2016 is coming to an end, it's time to take stock. Among mobile devices, smartphones are primarily interesting. Let's talk about them now. I’ll say right away that each device from this selection is not just a piece of hardware from the past year. All smartphones are decent and have a decent margin of safety. That's why they are the best.
This selection does not claim to be the most objective and complete. Of course, I couldn’t cover the entire mobile device market. Something, for one reason or another, passed me by, and some device is worthy, but is not sold here and is not interesting to my compatriots. We will also ignore such devices.
I have communicated with all the devices presented here in one way or another. Therefore, I advise you to pay attention to them when choosing your mobile assistant.
Let's line up all our heroes in a certain gradation. Let's break the selection down into nominations. There are expensive devices, there are mid-range ones, and there are also budget models. In each segment, our leader is in first place, the device behind him is in second place, and then it’s clear. Go!
Tops. From 40,000 rubles
The most expensive and high-quality devices of this year. When you buy them, you get complete mince, the maximum possible. Manufacturers of such devices, as a rule, provide the best service for their customers, and this also costs some money. That’s why, when spending 45 thousand rubles or more on a smartphone, you shouldn’t spend another 5-10 thousand and it’s better to buy a gadget from an official supply, with full service and a guarantee. Do not agree? Well, God is your judge.
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
A truly chic smartphone with a large, curved display at the edges. I did not share the well-deserved first place with its younger brother (regular), because it looks somewhat cartoonish against the backdrop of a large and serious “edge”.
Samsung, as always (the last 2-3 years), has managed to create the most technologically advanced device. If you want to be at the peak of progress, get the best display, a camera that puts digital point-and-shoot cameras costing up to 20 kilo rubles in your belt, and the most sophisticated software - take the S7 Edge. An uncompromising solution from all sides, with a corresponding cost - 59,990 rubles.
iPhone 7
This device began the next two-year cycle of the company’s smartphones, which means it offers an interesting design and characteristics of a qualitatively new level than its predecessor.
You can treat Apple in any way you like, endlessly scold it, call it a “cake” or vice versa, worship it and thoughtlessly buy all the new products. But it’s worth recognizing the objective reality - everyone wants an iPhone. Young people only talk about him. In an advertisement for washing powder, there is an iPhone on the housewife’s desk, and in an advertising brochure, in the passage of a bank specialist at work, there is also an iPhone. In the next newfangled series, what does your favorite hero have? Of course, iPhone! It is everywhere and whether we want it or not, it is a symbol of our time.
For those who don't understand. Samsung and Apple smartphones are useless and pointless to compare with each other. The first is bought because it is a technologically advanced device, the second - because society insists on the “right” choice. And these are two different worlds: logic reigns in one, emotions, psychology and product placement reign in the other. However, smartphones are iconic and clearly set the rules for the entire market.
Former A-brands
There were no more top-end, and most importantly, iconic devices for the entire year. Sony produces nice, but very strange smartphones. Everything seems to be good and cool, but when you start comparing, you realize that they are asking for the same amount of money as for a Galaxy S7 / iPhone 7. In general, well, don’t give a damn.
LG is generally one big experiment that only causes bewilderment. Last year there was a very interesting G4, this year.
HTC – what kind of company is this?
At the end of the year, we were presented with a terrible device that is not yet really sold anywhere and no one can boast of experience in close communication with it. Hence, the 9th “mate” is not included in our selection and, most likely, will be able to claim the title of one of the best market players in the first half of 2017.
Flagships are cheaper. 30,000 – 40,000 rubles
Frankly, this is the most pointless category. Smartphones at this level are all strange. They are not up to par with flagship and expensive devices (read iPhone 7 and Galaxy S7 / S7 Edge) for various reasons. And in comparison with the rest of the market, they all lose in price. Take the HTC One 10 - a boring, seemingly productive, but unforgivably expensive smartphone. Moreover, it is never a competitor to OnePlus 3.
Nevertheless, I still managed to find three devices that are worth paying attention to. Anyway…
OnePlus 3
The smartphone was released in the summer of this year and, unlike the previous, second generation, it has regained its status as a flagship killer. In my opinion. It has a chic build, a thin, elegant design, monstrous hardware (6 GB of RAM, just a minute), an excellent camera, but most importantly, software. Perhaps there is no device in the world that has been so extensively excavated that you can install not one, not two, but several dozen quite high-quality and interesting firmware.
