Android By Ryan Whitwam Jan. 7, 2016 3:00 pm
There are always new Android phones coming out, but this is one of the most critical times. With the holidays behind us, OEMs are prepping their 2016 lineup for release. There are some amazing phones coming out in the next few weeks and months. The last thing you want is to drop hundreds on a new device only to feel behind the times a few days later.
Let’s figure out what’s worth waiting for and when you’ll see it.
Samsung Galaxy S7
Every year the release of Samsung’s flagship Android phone is a big deal, and this year will be no exception. After last year’s well-reviewed Galaxy S6, many are hoping the company brings back some of the features it dropped from that device. On at least one count, the rumors seem to offer hope. There are also some interesting new quirks this time around.
According to a recent report, the GS7 will sport another 5.1-inch Super AMOLED at 2560×1440. The curved Edge variant will be a very different device, though. This one will have a 5.5-inch curved AMOLED at the same resolution. Both phones will introduce additional always-on screen functionality like Motorola or LG have been using.
The battery still won’t be removable, but Samsung will reportedly bump the capacity to 3000mAh in the GS7 and 3300mAh in the Edge variant. Samsung will also go back to Qualcomm for the SoC this year with the Snapdragon 820. However, some international versions of the phone might still have Exynos chips. Samsung will bring back the microSD card slot too, but possibly only on the non-Edge model.
The camera might back off to just 12MP from the 16MP Samsung has used for the last two years. However, it should have better low-light performance than any sensor on the market. The Galaxy S7 will probably be announced at Samsung’s Unpacked event in February, but it’ll be a few more weeks at least before it goes on sale anywhere.
LG G5
LG has been playing second fiddle to Samsung for the last few years, but the LG G4 won a lot of fans by offering features that Samsung was ditching like a removable battery and microSD card slot. With the LG G5, the company is looking to be known for some new distinct features. One notable change — this phone is said to have a metal frame, which LG has thus far avoided.
This phone is rumored to be taking some cues from the recently released LG V10. The G5 will have two cameras on the back for capturing 135-degree ultra-wide-angle photos. The V10 does that with the front cameras. LG may also add an RGB color sensor to the camera module to assist with scene detection and focus. The G5 LCD is said to be slightly smaller at 5.3-inches to make room for a secondary ticker display, similar to the V10. This screen will display notifications and the time when the display is off, and has expanded notification text and app links when it’s on.
LG is expected to slim down the battery to just 2800mAh, but it will still be removable. That might not be an issue with the smaller screen and more efficient SoC. The real hardware quirk could be a so-called “Magic Slot.” This is a hardware expansion slot that can be used to add things like a 360-degree camera, audio amp, and more. Expect to see some demos of this feature, if it exists, when the G5 is announced in February or March.
Next page: Upcoming Android phones from Google, HTC, and more…