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1Don’t Wait for the MWC Hoopla: Here’s 10 Smartphones You Can Buy Today
2Apple’s iPhone 6s, of Course
Since Apple won’t be at Mobile World Congress, there’s no worry about the company launching the iPhone 7 this month. In fact, it’s more likely that Apple won’t introduce the iPhone 7 until the fall, giving customers plenty of time to purchase Apple’s current-generation handsets. The iPhone 6s comes with a 4.7-inch screen, the A9 processor and support for 3D Touch, a feature that enables applications to activate various features based on how hard a person presses down on the screen.
3The iPhone 6s Plus Is for Phablet Fans
The iPhone 6s Plus is similar to the iPhone 6s, but comes with a larger, 5.5-inch screen to appeal to phablet shoppers. The iPhone 6s Plus also features 3D Touch and the A9 processor and comes with up to 128GB of onboard storage. Like the iPhone 6s, it’s available from all major carriers and runs on Apple’s latest mobile operating system, iOS 9.
4Huawei’s Nexus 6P Is a Popular Option
Google and China-based handset maker Huawei teamed up late last year on the Nexus 6P, a smartphone designed for those who want a big screen and the standard version of Android. The Nexus 6P features a 5.7-inch screen, as well as a camera that’s capable of capturing video in 4K resolution. The Nexus 6P has a 3,450mAh battery and a USB Type-C charger that gives the device up to 7 hours of battery life in just 10 minutes of charging. Like its iPhone counterparts, it also has a fingerprint sensor for additional security.
5The Galaxy S6 Edge+ Adds Display Space
Samsung made a splash last year with the Galaxy S6 Edge+, a device that comes with all of the benefits of the Galaxy S6 Edge, plus a little more display real estate. The device has two bent screen edges that provide additional functionality, including quick access to contacts. The Galaxy S6 Edge+ also features a 5.7-inch screen—notably larger than the 5.1-inch screen in the standard Galaxy S6 Edge—and boasts wireless charging. Add in its fingerprint sensor and 16-megapixel camera, and it’s a recipe for a solid smartphone.
6Samsung Gets Another Nod With the Galaxy Note 5
The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is designed for those who don’t always want to rely just on their fingers to get work done. The device comes with many of the same features as the Galaxy S6 Edge+, including a 16-megapixel camera, a 5.7-inch screen and wireless charging. However, it adds in support for the S Pen, a digital stylus that allows users to doodle on the screen, as well as control the handset with pen-based gestures.
7Get the LG G4 Before Its Successor Is Announced
LG has already said that it plans to launch the LG G5 at MWC, but there are some that may still like its G4. That device comes with a curved design that blends into a leather back plate to give users a firm grip. Plus, the LG G4 has a 16-megapixel rear-facing camera, a 5.5-inch quad-HD display, and an 8-megapixel front-facing camera for higher-quality selfies and video chatting. It’s also worth noting that the device has a removable battery, allowing busy travelers to swap power in and out at will.
8There’s Nothing Wrong With the HTC One M9
The latest rumors say HTC won’t announce a new One M smartphone until March. So, until then, the One M9 remains HTC’s top model and it’s a fine one at that. The One M9 comes with a slick metallic design and a 20-megapixel camera. The front-facing stereo speakers have a built-in amp and Dolby Audio surround sound, and the One M9’s full-HD, 5-inch screen nicely fits between phablets and midrange smartphones. The handset is running on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 810 processor.
9Huawei Grabbing Attention With the Mate 8
Huawei’s shipments have grown considerably in the past year. Part of its success was due to the popular Huawei Mate 8, a smartphone featuring a unibody metallic design, a fingerprint sensor on the back and a 4,000mAh battery that can be fully charged in two-and-a-half hours. The phablet also comes with a 6-inch screen and runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. It even supports Android Auto, Google’s in-car infotainment platform, and responds to a wide range of knuckle gestures in addition to standard touch gestures.
10BlackBerry Maintains Focus on Security With Priv Handset
BlackBerry may not get the kind of respect it once did, but the company is still kicking, and the technology community largely welcomed its Priv Android-based device with open arms. The Priv is designed with corporate customers in mind, and includes a wide range of hardware- and software-based security features to protect data. Since there are still some corporate customers who prefer the BlackBerry QWERTY keyboard, it could be even more appealing than the other devices in this roundup. Besides it slide-out keyboard, the Priv comes with a 5.4-inch screen, a Snapdragon 808 processor and 32GB of onboard memory.
11The OnePlus 2 Has a Strong Showing
OnePlus is by far the smallest company in this roundup, but that doesn’t mean its latest handset shouldn’t make this list. The OnePlus 2 is an impressive device in nearly every respect, starting with its stellar design and 5.5-inch screen. The smartphone also comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor. But it doesn’t run Google Standard Android. Instead, the OnePlus 2 is based on OxygenOS, a forked version of Android that has proven quite popular.