Verizon isn’t usually known for being very generous with their data but lately they have been doling it out like it’s month-old Halloween candy. Today they announced that customers who activate a new line or upgrade their phone on an XL or XXL data package between now and January 6th will get 2GB of free data per month for life.
Additionally, this applies to every line on the account, so if you have 4 lines on the XL or XXL data packages (14GB and 20GB, respectively) each of them are eligible for this promotion (up to 10 lines per account) and you and your family could add 8GB to your plan for life. When wireless companies say “for life” anymore I have a lot of questions – Sprint didn’t really live up to that mantra and everyone has been doing their best to push their customers off of their unlimited data plans in every way that they can think of.
In the press release it says, “To receive the bonus data for life, customers must remain on the XL or XXL Verizon Plan and the line must remain active on a phone.” My first concern was what happens when the XL and XXL plans are no longer offered as options? Wireless companies switch around their data offerings every few years it seems and I was concerned that customers would be pushed off of the promo when the XL and XXL plans go away inevitably. Verizon responded by reaffirming, “In the future, the customer would keep the bonus data when performing an upgrade as long as they don’t change plans. To receive the bonus data for life, customers must remain on a qualifying plan.”
“As for the device, it needs to be a smartphone or basic phone only” (not sure what other options there are), but more importantly,”The promotion is eligible for VZW approved BYOD. Customers can activate their own devices when the devices are approved VZW CDMA devices,” so you can bring your Nexus 5X, 6P, or Moto X Pure to the network and qualify for this promotion. This also means that you don’t need to bind yourself to an Edge plan if you prefer not to – “You can upgrade or activate using device payment or full retail but you need to be on the XL or XXL size Verizon plans.”
So we don’t get to say it often, but Good Guy Verizon is here today. If you were thinking about upgrading your phone or bringing your unlocked phone to Verizon maybe now is the time!
Songza, a site that offers curated playlists based on the user’s preferences, is shutting down on January 31st, 2016. However, many of its features will be integrated into the free tier of Google Play Music.
In an email sent to Songza users this week, the team behind the free music playlist service said that this move will allow Google Play to “focus on building a single, cohesive product.”
“Songza will become Google Play Music, and you will no longer be able to access Songza.com or the Songza mobile apps,” explained the email.
“Using all of Songza’s features in Google Play Music is 100% free and doesn’t require a credit card.”
Users will also have the chance to migrate their Songza accounts to Google Play Music, which will continue to keep track of their music activity.
First launched in 2007 and bought by Google in July 2014 for an undisclosed sum, Songza provides users with human-curated playlists. Users can input information like date, time and previous listening history to receive playlists based on predictions on their mood or activity on demand.
Those who own HTC’s One M8 devices in the US have a reason to cheer – the sweetness of Android 6.0 Marshmallow is coming very soon to their handsets.
HTC’s VP of Product Management, Mo Versi, took to Twitter to announce that the unlocked units of the company’s erstwhile flagship phone will begin receiving Marshmallow within 24 hours.
“HTC One (M8) unlocked owners! Great news, all testing has been complete and the update for Marshmallow will be sent out within 24 hours. Thx (Sic)”
Mo Versi
Versi also revealed that those who own carrier versions of the One M8 will have to wait a bit longer for Marshmallow as HTC is “working with all of them (carriers) closely” to roll out the update out “as soon as possible.”
It is surprising that HTC’s latest flagship – the One M9 – is still waiting for Android’s latest software, while its predecessor is already getting Marshmallow. We must remind you that HTC had previously mentioned that users of the One M8 and One M9 in the US will be able to upgrade their phones to Android 6.0 before the New Year.
Wearable technology has taken a little longer than expected to get off the ground in terms of adoption rate. Even Apple’s Watch has been a let down for investors and many have given up on the wearable technology as a major area for financial growth. Until now, Android Wear devices have been rather expensive, lacking in design, or leaving much to desire in terms of features.
ASUS has made it much easier to adopt wearable technology with the Zenwatch 2 as its starting price is an affordable $129.00. And just because it is over half of the price of competitors, like the Moto 360 2nd generation and the Huawei Watch, it doesn’t lack in design and runs the same full featured software in Android Wear.
