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Smartphones

2015 Best of Year Smartphone Awards

Android or iOS, there's a great phone for everyone.

Credit:
Reviewed Staff
Written by Reviewed Staff

Updated November 13, 2015

Products are chosen independently by our editors. Purchases made through our links may earn us a commission.

These days, just about everyone has a smartphone. They're the center of our digital worlds, and we use them to handle everything from staying connected, to taking photos, to playing games.

To be among the best in such a cutthroat market, a smartphone really has to do it all—and do it well.

We've tested nearly every major phone that's come out in the past year, pushing them to their limits to see just what they're made of.

The ones that have risen to the top are the very best you can buy, whether you prefer Android or iOS—or if you simply want a good phone without having to pay a lot.

Best Android Smartphone: Samsung Galaxy Note 5

Product image of Samsung Galaxy Note 5

The best Android phone of the past year is, hands-down, the Samsung Galaxy Note 5. With a stunning new design, a fantastic 5.7-inch display, and the best camera that we've tested in a smartphone to date, the Note 5 is an example of Samsung Mobile at its very best. In today's market, it's easily the Android phone to beat. Read our review.

Apple iPhone 6s
Credit: Reviewed.com

Best iOS Smartphone: Apple iPhone 6s

Product image of Apple iPhone 6s

The iPhone 6s follows last year's iPhone 6 with a suite of subtle changes that take an already great phone and push it to new heights. Yes, it has the best processor and camera to appear in an iPhone yet, but the new "3D Touch" feature is a legitimate innovation that adds a new dimension to how we interact with our phone. Read our review.

Best Value Smartphone: Motorola Moto G (2nd Gen.)

Product image of Motorola Moto G (GSM, 2015)

When you're shopping for an affordable smartphone, it's easy to get distracted—and ultimately disappointed—by phones that try to look like high-end phones. The Moto G has no such aspirations, but using it you feel less like you made a compromise and more like you got something for free. Yeah, you'll have to deal with a so-so camera, but the incredible battery life and durable design more than make up for it. Read our review.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5
Credit: Reviewed.com

Best Smartphone Camera: Samsung Galaxy Note 5

Product image of Samsung Galaxy Note 5

Smartphone cameras from nearly every manufacturer took a big step forward in 2015, but the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 stands alone at the head of the pack. Its 1/2.6-inch sensor is the best we've tested, and Samsung's excellent image processing (and RAW capability) ensure you can get the most out of it. Read our review.

Runner Up: LG G4 — The G4 has a suspiciously similar image sensor to the Note 5 and also captures RAW, with a stock app that features the best manual control we've seen to date. It's a fantastic camera, and it's only outdone by Samsung's superior image processing.

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