Disclaimer. Why do I mention the Letyshops service? But because, firstly, I myself have not tried anything else, and secondly, I want you to save money. This collection is not only entertaining, it should also be useful. This is my extended answer to the topic: “What can you buy for ... rubles?” Enjoy it for your health!
And thirdly, yes, I get a small percentage from Letyshops. So these three reasons coincided successfully at once.
Nubia Z11
Official delivery
Smartphones from the “I went and bought them on the way home from work” series. Gadgets perfectly fit several criteria that are important for many: you have a certain amount of money, you want it here and now, with a guarantee, and so that it’s not some kind of bullshit without the Russian language and normal firmware.
Asus Zenfone 3
The Zenfone series surprises me extremely positively. Or rather, only one model - . I haven’t gotten around to the others yet, but by analogy with the previous generation, I figure that they won’t suit me very well.
ZE520KL is perhaps the most balanced, powerful, beautiful and officially sold device in our country. If you take something within 25,000 rubles, then only this.
Last year I was sincerely pleased with Zenfone 2 ZE551ML. It was sold for 18,000 rubles and for that money it was impossible to buy something even close in quality and performance. I have recommended it to so many people. Almost everyone obeyed, bought and were satisfied. All I mean is that this year the situation is repeating itself. So I have high hopes for the next Zenfon.
Current price: 23,990 rubles
Huawei Nova
If not the third Zenfone, then definitely Nova. Almost the same thing, with very minor differences, with the same excellent camera and a very promising Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor. A thing for those who for some reason did not like Asus.
Price: 22,990 rubles
Top budget employees. 10,000 – 18,000 rubles
When buying a device from this category, we spend little money and get a lot of goodies. Unfortunately, we won’t find anything interesting in official retail here. All smartphones will have to be ordered from China. The better - the savings are greater.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro
Success of the year. If people order any smartphone from China, it is the XRN3 Pro, because in terms of characteristics and cost we have a top-end gadget. And he remains so now. It’s not for nothing that many online stores continue to offer various promotions on it. By the way, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 processor is a good foundation for the future. Its performance will be enough for a year, and then the Note 5 will arrive in time to replace it.
Current price: 10,000 rubles
Nice appearance, good screen and processor, excellent software optimization - all this creates the feeling that the device costs more than it actually does. And the feelings are true, I must admit.
Price: 5,000 rubles
Conclusion and forecasts
In 2016, a lot of smartphones were released. New names appeared on the market, and Huawei became the world's third-largest supplier of smart mobile devices. Meanwhile, Apple and Samsung made several strategic mistakes. And if the mistakes of the Cupertino team will be noticeable only tomorrow, then the South Korean giant felt the negative and very serious consequences almost instantly.
All this means that we live in very interesting times and are witnessing events on a truly planetary scale, albeit within one sphere of human life. In just one year, so much has happened, so many phenomena have influenced the development of the market, which means that everything is accelerating and will continue to accelerate in 2017.
In any case, the purpose of this article is to help you make the right choice. I hope this collection and our site as a whole is useful to you. Well, in the meantime, I congratulate all readers on the upcoming New Year! Health, happiness and prosperity!
Every year, smartphone companies hold a presentation of their new product before launching sales. Every company has flagships—phones that sell best and have the most functionality. Every year, the innovative technologies used in smartphones become more sophisticated to please the sophisticated user, anticipating all expectations.
The best phones of 2016 share similarities in display size and average performance, but each has its own "something innovative" that makes each one of the top 2016 flagships.
1. Samsung Galaxy S7
The time difference between the announcement of the model and its going on sale was minimal—one and a half months. The Samsung Galaxy S7 could be purchased at the end of March 2016.
Galaxy S7 is the leader among flagship phones of 2016 both in functionality and in appearance. S7 has the most complete package of functionality, many times exceeding the capabilities of the latest new product from Apple 6S.
The octa-core Samsung Exynos 8890 processor, coupled with an enhanced graphics accelerator and 4 GB RAM, allows the phone to process data at impeccable speed, be it gaming applications or video streaming.
