Cyber19: Top Ten Smartphones in the world

10. Nexus 6

Google's best ever phone is also its biggest ever

Google's latest Nexus is a phone that moves away from the usual 'super cheap superphone' and into phablet territory with its latest offering. The good news is the screen is also supercharged: massive at 6 inches, it's also got a stunning QHD resolution.

You'll always be getting the latest updates to Google's Android OS with this one, and while it's certainly something you'd have to use two handed (make sure you're fine with that before buying, as it's put a lot of people off that we've shown it to) it's tremendous display, premium specs and great use of Android 5.0 Lollipop make one of the best phablets to date.

It's not cheap, but it's the best Nexus ever made. And, when you think about it, you're not going to need to hold onto your money, as you'll require both hands to grab onto this two-handed monster.

9. Sony Xperia Z3

A solid phone with a good screen and excellent battery life

The Xperia Z3 is a phone that offers the best of Sony with some really polished tweaks thrown in for good measure. The screen is one of the brightest around and really benefits from Bravia technology, and the longer battery life embarrasses a number of other big smartphones around at the moment.

We do expect more from the camera, and the black bezels above and below the display ruin the aesthetic somewhat, but the ability to Remote Play your PS4 more than makes up for it - it's a really cool feature and means you can keep gaming while someone else is hogging the TV.

The Z3 is a brilliant phone with a few rough edges - but Sony's also great at bringing the cost of its handsets down, so this represents really good value for money for a flagship.

8. iPhone 6 Plus

Apple's first bigscreen phone is a stunner

Put simply, this is the bigger version of the smaller iPhone 6. But Apple's done a bit more with its first phablet, with some increased specs to offset that higher price.

The screen is Full HD and really packs some stunning colour reproduction. The camera on the back host optical image stabilisation, so pictures looks sharp and also brighter, thanks to more light being let in.

The iPhone 6 Plus also has something that's eluded iPhone fans for years: a really good battery, with Apple using that extra space to cram in a few more mAh units.

It's one of the most expensive phones around, and is bettered on spec by a few others - but if you're an Apple fan looking for a 'bigger' experience, this is the phone for you.

7. Samsung Galaxy Note 4

Samsung's latest phablet is the best bigscreen phone available

Samsung created the phablet category and continues to lead it, cramming in so much technology into the Note 4 while bringing the S Pen stylus that many love to use.

The main thing we love is the screen though: Super AMOLED technology combined with QHD resolution means a pin sharp display, and one that we just can't take our eyes off, with the bigger size actually working to show off the extra pixels.

It's not cheap, and the interface isn't as clean and clear as on the Samsung Galaxy S6 range, but that could all change soon - in which case, this is one of the most fully featured phones that rewards those willing the pay the premium and put the time in to learn its powers.

6. Sony Xperia Z3 Compact

A small Android phone packed with big features

Less powerful with a lower-res screen than its bigger brother, the Z3 Compact still uses most of the high-end specs, fuses them with things like Remote Play and the 20.7MP camera, and does it all at a really low cost for a phone of this power.

The 4.7-inch display makes this one of the best phones to hold and use in day to day life, and it's also got a brilliantly long-lasting battery too, so if you're not a fan of the gargantuan models on show, there's a lot to love with Sony's mini flagship.

The best of Sony in a smartphone - if that's what you're after, this is the phone to go for. It's the ergonomics and the price that impress, and while it's not quite got the spec sheet of the main Z3, it feels a lot more polished.

5. HTC One M9

Not quite up the 5 star standard, but HTC still has the most beautiful phone around

HTC's been used to living at the top of our charts for the last couple of years, and while it's not quite managed it in 2015, it's still a phone with the best build quality out there.

None of the old favourites are missing, so BoomSound enhancement still really turbocharges the audio and the Sense overlay remains one of our favourites, thanks to being sophisticated and really powerful.

The camera has been boosted to 20.7MP, although doesn't have the impressive snapping power of some of the other phones on the market, and the design language still means this is one of our favourite phones to stick in the pocket.

It's a touch more expensive than before, and doesn't take a huge leap forward from last year's model - but then again, that was nearly perfect, so where was HTC to go?

4. Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge

Curving into the future with impressive specs

The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge has all the power and features of the table-topping S6, but does it with a little extra too, thanks to the curved edges on each side.

They're pretty much aesthetics, as they don't add a huge amount of functionality, but if you're going on looks alone, the S6 Edge has them in spades.

The price is a lot higher though, which is why it doesn't join its twin (non-identical) brother at the top of the chart, but if you're after a phone that's wildly different from anything else with a great feature set and tip-top camera, this is your choice.

3. LG G4

Luxury leather on a smartphone that tries to please everyone

LG has tried to focus on what everyone actually wants out of a smartphone, a great looking design, colour rich display and the great camera for photos - but it doesn't quite deliver as impressively as we'd hoped.

Don't let that put you off though. There's a lot going on with the LG G4, and for the most part it's rather positive indeed. The leather back is much nicer than the plastic option, and it will make your phone stand out among the swath of glass and metal offerings.

Its large, expansive screen is one of the best on the market, the 16MP laser auto-focus camera takes some cracking shots and the rear buttons are easier to hit on a handset this size.

As a complete package, it offers more than the Xperia Z3 and One M9, but it doesn't quite match the slickness and design of the iPhone 6 and Galaxy S6.

2. iPhone 6

Bigger, better, sleeker and faster than the iPhone 5S

The iPhone 6 - a real step forward for Apple and a phone that's a real joy to use, hold and feel. It's got all the same ingredients that make iPhones special: while it doesn't excel in any given part of the smartphone recipe, it just works, promoting simplicity over fiddly menus..

The camera has a lower megapixel count than others, but it's fast, bright and easy to use. The screen is too low-res compared to the phones around it, but pops and fizzes with colour and brightness. And that design - we have to keep coming back to it as it feels beautiful in the hand.

The sticking point is it's still one of the most expensive phones on the market, and spec-fiends will note it's not quite got the technology inside to truly back up the cost.

But don't let that put you off: if you're in the market for a handset from Apple, or just been tempted by one in the past: buy the iPhone 6. It's excellent, a pure joy to use.

1. Samsung Galaxy S6

A brilliant phone that shows Samsung still has what it takes

While last year's Galaxy S5 was nothing special, this year Samsung's started from the ground up to make a truly wonderful smartphone.

The camera is superb, the audio and video quality brilliant and the QHD display crammed into the 5.1-inch screen is the sharpest on the market - although it does suck down the battery rather a lot.

The design is finally something we're pleased to hold in our hand, rather than the plastic cheapness of last year, and the refined TouchWiz overlay is a lot nicer to use.

It's pretty expensive mind, so make sure you're after a truly A-grade experience before buying as you'll be paying handsomely for it - but if you do take the plunge, you've got the best phone on the market.

Cyber19

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Saturday, July 11, 2015

Top Ten Smartphones in the world