The iPhone 7 officially launched in Australia today, with prices starting at $1079 (or $1229 for the black versions). If you’re a die-hard Apple fan, you’ll doubtlessly think it’s the best iPhone ever — despite having no headphone jack and a dearth of exciting new software. For everyone else, you might want to consider one of these flagship Android phones instead.
Look, we’re not trying to start a mobile war here. If you’re an iOS user, the iPhone 7 represents a decent upgrade, especially if you own a pre-6s model. With that said, it can’t be denied that the iPhone 7 isn’t quite as revolutionary as previous generations. When a new iPhone’s most talked about “feature” is the removal of an audio port, some of the magic is clearly missing.
With that in mind, here are five rock-solid Androids that can comfortably go toe-to-toe with the iPhone 7 in terms of performance and features. Are they truly “better” than the iPhone 7? That’s obviously subjective. For what it’s worth, they’re all significantly cheaper than the iPhone 7, have larger, higher resolution displays and come with useful extras such as external storage.
If you’re OS agnostic and want the best smartphone that money can buy, these are the models you need to put on your shortlist.
Samsung Galaxy S7
Despite coming out at the beginning of the year, the Samsung Galaxy S7 comes with many of the iPhone 7’s debut features, including (superior) water resistance and improved low light photography. It comes with a 5.1-inch Quad HD AMOLED display, a Snapdragon 820 processor a 3000 mAh battery, 4GB of RAM, a 12-megapixel rear-facing camera and runs on Android Marshmallow with a TouchWiz skin over the top. Other noteworthy features include IP68 water resistance (up to 30 minutes submerged in fresh water), inbuilt NFC, Samsung Pay, wireless charging functionality and a MicroSD slot for added storage.
Initially retailing for $1149, the Samsung Galaxy S7 can now be snapped up for well under $800. That’s a cool $300 off the price of an entry-level iPhone 7.
Samsung Galaxy S7 vs iPhone 7:
iPhone 7 | Samsung Galaxy S7 | |
---|---|---|
RRP | $1079-$1379 | $1149 |
OS | iOS 10 | Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) |
CPU | Apple A10 Fusion Quad core with six-core graphics GPU | Snapdragon 820 Octa Core (2.3 GHz Quad + 1.6Ghz Quad) |
Storage | 32GB/128GB/256GB | 32GB (+ MicroSD card slot) |
RAM | 2GB | 4GB |
Display | 4.7-inch Retina HD Display | 5.7-inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen |
Resolution | 750 x 1334 pixels (326 ppi) | 1440 x 2560 pixels (518 ppi) |
Camera | 12MP rear (f/1.8, phase detection autofocus), 7MP front | 12MP rear camera / 5MP front camera |
Water resistance | IP67 (up to 30 minutes at one metre depth) | IP68 (up to 30 minutes at 1.5 metre depth) |
Dimensions | 138.3mm x 67.1mm x 7.1mm | 142.4mm x 69.6mm x 7.9mm |
Weight | 138g | 152g |
Why it’s “better” than the iPhone 7: Superior water resistance, superior display, MicroSD port, cheaper price.
Huawei Nexus 6P
The Google Nexus 6P has been out for nearly a year now, but it remains a solid performer. Manufactured by the Chinese smartphone giant Huawei, it boasts an all aluminium body that packs in a top-end Snapdragon processor, a 4.7-inch quad HD display and USB-Type C. Originally retailing for $998, it can now be snapped up for under $600.
Being a first-party device, the Nexus 6P also provides instant access to Google’s latest operating system, Android 7 Nougat. This packs in a swathe of excellent new features like multi-window support and bundled notifications which provide a significant boost to speed and productivity. (Read more on Android 7 here.)
