Best Android phones (November 2015)

samsung galaxy s6 edge vs lg g4 aa (20 of 28)

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’ll be updating this list regularly as new devices launch.

Update, November 2015: This month saw the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium depart from the list to make room for the Xperia Z5. We are still in the process of reviewing the Z5 Premium, so we saw fit to replace it with another great Sony device for the time being. Also, we moved the Nexus 6P to the top of the list, right behind Samsung’s Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge.

Samsung Galaxy S6 (and S6 Edge)

Depending on who you ask, one might tell you that the last truly impressive member of the Galaxy S family was the widely popular GS3. While the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S5 were not bad handsets, their highly derivative nature came under fire, bolstered further by the fact that many of its rivals have since taken to pushing more premium builds made of metal, glass and other similar materials.

With the Samsung Galaxy S6, the Korean giant has finally delivered a truly premium Galaxy S experience, melding a glass front and back with a metal frame. Most tech journalists and even everyday tech enthusiasts agree that the redesign is a welcome one. Of course, Samsung’s new look isn’t without sacrifice, ditching Samsung staples like a removable back and battery. The microSD slot is also absent on the Galaxy S6.

Another major change for the Galaxy S6 is the processing package, with Samsung electing to leave behind Qualcomm, solely offering up its Exynos 7420 processor, paired with 3GB RAM. And finally, the software has also been scaled back a bit with the latest iteration of the Galaxy S.

Like the idea of the Galaxy S6, but hoping for something that stands out even further? The Galaxy S6 Edge offers the same specs, but adds dual-edges and a few special features that take advantage of the phone’s unique design.

Specs

5.1-inch Super AMOLED with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 577 ppi
Exynos 7420
3GB of RAM
32/64/128GB storage options (non-expandable)
16 MP rear camera with OIS
5 MP front-facing camera with 90 degree wide angle lens
Non-removable 2,550 mAh battery
143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm, 138 grams
143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm
138 grams
Android 5.1.1 Lollipop with TouchWiz

Buy the Galaxy S6 from Amazon Buy the Galaxy S6 Edge from Amazon

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 3450mAh 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!

We’ve just published our full review of this handset, and come to the conclusion that it’s up there with the best of the best. If you aren’t a fan of Samsung’s Galaxy S6 for any reason, you should get the Nexus 6P.

Specs

5.7-inch AMOLED display with 1440 x 2560 resolution
Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor
3GB of RAM
32/64/128GB of on-board storage, no microSD card slot
12MP rear-facing camera, 8MP front-facing camera
Non-removable 3450mAh battery
159.3 x 77.8 x 7.3mm, 178g
Aluminum, Graphite, Frost
Android 6.0 Marshmallow

Buy now from the Google Store $499 Buy from Amazon for $590

LG G4

With every phone on this list bringing something different to the table, LG attempts to offer the most with their latest flagship. While maintaining the design language and the unique elements of its predecessors, LG’s attempt to standout on the design front involved adding a subtle curve to the display, and the availability of different back cover options in a hard plastic or leather variants.

Speaking of back covers, the LG G4 is one of the very few flagships to come with a removable back cover, which makes possible an even rarer feature: a replaceable battery. A gorgeous Quad HD display, a great camera experience, and a smooth and fluid software iteration make for a fantastic device. If what is missing in other flagships kept you from buying them, the G4 just might be the phone that you’re looking for.

It should be noted that while LG recently released the V10 (found below), we found that the G4 still offers up some great features for the price.

Specs

5.5-inch LCD Quantum Dot display with a 2560 x 1440 resolution (534 ppi)
1.82 GHz hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor
Adreno 418 GPU
3GB of RAM
32GB of on-board storage, expandable via microSD up to 128GB
16 MP rear camera with LED flash, 8 MP front-facing camera
3,000 mAh battery
Android 5.1 Lollipop
148.9 x 76.1 x 6.3 – 9.8 mm, 155 grams

Buy from Amazon

LG V10

If you aren’t completely satisfied with the LG G4, perhaps the V10 will suit your needs. It has the same powerful Snapdragon 808 processor and 16MP rear-facing camera as the G4, but with a few extra features included. Most notably, the V10 sports a secondary “ticker” display LG calls the Second Screen. This extra display aims to provide its users useful information without the need to turn on the main screen. It will display app shortcuts, notifications, and even weather and battery percentage information. Although the placement is a bit wonky, we’re sure you’ll be pretty happy with the added benefit of having a secondary display.

The V10 also has two front-facing cameras for wide-angle selfies, a fingerprint scanner that’s actually really reliable, a MIL-STD-810G Transit Drop Compliant rating for shock absorption, and a 32-bit Hi-Fi DAC electronic processor with support for Qualcomm’s QFE2550 closed-loop antenna tuning solution. It’s also the first smartphone ever to come with a manual mode for taking video.

Both the V10 and the G4 are great smartphones. If you aren’t concerned with spending a bit more money, though, you should buy the V10.

