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Popular smartphones of the year. The best Android smartphones (2016). The most original flagship: Xiaomi Mi Mix

The rating was compiled based on reviews in Yandex Market (only those smartphone models that scored at least 40% of the fives were included in the top 10). The technical characteristics of the smartphone (the amount of built-in and RAM memory, the quality of the main and front cameras, the quality of the display) and the price-quality ratio were also taken into account.

This list includes only flagships - i.e. models that are positioned by each manufacturer as the newest and best smartphones in model range. But the price is not affordable for everyone and can reach up to 60 thousand rubles. However, this does not apply to Chinese manufacturers. The quality of their products is often not inferior to smartphones from American, South Korean, Japanese and Taiwanese brands, but the price is much cheaper. For example, the cheapest smartphone in this top belongs to a well-known Chinese brand and costs just under 14 thousand rubles.
The rating includes the flagships of the 6 leading smartphone manufacturers in the world (Samsung, Apple, Huawei, Xiaomi, Lenovo, LG), as well as models from the leading Japanese manufacturer Sony, the leading Taiwanese manufacturer ASUS, the famous American brand Microsoft and the not yet very well-known but the rapidly growing Chinese manufacturer LeEco, which made a splash by being the first in the world to release a smartphone without an analog audio output.

10th place. Microsoft Lumia 950 XL Dual SIM

The average price is 34,260 rubles. The flagship from an American company and the only representative of this rating running on Windows received 46% of fives according to reviews in Yandex Market. Main camera 20 megapixels with optical stabilization, F/1.9 aperture and triple natural LED flash, photo resolution 4992x3744, video recording in 4K format, front camera 5 megapixels. Other characteristics: 5.7-inch display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels, the newest of the generation Windows operating system system for smartphones - Windows 10 Mobile, 32 GB of permanent memory and 3 GB of RAM, support for 2 SIM cards.

9th place. Sony Xperia Z5 Premium

The average price is 47,500 rubles. The flagship from the leading Japanese smartphone manufacturer scored 62% of the five stars according to reviews in Yandex Market. Screen 5.5 inches resolution 3840x2160 pixels, operating Android system 5.1, 32 GB of storage and 3 GB of RAM, support for only one SIM card (there is a slightly more expensive Premium Dual model that supports 2 SIM cards). This model is recommended for those who need not just a smartphone, but also an excellent camera. Sony has stated that this model is the world's first 4K smartphone (4K means four times the resolution of Full HD). Every inch of the display is divided into 806 pixels, which makes the image extremely clear. The pixel density is 10 times higher than Full HD TVs and twice as high as most smartphones. The characteristics of the main camera matrix are amazing - 23 megapixels (the front one has 5 megapixels). You can capture frames from video: from videos shot in 4K format, you can select valuable frames and take high-quality 8-megapixel photos. Other advantages of the smartphone include a fingerprint scanner and water resistance. This smartphone has a cheaper (37 thousand rubles) version Sony Xperia Z5 with a traditional Full HD display, Sony Xperia Z5 also has single-SIM and dual-SIM versions.

8th place. LeEco (LeTV) Le Max 2 32Gb

The average price is 19,800 rubles. The flagship smartphone from the Chinese company LeEco (formerly known as LeTV) was introduced in China back in April 2016, but in Russia the company officially introduced LeEco Le Max 2 only 5 months later, in September 2016. As of today, the model has scored 57% of fives according to reviews in Yandex Market. This model is notable for the fact that it became the first smartphone to lose an analog audio output, because... LeEco decided to switch to the all-digital CDLA or Continual Digital Lossless Audio standard ( new standard broadcasting digital audio content, allowing to avoid unnecessary compression and provide the consumer with music in the version in which the authors created it). 5 months later, Apple used this innovation in the 7th iPhone.

Of course, this is not the only advantage of the smartphone; just look at its technical characteristics and it becomes clear that this model can compete with the flagships of the leading smartphone manufacturers in the world: 5.7-inch screen with a resolution of 2560x1440 pixels, the latest Android 6.0 operating system, 32 GB of storage space and 4 GB of RAM (no memory card support), support for two SIM cards. The main camera, using a Sony matrix, has a fantastic resolution of 21 megapixels, and the front one is also impressive with its 8 megapixels. As befits a flagship, the model has a fingerprint scanner. Battery capacity 3100 mAh. Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 MSM8996 processor.

7th place. Lenovo Vibe X3

The average price is 15,400 rubles. Vibe X3 is Lenovo's flagship (this company is one of the top three smartphone manufacturers in China and one of the top five in the world). This model went on sale at the end of February 2016 and today has received 71% of five reviews in Yandex Market. Technical characteristics: 5.5-inch screen with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, Android 5.1 Lollipop operating system, 32 GB of storage and 3 GB of RAM, support for two SIM cards. Main camera 21 MP, front camera 8 MP. The main camera has a Sony IMX230 Exmor RS sensor with phase detection autofocus. This model also features stereo speakers, thanks to which the smartphone can be a home theater.

