X experience since day one. Customers can use Moto Maker to manipulate their devices' aesthetics to their will. You can change the color of the metal areas, engrave the back and even choose from a plethora of back options, including materials leather, wood, rubber and other materials.

The device is not a bad contender in terms of hardware, either. The larger screen puts the phone up with contenders like the OnePlus 2, Nexus 6, LG G4 and the Galaxy Note series. It may not sport the "best" processor in the market, but the Snapdragon 808 is pretty close to the 810, and Motorola has proven time and again they can make a super fast phone without the greatest chipset. The best part? This phone's price will start at only $399!

It's worth noting that the phone will be sold in most markets under the Style branding, though in the United States it will be sold as the Moto X Pure Edition, an unlocked model that will play nice with all U.S. carriers.

Specs

5.7-inch IPS LCD display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 520 ppi
1.8 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor
3 GB of RAM
16/32/64 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 128 GB
21 MP rear camera, 5 MP front camera
Non-removable 3000 mAh battery
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
153.9 x 76.2 x 11.06 mm, 179 g

Buy the Moto X Style from Motorola Buy the Moto X Style from Amazon

Those are our favorite microSD-compatible smartphones! Do you have a favorite that is not listed? Is microSD support even a big deal to you? Hit the comments to let us know in the comments!

Check out our related best lists:

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Where are smartphones made?

Over the past decade, the smartphone market has flourished. Mobile devices have continued to evolve in terms of design, specs, and features, resulting in a rather diverse marketplace in which there are thousands of devices to choose from. While this might make choosing a new device slightly more difficult, this diversity is actually a really good thing. It means stiff competition among OEMs and more knowledgeable consumers who are better able to distinguish the hits from the misses.

However, there's one thing that we don't usually think about when we're shopping for a new device, and that's where the device was made.

You're probably wondering why you should care. When it comes down to it, all that really matters is whether you can access the device you might want, right? In the era of online shopping you can have a device shipped to you from anywhere in the world, so why would it matter where a device is made?

Why it matters

Best Android smartphones flagships x 1

The simple answer is: cost. Ever since companies realized labor and many materials were cheaper and plentiful overseas, more and more manufacturing projects were outsourced. For one thing, in countries like China, Vietnam, Korea, and India, laborers are paid at a lower rate than U.S. workers would be for the same jobs. (Some would say this is social injustice. While there may be truth to that, the cost of living and wage requirements have a lot to do with this, too.)

However, while labor cost would make overseas manufacturing more attractive, the availability of much-needed rare Earth materials— used in most devices and appliances — makes it a necessity. These materials include the graphite found in batteries, the silicon used in processors, and a number of metals like silver, copper, and platinum. Of the 17 rare Earth materials that exist, 16 of them are needed to produce a smartphone.

It's said that China has a near-monopoly on rare Earth materials. According to reports, China supplies 95 percent of the rare Earth materials used in manufacturing and holds 50 percent of the amount of rare Earth materials in reserves. By comparison, India produces 2.5 percent of the global supply while the U.S. has the second-largest reserve at 13 percent. Therefore, making mobile devices where the raw materials are accessible and plentiful makes sense.

China

Huawei-Ascend-Mate-8-4

China is a major player when it comes to the production of smartphones

As you might expect, China is a major player when it comes to the production of smartphones. In addition to having a hand in many of the most recognizable tech brands, China has a number of its own brands that have become quite popular internationally (i.e., Huawei, OPPO, OnePlus, Xiaomi, Meizu, and ZTE). There have actually been a number of companies that have reduced their China-based productions, particularly after some controversy surrounding the allegedly poor working conditions in a number of factories. However, there are still many devices that are either partially or completely manufactured in China.

Apple is one of the most well-known brands to have a significant production presence in China with many device components made and assembled there. As an aside, Apple factories are often specifically named as having subpar conditions for workers with suicides being a major issue.

Lenovo — the tech company that bought Motorola from Google just a couple years back — makes the majority of its Lenovo and Motorola devices in China. Also, Alcatel makes its devices, including the "budget flagship" Alcatel Idol 4S, in Chinese facilities. Another company that manufacturers smartphones in China is LeEco, a relative newcomer to the smartphone scene that very recently acquired Vizio for $2 billion. In addition to the Chinese brands mentioned above, Samsung still operates two production facilities in China although the majority of Samsung devices are produced elsewhere.

Japan

Sony Xperia X Performance-22

Although many of us attribute overseas manufacturing to China, there have historically been strong associations between cutting-edge technology and Japan. Until somewhat recently, most people who visited Japan would comment that many of the technologies, even mundane tech that one encounters in day-to-day life, was much more advanced than anywhere else. There were a number of factors that contributed to this perception, but Japan still has strong tech development and manufacturing industries.

Remember those bargain-priced candybar phones made by Kyocera that were all too common in the early 2000s? They were made in Japan. In fact, Kyocera Mobile — which is still producing phones, believe it or not — still maintains its manufacturing operations in Japan. However, a more relevant Japanese manufacturer is Sony, known for the popular Xperia line of smartphones such as the Xperia X. It's reported that Sony is currently Japan's biggest smartphone manufacturer.

South Korea

Samsung-Galaxy-Note-7-hands-on-first-batch-AA-(7-of-47)

Over just the past few decades, South Korea has gone from one of the poorest countries in the world to one of the richest. In fact, the World Bank recently reported that South Korea has the fourteenth-strongest economy in the world. As such, the small East Asian country is giving its more established neighbors — including China and Japan — a run for their money, particularly when it comes to technological innovation.

A tech manufacturer that's often associated with South Korea is Samsung, which has more annual smartphone sales than any other company in the world, including Apple. However, this may change as Samsung has started sourcing much of its production from Vietnam, which now provides more than 50 percent of Samsung's smartphone inventory; by comparison, Korean production has dropped to just 8 percent.

