Top 10: Alternatives To The Samsung Galaxy Note 7

Samsung has now unveiled their latest addition to the Galaxy Note range, the Galaxy Note 7. This is a smartphone which comes with an impressive build, a very good spec sheet and of course, a stylus. So in reality, there are few devices on the market which can directly compete with the Galaxy Note 7 on all fronts. However, if you are in the market for a non-Note device then here are ten good alternatives to check out. Some of these compete directly on specs, while others compete on size. After all, one of the iconic aspects of the Galaxy Note range (besides the stylus) is the actual size. These have always been bigger than the average smartphone and this is the one aspect that most of the phones listed below have in common.

OnePlus 3

The OnePlus 3 is likely to not need much of an introduction. If you are after a smartphone which can rival the Galaxy Note 7 on specs, but only costs have the money, then this is the one. The OnePlus 3 comes loaded with a 5.5-inch AMOLED display and makes use of a 1920 x 1080 resolution. Inside, this one comes packing a whopping 6GB RAM and includes 64GB internal storage. The processing power on the OnePlus 3 is the same processor as the US Galaxy Note 7 (the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820), while the cameras on offer include a 16-megapixel rear camera along with an 8-megapixel front-facing camera. Another way in which this smartphone can rival the Galaxy Note 7 is in charging speeds – thanks to the OnePlus ‘Dash Charge’ which is included, this is a smartphone which can gain a 60-percent charge in as little as 30 minutes.

Moto Z Force

There are actually two Moto Z models available, although if you want to rival the Galaxy Note 7 on things like battery life, then you will want to opt for the Moto Z Force. This is a smartphone which comes with a 5.5-inch QHD AMOLED display, 4GB RAM and is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820. There are a couple of different storage models available including a 32GB and a 64GB option, while the cameras on offer include a 21-megapixel rear camera which is coupled with a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. In fact, the cameras are one of the main differences between the standard Moto Z and the Moto Z Force, with the included 3,500 mAh battery being another. Although, if you are after this smartphone then at the moment it is only the Verizon ‘Droid Edition’ that is currently available.

LG G5

The LG G5 is the latest major release from LG and is one which adopts a more modular nature. So if you do like the old Samsung ethos of being able to swap out your battery for a new one, then the LG G5 might be the device to go for. Although, you will have to compensate by having a smaller device as the LG G5 comes loaded with a 5.3-inch QHD (2560 x 1440) display. There is nothing small about the insides though with the LG G5 packing 4GB RAM, 32GB internal storage and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor. Cameras on offer include a 16-megapixel rear camera, along with an 8-megapixel front-facing camera. In addition to its more modular nature, this is also a device which comes packing a few additional features like an ‘Always On’ display.

HTC 10

While the LG G5 might be a small device (compared to the Galaxy Note 7), the HTC 10 is even smaller and is actually the smallest device on the list, as this is a smartphone which comes packing a 5.2-inch display. However, it is a QHD display and the HTC 10 does also pack in specs to rival the Galaxy Note 7, including the likes of 4GB RAM, 64GB internal storage (as well as a 32GB model) and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor. This is in addition to a 12-megapixel rear camera, a 5-megapixel front-facing camera and a 3,000 mAh battery.

Huawei Nexus 6P

When it comes to size, the Nexus 6P from Huawei directly competes with the newly released Galaxy Note 7 thanks to the inclusion of a 5.7-inch QHD (2560 x 1440) display. Inside, the specs are a little lower as this one comes packing 3GB RAM and is powered by the older-generation Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 (v2.1) processor. However, it does come equipped with a very capable 13-megapixel rear camera, as well as an 8-megapixel front-facing camera. Not to mention a 3,450 mAh and stock Android 6.0 (Marshmallow). Although, the final release of Android 7.0 (Nougat) is just around the corner and the Nexus 6P will be one of the first in line.