- slot for 2 SIM cards, which is quite rare for phone models of this class;
- ability to use SD card up to 200 GB;
- increased battery capacity: 3000 mAh in S7 and 3600 mAh for the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge version;
- the camera, in comparison with the previous S6 model, has not undergone any moderation in terms of megapixels (12 megapixels for the main one and 5 megapixels for the front one), but stabilization, focusing with “Dual pixel” and light sensitivity have been improved, which contributes to excellent and high-quality pictures at any time of the day;
- protection against dust and water, which gives the gadget 30 minutes of life under water without further failure;
- “always on display” is a new feature that is so often missing from phones. All important information - time, date, weather, dollar exchange rate, etc. — constantly on the screen. This will not affect the “battery consumption”, but on the contrary, will reduce energy consumption, since there is no longer a need to activate the display to view this information;
- fast and wireless charging;
- the ability to use virtual reality glasses, a fitness bracelet, and other accessories from Samsung with the phone.
The price of the Samsung Galaxy S7 is quite high (from 47 thousand rubles), but when choosing a phone of this class and price category, you should pay special attention to the “packing” and functionality, which make the Galaxy S7 a leader among mobile devices.
2. Apple iPhone 7
Apple iPhone 7 was presented recently and is already on sale. Powerful parameters elevate the new model to the lists of the best phones of 2016.
Apple iPhone 7, framed by its ideal case, has:
- 4.7-inch screen - iPhone 7; 5.75″ – iPhone 7 Plus/Pro;
- RAM 2 and 3 GB in 7 and 7 PRO, respectively
- in addition to the standard volumes of internal memory of 32 and 128 GB, you can add a capacity of 256 GB to choose from;
- the cameras in the phones will remain the same, with improved light sensitivity, plus there will be a dual camera that will allow photo/video shooting with an expanded viewing angle;
- Apple A 10 processor;
- iOS 10, which was also released;
- no headphone jack;
- sapphire glass;
- waterproofness of the phone case.
The price of an iPhone has always been within the cost of equivalent Samsung products and starts from 57 thousand rubles for the 7, and from 67 thousand for the 7 Plus. So the eternal question of the buyer is “what to choose: iOS or Android, App store or PlayMarket, etc.?” - it will remain without a concrete answer.
3. Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
Rounding out the top three best mobile devices in 2016 is the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium, a new phone from Sony with an innovative display. The 5.5-inch screen has not the usual Full HD resolution for almost all modern models, but a new 4K Ultra HD, which displays 3840x2160 pixels, which is a very high figure for a mobile phone.
In addition to a bright, colorful and rich display, the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium Dual was equipped with a 23 megapixel camera with eight times zoom. This is a great option for those looking for a phone with the best camera.
The “filling” of the Z5 Premium is quite powerful: 8 cores, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB built-in memory and a slot for SD cards with a capacity of up to 200 GB, a fairly capacious 3430 mAh battery and a stylish minimalist design of a metal and glass case with additional moisture /dustproof coating.
The price for this phone model ranges from 36,500 to 60,000 rubles.
4. LG G5
LG has taken things a step further with the new G5, making it one of the best phones this year. New body materials - aluminum and fourth-generation Gorilla glass - have reduced the weight of the phone to 157 grams, despite the rather large 5.3-inch screen with a resolution of 2560x1140 pixels. At the same time, there is also a slot for 2 SIM cards and SD cards with support for up to 2 TB.
The 16 megapixel camera with a wide viewing angle has laser autofocus and an improved stabilization system. Like the Galaxy S7, the LG G5 was equipped with the “always on” function.
The G5 has 3 GB of RAM with a quad-core processor, and 32 GB of internal memory.
The new phone from LG is “stuffed” with all kinds of sensors and navigation modules. But the big minus is that the battery is only 2800 mAh, which will amount to no more than 12 hours of real, active use before the battery is completely discharged. But, given that the phone is “modular”, it will not be difficult to replace the removable battery and continue working.
On the LG G5, the price starts at 39,990, which can be justified by a good camera and a removable modular battery.
5. HTC One M10
HTC One M10 is a long-awaited phone for fans of the HTC line. All the shortcomings have been removed and the inconvenient “Home” button is implemented differently in the new model. Under the all-metal body and 3rd generation Gorilla glass there are 4 cores with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 MSM8996 processor, 32 GB of internal memory (of which, unfortunately, only 23 are available, since the rest is occupied by the system), a slot for an SD card with a capacity of up to 2048 GB and, of course, a fairly capacious battery that will last for 27 hours of talk time.
