The best new phones
of 2017 will offer faster performance and longer battery life, thanks to the
new Snapdragon 835 chip
for which headline performance figures include 25 percent faster
graphics rendering and half the power consumption compared to the Snapdragon
801.
It’s also got 20
percent extra performance vs the Snapdragon 820, according to Qualcomm. You can
expect this processor to be paired with at least 4- but potentially as much as
8GB of RAM, a minimum amount of 32GB of storage, large Quad-HD screens and
class-leading cameras.
10.
Sony Xperia XZ
The
best Sony has ever made
Weight: 161g | Dimensions: 146 x 72 x 8.1mm | OS: Android 7 | Screen size: 5.2-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels | CPU: Snapdragon 820 | RAM: 3GB | Storage: 32GB/64GB | Battery: 2,900mAh | Rear camera: 23MP | Front camera: 13MP
$497.80
$499.99
$592.99
Impressive camera
improvements
Premium look and feel
Only full HD screen
A complete flagship
without a headline feature
Sony has struggled to makes its phones stand out in recent
years, and the Xperia XZ now ranks tenth in our best list despite not having a
key selling point.
The Xperia XZ is a great culmination of fantastic Sony
technology though into a simple to use package. It offers top of the range spec
in almost every area.
You'll either love or hate the square design of the Xperia XZ,
but if you like it we'd recommend picking up this latest phone from Sony. It's
especially a good phone for those who want a powerful 23MP camera that's great
at focusing quickly moving subjects for photos.
9.
Google Pixel
The
best phone for pure Android
Weight: 143g | Dimensions: 143.8 x 69.5 x 8.5mm | OS: Android 7.1 | Screen size: 5-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 1920 | CPU: Snapdragon 821 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 32/128GB | Battery: 2770mAh | Rear camera: 12MP | Front camera: 8MP
Supremely smooth
performance
Bright, colorful full HD
display
Battery life could be
better
Assistant yet to realize
potential
The Google Pixel is an excellent flagship phone that's an
impressive debut for Google as a manufacturer - and the new Assistant is a
great Siri rival. If you're OK with the price point, the Pixel is a breath of
fresh Google air in a world of Android over-complication.
The 12MP camera on the back is one of the best on the market,
while the clean, fresh Android Nougat interface is a joy to use.
There's heaps of power under the hood making it perfect for
gaming and multi-tasking, while the bright, colorful screen provides an
excellent viewing experience for your movies and TV shows.
It may not be the most attractive handset on the market but it's
far from ugly... and what you can be sure of is a lot of bang for your buck.
8:
Lenovo P2
A battery brute on a tiny budget
Weight: 177g | Dimensions: 153 x 76 x 8.3mm | OS: Android 7 | Screen size: 5.5-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 1920 | CPU: Snapdragon 625 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 32GB | Battery: 5,100mAh | Rear camera: 13MP | Front camera: 5MP
Phenomenal battery life
Gorgeous display for the
money
Heavy and quite large
Limited camera
If you’re looking for a high-spec budget phone, you’d be hard
pressed to do better than the Lenovo P2.
It features everything you’d expect to see in a mid-range phone
but we’re continually surprised by how cheap it is.
The real standout feature here though is the battery life with
the Lenovo P2 comfortably able to last two days on a single charge - a feat
which is almost unheard of in today's smartphone market.
7. HTC
10
One of the best phones for music out
there
Weight: 161g | Dimensions: 145.9 x 71.9 x 9 mm | OS: Android Marshmallow | Screen
size: 5.2-inch | Resolution: 1440 x 2560 | CPU: Snapdragon 820 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 32GB | Battery: 3000mAh | Rear
camera: 12MP | Front
camera: 5MP
Amazing audio
Great design
Camera not impressive
Boomsound not great
HTC
didn't really ignite the smartphone game with the One M9, but with the new HTC
10 the brand has made a beautiful phone that's 'sculpted by light', added in a
genuinely impressive camera and improved the battery life.
It's
since added the HTC 10 Evo to the mix, but it's nowhere near as
impressive as the original.
But
that's not the best bit: that comes when you plug headphones into this thing.
It's sensational - can this thing pump beautiful, Hi-Res Audio into your ears
or what? It's sensational.
