So recently I created an article looking at predicting what will be the best smartphones of 2017. However, of course, this is only a prediction based on what the predesscors of 2016 were like. For this reason, I thought it would be a good idea to look at what were the best smartphones of 2016, such as the best overall smartphone, best big screen phone, best budget phone, and the biggest flop.

 

Best Overall Smartphone 2016

With most smartphone manufacturers now producing both large and small variations of the same phone, it is not so much the size of the phones that will win this prize but the capabilities and features of the phone, irrespective of size.

1. Samsung S7 – This truly brought the competition to Apple featuring the most slickest Android phone out, with a micro-SD card slot, an extremely fast processor and optimised software and a beaufitful screen.
2. Apple iPhone 7 – The day the iPhone cannot be considered the ‘best’ overall phone will be a sad day. But, this is not yet the case. Although the headphone jack was removed, the iPhone can still be considered well infront of its main competitors, with a pressure sensitive touchscreen and a beautiful designed UI that anyone can use.
3. Google Pixel – This is meant to be the best Android phone out there and, to some extent, it is. However, the price, huge bezels and no expandable storage does make it a little less attractive to purchase than the Samsung S7. But, with the best smartphone camera ever, it gets spot #3.

 

Best Big Smartphone 2016

1. Samsung S7 Edge – This should be self explanatory. Having all of the attributes of the S7 with a beautiful and larger edge to edge screen makes this the phone to have.
2. Apple iPhone 7 Plus – Housing the same internals as the iPhone 7, it makes sense that the iPhone 7 Plus is going to be up there as one of the best big smartphones, just tipped by Samsung, though.
3. Google Pixel XL – You might be able to start seeing a pattern with this. The Google Pixel XL is a great phone, just that it inherents the same faults that the Google Pixel has.

 

Best Budget Smartphone 2016

Without doubt, this has to be between two phones: OnePlus 3/3T and the Motorola Z Play. Both are looking to be the best budget smartphone out there by trading specs for a cheaper price. However, although they are both considerably cheaper than the above smartphones, they do not lack specs as opposed to the market leaders. Using quick Snapdragon processers, having tons of ram, great screens, fingerprint sensors, optimised software, great cameras, huge batteries and more just make it clear that these phones are truly flagship killers.

 

Biggest Flop 2016

As you are most likely aware, this is only one contender for this prize and that is the self-exploding Samsung Note 7. However, putting this aside, there are a few smartphones that should be mentioned too:

• LG G5 where the modular design never really kicked off.
• Sony Xperia XZ where poor promotion meant this phone lacked the exposure to really become sucessful in 2016.