The camera deserves special attention, as it is one of the few phones that allows you to take images in RAW format, having only 12 megapixels, but with laser autofocus and stabilization.
HTC One M10 has a fast charging system and a capacious 3000 mAh battery can be fully charged in a matter of minutes.
According to user reviews, although the model is not moisture resistant, it is considered “indestructible” due to its all-metal body. All these parameters make the HTC One M10 one of the best phones for 2016.
For HTC One M10, the price varies from 38,000 to 47,000 depending on the selected amount of internal memory: 32 or 64 GB. If you are a fan of the RAW format, then 64 GB will be relevant, since files in this format take up a lot of space.
6. Nokia Lumia 950 XL
Nokia Lumia 950 XL is the largest phone (PhabletPhone) among its family. An alternative to iOS and Android is Microsoft Windows 10 Mobile. The Lumia 950 XL was the best phone this year for Microsoft lovers.
The advantages are the use of Windows 10 and easy synchronization of the phone and data of multitasking office PC software, which has not yet been fully implemented in either iOS or Android.
The powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, 8 cores (64 bits) and 3GB of RAM makes the phone work quickly even in multitasking mode. The 5.7″ (WQHD) touch display with a resolution of 2560×1440 produces rich images that can be captured with the 20 megapixel main camera or the 5 megapixel front camera. The removable 3,340mAh battery is definitely a plus, but Microsoft claims the 950 XL will offer up to 75 hours of talk time.
7. Xiaomi Mi 5
In seventh position in the list of the best phones for 2016 is Xiaomi Mi 5. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor (MSM8996) in combination with 4 GB of RAM and the Adreno 530 GPU accelerator give this device a fairly powerful “stuffing”.
The 16 MP camera has focusing and optical image stabilization, plus a wide range of useful settings and presets. The front/front camera has 4 megapixels, which is also not bad for a flagship.
The 3000 mAh battery may not be quite capacious for a gadget of this class, but the “fast charging” function can return the battery to a full charge in just an hour.
The software has a proprietary Xiaomi MiUi shell, claiming its design and style to be similar to Apple's iOS.
Xiomi Mi 5 can be purchased with different amounts of internal memory (16/32/64/128 GB) and the price, accordingly, will vary depending on this parameter. In any case, the flagship from Xiaomi with 32 GB costs 2 times cheaper than its competitors, having the same functionality and, so loved by everyone, a laconic and even strict design.
8.Huawei P9
The 5.2-inch screen with a resolution of 1920×1080 is covered with 4th generation Gorilla glass. Hidden inside the Huawei P9 is an eight-core Huawei Kirin 955 processor with a graphics accelerator and 3 GB of RAM.
Quite a powerful combination, but the main thing about this phone is the cameras: there are two of them of 12 MP on the front side and one front of 8 MP. Any Huawei P9 review demonstrates high-quality photographs and videos. This phone is a photographer's dream!
The built-in memory of Huawei P9 is 32 GB, but it is possible to expand the memory with an SD card up to 128 GB. Strict design, high-performance hardware, a non-standard approach to cameras - creates a pleasant impression of the phone, taking into account the fact that for Huawei P9 the price starts from 30,000 rubles, depending on the amount of built-in memory and the selected version of Huawei P9/Huawei P9 Plus.
9. ASUS Z1 Titan
ASUS Z1 Titan is a new product on the market of the most popular mobile phones, expected by millions! Manufacturers intended to create a smartphone that would be close in functionality to a PC, but on Lollipop (Android 5.1).
A gaming smartphone as intended, the ASUS Z1 Titan smartphone has 4 speakers for high-quality sound and an ergonomic design for a comfortable fit in the user’s hands. Inside the ASUS Z1 Titan there is as much as 6 GB of RAM coupled with 8 Snapdragon 830 cores. Photo/video materials taken on the main 16 megapixel or 5 megapixel front camera are reproduced on a Super AMOLED screen with a size of 5.5 inches and a resolution of 2560 × 1440 pixels . The display is covered with Gorilla Glass of the new 5th generation. The release date of the model was scheduled for August 8, 2016.
