Arms race: These are the 10 most spec'd out Android flaghips on the planet
When it comes to the Android ecosystem, it's hard to argue that, for better or worse, an arms race of sorts has been raging for a while now. Seriously, just look at those things – Quad HD resolution displays that make the pixel density of your TV sound like a joke, quad-core processors with clock speeds as high as 2.7GHz in "turbo" mode, 3GB of RAM becoming the flagship standard, and, of course, camera sensors with as many as 21 megapixels. Sure, hardly any phones on the market check all these boxes, but a few of them do, and the dog-eat-dog competition within the mobile industry has quite a bit to do with that – rival manufacturers are working around the clock to out-do each other.
But has the specs race led to "overkill" devices? Perhaps. And yet, if you're paying top dollar, you might as well ask for the best of the best – otherwise what's the point of even owning a top-of-the-line device? What's more, bleeding-edge hardware usually means that your device is quite future-proof. After all, you wouldn't want your new smartphone to feel under-powered just a year later. Thankfully, the devices in the slideshow below address that concern very well.
The Samsung Galaxy S5 LTE-A
Spec-wise, there's no chink in the Galaxy S5's armor. The South Korea-exclusive LTE-A model of the flagship, that is.
Indeed, while this particular version of the Samsung device is closed off for the majority of us, it doesn't change the fact that it is one crazily-spec'd out smartphone. For example, instead of the mundane 5.2-inch, 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution display of the regular S5, the S5 LTE-A has an identically-sized screen with a much higher, Quad HD resolution (1440 x 2560 pixels or 576 ppi). But that's not all – Samsung also switched the quad-core Snapdragon 801 chip found in the standard model for a more capable Snapdragon 805 with the LTE-A flavor and even added an extra gig of RAM for a total of 3GB. Add that excellent 16-megapixel, 1/2.6'' sensor on the back and a respectable, 2,800 mAh battery, along with other goodies like a fingerprint scanner and a heart rate monitor, and you've got yourself one of the most decked out phones currently in existence.
The Motorola DROID Turbo
Considering its relatively unimpressive predecessors, it's no surprise that our jaws were hanging a bit low when we first caught wind of Motorola's now official DROID Turbo. Seriously, this phone has it all – a super pixel-dense (Quad HD), 5.2-inch display, a mighty quad-core Snapdragon 805 chipset, 3GB of RAM, and a 20.7-megapixel rear camera complemented by a ring flash with two LEDs. And the best part? A gargantuan, 3,900 mAh juicer embedded within the Turbo's body – enough to last you a full day even if you go nuts with your usage.
The Google Nexus 6
After sticking with LG for two years, Google gave Motorola a mandate to manufacture its next Android evangelist device, the Nexus 6. The first Nexus phablet is quite the smartphone, too – it's rocking an enormous, 6-incher of a screen, with a crisp resolution of 1440 x 2560 pixels (Quad HD); is powered by a quad-core Snapdragon 805 processor and 3GB of RAM; and makes use of a 13-megapixel snapper that can boast about its optical stabilizing gizmo. At 3,220 mAh, the battery isn't quite as enormous as the DROID Turbo's, but it's still plenty big.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 4
Alright, calm down! Of course we didn't forget about Samsung's incredible new addition to its Note line-up.
As has become typical, the Note 4 is Samsung's craziest device available – at least as far as hardware specs go. It's got a giant, 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1440 x 2560 pixels (Quad HD), a quad-core Snapdragon 805 chipiset, 3GB of RAM, and an optically-stabilized, 16-megapixel snapper on its back. Add the signature S-Pen stylus to the mix, along with UV and heart rate monitors and a fingerprint scanner, and you've got yourself a device that could not have possibly not ended on this list. And yes, that hearty, 3,220 mAh battery (removable, too!) sure helps also.
The Samsung Galaxy Note Edge
If you thought the specs on the Galaxy Note 4 are nuts, then you'll also agree that the identical (specs-wise) Note Edge goes even a step further – it's got an out-of-this-world auxiliary side screen, for crying out loud! Sure, the Edge is not for everybody, especially considering how expensive it is, but it's definitely fair to say that this is one of the most amazing devices available right now.
The Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro (K920)
Lenovo's latest flagship, the Vibe Z2 Pro, is quite the hardware beast, too. In fact, were it not for its somewhat inferior, quad-core Snapdragon 801 chipset, it would have easily been the world's most spec'd out device available right now.
We're looking at a massive 6-incher (Quad HD resolution) clad in a full metal armor, with an optically-stabilized, 16-megapixel rear shooter with a dual LED flash, 3 gigs of RAM, and an enormous, 4,000 mAh battery – all fitted cozily within a 0.3 in (7.7 mm) body.
The LG G3
Sure, LG's G3 flagship is now maturing (by smartphone standards), but that doesn't really matter as the company was pretty generous with the hardware. The 5.5-inch, 1440 x 2560 pixel display of the G3 won it the title of being the first widely-available Quad HD smartphone, and it certainly didn't hurt that LG used the then new and exciting quad-core Snapdragon 801 and 3GB of RAM to power its flagship. The G3's optically-stabilized, 13-megapixel (dual LED flash) rear shooter is also no joke, and the embedded, 3,000 mAh cell does a pretty decent job keeping the lights on.
The ZTE Nubia Z7
Specs-wise, the ZTE Nubia Z7 is the LG G3's identical twin. It also has a 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 1440 x 2560 (Quad HD), and is also powered by a Snapdragon 801 / 3GB RAM combo. The camera, too, is almost identical (on paper) – an optically-stabilized, 13-megapixel snapper with a dual LED flash, but a larger, f/2.0 lens aperture (versus f/2.4 for the G3). The 3,000 mAh juicer is also identical (capacity-wise), though we do have to add that the Nubia Z7 is a dual SIM device – and a dual SIM LTE at that (quite rare).
The Oppo Find 7
Oppo's current top-of-the-line device, the Find 7, is quite the hardware beast, too. Like the LG G3 and ZTE Nubia Z7, it also boasts a 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 1440 x 2560, a quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB of RAM, and a 13-megapixel snapper – without optical image stabilization. At 3,000 mAh, the Find 7's battery is also identical in terms of size.
The Fujitsu Arrows NX F-02G
Like the Samsung Galaxy S5 LTE-A, the Fujitsu Arrows NX F-02G (ugh!) is another regional exclusive, but this time we're talking Japan, not South Korea. Regardless, the NX F-02G (ugh again!) is one impressive device – it's got a dust- and water-proof body that crams in a 5.2-inch display with a resolution of 1440 x 2560 pixels, a quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor and 3 gigs of RAM, and a 20-megapixel snapper (along with a fingerprint scanner) on its back. And the battery? At 3,500 mAh, hardly anyone should have a good enough reason to complain.
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