Smartphones are now available as low as Rs. 2,000, and go up to Rs. 75,000. Most of us buy smartphones based on priorities or specific preferences, with price also playing a major deciding factor. That said, if you are one of those who prefers to have best of the best, you might find yourself a little overwhelmed by the number options you get in the market. Here we list our favourites in the following categories — display, performance, looks, camera, battery life and the best overall device.
Best Display
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
A Super AMOLED panel, curved edges and a 2560x1440-pixel resolution seals the deal here. The display itself is supremely responsive, and offers one of the best viewing angles available today.
Google Nexus 6P
Huawei came up with its first Nexus phone this year and the display is excellent. This also has a 2K-resolution Super AMOLED panel.
Apple iPhone 6s Plus
Apple gets the third position in our list, as it is one of the most well-balanced displays out there.
Best Performance
Apple iPhone 6s
The Apple iPhone 6s almost a year old, but it still is one of the best performing smartphones currently available. It’s not about numbers and benchmarks, but also about how a smartphone performs in day-to-day life, and the iPhone 6s with its latest iOS update is unbeatable.
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
Samsung is the only company which comes really close to Apple's iPhone 6s. The S7 Edge is by far the best-performing Android device out there today.
Xiaomi Mi 5
Xiaomi’s latest flagship is one of the most affordable flagships you can buy this year and it is currently the only phone in the Indian market to run on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 processor.
Best Looks
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
Samsung's Galaxy S7 Edge is the most elegant-looking and well-designed smartphones that we have come across this year. We really like how the display's curved edges blend with the sides, and the new rounded back make it an excellent proposition.
Xiaomi Mi 5
Xiaomi took its Xiaomi Note Pro (which did not come to India), made it smaller and refined the design here, with the Mi 5. The combination definitely works.
Sony Xperia Z5
Sony has to be mentioned for the most understated, yet fluent and good-to-look design. It is remarkable how Sony is able to make a simple design with such class.
Best Camera
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
Samsung's Galaxy S7 Edge snatches this as well. The new 12MP snapper at the back of the phone may be low in megapixel count but in low light conditions, you won’t be able to get better results with any other smartphone, thanks to its Dual Pixel sensor.
Apple iPhone 6s Plus
Apple's iPhone 6s Plus comes second with its 12MP iSight camera, with simple usage style and excellent photographs.
Google Nexus 6P
Google's Nexus devices in the past have received a lot of flak for their cameras, but this time, both the Nexus 6P and the Nexus 5X came out with brilliant cameras.
Best Battery life
Gionee Marathon M5
Battery life has been a major issue for many, so Gionee came up with a brute force solution - the Marathon M5. The phone will last you much longer than any other device out there.
Asus Zenfone Max
Asus comes second with its Zenfone Max and a 5000mAh battery packed inside, which should be able to give you almost two days of usage.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 3
Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 3 is a good buy for more than one reason, and one of them is the battery life. It can easily deliver a day and half easily, with moderate to slightly heavy usage.
Best Overall
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
Currently, if you are in the market to buy the best phone that can do all the stuff you may ask for, it is the Galaxy S7 Edge. It has the best display, camera and design, and is easily the best performer among Androids.
Apple iPhone 6s Plus
Apple’s iPhone 6s Plus is the close-second choice, as you can nearly not go wrong with this one.
Google Nexus 6P
Google’s latest addition to its Nexus range of smartphones has made it to the third position of our overall best phones. The factor of getting the latest Android upgrade at the earliest is a major decider here.