Thursday, 19 May 2016

new smartphones

27 best new phones for 2016: The new phones you must see before you upgrade

Looking to upgrade your phone? Stop. You need to see these amazing new phones first. We've rounded up the best new phones coming in 2016, including the best new Android phones, best new iPhones, best new Windows phones, best new Samsung phones, best new Sony phones, best new HTC phones, best new LG phones, best new Huawei phones and more.
By Marie Brewis | 11 May 16





We'll also look at the highlights from last year with the best phones of 2015. Also see: The best new tablets you can't afford to miss in 2016.



Best new phones 2016: Apple iPhone 7



The iPhone 7 will be Apple's brand-new flagship phone for 2016, and following tradition should be announced in September. Although the final release date is still many months away, that hasn't stopped the rumour mill going crazy over the upcoming iPhone.

We've already seen rumours that the new iPhone will feature big design changes, with an all-new D-jack headphone jack, waterproofing protection and an eSIM. Loads of rumours are circulating about the screen too - will it get bigger? Will it feature a curved edge? Will it have a Touch ID display, or edge-to-edge glass?

One things for sure, the new iPhone will be faster than ever, with an A10 processor and embedded M10 motion co-processor, plus 2GB of RAM.




Best new phones 2016: Apple iPhone 7 Plus

If you were looking forward to a new iPhone launch in 2016, prepare to hyperventilate: there will not be one new iPhone but three, and that's in addition to the iPhone SE we saw in March. (Also see iPhone 7 on the previous slide and iPhone 7 Pro on the next slide.)

Apple's upcoming iPhone 7 Plus will be the best iPhone to date, with an array of spec improvements that include a bump up to the A10 chip and M10 motion co-processor with 2GB of RAM.

It's been suggested that the iPhone 7 Plus' screen size will increase to 5.7in, but without increasing the overall size of the iPhone 7 Plus - this could be achieved with an edge-to-edge screen or sidewall display. We just hope it'll improve the resolution as well.

In common with the smaller iPhone we could see a new D-jack headphone connector, and waterproofing protection as standard. We'll find out for sure in September 2016.

There's loads more gossip floating around - check out the latest iPhone 7 Plus rumours here.


The Moto G is hardly a flagship phone, but it stands out as one of the best budget options with a good all round spec, design and performance. It's widely tipped to launch in May 2016, and we've heard rumours Motorola is holding some sort of event in India on 17 May. Even better, it's tipped to come alongside a larger Moto G Plus.

The new Moto G is expected to feature a large 5.5in screen (which makes us wonder just how big the Moto G Plus is going to be), a 13Mp camera and 16GB of storage. Both models are said to be available in black or white.



Best new phones 2016: New Moto X Vertex and Vector Thin 2016

Even more exciting than a potential new Moto G is a new Moto X. These are mid-range phones, but what's getting us all impatient is the theory they will be modular devices just like the LG G5.

According to serial leaker Evan Blass, the phones will feature a metal case with modular, swappable backplates that afford the phones extra functionality. Accessories will be known as 'Amps', and at launch six will be available: a simple colour backplate, a battery pack, a camera grip, a pico projector, a rugged cover with a wide-angle lens attachment and stereo speakers.

The Vertex is tipped to feature a 5.5in Full-HD AMOLED screen, a 2.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, either 16GB storage and 2GB RAM or 32GB storage and 3GB RAM, a 16Mp camera with laser PDAF and a 3500mAh battery, despite being just 7mm thick.

The Vector Thin is even thinner at 5.2mm and with a 2600mAh battery. It's said to come with a 5.5in Quad-HD AMOLED screen, a 2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, 32GB of storage, 3- or 4GB RAM, and a 13Mp camera with laser autofocus and optical image stabilisation.

The two new Moto X phones are expected to be announced at the Lenovo Tech World conference on 9 June. In the meantime you can read more new Moto X rumours here.