6th place. Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro 32Gb

The average price is 12,700 rubles. This smartphone from the Chinese brand Xiaomi, which is one of the top 5 smartphone manufacturers in the world, received 77% of the five reviews in Yandex Market (see reviews about Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro). Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro is the flagship version of the Redmi family, beloved by customers, whose worldwide sales have already exceeded 110 million devices. This model went on sale in January 2016. Technical characteristics: 5.5-inch screen with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, Android 5.1 Lollipop operating system, 32 GB of storage and 3 GB of RAM, support for two SIM cards. Main camera 16 MP, front camera 5 MP. This model is the most popular Android smartphone in Russia, China, Hong Kong, India, Vietnam and Malaysia in the first half of 2016 (data from antutu.com).

5th place. Apple iPhone 7 Plus 32Gb

The average price is 70,800 rubles. The flagship from the iconic American company went on sale at the end of September 2016 and has so far received few reviews, so when determining its place in the rating, let’s take a look at its technical characteristics and price-quality ratio. Features: Newest operating room iOS system 10 (the sixth iPhone had iOS 9), 5.5-inch screen with a resolution of 1920x1080, 32 GB of internal memory and 3 GB of RAM. Like all iPhones, there is no support external card memory and no support for a second SIM card. Talk time is 21 hours, standby time is 384 hours, music listening time is 60 hours. There is protection against water.

IPhone 7 Plus has a dual main camera (2 modules of 12 megapixels each). Sounds impressive, but this was used last year on a smartphone Huawei Honor 6 Plus turned out to be not so impressive in reality, because... When analyzing an object with two sensors at once, blur occurs in those areas of the frame where this does not happen with standard focusing. Compared to the sixth iPhone, the aperture has been improved to f/1.8 (previously f/2.2), which allows 50% more light to pass through; lens of six lenses; optical image stabilization (OIS) for photo and video shooting; Slo-Mo shooting in resolution up to 1080p; a special processor for processing information from the camera (Image signal processor), which does this 60% faster than before. Can the iPhone 7 camera be considered the best in the world today? Unfortunately for iPhone fans, this is not the case. The resource keddr.com conducted a blind comparison of cameras among its readers (when people compare only the quality of photos and videos, without knowing which model they were made of) of three flagships: Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge (available in March 2016), last year Apple iPhone 6s and Apple iPhone 7 Plus. As a result, the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge camera won with a huge advantage; it won all 6 photo tests and one of two video tests, slightly inferior to the iPhone 7 in the quality of 4k video shooting. The seventh iPhone took second place, losing to the sixth iPhone in one photo test and one video test. The blind voting on the portal phonearena.com had the same results, where the 7th iPhone also lost to the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. Therefore, we have to admit that today the iPhone 7 has only the second best quality camera in the world. As for the front camera of the 7th iPhone, it has a 7 megapixel matrix (the 6th iPhone has 5 megapixels, the Galaxy S7 Edge also has 5 megapixels, the LG G5 has 8 megapixels).

The creators of the 7th iPhone decided to abandon the analog audio output in their smartphones in order to switch to the fully digital standard CDLA or Continual Digital Lossless Audio. However, this is not a revolution at all, because... Back in the spring, the Chinese used this in the flagship LeEco Le Max 2. In practice, this means that standard headphones for the iPhone 7 will not work: either an adapter is needed, or wireless headphones from Apple, which are not cheap, namely $159, which at the current exchange rate is about 10 thousand rubles.

Why was it chosen for the rating? Apple model iPhone 7 Plus, not the standard one Apple version iPhone 7, which has a resolution of 4.7 inches? In my opinion, a 4.7-inch iPhone with a very modest resolution of 1334x750 looks anachronistic in 2016, when tablet phones (that is, smartphones with a screen of at least 5.5 inches and a resolution of at least 1920x1080) finally captured the world market. But the point is not even that, but the fact that in terms of technical characteristics, the 7th iPhone is a completely ordinary model with only 2 GB of RAM, while even Chinese flagships within 15 thousand rubles have 3 GB of RAM. The standard iPhone 7 doesn’t even have an interesting solution with 3 cameras (like the iPhone 7 Plus version). In general, owners of the 7th iPhone note that it has not made much progress compared to iPhone model 6s, so only owners of iPhones produced in 2014 and earlier should upgrade to the 7th.

