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lundi 3 octobre 2016

Best Android phones (October 2016): our picks, plus a giveaway

With Android thoroughly dominating the mobile industry, picking the best Android smartphones is almost synonymous with choosing the best smartphones, period. But while Android phones have few real opponents on other platforms, internal competition is incredibly fierce.

From sleek devices that impress with premium design, to powerhouses brimming with features, to all-around great devices, and affordable phones that punch above their weight, the Android ecosystem is populated by a staggering variety of attractive phones.

But "greatness" is subjective, and sometimes spec sheets and feature lists are not enough to make an idea of how good a phone really is. In this roundup, we're looking at the absolute best – the Android phones you can't go wrong with.

Editor's note: We will be updating this list regularly as new devices launch.
Update, October 2016: We have made no changes to our list this month.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7

Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 stands out from the competition in more ways than one. Not only is it the best big-screened smartphone out there, it might be the best smartphone on the market right now.

It sports a big, bright 5.7-inch Dual-edge Super AMOLED Quad HD display, a powerful Snapdragon 820 processor, plenty of RAM and on-board storage, an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, and microSD expansion. It also comes with the same great rear- and front-facing cameras that are present on the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. The camera package isn't the only thing the Note 7 borrows form the Galaxy S line. It also features a Dual-edge display, so all of the handy Edge display features found on the S7 Edge are present here, too.

The Note 7's S Pen has gotten a lot more useful as well. Now you can record pretty much anything on your screen and make it into a GIF, and you can also translate text from other languages, magnify certain parts of your screen, and much, much more.

This is a very pricey device, though, so be sure to weigh your options before spending over $800 on a smartphone.

  • Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Review
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Specs

  • 5.7-inch Dual-edge Super AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 518ppi
  • Quad-core 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 or Octa-core Samsung Exynos 8890 processor
  • 4GB of RAM
  • 64GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256GB
  • 12MP rear camera, 5MP front camera
  • Non-removable 3,500mAh battery
  • Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
  • 153.5 x 73.9 x 7.9mm, 169g

Read more

Buy now from Best Buy

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.

  • Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Revie...
  • Samsung Galaxy S7 Review
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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

Read more

Buy Galaxy S7 at Amazon
Buy Galaxy S7 edge at Amazon

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.

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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

Read more

Buy Moto Z from Verizon
Buy Moto Z Force from Verizon

Nexus 6P


As the successor to last year's Motorola Nexus 6, Google recently unveiled the Huawei-made Nexus 6P. This device is the higher-end of the two Nexus phones announced at Google's event, and that's incredibly apparent when looking at the spec sheet.

It comes with a big 5.7-inch Quad HD AMOLED display, super fast Snapdragon 810 processor, a giant 3450 mAh battery and an impressive 12MP rear-facing camera. Want to get your hands on one? The Nexus 6P is pretty cheap, considering the specs and build quality. You can purchase it from the Google Store starting at just $499!

  • Nexus 6P vs Samsung Galaxy N...
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  • Nexus 6P Review!
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Specs

  • 5.7-inch AMOLED display with 1440 x 2560 resolution, 518 ppi
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor
  • 3 GB of RAM
  • 32/64/128 GB of on-board storage, no microSD card expansion
  • 12 MP rear-facing camera, 8 MP front-facing camera
  • Non-removable 3450 mAh battery
  • Android 7.0 Nougat
  • 159.3 x 77.8 x 7.3 mm, 178 g

Read more

Buy at Amazon

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

Read more

Buy at 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?

  • HTC 10 Camera Feature Focus
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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

Read more

Buy at Amazon

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."

  • LG G5 Review!
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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

Read more

Buy at Amazon

Cast your vote, and participate in our giveaway!

There you have it – our picks from the best Android has to offer right now. Out of those listed, which do you feel is the very best? Be sure to sound off in the poll below. Each month we will also be conducting a giveaway, giving our readers a chance to win the phone with the most votes.

Winner, September 2016: Samsung Galaxy Note 7 (15,020 total votes)

Congratulations to Sannara L. from the United States, the winner of our September 2016 giveaway!