Best new phones 2016: New Nexus 5 & 6 2016

HTC is expected to be the manufacturer behind 2016's new Nexus phones. Huawei is also on the scene, having trademarked the name Huawei 7P, although many believe it will instead be responsible for production of the successor to the Nexus 7 tablet.
One thing that's all but guaranteed is that the new Nexus 5 and Nexus 6 will run the new  Android N operating system, for which the Developer Preview is available now. Google says there will be five previews before we get the final version of Android N, and right now we're on the second preview, putting us on track for a late-September/early-October release date.
Many of the rumours we've seen so far focus on the new Nexus 6, which is likely to feature a Snapdragon 820 chip. This is more powerful and energy efficient, and builds in support for Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0.
Expect both phones to come with support for USB-C. Read more new Nexus 5 & Nexus 6 2016 rumours here.


Best new phones 2016: LG G Flex 3

It's starting to look less and less likely that we'll see an upgrade to the LG G Flex 2 in 2016. However, we'd very much like to, since the G Flex 2 was an interesting smartphone, with its curved form-factor and material that would automatically heal scratches. Mark 3 should be more interesting still, with a rumoured metal body and premium design.
Expect the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 and 4GB of RAM inside, plus 32GB of (expandable via microSD) storage. Leaks suggest there will be a 3500mAh battery, a fingerprint scanner, and 20.7/8Mp cameras.
We expected the G Flex 3 to make an appearance in early 2016, with a price tag a touch over £500. That didn't happen, and neither did it launch with the LG G5. Still there's still seven months to go before we hit 2017.

Best new phones 2016:Microsoft Surface Phone

Surface Phone rumours have been few and far between, leading some to think it's nothing more than a myth. But it was recently revealed by Wired that Microsoft Corporate VP Panos Panay has been working on a prototype of a new phone. 
Should it truly exist, the Surface Phone is expected to arrive in 2016, with a 5.5in Quad-HD AMOLED display, 4GB of RAM, 64- and 128GB storage options (with microSD support), a 64-bit Intel processor and 21Mp rear- and 8Mp front cameras. The Surface Phone could also get a Surface Pen and a USB-C port.

Best new phones 2016: OnePlus 2 Mini


Despite having not long ago announced the OnePlus X, a smaller OnePlus smartphone than the company's flagship OnePlus 2, there are rumours that we'll soon see a third OnePlus smartphone.
This new OnePlus phone will be smaller than the OnePlus X, but with performance to match the OnePlus 2, so we assume it will be priced somewhere in between the two - that's if it ever sees the light of day.
The rumours of a OnePlus 2 Mini phone stem from an entry in the GFXBench database of an unknown OnePlus device with a 4.6in screen (the OnePlus X has a 5in screen and the OnePlus 2 a 5.5in screen). That's a full-HD (1808p panel), and other specs include a 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage and 12Mp/5Mp cameras. In common with the OnePlus 2, there's no NFC.

Best new phones 2016: OnePlus 3


Oh, it's so close! If rumours are true we will see a new OnePlus 3 on 18 May 2016. Prices are expected to start at £210.
Leaked pictures of the OnePlus 3 show a matte black casing with a new style home button that incorporates a fingerprint scanner. It looks not at all dissimilar to the HTC 10.
Leaked specifications include the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chip that will feature heavily in 2016 flagships, offering improved performance and battery efficiency, plus support for Adreno 530 graphics. However, rather than Quick Charge 3.0, the OP3 is tipped to feature OPPO's VOOC fast-charging tech that could see it charge in as little as 15 minutes.
And OnePlus will allegedly continue to fit a 1080p full-HD screen. Read more OnePlus 3 rumours here.

Best new phones 2016: Samsung Galaxy Note 6


Great news for Samsung Galaxy Note fans in 2016 is that Samsung is allegedly ditching its plans to bring a new edge+ smartphone to Europe and instead will be launching the new Galaxy Note 6 here this August!
Headline features are expected to be a 5.8in Quad-HD display, an Exynos 8890 processor, an enormous 6GB of RAM, IP68 certification and potentially an iris scanner. More outrageous rumours include a 4K screen, Android N preinstalled and a 20Mp camera.
Will Samsung bring back microSD support and the removable battery? Read more new Note 6 rumours here.

