10 Alternatives to Samsung’s Galaxy Note7 Smartphones

Now that Samsung has halted production and marketing of its Galaxy Note7 devices, users must decide which device will take their place. Here are some options worth considering.

Apple’s iPhone 7 Plus seems like an obvious alternative to the Galaxy Note7. Like Samsung’s smartphone, Apple’s alternative comes with a big screen (5.5 inches) and features a fast processor. Users also will find a high-end, 12-megapixel rear-facing camera; support for Touch ID to verify purchases; and a solid design. It doesn’t have the Galaxy Note7’s curved screen, but few alternatives do.

The Google Pixel, scheduled to launch Oct. 20, could become the most popular Android-based smartphone on the market. The larger Pixel has a 5.5-inch screen and what Google says is the best camera ever offered in a smartphone. It also runs the latest Android version, Nougat, and is the first to come with Google Assistant, the search giant’s advanced virtual personal assistant. It’s arguably the best smartphone to reach the Android market in a long time.

Like the Google Pixel, the LG V20 is slated to ship in late October. The smartphone will run on Google’s Android Nougat operating system and comes with a Steady Record 2.0 feature that helps users capture “sharp, smooth video.” The device also will have high-end speakers, a fingerprint sensor on the back and feature a solid design. It’s LG’s best smartphone since the G5 and comes with a huge screen, measuring 5.7 inches.

Those who liked the curved display in the Galaxy Note7 should consider the Galaxy S7 Edge. The Galaxy S7 Edge comes with a curved screen, allowing for access to notifications and other information on either edge. The smartphone also features battery life up to 33 hours, a 12-megapixel camera and a processor that can deliver outstanding performance for apps and games.

Motorola finds its way into this roundup, thanks to the Moto Z Force Droid, a smartphone boasting a 21-megapixel camera, a “guaranteed” shatterproof display and more than a full day of battery life. The Moto Z Force Droid also comes with a 21-megapixel camera and runs on the Snapdragon 820 processor. Perhaps most importantly, the Moto Z Force Droid is a modular smartphone that lets users add accessories, such as a movie projector, stereo speaker and a bigger battery pack.

The HTC 10 has been on store shelves for several months, but that doesn’t make it any less attractive. The smartphone runs the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor and has a 5.2-inch screen featuring a 2K resolution. Add that to high-end sound quality, support for up to 2TB of storage on a microSD card and HD voice support, and the Android-based handset looks to be a winner.

The LG G5 is one of the top-rated Android-based smartphones, thanks to its outstanding design, a nice 5.3-inch quad-HD display that comes with an always-on feature and battery life that maxes out at 27 hours of usage time. While the LG G5 has familiar features, such as a 16-megapixel camera and a fingerprint sensor for security, it also comes with something no other option delivers: a removable battery. For corporate users, that’s a major plus.

China-based ZTE might not have the brand Samsung enjoys, but it’s still a notable competitor in the marketplace, thanks to its Axon 7. The high-end smartphone comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, dual-image stabilization for nicer pictures and the ability to recharge the battery by 50 percent in just 30 minutes. On the camera side, users will find a 20-megapixel rear-facing lens to complement its 8-megapixel front-facing camera. The Axon 7’s screen measures 5.5 inches and has 538 pixels per inch.

Unlike the other devices in this roundup, the Microsoft Lumia 950 XL isn’t running Android or iOS. Instead, the smartphone is running Windows 10. But that doesn’t make it a poor option. In fact, the Lumia 950 XL has a big, 5.7-inch quad-HD screen, runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor and has a massive 20-megapixel rear-facing camera sensor. And with Windows 10, enterprise users might find some value in its ability to deliver a seamless software experience from the computer to the phone. It’s worth considering in a world dominated by Android and iOS.

Although Xiaomi devices are somewhat hard to come by in the United States, the company has been able to attract a somewhat loyal following worldwide. Part of its appeal comes in the form of the Mi Note, a smartphone that, like the Galaxy Note 7, has a huge screen measuring 5.7 inches. Under the hood, users will find a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor and dual-SIM support. There’s also a high-end 13-megapixel rear-facing camera, high-fidelity audio and what Xiaomi calls an “ultra-thin” design. It offers internal storage up to 64GB.