2015 has ended, and 4G technology continues to improve and provide plenty of exciting hopes for Android phones in 2016. Plenty of 4G Android smartphones released last year, but only a few, or in this case exactly ten, can claim their spot at the top. I’ll be factoring in price, technology, reliability, and appealing design when it comes to naming the best of the best. These phones aren’t ranked in any particular order, and there are even some that could have easily been swapped out for the ones on this list, but every 4G smartphone out of these ten is a winner in my book.
1. Moto G3
You might be surprised to see this smartphone on the list if you’ve seen the Moto G3’s specs:
8/16GB Internal Storage 1/2GB RAM (Snapdragon 410) 720p display (Pixel Density PPI of 294) 13MP rear camera / 5MP facing camera
That doesn’t sound highly impressive, but where the Moto G3 wins me over are small details that become more apparent with the phone over time and the price point. For the 16GB storage and 2GB RAM version of the phone, you’ll be looking at a price tag that swings over under $200. The Moto G3 is a budget 4G smartphone that performs and handles like a phone a tier above its price range. With its battery lasting around four hours of on screen time per charge, you’ll be able to take advantage of 4G speeds throughout the whole day with ease, even if the phone lacks any quick charging capabilities, and is slow to get its battery back up to full. For a budget smartphone with a little more, it’s hard to go wrong with the Moto G3.
2. Sony Xperia Z5
Next, we have the Sony Xperia Z5, which is more costly than the Moto G3, but if you take a look at a few specs, you’ll see why.
32GB Internal Storage 3GB RAM (Snapdragon 810) 1080p Display (Pixel Density PPI of 428) 23MP rear camera / 5MP front-facing camera
The exterior design of this 4G smartphone might turn a few users off, but what goes on under its perfectly rectangular hood is something worth seeing. The 23MP camera is by far one of this smartphone’s most impressive features. The shots you can snap with the rectangle of a beast are impressive to behold, even in low lighting. However, the Sony Xperia Z5 isn’t innocent of what most Xperia phones are guilty of, and that’s heat management. The Z5 can get hot quickly, and has a hard time cooling itself down with its impressive Snapdragon 810 running inside. This hot piece of hardware, both literally and figuratively, will run you around $550 depending on the model you invest in.
3. Alcatel One Touch Idol 3(5.5)
The Alcatel One Touch Idol 3, besides being a mouthful, is the next 4G smartphone on the docket.
16/32GB Internal Storage 2GB RAM (Snapdragon 615) 1080p Display (Pixel Density PPI of 401) 13MP rear camera / 8MP front-facing camera
While I’m talking about the One Touch Idol 3 (5.5) to be specific, the cheaper 4.7 is an affordable option as well that could just as easily be placed on this list. One interesting feature about the Idol 3, is the use of dual speakers and microphones on either end of the phone. This can be used to make calls from either side, but is also useful in mixing music. The Idol 3 has at least one built-in app that assists with music mixing, creation, and many of a user’s audio needs. However, the UI for the Idol 3, as unique as it may be, may not hit the cord a lot of users are looking for. For audiophiles able to overcome or adjust to the UI, the One Touch Idol 3 (5.5) is available for around $250-300 in most markets.
4. LG G4
The LG G4 takes a spot on this as well, despite being one of the more expensive smartphones mentioned so far.
32GB Internal Storage 3GB RAM (Snapdragon 808) 1440 x 2560 Display (Pixel Density PPI of 538) 16MP rear camera / 8MP front-facing camera
The LG G4 sports a quad-core CPU as well as an attractive screen display, large enough to show off any of the great photos you can take with its 16MP camera. The only downside to its large screen is how large the phone needs to be to accommodate it. The LG G4 is a little on the bulkier side because of the 538 PPI display, but thankfully has the battery power to keep the large screen running. The G4 doesn’t quite reach the charge holding power of the G2, but it does just fine. The G4 will cost you anywhere from $300-400, but well worth it if you want a large and attractive display.
5. Samsung Galaxy Note 5
The Note 5 is the first Samsung phone on the list so far, and it certainly deserves its spot.
32/64/128GB Internal Storage (No SD card slot) 4GB RAM (Exynos 7420) 1440 x 2560 Display (Pixel Density PPI of 518) 16MP rear camera / 5MP front-facing camera
The Note 5 is another iteration in the Samsung line of Note smartphones that almost transcend the barrier into tablets. While the Note 5 removes some features that the Note 4 was capable of, much like no more removable backs, its use of the S-pen is better than ever by, oddly enough, scaling some things back. Say goodbye to huge reminders and tips about the S pen, and hello to a new and improved TouchWiz. The Samsung operating system may still have its issues, but a lot of the bloat that causes most users to root it out is thankfully missing here. The Note 5 is an expensive machine running anywhere from $600 to the upper 800’s but is a sound investment for its improved S-pen experience.
6. LG Nexus 5X
The Nexus 5X is another step up to the Nexus plate by LG, which despite limited RAM, should pack a punch.