Huawei Nexus 6P vs iPhone 7:
iPhone 7 | Nexus 6P | |
---|---|---|
RRP | $1079-$1379 | $999 |
OS | iOS 10 | Android 6 (Marshmallow) |
CPU | Apple A10 Fusion Quad core with six-core graphics GPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 v2.1 (2.0 GHz octa-core 64-bit) |
Storage | 32GB/128GB/256GB | 32GB |
RAM | 2GB | 3GB |
Display | 4.7-inch Retina HD Display | 5.7-inch WQHD AMOLED. Corning Gorilla Glass 4 |
Resolution | 750 x 1334 pixels (326 ppi) | 2560 x 1440 (518 ppi) |
Camera | 12MP rear (f/1.8, phase detection autofocus), 7MP front | 12.3MP rear / 8MP front |
Water resistance | IP67 (up to 30 minutes at one metre depth) | N/A |
Dimensions | 138.3mm x 67.1mm x 7.1mm | 159.9mm x 77.8mm x 7.3mm |
Weight | 138g | 178g |
Why it’s “better” than the iPhone 7: Superior display, cheaper price, Android 7 Nougat ready.
LG G5
The LG G5 is powered by a current-gen Snapdragon 820 processor and 4GB of RAM running Android Marshmallow. It comes with a 5.3-inch Quad HD IPS Quantum Display with a native resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels (554ppi) and a microSD card slot. Like the iPhone 7 Plus, it comes equipped with two ear-facing cameras: one 16-megapixel sensor behind a lens with a relatively standard 78-degree field of view, and one 8-megapixel sensor with a 135-degree super-wide-angle lens. The latter allows for true panorama shots that don’t require separate images to be clumsily stitched together in-camera.
The LG G5 also boasts a unique modular design that allows the user to add snap-on peripherals which are sold separately. These include the Cam Plus module (which adds a camera-style grip and physical controls), the 360 cam module (which adds two 13MP wide angle cameras, a 1200mAh battery and 4GB internal memory), B&O HI-FI Plus module (which adds a portable Hi-Fi DAC that supports 32-bit, 384KHz high-resolution audio playback), the Rolling Bot module (a camera-equipped BB8-style toy) and the Charging Kit module (which adds a dual function battery charging kit for other phones and tablets).
In a bid to entice prospective customers, LG has announced it will replace broken screens free of charge, regardless of the cause. (This is only offered once per customer.) Originally retailing for $1099, the LG G5 can now be purchased for around $500.
LG G5 vs iPhone 7:
iPhone 7 | LG G5 | |
---|---|---|
RRP | $1079-$1379 | $1099 |
OS | iOS 10 | Android 6 (Marshmallow) |
CPU | Apple A10 Fusion Quad core with six-core graphics GPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 Processor |
Storage | 32GB/128GB/256GB | 32GB (+ MicroSD card slot) |
RAM | 2GB | 4GB |
Display | 4.7-inch Retina HD Display | 5.3-inch Quad HD IPS Quantum Display |
Resolution | 750 x 1334 pixels (326 ppi) | 2560 x 1440 (554 ppi) |
Camera | 12MP rear (f/1.8, phase detection autofocus), 7MP front | 16MP rear camera (standard) / 8MP (Wide) / 8MP front |
Water resistance | IP67 (up to 30 minutes at one metre depth) | N/A |
Dimensions | 138.3mm x 67.1mm x 7.1mm | 149.4mm x 73.9mm x 7.76mm |
Weight | 138g | 159g |
Why it’s “better” than the iPhone 7: Superior display, MicroSD port, innovative module design, dual rear-facing cameras, cheaper price, free screen replacement.
HTC 10
The HTC 10 is a powered by a current-gen Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor and 4GB of RAM running Android 6.0 (Marshmallow). It sports a 5.2-inch Quad HD display with a native resolution of 2560×1440 pixels and a 3000mAh battery that promises to deliver up to two days of battery life.
Other noteworthy specs include 32GB of onboard memory, a microSD card slot and a redesigned UltraPixel camera that HTC is billing as the best in the world. (It comes with a 12-megapixel sensor with 1.55um pixels, a f/1.8 lens aperture and optical image stabilisation.)
When the HTC 10 launched back in April, it carried an RRP of $1099. It can now be snapped up for
under $800.
