The most convenient smartphones of the year. The best Android smartphones (2016). Sony Xperia XA Dual: frameless, stylish and ergonomic

Price: S7 – 49,990 rubles, S7 edge – 59,990 rubles

Last year's Samsung Galaxy The S6 and S6 edge were good, but far from perfect. This year, the Koreans did a very competent job of correcting the bugs: they returned the memory card slot, added protection from dust and water, increased the battery capacity and made the devices more convenient, while maintaining a recognizable design.

And all this in combination with the new powerful proprietary Exynos 8890 chip, a cool AMOLED screen with Always On function and one of the best flagship mobile cameras. Resounding success was not long in coming, even despite the high prices.

Best Camera: Google Pixel

Price: from 50,000 rubles (not officially sold in Russia)

It seems a little strange to give this title to a smartphone whose photo module does not even have an optical image stabilizer. But Google Pixel takes not with hardware, but with software algorithms.

The bet on the always-on HDR mode worked flawlessly: users like bright photos with rich colors and no dips in dark and light areas. We expect a similar approach in competitors’ flagships in the coming year.

Optimal balance: Honor 8

Price: from 27,990 rubles

For the second year in a row, Huawei has managed to release the most balanced smartphone in the price category “up to 30,000 rubles.” Honor 8 is such a golden mean between affordable “mid-rangers” with weak cameras and uncompromising flagships.

The gadget has a glass body that shimmers beautifully in direct rays of light, a powerful and stable processor and - most importantly - cool dual camera. It is the latter, combined with regular discounts in the manufacturer’s official online store, that makes the device a very attractive purchase.

The most original flagship: Xiaomi Mi Mix

Price: from 49,000 rubles (not officially sold in Russia)

Most unusual smartphone This year it was presented not by famous brands with a long history, but by the Chinese from Xiaomi. The virtually frameless Mi Mix with a 6.4-inch diagonal and a ceramic body is impressive at first glance.

The sound here comes from the display instead of the speaker. It vibrates at a specific frequency and it really works! It’s even a little pity that in pursuit of the wow effect and record performance, the developers completely forgot about cameras and good battery life.

Android for the demanding and budget conscious: OnePlus 3

Price: 31,990 rubles

The noble Chinese OnePlus 3 has a powerful Qualcomm chipset (Snapdragon 820), 6 GB of fast random access memory LPDDR4, AMOLED display, two good cameras (16 MP main and 8 MP front) and 64 or 128 GB of permanent memory.

And all this, along with a 3000 mAh battery, is packed into a neat and thin metal case. A real dream for the most demanding and thrifty - from gray suppliers the gadget costs less than 30,000 rubles.

An improved version of the gadget was recently released - OnePlus 3T with Snapdragon 821, a 16-megapixel selfie camera, 128 GB of memory in the base and a more capacious 3400 mAh battery. It’s intriguing, but there’s no talk of saving here: in Russia such a device costs about 40,000 rubles.

Best compact: iPhone SE

Price: from 34,990 rubles

The best among compact smartphones the year is also becoming Apple gadget. We are, of course, talking about the small iPhone SE, into which the Americans managed to fit the powerful hardware from last year’s iPhone 6S. If this fact suddenly outrages you, then try to find at least one 4-inch Android smartphone with a decent camera and high performance.

Big Smartphones of the Year: Huawei Mate 9 and iPhone 7 Plus

Price: Huawei Mate 9 – from 45,000 rubles (not officially sold in Russia), iPhone 7 Plus – from 67,990 rubles

In August, it seemed that the title of best large-diagonal smartphone of the year was assigned to Samsung by default Galaxy Note 7. But “it didn’t work out” - problems with the battery led to fires, a recall of the model around the world and a halt in production.

Now the only alternative in the premium class is the 5.9-inch Huawei Mate 9, which is not yet officially sold in Russia, with a very decent Leica dual camera and a brand new proprietary Kirin 960 chip, which is not much inferior to the Snapdragon 821.

Apple's small but highly desirable line of smartphones also has its own super-shovel - the iPhone 7 Plus. This time it differs much more from the usual “seven”: the camera is equipped with a two-fold “zoom” and can programmatically blur the background when shooting portraits.

It’s just a pity that since the iPhone 6 Plus (2013, by the way), Americans haven’t bothered to improve ergonomics. As a result, the 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus is almost identical in size to the 5.9-inch Huawei Mate 9.

Best Power Optimization: Moto Z Play

Price: 34,990 rubles

It would be logical to mention at this point some plump and faceless smartphone with a 5000-10000 mAh battery, but the Moto Z Play looks much more appropriate here. Yes, it’s expensive (35 thousand rubles in Russia). Yes, strange design. Yes, the performance and camera are not the best.

Reading time: 70 min

Rating best smartphones compiled taking into account their basic parameters. In order to create a reliable rating of the “10 best smartphones of 2016,” you need to take into account all the characteristics, and also pay attention to such an indicator as the price/quality ratio.

In the rating, we will look at the flagships of the leading companies in the world, which were able to achieve a high combination of product quality at a realistic price, and smartphones that, at a relatively low price, included powerful parameters. Device owners cannot be ignored, since they will be able to best assess the advantages and disadvantages of smartphones, and their opinion is also taken into account.