Specs

Main display: 5.7-inch IPS Quantum Display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 513ppi
- Secondary display: 2.1-inch IPS Quantum Display with 160 x 1040 resolution, 513ppi
Hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor
Adreno 418 GPU
4GB of RAM
64GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 2TB
16MP rear-facing camera, 5MP Dual Lens front-facing camera
Removable 3000mAh battery
Android 5.1 Lollipop
159.6 x 79.3 x 8.6mm, 192g
Space Black, Luxe White, Modern Beige, Ocean Blue, Opal Blue

Buy from eBay

Motorola Moto X Style (aka Pure Edition)

With the original Moto X, Motorola proved you don’t need to have the latest specs to get a great user experience. With the second generation, the Lenovo-owned company took no chances and double-downed on the spec side as well, packing the new Moto X (2014) with a dense 5.2-inch AMOLED screen, a beefy processor, and a capable 13MP camera. But with the Moto X Style, Motorola reaches the perfect balance between performance, simplicity, price and... well, style.

By Style we are mostly referring customization capabilities, a factor which has been an integral part of the Moto X experience since day one. Customers can use Moto Maker to manipulate their devices' aesthetics to their will. You can change the color of the metal areas, engrave the back and even choose from a plethora of back options, including materials leather, wood, rubber and other materials.

The device is not a bad contender in terms of hardware, either. The larger screen puts the phone up with contenders like the OnePlus 2, Nexus 6, LG G4 and the Galaxy Note series. It may not sport the "best" processor in the market, but the Snapdragon 808 is pretty close to the 810, and Motorola has proven time and again they can make a super fast phone without the greatest chipset. The best part? This phone's price will start at only $399!

It's worth noting that the phone will be sold in most markets under the Style branding, though in the United States it will be sold as the Moto X Pure Edition, an unlocked model that will play nice with all U.S. carriers.

Specs

5.7-inch display with QHD 2560x1440p resolution
1.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 CPU
3GB of RAM
16/32/64GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 128GB
21MP rear cam, 5MP front camera
Non-removable 3000mAh battery
153.9 x 76.2 x 11.06 mm, 179g
Customizable via Moto Maker
Water resistant
Android 5.1.1 Lollipop

Buy now from Motorola for $399 Buy from Amazon for $399

Samsung Galaxy Note 5

It's hard denying that Samsung has always been the king of large-screened smartphones, and that still holds true today. With its crystal clear 5.7-inch display, powerful Exynos 7420 CPU and killer 16MP rear-facing camera, the Galaxy Note 5 is one of the best Android phones available on the market right now.

It's an all-around solid device, boasting an all-glass chassis that's similar to that of the Galaxy S6. It comes with an improved S Pen and some great multitasking features that will make it easy to get work done. The software is much more clean and simple than we've seen from the company in the past, too.

With all of that said, though, this device doesn't come without its caveats. Samsung's decision to omit the microSD card slot and removable battery has been a controversial one over the past few weeks, especially among Samsung die-hards. Even with these notable omissions, the Note 5 can still be considered one of the best out there.

Specs

5.7-inch Super AMOLED display with 1440 x 2560 resolution
Samsung Exynos 7420 processor
4GB of RAM
32/64GB of on-board storage, no microSD card slot
16MP rear cam, 5MP front cam
Non-removable 3000mAh battery
153.2 x 76.1 x 7.6 mm, 171g
Black Sapphire, Gold Platinum, Silver Titan, White Pearl
Android 5.1.1 Lollipop

Buy from Amazon

Sony Xperia Z5

Alongside the Xperia Z5 Compact and Z5 Premium, Sony unveiled another high-end offering, the Xperia Z5. Featuring a solid design, premium specifications and a slightly toned down software experience, the Z5 certainly brings a lot to the table.

It may not stray too far away from other Sony handsets on the design front, but there's nothing wrong with that. It's one of the sleekest and most elegant smartphones on the market, thanks to its mostly glass design and metal trim. It also has some pretty solid specifications under the hood. The Z5 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor backed by 3GB of RAM, and comes with a big 2900mAh battery. It also features Sony's new 23MP Exmor RS camera sensor, microSD expansion up to 200GB, and a fingerprint sensor that's embedded in the home button.

The Sony Xperia Z5 may not be the best smartphone on the market in terms of software, hardware or extra features, though it's still a really solid option for anyone looking for a premium Android handset without many compromises.

Specs

5.2-inch IPS LCD display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, 428ppi
64-bit octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor
3GB RAM
32GB storage, microSD expansion up to 200GB
23MP rear camera, 5MP front-facing camera
Non-removable 2900mAh battery
Android 5.1.1 Lollipop
146 x 72 x 7.3mm, 154g
White, Graphite Black, Gold, Green

Buy from Amazon

There you have it – our picks from the best Android has to offer right now. Missed anything? Tell us in the comments!

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