10. Lenovo P90 Pro
This “Best Smartphone of 2016” ranking will present the top 10 best smartphones for the summer of 2016. The “Best Smartphone of 2016” rating was compiled based on customer reviews from Russia’s largest online stores. Only those smartphone models that scored at least 50% of fives on a five-point scale were rated. The technical characteristics of smartphones and the price/quality ratio were taken into account.
In the TOP 10 ranking of the best smartphone of 2016, Microsoft Lumia 950 XL takes 10th place.
Lumia 950 XL is a top-end Windows smartphone from the world famous company Microsoft. The model is an enlarged modification of the 2015 flagship with a larger screen diagonal. Lumia 950 XL is a phablet equipped with a 5.7-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2560×1440 pixels, a pixel density of 518 ppi, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protective glass and a light sensor. The device is armed with a powerful computing platform, which is based on an eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor with a frequency of 2 GHz, an Adreno 430 video chip, 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory, expandable using microSD memory cards. The main 20-megapixel camera with autofocus and dual LED flash, which records video in 4K resolution 3840×2160 pixels, also deserves special attention. Microsoft Lumia 950 XL is a technologically advanced Windows phablet for performing a wide range of modern tasks. The average price of Lumia 950 XL is 37,190 rubles.
In the TOP 10 ranking, the best smartphone of 2016 takes 9th place
Apple iPhone 6s is an updated version of the iPhone 6. In this case, we can say that the changes are not only evolutionary, but also quite innovative. In addition to standard improvements in camera quality and speed, the company has developed and implemented new touch screen technology in the iPhone 6s, which expands the capabilities of controlling the device. The display has an additional touch layer - 3D Touch, which senses touch force; now, depending on the pressure applied, additional functions and context menus, as well as new gestures, become available to the user. In addition to this, the device contains a Taptic Engine module, which is responsible for feedback when you press the screen. The heart of the smartphone is now the proprietary Apple A9 processor, which allows not only to make the interface work at lightning speed, but also to demonstrate excellent performance in games with increased graphics quality. The traditional strength of the Apple iPhone line, the camera, has also been redesigned, and now the main iSight camera is represented by a 12-megapixel sensor, with the ability to record 4K video. The Apple iPhone 6s case is made of durable 7000-grade aluminum. The average price of Apple iPhone 6s is 57,800 rubles.
In the TOP 10 ranking, the best smartphone of 2016 takes 8th place
The design of the smartphone attracts with a monolithic metal body. The original decision of the Chinese engineers was to change the Home button - the banal round sensor button became oval. The rear camera is the main highlight of the model. Its resolution is 20.7 megapixels. This high resolution of the Meizu MX5 smartphone is provided by the new generation Sony Exmor RS IMX230 photosensor. Its uniqueness lies in its laser autofocus technology, which allows you to take photographs even while moving. The screen of the new smartphone is 5.5 inches with a resolution of 1920x1080 Full-HD and a density of 401 ppi, which undoubtedly ensures high image clarity, since pixels will not be visible when it is brought closer together. The safety of the Meizu MX5 screen is guaranteed by Gorilla Glass 3 - it protects the display as much as possible from damage. The smartphone runs on a 64-bit MediaTek Helio X10 processor with 8 cores and a frequency of 2.2 GHz. The video card in the PowerVR G6200 device has a 64-unified pipeline and a GPU frequency of 700 MHz. The battery has become a little more powerful, its capacity (3150 mAh) allows you to intensively use the smartphone for quite a long time. The operating system has been updated to version 5.0 Lollipop. The average price of Meizu MX5 is 25,400 rubles.
In the TOP 10 ranking, the best smartphone of 2016 takes 7th place
Everything here is quite modern: the Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 platform, 2 GB of RAM (there is also a KIW-AL10 version with 3 GB), 16 GB of flash memory expandable via a microSD card. The seriousness of the Huawei Honor 5X's claims is confirmed both by the materials - the front panel is covered with glass, the back is made of metal with plastic inserts on top and bottom - and by the choice of colors. Narrow frames around the screen allow the device with a 5.5-inch screen, LCD display with IPS matrix and Full HD resolution, not to turn into a monster that does not fit into any pocket. A characteristic feature of the Huawei Honor 5X smartphone is its fairly powerful and well-placed speakers. It is impossible to block them by placing the gadget on its “back” - the call can still be heard. The average price of Huawei Honor 5X is 16,990 rubles.