HTC 10 vs iPhone 7:
iPhone 7 | HTC 10 | |
---|---|---|
RRP | $1079-$1379 | $1349 |
OS | iOS 10 | Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) with HTC Sense |
CPU | Apple A10 Fusion Quad core with six-core graphics GPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 Processor |
Storage | 32GB/128GB/256GB | 64GB (+ MicroSD card slot) |
Memory | 2GB | 4GB |
Display | 4.7-inch Retina HD Display | 5.2 inch Quad HD IPS Quantum Display |
Resolution | 750 x 1334 pixels (326 ppi) | 2560 x 1440 pixels (564 ppi) |
Camera | 12MP rear (f/1.8, phase detection autofocus), 7MP front | 12MP (1.55μm pixel) rear camera / 5MP (1.34μm pixels) front camera |
Water resistance | IP67 (up to 30 minutes at one metre depth) | N/A |
Dimensions | 138.3mm x 67.1mm x 7.1mm | 145.9 x 71.9 x 9.0mm |
Weight | 138g | 161g |
Why it’s “better” than the iPhone 7: Superior display, MicroSD port, 64GB internal storage, cheaper price, strong battery life.
Samsung Galaxy Note 7
Yeah, yeah, we know what you’re thinking — how could Samsung’s infamously faulty smartphone possibly be better than Apple’s? It goes without saying that the first batch of Note 7s are vastly inferior to the iPhone 7 (or any smartphone that doesn’t burst into flames, for that matter.)
However, Samsung has since righted this colossal wrong — it’s in the process of replacing every Galaxy Note 7 on the planet in one of the biggest product recalls in living memory. The new-and-improved version retains all of the same great features, minus the tendency to overheat and explode. It packs in an octa-core Exynos 8890 processor (four 2.3GHz and four 1.6GHz cores), 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM, a 12 megapixel f/1.7 rear camera (plus a 5-megapixel f/1.7 front camera), a microdSD card slot and 64GB of onboard UFS 2.0 flash storage. Other product highlights include a fingerprint scanner, a front camera sensor for iris scanning, infrared LED, a better battery, IP68 water resistance and the USB 3.1 Type-C connector.
Samsung Galaxy Note 7 vs iPhone 7:
iPhone 7 | Samsung Galaxy Note 7 | |
---|---|---|
RRP | $1079-$1379 | $1349 |
OS | iOS 10 | Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) |
CPU | Apple A10 Fusion Quad core with six-core graphics GPU | Exynos 8890 octa-core processor with four 2.3GHz and four 1.6GHz cores |
Storage | 32GB/128GB/256GB | 64GB (+ MicroSD card slot) |
Memory | 2GB | 4GB |
Display | 4.7-inch Retina HD Display | 5.1-inch Quad HD AMOLED |
Resolution | 750 x 1334 pixels (326 ppi) | 2560 x 1440 (577 ppi) |
Camera | 12MP rear (f/1.8, phase detection autofocus), 7MP front | 12MP rear, 5MP front |
Water resistance | IP67 (up to 30 minutes at one metre depth) | IP68 (up to 30 minutes at 1.5 metre depth) |
Dimensions | 138.3mm x 67.1mm x 7.1mm | 153.5mm x 73.9mm x 7.9mm |
Weight | 138g | 169g |
Why it’s “better” than the iPhone 7: Superior display, MicroSD port, larger screen, superior water resistance.
Comments
16 responses to “Five Android Phones That Are Better Than The iPhone 7”
Ummm…
The nexus 6P doesnt have a Micro SD slot, AND the photo of the HTC is an A9…not a 10….
Also my Nexus 6P is a 64gb. So they don’t just come in 32gb as shown above.
Oh and the S7 doesnt have a 5.7″ AMOLED…Thats the S7 Edge, although the physical dimensions listed ARE for the standard S7…
I’m all for Android phones (wouldn’t touch an iPhone if you paid me), but I’m a little dubious on this list… Seems like a collection of Android flagships from each of the main Android manufacturers, with a short list of features not available on the iPhone 7.
To be fair, there would be a number of features the iPhone 7 has that these do not have; for example, none of these have the latest OS offering, and most of them are more expensive than the iPhone.
Also, claiming the Nexus 6P has an SD slot when it doesn’t, doesn’t make the lack of it any better than the lack of it in an iPhone.
“for example, none of these have the latest OS offering”
Nexus 6P has the latest OS – granted not out-of-the-box if that’s what you’re referring to, but the update notification would pop up and be ready to go within a few minutes of getting the phone online, so it’s not really that big a minus is it?
