If you're looking at this page, it's because the right smartphone for you is the one that fits perfectly in your hand.
Best overall
Samsung Galaxy S7
See at AT&T See at Sprint See at T-Mobile See at Verizon See at Amazon
Unless you've been living under a rock this past year, you know that the Galaxy S7 is the biggest hit of the year. The flagship smartphone features a stunning metal-and-glass unibody design that's both water resistant and comfortable to wield. On the inside, it's fueled by top-end internals, including a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor and 4GB of RAM. It also offers solid battery life and an impressive rear-facing camera that you can confidently utilize as your primary shooter. Best of all, the Galaxy S7's screen is a 5.1-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display, so even though it's a smaller screen, you'll still get stunning, TV-like quality from the dullest of YouTube videos.
Perhaps the only drawback of the Galaxy S7 is that it doesn't run the latest version of Android just yet. Nougat has yet to be optimized for Samsung's flagship devices, but it's coming.
Bottom line: If you're looking to adopt one of the best compact smartphones available, get the Galaxy S7.
One More thing: This highly-rated device is available at all four major carriers in the U.S., but if you'd rather live dangerously and contract-free, Samsung offers an unlocked model that also works overseas.
Why the Galaxy S7 is the best
A powerful, compact, water resistant little package.
Samsung has spent generations attempting to perfect its Galaxy flagship. There's still some work to be done, but the Galaxy S7 is considered the best incarnation of Samsung's flagship smartphone yet. Just look at the features: Powerful innards that support the Vulkan API and virtual reality; a water-resistant shell for the accident prone; a fingerprint sensor for added security, an expansion slot for more media storage;, and a high-quality camera that's good enough to leave your DSLR at home. The Galaxy S7 does everything you need a smartphone to do.
Unfortunately, Samsung's version of Android also comes with a few quirks, as well as extra apps you might find redundant alongside Google's own offerings. And the Galaxy S7 often comes bundled with hoards of bloatware, depending on your carrier, and you're not always guaranteed to be running the latest version of Android. But if this is your big purchase for the year, you can be confident in the fact that you made the right decision in terms of hardware and software offerings, especially since the Galaxy S7 offers one of the best smartphone cameras on the market.
Best "Not Samsung" phone
HTC 10
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HTC's had a rough couple of years with its flagship line, but the HTC 10 is a step in the right direction. This aluminum, unibody device is as fashion forward as it is comfortable to hold. Its 5.2-inch Quad HD display is the right size for most hands, and it's equipped with a 12-megapixel rear-facing Ultrapixel 2 camera, as well as a 5-megapixel front-facing camera with OIS, so your selfies will be in focus, too.
The HTC 10 also offers BoomSound Hi-Fi, which the company worked on in conjunction with Dolby, and there's even an amp built in to the headphone jack. The HTC 10's Android interface isn't bad either; HTC's Sense UI is pretty vanilla compared to years past, and you can customize the interface to your liking with themes.
Bottom-line: The HTC 10 is a viable flagship alternative for anyone who is looking for something just as capable as a Samsung device but without the chintzy software.
One more thing: Although the 10 does not have all the bells and whistles as Samsung's devices—like water resistance and wireless charging— HTC does offer Uh Oh Protection, which covers broken screens, water damage, and even switching carriers.
Best affordable phone
Nexus 5X
If you're looking for a device that's easy to cradle, but you don't want to break the bank, consider one of Google's Nexus devices. The Nexus 5X is a pocketable, 5.2-inch device with a 1080p LCD display, a solid 12-megapixel rear-facing camera, and a 2700mAh battery. It runs on a Snapdragon 808 processor with 2GB of RAM and its rear-facing fingerprint scanner is faster to use than most smartphones that have it embedded on the front. And though the Nexus 5X doesn't sport the most forward-thinking chassis design, it does come in a seriously attractive mint blue color.
Bottom-line: The Nexus 5X is the best choice if you want a smaller Android phone that will receive consistent software updates for at least another year.
One more thing: You can purchase Nexus Protect for an extra $69 to help cover any device malfunctions and accidental damage for two years.
Best under 4.7-inches
Xperia X Compact
Bet you didn't think we'd offer up a Sony smartphone as a choice, but the Xperia X Compact is worth the consideration—especially if you're looking for something that's under five inches. Inside, the Xperia X Compact runs on mid-range Snapdragon 650, 3GB of RAM, and a 2,700mAh battery. It's equipped with a 720p IPS display, though that's all you really need from a 4.6-inch screen. It also supports Quick Charge 3.0, so that you can quickly charge it up during your layover, and it offers a solid 23-megapixel rear-facing camera with laser autofocus.
Bottom-line: The Xperia X Compact is great for anyone who's been grumbling that smartphones are just too big in this day and age.
One more thing: The Xperia X Compact will officially launch in the U.S. on September 25.
Conclusion
Folks, if you're looking for a compact smartphone that's got as much power and capability as the laptop on your desk, the Galaxy S7 is the way to go. It has all of the latest features you want wrapped up in a water resistant shell that's somewhat impervious to life's little accidents. And it's a mere 5.1-inches, which makes it comfortable enough for a variety of hand sizes. But if you're not entirely keen on going the Samsung route because of its not-stock Android software, we've also offered up a few other choices for your consideration. We won't let you traverse this journey alone.
Best overall
Samsung Galaxy S7
See at AT&T See at Sprint See at T-Mobile See at Verizon See at Amazon
Unless you've been living under a rock this past year, you know that the Galaxy S7 is the biggest hit of the year. The flagship smartphone features a stunning metal-and-glass unibody design that's both water resistant and comfortable to wield. On the inside, it's fueled by top-end internals, including a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor and 4GB of RAM. It also offers solid battery life and an impressive rear-facing camera that you can confidently utilize as your primary shooter. Best of all, the Galaxy S7's screen is a 5.1-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display, so even though it's a smaller screen, you'll still get stunning, TV-like quality from the dullest of YouTube videos.
Perhaps the only drawback of the Galaxy S7 is that it doesn't run the latest version of Android just yet. Nougat has yet to be optimized for Samsung's flagship devices, but it's coming.
Bottom line: If you're looking to adopt one of the best compact smartphones available, get the Galaxy S7.
One More thing: This highly-rated device is available at all four major carriers in the U.S., but if you'd rather live dangerously and contract-free, Samsung offers an unlocked model that also works overseas.