In the TOP 10 ranking, the best smartphone of 2016 takes 6th place
The main feature of ASUS ZenFone 2 is its neat design, which houses a sufficient number of functions. Built-in ASUS TruVivid technology guarantees rich and dynamic images on the screen. The main camera with Real Tone flash and 13 MP resolution is equipped with innovative PixelMaster technology. As for the front 5-megapixel camera, you can simultaneously edit the picture while shooting, and the panoramic self-portrait function will allow you to take a panorama image with the optimal viewing angle. Productive operation of ASUS ZenFone 2, whose dimensions are 15.25 cm high, 7.72 cm wide and 1.09 cm deep, is guaranteed by the Android Mobile Technology Platform 5.0 (Lollipop) operating system, which copes with this very efficiently. The 4-core Intel Atom Z3560 1.8 GHz processor + PowerVR G6430 GPU quickly synchronizes the work of all applications, thanks to RAM - 2048 MB, built-in memory is 16 GB, and by installing a memory card it can be increased to 64 GB. Long uninterrupted operation in autonomous mode is guaranteed by a 3000 mAh battery. We must admit that the price of the ASUS ZenFone 2 smartphone is acceptable, so the device is worth buying. The average price in Russia for ASUS ZenFone 2 is 19,620 rubles, and in GearBest the price as of January 20, 2017 is 13,919 rubles.
In the TOP 10 ranking, the best smartphone of 2016 takes 5th place
The Lenovo P90 Pro smartphone comes with a stunning 5.5-inch Full HD display. The P90 Pro quad-core processor is the perfect combination of extreme performance and energy efficiency. Lenovo P90 Pro lasts a really long time. This is a fully functional smartphone that does not require constant recharging - the 4000 mAh battery provides up to 45 hours of talk time and up to 27.5 hours of active standby time. Effortlessly capture all of life's exciting moments at any time of the day or night with the excellent 13-megapixel rear camera with autofocus and 5-megapixel front camera. The range of built-in Lenovo DOit applications on your device gives you a wide range of possibilities. The P90 Pro smartphone supports high-speed LTE (4G) data networks. The P90 Pro is equipped with a large storage capacity, which is enough to save many photos and videos. The Android™ 4.4 operating system delivers unparalleled performance with optimized memory and improved touchscreen responsiveness. The average price of Lenovo P90 Pro is 16,000 rubles.
In the TOP 10 ranking, the best smartphone of 2016 takes 4th place
Thanks to its non-separable body, the Redmi Note 3 Pro smartphone feels like a monolithic device; it is almost impossible to get creaks or play from individual elements from it. The smartphone uses a 5.5-inch diagonal IPS screen with a resolution of 1080×1920 pixels; the matrix is covered by protective glass with an oleophobic coating. The display shows a fairly high-quality image, with good viewing angles and natural colors. One of the main differences between Note 3 Pro and Note 3 is the new Snapdragon 650 chipset using a 64-bit six-core processor, the Adreno 510 GPU is responsible for video processing. The device runs Android 5.1.1 OS, complemented by the proprietary MIUI 7.1 shell. The firmware here is global; all interface languages and Google services are initially available in it. Redmi Note 3 Pro is a dual-SIM device, but the slot is designed for one Micro-SIM and one Nano-SIM (instead of which you can use a microSD memory card). There is only one radio module; both SIM cards can operate in 3G and 4G networks. Redmi Note 3 Pro has a 4000 mAh non-removable battery. The main camera received 16 megapixels. The average price of Redmi Note 3 Pro is 11,290 rubles.