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Design
The ASUS Zenwatch 2 comes in two sizes, the larger size measures in at 49.6mm and the smaller is 42mm. Rather than being circular, the watch is a rectangular shape with a metal case, matte plastic rear cover, with a thoughtfully placed and designed button on the right side of the watch. My particular model, the W1501Q(49.6mm) came with a textured dark blue leather wrist band, graphite colored case with a slightly rose colored gold button.
Being a rectangle with a 1.63″ AMOLED display, the Zenwatch 2 does have decent sized bezels to the screen. I actually do not think the bezels look bad – if there were no bezels the watch would be too small for me. If the display was maximized to the edges, it might be too bright for me and would be a distraction. The resolution is 320 x 320, or 278ppi which is barely low enough resolution to see pixels if you look for them.
Sporting an AMOLED display, the colors are rich and the contrast ratio is perfect as blacks blend in with the bezels of the display.
A nice feature that ASUS factored into the Asus Zenwatch 2 is using a standard 22mm quick-release band which means you can swap your wrist band with ones commonly found on other watches. If you want to make it sporty, you can add a rubber wrist band, or if you want to make it more industrial looking, throw on a dark metal link band.
The charging cable is a proprietary magnetic four pin connector which you must have in order to charge the watch. It also comes with an IP67 rating which means the Zenwatch 2 is dust-proof and can withstand 30 minutes of water exposure up to 3ft deep. And that does not cover salt water.
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Software
The ASUS Zenwatch 2 uses the same software that the LG Urbane, Moto 360 2nd generation, Huawei Watch, and the Tag Heuer Connected watch use – Android Wear. Android Wear is Google’s software that seamlessly integrates with most Android smartphones.
Android Wear does require you to download the Android Wear app, which will allow for these functions:
– Check important info like who’s calling, SMS and messages, and alerts from your favorite apps. You can even speak or draw a quick response right from your watch.
– Get built-in fitness monitoring and coaching from your favorite running and fitness apps: Endomondo, Google Fit, Runkeeper, Strava, and more.
– Track your steps, distance, and calories while you walk, run, or ride your bike. And even measure your heart rate.
– Save time with smart help from Google. Get reminders from Google Now about your next appointment, current traffic conditions, flight status, restaurant reservation, and more. Speak “Ok Google” to ask any question you want.
– Pursue your passions with Google Maps, Foursquare, Google Play Music, Shazam, WhatsApp, and thousands more of your favorite Android apps.
The beauty of the Asus Zenwatch 2 is being priced starting at $129, it runs the same software as the $300 Huawei Watch and the $1500 Tag Heuer Connected watch. So extra money doesn’t get extra software features in this case.
And like all other Android Wear Watches, Asus does provide watch faces designed just for the Zenwatch 2. And just recently, my watch was updated with Christmas themed watch faces, which actually is a cute and thoughtful addition. Christmas themed watch faces aren’t necessarily my style, but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate them. Of course, you are free to download and install new watch faces from the Google Play Store as well.
I’ve been fortunate to have access to a selection of Android Wear devices – The original Moto 360, Huawei Watch, LG Urbane 2nd Edition, LG G Watch R, LG G Watch, and now the Asus Zenwatch 2. Having access to a variety of watches gives me a better ability to compare hardware since the software is the same across the watches. Watches for me, as much as I hate to admit this, need to look “good”. They are almost always visible and I really don’t want to wear something that looks “dorky”. That’s a very personal and subjective matter and everyone’s tolerance for “dorky” is different.
With that being said, I actually find the reasonably priced Zenwatch 2 to look very nice and classy. Sure you can tell it is a smartwatch when wearing it, but with the dark blue real leather watchband, the metal case and glossy display look very nice. And what really sets it off is that slightly rose colored button off to the side. Even though Asus didn’t break the bank with the hardware, you can tell they made aesthetics a top priority. There’s even a part of me that finds the Zenwatch 2 to be more “dressy” than the Huawei Watch(metal band) and definitely more dressy than the Moto 360.