Apple iPhone 7 Plus has two more varieties: with 128 GB of internal memory and with 256 GB. But for the rating, the model with 32 GB was chosen because... This amount of memory is quite enough for the average user, and besides, this type is the most affordable, although 70 thousand is still a lot compared to the flagships of other manufacturers, so in terms of price-quality ratio, the iPhone 7 Plus is clearly not a leader, which prevents him from claiming first place in this ranking.

4th place. Huawei Nexus 6P 64Gb

The average price is 32,560 rubles. Nexus 6P - joint development the largest Chinese smartphone manufacturer (and third in the world) and Google, which owns the Android operating system. The collaboration between the two technology giants has produced excellent results. This model scored 70% of fives according to reviews in Yandex Market. Technical characteristics: 5.7-inch screen with a resolution of 2560x1440 pixels, Android 6.0 operating system, 64 GB of storage and 3 GB of RAM, support for two SIM cards. The cameras deserve special praise. Specialists resource Phone Arena compared the cameras of the Nexus 6P and iPhone 6S Plus and gave them the same scores. The Nexus 6P's 12.3 megapixel main camera is equipped with laser autofocus and dual LED flash. The 8-megapixel front camera also has autofocus. Photos and videos are taken using Google apps The camera is very easy to learn and use. At the top of the screen you can select scene modes, turn on the flash and HDR function, and set up timer shooting. At the bottom is the shutter release, switching between cameras and entering the image gallery.

3rd place. Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge 32Gb

The average price is 52,950 rubles. The flagship from the leading smartphone manufacturer in South Korea and the world went on sale in March 2016 and today received 43% of the five reviews in Yandex Market. Technical characteristics: 5.5-inch screen with a resolution of 2560x1440, Android 6.0 operating system, 32 GB of storage and 4 GB of RAM. There is a slot for memory cards up to 200 GB. Battery capacity - 3600 mAh. If the previous flagship Samsung Galaxy S6 (like all iPhones, by the way) supported only one SIM card, then the Samsung Galaxy S7 got rid of this drawback and supports 2 SIM cards. 12 megapixel main camera and 5 megapixel front camera. Samsung cites the following advantages of the camera in this smartphone: a larger aperture lens (F1.7) and enlarged matrix pixels (1.4 microns) capture much more light, which allows you to consistently obtain clear and detailed photographs even in low light conditions; smartphones support Dual Pixel technology: all matrix pixels have two photodiodes, not one, which allows the sensor to focus as quickly and clearly as the human eye, and Dual Pixel technology ensures such fast and flawless autofocus that you can capture even the sharpest movement in low light conditions; For the first time, you can capture movement in animated panorama mode. Comparative tests show that the Samsung Galaxy S7 camera is the best smartphone camera in the world today, even after the release of the 7th iPhone.

You can also note the possibility of very fast wireless charging and complete waterproofness (you can shoot video for 30-40 minutes at a depth of 1 meter under water). The always active screen will display useful information on a locked device. This feature is advanced enough to automatically turn off when the smartphone is in a pocket or bag, face down, or when the smartphone is almost empty.

2nd place. ASUS Zenfone 3 ZE552KL 64Gb

The average price is 25,690 rubles. The flagship from the leading Taiwanese manufacturer, released in June 2016, was so popular with users that today it has received 100% “A” reviews in Yandex Market. Technical characteristics: Android 6.0 OS, 5.5-inch screen with a resolution of 1920x1080, 64 GB of internal and 4 GB of RAM, there is a slot for a memory card up to 128 GB. Battery capacity 3000 mAh. The ASUS Zenfone 3 case is made of high-strength Corning Gorilla Glass with rounded edges (2.5D technology).

Main camera 16 MP, front camera 8 MP. The slogan of this model is “Created for photography,” thereby positioning it as a camera phone. The main camera sensor is the same as in last year's flagship Samsung Galaxy S6, which became the best camera phone in 2015, beating even the 6th iPhone. ZenFone 3 is equipped with a fast f/2.0 lens and a TriTech triple-servo autofocus system with speeds starting from 0.03 sec. If you add to this a highly effective optical and electronic image stabilization system, as well as a color correction sensor, you can rest assured that you can get clear pictures and videos with natural, rich colors with just one touch. When shooting photos, 4-axis optical stabilization detects camera shake and compensates for blur, while 3-axis electronic stabilization helps you record smooth videos even when shooting handheld or on the move.

Using 5-magnet drivers, a metal frame voice coil and a specially designed resonance chamber, it produces rich and clear sound. Plus, by connecting headphones to ZenFone 3, you can enjoy audiophile sound in 24-bit/192 kHz format - 4 times better than the quality of conventional audio discs.

Of course, this model implements Asus' proprietary ZenUI user interface, this time latest version 3.0.

