Good Connections: The 4 Best Phones of 2015
As we enter the homestretch of 2015, we can start to look back and review some of the year’s best tech for keeping us connected. Stalwart brands like Apple and Samsung found continued success with the newest generations of their flagship models, and a few quirky surprises from unexpected places shook up the competition. At this point, we’re almost a decade into the battle for smartphone supremacy. It’s undoubtedly been a stressful 10 years for manufacturers, but it has proven to be nothing but positive for consumers who can choose from an array of well-designed, feature-rich and distinct new models every year. Without further introduction, here are the four best smartphones of 2015 (so far):
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
The Galaxy S6 Edge took yet another leap forward for Samsung, which continually refines the Galaxy line with insanely high specs and clever new design features. It’s also easily one of the sexiest looking phones on the market. These are just a few of its incredible stats: It has a curved 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display, a rear-racing 16 megapixel camera and a super-fast 64-bit processor. There’s also a front-facing, 5-megapixel wide-angle camera that’s great for taking better selfies. Don’t forget about the innovative edge screen, which displays news, weather and incoming text messages even when the phone is locked. After years of tinkering with the Galaxy, it looks like Samsung has the market right where it wants it.
Apple iPhone 6
It’s easy to criticize Apple for it’s less-than-risky approach to innovation, but critics can’t argue with the results. The iPhone remains the best-selling phone for one simple reason: users know exactly what they’re getting every year. And they love it. In a lot of ways, theiPhone 6 was a significant leap forward from past generations. Apple upped the screen real estate on its base model, and offered the Plus option that gave users a whopping 5.5-inch display. Inside that sleek, aluminum casing, the iPhone 6 is a powerhouse. The dual-core Apple A8 processor remains an industry benchmark, and the small refinements to iOS make it one of the nimblest, stablest environments for running apps and looking good while doing it.
Sony Xperia Z3 Plus
The Xperia Z3 is a massive improvement over previous generations of the Z3 line, pulling the brand back into the fray of smartphone front-runners. Its stylish, futuristic design makes it stand out from the sameness of other smartphones. Although it doesn’t quite have the performance or photo-taking capabilities of the iPhone or Galaxy, it has a few distinct features that makes it a contender. For one thing, it’s completely waterproof, which is a first for high-end smartphones. It also has exceptional battery life and a dual SIM option for those who want to a little more flexibility with phone customization.
Motorola Nexus 6
If the iPhone is a Tesla and the Galaxy is a Ferrari, then the Nexus 6 is a Land Rover. It features a 6-inch Quad-HD display, a 13-megapixel camera with image stabilization and a Gorilla Glass 3 protective screen. Despite the heavy duty build, the quad-core processor keeps the Nexus 6 surprisingly zippy. It also has one of the best built-in speaker systems of any smartphone currently available. And if the white and midnight blue case offerings don’t suit buyers, they can always go with leather. It’s sure to turn heads.
