Top 3 Smartphones To Look Out For In 2016

With Christmas and New Year now a distant memory, many are setting themselves targets for what they want to accomplish over the next 12 months.

Gone are the days when mobile phones were only used to call people – now smartphones are capable of doing practically everything a computer can.

But with so many on the market and new ones popping up all the time, how do you know which is the right one for you?

Here's my list of top smartphones to look out for in 2016... 

1. Apple’s iPhone 7

Of course, no must-have smartphone countdown would be complete without Apple’s latest offering. In 2016, it is expected that they will launch their next flagship device – the iPhone 7 – and everyone’s pretty excited about it. With a traditional release date expected for September, there haven’t been many concrete details about what it will bring, but that hasn’t stopped the rumour mill.

From being completely waterproof to a fancy new eSim, people are, as ever, excited to see what Apple will bring with the long-awaited new flagship. Regardless of what the iPhone 7 actually brings, you can be sure that it will be a top-of-the-market device, giving you the reliability and flexibility that you need if you are self-employed.

Although specs are thin on the ground at the minute, you can expect to see something similar to the iPhone 6S but with a few smart upgrades. You can pick from thousands of apps on the iStore to make running your business easier, while a competitive battery life means you never need to miss that important call.

2. Google’s Nexus

Much like Apple, Google unveils a new flagship smartphone each year, but if you’re not a tech buff, you might never have heard of the Nexus devices. Google is also expected to launch a brand new mobile operating system in 2016, and it’s likely that the next Nexus model will be the first device to carry it. Along with the new Android N software, rumours suggest that the upcoming flagship from the search engine giant will be made by Chinese firm Huawei – like the previous model – and come sporting a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor.

In layman’s terms, this would mean the upcoming Nexus will be an incredibly high-performing handset – ideal if you need your smartphone to be your portable business suite. This is also made easier by the fact it’s expected that Google’s next device will be a phablet, sporting a six-inch screen. This means you aren’t compromised on space, giving you the freedom to view spreadsheets or pictures in great detail, but more convenient to take with you than a tablet.

Samsung’s Galaxy S7

Another of the smartphone heavyweights – Samsung – is expected to release its latest flagship device in 2016. On first appearance, many think the Galaxy S7 will look a lot like its predecessor – the S6 – but it’s expected that Samsung will tweak a few things under the bonnet.

As well as being a fast smartphone, capable of all your business needs, the Galaxy S7 is expected to sport new 3D Touch-like screen technology. This could make it ideal if you work in a creative industry, while it’s possible it could also come with microSD support and a new camera sensor, which could be used in the phone and USBc. It’s unclear what processor the device will have but, as with most smartphone flagships, you can expect it to be fast and reliable.

Can’t wait? Don’t worry, there’s already a number of high-quality smartphones available:

Apple iPhone 6S
Although it probably won’t be as powerful as the upcoming iPhone 7 is expected to be, the iPhone 6S still gives you up a clear and bright display to work off and a range of useful apps to access. It is fast enough to allow you to run multiple tabs at once, which is crucial when running a business, and its innovative 3D touchscreen aims to make smartphones more intuitive than ever.

Samsung Galaxy S6

If you work in a creative industry, it’s hard to go wrong with Samsung’s current Galaxy flagship, thanks to its high-quality display and camera. While the S7 is likely to improve battery life and make a few other tweaks, the Galaxy S6 gives you super-fast, wireless charging and a faster processor than seen in previous models, meaning you can work seamlessly on the move.

HTC One M8s

Although the current flagship – the M9 – has had a mixed response, the M8 was well-received almost across the board and the S model made further improvements. By going for a slightly older model, you can save yourself a significant amount of money and still get a good looking and reliable device. The M8s could be an ideal device if you are wanting to see the benefits of a smartphone but aren’t willing to stump up the cash for a flagship handset.

Which phone are you eagerly anticipating?