Phones What 2016 phones are you looking forward too ?

[tbayrgs]

How are you liking your Apple watch? How has that experience been for you? Just curious........is it practical to have an AW and an iphone? I had an opportunity to get one as trade for my Nexus 6P the other and almost pulled the trigger so that is why I am asking.

Have you tried any smartwatches jamezr? IIRC, I thought you generally weren't a watch wearer and as much as I enjoy my AW, I find it a tough recommendation for anyone but the must devoted tech geek...and devoted Apple tech geek at that, one you has no intention of leaving the Apple ecosystem anytime soon. Considering how much you bounce back and forth between phones and platforms, I wouldn't recommend it for you, especially considering the cost.

I know you directed you're question to maflynn but I'll be happy to answer any specific questions as well. Like I said, I really do like my AW and actually do feel like my wrist in naked without it but it's is a specific flavor of tech, so to speak.

 

[Apples n' Stone]

iPhone 7 Plus, I will stalk the rumours incessantly!

 

[GadgetSN]

Iphone 7 plus
Sony Z5 Ultra (if it emerges)
Samsung Edge Plus 2 (current one feels like a prototype and available colours are terrible)

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I will watch the Galaxy S7 with interest but will more than likely end up with the iPhone 7. Not sure I want to take a risk just yet.

 

[jamezr]

Have you tried any smartwatches jamezr? IIRC, I thought you generally weren't a watch wearer and as much as I enjoy my AW, I find it a tough recommendation for anyone but the must devoted tech geek...and devoted Apple tech geek at that, one you has no intention of leaving the Apple ecosystem anytime soon. Considering how much you bounce back and forth between phones and platforms, I wouldn't recommend it for you, especially considering the cost.

I know you directed you're question to maflynn but I'll be happy to answer any specific questions as well. Like I said, I really do like my AW and actually do feel like my wrist in naked without it but it's is a specific flavor of tech, so to speak.

Thanks Tbayrgs. I don't wear a watch now. But I have co workers that have the AW and it seems to work with notifications and short quick replies to texts.
I do switch back and forth a lot between Android and my 6s+ but was just curious about the AW. I do have a ton of Apple stuff iMac, rMBP, so it would work well with those but not when I switch back to my Note 5.
I guess I should wait for now. The geek in me is always interested in new stuff!
Thank for the info!

 

[epicrayban]

iPhone 7, see-through aluminium. You heard it here first!

Transparent Aluminum Now A Reality
http://www.ubergizmo.com/2015/11/transparent-aluminum/?hash=e1df7c3c-6923-4bec-bf9e-995ad2b3c3aa

 

[Twixt]

2015 smartphones have been launched by now, and in the rear view mirror. Some highlights were the Note 5, Nexus 6P, I guess the iPhone 6S Plus possibly, and the affordable OnePlus X, and Moto X.

So coming soon in 2016, what has you drooling and ready to purchase some sweet SD820 phones ?

My list in order of release;

- HTC One M10 ( Hopefully HTC is still around, and can finally put out a killer phone, that wow'd us like the One M8 )

- LG G5 ? I'm hoping they have a OLED display, and keep the small form factor.

- OnePlus Three ( SD820 with an AMOLED display, and build like the One X )

- iPhone 7 ( I'm most interested in if iOS 10 is revamped and is just revised a ton, and of course the design of the phone itself should be a top notch style )

- Note 6 should be killer

- Nexus-N ( Hopefully 5.7" screen size, maybe made by Sony ? )

Note 6 of course, or any other 5,7"+ screen with SD slot, removable battery and stylus. I need a side phone in addition to my note 4 but would like to keep same environment : worst case I will buy another note 4 ...

 

[nj-morris]

Another thing that I want in phones next year is the abolition of front logos. They're ugly, take up bezel space and have no reason to be there when they're on the back. Talking to you Samsung, HTC, LG, etc.

 

[Tig Bitties]

I am scratching off the OnePlus Three from my list;

OnePlus One, OnePlus 2 Marshmallow updates won’t happen until Q1 2016

http://phandroid.com/2015/11/16/oneplus-marshmallow-updates/

Why am I not surprised, but this is pretty crappy from OnePlus. Android 6.0 marshmallow was released in October, and OPO is shooting for most likely a February release for officially updating their phones to 6.0, which would be 4 to 5 months after Google released source. This is far worse then LG, HTC, and Samsung, which will have updated their current flagships from Dec to Jan.

I know you can flash CM13 ROM's, which I did on my backup OnePlus One phone, and it runs great, but that's not the point. OPO should officially support their phones better. I always looked at the OnePlus One as sort of Nexus 5.5 last year, and it runs AOSP type OS, and I just assumed it would be updated fairly close to a Nexus, maybe a month after Nexus devices get updated, and no way longer than Samsung takes to roll out updates.

I'm done with this company, F the OnePlus Three now.

 

[nj-morris]

How about new Moto phones? The 2015 versions of the X and G were great value phones, so they could well do something good to them in 2016. Also, I want to see Motorola go about the Moto E a bit differently. I feel it has a lot of potential. And maybe make a sequel to the X Play, maybe even start a new series out of it (Moto A?)
Overall, I have high hopes for Motorola. I would like to see things like AMOLED, some sort of biometric scanner (I've gotten quite interested in the iris scanners in the new Lumia phones, hoping they can come to Android phones), and next gen Snapdragon chips.

