5 great smartphones that aren't made by Apple
Not every great gadget needs an "i" in front of it

1. Samsung Galaxy S8 ($720)
This gorgeous waterproof device "feels like the future." The 5.8-inch screen is taller than most, "yet entirely usable in one hand" thanks to a slim bezel. The S8 offers iris scanning and facial-recognition unlocking. Buy it at Samsung.
2. Google Pixel ($649)
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The sleek Pixel is faster than most Android phones, and it's not bloated with unnecessary software like the Samsung S8. Its camera is "best in class,"and the phone is the first to feature the voice-activated Google Assistant. Buy it at Google.
3. OnePlus 3T ($442)
"Just as fast as the Google Pixel," this outstanding midprice option competes with top-tier smartphones. It's not a huge upgrade from the $400 OnePlus 3, which is "far from obsolete," but the 3T does get a faster processor and a larger battery. Buy it at Amazon.
4. ZTE Axon 7 ($380)
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"250px_wide","fid":"191650","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"229","style":"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"250"}}]]
Here's another affordable option. With a 20-megapixel camera, 4GB of RAM, and dual front-facing speakers better than those on any $800 handset, the Axon 7 represents "the absolute best value smartphone." Buy it at Amazon.
5. Huawei Honor 6X ($250)
Among budget picks, it's hard to beat the attractive Honor 6X and its dual-lens camera. The battery life is solid but unspectacular, and the processor is merely "capable." But with 3GB of RAM, "regular usage is a breeze." Buy it at Amazon.
Every week The Week's editors survey product reviews and articles in websites, newspapers, and magazines, to find cool and useful new items we think you'll like. We're now making it easier to purchase these selections through affiliate partnerships with certain retailers. The Week may get a share of the revenue from these purchases.
-
Trump uses tariffs to upend Brazil's domestic politics
IN THE SPOTLIGHT By slapping a 50% tariff on Brazil for its criminal investigation into Bolsonaro, the Trump administration is brazenly putting its fingers on the scales of a key foreign election
-
3 questions to ask when deciding whether to repair or replace your broken appliance
the explainer There may be merit to fixing what you already have, but sometimes buying new is even more cost-effective
-
'Trump's authoritarian manipulation of language'
Instant Opinion Vienna has become a 'convenient target for populists' | Opinion, comment and editorials of the day