10th Place -Apple iPhone 7 Plus 128 Gb

Why is the leading company held in such low esteem? – Yes, it’s all about the price category and the quality of the filling. Such a smartphone costs $1100-1300, which is several times higher than the cost of other lesser-known manufacturers.

On Yandex Market this model received about 73% excellent reviews, which is not bad.

Regarding the characteristics of the iPhone 7 Plus, it includes the new iOS 10 operating system, one step higher than its predecessor. Includes a 5.5-inch screen and a resolution of 1920/1080 (FullHD). Depending on the model, in our case 128GB of memory and 3GB of RAM. The disadvantage of the smartphone is that the memory is not expandable and there is only one SIM. Made in a waterproof case. Battery capacity 2900 mAh. On average, under load it can work for 21 hours, in an inactive position for 384 hours.

Alas, the iPhone 7 could not top the top of the best smartphones of 2016 due to the lack of advanced solutions with which it should crush its competitors. As a result, we got a slightly upgraded iPhone 6. So, what's distinctive about it:

Dual 12MP camera. In fact, a very new solution, which a year ago was used in Huawei Honor 6 Plus. It's a good idea, but it didn't work out in practice. the best solution, since due to several camera sensors, blurring of some frame elements occurs, but there is a post-focus function when you can set it after shooting. Improved aperture allows you to capture 50% more luminous flux.

Many experts agree that the iPhone 7 does not lead the niche even in terms of the best cameras, and takes an honorable 3rd place after HTC 10 and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. Front camera 7MP

Removed analog output. Now regular headphones will not work for iPhone 7. This technique has already been used before and is also not an innovation. But you'll have to buy wireless headphones for $159, you can also use an adapter;

Since there is no special hardware in the smartphone, and the price is very high, we only gave it 10th place. However, it remains quite powerful due to optimization, and is expensive due to its iconic name.

9th Place - Huawei Nexus 6P 64Gb

The cost of the smartphone is 30 thousand. rub. It’s not too cheap, but the companies got good results. The characteristics are not inferior to competitors and allow them to occupy their proper position in the top:

System – Android 6.0;
Screen – 5.7 inches, with a resolution of 2560x1440;
Memory – 64 GB native and you can insert an external one up to 200 GB;
RAM – 3GB;
Battery – 3450 mAh;
Support for two SIM cards;
Cameras - 12.3 MP main and 8 MP front. When evaluating with the iPhone 6S Plus, we did not notice a significant difference; they are approximately equal. Includes laser autofocus with dual LED flash.

The device was released to the world as a result of cooperation between Huawei and Google, so some of the smartphone’s controls will look very familiar.

8th Place - Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

A modest position for the flagship of one of the leaders in the world. Users also agree with us, giving only 42% of the highest ratings. Despite the fact that the characteristics are really good, the price reduces the achievements too much; it is 51 thousand. rub.

The main feature is a very high-quality camera, ranking second in the world after HTC 10. Standard Features:

System – Android 6.0;
Screen – 5.5 inches, with a resolution of 2560x1440;
Memory – 32 GB native and you can insert an external one up to 200 GB;
RAM – 4GB;
Battery – 3600 mAh;
Support for two SIM cards;
Cameras – 12MP rear and front 5MP. Includes support for Dual Pixel, which means the capacity of 2 photodiodes, and this leads to fast focusing and allows you to capture all the details of movement, regardless of the speed of the body and the level of light penetration. The matrix zooms up to 1.4 microns, it captures a lot of light and therefore produces high-quality photos at any lighting level. Unprecedented function of capturing motion in an animated panorama;
The smartphone is waterproof and allows you to shoot underwater.

7 Place - Micromax Canvas 5 E481

Average price range (15 thousand rubles) of the device and high quality is also able to answer the question of which smartphone is better to choose.

Combines:

OS Android1.1;
2 inch screen 1920x1080, protective glass Gorilla Glass 3;
8-core 64-bit processor with a frequency of 1.3 GHz;
The central camera is 13MP, and the front camera is 5MP f/1.9;
RAM – 3GB;
Built-in memory 16GB expandable to 64GB.

6 Place – Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro 32Gb

The popularity of the smartphone is given by the tempting price of 12.5 thousand. rub. And it can be called the best smartphone of 2016 with powerful battery according to the people. Of course, there are more advanced models, but the attractive price and high-performance device leaves no chance for competitors. More than 120 million devices have already been sold worldwide and occupies one of the leading positions.

So, inside the flagship Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro contains:

OS Android 5.1 Lollipop;
5.5 inches screen with FullHD resolution;
Memory – 32GB;
RAM – 3GB;
Main camera 16MP, front camera 5MP;
Huge capacity battery 4050 mAh.

5 Place - Lenovo Vibe X3

If you still haven’t decided which smartphone to choose, then think about this option. At a cost of 19 thousand rubles. combines a 5.5-inch FullHD screen, Android 5.1 Lollipop, 32GB of memory and 3GB of RAM. The main camera is 21MP, and the front camera is 8MP. The standout feature of the smartphone is the Sony IMX230 Exmor RS sensor with phase detection autofocus. Using stereo speaker technology, high-quality and loud sound is transmitted. The battery is very capacious 3500mAh.

4 Place -LG G5 S.E. H845

The main novelty of this device can be called modular equipment, in this way you can change modules and turn your smartphone into a full-fledged camera using a special LG Cam Plus unit or a full-fledged professional player with LG Hi-Fi Plus.