 

[Savor]

^^ Something smaller than this with improved battery life and if no removable battery, at least micro-sd slot. And lose the camera hump and glass rear if they could. Follow Motorola's close to stock Android skin if they can. If Samsung can cram it into the Galaxy A-series size and only 720p, I would love that.

That platinum gold S6 edge is still the best looking phone released in 2015. I also loved the loud speaker and camera on it. Samsung nailed that gold option right and better than iPhones. I never loved Samsung but I can learn to love them if they can pull a smaller S edge and midrange specs and price.

 

[Savor]

There aren't many newer gimmicks coming from flagships other than watching Samsung add more useful features to the dual edges or go foldable displays for smartphones after tablets. Key to value nowadays is the midrange priced market.

Midrange advantages -
+ Cheaper by $200-$500
+ Usually smaller
+ 720p is all most people need
+ Retains most of the flagship features
+ Doesn't lose value as quickly as flagships

The last one is interesting and shows you how much most OEMs, carriers, and SoCs make most of the real money. You buy a flagship outright for $600-$800 and watch the value drop by nearly half after a year. It is a losing "investment" either way. But with say a $200 smartphone, it only drops to $120 after a year. You only lose $80 instead of losing $300+ while retaining most of the features and look in a smaller size and price. You compromise with camera and SoC. And flagships tend to have longer circulation if bought brand new. Midrange devices tend to get discontinued faster.

I don't have blind allegiance with any brand. LG was one of the last phone brands I held out for years until last May. A Sony smartphone is the other. LG is the last to offer removable battery but that could change next year with a unibody metal G5. There is a few brands I want to try out.

Brands I like for their value -
Xiaomi
LG
Motorola
Nokia
ASUS

Brands I am willing to try out -
Sony
Meizu
Huawei
Oppo/OnePlus

Brands I am willing to back to -
Samsung
Apple (but iPhone 7s if I like the 7 design)

Avoiding -
HTC
Lenovo
BlackBerry
Gionee

I would love to see HTC make a comeback. I don't enjoy companies going down and hear people losing their jobs. But I feel the M7 was their best effort for the next five years. They blew their load 2.5 years ago and now are just rehashing it. The M10 might look beautiful, but most will stop paying attention to it after next summer except a 1% global share that can live with a bad camera or battery life. If you are a fashionista and don't want everyone having the same phone as you, go HTC. But there are better design efforts by Samsung and Huawei these days.

If no flagship interest me much next year, I can settle with a late-2014 smartphone like the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact which I prefer over the Z5C in design. A small 720p smartphone, large battery, and still decent Snapdragon 801 chip that wasn't as problematic as this year's 810. By then, Z3C after more than a year would cost less than $250 which is the midrange price and in a smaller size I go for. It is like the iPhone 4 or 5 series owners not willing to jump to the iPhone 6 series size. That is the Z3C. The last great and small Android 720p flagship.

 

[Lloydbm41]

Galaxy S7 with sd card slot returning.

Huawei Mate S²

 

[AustinIllini]

It's going to be interesting to see what sizes and whether they keep the retro look they are so famous for. Force touch II? The 6S is going to be a hard act to follow.

I'm wondering if Apple just redesigns for the sake of it. I'm not sure I know what the next advancement is. To me, it's really difficult to know what Apple is going to do with the next iPhone until we know what iOS 10 will bring.

 

[I7guy]

I'm wondering if Apple just redesigns for the sake of it. I'm not sure I know what the next advancement is. To me, it's really difficult to know what Apple is going to do with the next iPhone until we know what iOS 10 will bring.

True, but typically that type of info is kept secret by Apple, the full breadth is usually unveiled at the keynote.

 

[KiXeR]

Next Nexus

 

[nj-morris]

I'm wondering if Apple just redesigns for the sake of it. I'm not sure I know what the next advancement is. To me, it's really difficult to know what Apple is going to do with the next iPhone until we know what iOS 10 will bring.

I have quite high hopes for iOS 10. I'm not expecting anything in particular, but I want to be wowed. We'll see come June.

 

[MRU]

None ...

But I'll buy them all anyway

 

[nviz22]

iPhone 7 Plus, Nexus 2016, HTC One M10, and the GS7.

 

[swarlos]

iPhone 7 and Nexus 2016

 

[mel823]

7 is not a good number for me, so any phone with a 7 in it is off my list.

Yes, I'm aware that sounds weird.

Note 6, Moto X 2016, the new iPads - hopefully they will all have force touch and split screen view, and the new Windows phone, and that's if Windows has figured out how to port Android and iOS apps. So basically any thing announced between August - October.

 

[Blaze4G]

Moto X, Nexus 6p, Note 6, iPhone 7, G5.

 

[AustinIllini]

7 is not a good number for me, so any phone with a 7 in it is off my list.

Yes, I'm aware that sounds weird.

Note 6, Moto X 2016, the new iPads - hopefully they will all have force touch and split screen view, and the new Windows phone, and that's if Windows has figured out how to port Android and iOS apps. So basically any thing announced between August - October.

It's your money. I'm just not convinced the iPhone 7 will be better. Especially if it doesn't have a headphone jack. What the actual heck.

 

[mel823]

It's your money. I'm just not convinced the iPhone 7 will be better. Especially if it doesn't have a headphone jack. What the actual heck.

I think you quoted the wrong person.

 

[AustinIllini]

I think you quoted the wrong person.

Sorry, one stream of consciousness. I meant you don't have to buy a phone with a 7 in its name if you don't want to and that I am not sure the iPhone 7 will be better so all the more reason not to buy it.