Cartier luxury watch.
Lots of people have been balking at the idea of a rectangular smartwatch, but there are many watch makers who make similar shaped watches. If you’ve heard of Cartier, they have been making jewelry and watches since 1847 and was originally founded in France. Cartier watches regularly run into the four to five digit price range, and rectangles have been a signature shape of its watches. Most watch enthusiasts can spot a Cartier from quite a distance based on shape alone. So a watch doesn’t have to be round to look good. In fact, I would take a box shaped watch any day over the flat tire look of the Moto 360. I have NEVER seen a real watch with some of its face missing. Why people find the flat tire look acceptable is beyond me.
The “flat tire” is where Moto houses its sensors.
If a watch looks good to me, the next most important factor is comfort. The Zenwatch 2 is every bit as comfortable as almost any watch I’ve worn of its size. The genuine leather band feels silky smooth, and the watch itself is the perfect size for my wrist. It might be a tad large for people with smaller wrists.
It also has a good sized display which is perfect for my aging eyes. I would rank the Zenwatch 2 near the top of Android Wear watches in terms of comfort. It also doesn’t “feel” cheap like the LG G Watch R or the LG G Watch.
Performance wise the Zenwatch 2 is as snappy as the others. It is powered by a Snapdragon 400, has 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal memory and has a 400mAh battery. Covering the display is Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3, which should withstand minor bumps and scratches. The face definitely isn’t as durable as the Huawei Watch’s Sapphire display, but if you take care of your Zenwatch 2, the display should hold up fine. If it is worn on your wrist, you really shouldn’t have to worry about dropping it and cracking the screen.
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Battery Life
Even though the Asus Zenwatch 2 comes with a decent sized 400mAh battery, which is 25% more than the Huawei Watch, I couldn’t seem to get more than one full day of use out of it. There are many others who have told me that they think the battery on their Zenwatch 2 is fantastic, regularly getting two full days of use, but even with settings on the “Always-on screen” to off, I just didn’t have good battery life.
My Huawei Watch and LG Urbane 2nd Edition both get much better battery life, but one full days use is still acceptable. I just wish I could leave my display set to always on. That’s a personal preference though.
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Summary
I was pleasantly surprised with the Asus Zenwatch 2. Before the Asus Zenwatch 2, I had been let down by almost Android Wear devices. In concept and looks they weren’t bad, but most of them looked cheap, felt cheap and were clearly first generation products. It’s why I think wearables were considered a bust in the first year with the vast majority of users. Also, many Android Wear watches were quite expensive, and with phones already in the $500-800 range, dropping another $300 was out of the question for most.
With the Zenwatch 2 starting at $129.00, it makes investing in wearables much easier. $129 is still a decent amount of money, but it isn’t $300 like the first generation Moto 360, or the current starting price of the Huawei Watch. At a more affordable price, it also makes swallowing the limited features of a smartwatch a bit easier to swallow.
Smartwatches still don’t make phone calls, they aren’t able to fully function without a connected smartphone, and they are terrible for doing anything more than basic functions. But they still have a place – they tell time, track activity, send texts and basic emails, search using Google Now, and are a great way to check notifications. People are finally starting to see the value in smartwatches with high quality examples like the Zenwatch 2. In just one year, Asus has proven that Android Wear has a place on your wrist.
Android users everywhere have their own top productivity hacks, whether they are solo flyers or working with a group. You tablet can easily be your office on the go, hooking you up with old standards like MS Office and Outlook, and newer must-haves like Evernote and Slack. It seems as if everyone has a top picks list, so we’re going to stick with our own top choices, and then you can square them with those other lists and see what works the best for you and your own personal work style.
AirDroid: Access your phone from your PC or Mac, and use all your apps just as if you were using them from your phone, except with a full keyboard! Makeuseof.com’s review states that
while they have tried other mirroring apps, none has worked as well
Any.Do: As The Verge notes, some of the best features are still reserved for paying users, but it’s worth it! The market for to-do apps is jammed with free apps barely more functional than a notepad and paper, but Any.Do earns it’s fees with unlimited collaborations and larger file size uploads.
