Best phones: July 2017
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With so many different (yet similar) smartphones from so many brands from across the globe, one may start feeling a bit lost. Which one of those many is the best phone you can buy right now, in summer 2017?
This is a trick question, of course. There is no definite one-size-fits-all device: some people prefer larger phones, some smaller, others look for the best camera in a phone, yet others value battery life above all, and then there are the gamers, the 24/7 music crowd, and on and on the list goes.
That is why we look at different options rather than the one best phone. We look at both their pros and their cons because we have not yet encountered the perfect phone. We also look for your thoughts! That's why you will see an open poll for you to support your favorite device and if it's not on the list, let us know in the comments section at the bottom of this page. So with no further ado, let's get started.
Best Phones in July 2017
We first take a look at phones around the 5" form factor. Call them regular-sized, smaller phones, but these phones strike a good balance between screen size and handling.
| # | Phone | Added | Change | Why Should You Buy It? Top 3 Reasons |
| 1 | Apple iPhone 7 | Oct 2016 | - | 1/ Best-in-class performance 2/ Excellent apps, 3/ Proper updates |
| 2 | Google Pixel | Oct 2016 | ↑ | 1/ Second best-in-class performance 2/ Excellent camera, 3/ Proper updates |
| 3 | Samsung Galaxy S8 | April 2017 | ↓ | 1/ Stunning design 2/ Very good camera, 3/ Solid battery life |
| 4 | HTC U11 | June 2017 | New | 1/ Stunning camera 2/ Stunning design, 3/ Clean interface |
| 5 | LG G6 | April 2017 | ↓ | 1/ Unique dual cam w/ wide angle 2/ Great price, 3/ Sturdy build |
| 6 | Huawei P10 | Mar 2017 | ↓ | 1/ Great price 2/ Good dual cam, 3/ Thin, elegant design |
Best Big Phones in July 2017
Our second category rounds up the best big phones: phones that are around 5.5-inch in size, giving you that larger screen, but in exchange for a more clumsy in-hand feel and larger overall footprint that makes them less comfortable to carry around in your pocket.
| # | Phone | Added | Change | Why Should You Buy It? Top 3 Reasons |
| 1 | Apple iPhone 7 Plus | Oct 2016 | - | 1/ Best-in-class performance 2/ Excellent apps, 3/ Proper updates |
| 2 | Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus | April 2017 | - | 1/ Stunning design 2/ Very good camera, 3/ Solid battery life |
| 3 | Google Pixel XL | Oct 2016 | - | 1/ Second best-in-class performance 2/ Excellent camera, 3/ Proper updates |
| 4 | OnePlus 5 | June 2017 | New | 1/ Great price 2/ Fast performance, 3/ Solid battery life |
| 5 | Moto Z2 Play | June 2017 | New | 1/ Top battery life 2/ Clean interface, 3/ Good price |
| 6 | Huawei Mate 9 Pro | Jan 2017 | ↓ #5 | 1/ Excellent design 2/ Dual camera, 3/ Good performance |
| 7 | LG V20 | Oct 2016 | ↓ #6 | 1/ Excellent camera 2/ Great audio quality, 3/ Replaceable battery |
Best Affordable Phones in July 2017
Our third category is the best affordable phones. We have not set a price tag, but we look at phones that are easier on your wallet, without being easy in terms of features and actual performance. These are the overachievers of the phone industry.
| # | Phone | Added | Change | Why Should You Buy It? Top 3 Reasons |
| 1 | Honor 9 | June 2017 | New | 1/ Great design 2/ Very good camera, 3/ Solid battery life |
| 2 | Moto G5 Plus | April 2017 | ↓ | 1/ Very good performance 2/ Great battery life, 3/ Clean interface |
| 3 | Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) | Jan 2017 | - | 1/ Excellent design 2/ Great battery life, 3/ Water-proof |
| 4 | Xiaomi Redmi 4 Prime | Nov 2016 | ↓ | 1/ Top battery life 2/ Smooth performance, 3/ Super customizable |
| 5 | Honor 8 | July 2016 | ↓ | 1/ Excellent design 2/ Smooth performance |
| 6 | Lenovo P2 | Nov 2016 | ↓ | 1/ Industry-leading battery life |
Best Compact Phones in July 2017
Looking for something truly small? Our fourth category is for you, those who look for a phone they can use with one hand.
| # | Phone | Added | Change | Why Should You Buy It? Top 3 Reasons |
| 1 | Apple iPhone SE | Mar 2016 | - | 1/ Best-in-class performance 2/ Excellent apps, 3/ Proper updates |
| 2 | Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) | Feb 2017 | - | 1/ Excellent design 2/ Great battery life, 3/ Water-proof |
| 3 | Sony Xperia X Compact | Sept 2016 | - | 1/ All-around performance for decent price |
Best Exotic Phones in July 2017
Finally, our fifth category is for exotic phones. These are devices that are either hard to find or that go crazy with their features.
| # | Phone | Added | Change | Why Should You Buy It? Top 3 Reasons |
| 1 | Xiaomi Mi 6 | April 2017 | - | 1/ Beautiful, refined design 2/ Dual camera, 3/ MIUI is rich in features |
| 2 | Xiaomi Mi Mix | Nov 2016 | - | 1/ First bezel-less phone 2/ Innovative tech, 3/ MIUI is rich in features |
| 3 | BlackBerry KeyOne | Jun 2017 | New | 1/ QWERTY keyboard doubles as trackpad 2/ Solid battery life, 3/ Good build quality |
| 4 | Xiaomi Mi Note 2 | Nov 2016 | ↓ | 1/ Refined, premium design 2/ MIUI is rich in features |
| 5 | Oppo R11 | June 2017 | New | 1/ Good-looking metal design 2/ Dual camera |
| 6 | Honor Magic | Jan 2017 | ↓ | 1/ Alien design |
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