Best new phones 2016: Sony Xperia Z6, Sony Xperia X, Sony Xperia XA


Sony neglected to announce the Sony Xperia Z6 at MWC 2016, instead revealing a new Xperia X family comprising the Sony Xperia X and Sony Xperia XA. But this doesn't mean the Sony Xperia Z6 is dead: never say never, says the company, which has since clarified that it isn't ruling out the possibility at some point in the future.
The Xperia X and Xperia XA boast next-generation camera technology, battery and design. They take Sony in a whole new direction, and the company says that the new series “embodies Sony Mobile's new brand vision.”
The two new phones, which both have 5in screens (full-HD for the X and 720p for the XA), 23Mp cameras, support for microSD and smart battery management, should be here in the summer. They won't be as fast as Sony's Z series, with a Snapdragon 650 powering the Xperia X and a MediaTek MT6755 inside the XA.

Best new phones 2016: Xiaomi Mi Max


In common with the Moto G and Moto X phones covered earlier in this round-up, the new Xiaomi Mi Max isn't a flagship. However, it is exciting for the fact it will be the first phone to run MIUI 8.9 (which we have a hunch will be released on 13 August), and the fact it is an absolute beast with a 6.44in screen.
Xiaomi phones aren't sold in the UK, but Gear Best has already confirmed it will ship the Mi Max to the UK for £355.10. That's for the top-end model, with the Snapdragon 652 chip, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
The Mi Max can also support up to 128GB of additional storage via microSD, but it does so at the expense of its dual-SIM dual-standby functionality - both cards require the same slot.
Now we'll take a look at some of the best phones that have already gone on sale in 2016.

Best new phones 2016: Apple iPhone SE


Apple confirmed its iPhone SE during a special event on 21 March. The phone went on sale on 31 March at £359 (16GB).
The rumours turned out to be true, and while the iPhone SE looks vey much like an iPhone 5s, but with matt chamfered edges and a shiny stainless steel Apple logo, on the inside it's very much iPhone 6s.
Headline features include the Apple A9 processor and M9 motion co-processor, plus a 12Mp iSight camera that can also capture 4K video. 

Best new phones 2016: HTC 10


HTC on 12 April unveiled its HTC 10, successor to the HTC One M9. It continues to major on sound, but the BoomSound stereo speaker setup looks a little different at the front, with the tweeter at the top and woofer on the bottom edge of the phone.
In common with the LG G5 it's a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820-powered smartphone with 4GB of RAM, but it's slightly faster-clocked at 2.2GHz. HTC has also upgraded the screen to a 5.2in Quad-HD Super LCD 5 screen, and implemented a fingerprint scanner.
The HTC 10 is priced in line with the Galaxy S7 at £569, and available to buy now.

Best new phones 2016: Huawei P9 & P9 Plus


On 6 April Huawei unveiled its new flagship P9 alongside a P9 Plus. You can re-live the launch event in our Huawei P9 launch live blog.
The rumours were very much on the money, save for the naming scheme - there's no P9 Lite or P9 Max in sight. As expected, there's a new dual-camera system produced in collaboration with Leica. Unlike other dual-lens cameras, one sensor is RGB and the other monochrome. This and the new super-accurate fingerprint scanner found in the Mate 8 are highlights.
Performance is excellent with the octa-core Kirin 955 processor inside, alongside 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage (that's in the standard P9 - the P9 Plus has 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage).
The Huawei P9 and P9 Plus are aluminium unibody handsets with full-HD displays - the P9 has a 5.2in IPS panel, while the Plus is fitted with a 5.5in Super AMOLED screen.
The Huawei P9 is now available to buy in the UK, while we hope the P9 Plus will be coming soon.
Read our Huawei P9 review and Huawei P9 Plus review here.

