The competition among smartphone companies using Android as their operating system is so fierce it becomes really confusing at times which phone to buy. New and better versions are released on a frequent basis by industry behemoths such as Samsung, LG, HTC etc, that your new phone can become a relic of the past in just a matter of few months.
With emerging competitors such as Huawei, Xiaomi, LeEco and Asus, which have grabbed a considerable chunk of the smartphone market pie, Android users are left spoilt for choice. There seems to be a great phone available for every category of users- be it high-end, mid-level or lower end. The endless number of apps in the Google Play Store also plays a huge role in the massive popularity of Android phones. For instance, there are several incredibly cool apps which are made exclusively for Android phone users.
In the coming few weeks, we will see the launch of a whole new set of Android smartphones. Some of them will be debuting in Chinese markets and are expected to be launched in international markets shortly after. Here, we discuss in detail the top four most anticipated phones from the deluge of options available in the Android smartphone market. Hope it helps you make a more informed choice!
Asus Zenfone 3
According to reports, Taiwanese computer hardware company Asus, which unveiled the Zenfone 3 series of smartphones at Computex 2016 in May, will make its new range available for sale in domestic markets from July 12. The company, however, has not issued any official announcement yet.
The latest series includes the ZenFone 3, ZenFone 3 Deluxe and ZenFone 3 Ultra smartphones, and unlike the polycarbonate body in the Zenfone 2 range, the new phones will have glass and metal bodies.
The ZenFone 3 has a glass body with a metal frame and starts at $249, while the ZenFone 3 Deluxe and ZenFone 3 Ultra have unibody metal bodies, and their pricing starts from $499 and $479 respectively.
Following are the specs for the ASUS ZenFone 3 ZE552KL:
- Design and display
The Asus Zenfone 3 has a 2.5D glass on the front and back, and a curved aluminum frame adorns the smartphone’s edges. A physical home button at the front enhances the appearance of the phone. Regarding the display, the ZenFone 3 features a 5.5-inch FHD multi touch display with a pixel density of 401ppi, thus enriching the graphics of the phone. Corning Gorilla Glass provides the requisite protection and a fingerprint sensor provides added security. Color choices for the Zenfone 3 include Gold, White and Black.
- Configuration and OS
The Asus Zenfone 3 is equipped with a 1.8GHz hexa-core processor integrated with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 MSM8956 chipset. 3GB RAM, an Adreno 510 graphics unit, Android Marshmallow and a Zen UI to top it all makes for a fabulous experience.
- Camera, Storage and Multimedia
The Zenfone 3 comes has a 13MP autofocus rear camera equipped with dual-LED flash, and extra features such as Digital Zoom, Auto Flash, Digital image stabilization etc provide for some really crisp and picturesque snaps. For those who are selfie-obsessed, the ZenFone 3 has a 5MP front camera (with flash). An internal memory of 32 GB that is expandable up to 128 GB helps you store a bazillion files without ever running out of space.
- Battery and Connectivity
A 2,500mAh li-po battery powers the Asus ZenFone 3, and a USB Type-C port further allows improved charging and faster data transfer speeds. Connectivity features include dual SIM slots, 4G, 3G, Wi-Fi, GPS/A-GPS, Bluetooth v4.1, USB port, microUSB and GLONASS.
Huawei Honor 8
China-based telecommunications giant Huawei is all geared up to launch its latest flagship Honor 8 on July 11, 2016. The Honor 8 will be the company’s third smartphone (after Honor 6 Plus and Honor V8) under the Honor brand to feature the dual rear camera setup.
The phone comes with a metal frame and 2.5 D glass on the front and back. In brief, the Honor 8 specifications (which more or less seem the same as the Asus ZenFone 3) include:
- 2-inch Full HD (1920×1080) display
- Octa-core Kirin 950 processor
- 12MP dual rear cameras
- 8MP front camera
- 32/64/128GB storage
- 3/4GB RAM
- Android 6.0 Marshmallow
- 2,900 mAh battery
- 4G LTE with dual-SIM support
- Fingerprint sensor, USB Type-C port
Lenovo Moto Z
Lenovo, which had recently launched its all new Moto Z and Moto Z Force smartphones, is reportedly planning to launch another device, the Moto Z Play, very soon. For the two Moto Z phones, the company introduced many modular parts called Moto Mods that can magnetically attached to the back panel of the phone by using a 16-pin setup. The Moto Z Force also features the Shattershield display for a safety boost. The two devices have a 5.5-inch QuadHD display and include Snapdragon SoC with 4 GB RAM.
Meanwhile, the new Moto Z Play is expected to have a smaller display and would feature Snapdragon 652 SoC and 3GB of RAM. The official pricing has not yet been announced by the company, though leaks suggest that Moto Mods may cost as high as $200.
Samsung Galaxy Note 7
One of the most awaited phones of the lot, the next-gen Galaxy Note is all set to be unveiled by Korean technology heavyweight Samsung on AUgust 2. Also, the new Galaxy Note will be named Galaxy Note 7 (and not Galaxy Note 6). I guess Note 6 would sound a bit old and also dampen the buying prospects since the company already launched the Galaxy S7 in February. Similar to the S7 range, we expect to see a Note & Edge.
The Galaxy Note 7 is touted to feature a 5.7-inch Quad HD display while the Note 7 Edge will have a dual edge display. With 6GB of RAM and 64 GB internal storage (as well as a MicroSD card slot), running on the latest Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow and the refreshed Touch Wiz UI, the Galaxy Note 7 will also be waterproof and dustproof, thus promising to be the ultimate smartphone for all Android fans. Extra security features in the phones include a fingerprint sensor that is integrated with the physical home button and the much rumored IRIS scanner.
Going by the previous industry reviews of Samsung phones, the Note 7 is expected to blow away the competition with its spectacular specifications. Following is a lowdown of the same (rumored):
Source: GSM Arena