More than 83% of users gave the smartphone maximum ratings on Yandex Market.

Also, the characteristics are not inferior to competitors, since it contains:

OS Android 6.0;
3 inch screen with 2560x1440 (QHD) format;
32GB of permanent memory expandable up to 200GB;
3GB RAM;
Contains as many as 3 cameras: main 16MP, 8MP wide-angle and 8MP front. Two pictures are taken simultaneously, main and wide-angle, from which you can choose. When compared with the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, experts found approximately the same overall quality, since each has strengths and weaknesses.

Considering that the price is significantly lower (about 37 thousand) than that of the leading corporations Samsung and Apple, and the quality is not inferior to them, you can safely choose the LG G5 SE H845.

3rd Place - ASUS Zenfone 3 ZE552KL

The list of the best smartphones of 2016 opens with ASUS Zenfone 3, as it is in the top three. If you are wondering which smartphone is better in 2016, then do not ignore this device. It is not the most powerful, but the excellent combination of price (26 thousand rubles) with one of the best sets of characteristics leaves no chance of not including it in the top.

Equipped with ASUS Zenfone 3 Android 6.0, 5.5-inch screen and FullHD (1920x1080) resolution, 64GB of memory (can be expanded by 128GB) and 4 RAM. Standard battery 3000mAh. Stylish case made of high-strength glass using Gorilla Glass.

Two cameras 16MP and 8MP respectively. Presented as a camera phone and it really does well in this niche, perfect for a budget option. The only one of its kind, it has TriTech triple autofocus and also includes a fast f/2.0 lens. All possible types of focusing are used in this decision, which sets it apart from its competitors. Focusing occurs accurately and lightning fast in 0.03s, almost imperceptibly to the eye. The system also combines optical and electronic stabilization. There is a color correction sensor, and all this together makes the photos incredibly realistic and clear. The stabilization is very advanced, allowing you to shoot even on the go without significant loss of quality, and this was made possible thanks to 4-axis optical and 3-axis electronic stabilization.

Also a nice bonus is the amazing sound in 24-bit/192 kHz format, which is 4 times higher quality than audio CDs.

2nd Place - HTC 10 – the best camera

Which smartphone to choose in 2016? - HTC 10 is the undoubted leader among the entire niche and if you choose it, you won’t go wrong. High specifications for an affordable price - this is clearly about the HTC 10. It is positioned as a camera phone and deservedly so, because so far better camera it didn't work out. Its cost is 35 thousand. rub.

Runs on Android 6.0, with AMOLED protection 5.2 inch screen. A high resolution 2560x1440, 32GB of memory and 4GB of RAM. There is support for an external flash drive and a 3000 mAh battery. Has a fingerprint scanner.

The camera is 12MP, and the front one is 5MP. For the first time, both cameras have optical stabilization. Thanks to UltraPixel technology, the camera is able to receive up to 136% of light, which also allows it to have high definition. The camera lens and aperture are ƒ/1.8", in a smartphone the front camera is almost as good as the main one, with all the functions. Excellent 4K quality is combined for the first time with Hi-Res 24-bit stereo sound recording. This audio recording contains 256 times more detailed sounds and supports 2 times more wide range.The camera starts in 0.6s.

Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge

Following the success of the Galaxy S6 in the new Samsung design decided to release almost the same flagship, but took into account some important comments from users by returning the card slot microSD memory and moisture protection according to IP68 standard. Both devices received a glass body with a metal frame and an enlarged camera module. The only serious and noticeable Galaxy difference S7 Edge from S7 - a display curved on the sides and a larger screen diagonal (5.5 inches versus 5.1).

Otherwise, the characteristics are the same: Quad HD resolution Super AMOLED display, covered protective glass Gorilla Glass 4, 8-core Exynos 8890 processor with a clock frequency of 2.3 GHz (4-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 with a frequency of 2.15 GHz in the American model), 4 GB of RAM and 32/64 GB of internal memory, 12-megapixel main camera and 5-megapixel front, as well as a 3000 mAh battery (3600 in S7 Edge).

Separately, it is worth noting the camera, which has been recognized as the best more than once mobile camera and in many cases even beats the iPhone 7. Galaxy Review S7, Galaxy S7 Edge - .

Price (about 42,000 rubles for Galaxy S7 and 50,000 rubles for S7 Edge).

chic design;
high performance;
excellent camera;
IP68 protection;
bright and clear display.

Not everyone likes the proprietary TouchWiz interface.

Google Pixel and Pixel XL

The first smartphones, completely developed by Google, turned out quite well. Undoubtedly, these are the fastest Android smartphones on the market, which were only let down by high price and mediocre autonomy. In addition, the Pixel's design is unusual and recognizable, but it won't appeal to everyone.

One of the main advantages of Pixel is the built-in voice Google Assistant Assistant, which is still at the development stage, but is already surprising with its capabilities. If previously Google Now could only perform basic functions, such as setting a reminder, turning off Wi-Fi or searching the Internet, now Assistant has become much smarter and can fully compete with Apple's Siri and Microsoft's Cortana. Google also refreshed the external Android view. Detailed review of Pixel Launcher.

At the presentation, the company said that the Google Pixel camera is the best on the smartphone market. Although using digital stabilization instead of electronic stabilization is a controversial decision, photos and videos are obtained at the level of the Galaxy S7 and iPhone 7, and sometimes especially when it comes to detail.