Best new phones 2016: LG G5


It's not long since we welcomed the LG G4, but the LG G5 was announced by the company on 21 February. It's the company's first modular-design smartphone, which can be transformed into a digital camera or Hi-Fi player. It features a sleek aluminium unibody with a slide-out battery.
In common with the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge the LG G5 has an always-on screen (here 5.3in), which makes it easier to check the time or notifications at a glance. Another innovative feature is the two cameras on the rear - one with an extra-wide 135-degree lens.
Key specs include the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of storage (with MicroSD up to 200GB), a 2800mAh removable battery and Android Marshmallow. The G5 comes in Silver, Titan, Gold or Pink, and will be available to pre-order in March for an April release.
The LG G5 costs £529 and went on sale on 8 April 2016.

Best new phones 2016: Nextbit Robin


Things on Kickstarter are often a complete load of rubbish but the Nextbit Robin is a success story which we're looking forward to seeing in the flesh.
The firm was founded in 2012 and its key staff have been involved with Android since the beginning. Collectively, they've worked on launching phones including the G1, Nexus and HTC One M8 and M8.
The phone arrived in February 2016 with a price tag of $399, the 'cloud-first' smartphone has a different approach to most other Android devices on the market. There is on-board storage but the phone will automatically optimise by doing things like moving unused apps and photos to the cloud.

Best new phones 2016:Samsung Galaxy S7 & Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge


Samsung has officially unveiled its Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. Samsung fans will be pleased to know the handsets see the return of both a MicroSD slot and waterproofing, and although it's not removable the battery has been bumped up to 3000mAh in the S7 and 3600mAh in the S7 Edge. Also see: Samsung Galaxy S7 review.
Both phones feature a Quad-HD SuperAMOLED screen - the S7 at 5.1in and the Edge at 5.5in - and these feature new always-on (except when it's in your pocket or at night) technology, making it easier to check the time or read notifications at a glance.
Inside these Android Marshmallow phones you'll find either the Exynos 8890 or Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, depending on the market. You'll also get 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage.Also see: Samsung Galaxy S7 vs Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge.
The camera has been downgraded to 12Mp, but larger pixels and a f/1.7 aperture will allow it to receive 95 percent more light. This is also seen at the front for the 5Mp selfie camera, and Samsung says the S7 is the first phone with a Dual Pixel sensor.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are available to buy at £569 and £639 respectively from Samsung, and are also available from UK mobile operators. See best Galaxy S7 deals. 

Best new phones 2016: Xiaomi Mi 5


Xiaomi chose MWC 2016 as the platform to unveil its new flagship, the Mi 5. It's a beast of a smartphone, which Xiaomi claims achieved a staggering 142,084-point score in AnTuTu. That score was made possible by a combination of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor (with Adreno 530 graphics and Quick Charge 3.0 support) and up to 4GB of RAM.
Other specifications of interest include a 5.15in full-HD IPS screen, a 16Mp camera with optical image stabilisation and support for 4K video, a 3000mAh battery, a fingerprint scanner and the MIUI 7 operating system, which is based on Android Marshmallow. 
Xiaomi phones aren't officially available in the UK, but they are obtainable from suppliers such as Geekbuying, which lists the 32GB/3GB, 64GB/3GB and 128GB/4GB models for sale at £294.58, £334.81 and £387.98 respectively. The Mi 5 went on sale on 1 March 2016.

Best new phones 2015 


We've just looked at some of the best new phones still to come in 2016, but some great phones were released in 2015. You can check out some of 2015's best flagships on the following pages.

Best new phones 2015: Apple iPhone 6s 


Apple's iPhone 6s went on sale in the UK on 25 September. (See also: best smartphones for business.)
There are some key changes in the new iPhone 6s, with a new Rose Gold colour option and a 12Mp iSight camera with support for 4K video recording. Live Photo is a fun new feature, with the iPhone recording a second and a half of video either side of the still image to help it come to life.
iOS 9 comes preinstalled on the new iPhone, and there's a new 3D Touch screen that can differentiate between a light and hard tap, allowing you to 'peek' and 'pop' into content. The screen is otherwise the same, a 4.7in Retina HD screen with 326ppi.
Also new is a second-gen Touch ID fingerprint scanner that's reportedly twice as fast, and an Apple A9 processor, now with the M9 motion coprocessor built-in and always-on. Apple says it's 80 percent faster for CPU tasks and 90 percent for GPU tasks.

