Looking for Galaxy Note 7 alternatives? Here are five flagship smartphones to consider from 2016 when looking to get a replacement for Samsung’s Note 7.
So here we are. It’s finally happened. Samsung has pulled the plug on Galaxy Note 7 about 1.5 months after launch. The Galaxy Note 7 is now dead, with Samsung confirming that the phone has been discontinued and no longer in production due to safety concerns. If you’re using a Galaxy Note 7 now, power it off and send it back. There is no discussion to be had.
That’s not the case when trying to decide which smartphone to choose when returning that Galaxy Note 7 which you paid around $850 to get, though. After all, you likely chose that particular phone for a reason, and while it’s true that some of the features offered by Samsung’s former flagship are simply not replicated elsewhere, that doesn’t mean that there are no smartphones on the market that can hold a candle to the Galaxy Note 7. Not that they should, of course. Would you want an open flame near one of those things?
So without further ado, and in no particular order, here are five flagship smartphones that should be considered when looking for alternatives to Galaxy Note 7.
LG V20 (Starts at $830)
The LG V20 is coming in a tad under the radar, and that is perhaps a little unfair. With a separate screen area that allows for toggles and the like, the V20 also packs a removable battery for those that can never have enough power.
A 5.7-inch 1440 x 2560 display make this a large phone to handle, but if that doesn’t put you off, this is a worthy replacement for the Galaxy Note 7, especially considering it’s one of the few phones that comes running Android Nougat out-of-the-box.
Apple iPhone 7 Plus (Starts at $769)
There isn’t much to say about the iPhone 7 Plus at this point. It’s Apple’s current flagship, and while very different to the Galaxy Note 7, its sheer size, premium build quality, and sheer power makes it surprisingly similar.
The dual-lens camera system, optical zoom, and advanced Portrait mode allow for some excellent photography, and even though that 1080p LCD display may be showing its age a little, it’s still the best LCD panel on any smartphone right now. It also has water-resistance, capacitive Home button with fingerprint reader embedded within, stereo speakers, a front-facing 7MP camera, and more. Additionally, it also has an option for 256GB internal storage to make up for no expandable storage option.
For more on iPhone 7 Plus, check out:
Google Pixel XL (Starts at $769)
Google’s replacement for the Nexus brand starts with the Pixel XL, a 5.5-inch, 1440 x 2560 resolution-equipped smartphone that will offer a flavor of Android (Nougat 7.1) with Google Assistant that we have yet to experience. With virtual reality at the forefront of the phone’s feature list thanks to Daydream, a powerful processor and a camera that is claimed to be the best in the business, Google’s Pixel XL is the dark horse of the field.
For more on the Pixel, you might also want to check out:
- Google Pixel Phone Or Galaxy S7 / Note 7 Or iPhone 7: 15 Facts To Help You Decide
- Google Pixel / Pixel XL Vs Apple iPhone 7 / 7 Plus Benchmarks Comparison
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge (Starts at $770)
So similar to the Galaxy Note 7 that you wonder whether it too could start catching fire a little too often, the Galaxy S7 Edge is obviously missing the S-Pen, but with a 5.5-inch edge display and the same 1440 x 2560 resolution, this is as close as you’re going to get to a Note. It even has the same cameras and internals, though tellingly, the battery is larger on the Galaxy S7 Edge.
HTC 10 (Starts at $699)
HTC is no longer the smartphone darling of the world, but it still knows how to make smartphones. With the 10, HTC offers a 5.2-inch, 1440 x 2560 display along with the software that HTC owners love, or hate, depending on who you ask. With 4GB of RAM, expandable storage, the HTC 10 should not be ignored.
Honorable Mention: Moto Z Force (Starts at $720)
A large 5.5-inch display with supposedly shatterproof construction fill the front of the Moto Z Force. It may not be quite in the same league as the names we mentioned above, and at $720, it may not be cheap enough to pull buyers away from the Samsungs and Apples of this world, but the Moto Z Force is still plenty of smartphone. The thing comes with a 21MP camera, for heaven’s sake! Not to forget its modular capatabilties with Moto Mods, along with a supposedly shatterproof screen.
With new flagship phones now not expected to be announced until next year, these are the phones people will be buying for the next few months. There’s plenty to choose from, even if the Galaxy Note 7 is no longer on the list. Picking a replacement isn’t going to be easy, so be sure to do your homework.
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