What iPhone 6S? The mobile phone alternatives that prove there’s more to life than Apple

Coming only six months after the Xperia Z2, this upgrade looks pretty similar from the outside, if slightly squatter and available in more colours. It’s waterproof and dust resistant, so if you’re an outdoorsy type or insist on keeping your phone in your back pocket when you go to the loo, you’re in luck. Gamers will enjoy the Remote Play feature, which allows you to pair your phone with a PS4 on the same wi-fi network and stream console games to your phone.

 

This phone has been hailed as a comeback for LG and it’s easy to see why – it’s got a 5.5 inch screen that’s rich in colour, a very decent 16 megapixel camera and a processor powerful enough to comfortably handle the latest mobile games. The real selling point, though, is the leather-bound chassis, which gives it a retro, almost steam-punk feel. If you’re in the market for a phone that stands out from the brushed metal crowd, this could be the one for you.

 

If you’re a paid-up Android fan, then it’s worth getting a Google Nexus, which receives updates before any other phone on the market. The 13mp camera is a seriously impressive piece of kit and Google has even tried to solve the smartphone battery dilemma. It claims just 15 minutes of charge using its “turbocharger” will keep your phone alive for six hours.

 

This is a relatively budget phone with top-end specs from a newcomer to the smartphone business. It’s got a great 5.5 inch HD screen, decent processing power and a perfectly adequate camera. It’s well built, feeling like a premium product. Thinking of rushing out to buy one? It might not be that easy – the company only releases a limited number, every Tuesday, before shutting shop until the following week.

 

 

This update to the lauded M8 doesn’t disappoint – it remains one of the most beautifully crafted phones on the market. It’s still got the unparalleled Dolby BoomSound virtual surround sound speaker system. The 20.7mp camera sensor has been moved to the front of the phone so it works better in low light and its storage has received a boost to 32GB. The best just got better.

 

Its curved screen makes the Galaxy S6 Edge a uniquely attractive phone, with the display wrapping right round the side of the handset. Photography-wise, it’s among the best on the market, with a 16mp camera at the back and a 5mp one up front. The camera software is great and there are a handful of modes to play around with. It’s quicker than previous models, too, and comes with Android Lollipop pre-installed. The smaller battery pack, however, means the juice doesn’t last all that long.

 

Vertu’s Signature Touch starts at £6,500 and its specs, when viewed head-to-head with other high-end smartphones, are somewhat lacking. It’s not thinner, lighter or faster. But that’s not the point: Vertu is the Bentley of the smartphone world, crafted from the finest leather (pick from alligator, calf or lizard). It also comes with a subscription to Vertu’s concierge service.

 

Microsoft limps on with its probably doomed Windows Phone software, and its new flagship device, the Lumia 930, is a very good argument for its continued existence. It’s big and bold and colourful. The aluminium frame feels solid and expensive. The unfairly maligned operating system looks glorious, with its merrily blinking tiles. If you can deal with the lack of apps, this is a great phone.

 

This is a relatively budget phone with top-end specs from a newcomer to the smartphone business. It’s got a great 5.5 inch HD screen, decent processing power and a perfectly adequate camera. It’s well built, feeling like a premium product. Thinking of rushing out to buy one? It might not be that easy – the company only releases a limited number, every Tuesday, before shutting shop until the following week.

 

Read more: Here's the latest Apple and iPhone 6S or 7 news