16/32GB Internal Storage (No SD card slot) 2GB RAM (Snapdragon 808) 1080 x 1920 Display (Pixel Density PPI of 423) 12MP rear camera / 5MP front-facing camera
What seems to be the biggest issue with the Nexus 5X is the fact that it only takes USB type C. I don’t know about you, but I don’t have any USB type C cables lying around just waiting to be used, and the Nexus 5X won’t be using a wireless charger either. If you think that with only 2GBs of RAM that the 5X will chug, you’d be happily mistaken. While the 808 isn’t the snappiest dragon out on the market, it still does its job well to make sure the 5X doesn’t lag with its budget sized amount of RAM. Fingerprint support is additionally better than ever on the 5X, so feel free to make use of that reader. You can make sure LG’s Nexus 5X is a part of your life for around $380 or less.
7. Xiaomi Mi 4i
The Xiaomi Mi 4i takes an interesting spot on this list because of its budget model, and lack of wide availability (mainly India).
16/32GB Internal Storage 2GB RAM (Snapdragon 215) 1080 x 1920 Display (Pixel Density PPI of 441) 13MP rear camera / 5MP front-facing camera
Its lack of availability by no means makes it a bad 4G smartphone, far from it, the Xiaomi Mi 4i supports dual SIM 4G. This lets you make the most of two different carrier plans at the same time with one device, which isn’t a feature that’s available on all phones across the board. For what the Xiaomi Mi 4i can do, its battery life is fairly large. You can expect upwards of five plus hours of constant use unless you plan on trying to run multiple games at once. For what is usually a budget phone of below $300, this 4G smartphone is a good deal if you can manage to get your hands on one.
8. Moto X Pure Edition / Style
Next up is the Moto X Pure Edition, or the Moto X Style depending on the country you’re from.
16/32/64GB Internal Storage 3GB RAM (Snapdragon 808) 1440 x 2560 Display (Pixel Density PPI of 520) 21MP rear camera / 5MP front-facing camera
With many Motorola phones, one feature that sets them apart is the use of MotoMaker when customizing a phone. Android phones are already the pinnacle of smartphone customization, but being able to customize the outside of your phone the way Motorola allows is one step beyond that. The back of the Moto X Style isn’t the only beautiful part about it; it’s bright and vibrant quad HD screen is a sight to behold, especially when viewing pictures taken with its stunning 21MP rear camera. The only problem cramping the Moto X Pure Edition’s style is its lackluster battery life, which will barely last you through the day before needing a charge. If the Moto X Pure Edition fits your style, you can pick it up for around $400+ depending on the storage size of the model.
9. Huawei Nexus 6P
It’s time to take a trip back to Nexus nation for a look at the Nexus 6P from Huawei.
32/64/128GB Internal Storage (no SD card slot) 3GB RAM (Snapdragon 810) 1440 x 2560 Display (Pixel Density PPI of 518) 12MP rear camera / 8MP front-facing camera
The Nexus 6P is home to a gorgeously large display of 1440 x 2560 that brings the color out of every pixel. With the 6P display being backed up by one of the fastest microprocessors available, you get a screen that’s almost second to none as far as showing off an attractive picture. The only real downside to that picture is how large and heavy the smartphone itself is to hold a screen that large. The Nexus 6P may have a harder time fitting in your pocket than you will have fitting everything you want on its limited internal storage. The Nexus 6P can go all the way up to 128GB, but with no option for expansion, it can still feel limiting to some. Personally, I’d say the picture is worth it, and if you think the same, you can take home the Nexus 6P for around $600 to $700 depending on the internal storage of the model.
10. Samsung Galaxy S6
The last 4G Android smartphone that I have to mention is the Samsung Galaxy S6, one that most if not all Android users should be aware of by now.
32/64/128GB Internal Storage (no SD card slot) 3GB RAM (Exynos 7420) 1440 x 2560 Display (Pixel Density ppi of 577) 16MP rear camera / 5MP front-facing camera
It may come as a shock for me to put the Samsung Galaxy S6 on this list instead of the Edge, or maybe even the S6+, but when I factored in price for gained value, the Galaxy S6 tops any of its iterations for one of the best 4G Android smartphones of 2015. Even when dealing with just the original S6, for the price, you get an impressive resolution with a pixel density of 577, and with a screen that can take a beating and still look like new. The Samsung Galaxy S6 still has some of the same recent Samsung issues, like no expandable storage, or a removable battery, but it remains highly versatile. The Samsung Galaxy S6, despite its faults, has many ways to customize it, and make it your own. It was one of the best 4G Android smartphones of 2015 and is still a great Android phone of 2016. If you don’t already own one, you can pick it up for around $500 and up depending on the model.
Conclusion
Even though I organized all of these 4G Android smartphones in a list, the order they’re in can be interchangeable. Each and every phone on this list is one you can’t go wrong with, and there will be even better phones releasing in the current year that take Android technology, and cellar technology as a whole even further. What do you think is the best Android phone on the market right now? The Moto G3 is in no way the best, but it has a special place in my heart at least. What phone takes that spot for you? Feature Image Credit