In the TOP 10 ranking, the best smartphone of 2016 takes 3rd place
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium is the world's first smartphone with a 4K display. The fifth-generation flagship from Sony received an IPS Triluminos display with a resolution of 3840x2160, which, combined with a 5.5-inch screen diagonal, gives an incredible pixel density of 806 ppi. In order to live up to its name in terms of performance, the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium is equipped with a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 system-on-chip, complemented by an Adreno 430 graphics core. The memory in the smartphone is implemented as befits a top-end device of 2015: 3 GB of RAM memory and 32 GB of storage, as well as the ability to expand the latter figure using microSD memory cards. The body of the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium also corresponds to the “Premium” prefix and is made of glass and metal. With the smartphone, Sony has set a new benchmark for photographic capabilities in smartphones. The main camera uses a 23-megapixel sensor with support for 4K recording. The average price of Sony Xperia Z5 Premium is 53,200 rubles.
In the TOP 10 ranking of the best smartphone of 2016, LG G4 takes 2nd place
The LG G4 smartphone is the company's flagship in 2015. The top smartphone model combines all the advanced solutions and the latest developments of the company in the field of mobile technologies. The most noticeable feature at first glance is the 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 2560x1440, which allows for image clarity of 538 dpi. The display is made using IPS technology and, combined with ultra-high resolution, produces a gorgeous image. The LG G4 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 system-on-chip, which includes a six-core 2+4 processor with all cores supporting 64-bit computing. The powerful Adreno 418 video core is also responsible for graphics performance. 3GB of RAM will allow you to forget about heavy applications unloaded from memory and allow your smartphone to become truly multitasking. The software capabilities of the smartphone are represented by the Android 5.1 operating system. LG is actively focusing on the photographic capabilities of the flagship, and here the smartphone has something to brag about. The maximum image resolution is 16 MP, there is also the possibility of optical stabilization and focusing using a laser beam. Selfie lovers will appreciate the 8-megapixel front camera. The average price of LG G4 is 27,250 rubles.
In the TOP 10 ranking of the best smartphone of 2016, Samsung Galaxy S7 takes 1st place
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is an evolutionary update of the flagship smartphone with a curved display. In the 2016 generation, the smartphone received an updated system on a chip, now it is an eight-core top-end processor from Samsung - Exynos 8890, made using a 14 nm process technology. The latter feature should have a positive effect on heating and energy consumption. The amount of RAM has increased to 4 GB, and the device has received a slot for a memory card; in some markets it can be combined with a second slot for a SIM card. Photographic capabilities have also been improved; the smartphone received a new camera module with a resolution of 12 MP and an f/1.7 aperture. The latest operating system Android 6.0. Fast wireless charging and fully waterproof. The average price of the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is 52,950 rubles.
If you are planning to update your smartphone, but are confused by the variety of models, we are happy to make the task easier and offer the best smartphones of 2016. The rating (Top 10) takes into account reviews from Yandex.Market users and ratings obtained based on the results of official tests and reviews of authoritative world publications: TopTenReviews, CHIP, TechRadar and PhoneArena. The list contains the most productive and optimal price-quality phone models.
Final ranking of the best smartphones of 2016
10. Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
RUB 54,990
Android 5.1
What do owners get for this price? 5.5-inch screen, 23 megapixel camera the envy of all selfies (hybrid autofocus and digital noise reduction included), three GB of RAM and 32 ROM memory, 3430 mAh battery. Disadvantages: gets warm when playing video, bulky.
37,826 rubles.
Android Marshmallow 6.0
This is the first all-metal flagship smartphone from the Nexus line. It's thin, sleek and looks very stylish. The battery is built-in (3450 mAh) and with an official charger equipped with a USB-C port, charging from 15% to 90% occurs in 30 minutes. 5.7-inch screen, memory - three GB of RAM and 32/64/128 GB ROM, two cameras - 12.3 (with laser autofocus) and 8 megapixels. Perhaps the best price/quality ratio in smartphone rating 2016.
8. Apple iPhone 6S
RUB 51,890
OS - iOS 9
The new iPhone 6S, with a 4.7-inch screen, handles games and programs faster than its predecessor and boasts a feature that Apple likens to the introduction of multi-touch. It's called 3D Touch and allows you to perform a variety of actions based on the force you press on the screen. Built-in memory - 16, 64 or 128 GB, RAM - 2. Disadvantages: large size, camera protrudes slightly from the body, expensive accessories.
7. HTC 10
39,990 rubles.
Android 6.0
5.2-inch smartphone with a 3000 mAh battery and a durable metal body. Users praise the sound from both speakers and headphones. Eight-core processor, Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 MSM8976. The “native” memory of 32 GB can be expanded up to 2048 GB. year, its characteristics and appearance are still unknown.
