Best Android Phones (Besides the Note 7)

Samsung was considered the créme de la créme of Android hardware until the company’s Note 7s started exploding and getting banned by airline carriers. Don’t let one model turn you off Android; there are plenty of other devices that will make you forget your iPhone. These are three of our favorites.

LG V20

LG doesn’t get as much love as it did in the era of flip phones, but the company’s new V20 is no slouch against its competitors. The device features a Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage. The best part of all, however, is the removable battery. A simple metal cover on the back reveals a battery pack you can switch out with an LG-verified replacement, eliminating the need for a slow charger when you’re on the road. If that’s not enough, the camera can also shoot in 4k video with SteadyShot 2.0.

Google Pixel

Many publications are claiming Google’s Pixel phone is the best device available for Android, if not the best smartphone overall. Completely designed and manufactured by Google (HTC is an unofficial co-manufacturer), the Pixel is the first Android device to have its hardware and software completely tied together, aiming to give users an experience similar to the iPhone, whose success is often credited to the fact Apple creates both device and operating system. Google Pixel is currently available on Verizon, as well as the WiFi-based network Project Fi.

HTC 10

The Pixel’s co-manufacturer has some tricks up its sleeve as well, showcased with the release of the flagship HTC 10. The fashionable phone has an aluminum body and a variety of features like a 12-megapixel, rear camera and a BoomSound Hi-Fi system, built in conjunction with Dolby Sound. The headphone jack has an amp to ensure loud playback, plus the operating system has a stylish facelift from the stock Android look.