The top 10 smartphones of 2015 to get your hands on

Deciding a suitable smartphone for ourselves, especially from such a wide range of devices is not easy.

Umair Ahmed May 26, 2015
Almost 38 % of mobile phone users use smartphones as a primary device to communicate, and it seems Pakistanis are following the same trend. After the launch of 3G and 4G facilities in Pakistan, the demand and usage of smartphones has increased by a large amount.

Choosing a suitable smartphone for ourselves from a wide range of devices is not an easy task and we end up going through various lengthy reviews before taking our pick and making the purchase.

I have selected the best smartphones available in the Pakistani market, which offer the best features, ranging from the camera focus to design and performance.

These smartphones will not disappoint you.

1. Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge

Photo: Samsung website

Photo: Samsung website

If you are an Apple fan and were expecting the top smartphone on this list to be an iPhone 6, then I apologise, because the stylish and unique Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge has bagged the top position in the market.

The curves on both sides of the Galaxy S6 Edge, the wireless charging option, and 16 mega-pixel (MP) camera with OIS support, makes it my first choice amongst the best smartphones. Running on an Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system, it has 3GB RAM and 2600mAh battery to support the crispy AMOLED display. You can configure the display settings of Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge and use the curves as shortcuts for contacts and the likes.

The only drawback of the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge is its steep price. But having the latest and one of a kind of phone is definitely worth the amount.

2. Apple iPhone 6

Photo: Reuters

Photo: Reuters

Although the Galaxy S6 Edge took the first place in my list, the Apple iPhone 6 is by far the best phone released by Apple in the market, breaking all selling records soon after the launch. With a 4.7 inch display and screen resolution of 1334 x 750, the iPhone 6 is powered by one GB of RAM and internal memory of up to 128 GB. The back camera is only 8 MP as compared to the 16 MP OIS enabled camera of Galaxy S6, but the iPhone 6 camera is faster and brighter.

The iPhone 6 costs almost the same as the Galaxy S6 Edge, but the simplistic yet stylish feel of the iPhone 6 is something no other phone can compete with.

3. Samsung Galaxy S6

Photo: Samsung website

Photo: Samsung website

Don’t call us biased if you see Samsung Galaxy S6 on the third place with its Edge variant bagging the top spot. But the Galaxy S6 is the renewed version of the Samsung Galaxy series. It is a truly wonderful phone and Samsung completely redesigned the Galaxy S6 to take the market by storm. Samsung Galaxy S6 specs are not much different than its Edge variant and it is cheaper than the S6 Edge. With a 5.1 inch display and a screen resolution of 1440 x 2560, the Galaxy S6 comes with a 16 MP OIS enabled camera and the audio is superb as well.

If you want a true first-class experience, the Galaxy S6 will not disappoint you with its stylish design and latest technology.

4. HTC One M9

Photo: Reuters

If you give preference to the specifications of a phone rather than the brand, then the best smartphone available on this basis is the HTC One M9. With the latest Android Lollipop experience, the HTC Sense UI, the HTC One M9 has a 5-inches display, with a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The rear camera of the HTC One M9 is 20 MP with the support of a 4 MP front camera without OIS Support. You get extra battery life because of the 2900mAh battery as well.

HTC One M9 is also a high-priced phone, and although it does not compete with some high-end phones, it is the perfect phone released by HTC.

5. LG G4

Photo: Reuters

If we’re talking about the best smartphones in the market and there is no mention of LG, then the list in incomplete. LG has some of the best gadgets in its portfolio. The LG G4 is the latest phone by LG, with complete leather back; the LG G4 is powered by high-end specifications.

With a 5.5 inch display and pixel resolution of 1440 x 2560, the LG G4 is equipped with an IPS LCD display technology. With the latest Android 5.0 lollipop software, you will get a 16 MP camera with OIS support and a 3 GB RAM with an additional 32 GB internal storage. The LG G4 is a true marvel, especially for leather lovers.