The regular Pixel is distinguished from the Pixel XL by a smaller screen diagonal (5 inches versus 5.5 for the XL version), Full HD resolution instead of Quad HD in the older version and a 2770 mAh battery, while the Pixel XL has a capacity of 3450 mAh. The rest of the specifications are identical: 4-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor with a frequency of 2.15 GHz, 4 GB of RAM, 32/64 GB of internal memory without expandability, 12-megapixel main camera and 8-megapixel front camera.

Price: about 50,000 rubles (Google Pixel), 70,000 rubles (Google Pixel Xl).

best performance among Android smartphones;
excellent display;
one of the best mobile cameras;
unusual design.

inadequate moisture protection according to IP53 standard;
low time battery life.

, became the first smartphone from a third-party manufacturer (not Google) with Android 7.0 Nougat on board.

The main feature of the LG V20 is the small screen located above the main 5.7-inch display. It shows missed calls and notifications or can display the user's own message, up to 24 characters long. This time LG added a few more new ones useful functions, for example, the ability to place icons quick access or search string. The company also said that the additional screen is 50% brighter than its predecessor.

One more interesting feature The smartphone can be called optical image stabilization from Qualcomm called Steady Record 2.0. It is a real-time electronic image stabilization system based on gyroscope data and frame flow analysis.

LG V20 runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, has a 5.7-inch QHD screen, 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal expandable memory, two main cameras: 16-megapixel and 8-megapixel with a wider viewing angle. The battery capacity was 3200 mAh. There is also support for Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0.

Price: about 45,000 rubles.

additional screen;
high-quality main display;
top specifications;
removable battery with support for Quick Charge 3.0;

lack of protection from dust and moisture;
controversial design.

HTC 10

A unique feature of the NTS 10 is that it is the first Android smartphone with native support for Apple's proprietary AirPlay streaming standard. Despite the fact that the NTS company is experiencing serious difficulties, the 2016 flagship, unlike last year’s M9, turned out to be capable of competing with the leading players in the market.

HTC 10 received a 5.2-inch QHD display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory, a 12-megapixel main camera of mediocre quality and a 5-megapixel front camera, as well as a 3000 mAh battery.

Price: about 35,000 - 38,000 rubles.

interesting design;
top characteristics;
excellent sound;
high quality display.

Not the best camera compared to competitors.

Traditionally, with the beginning of each new quarter, Sony presents new flagship, which is practically no different from the previous one. So in September it was with a 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, 3 GB of RAM and 32/64 GB of internal expandable memory, 23-megapixel main and 13-megapixel front cameras, as well as a 2900 mAh battery. It is worth noting that the smartphone display supports X-Reality Engine technology.

Price: about 45,000 - 50,000 rubles.

premium design;
excellent image stabilization, carried over from the A7 II DSLR;
laser autofocus and hybrid autofocus that predicts subject movements;
protection according to IP65/68 standard.

small battery capacity;
overcharge;
heavy weight.

The Chinese company releases new smartphones almost every month. Basically, they are not fundamentally different from each other in terms of design, but the Mi Mix has made a difference thanks to its edge-to-edge display.

It’s worth noting right away that the device only conditionally does not have frames; in fact, they are, but very thin. Maximum narrowing of the frames made it possible to achieve body sizes comparable to the Nexus 6P, which has a diagonal of 5.7 inches.

Mi Mix looks very impressive and unusual; the body is made of ceramic. The combination of a huge 6.4-inch edge-to-edge display and a ceramic back panel leaves questions about the smartphone's shock resistance. Many people are also interested in the issue of accidental clicks, but according to user reviews, there is no such problem.

As for the characteristics, Xiaomi Mi Mix is equipped with the latest fashion: Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, 4/6 GB of RAM and 128/256 GB of internal memory, 6.4-inch screen with a resolution of 2040x1080 pixels, 16-megapixel main and 5-megapixel front cameras and 4400 mAh battery.

Price: about 65,000 rubles.

luxurious and truly unique design;
thin frames around the screen;
top filling;
good autonomy.

high price;
not the best photo quality;
heavy weight (209 grams).

The original Xiaomi Mi5 was introduced in April 2016, and since then the market has changed a bit. Although this is a fairly successful year for Xiaomi, largely thanks to budget smartphones Redmi line, having a current flagship is always good.

Mi5s Plus is very similar to Mi5 and has similar specifications. The device received a 5.7-inch Full HD display, new processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 821, 4/64 GB or 6/128 GB of memory, dual 13-megapixel camera and 4-megapixel front camera, as well as a 3800 mAh battery.

Separately, it is worth noting the camera system, which works on the same principle as in the Huawei P9 - one module shoots in color mode, the other in monochrome. In addition, the smartphone can capture images from two cameras at once and then combine the image.

Price: about 26,000 - 30,000 rubles.

excellent autonomy;
affordable price;
dual camera;
bright display.

not very loud speaker;
Not the best video quality in low light conditions;
The display is not very scratch resistant.

Moto Z Play

One of the highlights of 2016 was the Moto Z Play, all thanks to its replaceable modules. With one movement of your hand you can turn your smartphone into great camera, music player or even a projector. But there is a problem - all this is very expensive.

As for the characteristics, Moto received a 5.5-inch screen with Full HD resolution, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory with expandability, a 16-megapixel main and 5-megapixel front camera, a 3510 mAh battery .