1 place. LG G5 SE H845

The average price is 36,900 rubles. Flagship South Korean manufacturer, released in April 2016, received 83% of five reviews in Yandex Market. Characteristics: 5.3-inch screen with a resolution of 2560x1440, 32 GB of internal memory and 3 GB of RAM, there is a slot for memory cards up to 200 GB. Operating system Android 6.0. Battery capacity - 2800 mAh. And as many as three cameras: a 16-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel wide-angle camera (viewing angle - 135 degrees) and an 8-megapixel front camera. The wide-angle camera is located in the same place as the main one - on the rear panel. Unlike dual camera iPhone 7, where the image is analyzed by two sensors at once, which can have a detrimental effect on the quality of the frame, because While image blur may occur in some areas, the LG G5 takes a different route: it takes two pictures at once with two different cameras: wide-angle and main, from which you can choose the best one.

The resource hi-tech.mail.ru conducted comparison test cameras LG G5 SE and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, the results were as follows: “Flagship Samsung still shoot better, which is especially noticeable at night. However, when shooting self-portraits, LG is in the lead, which has another important advantage: the ability to take wide-angle pictures with a viewing angle of 135 degrees." The portal phonearena.com conducted several comparisons of the cameras of the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge and LG G5, where the quality of the pictures was assessed by both visitors by blind voting and experts. The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge won the blind voting , however, experts attributed this victory to the brighter unnatural colors in the Samsung camera and gave preference to the LG G5. Therefore, it is fair to say that the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge and LG G5 have main cameras of about the same level, while the LG G5 has an advantage in shooting with the front camera. as well as an additional plus in the form of a wide-angle camera.

This model is the world's first smartphone with a modular equipment principle. The user can replace the battery in a few seconds or install one of the LG Friends modules: a special LG Cam Plus unit with additional camera control buttons or LG Hi-Fi Plus with an audio chip. With the first module, the smartphone becomes complete compact camera with a comfortable grip, and with the second one it turns into a real audio player. The LG Cam Plus module has its own 1200 mAh battery. But you shouldn’t just add up the capacities, everything is a little different: as soon as the smartphone’s battery runs out, it is immediately recharged from the battery in the LG Cam Plus unit. So, in essence, we have an additional external battery.

The LG G5 SE H845 can easily be called the best smartphone on the Russian market today (there is a slightly more advanced model LG G5 H860N, but it is not supplied to Russia) in terms of price-quality ratio. If we compare this model with another Korean Samsung flagship Galaxy S7 Edge, then with similar technical specifications the price of LG's flagship is 40 percent lower, while the percentage of rave reviews is twice as high.

It's hard to say whether it can be called best smartphone in the past year. After all, productivity modern processors has grown many times over, and the design has changed significantly. All brands were trying to gain a foothold in the modern mobile market, and we could only watch and be surprised at what both A and B brands were offering us.

Huawei

Huawei started promoting an interesting solution this year. It's all about the dual-module main camera, which significantly expands the possibility of settings during photography. Here are the effects of pseudo-optical zoom, better detail, and blurring effects due to the difference in focal length. Be that as it may, the complex two-module solution has now been picked up by many brands, although optics from Lake are used only in Huawei. But this is not the only thing that the flagship solutions from this Chinese brand are notable for, for example, in the current Huawei P9 Plus, all other characteristics are also excellent: a very powerful proprietary Kirin 955 processor, a full-Amoled display, 4GB of RAM. And the design of the products of this brand is almost always at its best.

LG

Elgie's company has always stayed away from modern marketing. Of course, the brand was once promoted, but now the company is almost forgotten, and the fifth generation of flagships turned out to be very controversial. So the manufacturer had no choice but to invest all its remaining energy into the new flagship LG V20. The result is a device that incorporates all the company’s previous developments: there is a 5.7-inch main display and a small additional display, a two-module high-quality camera, and a fingerprint scanner. The case is not just metal, it is made according to military standards. As a result - powerful interesting gadget, but not cheap.

Samsung

The flagship device from Samsung is known to every lover of modern mobile gadgets. But when talking about the best smartphones, it’s simply impossible not to mention the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge. After all, the active promotion of edge-curved AMOLED displays began with the edge generation. At least today only Samsung offers such displays, and even once little-known companies are not averse to using this technology Chinese manufacturers. But let's return to the seventh generation of flagships. The camera here still takes the best mobile photos. Hardware is also relevant, even if many modern competitors boast of better benchmarks. And in general, the device is balanced.