6. Nokia Lumia 730

Photo: Windows website

One of the most challenging questions is naming somebody who has not used a Nokia phone. Although Microsoft has acquired the Nokia-mobile business, it is still being used under the brand name of Nokia.

Nokia Lumia 730 is one of the best budget-phones available in the market with the Windows phone coming in second place. While one cannot compare the Nokia Lumia 730 specs with other high-end phones like iPhone 6 and Galaxy S6, the same is the case with the prices, as Lumia 630 is available for a much reasonable price in the market. If you are a Windows fan waiting for a Windows 10 experience, the Nokia Lumia 730 should be the right choice for you.

7. Sony Xperia M4 Aqua

Photo: Sony website

If there is a true competitor for the Nokia Lumia 730, it is the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua. This phone has a five-inch display screen, Sony M4 Aqua specs, a 13 MP Exmor RS camera powered by augmented reality, and an Android 5.0 Lollipop software. With an 8 GB internal storage and micro-SD card support, the unique feature of the Xperia M4 Aqua is that it is waterproof.

It is water and dust resistant up to IP68, which means you can swim in the water with the M4 aqua in your pocket. It falls in the category of budget phones under the brand name of Sony.

8. Samsung Galaxy E7

Photo: Samsung website

If you are looking for a budget phone with an Android experience and you are fond of the Samsung Galaxy series, then the Samsung Galaxy E7 is the right phone for you. With a 5.5 inch super AMOLED display, the Galaxy E7 also falls under the the budget-phones category. You will get a 13 MP camera with an auto focus facility and the 3000mAh battery is enough for you to use your phone without draining your battery life.

9. Microsoft Lumia 640

Photo: Windows website

There is a famous saying,
“If you can buy a judge, why pay for a lawyer?”

The same is true in the case of Microsoft, which was trying to break into the smartphones business for a long time.

Microsoft announced its latest Lumia phones, Lumia 640 and Lumia 640 XL, just a couple of months earlier, and is now ready to be launched in the local market. Talking of Microsoft Lumia 640 specs, it runs on the Windows phone 8.1 software and is up-gradeable to Windows 10. So there is another choice for Windows-phones lovers. Available in a variety of colours, the Lumia 640 is a budget phone with a five-inch display screen, 8 MP camera, and an 8 GB RAM.

These days Microsoft’s best bet is the Lumia 640 and Lumia 640 XL.

10. Q Mobile Noir Quatro Z5

Photo: Q Mobile website

Talking about the top 10 best smartphones in the market and failing to include a Q Mobile in the list would be like committing a sin, especially as a Pakistani. The Q Mobile Noir Quatro Z5 is a powerful phone, with a 5.5 inch IPS display and it supports 2GB of RAM with a 16 GB built-in memory. The latest in the Q Mobile Noir series, Quatro Z5 has a 16 MP auto-focus camera. It is a true multimedia device, letting the user enjoy their social life to its fullest.

Making a list of the best smartphones available in the market is not an easy task. You will have to choose your favourite phone out of a wide variety of smartphones in the market, but whenever you do go to buy a phone, beware of fake phones available under popular brand names.

Photo: Umair Ahmed

Happy hunting.
WRITTEN BY:
Umair Ahmed The writer is computer science graduate, he works at a technology company and loves to write on latest technologies. He tweets as @Umair_here (https://twitter.com/umair_here)
The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune.

COMMENTS (41)

DaveJones | 5 years ago | Reply Thanks for sharing this interesting and meaningful post.
muhammad Umer | 6 years ago | Reply Hey all Today i want to tell you about the benefits of online buying of mobile phones We all know that now-a-days mobiles phones are coming with a big price tag and a person might not feel secure in buying a mobile like iphone7 or Galaxy s8 online and he buys that mobile from a wholesale mobile shop or from anywhere else but let me tell you that buying from an open market can also be a fraud. Soo you always mobile a mobile from a trusted shop. i dsn,t matter if you are buying online or buying from open market because fraud can be anywhere so always buy from a trusted shop or person.
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