If you're looking for a phone with a huge screen, you've come to the right place.
Best Overall
Samsung Galaxy Note 7
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In its new, non-exploding form, complete with green battery icon, the Galaxy Note 7 is not only the best big Android phone, it's probably the best Android phone you can buy, period. The Note 7 takes the Galaxy S7's design language and refines it further, with a 5.7-inch panel packed into a deceptively small chassis. Subtle curves adorn the sides of the display, giving you access to Samsung's edge screen features — in addition to the Wacom-based S Pen for which the Note series has become known. The Note 7 also benefits from the GS7's best-in-class internals and camera, which matches or beats just about anything else out there.
While the Galaxy Note 7 doesn't yet have Android 7.0 Nougat, you do get Samsung's most refined TouchWiz UI yet atop Marshmallow, with a ton of neat tricks for the S Pen.
Bottom line: The Note 7 has had a rough start in life, but it's still a fantastic smartphone, and arguably the best all-round phone out there.
One more thing: Even though new, safe Note 7s are now in customers' hands, you may face problems using the Note 7 on airplanes. At the time of writing many major airlines forbid using or charging any Note 7, new or old, in-flight.
Why the (new) Galaxy Note 7 is the best
The unprecedented global recall changes the game, but the Note 7 remains a phenomenal device.
Let's be honest here: The Galaxy Note 7 brand has been tarnished — probably permanently — by the reports of exploding batteries and the subsequent recall. Frequent fliers may also want to look elsewhere if they want a phone they can use in the air without hassle.
But with those caveats out the way, the Note 7 is fantastic at everything it does. You'll pay dearly, but the high price of admission basically gets you an improved Galaxy S7 with a larger display and an expanded feature set, thanks in part to the S Pen. The display is the best on any smartphone we've seen, and the luxurious build quality matches the best from Apple, and there's solid battery life, backed up by wireless charging and fast charging. Samsung's proven 12-megapixel camera is great in daylight and industry-leading in low-light photography. And for what it's worth there's also an iris scanner, which we can take or leave.
Overall, the Note 7 is a joy to use, and is packed with the very latest mobile tech, and an expansive feature set.
Best 'not a Note 7'
LG V20
LG needed to raise its game after the modular mess that was the G5, and that's exactly what Samsung's local rival did with the V20. LG's 5.7-incher gets you the same guts as the G5, without any of the modular nonsense, and with much improved build quality and some unique features thanks to the second display. As before, you can use the secondary ticker above the main screen to see app shortcuts, show a personal message or view notifications.
And the removable battery option is back, with the V20's 3,200mAh swappable cell living behind a metal back panel, which pops off when you hit the release switch.
On the camera side, the V20 is every bit as good as the G5, with a main 16-megapixel sensor behind an f/1.8 lens, and a secondary wide-angle camera for fitting in more detail. LG's also packed in new autofocus and stabilization technologies not present in that phone for even smoother video.
The V20 represents a significant milestone in the Android world too — it's the first phone to ship with Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box, though you're still looking at LG's UX as opposed to a the cleaner Android UI you'd get on a Nexus.
Bottom line: The V20 is easily LG's best phone ever. You get the proven cameras of the G5, along with Android Nougat and a solid metal chassis, plus the rarity of a removable battery.
One more thing: LG hasn't announced any plans to range the V20 in Europe, so don't hold your breath for an official way to buy the phone in that part of the world.
Best Pure Android
Nexus 6P
Sure, the Nexus brand will soon be going away, but if you want a pure, untouched installation of the latest version of Android on a big screen, the 6P is where it's at. It's been around since late 2015, so you're looking at specs in line with other high-end phones from that period: A Snapdragon 810 processor, 3GB of RAM and 32, 64 or 128GB of storage. Despite the reputation of the 810, the 6P performs just fine in most tasks, although battery life doesn't extend past a day, even with a 3,450mAh cell inside.
The 6P's hefty metal exterior comes in four colors, and the design is attractive if a little blocky. The main reason to buy this phone, however, is the software. As a Nexus, you get a completely pure, untouched stock Android install, as well as speedy updates from Google when a new version drops.
Bottom line: Given that it's almost a year old, it's possible to find the 6P online for not a whole lot of money compared to the upcoming Pixel phones.
One more thing: The larger of Google's two Pixel phones will purportedly use a smaller 5.5-inch screen, so if you may need to eventually downsize when upgrading from the 6P.
Best not so expensive
Samsung Galaxy Note 5
See at Verizon See at T-Mobile See at Amazon
For all the fuss about this year's Galaxy Note, last year's stylus-toting offering, the Note 5, has aged remarkably well. Across the board, you're looking at a similar feature set to the Note 7, just a little less barnstorming across the board. A slightly older Exynos processor, and a 16-megapixel (optically stabilized) camera that doesn't quite match the Note 7's in low light, but is still damn good in its own right.
And the Android 6.0 Marshmallow update that landed earlier this year has given the Note 5 new life, porting over many of the features from the Galaxy S7. What's more, Samsung has largely kept on top of rolling out Android's important monthly security updates for the phone.
Bottom line: The Note 5 is still a fantastic phone, even by the standards of late 2016. In fact, it gives some of the lesser flagships of this year a run for their money. (And you'll be able to use it on an airplane, too!)
One more thing: Samsung never officially released the Galaxy Note 5 in Europe, so if you're importing and using it on European networks, be sure to check that the model you're buying will work with your carrier's cellular bands.
Conclusion
Samsung has been making big-screened Android phones since the beginning, so it should come as no surprise that — in spite of some early issues — the company's latest all-singing, all-dancing Galaxy Note bests everything in the 5.7-inch and up category. You're paying serious cash, but that gets you arguably the best-looking, most capable Android phone we'll see this year.
Best Overall
Samsung Galaxy Note 7
See at AT&T See at T-Mobile See at Verizon See at Sprint See at U.S. Cellular
In its new, non-exploding form, complete with green battery icon, the Galaxy Note 7 is not only the best big Android phone, it's probably the best Android phone you can buy, period. The Note 7 takes the Galaxy S7's design language and refines it further, with a 5.7-inch panel packed into a deceptively small chassis. Subtle curves adorn the sides of the display, giving you access to Samsung's edge screen features — in addition to the Wacom-based S Pen for which the Note series has become known. The Note 7 also benefits from the GS7's best-in-class internals and camera, which matches or beats just about anything else out there.
While the Galaxy Note 7 doesn't yet have Android 7.0 Nougat, you do get Samsung's most refined TouchWiz UI yet atop Marshmallow, with a ton of neat tricks for the S Pen.
Bottom line: The Note 7 has had a rough start in life, but it's still a fantastic smartphone, and arguably the best all-round phone out there.
One more thing: Even though new, safe Note 7s are now in customers' hands, you may face problems using the Note 7 on airplanes. At the time of writing many major airlines forbid using or charging any Note 7, new or old, in-flight.
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