Xiomi

The gadgets presented in the review are good. But the Xiaomi company has prepared something no less interesting by the end of the year. We are talking about Xiaomi Mi Mix - this smartphone today stands out among all other competitors, it is simply impossible not to pay attention to it. All thanks to the huge 6.4-inch diagonal and the absence of frames, both on the sides and on the top. Due to the fact that the gadget's display occupies almost all the usable space at the top, leaving a small strip at the bottom, the dimensions of the device are comparable to a regular 5.5-inch iPhone. The front camera is at the bottom, but there is no earpiece, since there is no space at the top. But the company found a way out by applying sound transmission technology directly to the auditory bone.

“All these years we sold Nexus at a low price, like fools, by God. But Apple is cutting money - we need to join the premium too,” the guys from Google decided and released smartphones of the Pixel family. To ensure that the new “super-prestigious” Google Phone is not confused with its cheap predecessors, the developers at all presentations persistently emphasized that this is an “all-new” (“completely new”) smartphone, which was not developed by subsidiary brands (LG/Samsung/Huawei/HTC/ Motorola), and Google itself! However, it’s no secret that HTC, respected by Google, still assembles smartphones.

But we are less interested in politics and marketing; let’s talk about the technical component. In this regard, the new Google Phone pleases with an excellent camera (the best among smartphones in general, according to some experts), a good AMOLED display and a very powerful processor Snapdragon 821 with perfect system optimization.

By the way, about the system - now it has been added exclusivity and the latest “empty” Android Nougat has been given a new design, and English-speaking users can already talk to a smartphone like a person. That is, no more “inexpensive pickled cucumbers in Moscow” - you can immediately address them with the phrase “Pixel, where can you buy a good snack nearby?” Pleasant innovations? Yes, simply excellent! The Pixel design is a little strange, but the smartphones cannot be confused with anything else.

Another question is that the 8.5 mm thick model (like the Xiaomi Redmi 3S with 4100 mAh) houses a 2770 mAh battery with a ridiculous capacity. However, thanks to the perfectly optimized Android and AMOLED matrix, the Pixel will still last the day. But almost anyone flagship smartphone more compact than the new Google phones, which didn’t even bother to implement optical stabilization in the camera.

And the main thing is that such pleasure costs from 50 to 65 thousand rubles, even just in terms of European prices (Russians are so rich that smartphones in the Russian Federation usually cost more than in Europe). Would you like to shell out a thousand dollars for a “prestigious” Google nameplate? Yes, everyone already understands that you don’t want to, and that’s why Pixels are not sold in Russia. And for 65 thousand in Russia, smart guys buy an iPhone 7 Plus with 128 GB of memory from gray suppliers or a still cool Samsung Galaxy S7 edge for 40 thousand. And they do it right.

Pixel is a great model in its own right and best alternative the great and terrible iPhone (for this reason the smartphone was included in the list). But for record-breaking performance at a high price, we already have Samsung, and Google’s “unique” software can even be made to work on cheap smartphones. That is, no matter what Google creates, it turns out to be Nexus. Only this time, an expensive, slightly strange Nexus that does not encourage reflashing, which did not manage to jump higher than its glass “head”.

4. Honor 8

In contrast to Google, Huawei knows a lot about “color differentiation” and has been successfully selling almost identical smartphones under different nameplates for a couple of years now. For image-conscious citizens, mobile phones under the name Huawei are coming out. And for everyone who doesn’t care about Scarlett Johansson and the nameplate of partner brands, the Chinese offer Honor models.

So in 2016, engineers “re-shoeed” the expensive Huawei P9 into a glass case, dismantled the Leica logo and began selling this model 40% cheaper than the flagship. Even by Russian standards, Honor 8, worth 28 thousand rubles, looks very cool - of similar quality models, only the “gray” versions of Xiaomi and Meizu are cheaper.

And you can’t say that Huawei has saved some money on customers: a good fast processor (although not as cool as your Snapdragon 820), two cool rear cameras, with which you can “blur” the background in photographs, a high-quality display. Honor 8 is not a flagship of the “nowhere better” format - it is rather a middle ground between expensive “top models” and middle-class smartphones. Such smartphones have become an endangered species - Chinese brands are now arrogant and strive to compete in price with Samsung, so it was impossible not to mention the “anti-crisis” Honor in a special manner.

3. Apple iPhone 7 Plus

iPhone just got better. Better by N percent, because it is not proper for noble dons to focus on the characteristics of mobile phones. Parasite designers, apparently, are still having unbridled fun with uninhibited girls and “washing powder” (iPhone 6 with almost the same appearance appeared in September 2014). But the revolution, comrades, begins from the grassroots, and iPhone buyers are still satisfied with the case design. Moreover, lovers of innovation still received the standard “glossy black” color - an important detail for those who want it new iPhone immediately distinguished from the old one.