Between LG and Samsung, South Korea has surpassed Japan in terms of the volume of smartphone output

But there's another strong presence in South Korea as LG also derives much of its production from South Korean facilities. Between LG and Samsung, South Korea has surpassed Japan in terms of the volume of smartphone output although it seems both companies have begun putting down manufacturing roots in another nearby country as well.

India

LG-k7-hands-on-AA-(2-of-8)

Just a couple years ago, the Indian government began an initiative called Make in India. As suggested by the name, the purpose of the initiative has been to encourage national and international businesses to manufacture products in India to improve the country's economy through foreign direct investment. This is allegedly achieved by making it extremely easy for companies to set up manufacturing operations. However, it seems to be working as there have been a number of well-known foreign companies that have begun manufacturing at least some of their inventory in India, including Chinese tech companies Xiaomi, Huawei, and Lenovo/Motorola.

The 'Make in India' initiative has proven to be quite successful so far

Due to this initiative, it's believed that India will soon become the mobile tech powerhouse of the Eastern world, perhaps even rivaling China. In 2015 alone, India received an astounding $63 billion in foreign direct investment.

In addition to the aforementioned Chinese manufacturers, many of the most well-known tech brands have diverted at least some of their manufacturing to plants in India. While Samsung has had some manufacturing presence in India since 2006, the company now has three facilities in India; the third plant was opened just last year, initially only making the Galaxy S6 Edge in an effort to meet the high global demand. Although only a fraction of its inventory is produced in India, more Samsung phones are made in India than any other brand.

Very recently, LG has also begun to manufacture some of its inventory in India, although it's currently in very limited quantities. HTC seems to have followed suit. Other smartphone manufacturers include Microsoft, ASUS, and Micromax, the latter being indigenous and a mainstay in the Indian market. Expect more familiar names to turn to India for more manufacturing power in the months and years to come, particularly Sony.

Taiwan

HTC 10 AA 1

Here's another country that has strong associations with manufacturing. However, despite there being a plethora of products that come from Taiwan, there are only two well-known brands that manufacture smartphones there: HTC and ASUS.

Although the Zenfones have been generally well-received, ASUS remains a fairly small smartphone manufacturer that can surely get away with smaller-scale production. It's somewhat more surprising that HTC smartphone production would mostly just be in Taiwan with a small amount in India. As you're surely aware, representatives from HTC previously admitted to working with Google in making two upcoming Nexus devices. These HTC Nexus devices — codenamed "Marlin" and "Sailfish" — will almost surely be made in Taiwan.

Related: HTC 10 review!188

Additionally, the Nextbit Robin is manufactured in Taiwan. The Robin originated as a Kickstarter project and went on to be quite a unique device, utilizing cloud storage almost as if it were internal storage.

Canada

blackberry priv review aa (4 of 32)

Surprised to see this one on the list? Admittedly, Canada isn't the biggest player when it comes to smartphone production. The only major presence in northern North America is BlackBerry, which has just recently hinted at a comeback with its first Android devices, the Priv and the unceremoniously-named DTEK50.

And that's about it, folks. Granted, there are some smaller, lesser-known companies in the mix and producing from other places, but those listed above represent the vast majority of the smartphone market. It seems the biggest determinant when it comes to where smartphones are manufactured is resource availability.

Did you know where your smartphone was made before reading this? Do you find any of the big players in smartphone manufacturing to be unexpected? As always, post your thoughts in the comment section below.

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Deal: 64GB Nexus 6P price drops $130 at Amazon and Best Buy

Nexus-6P-Gold-Hands-On-AA-(1-of-10)

Despite marching ever closer to its one year anniversary, the Nexus 6P is still a standout phone in the Android arena. You can attribute that to its Nexus stature, but it also happens to be a solid smartphone in its own right, which holds up well against the current competition. An extra benefit to considering a phone that's a little more 'aged' than the latest flagships are the price cuts that are likely to pop up. That's precisely what we spotted today for the Huawei-manufactured top dog from Google.

Both Amazon and Best Buy are now selling the 64GB Nexus 6P with a sizeable $130 off, bringing the price down to $419.99. Just keep in mind that the $130 off price only applies to the Graphite and Gold colors, not the aluminum model. That specific cut also doesn't apply to the other storage capacities, but the 32GB and 128GB models still receive a pretty sizable discount of $100 off. That means on the lowest end, you can now get a Nexus 6P (32GB) for just $399.

A starting price of just $399 isn't too shabby for what you get. As a reminder, the Nexus 6P packs a 5.7" QHD AMOLED display, octa-core Snapdragon 810 chipset, dual front-facing speakers, a 3,450 mAh battery, and the promise for speedy Android updates. Sure devices like the newly launched Note 7 offer more powerful specs, but considering such devices cost nearly double the price, it's hard to ignore the Nexus 6P at this new lower price tag.

Recommended: Nexus 6P Review

We're not sure how long the discount will be around, but we wouldn't recommend waiting too long to decide.What do you think of the Nexus 6P at the current discounted price, worth picking up or better to wait until the 2016 Nexus family arrives?

Buy now on Amazon

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Zone Telechargement Gratuit

vendredi 5 août 2016

Best Android phones with expandable memory

Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge

Specs

Read more

Moto Z and Moto Z Force (Droid Editions)

Specs

Read more

ZTE Axon 7

Specs

Read more

HTC 10

Specs

Read more

LG G5

Specs

Read more

Motorola Moto X Style (aka Pure Edition)

Specs

Read more

Where are smartphones made?

Why it matters

China

Japan

South Korea

India

Taiwan

Canada

Deal: 64GB Nexus 6P price drops $130 at Amazon and Best Buy