For
that reason alone it's worth a place in the top 10, and the myriad other
improvements (including a good camera for those that like to tinker with
setting) impress equally.
·
What's next? The HTC 11 is going to be with us very soon, and
strong rumours suggest it'll have a metal shell with an edge-to-edge display as
well as the Snapdragon 835 chip - but it won't be using the 'One' brand
previously adorning HTC flagships.
Also consider: It's hard to know what
to recommend here, as last year's model was so underwhelming. We'd suggest
having a gander at the LG G5 if you fancy an 'underdog' brand that
can still make it big... great camera and some fancy innovation on offer there.
6.
OnePlus 3T
A top smartphone
for those that want the best on a budget
Weight: 158g | Dimensions: 152.7 x 74.7 x 7.4 mm | OS: Android Marshmallow | Screen
size: 5.5-inch
| Resolution: 1080 x 1920 | CPU: Snapdragon 821 | RAM: 6GB | Storage: 64GB/128GB | Battery: 3400mAh | Rear
camera: 16MP
| Front camera: 16MP
Premium design
Longer battery life
No microSD slot
Camera could be better
The
OnePlus 3T has still got the same beautiful all-metal design, the same 5.5-inch
AMOLED display that's bright and vibrant and the fingerprint scanner is still
lightning fast - all the main specs are there, and it's only the upgraded
chipset and battery that make the biggest difference to the now-defunct OnePlus
3.
The
lack of a microSD card, and a battery which only lasts around a day, may put
some off but considering the price you're paying the OnePlus is good value for
money, despite a price hike over the OnePlus 3.
If
you're desperate for a high-end phone, but don't have the money to stretch that
far, the OnePlus 3T will make you rather happy.
·
What's next? It
looks like the OnePlus 4 is set for a raft of changes, from a
dual lens camera to a sharper QHD screen - as well as a new glass display.
Also consider: If OnePlus isn't doing
it for you, then check out the Moto G5
Plus which
has slightly less power, but a still very strong feature set, a lower price tag
and a new metal design.
5:
Motorola Moto Z
A slick, slender smartphone that you
can get creative with
Weight: 136g | Dimensions: 153.3 x 75.3 x 5.2 mm | OS: Android Marshmallow | Screen
size: 5.5-inch | Resolution: 1440 x 2560 | CPU: Snapdragon 820 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 32/64GB | Battery: 2600mAh | Rear
camera: 13MP | Front
camera: 5MP
Creative modular
accessories
Fingerprint sensor with
a twist
No 3.5mm headphone jack
Big camera bump, small
battery
Moto
Z takes the modular accessory idea we liked so much about the LG
G5 and actually makes
it work with better add-ons and an easier-to-use snap-on design.
It's
an Android phone that performs well right now and the potential behind its
future accessories hold a lot of promise down the road.
Usually
when we talk about mid-cycle upgrades, we're strictly talking about new
software. Moto Z could take on new form at any time, and new mods are still
being offered a year on.
It
may be the world's thinnest phone, but that comes at a cost with a reduction in
battery size and the loss of the headphone jack - potential issues for some
users. But if you can overlook these shortcomings then good news: you'll
have a truly innovative device in your hands.
4. Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
Samsung's supersized smartphone will
feed your big screen hunger
Weight: 173g
| Dimensions: 159.5 x
73.4 x 8.1mm | OS: Android 7 | Screen size: 6.2-inch
| Resolution: 1440 x
2960 | CPU: Exynos
8895 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 64GB | Battery: 3,500mAh
| Rear camera: 12MP | Front camera: 8MP
Slick
software and speedy performance
Top
notch camera
Crazily
expensive
Flawed
fingerprint sensor position
The Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus fits a monstrous 6.2-inch
curved display into an acceptably large body that doesn’t feel too different
from its predecessor, the Galaxy S7 Edge.
That’s not all
that’s impressive. It features the best phone display, chipset and camera of
any phone to date, plus it’s still water- and dust-resistant and it features
64GB of internal storage plus a microSD card slot for expandable storage.
The battery life is very good, it can power the next generation of mobile VR
games and it has software that rivals stock Android.
Aside from Bixby
and some slightly clunky biometrics, the Galaxy S8 Plus is the perfect phone
for anyone looking to maximism smartphone screen real estate.
