Top 10 Phones in the US & Elsewhere (2017)

Smartphones have become a part of our lives and we usually need help in making a choice of the phone just perfect for us. Our Top 10 guide of phones in the US and around the world (updated July 2016) will sure be of help. Our top 10 phones guide covers not just Android phones but also iOS phones, Windows phones, and others as long as they’ve got great specs and make the cut.

10. Sony Xperia Z5 Compact

The Sony Xperia Z5 is a great piece of device with a splendid price tag. The handset from Sony is a mid-ranger with some specs that could confuse for a flagship so its no surprise that it found its way into our top 10 phones guide at number 10.

The device sports a moderate 4.6-inch 720p display and is powered by a Snapdragon 810 and runs on android 6.0 Marshmallow with 2GB RAM and 32GB of on-board storage.

The camera pack, is perhaps the high point of the device with a 23MP rear unit and 5.1MP front facing one. The device boots Android 6.0 Marshmallow and weighs an ample 138g.

The Sony Xperia Z5 has the same power potential as the Sony Xperia Z5 and Xperia Z5 Premium but it is smaller in size, making it more capable of fitting into the pocket.

This device combines portability with a great camera and is also waterproof as well as having a great audio output quality and added to that, a beautiful design.

9. Nexus 6P

The best phone for those that like a simple interface

Great specs for the price
Front-facing stereo speakers
Ugly rear camera bulge
No wireless charging

The Nexus 6P is a larger phone, and it comes with some upgraded specs too. There’s a vivid QHD display, which is much sharper than many other smartphone around, but Huawei (the brand making the Google Nexus phablet) has tried hard to make it more palm-friendly.

You’ll always get the latest version of Android first with Nexus phones (currently the highly-rated Android Marshmallow) and there’s the innovative placement of the fingerprint scanner on the back – which is both quick and accurate, while being much safer than a PIN.

It’s not super-cheap like the old Nexus phones (although it’s more competitive than other phablets in the same screen size bracket), but it’s very well made, and thanks to the improved camera and battery capabilities you’ll likely be very impressed with what Huawei has made here.

8. iPhone 6S Plus

The best phablet you can buy

3D Touch has exciting potential
Bright, vibrant display
Big and heavy
Expensive

Apple iPhones have slipped down they order in the top 10 phones guide. Is that an indication Apple is on the slide? Well while the Android army has been busy in 2016 launching their latest and greatest, the Silicon Valley firm has been patiently bidding its time.

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That’s not to say the iPhone 6S Plus has gone backwards – it’s still a great handset – it’s just that the competition has moved on since its launch in September 2015. Of course, we could see the Apple brand leap back up the chart later this year with the arrival of the iPhone 7 Plus, but that will all depend on whether it’s actually a decent upgrade.

If you’re OK with a larger iPhone, then you’re in for a treat with the iPhone 6S Plus. It packs all the same upgrades as the smaller 6S – namely the innovative 3D Touch screen and upgraded camera – and fixes some of the flaws we all hate.

The battery is larger, and while the screen is Full HD (with a really great ability to show colours) this is easily the longer-lasting of the two iPhones, meaning you won’t have to reach for the charger as often.

The camera is actually better than on the iPhone 6S, with optical image stabilisation providing sharper and brighter images thanks to mechanical help.

If you’re an Apple fan looking for a ‘bigger’ experience, this is the phone for you.

7. iPhone 6S

The best iPhone Apple’s ever made

Great design
3D Touch impresses
Battery life low
Price high for a low-res screen

Apple tumble! Like the 6S Plus, the iPhone 6S Plus has also dropped in the top 10 phones rankings. Fear not, for it’s still a great handset, it’s just that the competition has moved on since its September 2015 launch. We may see Apple leap back up the chart later this year with the arrival of the iPhone 7, but that will depend on whether it’s a decent upgrade.

The iPhone 6S might look the same as 2014’s model, but peer below the hood and there are a number of interesting upgrades.

The camera is enhanced, the processor is once again more powerful to let you play ever-better apps and games with speed, and the 3D Touch display is proving innovative.

The new touch system lets you press harder into the screen to open quick shortcuts – so taking a selfie is merely a hard push and swipe of the camera icon away.

It’s still a brilliant iPhone, the phone that loads of users are desperate to get their hands on, and Apple’s not done any harm at all with this upgraded model

6. Sony Xperia Z5

A top flagship with a strong camera and waterproof chassis (Top 10 phones guide)

Great fingerprint sensor
Stronger battery life
Heats up
Expensive

The Sony Xperia Z5 is the Japanese brand’s ‘mainstream’ phone, and one that we’re happy to talk about – it’s got a number of nice features that make it worth checking out.

