10. Meizu MX5
The Meizu MX5 is definitely not the latest and greatest this company has to offer, but it is still a great purchase for the said price. This smartphone is made out of metal, sports 3GB of RAM, and is fueled by the Helio X10 64-bit octa-core SoC. The 21-megapixel camera on its back is quite capable, and you also get a physical home button with a built-in fingerprint scanner. The Meizu MX5 both looks and feels premium, and despite the fact PRO 5 and PRO 6 have been announced after it, it is still worth the money.
Meizu MX5 – $261 (16GB)
Meizu MX5 – $294 (32GB)
9. Asus ZenFone 2
Asus’ ZenFone 2 is one of the oldest devices on this list. This was the first smartphone to sport 4GB of RAM, and was quite affordable back when it launched (January 2015). Things aren’t much different today, except for the fact this handset is even more affordable now. The ZenFone 2 is still a very capable phone, and if you’re looking for a handset with 4GB of RAM and are not looking to spend a lot of cash, this might be a device for you, though keep in mind the ZenFone 3 is right around the corner.
Asus ZenFone 2 (ZE551ML) – $268
8. Xiaomi Mi Note Pro
Much like the ZenFone 2, the Mi Note Pro has been announced back in January 2015, just like its sibling, the Mi Note. The Mi Note Pro is quite a well-specced phablet which sports great build. This handset features a 5.7-inch QHD display, 4GB of RAM and it is fueled by the Snapdragon 810 64-bit octa-core processor, Qualcomm’s flagship for 2015. The Mi Note 2 will launch in a couple of months though, so keep that in mind.
7. ZTE Nubia Z9
Nubia is ZTE’s sub-brand, and this company has released quite a few compelling devices in the last year or so. The Nubia Z9 is arguably the best one out of the bunch. This smartphone sports no bezel on the sides, is made out of metal, and it comes with great specs. The phone is fueled by the Snapdragon 810 SoC, while it packs in 3GB / 4GB of RAM and 32GB / 64GB of internal storage. The 16-megapixel OIS shooter is also included here.
ZTE Nubia Z9 – $602 (3GB RAM variant)
6. OnePlus X
OnePlus has introduced two smartphones in 2015, and the OnePlus X is the company’s mid-range offering. This handset is quite affordable at the moment, and you do not need an invite to purchase it. The phone sports a 5-inch fullHD display, 3GB of RAM and it is fueled by the Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor. The phone sports great build, it is made out of metal and glass, and it looks quite premium.
5. Huawei Mate 8
The Mate 8 is still Huawei’s flagship phablet. This device comes with a 6-inch fullHD display, 3GB / 4GB of RAM and 32GB / 64GB of internal storage. The company’s Kirin 950 64-bit octa-core processor is also included here, and so is the 4,000mAh non-removable battery unit. The 16-megapixel OIS snapper can be found on the back of this phone, and you also get metal build here. Android 6.0 Marshmallow comes pre-installed on the Mate 8 with Huawei’s Emotion UI.
Huawei Mate 8 – $495 (3GB RAM variant)
4. Meizu PRO 5
The Meizu PRO 6 is still not available out in the market, that handset has been announced quite recently, so the PRO 5 is the highest-end handset you can purchase from Meizu at the moment. This is also the highest-end Meizu phablet you can get at the moment (PRO 6 is a smaller device), and it sports an all-metal build, a 5.7-inch fullHD AMOLED display, 21-megapixel camera, and a multi-functional mBack physical key below the display.
Meizu PRO 5 – $483 (3GB RAM variant)
3. Huawei P9 & P9 Plus
The Huawei P9 flagships have been introduced quite recently, both of these devices sport high-end specifications, and are different in terms of size. The Huawei P9 comes with a 5.2-inch fullHD display, 3GB / 4GB of RAM and is fueled by the Kirin 955 SoC. The Huawei P9 Plus, on the other hand, features a 5.5-inch 1080p display, 4GB of RAM and is fueled by the same SoC as the P9.
2. OnePlus 2
The OnePlus 2 was introduced in mid-2015, and it is still quite a compelling handset. The device sports 4GB of RAM, a 5.5-inch 1080p display, and is fueled by the Snapdragon 810 SoC. The OnePlus 2 also sports a rather light OS on top of Android called Oxygen OS, and it is quite functional. The device can be purchased without an invite now, even though there were some complications in the beginning.
1. Xiaomi Mi 5
The Mi 5 is Xiaomi’s newest flagship. This smartphone has been announced back in February, and it is available for purchase in China. The device comes sporting a 5-inch 1080p display, 3GB / 4GB of RAM, and it is fueled by the Snapdragon 820 64-bit quad-core processor. The device is made out of metal and glass, and sports a physical home key below the display, which doubles as a fingerprint scanner.
Xiaomi Mi 5 – $410 (3GB RAM variant)