Best new phones 2015: Apple iPhone 6s Plus 


As well as the iPhone 6s (previous slide), Apple has made available the new iPhone 6s Plus, on sale in the UK from 25 September.
As with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, the key differences between these two phones are in their screen size and overall dimensions and weight. With a higher-resolution 5.5- rather than 4.7in screen, the iPhone 6s Plus is necessarily larger and heavier, at 158.2x77.9x7.3mm and 192g. It also has a larger-capacity battery.
 The 6s Plus gets the same new features as the iPhone 6s, which means the A9 processor, 12Mp iSight camera with Live Photo, the 3D Touch screen (which can also go up to three times brighter to serve as a Retina Flash for the 5Mp selfie camera), and new Touch ID fingerprint scanner.

Best new phones 2015: Asus Zenfone 2


We've yet to get our hands on an Asus Zenfone 2, but the top-end model (ZE551ML) is now available at Amazon for £309.99 (Buy the Asus Zenfone 2 here). This powerful phone has a staggering 4GB of RAM and a 2.3GHz 64-bit Intel Atom Z3580 quad-core processor. For storage 32GB is fitted, and you can get more through microSD. There's 4G LTE support (dual-SIM, dual active), a 5.5in full-HD IPS screen, and 13Mp rear- and 5Mp front cameras. The stylish brushed-metal case is just 3.9mm thick at the edges. Running the fully customisable ZenUI software, the Zenfone 2 also has Trend Micro security preinstalled. The Asus Zenfone 2 is well worth a look.

Best new phones 2015: Google Nexus 5X


Google's Nexus phones have always been popular, but the 2014 Nexus 6 didn't go down quite so well. Was it too expensive? Was it too big?
Google is now hedging its bets with not only a new Nexus 5X but also a Nexus 6P - so, there is something for everyone.
The new Nexus 5 is made by LG and comes with a 5.2in full-HD screen, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 CPU, a rear fingerprint scanner, a USB Type-C charging port, 12.3- and 5Mp cameras, 2GB of RAM and 16- or 32GB of storage, plus a front-facing speaker. It also runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
The new Nexus 5X is available to buy now.

Best new phones 2015: Google Nexus 6P


This new Google phone is the more capable of the two new Nexus phones, with a 5.7in Quad HD display, a metal unibody chassis, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 v2 processor, 3GB of RAM, a fingerprint scanner, a 12.3Mp rear camera and 8Mp at the front.
As with the Nexus 5X, the new Nexus 6P runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow. It is available to buy now and will ship in October.


Best new phones 2015: HTC One A9


HTC's One A9 is the much talked about iPhone 'copycat', but as HTC points out it has been making metal unibody phones for several years now. HTC says it is 'simple, robust and without too many frills'.There's a 5in full-HD screen, a Snapdragon 617 processor, 2GB of RAM, microSD support, a fingerprint scanner and a 13Mp camera.
The HTC One A9 costs £469.99 SIM-free (Carphone Warehouse) and should ship by 12 November.

Best new phones 2015: HTC One M9


We are massive fans of the HTC One M8, and the HTC One M9 is even better (Buy HTC One M9 here). Although HTC has kept the full-HD screen rather than the quad-HD screens seen in the new Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, the HTC One M9 is a very attractive phone with some impressive performance. You can check out our HTC One M9 review here, and learn more about the HTC One M9 release date, price and specs here. The phone went on sale in the UK on 31 March from £569 SIM-free, making it £30 cheaper than its rival the Samsung Galaxy S6.

Best new phones 2015: HTC One M9+


A 5.5in-screen phablet version of the HTC One M9 is the HTC One M9+ - and this is the one we were waiting for, with a Quad-HD screen and a fingerprint scanner. It's been announced only in China at 4,299 Yuan (£522), and although HTC's PR team got in touch to tell us that the M9+ will never officially make it to the UK, rumours are spreading that it is coming to Europe after all. For now, though, if you want one you'll have to buy it online from a grey-market importer.