Best Android Phones (October 2016)


Check out our related best lists:



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Deal: HTC offering huge discounts on HTC 10 and more, US only

HTC 10 AA 1

We all know that HTC loves to celebrate things, and when they do, it usually means there's going to be some great deals. HTC is now "celebrating you," and for a limited time this week, the company is offering the HTC 10 as well as other phones and health products at discounted prices. Unfortunately, these offers seem to be available only for US residents.

htc 10 review editors (1 of 1)See also: HTC 10 review!190

Dubbed "Green is Good," the Taiwanese company is running a promotion this week and this week only, and if you're an HTC fan, this may just be the best thing to ever happen. Perhaps the biggest steal is the HTC 10, the company's very own flagship. HTC is now offering a $150 discount for any color and any carrier version of the HTC 10 – the final price comes out to be $549. Just as a quick refresher, the HTC 10 has a 5.2-inch Quad HD screen with a 12-megapixel low-light rear camera. The phone is powered by Snapdragon 820 and should last you a full day with its 3,000 mAh battery.

Dubbed "Green is Good," the Taiwanese company is running a promotion this week and this week only, and if you're an HTC fan, this may just be the best thing to ever happen.

If you are looking for something a bit more midrange, however, you can also save $80 on the HTC Desire 626 and 626s. This means that just for $99, you can get yourself an attractive phone with decent specs. The HTC Desire 626/626s is a 5-incher with an 8-megapixel rear camera. Although its HD resolution is somewhat lacking by today's standards, if you're looking a phone with a great design and a good battery life, this may be the perfect option for you.

HTC Desire 626-18See also: HTC Desire 626 review9

HTC is also offering its UA HealthBox for $300, down from $400: this kit includes the UA Band, UA Scale, UA Heart Rate, and UA Record. But if you're just looking to buy a fitness tracker, the UA Band is now $120, down from $180. If you want more information, head on over to HTC's official website, and feel free to enter the Green is Good sweepstakes for a chance to win the HTC Vice, RE cameras, and more.

Will you be taking advantage of HTC's Green is Good week? Let us know by leaving a comment below!



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Facebook breaks into e-commerce with the launch of Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace

Facebook is laying down a challenge to eBay and other personal listing websites with the announcement of Marketplace today. Aiming to capitalize on the some 450 million Facebook users that visit buy and sell groups each month, Facebook Marketplace will make it easier for social media users to exchange goods between one another.

Users will see the Messenger icon in the centre bottom row of the mobile app replaced with a new Marketplace button in the coming days. Clicking here will bring up a page filled with items for sale that Facebook believes you'll be interested in. In Facebook's typical data mining fashion, this list is compiled based on your likes, viewing, and purchasing activities.

The buying and selling process will feel familiar to eBay or Gum-tree customers. Prospective purchasers can message sellers directly to ask questions, browse through categories of items, and search for nearby listings if they want to pick something up quickly. Those looking to sell need only upload a name, description, price, and location, along with a picture, which can all be done from within the app.

Facebook Marketplace example

However, Facebook's implementation doesn't offer the same protection as other online marketplaces, such as eBay, as all transactions are handled offline by the users themselves. Facebook does prevent the sale of firearms, animal, and alcohol, among others, to comply with local laws, and will use some information from user profiles to help ensure that potential buyers can build up an idea about who they are dealing with.

Interestingly, Facebook doesn't intend to charge buyers or sellers for transactions. Instead, Facebook is looking to increase the amount of time that users spend inside its app, which will in turn increase the amount of advertisement revenue generated for the company.

Facebook Marketplace will be launching later in the week, which is when users will begin to notice the new icon in the app. The service will first appear in the US, UK, Australia, and New Zealand, before heading out to other regions in the coming months. Marketplace will be available on both iOS and Android devices.



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Facebook introduces Messenger Lite for emerging markets

messenger-lite

In a Facebook post, David Marcus, head of messaging products at Facebook Inc., announced the launch of Messenger Lite, a lightweight, basic version of Facebook Messenger for Android users who are still on older smartphones with less available storage and limited processors, as well as with access to only slow internet speeds.