Blue Jeans: It’s the best app there is for video conferencing no matter where you are. It’s simple, lightweight on your RAM and processor, and it’s intuitive. It’s not a scaled down model of a desktop app, but a real standalone app that works. Hey, we’re not the only ones that think so. They have a pretty exciting live video streaming service called Blue Jeans Primetime that lets interactive video participation for audience up to 3,000 people.
Drupe: All your messaging apps and contacts on one screen, with a dialer that lets you decide how to initiate the call. For those with multiple communication methods like Whatsapp, Skype, SMS, FB Messenger and others, this is a godsend.
Evernote: Have you ever noticed that all those search results that say, “18 Apps to Replace Evernote!” or “App X versus Evernote!” Here’s the thing, they are all comparing these apps to Evernote and that should tell you something. It’s flexible, adaptable, scalable, and used by anyone from students to C-level executives. If you are looking for max productivity, by all means shell out for the premium subscription, but plenty of folks do just fine with the free basic account.
Expensify: Billing itself as “Expense reports that don’t suck!” Come on, any app that can make expense reports not suck would earn a worshipful user base of road warriors – and it has! This is best in the paid version, and it’s for people who do a lot of traveling with a lot of expenses to organize.
Fleksy Keyboard: Big, fast, and customizable, and more importantly – free! New deep linking to other apps lets you access them directly from Fleksy. The big keys and super autocorrect mean that your fat-fingered typing will be legible and coherent, too.
Office Suite 8: When Lifehacker calls Mobisystems Office Suite 8 the best office suite for Android, you can bet what you should sit up and take notice. As with most software-as-service, there’s a free version and a premium version, but when your Android device is your office, it’s well worth the cash. Try the free version first, and then splash the cash, since the free version is a very good way to get a feel for the app and how it works with you.
Pocket: You do have an offline life, and whether it’s airplane mode, lack of a signal, or a “not now” folder, Pocket’s the app to beat – especially with a five star rating from CNET. Formerly
known as Read It Later, this app you can stuff long reads or videos in the folder and access them later. It’s great for commuters or travelers, and needs to be on your phone.
Slack: It’s not a front to back collaboration tool, but it is a great app for messaging. It’s more of a messaging platform for groups with added file sharing. This tool is not for everyone, and it’s not one size fits all, but when it’s right for your group, you’ll wonder how you did without it.
TripIt: When the Travel Channel loves you, you’ve got it knocked. For frequent flyers, this is the app to have. You can organize all your plans in one place, just by forwarding or auto-importing your confirmation emails. Never lose a confirmation number again, and pull up past trips with ease.
Mobile use is on the rise, with even students using Smartphones and tablets for schoolwork according to Statista. While laptops and desktops predominate, mobile device use is going native, just as computers and laptops have entered almost every office and home since the mid-nineties. In time, mobile and hybrid devices can be expected to become as normal as the dialup modem and AOL were back in the day. For those already using them to untether from their desks, they are an indispensable part of working life.
Samsung today announced that it has refreshed the Galaxy A series of smartphones. The new 2016 line will roll out to China later this month and will later expand to other markets across the globe.
Key features in the new Galaxy A3, Galaxy A5, and Galaxy A7 are Android 5.1 Lollipop as well as optical image stabilization for the camera. Both the front and rear sensors feature an F1.9 lens which means better photos and low light and dark conditions. The new Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A7 now support Samsung pay and can be protected by fingerprint verification.
The three phones share a number of specifications across the board including the 13-megapixel rear camera and 16 gigabytes of storage. There are, of course, differences between the models such as display size and battery; processor and memory configuration very as well.
As we all know by this point, T-Mobile is constantly working hard to brand themselves as the “Un-Carrier” and behave opposite to how the traditional carriers have always acted. Last month T-Mobile announced their latest Un-Carrier called Binge On that allows customers to watch all of the 480p video their heart desires without it counting towards their data limit. My personal favorite is Music Freedom, which is essentially the same thing but for music streaming services. Partner services get their data zero-rated on T-Mobile, so users can listen to their music all day without it counting toward their precious data allotment.
Today T-Mobile added 11 new services to that list, one of them being TuneIn Premium. TuneIn is a very popular online radio and podcast streaming service (One that I use, myself) and we think that a lot of people will be very pleased to see this service added to the list. Here is the full list of audio services that were added today:
SomaFM Ambient, downtempo and chill beats from well-known and unknown artists
Spinrilla Hip-hop mixtape downloads and streams with no downloading limits
StreamOn Streaming music services powered by StreamOn. Next-level streaming products for the next era of radio
TuneIn Premium Access to every NFL, MLB, and Barclays Premier League game, over 600 commercial-free music stations, 40,000 audiobooks, and 16 language learning programs.
Folks that are a fan of hip-hop mixtapes will surely be happy to see DatPiff added to the list as well. Most of the rest are unfamiliar to me, but they surely have their users and more options are never a problem.
A slow data connection still plagues us from time to time. Sometimes it seems like in those instances we critically need information, that’s when we happen to be in a weak signal area – leaving us to waste our precious time sitting and waiting.
Well, Google found a way to alleviate those frustrating situations. Images on webpages are often the culprit in the bulk data retrieval that occurs when loading a page, whether we want to see them or not. Therefore, Google is adding an option in the mobile Chrome browser called Data Saver mode.
The idea behind Data Saver is pretty simple. With the option enabled, Chrome will scan the speed of your data connection. If it’s slow, Chrome won’t load any images in your web browsing. If you want to override it, there will be a “Load Images” button on the bottom of the webpage.
[blockquote author=”Google”]After the page has loaded, you can tap to show all images or just the individual ones you want, making the web faster and cheaper to access on slow connections.[/blockquote]
Google says that the feature will be first available to Chrome users in India and Indonesia, but will roll-out to “additional countries in the coming months.” Does Data Saver mode sound like something you’ll really benefit from?
It’s the most wonderful time of the year – to buy a smartphone. With Black Friday behind us and the holiday shopping season off and running, it’s the time of year where many consider a new handset. If you’re a seasoned smartphone owner, picking out an upgrade is a simple process. But, for some folks, the idea of purchasing a new handset generates a touch of anxiety.
Which is the newest phone? What is the best phone? Which is the one that’s going to give me exactly what I need? We’re here to help you dig through the clutter.
We’ve put together a list of the top 10 Android smartphones you should consider for AT&T this December. Here, in no particular order, are ten Android handsets that you should consider for AT&T if you’re currently contemplating a new device.
LG G Flex 2
Introduced early in the year, this phone was among the first to boast a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor. It’s powerful enough to contend with most Androids and features a 13-megapixel rear camera with laser focus and optical image stabilization. What it also offers, is a self-healing protective coating, which means your keys and general wear won’t ruin the finish. Also, the phone is curved in multiple ways and allows for one of the most comfortable experiences around.
The newest phone of the bunch, this LG features two displays. Indeed, there is the 5.7-inch quad HD screen which looks gorgeous on its own. However, up at the top you will find a small secondary display which offers quick access to favourite contacts, apps, media player buttons , or an at-a-glance view of your schedule.
But, as if that were not enough, you will also find 64 gigabytes of internal storage with a microSD card that allows for another 200GB of space. The removable 3,000mAh battery is more than enough to get you a day or two of life. The rear offers up a 16-megapixel camera while the front houses a pair of 5-megapixel shooters. One works for close-ups while the other has a wide angle lens for group shots.
The fifth generation of Samsung’s plus-sized smartphone experience boasts a gorgeous metal and glass design. The S Pen digital stylus is smarter than ever and works without even powering on the display. Up from previous models, storage options are now 32GB and 64GB. The battery, which comes in at a commendable 3000mAh capacity, allows for fast charging, wireless charging, and even fast wireless charging.
An almost identical sibling to the aforementioned Galaxy Note 5, this one trades out the stylus for the dual curved display. If you don’t need to jot down notes or mark up documents, consider grabbing the more sexy counterpart.
The newest of the bunch, this is also the first BlackBerry handset to run Android out of the box. Not only is this one big and powerful, but it’s also extra secure, too. Standout features include an 19-megapixel rear camera and 3410mAh battery. Oh, and did we mention the Priv also has a physical keyboard? Indeed, tucked under the gorgeous 5.4-inch curved display is a 4-row QWERTY keyboard. Blast through emails and messages without breaking a sweat. It’s 2015 and once again it’s cool to own a BlackBerry.
Announced in the spring, it’s hard to beat the annual Samsung flagship smartphone. The 5.1-inch Quad HD screen is a stunner and feels oh-so-right in our hands and the premium design includes glass and metal. It’s the first Galaxy S model we’ve wanted to coddle and protect in a long time. It doesn’t hurt that it runs Android 5.0 Lollipop (with an expected 6.0 update), comes with at least 32GB storage, and has 3GB RAM to boost performance.
Take the 2015 flagship smartphone and add in water and dust resistance with shock resistance and you end up with the Samsung Galaxy S6 Active. Still present are the 5.1-inch display, 16-megapixel camera, and octa-core processor; however, the device greatly benefits with the addition of a 3500mAh battery. In short, this is a tremendous phone that’s built to last all day and can take just about anything you will throw its way.
LG continues to impress with a steady stream of flagship models that demand attention. We long ago fell in love with the rear button layout and this year’s version has one of the best camera experiences we’ve ever seen on a smartphone. The specs are top-notch and the screen is a real looker.
As the only HTC model on this list, we’re big fans of the new design cues and direction. It’s not necessarily a powerful smartphone, but it’s more than enough for first time buyers with plenty left over. It’s the first non-Nexus handset to run Android 6.0 Marshmallow and enjoys features such as Doze, Android Pay, and Android on Tap. For the first time in a few years we are excited about HTC again and can’t recommend this phone enough for its target demographic. The 5-inch screen feels terrific in hand and the fingerprint scanner is highly responsive. Check out our review of the HTC One A9.
The Moto X (2nd Generation) doesn’t have a ton of AT&T customization which means it’s closer to a stock Android experience than most other phones. What is added by Motorola, however, is worth it and only adds to the phone’s value. It’s a little over a year old now, sure, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth your attention. If you’re looking for a great Android handset that won’t break the bank, you’ll be wise to consider this one.
It’s the holiday shopping season and discounts and promos are in full swing. If you’re like a lot of consumers, now is the time to consider a smartphone upgrade. Buying a new device can be a fun endeavor, especially if you’ve got previous experience. For some, however, the thought of selecting a new handset may trigger some trepidation.
Which is the newest phone? What is the best phone? Which is the one that’s going to give me exactly what I need? We’re here to help you dig through the clutter.
We’ve put together a list of the top 10 Android smartphones you should consider for Verizon this December. Here, in no particular order, are ten Android handsets that you should consider for Verizon if you’re currently shopping around.
Droid Turbo 2
As the first phone to feature a shatterproof display, much can be said about the new Droid Turbo 2. Not only does this one give you peace of mind in knowing that it can fall out of your pocket or desk without shattering, the phone also features some pretty impressive hardware.
Powered by Android 5.1 Lollipop, the Turbo 2 features a 5.4-inch display at 2560×1440 resolution and a 21-megapixel camera. Quick charging ensures that the phone never runs low on juice; moreover, the 3760mAh battery gets you two days of use. In other words it’s built to be used and somewhat abused.
In a first for the Droid series, buyers can head to the Moto Maker tool to design their own unique version of the phone. There are more than 1,000 combinations of colors and materials to choose from.
The newest phone of the bunch, this LG features two displays. Indeed, there is the 5.7-inch quad HD screen which looks gorgeous on its own. However, up at the top you will find a small secondary display which offers quick access to favourite contacts, apps, media player buttons , or an at-a-glance view of your schedule.
But, as if that were not enough, you will also find 64 gigabytes of internal storage with a microSD card that allows for another 200GB of space. The removable 3,000mAh battery is more than enough to get you a day or two of life. The rear offers up a 16-megapixel camera while the front houses a pair of 5-megapixel shooters. One works for close-ups while the other has a wide angle lens for group shots.
Another relative newbie, this Motorola packs a 5.5-inch 1080p HD display, 21-megapixel rear camera, and 16GB internal storage. Toss in the 3630mAh battery with Turbo Charging and you’ve got a device that should never run low on power. Other specifications include Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, microSD expansion card slot for more storage, and a water-repellent coating.
The fifth generation of Samsung’s plus-sized smartphone experience boasts a gorgeous metal and glass design. The S Pen digital stylus is smarter than ever and works without even powering on the display. Up from previous models, storage options are now 32GB and 64GB. The battery, which comes in at a commendable 3000mAh capacity, allows for fast charging, wireless charging, and even fast wireless charging.
Announced in the spring, it’s hard to beat the annual Samsung flagship smartphone. The 5.1-inch Quad HD screen is a stunner and feels oh-so-right in our hands and the premium design includes glass and metal. It’s the first Galaxy S model we’ve wanted to coddle and protect in a long time. It doesn’t hurt that it runs Android 5.0 Lollipop (with an expected 6.0 update), comes with at least 32GB storage, and has 3GB RAM to boost performance.
An almost identical sibling to the aforementioned Galaxy Note 5, this one trades out the stylus for the dual curved display. If you don’t need to jot down notes or mark up documents, consider grabbing the more sexy counterpart.
LG continues to impress with a steady stream of flagship models that demand attention. We long ago fell in love with the rear button layout and this year’s version has one of the best camera experiences we’ve ever seen on a smartphone. The specs are top-notch and the screen is a real looker.
Running an untouched version of Android Lollipop, the Nexus 6 is among the first to receive an update to the 6.0 Marshmallow build. The 6-inch screen might be a little bigger than you’re familiar with but the reviews and feedback have been solid. Internal storage is tapped at 32GB with no microSD expansion card slot but it should be enough for those who live in the cloud.
The lone HTC model here is also one of the oldest flagship models to make this list. Don’t let that concern you, though, it’s still a kick-ass phone with a great build. The 5-inch screen looks great and fits well in the hand while the 20-megapixel camera snaps excellent photos. The microSD card keeps media lovers content with room for up to 200GB of external storage.
As an ancestor to the Droid Turbo 2 and Droid Maxx 2, the Moto X (2nd Generation) doesn’t have a ton of Verizon customization. In other words, it’s closer to a stock Android experience than most other phones with only a few added touches. We love what Motorola adds to the user interface: twist to open camera, chop to activate flashlight, and voice actions. Pick yours up in Black, White Bamboo, or Football Leather.
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Introduced early in the year, this phone was among the first to boast a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor. It’s powerful enough to contend with most Androids and features a 13-megapixel rear camera with laser focus and optical image stabilization. What it also offers, is a self-healing protective coating, which means your keys and general wear won’t ruin the finish. Also, the phone is curved in multiple ways and allows for one of the most comfortable experiences around.
The newest of the bunch, this is also the first BlackBerry handset to run Android out of the box. Not only is this one big and powerful, but it’s also extra secure, too. Standout features include an 19-megapixel rear camera and 3410mAh battery. Oh, and did we mention the Priv also has a physical keyboard? Indeed, tucked under the gorgeous 5.4-inch curved display is a 4-row QWERTY keyboard. Blast through emails and messages without breaking a sweat. It’s 2015 and once again it’s cool to own a BlackBerry.
As the only HTC model on this list, we’re big fans of the new design cues and direction. It’s not necessarily a powerful smartphone, but it’s more than enough for first time buyers with plenty left over. It’s the first non-Nexus handset to run Android 6.0 Marshmallow and enjoys features such as Doze, Android Pay, and Android on Tap. For the first time in a few years we are excited about HTC again and can’t recommend this phone enough for its target demographic. The 5-inch screen feels terrific in hand and the fingerprint scanner is highly responsive. Check out our 