Price: about 16,000 - 19,000 rubles.

unusual modular accessories;
unusual design;
relatively low price.

lack of protection from moisture;
not the most powerful processor;
Not an impressive camera.

OnePlus 3T turned out to be very unexpected, but quite . The device still has an all-metal body, a 5.5-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, 6 GB of RAM and 64/128 GB of internal memory without microSD support, a 16-megapixel main and 8-megapixel front camera, as well as a 3400 mAh battery.

Essentially, this is the same OnePlus 3, but with an updated chipset and increased battery capacity; all other specifications remain unchanged.

The lack of support for memory cards and not very good battery life make you think about the advisability of the purchase, however, in general, the OnePlus 3T is worth the money.

Price: about 30,000 - 35,000 rubles.

premium metal design;
top filling;
excellent main camera;
attractive reasonable price.

no microSD support;
autonomy is still at an average level.

LeEco Le Pro 3

LeEco, like many other Chinese brands, is famous for selling smartphones at half the price. It is noteworthy that Le Pro 3 lacks a 3.5 mm headphone jack, which is still atypical for smartphones. In general, the design of the device does not stand out in any way. Looking at the smartphone, you can immediately notice that it has ugly black frames around the screen, like the Xiaomi Mi5.

It's safe to say that we've already seen most of the 2016 flagships. One way or another, all market participants showed their vision top smartphone this year, so we decided to collect all the “heroes of our time” in one list. It can be supplemented with literally several devices, the announcement of which is scheduled for this fall. Their names are easy to guess: Samsung Galaxy Note 6, Apple iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, smartphone and Nexus phablet.

OnePlus 2 64 GB

The Chinese company OnePlus has seriously hit the smartphone market, showing that a flagship can be affordable. Today, the new OnePlus 2 can be purchased for about 25 thousand rubles. At the same time, you will receive a top-end Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal memory. The smartphone has a high-quality 5.5-inch display with Full HD resolution. You can also note the 3300 mAh battery, which allows the device to work throughout the day.

The main camera with a 13 megapixel sensor takes very good pictures, and the 5 megapixel front camera is perfect for self-portraits. We also note its attractive appearance, small frames around the screen and a back made of rough plastic. According to good tradition, you can purchase on the website back cover made of wood or even stone.

Xiaomi mi5 32 GB

Another flagship that can be called affordable. Manufacturer - Xiaomi, the threat of all big companies. It's easier to say what they don't do. There are batteries, fitness bracelets, smartphones, tablets, and a rice cooker from Xiaomi on the market. There are also persistent rumors about a laptop made by them. The announcement of Xiaomi mi5 took place at a global exhibition. The device was presented simultaneously in China and Spain (Barcelona).

Of course, we are waiting for the autumn presentation of Apple products, at which the world will be shown the iPhone 7 in a new design. His concepts are already coming from the pens of designers all over the world. Nevertheless, the iPhone SE can also be considered the flagship of 2016. In terms of appearance, this is the familiar iPhone 5/5S, whose aluminum body is almost 3.5 years old. Inside is hardware from the iPhone 6S, packed in a smaller “box”: a top-end A9 processor, 2 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal memory (we are considering the version with a larger amount of memory, because 16 GB in modern world- very little). The iPhone SE has a four-inch display with a resolution of 1136 by 640 pixels.

In comparison with the presented Android phones, the battery capacity is two times smaller - only 1624 mAh.

The main camera has also moved from the iPhone 6S. This is a 12-megapixel sensor with an f/2.2 lens, phase detection autofocus and a two-color flash. The front camera has a resolution of only 1.2 megapixels.

Asus Zenfone Zoom

The flagship that paves the way for the return of the Moto brand to the Russian market after a five-year absence. It’s interesting that the entire Moto X line, which consists of three smartphones (Play, Style and Force), has the same main camera unit. It has 21 megapixel sensors, a two-color CCT flash and phase detection autofocus. The front camera is 5 megapixels, and only the Play is not equipped with a flash.

Otherwise, this is a device with advanced power: an eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory. It is possible to expand using microSD. It is important to note the large battery capacity (3760 mAh), thanks to which the smartphone operates throughout the day under active load.

Another interesting feature is the unbreakable Moto ShatterShield screen. There is a 5.4-inch diagonal POLED display with Quad HD resolution. Unfortunately, if you look at the screen directly, it turns a little greenish, but this is a kind of payment for the fact that it will survive more than one fall.

Samsung Galaxy S7 edge

The most interesting and high-profile new product of the year, the most unexpected and surprising collaboration. Huawei P9 is a smartphone with Leica's hand in camera. A sensor from Sunny Optical Technology, a certified camera manufacturer for a German company, is installed here. Smartphones also use Leica SUMMARIT optics. But most importantly, there is not one, but two rear cameras: color and black and white. Both sensors have a resolution of 12 megapixels and optics with an f/2.2 aperture. There is phase detection autofocus and two-color flash. The 8 MP front camera is perfect for self-portraits.

The power inside is solid: HiSilicon Kirin 955 processor, 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory. There is a universal slot where you can insert a microSD or a second SIM card. The smartphone has a 5.2-inch display with Full HD resolution. A non-removable battery with a capacity of 3000 mAh is responsible for autonomy.