Aimed at emerging markets, Messenger Lite is initially launching in five countries – Kenya, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, and Venezuela, and will expand to more markets after the initial launch phase.

Messenger Lite is a stripped-down version of Messenger. Facebook already offers 'Facebook Lite' for users who are on too old or basic smartphones for the full-fledged Facebook experience.

best messenger apps for AndroidSee also: 10 best messenger apps for Android116

Since a while, Facebook has been forcing users to adopt Messenger to send messages instead of the primary Facebook app, and has garnered over 1 billion monthly users. The company is also ending the option to use messaging option via Facebook's mobile website. WhatsApp, the messaging app acquired by Facebook, continues to be operated as a separate entity and is very popular in emerging markets.



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Samsung Galaxy On8 goes on sale costing just Rs.14,900 ($225)

Samsung Galaxy On8

Following the handset's unveiling at the end of last month, the Samsung Galaxy On8 is now on sale in India through retailer Flipkart. The smartphone has turned out to be a rather good deal for Samsung fans looking for a new mid-ranger, as the On8 boasts some reasonable specifications and costs just Rs. 14,900 ($225).

However, Flipkart is only selling the Galaxy On8 at this price for a limited time. The regular retail price will be set ever so slightly higher at Rs. 15,900 ($240). Flipkart also mentions that it will be limited order quantities to just 1 device per customer for 30 days. To sweeten the deal, the retailer is also throwing in a free 32GB Samsung microSD card.

Here's a breakdown of the Galaxy On8's specifications:

  • Operating System: Android Marshmallow 6.0
  • Display: 5.5-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) sAMOLED
  • Processor: 1.6GHz Exynos 7580 Octa-Core Processor
  • RAM: 3GB
  • Internal Storage: 16GB; expandable up to 128GB using a microSD card
  • Rear Camera: 13MP AF | f1.9 | LED Flash
  • Front Camera: 5MP | f1.9 | LED Flash
  • Dimensions: 151.7 x 76.0 x 7.8mm
  • Weight: 169 g
  • Battery: 3300mAh

The Galaxy On8 is being sold in Black, Gold, and White color options, although only the Gold model is currently still left in stock at this reduced price point. Samsung hasn't stated whether or not the smartphone will go on sale outside of India, but there's a good chance that this handset could appeal to mid-range customers in other markets too.

Buy the Galaxy On8 from Flipkart


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Samsung ready to put the Note 7 recall behind it, worldwide sales to resume “soon”

samsung galaxy note 7 aa autom3otices ryan vergara (18 of 23)

The sale of 30,000 Samsung Galaxy Note 7 units two days after the handset's return to South Korean stores seems to be a good omen for Samsung Electronics. That is why the Korean phone maker appears eager to avoid further delays and restart the sales of its latest flagship globally.

samsung galaxy note 7 review aa (2 of 20)See also: Galaxy Note 7 sales could resume in early October24

Samsung announced today that the Galaxy Note 7 will soon be back on sale again in worldwide markets. However, it remains unclear whether reports of Note 7 replacements overheating and catching fire have been resolved already.

What started as a grand debut for the smartphone ended in a massive recall of the handsets sold worldwide following discovery of a manufacturing defect that caused the battery to overheat and explode. To add insult to injury, consumers slammed Samsung for mishandling the voluntary recall program.

Samsung's finances and reputation were hit the hardest as a result of the battery fiasco. But the mishap didn't seem to dampen the company's spirit in pushing the Galaxy Note 7 to consumers. And for good reason: Samsung says it has placed the necessary precautions to ensure users receive what is supposed as a safe replacement.

  • Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Review
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Some of these precautions include a green battery icon on the Status Bar, the Always On Display screen and the Power Off prompt screen. To help consumers confirm that their units came from the safe batch, Samsung also launched an online IMEI checker.

After a report in China indicated that a replacement phone still caught fire after overheating, the company said it would investigate the matter, though it wouldn't wait for the results before kicking off the global restart of Galaxy Note 7 sales.

The question now is whether Samsung Galaxy Note 7 remains a crowd-favorite. We'll see when the company reports its earnings for the third quarter of its fiscal year 2016.



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