Is your old phone dead or dying?
Have you been lusting for a water resistant phone?
Eager to have the ease and security of a fingerprint reader?
Wishing your phone could read your mind so you don't have to tap out messages with your fingers?
Heard about the benefits of an AMOLED screen in sunlight?
Disappointed with the photos taken with your current phone?
Here are what I consider to be the five best phones you can buy right now. I left iPhone off the list because I don't want to promote a company who uses patents to fight their competition. I also value the choice Android affords its users.
Note: All of the following phones have fingerprint readers for unlocking the screen, 5'5" or larger screens, highly rated cameras, and are the best you can get from their respective manufacturers.
At the top of the list we have the OnePlus 5. OnePlus is a bit of an underdog here, fairly new to the game. This phone is often spoken of as the "flagship killer" because of it's raw power for such a low price. The OnePlus 5 sports a huge amount of memory (6GB or 8GB, depending on which version you buy), where the competition all have 4GB. This makes a difference in snappiness of day-to-day operation, keeping more apps in memory, as well as being more future proof. If you enjoy the slightly wider form factor (I actually do because of the wider keyboard) and a nearly $200 lower price than most phones on this list, this phone is a winner. The only thing the OnePlus 5 doesn't have going for it is a lack of water resistance. Due to this phone having the same high end SD 835 CPU as the other phones here (except the LG G6) and having more RAM than any handset here, this phone should be the fastest, best performing of the bunch. Camera reviews are mixed but it definitely hangs with the best. Bonus: The OnePlus 5 has an extra telephoto lens on the rear/main camera.
Next in line is Samsung's latest, the Galaxy S8. This phone seems to have everything a person could want, including waterproofing, a fast chip, AMOLED screen, and a great camera; the only phone here with a better camera being the HTC U11. The Galaxy S8 even has the biggest screen (5.8") in the smallest body (149mm x 68mm)! Potential cons: Screen that wraps around the edges of the phone seems a bit gimmicky and fragile, but in settings, content can be set to stop at the edges. "Bixby" seems redundant (since Google Now is available) and has a dedicated button but yay, with the right app, that button can be told to map to other functions. Being used to LG's phones over the past few years, I prefer no buttons on the sides of my phone, but I'm sure it can be gotten used to. Most believe this is the sexiest phone yet (and I agree), but that doesn't do you much good if you put it in a case. And if you don't do that, beware, because it's all glass.
For a few years now, HTC hasn't been doing so well, producing phones that underwhelmed. The HTC U11 is a pleasant surprise. If you don't mind a phone a bit on the large and heavy end and sporting a super-shiny-bling backside, this is the perfect phone. Especially given it has the best camera of any phone you can buy right now. Minor weakness: LCD screen, which isn't as bright in the sun compared to the AMOLED screens in the other phones here.
LG hit a home run with their G2, G3, and G4. The G5 was a bit of a flop. They got just about everything right with the G6, except they stuck with LCD for the screen. Though the screen is LCD, it is still large, has tiny bezels, and impressive to look at. The other minor weakness is the G6 is sporting a Snapdragon 821 CPU, which is slightly older and lower-end compared to the Snapdragon 835 in three of the other phones here. Reviews are showing the phone is still snappy and fast. Just not quite as future proof as phones using the SD 835. Other than those two minor weaknesses, the LG G6 is a great phone for the price. Bonus: An extra wide angle camera lens on the rear/main camera.
Finally, we have the Motorola Z2 Play, which is the newest of these phones. They got everything right here, except this is the tallest and widest phone of the bunch (yet the thinnest); as wide as the HTC U11 and 2mm taller. On the plus side, Motorola is making some pretty crazycool devices that clip on to this phone. Think projector! One potential weakness is the SD 626 processor. Slower even than the SD 821 in the LG G6 but still, in reviews, this phone proves to be a snappy performer.
No matter which of the above phones you choose, you'll have a winner. If you don't care about water resistance and you want to save some money, you may want the OnePlus 5. If you want the best camera (and sound) you can get in a phone and don't need to put the phone in your pocket, get the HTC U11. If you want the sexiest phone that happens to be compact, has the largest brightest screen, and you want to pay a bit more, get the Samsung Galaxy S8. If water resistance is important to you, you are okay with not having the best screen-in-sunlight performance, you don't care about benchmarks, and you like the idea of saving $150 to $200, the LG G6 might be your pick. Finally, Motorola's Z2 has a lot to offer, pretty much nailing all categories here, except being a bit on the large side.
Thanks for tuning in! If you want more detailed specs on these phones and others, bookmark this page - http://oceanmedia.net/phones.asp - that I update consistently.
VERY GOOD article. Me personally I will hold off until the iPhone 8 and Pixel 2 drop. Want to make the best decision.
My nexus 6p is bugging out right now tho. Like for example right now, typing is a little delayed. Annoying.. Don't know if it is the Mexican heat that fried it or if Google wants me to buy a new phone...
I know it sounds kooky, but I swear every smart phone I've ever had has slowly but steadily gotten less and less usable. I know adding tons of apps contributes to that, but sheesh...
Yes, not the first time that has happened to me. Really feel like it is telling me "Let me go, it's time to move on for you" =D
Can you recommend a good case for the oneplus? Lifeproof doesn't make one for it.