Top Best Android 2017 Update June #2
01. Samsung Galaxy S8
There’s a new monarch that rules over Android country, and its name is the Samsung Galaxy S8. With a top-tier display, powerful performance and the latest version of Android, it’s the envy of the kingdom.
The first thing you’ll notice about the Samsung Galaxy S8 is its stunning 5.8-inch quad HD screen, which is bezel-less and takes up almost all the room on the front of the phone. You’ll next notice that it’s super speedy, thanks to its octa-core (2.3GHz quad + 1.7GHz quad) 64-bit processor and 4GB of RAM. Other big-ticket features include an eight-megapixel front-facing camera for selfies, a 12-megapixel back camera, 4K video recording and a microSD card slot for adding more storage on the fly. The phone comes in the following five colors: midnight black, orchid gray, coral blue, arctic silver and maple gold.
The only potential hang up for the Galaxy S8 is its 3,000 mAh battery, which lasts about a day on a charge. This will work for most people, but if you use your phone heavily throughout the day, it’d be smart to invest in a great portable phone battery charger too.
02. Runner-Up, Best Overall: Google Pixel
Google quietly retired their line of Nexus phones in 2016, but that doesn’t mean the tech giant is quitting the mobile market for good. In fact, they’ve released the Google Pixel, an Android smartphone that makes the most of the OS and works with Google Project Fi while rivaling Apple’s simple and intuitive UI.
The design is two-tone black with a slight wedge form that makes the phone easier to hold in one hand. The bottom has a USB port, a speaker and a microphone. On the top of the back is a fingerprint scanner that you can swipe to open your screen, again facilitating one-handed use.
The five-inch screen uses AMOLED for a full HD screen. Pixel is the first to use Android v7.1, the latest and greatest edition of Android. The new OS is intuitive and cleaner than previous versions, replacing the app drawer with an upward swipe to show your apps. The Pixel also includes Google Assistant, the machine-learning AI deployed in Google Home. Locked in an arms race with Microsoft’s Cortana, Apple’s Siri, and Amazon’s Alexa, the Google Assistant learns more about you the more you use it, responding to a host of voice commands. As with all assistants, it still is in the early stages and has a ways to go before it functions perfectly, but still has plenty of functionality and is a big upgrade over Google Voice.
The Pixel camera is 12.3MP with HDR+ enhancing darker areas and competes with the best camera phones, scoring an all-time high of 89 on DxO tests. The 2,770mAh battery, however, lags behind a bit with high-end Android competitors.
03. Best 2016 Release: Samsung Galaxy S7 (Unlocked)
Launched in early 2016, the Samsung Galaxy S7 is the the crème de la crème of Android smartphones. It is the primary competitor of Apple’s latest iPhone, the 6S, and if budget is not an issue, it is the best Android smartphone you can find.
The S7’s major selling points have nothing to do with individual components or features—like a high-megapixel camera or long-lasting battery (though it certainly has both). The S7 is more an exercise in balance. It’s a jack of all trades, capable of delivering performance, reliability and longevity on par with that of the iPhone. In short, it packs a whole lot of tech into a super sleek, super slim package. The 3000 mAh battery allows up to nine hours of continuous use; the 12-megapixel main camera promises solid image resolution; and the 2.2 GHz Snapdragon 820 CPU provides a solid foundation for gaming, browsing, sharing, texting, listening and every other smartphone activity. It also features a super sharp 5.1-inch AMOLED screen, a water-repellent coating and a MicroSD slot. There’s no standout feature with the S7, but you’re even harder pressed to find a drawback. This phone on Amazon.com is an international version and will work with T-Mobile and AT&T. Verizon customers can find the phone here.
04. Best for Gaming: Google Nexus 6P (Unlocked)
Google continues to up its smartphone game with the latest generation Nexus 6P. This phone has all the features you should expect from a phablet device—or, more accurately, a gaming device. It has a 5.7-inch, 2560 x 1440 screen bolstered by a 3GB and 3,450 mAh battery—specs that ensure solid, high-performance gaming for more than nine hours. But it’s not just a gaming device. If you’re not much of a gamer, the 6P offers impressive video performance as well. Some users have complaints about Google’s software integration, which is surprising when you consider how the Android OS is developed by Google. But most agree that these issues are marginal when compared to the excellent camera (12.3-megapixel rear; 8-megapixel front-facing), battery life and Super AMOLED display. The Nexus 6P is, first and foremost, a smartphone, but if you’re a fan of phablets and smartphone gaming, this is one worth looking into.
05. Best Battery and Value: Moto Z Play
Want a phone that can hold a charge for most of the work week? Well lucky for you, the Moto Z Play has arrived, with a fast-charging 3,510mAh battery in tow. The phone lasts over 4 days on normal usage, and can be recharged via the USB-C connector in less than an hour.
In addition to the massive battery, this is the mid-range entry in Motorola’s customizable Moto Z series. Like its cousins, the Moto Z Play can be equipped with any number of snap-on customizations that do everything from boost sound quality to add 10x optical zoom.
But even if you eschew the accessories, the Z Play boasts an excellent build for the price point. It has a large 5.5-inch display with a serviceable 403 pixel density and HD 1920 x 1080 resolution. The 2GHZ octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor and 3GB RAM deliver an enjoyable browsing experience, while the 32GB storage can be supplemented by a microSD slot.
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