Best phone 2016: the 10 top smartphones we've tested

Update: We've got another two phones landing in the best phones in the world list - the LG G5 and the HTC 10. Both snappily-monikered phones offer some appealing specs and genuine innovation - but are either of them good enough to topple the might of the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge?

If you're just here to see how good the iPhone is compared to the rest, then perhaps you'd be more interested in our best iPhone list
Or if you couldn't care less what Apple is doing with its handsets but love Google's OS, then our best Android phone round up is right up your street.

So we're well into 2016, and the big phones have begun to arrive. The LG G5joins the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge in our list of, frankly, amazing smartphones - and now the HTC 10 - has joined the party along with the iPhone SE.

If none of those take your fancy and you want the best phone right now, well, this is the place to be - although remember the best of 2015 is still around if you want to save some cash and still get a lovely handset.

Luckily for you, at TechRadar we check out every phone under the sun, putting the ones that matter through our rigorously vigorous testing process to create our in-depth mobile phone reviews.

With so many to choose from, we've spent hours whittling them down to a top ten, taking into account the power, specs, design and, most importantly, value for money, although we'll always point you in the direction of the latest handsets to help you find the best smartphone.

After all, nobody wants to be carting around a phone that won't be getting any updates in a year's time, right?

So whether it's one of the many slick Android handsets or the latest iPhone (although we do keep an eye on Windows Phone and BlackBerry devices) we've got the best of the best listed here, in our rankings for the best smartphones around, currently available in the UK.

10. iPhone SE

A simply brilliant palm-friendly phone

Great power

Lower price

Tired design

Old screen technology

The iPhone SE sports a tired design, has a screen that's several years old and a display size which isn't really big enough for today's apps and movies on the move.

That said, it's one of very few high-end smartphones you can get which you can use one-handed without issue. It won't be for everyone, but for those who dislike the supersized phones of today the iPhone SE is a top performer on a miniature scale.

Remember the SE has the same power, same camera and same operating system as the top of the range iPhone 6S, but in a size you can easily pocket and at a price which isn't going to break the bank.

Sure Sony has the Z5 Compact, but that still has a large-ish 4.6-inch display - the SE is a rare breed of small form and big power.

Read the full review: iPhone SE

Also consider: Want a cheaper iPhone but find the iPhone SE just too small? Apple's still selling the original iPhone 6, with a 4.7-inch display, sleeker metal body and the same version of iOS. It's a bit more expensive, but you do get a bigger screen.

9. Sony Xperia Z5 Compact

A compact beast with a splendid price

The Sony Xperia Z5 Compact is another in the line of smaller handsets from the Japanese brand, packing in all the power into a smaller, more manageable phone.

It's got all the same power credentials as the Xperia Z5 and Sony Xperia Z5 Premium, but has the added bonus of being a lot more pocketable.

The main reason you'd go for this phone is that it's a dinkier device, with a 4.6-inch screen combined with the strong camera, waterproofed chassis and allows you to hear all your audio in beautiful upscaled sound quality.

Battery life could be better, but it's no worse than a lot on this list - and Sony certainly has a unique design that plenty like to fondle.

Full review: Sony Xperia Z5 Compact review

8. Nexus 6P

The best phone for those that like a simple interface

The Nexus 6P is a larger phone, but that means it comes with some upgraded specs too. There's a vivid QHD display, which is much sharper than many other smartphone around, but Huawei (the brand making the Google Nexus phablet) has tried hard to make it more palm-friendly.

You'll always get the latest version of Android first with Nexus phones (currently the highly-rated Android Marshmallow) and there's the innovative placement of the fingerprint scanner on the back - which is both quick and accurate, while being much safer than a PIN.

It's not super-cheap like the old Nexus phones (although it's more competitive than other phablets in the same screen size bracket), but it's very well made, and thanks to the improved camera and battery capabilities you'll likely be very impressed with what Huawei has made here.

Full review: Nexus 6P

Also consider: If you're after a Nexus phone, you're thinking about getting the latest version of Android in a smartphone - and you can get that in the Nexus 5Xtoo. It's cheaper, and not as powerful in some ways, but it's cheaper and more palm-friendly.

7. iPhone 6S Plus

The best phablet you can buy

If you're OK with a larger iPhone, then you're in for a treat with the iPhone 6S Plus. It packs all the same upgrades as the smaller 6S - namely the innovative 3D Touch screen and upgraded camera - and fixes some of the flaws we all hate.

The battery is larger, and while the screen is Full HD (with a really great ability to show colours) this is easily the longer-lasting of the two iPhones, meaning you won't have to reach for the charger as often.

The camera is actually better than on the iPhone 6S, with optical image stabilisation providing sharper and brighter images thanks to mechanical help.

If you're an Apple fan looking for a 'bigger' experience, this is the phone for you.

Full review: iPhone 6S Plus

Also consider: You'll obviously want to look at the iPhone 6S as the smaller option here - the reason to go smaller would be if you're not a fan of the phablet and want the lower cost. In the interest of fairness the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+has to be mentioned here as another brilliant phablet, but Apple fans will consider that sacrilege.