It’s a big upgrade on the earlier phones, and the speedy autofocus – much faster than anything else on test – has to be tried to be believed. You can whirl around and still get a sharp snap, and in bright light the Z5 is probably the best camera around.

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It’s added in a pleasing fingerprint sensor on the side, and has the latest Snapdragon 810 processor with 3GB of RAM. The waterproofing is amazing when you see how many open ports there are, but Sony has managed it. You can drop this in the toilet without fear, basically.

The large 5.2-inch screen looks great thanks to Bravia technology – it’s the best phone Sony has ever made, and we especially like the frosted rear glass too. Recent price drops have made it even more palatable, so it’s still sitting pretty near the top of our top 10 phones ranking.

5. LG G5

The best innovation in a smartphone we’ve seen(Number 5 on our Top 10 phones guide)

Super performance
Useful wide angle camera
Questionable design
Battery could be better

LG’s back, and with an innovative bang. This is a phone that’s designed to fall apart – well, come apart at least. You see, on top of the clever dual camera there’s a clip at the bottom that lets you pull the battery out.

That’s good in itself – too many phones lack a removable power pack – but you can attach new modules to improve the audio, battery life or camera grippability with more to come.

Another ‘alternative’ phone from LG, and we’re big fans of the brand trying to keep separating itself from the rest of the market.

4. OnePlus 3

A genuine flagship killer (Number 4 on best top 10 phones guide)

Premium design
Affordable price
No microSD slot
Camera could be better

The Chinese firm has improved on a number of issues fans had with its predecessor, wrapping the OnePlus 3 in a new premium suit and managed to keep the price low enough to worry the established names in the market.

We love the new design, the AMOLED display is bright and vibrant and the fingerprint scanner is much improved and lightning fast.

The lack of a microSD card, and a battery which doesn’t last more than a day may put some off, but considering the price you’re paying the OnePlus is fantastic value for money.

If you’re desperate for a high-end phone, but don’t have the money to stretch that far the OnePlus 3 will make you very, very happy.

3. HTC 10

Not 10/10, but the best phone for music by far

Amazing audio
Great design
Camera not impressive
Boomsound not great

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After the success of the HTC One M8, the world wondered if time was up for HTC after it didn’t really ignite the smartphone game with the One M9.

Well, that’s not the case as the brand went away, made a beautiful phone that’s ‘sculpted by light’, added in a genuinely impressive camera and improved the battery life.

But that’s not the best bit – that comes when you plug headphones into this thing. It’s sensational – can this thing pump beautiful, Hi-Res Audio into your ears or what? It’s sensational.

For that reason alone it’s worth a place in the top 10 phones presently, and the myriad other improvements impress equally.

2. Samsung Galaxy S7

Samsung Galaxy S7 & Galaxy S7 Edge

One of two five star phones from Samsung sitting at number two on TechVaz’s top 10 phones guide.

Improved, waterproof design
Fantastic screen and power
High price
Fingerprint magnet

The Samsung Galaxy S7 is a phone that initially looks just like the S6 from last year – but pick it up and you’ll see there’s a world of difference.

Firstly, the rear of the phone feels much nicer thanks to a curved back (through a process called 3D Thermo Forming), it’s now water resistant and a microSD slot is a welcome feature to return, after it was dropped last year.

The camera is just brilliant – it’s lower in megapixels but improved in quality. You’ll get brilliant pictures time and again, and you’ll want to keep trying it in different scenarios. It’s a great phone that you’ll be happy to pull out of your pocket.

1. Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

Samsung Galaxy S7 & Galaxy S7 Edge

The best smartphone in the world – it’s a work of art

Beautiful screen
Super camera
Slight plastic feel
Expensive

Last year’s Galaxy S6 Edge was a good phone, but not brilliant. It was the same as the Samsung Galaxy S6, but had a curved screen – and that was it. It was the same size, power and camera, and that wasn’t enough.

Fast forward to today and the S7 Edge takes all the great looks of the S6 Edge, makes the phone even curvier and combines it with the superb power and feature set of the S7.

The camera is just brilliant, the mix of metal and glass is really nice to hold, and even the Touchwiz overlay is turning into something more usable than before. Battery life improvements are hugely welcomed, and while the price is higher, it’s now affixed to a phone that offers simply the best in nearly every department, so many will be happy with the outlay.

So, standing at number one position of our top 10 phones in the US and all over the world countdown is the elegant Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge.