Best smartphones to buy : June 2015

With so many different (yet similar) smartphones from so many brands from across the globe, one may start feeling a bit lost. Which one of those many is the best phone you can buy right now?

Luckily, at this time of the year, there is no reason to complain much as the best Android phones are now available: the Samsung Galaxy S6, LG G4 and HTC One M9 are now on store shelves, and their presence alone obliterates many of the earlier Android devices.

There is no definite one-size-fits-all devce, though, and that’s why we explore all the options, trying to help you narrow down the choice to some outstanding devices that we think won’t disappoint you. We’re also breaking them down by categories: after all some people prefer a large, phablet-sized device, while others may want a more conventionally-sized pocket sidekick. We don’t go into all that much detail (for those details, make sure to read our in-depth reviews), but we do focus on the most important highlights. With no further ado, here are the best phones you can buy right now.

If you want the very best phone from a brand you trust and in a regular size:

Samsung Galaxy S6

Price: $200 (on contract) | Review

The Samsung Galaxy S6 has finally arrived: a 5.1-inch beauty, it is made of two pieces of Gorilla Glass 4 on the back and front, and a sturdy metal frame in the middle. Gone are the times of disappointing, plastic top-level smartphones from Samsung. Some changes have been made: the Galaxy S6 does not support a microSD card slot, a replaceable battery, or water-protection, but as strong as feeling are about some of these changes, they are likely not going to be a deal-breaker for most. In exchange for those compromises, you get a very slim and good looking phone, an extremely powerful Exynos 7420 system chip, an excellent 16-megapixel main camera, and probably the best AMOLED screen so far.

view as slideshow »

Samsung Galaxy S6

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Apple iPhone 6

Price: $200 (on contract) | Review

The Apple iPhone 6 is the world’s best-selling smartphone at the moment, and it will certainly break quite a few records in sales. Apple has created a brand universally known for making reliable, extremely stylish devices, and by finally going to that slightly larger screen size that many people have been craving, the iPhone 6 hits all the right spots.

The sleek aluminum body measuring just 0.27 inches also feels fantastically well-made. Under the hood, you have the most powerful system chip of a smartphone in the form of the dual-core Apple A8 (with single-core performance nearly double that of Android rivals), excellent graphics, and a camera that captures great-looking images in various conditions. Add to this the rich iOS ecosystem that continues to secure the best apps and games first, and one starts to understand the appeal of the iPhone 6.

Apple iPhone 6

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HTC One M9

Price: $200 (on contract via Amazon) | Review

The HTC One M9 might not be as groundbreaking an overhaul as the Galaxy S6, but the reason for this lies in the fact that its predecessors were not depressingly plastic. Quite the contrary, the One M9 comes from the noble, aluminum unibody HTC One pedigree, and it perfects the proven formula with a sleeker design and a splash of color on the side. 

With earlier HTC phones failing to meet expectations on the camera front with UltraPixel, the One M9 ships with a 20-megapixel camera, but it is still a step below most flagships in terms of image quality. For all else, this is one snappy and extremely good-looking phone, with an outstanding seflie camera.

HTC One M9

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If you prefer a large phone with a great camera (phablets):

Samsung Galaxy Note 4

Price: $250 (on contract) | Review

The Galaxy Note 4 is the finest Samsung, the world’s largest smartphone maker, has to offer. 

It’s got the latest system chip available (it comes with either the Snapdragon 805 or Exynos 7 Octa), one of the very best cameras on any smartphone (a 16-megapixel shooter), a good-looking 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display, and thebonus functionality of the S Pen. If you’re looking for such a full set of the latest specs and don’t mind Samsung’s TouchWiz, the Note 4 is a great choice.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4

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Apple iPhone 6 Plus

Price: $300 (on contract) | Review

The iPhone 6 Plus marks Apple’s entry in a market that – in contrast with most of the company’s recent products – it did not create single-handedly, and that market is of phablets. 

A beautifully designed 5.5-inch handset, the 6 Plus brings a lot of novelty to the table apart from the looks and rich ecosystem: it features an iOS interface tailored for landscape use, it features optical image stabilization and an excellent camera that has proven to be quick and reliable, and it’s got a gorgeous 1080p display that is one of the most color accurate ones on the market. Topping all that is good battery life, better than on the iPhone 6.

Apple iPhone 6 Plus

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LG G4

Price: $200 (on contract) | Review

The LG G4 came amidst modest expectations, but it not only lived up to them, but also exceeded what one expected from it. The G4’s most impressive feature is its great 16-megapixel main camera with optical image stabilization, and – hands down – the best, most convenient manual shooting mode of any smartphone out there. 

As a bonus, the LG G4 is a 5.5-inch device with a thin side bezel and a nice size for its 5.5″ screen. It comes in plastic and a slightly more expensive leather version, and you should get the leather one – it’s a much smoother, premium feel for the device you will carry every day in your pocket. And finally: yes, the annoying lag from the LG UI in the G3 is practically non-existent on the G4, which feels refreshingly quick.

LG G4 Review

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Nexus 6

Price: $250 (on contract with AT&T) | Review

The Nexus 6 goes a bit in the extreme when it comes to size, but if you’re looking for a truly large smartphone, you will like its 6-inch Quad HD display. It also comes with the advantage of being a Google phone, meaning it is first on the list of devices to Android updates. 

The fact that the Nexus 6 was the first phone to come with Android 5.0 Lollipop alone is a big plus, and so is that you don’t have the burden of slow skins. Apart from being zippy, the Nexus 6 captures very good images, has the latest system chip on board, and a long-lasting battery.

Nexus 6

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If you want the absolute best battery life:

Motorola Droid Turbo

Price: $250 (on contract with Verizon) | Review

Going on a search for outstanding battery life, one inevitably stumbles across the Motorola Droid Turbo, a 5.2-inch smartphone with a 3900mAh battery that does not compromise on specs. The Droid Turbo is a bit chunky, measuring 0.44 inches in thickness, but in exchange, this buys you a peace of mind when it comes to battery longevity, as the phone will easily last two days off the charger.

The fact that you’ve got a super sharp Quad HD display, a Snapdragon 805 system chip, and a good, 20-megapixel camera, only helps with the choice.

Motorola Droid Turbo

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3.If you want something more compact:

Samsung Galaxy Alpha

Price: Free (on contract) | Review

The Samsung Galaxy Alpha had a fairly high-profile launch late in 2014 when it was considered near the level of flagships. It has quickly dropped in price since then to more acceptable levels, and it now stands out as an all-around great phone with great value for the money. It features a 4.7-inch 720p Super AMOLED panel that supports Samsung’s neat Ultra Power Saving Mode, it’s got Samsung’s own Exynos 5430 system chip, the company’s first 20nm silicon, and it’s got a great 12-megapixel camera, all in a stylish body with a sturdy metal frame.

Samsung Galaxy Alpha Review

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Apple iPhone 5s

Price: $100 (on contract) | Review

Big phones are just not everyone’s cup of tea (at least not yet), and that’s why there is still a market for extremely compact devices that you can easily use with a single hand. The iPhone 5s is the best such phone you can get at the moment: it offers top-notch performance, a great camera, and the rich iOS 8. The slight downside with it lies in the battery life department, where you won’t get much more than a full day of use.

Apple iPhone 5s

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Sony Xperia Z3 Compact

Price: $440 (off contract) | Review

The most notable alternative to the iPhone 5s in the compact phone market is the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact. Sony has managed to cram in a 4.6″ display in nearly the same size as the 4″ iPhone 5s has. 

With an interesting glass design and translucent plastic siding, the Z3 Compact can boast about having a very long-lasting battery, a snappy system chip and a very decent camera.

view as slideshow »

Sony Xperia Z3 Compact

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If you want to get an unlocked phone:

OnePlus One

Price: $300 (off contract) | Review

The OnePlus One definitely made a huge splash in the smartphone market when it arrived with its flagship (for the time) specs at half the price of its peers. Actually buying the One, though, proved to be harder than usual: you had to apply for an invitation, and only then you could buy the phone, which was and still is in short supply. 

The time invested in this process pays off nicely, though, as the phone – running on Android with Cyanogenmod – works well and is one of the best values for the money.

OnePlus One

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If you want to be different than all the rest with something exotic:

Xiaomi Mi Note

Price: $450 (off contract) | Buy at PandaWill

Xiaomi was the Chinese company that we heard about the most this year. A true success story, the company is known for releasing flagships that mimick Apple’s devices. 

The new, 2015 Xiaomi Mi Note flagship, however, deviated from that trend, and this time around it seemes that the Chinese company is ‘inspired’ by Samsung as the name Note suggests. Look closer, though, and you’d find a truly original design, an amazingly thin profile and surprisingly solid build quality. Add to that the bonus of a very-well polished MIUI skin, with smooth performance, a great camera, and good battery life. All for less the price of rivals from Apple and Samsung.

Xiaomi Mi Note

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Meizu MX4 Pro

Price: $380 (off contract) | Review | Buy at Oppomart

China has surpassed the United States as the world’s largest phone market more than a year ago, but it is this year that we’re seeing Chinese brands truly rise up to the level of first-tier companies like Apple and Samsung. Meizu, a company with a relatively long history, is the one that has made one of the most appealing Chinese phones of the year: the Meizu MX4 Pro. 

A device with an aluminum frame, minimalistic design, clean and good-looking Flyme user interface, decent camera, great sound and snappy fingerprint scanner, the MX4 Pro is also more affordable than other flagships.

Meizu MX4 Pro

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2For those on a budget:

Nexus 5

Price: $350 (off contract) | Review

The Nexus 5 might have been released in the dark ages of late 2013, but if you can still find it, the $350 phone remains a great deal for the money. Its long shelf-life is due to the phone getting updates quickly (it has been running on Android 5.0 Lollipop for months). 

The Nexus 5 does not have great battery life or camera, but both are decent, and the device comes with built in wireless charging.

Nexus 5

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Meizu M1 Note

Price: $200 (off contract)

The Meizu M1 Note is a shockingly good deal: a 5.5-inch smartphone with a nice display with pleasingly vivid colors and a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels, it runs on the Flyme UI skin on top of Android 4.4 KitKat. You should not be scared of the brand: Meizu is one of the largest Chinese phone makers, and it’s got a reputation of making reliable, high-quality gadgets.

Meizu Blue Charm Note (M1 Note)

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And then for those who want to spend even less, but still get a decent smartphone:

Motorola Moto G (2014)

Price: $180 (off contract) | Review

Not everyone is willing or should spend a little fortune on a smartphone. Luckily, the last couple of years have finally brought us affordable smartphones that do not run as slow as molasses. 

The Moto G was one of the first such phone, and its 2014 edition adds a larger, 5-inch display, and a better, 8-megapixel camera, while still retaining the zippy performance and good battery life.

Motorola Moto G (2014)

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Nokia Lumia 630 / 635

Price: $55 (off contract) | Review

The third ecosystem, Windows Phone, is having a hard time fighting the iPhones and Android flagships of today, but it remains strong in the market of affordable phones. 

The Nokia Lumia 630 / 635 in particular is a very alluring offer in some markets. In the United States, the 4.5″ handset is sold as an AT&T GoPhone for just $55.

Nokia Lumia 630

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Motorola Moto E

Price: $120/$150 (off contract) | Review

The new, 2015 edition Moto E launched recently and it’s a big upgrade over last year’s E series Motorola phone: it’s slightly bigger (a 4.5″ with qHD resolution on the new one versus a 4.3″ on the former), but it’s now available in an option with 4G LTE connectivity and the fairly zippy for its class Snapdragon 410 system chip. Yes, the camera is not great – but for all else, the Moto E is a surprisingly nimble device that will please most people that don’t necessarily require all the latest technology. Also, keep in mind that the more affordable 3G version of the phone comes with the slower Snapdragon 200 chip, and we recommend you getting the 4G one.

Motorola Moto E (2015 edition)

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For Windows Phone lovers:

Nokia Lumia 930/Lumia Icon

Price: $100 (on contract) | Review

If you, little rebel, have decided that you want to take a wild jump in the depths of Windows Phone, the Nokia Lumia 930 (and its Verizon sibling, the Lumia Icon), are currently two of the best devices to get. You also have the HTC One (M8) for Windows which is a good, stylish device, but the Lumia 930 has the benefit of the upcoming Denim update and a lot of Nokia goodies that add some extra value. 

The saying goes that Lumia smartphones have great cameras, and while we do find the camera experience on Windows Phone excruciatingly slow, image quality is definitely very good, and promising updates are on the way.

Nokia Lumia 930

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For the BlackBerry faithful:

BlackBerry Passport

Price: $600 (off contract) | Review

BlackBerry loyalists, you are a rare kind nowadays, but your day has finally come, after years of hope. The BlackBerry Passport is an extravagant phone with a wide footprint and a square screen, but it brings that good old physical keyboard and adds a sprinkle of innovation as the keyboard now doubles as a touchpad. 

The Passport has great battery life, a well polished and smoothly running operating system, support for Android apps, and even a more than decent camera.

BlackBerry Passport

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Windows 10 upgrade: You’ll have to wait

Though Microsoft (MSFT, Tech30) said a month ago that Windows 10 would become available on July 29, Microsoft clarified on Thursday that everyone won’t be able to upgrade on that day

Microsoft will roll-out upgrades slowly, in waves.

In a blog post, Windows Chief Terry Myerson said that Windows 10 upgrades will first go to “Windows Insiders,” a group of 5 million people who have been testing out a preview version of Windows 10.

After the “Insiders,” Microsoft will begin notifying people who reserved copies of Windows 10 that they can upgrade, “slowly scaling up after July 29,” Myerson said. If you already reserved a copy, your PC has been confirmed as compatible.

The slow roll-out is in part because Windows 10 is in very high demand. Microsoft expects 1 billion PCs to run Windows 10 in two to three years.

“We want to make sure all of you have a great upgrade experience, so we’ll roll-out Windows 10 in phases to help manage the demand,” Myerson said. “We are humbled by your excitement and we can’t wait to deliver Windows 10 to you soon.”

But the slow roll-out is also due to the need to test the millions of different PCs running Windows 7 and 8 for compatibility with Windows 10. Apple (AAPL, Tech30) can roll out iOS updates in one day, because there are just a few different kinds of iPhones and iPads in existence. Windows PCs are practically as varied as snowflakes.

Myerson said the “vast majority of Windows 7 and 8 PCs will be fully compatible with Windows 10. But the company hasn’t finished testing.

“We are not yet done, we will never be done,” Myerson said.

In addition to consumers, Microsoft announced that businesses and schools will be able to start upgrading to Windows 10 on August 1.

Is Microsoft planning to dump Windows Phone?

 If you’ve been closely following mobile platforms related developments, you would know that Windows Phone has been losing share as Android and iOS continue to dominate the market.

While Microsoft has been extending its apps and services to other operating system making its own mobile platform less relevant, it has continued to support development and i set to introduce Windows 10 for phones. However, it looks like Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and his team members could be having second thoughts about continuing with the development of Windows on phones and small tablets.

According to Twitter account @MSFTnerd, a user who is believed to be close to Microsoft’s internal developments, Nadella and Microsoft’s senior leadership team are debating on whether the company should continue Windows on phones and small tablets or just bundle Microsoft services on Android, going forward. The development was reported by Softpedia.



We’ve seen Microsoft introducing Office apps on other mobile platforms and inking tie-ups with the likes of Samsung for bundling its apps on Android phones. Perhaps, Microsoft is reconsidering investing resources on Windows Phone, which commands a meager 3.2% share of the smartphone market (as per IDC). The company can reach out to customers who use its services via other platforms.

The user also tweeted that there were murmurs that “Microsoft was working on changing its relationship with Google around location services and video on Windows and ads.”

Further, the account tweeted that “Microsoft would push Google Play devices with Microsoft apps in exchange for Google providing first-class Maps, YouTube, Search on Windows.” It’s not clear if this implies that Microsoft will make its own Android devices bundled with its apps or just pre-load its apps on Google devices like the Nexus phones.

TWEET BY MSFTREND


Image courtesy: Softpedia

However, Google developing quality apps for Windows Phone would be a big move. Google and Microsoft had been at the loggerheads with each other when the latter had developed a full-fledged YouTube app for Windows Phone. Google had blocked it alleging that the app was against its terms of service.

Microsoft has been trying hard to reduce the app gap between Windows Phone and competing platforms. In April, Microsoft executives had announced that the company will release new tools to help developers quickly adapt the apps they’ve built for Apple or Android devices, so they will work on smartphones, PCs and other devices that use the new Windows 10 operating system.

How to check if your PC is Windows 10 compatible

With Windows 10 coming on July 29, you’ll want to make sure your PC, applications and various devices will all play nice before you reserve and upgrade. Fortunately, Microsoft has made it easy to do within the Get Windows 10 tool that appears on all copies of Windows 7 and 8. 




Upgrading your copy of Windows to 10 should be seamless, but you want to make sure set up is actually ready beforehand. That new Windows icon down in your system tray will let you do more than reserve your copy of Windows 10 for free. As Fatima Wahab at AddictiveTips points out, it can also check your whole system to make sure everything is all set for the upgrade. It’s pretty simple to do:

* Click the Get Windows 10 icon in your system tray in the lower-right section of your desktop.
* Click the hamburger menu in the upper-left corner.
* Under “Getting the upgrade,” select Check your PC.

If you’re all set and ready for the upgrade when it comes, you’ll be given a good to go message. Otherwise, you’ll see a list of devices and apps that aren’t supported.

Device issues could mean a monitor won’t display properly at the highest resolution, or some speakers won’t be able to play audio with the upgrade. Apps that are listed as unsupported will need to be uninstalled before you start the upgrade process. Of course, a driver update or patch install may fix those issues as well, so check again if you can find updates.

Windows 10 Is Almost Here: Here’s What You Need to Know

Windows 10 Is Almost Here: Here’s What You Need to Know

Windows 10 will be released on July 29, 2015. Microsoft is already advertising it to WIndows 7 and 8.1 users using a system tray pop-up. This is a free upgrade, and will probably be a good one for Windows 7 and 8 users alike.

Microsoft wants to get all recent Windows machines on the same operating system, providing a standardized Windows platform and pushing the “universal apps” offered by the Windows Store. After the mess of Windows 8, Windows 10 is looking pretty good.
Yes, It’s Free (For Most People)

Windows 10 will be a free upgrade, assuming your computer runs Windows 7 Service Pack 1 or Windows 8.1. As long as you upgrade to Windows 10 within the first year, you won’t have to pay a cent. Despite some confusion online, you won’t have to pay anything. As long as you upgrade to Windows 10 within the first year, you can continue using Windows 10 and getting updates for the “supported lifetime of the device.” It’s a full copy that will continue to work.

If you have an older computer running Windows Vista or a previous version of Windows, you won’t get a free upgrade. You may want to buy a new computer if you have such an old computer, anyway. If you have a pirated (“non-genuine“) copy of Windows, you may be able to upgrade — but you’ll continue to have a “non-genuine” copy of Windows 10.

If you’re building your own computer or purchasing a copy of Windows 10 to run in a virtual machine, you’ll have to pay $110 for Windows 10 Home or $199 for Windows 10 Pro. If you want to upgrade an old computer to Windows 10 after the first year and you miss out on the free upgrade offer, you’ll need to pay for a copy of Windows too — unless Microsoft extends the offer.

How to Upgrade

“Reserve” your copy of Windows 10 and your Windows computer will automatically download Windows 10 in bits and pieces before the release date. When Windows 10 is good to go, you won’t have to download a massive installer from Microsoft at the same time everyone else does. It’s a bit like preloading a game or movie before the release date.You’ll be able to upgrade via Windows Update when Windows 10 comes out. Microsoft rolled out a “Get Windows 10″ application that prompts you to “reserve” your copy of Windows 10, and you’ll be seeing those notifications in your system tray on Windows 7 SP1 and Windows 8.1 computers. Yes, that Windows 10 pop-up in your system tray is real, legitimate, and from Microsoft. It was added to your existing WIndows systems via a Windows update.

If you plan on upgrading when Windows 10 is released, reserve it now. You don’t actually have to reserve — you’ll be able to upgrade for free for the first year. Reserving your copy will just save download time later. Microsoft will likely have a website that walks you through upgrading when Windows 10 is released.

While the upgrade process shouldn’t erase your personal files, it’s always important to havebackups anyway. If you have hardware or programs that won’t work with Windows 10, the upgrade application will inform you of any possible problems you might experience.

What’s New – and Should You Upgrade?

If you’ve been using Windows 7, you get access to all the improvements found in Windows 8 with an interface that makes more sense. Windows 10 includes other useful features, including“Task View” virtual desktops and even enhancements to the Command Prompt, that should make Windows 7 desktop users pretty happy to upgrade. Microsoft’s new “Edge” browser is a new default browser, meaning even Windows users who stick with the default browser will have a better experience. Modern versions of Internet Explorer aren’t as bad they used to be, but Edge is still a big improvement. Microsoft’s Cortana assistant is integrated — if you’re in one of a handful of supported countries, at least. Windows 10 is packed with other useful improvements, and — unlike some of the more annoying features found in Windows 8 — they can be disabled if you don’t want to use them.Microsoft wants Windows 10 to be a worthy upgrade to both Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users. It builds on Windows 8’s base, offeringits desktop improvements and security features. But Microsoft has relented on the most hated aspects of Windows 8. The charms bar is gone. The pop-up Start menu is back — it has live tiles on it by default, but you can remove those if you like. That “modern” or “Metro” interface is now confined only to a special tablet mode, and all applications run in windows on the desktop on normal PCs. If you’re using Windows 8 on a non-touch device, this is a huge improvement. The desktop interface makes sense again.

Microsoft is also pushing the Windows Store for desktop users in Windows 10, as those fancy new “universal apps” now run in desktop windows and could actually be a bit useful. That’s a big reason Windows 10 is free — to build a large platform app developers will want to target and get Windows users on the same software.

Microsoft’s Plans for Windows 10

Microsoft is pushing the idea that Windows 10 will be different than previous releases, and it’s even been called “the last version of Windows.” Microsoft plans on releasing frequent updates that polish Windows 10 and add features, although they did also say this about Windows 8.

Microsoft plans on this being the last major operating system upgrade you’ll do, with new features and improvements regularly being rolled out via Windows Update rather than waiting for a once-every-several-years release. Even many of the included applications will be updated separately via the Windows Store.

Windows 10 looks like a good upgrade. Currently, less than two months from its release date, the Windows 10 preview releases are still a bit buggy. Assuming Microsoft can polish Windows 10 up in just a few more weeks, Windows 10 will be a worthy and recommended upgrade.

Yes, there are live tiles, universal apps, and Microsoft account integration features — but you can avoid these if you don’t want them. Better yet, all these new features actually integrate with the Windows desktop rather than fighting with it, as they did in Windows 8.