HTC 10

The Taiwanese company has been using the relatively successful design of the One line for another year: this year the main change was wide polished chamfers. But the main surprise is the device’s camera, which our colleagues from DxOmark rated extremely highly, putting the HTC 10 on the same level as the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge. The camera has a 12 megapixel sensor with UltraPixel technology (the 4 megapixel front camera also uses this technology).

Inside the HTC 10 is flagship power: a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, 4 GB of RAM, 32 or 64 GB of internal memory. There should be no problems with space: the device has a dedicated microSD slot. The smartphone has a 5.2-inch display with Quad HD resolution. Note the non-removable 3000 mAh battery.

LG G5

This flagship can be considered one of the most innovative on the market, since LG came up with a new form factor for the device: using special replaceable LG Friends modules, you can turn your smartphone into a Hi-Fi player or a camera with a comfortable grip. The camera unit is also original: here, as in Huawei, there are two cameras, but the first has a viewing angle of 80°, a resolution of 16 megapixels and f/1.8, and the second is wide-angle (135°) with an 8 megapixel sensor and f/2.2. The camera is equipped with laser autofocus, optical image stabilization and LED flash. The 8 MP front camera is perfect for taking selfies.

Inside, advanced power: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory. It is possible to expand the latter using microSD. The device has a 5.3-inch display with Quad HD resolution. The battery is small - 2800 mAh. But it can be easily and quickly replaced with another, or you can take a special LG Cam Plus grip, which has an additional 1200 mAh battery.

Sony Xperia X Performance

Another interesting new product is Meizu Pro 6, which will most likely cost a little less than flagships, since it is designed and manufactured in China. The device has a main camera with a 21 megapixel sensor and a lens aperture of f/2.2. Interestingly, Meizu Pro 6 uses dual autofocus (phase and laser), and there is also a ring flash with ten LED diodes.

As for power, on paper everything is simply cosmically cool, because Meizu Pro 6 is the first smartphone with a ten-core MediaTek Helio X25 processor. Inside there is 4 GB of RAM. Versions with 32 and 64 GB of internal memory will be available. The device does not have a microSD slot. There is a 5.2-inch screen with Full HD resolution. The battery capacity is 2560 mAh.

In December, it is customary to compile various ratings and remember the most significant events of the last twelve months. We have not forgotten about this tradition and decided to collect in one large material the 28 best smartphones that appeared on the market this year.

Apple iPhone 7: the new market leader

Each new development from Apple causes a huge stir and collects millions of orders. This happened with the iPhone 7.

The device received a new body color option - “black onyx”, as well as protection from moisture and dust according to the IP67 standard, but lost the usual audio jack. The 4.7-inch Retina HD display perfectly conveys the smallest image details and colors, the quad-core Apple A10 Fusion chipset breaks all possible performance records, and iOS versions 10.1 leaves only a pleasant impression of the smoothness and speed of operation.

The smartphone is sold in five color variations and has modifications with 32, 128 and 256 GB of internal memory. Don't forget about the 12-megapixel main and 7-megapixel front cameras, new stereo speakers and good battery life - about 14 hours of talk time and 40 hours of music playback.

Apple iPhone 7 Plus: increased dimensions, display and dual camera

The advanced version of Apple's latest flagship is 20 mm taller, 11 mm wider and 50 grams heavier than the regular Seven. The smartphone is equipped with a screen with a larger diagonal (5.5 versus 4.7 inches) and has a higher resolution (1080x1920 versus 750x1334 pixels).

The Apple A10 chipset is also responsible for the performance of the iPhone 7 Plus, but the device works a little faster than the base model due to the difference in the amount of RAM (3 versus 2 GB).

In the version with the Plus prefix, in addition to the main rear camera, a second one is installed, which makes it possible to double the focal length of the frame due to optical zoom, not digital. As a result, you can photograph distant objects without loss of quality. Another difference between the devices is the battery capacity. Under the body of the larger version of the flagship is a 2,900 mAh battery, which is almost 1,000 mAh more than the regular iPhone 7.

ASUS ZenFone 3: big changes for the better

ASUS ZenFone 3 - the third generation device of the ZenFone line turned out to be balanced in terms of capabilities and characteristics, attractive in appearance and quite competitive in terms of cost.

For the manufacture of the case, ASUS specialists chose metal and glass. The device has a curious, but at the same time carefully thought out arrangement of all functional elements; the thickness of the case is 7.69 mm. One cannot help but praise the solid build, 5.5-inch S-IPS screen, battery life and good performance. The pride of the device is a 16-megapixel camera based on the Sony IMX298 sensor with a powerful focusing system.

ASUS ZenFone 3 Max: budget version in metallic garb

ZenFone 3 Max is positioned by the Taiwanese manufacturer as an inexpensive, but versatile and, importantly, durable device: it has a 4,100 mAh battery. The model boasts a nice design, a metal body, smooth and uninterrupted operation of the proprietary ZenUI 3.0 firmware, which is based on the sixth version of the Android OS.

The smartphone, depending on the modification (there are two of them), has the power of a quad-core (MediaTek MT6737T) or eight-core (Snapdragon 430) processor, comes with 2 or 3 GB of RAM and 16 or 32 GB of permanent memory.

LG K10 LTE: good budget employee for selfie lovers

When working on the K10 LTE, LG focused on camera capabilities. First of all, this applies to the 5-megapixel front camera: you can start a three-second countdown before taking a photo with one hand gesture and use the display as an artificial flash. And to focus and take a picture on the 13-megapixel main camera, just one touch on the display is enough.

