10. Meizu M3 Note
Meizu had introduced the M3 Note in April 2016 as their latest affordable mid-range smartphone. This phone deserves to be on this list mainly because it offers great build quality, very nice spec sheet, and all that at a very affordable price point of Rs. 9,999 ($150), which was its price at launch. For said price you get a 5.5-inch fullHD display, 3GB of RAM and MediaTek’s Helio P10 64-bit octa-core SoC, not to mention that the phone is made out of metal.
9. OnePlus X
The OnePlus X was introduced last year, and despite that, this is still a great option if you’re looking for a smaller, affordable handset which offers premium build quality. The phone is made out of metal and glass, and its display is ‘only’ 5 inches big. The phone houses a fullHD AMOLED panel, and you also get 3GB of RAM on the inside, while the phone is fueled by the the Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor. Keep in mind that the device is out of stock on OnePlus’ official site, but you can still get it in India.
8. Google Nexus 5X
The Nexus 5X is one of two Google’s Nexus smartphones at the moment, and this is the more affordable variant. The Nexus 5X features a 12.3-megapixel camera on the back, a really capable shooter, and the phone also has a really fast rear-facing fingerprint scanner. The 5.2-inch fullHD display and 2GB of RAM are also included here, while Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 808 64-bit hexa-core SoC is fueling this smartphone.
7. LG G5
LG decided to change things around in 2016 and introduce a rather odd flagship. The LG G5 is a semi-modular smartphone, and it is considerably different than its predecessors. If you’re looking for a rather unique phone which has a really capable camera on the back, the G5 might be right for you. This smartphone sports a 5.3-inch QHD display, 4GB of RAM and it is fueled by the Snapdragon 820 SoC, one of the most powerful processors around at the moment.
6. Samsung Galaxy Note 5
The Galaxy Note 5 is still Samsung’s flagship phablet, at least for another month or so. Despite the fact this device was announced almost a year ago, it’s still quite powerful, and a great choice if you’re in a market for a phablet. The device sports a 5.7-inch QHD Super AMOLED display, 4GB of RAM, while it is fueled by the Exynos 7420 64-bit octa-core processor. Considering this is a ‘Galaxy Note’ devices, you also get the S Pen stylus along with it.
5. Google Nexus 6P
The Nexus 6P is Google’s premium Nexus smartphone. This is a 5.7-inch phablet which is made out of metal, and fueled by the Snapdragon 810 64-bit octa-core processor. The Nexus 6P has a great camera on the back (same sensor as the Nexus 5X), while it also has a fingerprint scanner on the back. The device is made out of metal, and if you’re looking for a premium smartphone with stock Android, this is basically your only option.
4. Xiaomi Mi 5
The Xiaomi Mi 5 was introduced in February 2016 during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, and it is currently available in a number of regions, including India. The phone sports a 5.15-inch fullHD display, and it is fueled by the Snapdragon 820, though only 3GB RAM variant of this phone is available in India. The Xiaomi Mi 5 is made out of metal, and it’s quite small for today’s standards, which makes it a rather unique flagship.
3. HTC 10
HTC had managed to introduce quite a compelling flagship with the HTC 10. This smartphone offers premium build, great software, really solid camera and high-end specifications, and even though it’s not exactly one of the most affordable devices available at the moment, it’s certainly a great option. The phone comes with a 5.2-inch QHD display, 4GB RAM and 32GB / 64GB of expandable internal storage, while the Snapdragon 820 is fueling this smartphone.
2. OnePlus 3
The OnePlus 3 is the latest and greatest OnePlus has to offer. This smartphone had been introduced quite recently, and despite the fact it offers top of the line specifications and great quality, it’s quite affordable. If you’re looking for top of the line smartphone, and have limited funds, this might be the device for you, it holds its own against pretty much anything out there. The phone sports a 5.5-inch fullHD display, 6GB of RAM and the Snapdragon 820 SoC.
1. Samsung Galaxy S7 / S7 Edge
The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are a lot more expensive than the OnePlus 3, for example, but these two devices really do have a lot to offer. The price difference might not be worth it (for some people), but it’s hard to argue these two devices are amongst the best smartphones out there. The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are both made out of metal and glass, while they ship with premium specs, including the Snapdragon 820 / Exynos 8890 SoC, 4GB of RAM and top of the line QHD Super AMOLED displays.