Generally improved iPhone versions with the previous body design they usually receive an additional index S, but the name iPhone 6SS would sound provocative, and, frankly speaking, technical innovations have accumulated enough to change generations.

Apple iPhone 7 Plus

Judge for yourself: a new touch-sensitive Home key with imitation pressing, “identical to natural”. Water protection, which is not very useful in everyday use, but reduces the risk of “killing” a smartphone with liquid. Stereo speakers in a very compact body and a processor that, with four cores at a mediocre frequency, outshines all Qualcomm and MediaTek brands of any degree. 2x optical zoom (a small thing, it doesn’t always work, but it’s still useful). And this despite the fact that the iPhone, as we know, has never competed with rivals for show on the principle of “who has it longer”!

The iPhone 7 Plus still has a lot of shortcomings: ridiculous strap-worthiness, no support for fast charging, rather dismal shooting quality compared to Android flagships, a headphone jack amputated “for fun” or out of Apple’s greed.

Apple iPhone 7 Plus

But in order to criticize, you need to offer something in return. Google Pixel is not sold in Russia, and it can no longer boast of the slogan “Android smartphones are always cooler for the same price.” The Samsung Galaxy S7 edge has reached “retirement” age on the assembly line, but is still too expensive, has a modest 32 gigabytes of internal memory (a little more than 20 GB is available for games and applications), and is easily soiled and fragile. It is, of course, very technological in itself, but has changed little since the “breakthrough” S6 edge. And high-quality and cheaper flagships on Android based enough without that.

With such a preamble, the iPhone award sounds like glorifying the best of worst smartphone, but Apple’s flagship still “raises the bar” with each new generation by a sufficient amount so that iPhone users do not migrate to Android phones and do not envy Samsung Galaxy users.

2. Xiaomi Redmi 4 Prime

They did not expect? But I think that the budget Xiaomi fully deserves such honors. Because Redmi has become a symbol and the most desirable budget smartphone during the crisis period not only in Russia, but also in other post-Soviet republics. To be honest, in 2016 Xiaomi made two “revolutions” at once - first, in January, Redmi 3 was born, which brought an unprecedented 8-core processor (not cheap, from Kvalkom bottling!) and a metal case to the budget ranks. And at the end of the year, when Huawei and Meizu released response smartphones, Xiaomi “finished off” all competitors with the release of Redmi 4 Prime.

A bright Full HD display in a smartphone for 8-9 thousand rubles! The coolest Snapdragon 625 - before this it was found in models at least 3 times more expensive! And a capacious battery that lasts all this stuff in a thin case for a long time.

Xiaomi Redmi 4 Prime

Why not Xiaomi Mi Mix? Because now it is a very expensive and not very practical prototype smartphone with a flagship processor, but a mediocre camera. Why not Redmi Note 3? Because there is nothing breakthrough in it - Note 3 became a “restyling” of Redmi Note 2, and Note 3 Pro just received a slightly faster and more intelligent processor. Xiaomi Mi5, over time, also looks like “just” another inexpensive Chinese flagship, but the “compact” Redmi is developing much more sharply.

And I understand those who believe that such portions of praise for a budget smartphone are unnecessary. Still, you will have to polish it and Russify it yourself, the cameras in Redmi 4 are still mediocre, fast charging again is not supported due to savings on components.

Xiaomi Redmi 4 Prime

But there hasn’t been anything cooler in the budget class, no, and there won’t be in the foreseeable future - in exchange for 8-10 thousand you can “taste” quad-core models from slightly more arrogant vendors that are disgusting in terms of speed and quality, or, at best, buy a plastic Meiza at based on a “deformed” old MediaTek processor. Moreover, if there have never been problems in choosing good and expensive smartphones, then Redmi almost single-handedly defends the honor of the truly cool budget models, for which it receives “silver” in our rating today.

2016 brought us many interesting smartphones. In this selection we have collected the best representatives of the mobile market.

The list will start with the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, presented back in March at Mobile World Congress 2016.

Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge

After the success of the Galaxy S6 with a new design, Samsung decided to release almost the same flagship, but took into account some important comments from users by returning the microSD card slot and IP68 water resistance. Both devices received a glass body with a metal frame and an enlarged camera module. The only serious and noticeable difference between the Galaxy S7 Edge and the S7 is the curved display 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 with 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 camera, 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, let down only by the high price and mediocre battery life. 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. Previously, Google Now could only perform basic functions, like setting a reminder, turning off Wi-Fi, or searching the Internet, Assistant has now become much smarter and can fully compete with Apple's Siri and Microsoft's Cortana. Google also updated appearance Android. Detailed review 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 battery life.
, became the first smartphone from third party manufacturer(not Google) with Android 7.0 Nougat on board.