The device is equipped with a 2,300 mAh battery, an eight-core MT6735 processor, 16 GB of internal memory and 1.5 GB of RAM. The front panel is occupied by a 5.3-inch screen. The OS is Android 6.0.

LG X power: durable and compact

The key feature of this smartphone is clear from the name: thanks to a 4,100 mAh battery, the device can withstand two days of work away from a power outlet. Even when the battery icon lights up red and the battery asks to eat, the device can last another 2-3 hours. In addition, LG X power supports fast charging: the battery spends about half as long to restore its 100% capacity as the battery of a modern average smartphone.

LG specialists must be given credit for a great feat: they managed to place such a battery in a case with a thickness of only 7.9 mm. And in general the design turned out to be very interesting. A nice bonus is selfie: the front camera is able to recognize a face in the frame and immediately take a photo.

LG X cam: two rear cameras for 18 thousand rubles

2016 turned out to be a productive year for the South Korean brand: the company’s third smartphone, LG X cam, entered our chart not by chance and not in company with the two mentioned above. It stands out from its competitors with a dual camera: one with a wide-angle lens (viewing angle is 120 degrees), and the second, 13-megapixel, provides particularly high quality images. In this case, the panoramic shooting mode and the “Framed Photo” effect (both lenses are used) will be really useful.

The smartphone is sold in two color options (“titanium” and “gold”), has a 5.2-inch display with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, and offers the owner the power of an eight-core MediaTek processor and 2 GB of RAM. 16 GB is available for data storage, there is a slot for a memory card. And the LG X cam weighs only 120 grams.

Xiaomi Redmi 3 S: durable, metal, inexpensive

Xiaomi Redmi 3 S is available in two versions: with 2/16 GB (cheaper) and with 3/32 GB (more expensive). The device belongs to the budget price category, and therefore it is especially pleasant to see in it a fingerprint scanner, an infrared port for controlling household appliances, and support for OTG technology.

The body of the smartphone is made of aluminum, with the only exception being two plastic inserts on the back. The front panel of the Redmi 3 S is occupied by an IPS display with a diagonal of 5 inches, and the Snapdragon 430 chipset, the architecture of which includes two clusters of four Cortex-A53 cores, is responsible for the phone’s performance. Perhaps the strongest point of this model is its autonomy, which is provided by a 4,100 mAh battery.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 3: a sleek phablet with impressive features

Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 is one of the most sensational smartphones on the market Russian market this year. Primarily due to the ratio of price, capabilities and characteristics.

The front panel of the device, the body of which is made of aircraft aluminum, is almost entirely occupied by a 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. At the back there is a 16-megapixel camera equipped with phase detection autofocus (activated in 0.1 seconds) and dual LED flash. Below is a fingerprint sensor that is easy to find on the first try and allows you to reliably protect any information that is important to you.

The device does not experience any performance problems: it is equipped with a six-core Snapdragon 650 chipset and 3 GB of RAM. 32 GB is available for data storage and there is a slot for a microSD card. What about the OS? Used branded shell MIUI 7 based on Android 5.1 Lollipop.

Xiaomi Mi5: a competitive representative of the middle class

An equally interesting exhibit from the same brand – Xiaomi Mi5 – is based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset with a clock frequency of 1.8 GHz, has 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of permanent memory.

The device looks very impressive: a harmonious combination of metal and tempered glass, neatly rounded edges, the thinnest frames along the edges of the display, the body is 7.25 mm thick and weighs only 129 grams. The latter is especially valuable considering the 5.15-inch Full HD screen and 3,000 mAh battery. In addition, Mi5 supports Quick Charge 3.0 fast charging technology.

Meizu Pro 6: a serious competitor to market leaders

New flagship Meizu Pro 6 from the growing Chinese manufacturer capable of competing with advanced models from market leaders. And its main advantage is its modest price (28 thousand rubles for the 32 GB version and 36 thousand rubles for the 64 GB version).

Pay for what? For the undoubtedly flagship, very solid design with barely noticeable frames on the sides of the display. For an all-metal body. For a 5.2-inch screen based on a Super AMOLED matrix from Samsung. For a carefully crafted sound. For a 21-megapixel camera with a 10-LED ring flash. For the powerful and energy-efficient 10-core Helio X25 processor, the structure of which includes three clusters. And this is not the whole list of points for.

The only thing I can at least somehow find fault with is the lack of a slot for a memory card.

Meizu U20: an interesting device in glass

Announced in August this year, the Meizu U20 phablet is clad in 2.5D glass on both sides. The glass panels are connected by a metal frame. A 5.5-inch screen with a resolution of 1080x1920 pixels, based on an S-IPS matrix, is installed. There is a fingerprint scanner on the front panel that responds to touch in 0.2 seconds. It is built right into the central touch-mechanical key - this is a proprietary Meizu feature.

We note an eight-core processor with a clock frequency of 1.8 GHz, up to 3 GB of RAM (depending on version) and 16 or 32 GB of permanent memory. Meizu U20 runs Flyme 5.0 launcher, under which Android 5.1 Lollipop is hidden. A 3,260 mAh battery will provide a long operating time without recharging.

