Flagship Fantastic: what is the best phone so far of 2016?

Sony Xperia Z5

sony-xperia-z5-review-2015-16

Screen size: 5.2 inches

Price: $999

The latest entry in Sony’s flagship “Z” range is all about packing as much into a normal sized phone and improving the experience.

Unfortunately, at the time we reviewed the phone, the device had its share of bugs, with heating and battery issues that may (and probably) have been fixed by now.

Still, the feature set was definitely there, was a great camera, lovely Full HD screen, solid build, and a resistance to water.

Before Samsung rocked up with its water-resistant Galaxy S7, Sony was there with a Z series, and provided it has been patched, it’s a phone you’ll want to look at.

Read our full review…

Google Nexus 5X (made by LG)

google-nexus-5x-review-2015-10

Screen size: 5.2 inches

Price: starting at $659

Google’s attempt to bring back all the love and respect for its Nexus 5 wasn’t quite the grand slam the company expected, appealing to owners of the Nexus 5 with a slight upgrade in the new variant.

If they were to dive in, they’d find a new processor, some better tech, a fingerprint sensor, and some cool cameras, but the original great $399 price of the Nexus 5 had almost been doubled to $659 in the 5X limiting its appeal.

It’s a nice phone, but it’s sure not the best phone so far.

Read our full review…

HTC 10

htc-10-review-2016-16

Screen size: 5.2 inches

Price: TBA

Exactly what last year’s HTC flagship should have been, the 2016 HTC “10” is a lovely phone crafted from metal delivering with it one of the most interesting evolutions of design, as well as a plethora of multimedia features that will excite anyone who likes audio or visual or just plain both.

There’s a lot to like here, even with the few bugs it arrives with, as the camera offers lovely imagery, the speakers are loud, and the phone can tailor make a profile so that it sounds better to your ears over headphones.

Definitely worth a look.

Read our full review…

Microsoft Lumia 950

microsoft-lumia-950-review-2015-14

Screen size: 5.2 inches

Price: $999

Microsoft’s first official flagship now that it has taken over from Nokia, the Lumia 950 is a curious beast.

For this phone, Microsoft has pulled together some solid hardware in a body that probably should be made from something other than plastic.

That said, the iris-based biometric security is very cool and Windows 10 looks and feels great on the phone, with the only issues we have with the Lumia 950 being a sub-par battery life and an app ecosystem that desperately needs work.

If you love Windows and everything about it, Microsoft’s Lumia 950 could be ideal, though the bigger battery of the larger 950XL could be the one to go for, unless you need a “normal” sized phone.

Read our full review…

LG G5

lg-g5-hands-on-2016-04

Screen size: 5.3 inches

Price: $1099

One of the more curious phones on the list, the LG G5 is a pretty big departure from the phones we’ve seen from the brand for the past few years.

After dabbling with rear power and volume keys, LG has scaled back what sits on the rear to a power button with an embedded fingerprint sensor, while delivering an experimental two-camera system on the back and a rather intriguing accessory system whereby you remove the bottom of the phone and add functionality.

It won’t be for everyone, but there are definitely some cool features to be had here.

Read our hands-on preview…

What we’d pick

The normal phones for 2016 (and late 2015) are all pretty good, but we’d probably look at Samsung’s Galaxy S7 for this category, with the iPhone 6S, HTC 10, and LG G5 all hitting the mark for a close second.

Interestingly, if you have to buy the iPhone, we’d actually recommend the older iPhone 6 over the 6S, if only because the battery on the 6 is just better. Sure, the camera and underlying tech in the 6S wins, but the battery life on the still available 6 makes it a great option still.

And those of you on budgets should consider the Oppo F1, simply because at $299, it’s the best value in this list.