Shopping for a new Android in February 2017? We’re here to offer our (totally unbiased) advice.
Find out everything you need to know about the best Android phones in February 2017 today.
HTC U Ultra
To be fair, the HTC U Ultra isn’t available for sale yet. It’s only available to preorder. HTC Announced the stunning flagship last month.
Key features for this smartphone include a glass-on-glass design, a 5.7-inch QHD display, and the high-end specs you’d expect from a high-quality flagship.
Tech specs include the Snapdragon 821 chipset, 4GB of RAM, 64 or 128GB of internal storage space, and a 3,000 mAh battery. As you’d expect on flagships released in 2017, you get Android Nougat out of the box, and HTC has customized it with their own custom skin.
Another nice thing about the U Ultra is the unique color choices. You can pick Brilliant Black, Cosmetic Pink, Ice White, and Sapphire Blue, for example. Prices start at $750, so it’s not the cheapest Android available today.
Who Should Buy It: You don’t like Samsung, want a bigger Android, and want to spend more than $700 on a phone.
Google Pixel / Pixel XL
The Pixel and Pixel XL are two of the best Android phones on the market today, and that’s been true for several months in a row now. These stunning smartphones come with high-end tech specs, the purest version of Android available today, and arguably the best smartphone camera ever made. Unless you’re holding out to wait for the Pixel 2, the Pixel and Pixel XL are excellent options.
Some of the key tech specs on the Pixel include the Snapdragon 821 chipset, 4GB of RAM, 32GB or 128GB of storage, and the famous 12.3MP camera on the back. You get Daydream VR support out of the box and a clean version of Android Nougat.
The Pixel is priced at $649 while the Pixel XL is $769.
Who Should Buy It: You like Google and its services, you value a good camera, and you want a clean Android experience paired with fast performance and a competitive price tag (who doesn’t want these things?).
Huawei Mate 9
This is the cheapest option on the list so far. Priced at $599, the Mate 9 offers flagship performance at a reasonable price. It’s been out in China for several months, although it just recently launched in the United States after CES 2017.
Key features on the Mate 9 include the Kirin 960 chipset (designed by Huawei in-house) along with 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, a dual-camera system, and a massive 5.9-inch 1080p display.
If you’ve been turned away from Huawei smartphones in the past because of the subpar UI and skin, then you may want to check out the Mate 9. It’s a massive improvement over previous Huawei models.
Who Should buy It: You want flagship performance, don’t want to pay a flagship price, and don’t care that your iPhone-wielding friends have never heard of Huawei.
OnePlus 3T
The OnePlus lineup isn’t as mysterious as it used to be. Still, the company continues to release high-end smartphones at mid-range prices. The OnePlus 3T is yet another example of that.
The OnePlus 3T was announced at the end of 2016. It’s a successor to the OnePlus 3. Key improvements include the upgraded Snapdragon 821 chipset (which you’ll notice is a very popular choice among the top Androids of February 2017).
Other key features include the Dash Charge fast charging technology, the 5.5-inch 1080p Optic AMOLED display, 6GB (!) of RAM, and USB-C. It’s also wrapped up in a surprisingly attractive aluminum chassis.
Oh, and did I mention the price starts at just $439 for an unlocked version?
Who Should Buy It: You want high-end performance at a cheap price tag in a sexy build design.
Other Options
Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge: Samsung’s popular Android smartphones continue to impress in all categories. What more can we say about the Galaxy S lineup – especially now that Samsung finally fixed the whole exploding phone issue.
Samsung Galaxy S8: Don’t mind waiting a couple months? Samsung’s S8 will be released around April / May 2017.
Moto Z / Moto Z Force: Features the famous ShatterShield display that won’t break, along with high-end tech specs you expect in Motorola’s flagship.
Sony Xperia XZ: The XZ has finally addressed one of the biggest problems with Sony’s Androids – the high price tag. The Xperia XZ is priced at $649 for an unlocked version and is available to buy through Amazon, Best Buy, and other major retailers.
ZTE Axon 7: The cheapest option on this list, the Axon 7 is priced at $399 and features 6GB of RAM, a 5.5-inch AMOLED display, a cool all-metal design, and a Snapdragon 820 chipset. It also supports Google Daydream.
Want to buy the best Android available in February 2017? The smartphones above represent the cream of the crop.
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