I only got Nougat yesterday, so as of writing the article, how can ‘Nougat Ready’ be considered better than ‘iOS 10 installed’
And where’s the One Plus 3, which is the best phone I have seen in my life. Full stop.
Haha … is this a deliberate prod to wind up the Apple and Android fanbois or for real?
Most of the hardware differences quoted are trivial (the depth rating for example). Screen resolution only becomes relevant if using the device for VR. The prices are much the same. And availability of an Android OS update doesn’t really count given Apple’s track record in that area.
The only noticeable real-world difference is external storage. Which is a useful discussion point given both Google’s and Apple’s push for cloud dependence. Fine for those with good mobile reception and large data plans. Not so good for those without.
Having the ability to turn a 32GB device into a 200+GB device isn’t to be sneezed at. Especially now MM and N support adoptable storage effectively making the card function like a seamless part of internal storage.
… and they ALL have 3.5mm headphone jacks!!!
I really wish comparisons like this would focus more on comparing battery life. The other features are all pretty much the same, but I consider battery life to be one of the most important parts of a mobile device (call me crazy). Not just battery life, but battery quality too. for example I’ve had quite a few samsung phones and I find their battery and charging quality to be bloody awful! ( was not shocked to hear about their current dramas). After a few months i’m constantly dealing with batteries that die at 50% charge after half a day..
On a more pedantic note, I would say comparing RAM between Apple and Android is like apples with oranges. IOS generally needs less RAM to run the same things as Android devices due to Apple having more control over their OS and less bloat, and the fact all the apps don’t use managed programming languages.
As a non-Apple fan boy, please tell me that you get something more than just a different colour for your extra $150.
Shirley no one can be that stupid?
To be fair, the black versions start at $1229 because there’s no 32GB option – only 128GB and above.
I can be that stupid. And don’t call me Shirley.
There are many areas where Android phones are and always will be years ahead of Apple, epecially in regards to Hardware. The thing people need to understand is Apple market to human ego and vanity, having the latest model and most fashionable design is proirity to their market, think like you would buying a pair of jeans or a fashion accessory. Android, like most of the IT industry market to Human intellect, specs and features is what keeps their customers loyal. Android users generally consider their phone a small computer and judge it as one. Two different product for 2 different markets, makes sense really.
You know what i think you hit it spot on. The sheer brilliance of sharing files opening files all types of music files even flac which apple dosent support the ability to buy music and apps outside of the android store and file sharing to the world the ability to be like a real pc is a typical android user, but with ios its all about image phone brand and style and thats why no one bothers about a inferior display or inferior camera or all the things so limited on an iphone, something i would give my gran.
Apple markets to human vanity and Android to human intellect??… WoW… Oops, I almost forgot your classic line stating that there are many areas where Android devices are years ahead of Apple devices…. Now that I have stopped laughing, let me help you out. People that like their devices to look nice, have a quality feel and most importantly …… work on a consistent basis….. are not vein….. they simply possess common sense. Next, just. Ecause a d vice has been fitted with a buffet of “bells and whistles” doesn’t make it more technologically advanced. In most cases it simply makes it a cluttered mess. iPhones are actually marketed to people that favor efficiency over fantasy. iPhones perform better and are more consistent because they are not bogged down and cluttered with features that are not practical in a smartphone ecosystem. An iPhone doesn’t need 6gb’s of Ram and an octa core processor to function properly and/or efficiently. An iPhone runs smooth and efficient with 2gb’s of ram and a dual core processor. Try and run a flagship Android device on 2gb’s of Ram with a dual core processor and the damn thing probably would freeze and lock up 10 seconds after it was turned on. I used flagship Android devices for my daily drivers ever since the first android device was released up until last year. I too used to get hung up on specs and all the techy features Android manufacturers attempt to jam into their devices in an effort to out-do one another. I too used to think that the amount of features and high end specs a device possessed equated to its place among the smartphone elite and my place amongst the technologically savvy smartphone elite owners. Then I realized it was way more important for me to have a device that functions efficiently, properly and consistently. Maybe I’m just a vein dumbass, but I’m ok with that…. because my phone works everyday, the same way without fail and God damn… it looks nice doing it….!!!!
Love the little known fact that the LG G5 come with
Must be for stereo vision 🙂
I don’t think you should recommend the note since it currently burst into flames.