LG V10

The LG V10 is another older smartphone, but it is still a very capable smartphone and is another one which comes with a number of familiar specs to the Galaxy Note 7, like the inclusion of a 5.7-inch QHD (2560 x 1440) display. Inside, the V10 offers 4GB RAM, 64GB internal storage and is powered by the Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 808 processor. In terms of cameras, like the G5, this one comes packing a 16-megapixel rear camera, although the front-facing camera on offer is only a 5-megapixel camera – that said, the front-facing camera is a dual-lens camera. Speaking of which, this is also a dual-display type of smartphone thanks to the inclusion of a ticker display as well.

Huawei Mate 8

The Huawei Mate 8 is another phone which is not a new phone, although it is one which does more than just rival the size of the Galaxy Note 7 and actually exceeds it. So if you find the 5.7-inch display on the Note 7 a little limiting, then the Mate 8 comes loaded with a 6-inch display. The rest of the features include 4GB RAM, 64GB internal storage and a HiSilicon Kirin 950 octa-core processor powering the show. Cameras come in the form of a 16-megapixel rear camera, along with an 8-megapixel front-facing camera. Like the display, this is also a smartphone which beats out the Galaxy Note 7 on battery capacity, with the Mate 8 coming loaded with a 4,000 mAh battery.

ASUS ZenFone 3

The ASUS ZenFone 3 is another device which looks to beat out the likes of the Galaxy Note 7 on price and this one is available in a number of variants. While a Deluxe model is on the way and comes with even better specs, at the moment you are best off opting for the Ultra model. This is a smartphone which comes packing a 6.8-inch display (1920 x 1080), as well as 4GB RAM and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 (Deluxe model is said to come touting the Snapdragon 820 which would make it even more of a spec rival for the Note 7). Cameras come in the form of a 23-megapixel rear camera, along with an 8-megapixel front-facing camera.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5

While the Galaxy Note 7 is the new smartphone in town, there is nothing wrong with its predecessor, the Galaxy Note 5. This is a smartphone which also comes equipped with a 5.7-inch QHD Super AMOLED display, 4GB RAM and is available in a 32GB storage model (as well as a 64GB model). The processor is the previous generation Samsung Exynos 7420 octa-core processor, while the cameras on offer include a 16-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front facing camera. Likewise, there is a 3,000 mAh battery, Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) and of course, a stylus. Best of all, with the arrival of the Galaxy Note 7, expect to pick this one up for a much better price than you would have a month ago.

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

Last, but in no means least, is the other current flagship device from Samsung, the Galaxy S7 Edge. While the S7 is available in two different models, it is largely thought that the Edge variant is the more premium of the two, thanks to its additional Edge functionality and sloping display edges. In terms of the rest of the specs, there is nothing lacking here with the Galaxy S7 Edge coming equipped with a 5.5-inch QHD Super AMOLED display, 4GB RAM and either a 32GB or 64GB of internal storage. The processors on offer differ depending on market with the US model picking up the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 and elsewhere making use of the Exynos 8890 processor. Cameras on offer include a 12-megapixel rear camera along with a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. Besides the Edge functionality, there are a ton of additional features on offer with the S7 Edge, as well as Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) and a 3,600 mAh battery. If you want a very close to Galaxy Note 7 like device but without all the hassle of using a stylus, then this is the one to go for.

BONUS BUY – LG Stylus 2

OK, so this list was only supposed to be the top 10 devices. However, in pretty much every sense of the word, this is NOT a smartphone which can be compared to the Galaxy Note 7. For instance, while it does come with the same 5.7-inch sized display, this is a 1920 x 1080 resolution display. Likewise, there is only 2GB RAM and 16GB internal storage. The cameras on offer consist of a 16-megapixel rear camera and an 8-megapixel front-facing camera. That all said, this is the only device on this list which also comes with a stylus and the LG Stylus 2 is priced significantly lower than the Galaxy Note 7. So if you do want a Note-like device and at a fraction of the cost – this might be the one to go for.