Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Best Android Phone Under $900

Getting the best sometimes costs a lot. If you're looking for the most premium (and expensive) phone out there, the Galaxy Note 7 is the one to go for.

Best Overall

Samsung Galaxy Note 7

See at AT&T See at Verizon See at Sprint See at T-mobile

Forget the drama for a second: The Galaxy Note 7 is well worth its high price tag precisely because of everything that's bundled with it. Not only does it run on the latest processor, it also offers expandable memory, compatibility with two wireless charging standards, and two different mobile payment technologies. And for those of you who are serious about your smartphone photography, it features one of the best smartphone cameras on the market: a 12-megapixel rear-facing camera equipped with OIS and a f/1.7 aperture, as well as full manual controls and RAW file support. You can then edit those photos with the precise, water resistant, pressure sensitive S-Pen that comes in tow. Now do you see why this phone costs so much?

Bottom line: The Galaxy Note 7 is simply the best, especially if you're willing to put down the cash for it.

One more thing: We recognize you may be feeling hesitant about the Note 7 because of its massive recall, so read up on what happened before you commit.

Why the Galaxy Note 7 is the best

It's big, it's beautiful, and it's worth the upgrade.

It may seem like the Galaxy Note 7 was just a rehash of its predecessor, the Galaxy Note 5, but it's not. This phablet manages to stand out on its own, precisely for the reasons that our very own Andrew Martonik pointed out in his initial review:

The Galaxy Note 7 has immaculately designed and crafted hardware, an industry-topping display, top-end internal specs to satiate all but the most avid enthusiasts, and it's all wrapped up in a water-tight enclosure. Even with all of that, Samsung still absolutely nails the biggest parts of the daily use experience — the software is quick, smooth and powerful, the camera is lightning fast and produces great photos, the battery offers ample longevity, and the S Pen is still the best smartphone stylus experience available today.

The good news is that even though the Galaxy Note 7 is comparatively expensive, it's available at most carriers through financing, spreading the cost of the phone over a couple year's worth of monthly payments.

And when you finally get the phone in your hand, with its beautiful edge screen and superb brightness, you'll understand why it's worth the cost: it's just a stunning device. Every aspect of the phone has been improved over not just the Note 5, but its immediate predecessor, the Galaxy S7 edge.

Better for battery

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

See at AT&T See at Verizon See at Sprint See at T-mobile

Yes, I know—we're not being very original here by choosing another Samsung device, but we can't ignore the fact that the company launched more than one stellar smartphone this year. Since it's essentially a slightly trimmed down version of the Note 7, the Galaxy S7 Edge is the next best smartphone in the sub-$900 category. Inside, it's practically the same as the rest of its Galaxy family, but on the outside it sports a curved metal-and-glass chassis and a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display that's big and bright. It also offers the largest battery of the three widely available Galaxy variants, so you'll get more usage from it throughout your day.

Bottom line: The Galaxy S7 Edge is the second best choice if the Note 7 and its stylus are too much for you.

One more thing: The AT&T exclusive (Galaxy S7 Active)[http://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-galaxy-s7-active/home] is another worthy consideration if you're in the market for something more durable.

Conclusion

The Galaxy Note 7 is one of two phones we recommend between $700 and $900 because, frankly, most other phones in that price range aren't worth considering. It almost singularly justifies its high cost in a sea of devices that call themselves premium but offer mainly compromise. The Note 7, and to a lesser extent the Galaxy S7 edge, are nearly perfect Android phones, held back only by their slow Android updates.

Best Overall

Samsung Galaxy Note 7

See at AT&T See at Verizon See at Sprint See at T-mobile

Forget the drama for a second: The Galaxy Note 7 is well worth its high price tag precisely because of everything that's bundled with it. Not only does it run on the latest processor, it also offers expandable memory, compatibility with two wireless charging standards, and two different mobile payment technologies. And for those of you who are serious about your smartphone photography, it features one of the best smartphone cameras on the market: a 12-megapixel rear-facing camera equipped with OIS and a f/1.7 aperture, as well as full manual controls and RAW file support. You can then edit those photos with the precise, water resistant, pressure sensitive S-Pen that comes in tow. Now do you see why this phone costs so much?

Bottom line: The Galaxy Note 7 is simply the best, especially if you're willing to put down the cash for it.

One more thing: We recognize you may be feeling hesitant about the Note 7 because of its massive recall, so read up on what happened before you commit.