Disadvantage: the smartphone is quite thick and heavy, but some users will like it.
6.LG G5
40 498 rubles
Android 6.0.1
The newcomer to the rating, the 5.3-inch model, which received an update to version 7 of Android, delights users thanks to its top-end hardware (quad-core Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820 processor), removable battery (2800 mAh), and excellent cameras (16 MP + 8 MP) with laser focusing. 32 GB of memory can be converted into 128 GB by purchasing a memory card.
Disadvantage: slow Wi-Fi.
5. Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro
12,990 rubles.
Android 5.1
If you need a refutation of the stereotype “they make things in China cheaply, but poorly,” then buy this smartphone with a 5.5-inch display, a powerful (4050 mAh) battery and a 6-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 MSM8956 processor. It will serve you no worse than advertised European brands, and in a few years you can pass it on to your grown-up children. The memory (32 and 3 GB, built-in and RAM, respectively) is enough for both games and programs. And if it’s not enough, you can expand it up to 128 GB.
4. Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
59,990 rubles.
Android 6.0
A more capacious (3600 mAh) battery, a large 5.5-inch screen - these are the differences between this device and number three of the top 10 smartphones.
3. Samsung Galaxy S7
48,450 rubles.
Android 6.0
The Samsung Galaxy S6 was the best smartphone last season, and the iPhone 7 topped the 2016 smartphone rankings. Samsung has taken into account what users want: longer battery life, water resistance and a memory card slot. Advantages of the smartphone: 4 gigabytes of RAM and 32 gigabytes of ROM with the ability to expand up to 200 with a memory card, 3000 mAh battery, 5.1-inch screen, 12 megapixel camera with LED flash. Disadvantages: the glass is not very scratch-resistant, the battery is not removable.
2. Google Pixel XL
124,970 rubles.
Android 7.1
Top-end, high-status, expensive - and this is all about an “XL-sized” smartphone (the regular version has a smaller screen and a weaker battery). Pros: very bright 5.5-inch display, 12.30 MP camera with laser autofocus, Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 MSM 8996 Pro chip, 3450 mAh battery. It’s just that it’s sold in a small number of Russian stores, so the price is very high.
1. Apple iPhone 7 (7 Plus)
74,500 rubles.
One of the most beautiful and in the ranking. It has a 4.7-inch pressure-sensitive display (5.5 on the Apple iPhone 7 Plus), various sizes of built-in storage (32, 128 or 256 GB), a fast quad-core A10 Fusion processor and a new touch button instead of the old Home button. And also an excellent camera (12 MP) with optical stabilization. But there is no headphone jack, for some this is a “trick”, and for others it is an annoying innovation.
The best smartphones of 2016, ranking by authoritative publications
Smartphone rating 2016, TopTenReviews version
A reputable company that conducts marketing research of goods, services and software. Every year, experts present reviews based on the consumer properties of products, the best price/quality ratio, and user ratings. () 
Smartphone rating 2016, PhoneArena version
Perhaps the most famous foreign resource in Russia dedicated to specialized reviews of mobile technology. List of the best smartphones according to this online publication: () 
Since there are no more high-profile flagship announcements planned for 2016, this list of the best smartphones of 2016 can be considered final.
These best smartphones of 2016 deserve your attention.
When planning to buy a smartphone these days, it is almost impossible to make a mistake - their development has reached such heights that all manufacturers have learned to produce excellent devices for everyday use. To make sure of this, below we will describe the best smartphones of 2016 on the Android, iOS and Windows 10 operating systems. There has never been a better time to buy a new device!
17 best smartphones of 2016
1. Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge
A powerful combination from Samsung - Galaxy S7 (price about $611) and (about $735) - many are considered the best smartphones at the moment. Each model has a waterproof case with excellent design, cameras and screens, support for a range of accessories and services, such as the Samsung Pay payment system and the Gear VR virtual reality device.
2. LG G5 smartphone
The LG G5 (around $650) pushes the boundaries of what smartphones can do with modular components and a dual-camera setup on the back. Experienced users will appreciate the removable battery. The LG G5 has a top-quality display, a fast processor and a convenient fingerprint sensor.
3. Apple iPhone SE
