Last year, more than 1,100 new phone models were launched in India, according to a report by website 91mobiles.com. That means more than three phones were launched per day. This year has been equally manic, with popular brands such as Samsung, HTC, Micromax, OnePlus, Asus and Xiaomi of-fering new products, while new brands such as Meizu, Coolpad and Phicomm enter the fray.
What this means is that deciding which smartphone to buy can be a harrowing experience. To make everyone’s life easier, we picked out the best smartphones launched this year based on price, specifications, software and performance. We have reviewed all these phones previously. After an initial shortlist, we compared the selected phones with rival brands to see which of them offered something extra—it could be a feature that improves camera performance or one that offers smoother mail access.
TOP OF THE CHARTS
The LG G4 and the Samsung Galaxy S6 are the ultimate Android phones at the moment, with their unique design elements and powerful processors and cameras. But there are also affordable phones such as the ZenFone 2 and the Mi 4 that offer a smooth user experience and have fairly powerful specifications
LG G4
Rs.49,990*
www.lgbrandstore.com/in
Dressed in leather and with a curved design that allows for a better grip, the G4 looks sleek. We like that the back panel can be opened and the battery easily replaced, like phones of the past. It has a powerful processor and runs Android Lollipop with a refreshed custom interface. The highlight is the 5.5-inch Quantum Dot IPS (in-plane switching) screen with a 2,560x1,440 resolution. It is brighter than all its rival’s screens, and the colours look brilliant. The 16-megapixel (MP) camera has laser autofocus and takes excellent night-time shots. The G4 has 32 GB of storage and a 3,000 mAh battery.
Asus ZenFone 2
Rs.22,999
www.flipkart.com
The world’s first phone with 4 GB RAM, the Asus ZenFone 2 is handy for those who like to keep multiple apps running at the same time. It also signals Intel’s intent to break Qualcomm’s supremacy in the smartphone processor space—the Atom Z3580 quad-core chip is extremely quick and does not drain the battery. The 13-MP camera can take some neat low-light shots. The ZenFone 2 has a 5.5-inch full high-definition screen, 64 GB of internal storage and a 3,000 mAh battery.
Samsung Galaxy S6
Rs.49,900
www.samsungindiaestore.com
For the S6, Samsung adopted a new design philosophy that blends metal and glass. The Exynos processor paired with 3 GB RAM offers blazing-fast performance. The new TouchWiz interface is a massive improvement on the version the Galaxy S5 had. There are several useful features on the 16-MP camera—the fast f/1.9 aperture results in clear low-light photos, enhanced optical image stabilization eliminates hand-shake blur and auto HDR improves detailing. The S6 has a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED screen with a 2,560x1,440 resolution, 32 GB storage and a 2,550 mAh battery.
Xiaomi Mi 4
Rs.14,999
www.mi.com
The metal frame and chamfered edges give the Mi 4 a premium look. The 5-inch IPS screen (1,920x1,080 pixels) uses pixel-correction technology to improve colour richness. It runs Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor with 3 GB of RAM—specifications seen usually on much more expensive phones. The MIUI interface adds a lot of colour with eye-catching elements. The Mi4 has a capable 13- MP camera and 3,080 mAh battery. Even though the Mi 4i (
Rs.12,999) is the latest offering, the Mi 4 is Xiaomi’s standout phone of the year till now.
A CLOSE SECOND
If the G4 or the Galaxy S6 are not in your budget, there are some capable alternatives from Motorola and HTC. And if you don’t fancy Android, we have picked out the best BlackBerry 10 and Windows Phone options.
Motorola Moto Turbo
Rs.41,999
www.flipkart.com
The phone has a ballistic nylon-fabric finish, which gives it a distinct look and also improves grip. It has a water-repellent nanocoating for protection against small splashes and spills. Motorola’s own Assist, Actions, Voice and Display apps allow enhanced voice command responses. Other specifications include a powerful Snapdragon 805 processor, 3 GB RAM, a 21-MP camera and a mammoth 3,900 mAh battery.
HTC One E9+
Rs.36,790
www.flipkart.com
The HTC One E9+ runs MediaTek’s new Helio X10 processor with 3 GB RAM and delivers consistent performance. The 5.5-inch screen has a 2,560x1,440 resolution, in line with what most rivals offer. The 20-MP camera takes fairly detailed photographs, though we expect a future software update to improve sharpness. There is 32 GB of storage, a 2,800 mAh battery and the HTC Sense 7 interface.
BlackBerry Leap
Rs.20,088
www.snapdeal.com
This phone is so compact that you can type out an SMS with the same hand that is holding the phone. The BlackBerry Hub is an extremely convenient app: all messages, mails, social networks and other notifications are available in one place. During our tests, emails consistently showed up on the Leap at least a few seconds before they did on an Android phone. The on-screen keyboard’s size and layout are the same as those of BlackBerry’s physical Qwerty keyboards and is accurate. The 5-inch LCD screen has a 1,280x720 pixel resolution, and the phone has a 2,800 mAh battery and 16 GB of internal storage.
Microsoft Lumia 640 XL
Rs.15,499
www.microsoft.com
The flat-slab design ensures the 640 XL doesn’t feel ungainly despite its large size. The 5.7-inch IPS 1,280x720 resolution screen is the main attraction. Gorilla Glass 3 and ClearBlack technology improve black-colour depth and reduce reflection. Windows Phone works well on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 dual-core 1.2 GHz processor. The 13-MP camera is capable, and the phone is available in bright colours, including orange and blue.
JUST DIDN’T WORK
These two phones did not live up to expectations. The HTC One M9+ has a good design and efficient camera, but its performance doesn’t match that of the G4, Galaxy S6 or even the Moto Turbo.
The Sony Xperia E4 Dual’s specifications are inferior to even some lower priced phones.
HTC One M9+
Rs.44,999
www.flipkart.com
The conventional-looking M9+ has a solid metal build, and the 5.2-inch Super LCD3 screen (2,560x1,440 resolution) is in line with what one expects from an expensive phone. But the phone just doesn’t look as cool as its rivals. The processor, though capable, isn’t as fast as those of the G4 and S6. The 20-MP camera has improved low-light performance compared to HTC One M8’s UltraPixel, but the G4 and Galaxy S6’s cameras are miles ahead.
Sony Xperia E4 Dual
Rs.12,190
www.sonymobile.com/in
Phones in the
Rs.10,000-15,000 price bracket aren’t skimping on features, design and specifications anymore. But someone forgot to send Sony that memo. The E4 Dual has a 5-inch screen with a measly 960x540 resolution, just 1 GB of RAM to assist the processor, a 5-MP front camera and a 2,300 mAh battery. Comparisons with rivals don’t make for pretty reading. For example, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4G (
Rs.7,999 on Flipkart.com) has a 5.5-inch IPS display with 1,280x720 resolution, a more powerful processor, 2 GB RAM, a 13-MP camera and a 3,100 mAh battery.
*Prices may vary.