Best new phones 2015: Huawei P8 and Huawei P8 max 


Huawei's latest flagship has a gorgeous unibody metal design that's stylish enough to rival HTC and Apple, yet it undercuts the price of those smartphones with a starting price of 499 Euro, or £357. There is a standard 5.2in Huawei P8, or a huge 6.8in Huawei P8 max. The phone and phablet should have gone on sale in the UK in April, with a worldwide launch following 15 May. We're unable to find the Max version for sale right now (check out our Huawei P8 and P8 max UK release date, price and specs), but keep your eyes peeled - it's worth hunting down.

Best new phones 2015: LG G4


LG is calling the LG G4 the 'most ambitious smartphone yet', which is focused on delivering 'comfortable elegance, a great visual experience and a human-centric user experience'. (Buy the LG G4 here.) We stand by our statement that the LG G3 was the very best phone you could buy in 2014, and things just get better with the LG G4 - although opinion is divided on that leather case (also available in ceramic versions). Key specifications include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, a 5.5in Quad HD IPS Quantum display, 32GB of storage (with microSD support) and a 3000mAh removable battery. The LG G4 was unveiled at a press event on 28 April, and went on sale on 28 May from £500 SIM-free.

Best new phones 2015: LG G Flex 2


The G4 and G4 Note aren't LG's only exciting new smartphones for 2015. At CES 2015 it unveiled the LG G Flex 2, a curved-screen handset. (Buy LG G Flex 2 here.) The G Flex 2 is a 5.5in-screen smartphone with a 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core chip, and it features self-healing technology.

Best new phones 2015: Microsoft Lumia 950 and 950 XL  


Part of the reason we're so excited about the upcoming Microsoft Lumia 950 and 950 XL is that they are among the first handsets to run full Windows 10 - Microsoft is to finally tackle the Windows Phone apps problem by running one OS across phones, tablets, PCs and laptops. The Lumia 950 has the beefiest spec of any Windows Phone we've seen too, and the XL is a larger version with a 5.7in Quad HD screen and a faster Snapdragon 810 processor. You can pre-order them now, and both new phones will go on sale in November, priced at £450 for the 950 and £530 for the XL.

Best new phones 2015:Motorola Moto X Force 


The Moto X Force is the UK version of the Motorola Droid Turbo 2, and will go on sale in the UK in mid-November from £499 (32GB). 
The waterproof Moto X Force features a shatterproof 5.43in Quad-HD (1440x2560 pixels) display, a 2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, 3GB of RAM, a 21Mp rear camera and 5Mp at the front. There are 32- and 64GB storage options, plus microSD support, and a high-capacity battery for up to 48 hours battery life.

Best new phones 2015:OnePlus 2


The OnePlus One is an amazing phone that was for a long time virtually impossible to get hold of. Priced from £229 it has the spec to match a £600 smartphone, hence OnePlus marketing it as a flagship killer. The OnePlus 2 is so much better, with improved specs and just £239. It was unveiled on 27 July in a unique virtual-reality product launch, and went on sale on 11 August (find out how to get a OnePlus 2 invitehere). Highlights among the spec list include a second-gen Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, 4GB of RAM, USB Type-C and a fingerprint scanner. Check out our full OnePlus 2 review.

Best new phones 2015:OnePlus X


The OnePlus X is a smaller, cheaper version of the OnePlus 2, and was unveiled at a London launch event on 29 October. It costs from £199 for the Onyx glass version, although a limited-edition Ceramic model will also ship.
It's lost the fingerprint scanner and USB-C port of the OnePlus 2, but features a smaller 5in 1080p display and now features microSD support. Performance won't be as strong with a Snapdragon 801 under the hood, but that price tag is appealing.

