Top Smartphones of 2016

AnTuTu Benchmark, one of the most reputable smartphone reviews in the world, introduced the top smartphones of 2016 based on performance. Accordingly, the iPhone 7 Plus (with 181,000 points) ranked first, followed by the iPhone 7 (with 172,000 points), and the OnePlus 3T (with 163,000 points) in third place. In the Android phone category, the OnePlus 3T (with 163,000 points), LeEco Pro 3 (with 159,000 points), and Moto Z by Motorola (with 148,000 points) took the top three spots. In the iOS devices category, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro ranked first (194,000 points), the iPhone 7 Plus second (181,000 points), and the 9.7-inch iPad Pro third (173,000 points). One of the most talked-about changes in the iPhone 7 is the removal of the 3.5mm audio jack. On the other hand, one criticism of the iPhone 7 pertains to its display, which uses the same 5.5-inch screen from the previous generation with full HD resolution. Given that lower-priced phones offer higher resolutions, there was an expectation for improved image quality in the iPhone 7 Plus. However, the lower resolution does not imply poor quality; Apple has utilized a wider color gamut in this panel to display more colors, and its pixel density is quite suitable for the average eye, making it difficult to see individual pixels. The cameras of the iPhone 7 Plus represent one of the biggest changes in this phone. One of the major weaknesses of the iPhone 6S compared to competitors like the Galaxy S7 was its performance in low-light environments. However, the iPhone 7 Plus has addressed this issue with a wider aperture (f/1.8). With new features, the iPhone 7 Plus performs noticeably better in low-light conditions than the iPhone 6S. Apple has also attempted to differentiate itself by using dual cameras in the iPhone 7 Plus. In addition to a 28mm wide-angle lens, it features a 56mm telephoto lens with an f/2.8 aperture. These two lenses work simultaneously, allowing users to access 2x optical zoom by switching to the telephoto lens option. AnTuTu Benchmark evaluated all phones on the market to reach the final results for the best phones of the year, with each model tested over 2,000 times. In the Android phone category, the removal of Samsung's flagship product, the Galaxy Note 7, due to fire hazards, cleared the way for other phones to claim the top spot. This phone likely would have been the best phone of 2016 if it had not faced fire issues. In the absence of the Galaxy Note 7, the newly established company OnePlus managed to surpass all Android phone manufacturers with its third flagship phone, the OnePlus 3T. This phone uses the Snapdragon 821 processor and has a body design very similar to the iPhone. Despite being technically superior to other market phones, it is priced lower, retailing at around $400 for the 64GB version and $470 for the 128GB version. The OnePlus 3T features a 5.5-inch full HD AMOLED display and its 3,400mAh battery can provide 13% more charge than the previous generation's 3,000mAh battery. The OnePlus 3T has a 16-megapixel rear camera with a sapphire cover to resist scratches, and it is equipped with better digital stabilization in addition to the previous generation's optical image stabilization. The selfie camera has been upgraded from 8 megapixels to 16 megapixels, and OnePlus claims it performs better in low-light conditions. The OnePlus is powered by the Snapdragon 821 processor alongside 6GB of RAM, with a clock speed of 2.35GHz, which is higher than the Snapdragon 821 used in Google's Pixel phone. Many expected Google's Pixel phone to become the best Android phone of the year, but some reports of malfunctions made it difficult for the Pixel. Nevertheless, the Pixel ranked as the tenth best Android phone of 2016.