Main feature of LG V20 - 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 shortcut icons or a search bar. The company also stated that additional screen became 50% brighter than its predecessor.

Another interesting feature of the smartphone is 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 its 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 best quality photographs;
  • 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 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.

In terms of specifications, the Moto has a 5.5-inch screen with Full HD resolution, Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory expandable, 16-megapixel main and 5-megapixel front camera, 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.

Hello dear friends, today we will look at top 10 best smartphones of 2016 according to customer reviews. 2016 is already in the past, they will be here soon. Every person who had a smartphone announced in 2016 more than once shared their review of it with at least friends. And we decided to compile for you a rating of smartphones 2016 based on user reviews.

Since the first ones were invented Cell Phones, quite a lot of time has passed. Each time they changed their appearance, size, and functional solutions. The time has come when all the fruits of electronic inventions have come together. Smartphones were born, which these days no longer belong to the category of technological innovations. They are available in all stores and are accessible to many, providing a modernized means of communication. They are different from the usual mobile phone many convenient and quick functions.


These devices were equipped with a powerful operating system. Thanks to her, the gadget has become an alternative to a computer. Just install required applications and make the appropriate settings.
Main goals:

  • making calls, both regular and using various special applications;
  • use of SMS and MMS;
  • Internet traffic;
  • the ability to take photos and videos;
  • photo and video editing;
  • the ability to listen to or record audio files;
  • use in working with office programs;
  • the ability to read books in electronic format;
  • activation based on the owner's fingerprint.

We will analyze everything possible options and determine the rating of smartphones based on customer reviews in 2016 based on technological, functional and design parameters.
The popularity of the devices and their great variety begs the question: which one to choose, one that is reliable and meets quality standards?

Rating of the best smartphones of 2016 based on reviews

10th place – Apple iPhone SE

The category “The best smartphones of 2016 according to reviews” cannot but include the Apple iPhone SE. The small size of the case allows the device to easily fit in your hand or pocket. But not everyone prefers a four-inch screen. It is quite small and will not be very convenient to use for watching videos, although its quality is not inferior to other brands. Functional solutions are of high quality and meet everyday needs.

Characteristics:

  1. 4″ 1136x640;
  2. camera: 12 MP;
  3. number of cores: 2;
  4. RAM: 2 GB;
  5. internal memory: 16 or 64 GB;
  6. colors: Space Gray, Silver, Rose Gold, Gold.

9th place – Microsoft Lumia 650

Microsoft Lumia 650 is suitable for that category of people who do not actively use the device, since the battery capacity is not very large. If you use it with moderate activity, it will work for two days without recharging. Optimization affected operating system. The gadget does not slow down. Tasks are completed efficiently. Can be done nice photos and watch videos. Sound on high level. The rating of the best smartphones of 2016 according to reviews included this model, which confidently took ninth position.

Characteristics:

  1. display diagonal: 5″;
  2. resolution: 1280×720;
  3. camera: 8 MP;
  4. number of cores: 4;
  5. RAM: 1 GB;
  6. internal: 16 GB;
  7. colors: White, Black.

8th place – Meizu Pro 6

It can be immediately noted that this phone sound quality much better than all the models presented in the division: “Smartphones rating of the best 2016 reviews.” The screen is wide in size. This makes it possible to watch videos in a large group. Functional abilities work without showing slowness. There are no problems with games either. The combination of average battery power with large memory affects autonomy. If you use the device in normal mode, you will have to look for an outlet once a day. Meizu price Pro 6 is within reason and affordable for most customers.

Characteristics:

  1. Android 6.0;
  2. 5.2″, 1920 x 1080;
  3. camera 21.16 MP;
  4. kernels: 10;
  5. RAM: 4 GB;
  6. colors: Black, White, Red.

7th place – Sony Xperia X

This device is a choice for those who prefer a variety of functions and good performance. The Sony Xperia X body is made of metal material. The camera resolution is high. The battery power is average. The cost justifies the capabilities.

Characteristics:

  1. Android;
  2. display diagonal: 5″;
  3. camera: 23 MP;
  4. number of cores: 6;
  5. RAM: 3 GB;
  6. internal: 64 GB;
  7. colors: Black, White, Lime.

6th place – Huawei P9

Inexpensive smartphone reviews rating 2016
The characteristic differences and features of Huawei P9 are the presence of two main cameras. The quality of the optics is excellent thanks to the use of technology from the camera manufacturer Leica. There are a lot of settings and modes for filming. This device will appeal to inveterate photographers. Huawei P9 has new games available. The memory can be expanded by inserting a MicroSD card. The phone has a coating that removes fingerprints effortlessly. The battery is designed for a working day and is charged from the mains in an hour and a half.