Best new phones 2015: Samsung Galaxy A7 


Samsung has confirmed its Samsung Galaxy A7, a gorgeous phablet with a 6.3mm unibody metal chassis, a 5.5in Super AMOLED screen and a 64-bit octa-core processor. The Samsung Galaxy A7 is not yet on sale on the UK, but will come in both single- and dual-SIM variants.

Best new phones 2015: Samsung Galaxy Note 5


Everyone always bangs on about Samsung's Galaxy S line-up, but it's the Note series that really impresses. The Note 4 was unveiled at a Samsung Unpacked event prior to September's IFA tradeshow (3 September 2014), and right now sits at the top of our fastest smartphone and best phablet charts. Traditionally Samsung's Note launches are held at IFA in September, but the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 was this year unveiled several weeks early in August to give it a headstart on the new iPhones. But in the US only, for now - the Note 5 is rumoured to come to Europe in January.

Best new phones 2015: Samsung Galaxy S6 


If you're a Samsung fan but would rather stick to a phone than a phablet then the Samsung Galaxy S6 is just what you're looking for. (Buy the Samsung Galaxy S6 here.) With Samsung finally answering build-quality criticisms, it follows in the trend of the Galaxy Alpha and Galaxy Note 4 with a metal and glass body. There's also a quad-HD screen, plus plenty of other radical new features, including a super-fast Samsung Exynos processor (paired with 3GB of RAM), and a redesigned fingerprint scanner that works a lot more like Apple's Touch ID and, you know, actually works. The Samsung Galaxy S6 was unveiled at a Samsung Unpacked event on 1 March 2015, and went on sale on 10 April 2015. Prices start at £599 SIM-free.

Best new phones 2015: Samsung Galaxy S6 


If you're a Samsung fan but would rather stick to a phone than a phablet then the Samsung Galaxy S6 is just what you're looking for. (Buy the Samsung Galaxy S6 here.) With Samsung finally answering build-quality criticisms, it follows in the trend of the Galaxy Alpha and Galaxy Note 4 with a metal and glass body. There's also a quad-HD screen, plus plenty of other radical new features, including a super-fast Samsung Exynos processor (paired with 3GB of RAM), and a redesigned fingerprint scanner that works a lot more like Apple's Touch ID and, you know, actually works. The Samsung Galaxy S6 was unveiled at a Samsung Unpacked event on 1 March 2015, and went on sale on 10 April 2015. Prices start at £599 SIM-free.

Best new phones 2015: Samsung Galaxy S6 Active 


The Samsung Galaxy S6 Active has now been confirmed by the company, although unfortunately for UK customers it's exclusive to the US. If you really want one keep your eyes peeled on the likes of eBay and Amazon. The Samsung Galaxy S6 Active is a rugged version of the Samsung Galaxy S6 with IP68 waterproofing protection and three physical buttons below the touchscreen. Many of the remaining specs are the same as that of the S6 itself, although the Active also features an Activity Zone, allowing you to quickly launch a compass, torch or stopwatch.

Best new phones 2015: Samsung Galaxy S6 Active


The Samsung Galaxy S6 Active has now been confirmed by the company, although unfortunately for UK customers it's exclusive to the US. If you really want one keep your eyes peeled on the likes of eBay and Amazon. The Samsung Galaxy S6 Active is a rugged version of the Samsung Galaxy S6 with IP68 waterproofing protection and three physical buttons below the touchscreen. Many of the remaining specs are the same as that of the S6 itself, although the Active also features an Activity Zone, allowing you to quickly launch a compass, torch or stopwatch.

Best new phones 2015: Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge 


A second version of the Samsung Galaxy S6 launched alongside the standard S6 at MWC. (Buy the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge here.) It follows the trend set by the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge, but with two curved screen edges rather than one and a marginally higher-capacity battery than is found in the S6. In other respects the specs are in line with the standard S6, but expect to pay a premium for that fancy screen. The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge went on sale in the UK on 10 April 2015. Prices start at £760 SIM-free for the 64GB version.