Also consider:
If the Galaxy S8 Plus is proving a little too big for your hands, then the more
compact Galaxy S8 could be right up your street. It
still sports the impressive Infinity Display while its 5.8-inch screen is still
sizable without being overbearing.
3.
iPhone 7
Still one of the world's best
smarpthones
Weight: 138g | Dimensions: 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1mm | OS: iOS 10 | Screen
size: 4.7-inch | Resolution: 750 x 1334 | CPU: Apple A10 Fusion | RAM: 2GB | Storage: 32/128/256GB | Battery: 1960mAh | Rear
camera: 12MP | Front
camera: 7MP
Good low light camera
Water resistant
Battery life better but
unimpressive
Lacks clear upgrades
The
new iPhone is rather iterative: it comes with a similar look and feel to
previous models, but it's still the iPhone many will hanker for.
Apple's
refusal to lower the price of its flagship phones over time also harms its
place in the list, but then again, if you're an iPhone fan you'll probably look
past the cost.
That
doesn't mean it's a bad phone though. Actually, far from it - with a power
boost under the hood, water resistant and a decent camera upgrade all on offer
there's enough to keep potential buyers interested.
There's
no point upgrading from the 6S to 7, but if you're currently using an iPhone 6
or older then the jump to the 7 is a smart one.
·
What's next? Well,
it's either the iPhone 7S (which would make sense with the
naming convention) or the iPhone 8, as it's
the 10th anniversary of the first iPhone - and rumours are it'll pack an
all-new design that uses more glass to allow for wireless charging and more
powerful water-resistance. Could it even be called the iPhone X?
Also consider: If you want to save
yourself a bit of money then the iPhone
6S is still an
excellent smartphone. It looks identical to the 7, also runs iOS 10 and has the
benefit of still having a headphone jack. Those wanting something a bit bigger
should look at the iPhone
7 Plus – the best
iPhone currently around.
2.
iPhone 7 Plus
The best iPhone available right now
Weight: 188g | Dimensions: 158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3mm | OS: iOS 10 | Screen
size: 5.5-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 1920 | CPU: A10 Fusion | RAM: 3GB | Storage: 32/128/256GB | Battery: 2900mAh | Rear
camera: 12MP+12MP | Front
camera: 7MP
Heaps of power for slick
performance
Excellent camera
Very expensive
No headphone jack
The
iPhone 7 Plus is the best iPhone available right now, giving you a whole heap
of power, water resistant body, not one, but two cameras on the back and super slick
performance.
It
does use the same design as previous handsets, and Apple's removed the
headphone jack and upped the price - but if your pockets are deep and
headphones wireless you'll love the 7 Plus.
The
camera is a big improvement on the 6S Plus, while the improvement in power
makes usage even slicker and battery life is better than previous iPhones.
·
What's next? The
current whispers surrounding the next, larger iPhone is that it'll be the
iPhone 7S Plus with minor upgrades, and there'll also be a special edition,
re-designed iPhone 8. You'll have to wait until
September for the launch though.
Also consider: The standard iPhone
7 is very good too,
with a more manageable form factor and lower price point it's the phone that's
likely to appeal to a wider audience - but for those looking for Apple
perfection it has to be the 7 Plus.
1.
Samsung Galaxy S8
The best smartphone in the world -
it's a work of art
Weight: 155g | Dimensions: 148.9 x 68.1 x 8mm | OS: Android 7 | Screen
size: 5.8-inch | Resolution: 1440 x 2960 | CPU: Exynos 8895 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 64GB | Battery: 3000mAh | Rear
camera: 12MP | Front
camera: 8MP
Dazzling, bezel-less
Infinity display
Great camera
Bixby is just bloatware
Irritating biometrics
The Samsung
Galaxy S8 is the best
phone in the world for a few reasons, but none more so than the display: it
makes every other handset on the market look positively antiquated.
The
camera is still excellent, the screen quality the best that can be found right
now and it's smashed through all our benchmarking tests.
While
it costs a lot to own, there are a lot of premium reasons for the premium
price, and with the screen Samsung has managed to find some impressive
innovation at a time when there's very little to be found in smartphones.
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