Characteristics:

  1. Android;
  2. screen: 5.2″;
  3. screen resolution: 1920 x 1080;
  4. camera: 12 MP;
  5. number of cores: 8;
  6. RAM: 3 GB;
  7. memory: 32 GB;
  8. Titanium Grey, Silver, Gold.

5th place Asus Zenfone Max

This device is distinguished by its long operating time and low price. Based on these considerations Asus Zenfone Max is considered one of the most purchased. There is such an amazing advantage that, having charged the battery once, you can use it for several days without forgetting about looking for an outlet. Due to the small amount of RAM, you will not be able to play games with progressive graphics, but the tasks you need every day will be solved without problems. The phone will suit the taste and pocket of a person who wants to always be in touch.

Characteristics:

  1. screen diagonal: 5.5″;
  2. screen resolution: 1280×720;
  3. camera: 13 MP;
  4. number of cores: 4;
  5. RAM: 2 GB;
  6. internal: 16 GB;
  7. colors: Black, White.

4th place – HTC 10

This model quite adequately represents a means of modern communication. In terms of parameters, it can compete with market leaders. The metal case reliably protects the internal components of the phone from unexpected drops. The memory is expandable and the sound quality is excellent. No waterproof protection. Basically the gadget is at a high level in terms of power, functionality also corresponds good characteristics. In the “Rating of smartphones 2016 based on reviews” section, HTC 10 ranks a solid four out of the top ten.

Characteristics:

  1. screen diagonal: 5.2″;
  2. screen resolution: 2560×1440;
  3. camera: 12 MP;
  4. number of cores: 4;
  5. RAM: 4 GB;
  6. internal memory: 32 GB;
  7. colors: Black, White, Silver, Gold, Blue.

3rd place – LG G5

LG has provided customers with a modular phone that has a removable battery. It is possible to purchase two modules, which increase the battery capacity and improve the quality of sound reproduction. Charging can last up to ten hours. USB is a rare type. Wireless charging no, which is not entirely convenient.

Characteristics:

  1. operating system: Android;
  2. screen diagonal: 5.3″;
  3. screen resolution: 2560x1440;
  4. camera: 16 MP;
  5. number of cores: 8;
  6. RAM: 3 GB;
  7. internal: 32 GB;
  8. colors: Titan Grey, Pink, Gold.

2nd place – Xiaomi Mi5

It is similar in similarity to the Samsung Galaxy S7. This refers to the quality of the material with which the product is covered and rounded corners. Unfortunately, there is no slot for a memory card, but this does not interfere with solving the assigned tasks. The energy charge doesn't hold up very well. This is compensated by a very attractive price, although the performance properties are close to competing brands. The low price and excellent performance allow us to apply the title of the best in 2016 to the phone, focusing on cost and quality.

Characteristics:

  1. operating system: Android;
  2. screen diagonal: 5.15″;
  3. screen resolution: 1920×1080;
  4. camera: 16 MP;
  5. number of cores: 4;
  6. RAM: 3 GB;
  7. internal memory: 32 GB;
  8. colors: Gold, Black, White.

And the first place in the ranking is Samsung Galaxy S7

The best smartphone of 2016 is Samsung brand successfully modernizes the Galaxy S7 line-up. Manufacturers listened to consumer preferences and returned the memory card slot. The camera resolution has decreased, but the quality of the photos has improved. The contours of the body are elegant. Holds well in the hand.

A powerful processor and impressive RAM make it possible to be a productive device. Work in offline mode is approximately one or two days. Charging – regular and wireless. Energy saving mode is also supported. An interesting idea was to translate into reality the use of a device in the form of glasses for the virtual reality effect. Another good advantage is protection from water. The best smartphone according to customer reviews in 2016 is the Samsung Galaxy S7.

Characteristics:

  1. operating system: Android 6.0;
  2. screen diagonal: 5.1″;
  3. Screen resolution: 2560×1440
  4. camera: 12 MP;
  5. number of cores: 8;
  6. RAM: 4 GB;
  7. internal memory: 32 GB;
  8. colors: Gold, Black, Silver, Rose;
  9. battery 3000 mAh.


It is very difficult to identify the most best gadget according to such criteria as:

  • preferences for a variety of functions;
  • battery power;
  • quality of material;
  • screen properties;
  • performance;
  • practicality;
  • reliability.

When choosing a specific model, consumers pay attention to technological parameters, advanced capabilities, usefulness of the camera, energy intensity, size and optimal display. Each person has their own taste and personal requirements. Therefore, opinions on the ranking of the best smartphones of 2016 may be different. By examining all aspects and nuances in detail, we tried to help you understand which trends are more innovative.


Detailed analysis