There’s been a lot of hullabaloo around movie streaming apps recently, thanks to Netflix’s entry into the Indian market and it seems many are at least interested, if not actually streaming movies on their smartphones. Most smartphones today can stream movies and TV Shows from apps like Hotstar, Netflix and so on, but if you’re a true streaming junkie, you’re probably looking for the best experience possible. There’s a reason why Netflix, Hotstar, Eros Now, Wynk Movies and other related apps work on delivering good user experience. So, without a good smartphone, you wouldn’t really enjoy streaming.
What does one need in a phone though? Every smartphone would connect to WiFi and allow at least 3G mobile data, so where’s the difference. Well, the first and foremost requirement for a streaming junkie would be a good display to watch movies and TV Shows on. In addition, your smartphone should also do well with connectivity and signal retention. Here are our picks.
Apple iPhone 6S Plus
You need a big screen if you’re watching a lot of content on your phone, so the iPhone 6s Plus gets picked over iPhone 6s here. The 5.5 inch FHD Retina display is the best when it comes to displaying true to life colours and the iPhone’s performance in general ensures that your apps work smoothly and with minimal stutters. In addition, the iPhone 6s Plus is also amongst the best in terms of signal retention and connectivity.
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Second only to the iPhone, is Samsung’s Galaxy Note 5. The 5.7 inch QHD display would be preferred over the iPhone by many. While it’s not really true colours, the warmth of Samsung’s Super AMOLEDs is good to look at. It makes colours pop and has an able processor for running the apps. The Note 5 is also as good as the iPhone when it comes to signal retention.
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Yes, this one has a smaller display, but the 5.1 inch QHD Super AMOLED on the Samsung Galaxy S6 is amongst the best in the market. Most users won’t be streaming in the same resolution, but like the Note 5, this display also excels in sharpness and warmth of colours. It’s definitely a good pick for those looking for a smaller but powerful phone.
Another 5.7 inch QHD AMOLED wonder, the Nexus 6P is the best buy for those on a tighter budget. It’s sub-40k price point means you can save a lot of money compared to the Galaxy Note 5, while getting performance and a display, that are nearly as good. The stock Android performance of the Huawei Nexus 6P is unparalleled and there’s are few phones that can rival this one. Huawei’s prowess with network infrastructure has also ensured that this phone doesn’t miss a beat in that department.
If you want to go cheaper still, then the Moto X Style would be a good pick, albeit compromising on the performance.
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One of the best phones in the market today, the HTC One A9 is very good for media consumption. It has a 5 inch FHD AMOLED display, which can rival some much higher priced devices. In addition, Android Marshmallow, combined with HTC’s software tweaks and a Snapdragon 617 SoC, provide a very good user experience over all. This phone doesn’t miss a beat and is good for streaming junkies.
Priced just below 20k, the Moto X Play is not praised enough for its amazing display. Motorola jumped off the AMOLED bandwagon with this one, but the 5.5 inch IPS LCD is still amongst the best in its price range. The stock Android performance makes this phone feel really good and you would do well to consider the Moto X Play for your streaming needs.
The Xiaomi Mi 4i is a compact phone, but it’s 5 inch display is better than most of its competitors. We would recommend it to streaming lovers just for that.
A better combination for power and display though, would be the Asus Zenfone 2 (2GB RAM). The 5.5 inch FHD screen is not as vibrant as the Mi 4i, but it can do the job.
If you're wondering why the OnePlus 2, Yu Yutopia, Honor 7 and Qiku Q Terra have not been mentioned, it's because while they have good displays, they lack the vibrance and colours that these others can provide. Those phones are good, but not the ideal pick for streaming junkies. In other words, they're good, just not the best.
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Buy Xiaomi mi4i at Rs.11999 on Flipkart
Buy Moto X Play on Flipkart at Rs. 18,499
Buy Samsung galaxy s6 at Rs.36900 on Flipkart
Buy Htc one A9 (32 GB) at Rs. 31990 on snapdeal