Meizu M3 Note: durable and properly balanced

Each new product of 2016 from Meizu shows a competent balance between all components. Key Feature The Meizu M3 Note model has a 4,100 mAh battery, which can provide the smartphone with about two days of life without recharging. But other components did not disappoint.

The M3 Note's Helio P10 chipset automatically adjusts clock frequency cores and graphics accelerator, trying to either reduce power consumption to the maximum, or, conversely, use all the power to complete a complex task. The processor is supported by 3 GB of RAM, for data storage there is 32 GB and a slot for a microSD card.

We also note a 13-megapixel camera with phase detection autofocus and a two-color flash, a 5.5-inch Full HD display and an mTouch 2.1 fingerprint sensor.

Sony Xperia XZ Dual: an impressive camera phone

The fact that Sony, when developing this model, tried its best to distance itself from its competitors is noticeable even before turning on the device. The metal body of the phone is protected from moisture and can be painted in one of three stunning shades, and thanks to the design thought out to the smallest detail, the device looks strict, elegant and laconic.

Compared to other sophisticated flagships, the Sony Xperia XZ stands out with its 23-megapixel camera: it is supported by three sensors at once, has laser autofocus, and it is impossible not to note the impeccable color rendition and stabilization system. There are also a lot of modes, filters for post-processing frames, and a 13-megapixel front camera for self-portraits and video calling in addition.

Sony Xperia XA Dual: frameless, stylish and ergonomic

The Sony Xperia XA Dual model belongs to the middle price category, and the main thing about it is the absence of frames on the sides of the display and a more than fair price for the existing hardware. The 5-inch display pleases with the depth of black color, viewing angles and contrast. The youngest representative weighs Xperia line The X is only 138.8 grams, fits securely in your hand, and you will have to try hard to drop it.

One full charge A 2,300 mAh battery will provide about two days busy work. We also pay attention to the hardware: Helio P10 processor with a frequency of up to 2 GHz, 2 GB of RAM, Mali-T860 MP2 graphics. Such equipment is more often found in more expensive devices.

Moto Z: a modular smartphone with flagship equipment

A distinctive feature of Moto Z is its unique modular design, which allows you to connect a stereo speaker, decorative cover, etc. to the rear panel of the device through a special contact area. external battery, microphone, camera and even a projector.

The smartphone has a very thin body (5.19 mm), 13-megapixel main and 5-megapixel front cameras, a 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 2560x1440 pixels and good hardware led by the Snapdragon 820 processor.

Moto Z Play: younger, but also interesting

The appearance of this model was announced in September. Just like with the basic version, various modules can be docked with the Moto Z Play. But how do the devices differ?

The younger version received a more capacious battery (3,510 versus 2,600 mAh), a side effect - the thickness of the case increased to 7 mm and the weight increased from 136 to 165 grams. The main camera here is cooler than in the simple Moto Z (16 megapixels), but the screen and hardware are slightly weaker: the 5.5-inch display has a resolution of 1080x1920 pixels, and the Snapdragon 625 chipset is responsible for computing processes. The device has 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of memory for data storage, as well as a slot for a memory card. Both devices use Android 6.0 as the OS.

Huawei Honor 8: spectacular design and dual camera

I tried to keep up with competitors and Huawei. Although Honor 8 was placed in the middle price category, many of its features were transferred from the flagship Huawei P9. Durable and reliable metal frame, 3,000 mAh battery, high-performance eight-core Kirin 950 processor and 4 GB of RAM. But the main thing is the dual camera (both have a 12-megapixel Sony sensor) with laser and contrast autofocus and dual LED flash.

Huawei Honor 5C: inexpensive and versatile

The device received high-quality equipment, which allowed it to successfully compete in the market with no less interesting models. The model is equipped with a powerful, yet energy-efficient Kirin 650 chipset, which includes two clusters of four cores. A solid operating time is ensured by a 3,000 mAh battery, and as a bonus, proprietary energy-saving technology.

One cannot help but mention the metal case that houses the Honor 5C, the 5.2-inch S-IPS display, and the relatively small dimensions and weight (156 grams) of the device. We also note an 8-megapixel front camera and a stereo speaker that provides surround sound.

Huawei nova: great shooting possibilities

Huawei nova is pleasant to hold in the palm of your hand. This is a compact, elegant device with smooth shapes and curves in a magnesium-aluminum alloy body.

The main emphasis is on the cameras. The main one, 12-megapixel, is able to quickly and correctly focus on the selected object (two systems work at once: phase and contrast), record video in 4K format, and the front camera will be appreciated by all selfie lovers for the useful technologies of “beautification” of the resulting self-portraits and a convenient function Touch shooting.

Alcatel Idol 4S: youth smartphone with a unique key

The release of this unusual device – Alcatel IDOL 4S – was announced at the beginning of the year. Alcatel decided to conquer the youth segment with a cool design, clean and high-quality sound, as well as a surprise in the form of a special Boom key, which is located strictly in the center of the right side.

You can assign one of several functions to the button: a snapshot even when the display is off, burst shooting (10 photos), displaying an animation notifying about the current weather situation, a significant and instant increase in volume, starting an online broadcast, and even acceleration in a racing simulator. This is what true versatility means.

Alcatel PIXI 4 (5): for undemanding users

The budget Alcatel PIXI 4 (5) 5010D is suitable for solving simple tasks: web surfing, watching videos, reading, communication, working with undemanding software. Such devices, in our opinion, always have a place.