Christmas is upon us and if you
haven't picked out a gift yet, then we've got you covered. We at GameGulp are
here to recommend some of the coolest smartphones to gift yourself or your
loved ones, from the most expensive phones to the budget-friendly devices.
iPhone
7 and 7 Plus
It is easy to recommend the top war dogs. Apple's iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, for instance, are no-brainers. If you're on a budget and want to get someone an Apple phone however, the iPhone 6s is the next best thing to offer.
But if you're just planning on giving someone a slightly updated phone because he or she refuses to abandon their battle-scarred Nokia 3210, then you can just grab them an iPhone 5s, which is around the 12K price mark.
You can get your gamer friends an iPhone just in time for them to enjoy Nintendo's Super Mario Run, which has been out since December 15.
Samsung
Galaxy S7 and S7 edge
If you don't mind phones that
explode inside your pocket and potentially roast your balls off, then the
Samsung Galaxy Note7 is a surefire way to give your loved ones an explosive
present. If the notion of a carrying a live grenade wherever you go doesn't
appeal to you, then we urge you to pick up Samsung's Galaxy S7 and S7 edge.
They're pretty, have solid specs, and will give you everything ever need in a
phone. To top it off, it is also a great gaming device.
Sony Xperia XZ
Of course we can't leave behind
Sony's latest entry, the Xperia XZ. It features a 5.2-inch screen with 1080p
resolution. The display has been enhanced with Sony's Bravia technologies,
which makes all the colors on your screen extra pretty. It's powered by a
quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 with 3GB RAM, and comes with a 23MP rear
camera. It also has 2,900mAh and fast charging thanks to its Type C USB port.
Also, its IP68 certified, which means you can go skinny dipping with the phone.
Motorola
Moto Z
Motorola's Moto Z isn't a bad choice; it's got an almost plain Android 6 OS with an option for a Nougat upgrade in the foreseeable future. It even has impressive specs and some awesome features, such as wiggling the phone to fire up the camera, or shaking it like a gentleman after taking a tinkle to open the ultra-bright torch. Be careful, don't let it get into your eye.
The problem with the Moto Z
however, is its Moto Mods. There are four so far which improve the camera, battery
life, boost the speakers, or simply make the Moto Z look prettier. But each of
these Mods is expensive. While it's a great phone on its own, you'll need to be
filthy rich to get the most out of the Mod experience.
Huawei P9
Then there is the Huawei brand, which is making huge progress in the smartphone world. A few years ago, their phones looked like cheaper versions of Apple's iPhone lineup. Then they tore down the house after partnering with Google for the Nexus 6P, which has great specs and an awesome camera.
Huawei made even bigger headlines with the P9 when its built-in camera gained the approval of German camera and optics maker Leica. The P9 Plus is just as amazing and improves on everything that the simple P9 has. Sometime next year, Huawei will be officially releasing the Mate 9 phone, which is essentially a bigger phone.
Asus
Zenfone 3
The Zenfones have rocked the
smartphone industry for their affordability and design. The Zenfone 3 features
a Snapdragon 625 with 4GB RAM, 16MP camera, and a 3,000mAh battery. There are a
slew of variants which range from affordable to super expensive prices.
OnePlus 3
This brand came out almost the same time as the OPPO. The OnePlus 3 features a 5.5-inch 1080p Optic AMOLED screen. It ships out with a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor and 6GB RAM (holy shit, right?) and a 3,000mAh battery. It also looks super hot.
LG
G3
The LG G3 was a device ahead of its time with a 2K screen, 3GB RAM, and a 3,000mAh battery. It also has a great camera and is one the fastest phones we've ever used. And while it's already outdated these days, it's still absolutely worth the money.
Xiaomi
Mi 5
Xiaomi is another brand that shook the market. The Mi 5 features a 5-inch 1080p screen with 4GB RAM and is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor. Its 3,000mAh battery doesn't disappoint and its 16MP camera is a decent snapper.
Samsung
Galaxy J7 Prime and A9 Pro
You don't need the bigger-named Galaxy S series unless you really need it. The J7 Prime and A9 Pro feature incredible specs sheets and both do not even hit the P20,000 mark. They have fast, responsive screens, great batteries, and great cameras.
Cherry
Flare S5 Power
The local brand Cherry Mobile has come a long way and they are starting to show some serious muscle. The Flare S5 alone is already a rather impressive device with its design and performance. The Power Edition gives the device an even sharper edge by giving it a 6,050mAh battery.
Starmobile
Knight Spectra
Starmobile is another local brand that delivers some impressive devices to the market. One of our favorites is the Knight series, which has spawned a number of variants. Among them, is the Spectra, which we absolutely love.. The name alone is wicked cool and has a decent specs sheet to juggle with whatever you need a phone for.
So those are our top picks for
smartphones to give as holiday presents (or just purchase for yourself). Before
choosing the ideal phone, make sure to know what you'll be using it for. That
way, you can narrow down your choices and pick one with the specs that suit your
lifestyle.