Best new phones 2015: Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+


A larger version of the Galaxy S6 Edge has recently been announced as the S6 Edge+. It's in essence a larger version of the S6 Edge with a 5.7in screen. You can check out our hands-on review of the Galaxy S6 Edge+ here.

Best new phones 2015: Sony Xperia Z3+ (UK Sony Xperia Z4)


After all the rumours that the Sony Xperia Z4 would be delayed until September, the Z4 was recently unveiled in Japan. The Z4 won't come to the UK, but in late May Sony announced its Sony Xperia Z3+ over here. (Buy the Sony Xperia Z3+ here.) The UK version of the Z4, the Z3+ is almost identical - read our Z3 vs Z3+ comparison to see exactly how it differs to both Z3 and Z4. In essence, the Sony Xperia Z3+ is a slightly slimmed down and much faster version of the Z3, with performance we expect to fall in line with the HTC One M9. The Z3+ went on sale in the UK in June.

Best new phones 2015: Sony Xperia Z5


The new Sony Xperia Z5 is the flagship we were hoping for from Sony when we got the Sony Xperia Z3+. It's caught up with its rivals with the Snapdragon 810 processor and 3GB of RAM inside, and gets one over on them with waterproofing protection, a brilliant 23Mp camera, and microSD support up to a whopping 200GB.
The Sony Xperia Z5 also comes in Premium and Compact versions and went on sale in the UK in October. For more details see our Sony Xperia Z5 hands-on review and Sony Xperia Z5 UK release date, price and specifications articles.

Best new phones 2015: Sony Xperia Z5 Compact  


We've had mummy and dady, now here comes baby. The Sony Xperia Z5 mini (better known as the Z5 Compact) is a great follow-up to the Z3 Compact, smaller in size and likely to be around £100 cheaper in price, yet with few sacrifices in the specification.
In common with the Z5 and Z5 Premium the Z5 Compact offers the Snapdragon 810 processor, along with microSD support up to 200GB, the new fingerprint scanner and 23- and 5Mp cameras. It has a smaller (4.6in) and lower-resolution (720p HD) screen, and has a lower-capacity 2700mAh battery, but remember that there will be less drain from the screen. One other difference is that you get 2- rather than 3GB of RAM.
The Sony Xperia Z5 Compact went on sale in October. For more details on the mini Z5 see our Sony Xperia Z5 Compact hands-on review and Sony Xperia Z5 Compact UK release date, price and specifications articles.

Best new phones 2015: Sony Xperia Z5 Premium


The Sony Xperia Z5 Premium is the first 4K phone to market, with a 5.5in 2160x3840-pixel display that has a crazy-high pixel density of 806ppi.
The Premium is necessarily larger and heavier than the standard Z5, and has a slighly larger-capacity battery. In other respects it's the same phone, which means you get a Qualcomm Snapdagon 810 processor, 3GB of RAM, microSD support up to 200GB, 23- and 5Mp cameras and a brand-new fingerprint scanner.
The Sony Xperia Z5 Premium will go on sale in November. Read more about the Z5 Premium in our Sony Xperia Z5 Premium hands-on review and Sony Xperia Z5 Premium UK release date, price and specifications articles.

Best new phones 2015: Xiaomi Mi Note and Mi Note Pro 


Xiaomi has officially unveiled its Xiaomi Mi Note and Mi Note Pro, with the latter hailed as the most powerful phone in the world. Both offer staggering value at £244 and £350 respectively, given their amazing specs. These two Chinese phones are fitted with 5.7in curved screens - the Mi Note full-HD and the Note Pro Quad HD. The Mi Note Pro in particular should offer unrivalled performance, thanks to a 2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 64-bit octa-core chip, a massive 4GB of RAM and Adreno 430 graphics. And still it's thinner than the iPhone 6 Plus. There's loads more to drool over in Xiaomi's juicy spec sheet too. The Mi Note went on sale in China on 27 January and sold out within minutes, while the Mi Note Pro went on sale on 6 May. These phones won't officially go on sale in the UK, but it's probable that you'll be able to get them on grey-market or auction sites (see How to buy Xiaomi phones in the UK).

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