6. iPhone 6S

The best iPhone Apple's ever made

The iPhone 6S might look the same as last year's model, but peer below the hood and there are a number of interesting upgrades.

The camera is enhanced, the processor is once again more powerful to let you play ever-better apps and games with speed, and the 3D Touch display is proving innovative.

The new touch system lets you press harder into the screen to open quick shortcuts - so taking a selfie is merely a hard push and swipe of the camera icon away.

It's still a brilliant iPhone, the phone that loads of users are desperate to get their hands on, and Apple's not done any harm at all with this upgraded model.

Full review: iPhone 6S

Also consider: The obvious move is to the iPhone 6S Plus, as it's got a sharper screen and longer-lasting battery - the price is higher and it's a bit harder to hold, but you'll likely get used to it pretty quickly.

5. LG G5

The best innovation in a smartphone we've seen

LG's back, and with an innovative bang. This is a phone that's designed to fall apart - well, come apart at least. You see, on top of the clever dual camera there's a clip at the bottom that lets you pull the battery out.

That's good in itself - too many phones lack a removable power pack - but you can attach new modules to improve the audio, battery life or camera grippability with more to come.

4. Sony Xperia Z5

A top, lower-cost flagship smartphone with great camera and waterproof chassis

The Sony Xperia Z5 is the Japanese brand's 'mainstream' phone, and one that we're happy to talk about - it's got a number of nice features that make it worth checking out.

It's a big upgrade on the earlier phones, and the speedy autofocus - much faster than anything else on test - has to be tried to be believed. You can whirl around and still get a sharp snap, and in bright light the Z5 is probably the best camera around.

It's added in a pleasing fingerprint sensor on the side, and has the latest Snapdragon 810 processor with 3GB of RAM. The waterproofing is amazing when you see how many open ports there are, but Sony has managed it. You can drop this in the toilet without fear, basically.

The large 5.2-inch screen looks great thanks to Bravia technology - it's the best phone Sony has ever made, and we especially like the frosted rear glass too. Recent price drops have made it even more palatable, so it's still sitting pretty near the top of our rankings.

Full review: Sony Xperia Z5

Also consider: You could go larger with the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium, which is mostly the same as this model but with a larger 5.5-inch screen and bigger battery - plus it's a 4K screen too, although that's not really that useful. However, the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact is a great option too - smaller 4.7-inch screen, but same great camera and not a lot lower in the power stakes.

3. HTC 10

Not 10/10, but the best phone for music by far

After the success of the HTC One M8, the world wondered if time was up for HTC after it didn't really ignite the smartphone game with the One M9.

Well, that's not the case as the brand went away, made a beautiful phone that's 'sculpted by light', added in a genuinely impressive camera and improved the battery life.

But that's not the best bit - that comes when you plug headphones into this thing. It's sensational - can this thing pump beautiful, Hi-Res Audio into your ears or what?

For that reason alone it's worth a place in the top ten, and the myriad other improvements impress equally.

Full review: HTC 10

Also consider: It's hard to know what to recommend here, as last year's model was so underwhelming. We'd suggest having a gander at the LG G5 if you fancy an 'underdog' brand that can still make it big... great camera and some fancy innovation on offer there.

2. Samsung Galaxy S7

One of two five star phones from Samsung

The Samsung Galaxy S7 is a phone that initially looks just like the S6 from last year - but pick it up and you'll see there's a world of difference.

Firstly, the rear of the phone feels much nicer thanks to a curved back (through a process called 3D Thermo Forming), it's now water resistant and a microSD slot is a welcome feature to return, after it was dropped last year.

The camera is just brilliant - it's lower in megapixels but improved in quality. You'll get brilliant pictures time and again, and you'll want to keep trying it in different scenarios. It's a great phone that you'll be happy to pull out of your pocket.

Full review: Samsung Galaxy S7

Also consider: An easy one: go for the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge if you can afford it. It's a compact phone with the screen size of a phablet, and offers all the same features with a more attractive design

1. Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

The best smartphone in the world - it's a work of art

Last year's Galaxy S6 Edge was a good phone, but not brilliant. It was the same as the Samsung Galaxy S6, but had a curved screen - and that was it. It was the same size, power and camera, and that wasn't enough.

Fast forward to today and the S7 Edge takes all the great looks of the S6 Edge, makes the phone even curvier and combines it with the superb power and feature set of the S7.

The camera is just brilliant, the mix of metal and glass is really nice to hold, and even the Touchwiz overlay is turning into something more usable than before. Battery life improvements are hugely welcomed, and while the price is higher, it's now affixed to a phone that offers simply the best in nearly every department, so many will be happy with the outlay.

Djemo test channel

Best phone 2016: the 10 top smartphones we've tested

10. iPhone SE

9. Sony Xperia Z5 Compact

8. Nexus 6P

7. iPhone 6S Plus

6. iPhone 6S

5. LG G5

4. Sony Xperia Z5

3. HTC 10

2. Samsung Galaxy S7

1. Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

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