10 Great Alternatives to the Galaxy Note 7 (Which Is Officially Dead)

Article by George Norman (Cybersecurity Editor)

on 12 Oct 2016

The new Galaxy Note 7 with a safe battery was supposed to bring an end to Samsung’s problems. It didn't! The new Note 7 had problems with the battery just like the old one. Consequently, Samsung stopped all sales and exchanges of the Galaxy Note 7.

If you bought a Galaxy Note 7, you should turn it off and return it as soon as possible. If you didn’t get to buy a Note 7, you can’t (and shouldn’t) get one anymore. Best look at an alternative, such as...

1. Galaxy Note 5

Samsung skipped the Galaxy Note 6 and jumped straight to the Note 7, citing the fact that customers were confused. By skipping a number, the confusion goes away and the Note phablet is in line with the Galaxy S smartphone.

If you don’t want to give up on the Note brand, the Note 5 is still a pretty impressive device.

Galaxy Note 5 – Main Specs
  • OS – Android 5.1 Lollipop.
  • Display – 5.7-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED, 2560 x 1440, 518ppi.
  • Processor – Octa core (2.1GHz Quad + 1.5GHz Quad), 64 bit, 14 nm processor.
  • Memory & storage – 4GB RAM (LPDDR4), 32/64GB (UFS 2.0).
  • Camera – 16MP OIS (F1.9) rear camera, 5MP (F1.9) front camera.
  • Connectivity – WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC.
  • Sensor – Accelerometer, Proximity, RGB Light, Geo-magnetic, Gyro, Fingerprint, Barometer, Hall, HRM.
  • Battery – 3,000mAh battery with Fast Charging (wired and wireless).
  • Colors – Black Sapphire, Gold Platinum, Silver Titan, White Pearl.


Learn more about the Galaxy Note 5.


2. Galaxy S7 Edge

The Galaxy Note 5 might not appeal to everyone, seeing that it was released 2 years ago. If you want Samsung’s latest and greatest, you need to turn your attention to the Galaxy S7 or, better yet, the Galaxy S7 Edge.

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge – Main Specs
  • OS – Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
  • Display – 5.5-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED, 2560 X 1440, 534ppi.
  • Processor – 64-bit octa core (2.3GHz Quad + 1.6GHz Quad) or 64-bit quad core (2.15GHz Dual + 1.6GHz Dual).
  • Memory & storage – 4GB of RAM; 32/64GB (UFS 2.0) internal storage; microSD up to 200GB.
  • Camera – 12MP dual pixel rear camera, 5MP front camera.
  • Connectivity – WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, ANT+, USB 2.0, Location.
  • Sensor – Accelerometer, Proximity, RGB Light, Geo-magnetic, Gyro, Fingerprint, Barometer, Hall, HRM.
  • Battery – 3,600mAH battery that’s compatible with fast charging and wireless charging.
  • Colors – Black Onyx, Gold Platinum, White Pearl and Silver Titanium.


Learn more about the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge.


3. Google Pixel XL

With the Nexus line, Google handled the software while its partners handled the hardware. This is no longer the case with the new Pixel line. Google handles the hardware and the software, meaning that the Pixel and the larger Pixel XL are the first phones made entirely by Google.

Pixel XL – Main Specs
  • OS – Android 7.1 Nougat.
  • Display – 5.5-inch QHD AMOLED, 534ppi.
  • Processor – Snapdragon 821 quad-core processor; 2x 2.15GHz / 2x 1.6GHz.
  • Memory & storage – 4GB LPDDR4 RAM; 32 or 128GB
  • Cameras – 12.3MP main camer,a 8MP front camera.
  • Connectivity – WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, USB type-C, 3.5mm headphone jack.
  • Sensors – proximity, accelerometer, gyrometer, magnetometer, fingerprint sensor, barometer, hall effect sensor, Android Sensor Hub.
  • Battery – 3,450mAh battery.
  • Colors – Very Silver, Quite Black and Really Blue.




Learn more about the Pixel phone.


4. HTC 10

HTC says this is the best phone they’ve ever built, touting that it offers unparalleled performance. It better, if the company hopes to get back on its feet.

HTC 10 – Main Specs
  • OS – Android 6.0 Marshmallow with HTC Sense.
  • Display – 5.2-inch, 2560 x 1440, Super LCD 5, 564ppi.
  • Processor – 2.2GHz, 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor.
  • Memory & storage – 4GB of RAM; 32GB or 64GB of storage (expandable up to 2TB via microSDXC).
  • Cameras – 5MP front camera and 12MP rear camera with optical image stabilization (both) and laser autofocus (just the rear one).
  • Connectivity– NFC, Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS, USB Type-C, DLNA, Miracast, Chromecast, AirPlay (HTC 10 is the first Android phone ever to support AirPlay streaming out of the box).
  • Sensors – ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, motion g-sensor, compass sensor, gyro sensor, magnetic sensor, fingerprint sensor, sensor hub.
  • Battery – 3,000mAh battery.
  • Colors – Carbon Grey, Glacier Silver, Topaz Gold, Camellia Red.


Learn more about the HTC 10.


5. ASUS ZenFone 3 Deluxe

The new Zenfone 3 follows in the footsteps of last year’s affordable yet very well specced ZenFone 2. Out of all the ZenFone 3 versions, the one I want to bring to your attention is the top-of-the-line Deluxe ZS570KL. Here’s what it has to offer.

ZenFone 3 Deluxe – Main Specs
  • OS – Android 6.0 Marshmallow with brand-new ASUS ZenUI 3.0.
  • Display – 5.7-inch, FHD (1920 x 1080) Super AMOLED.
  • Processor – 64-bit Qualcomm Quad-Core Snapdragon 821 at 2.4Ghz or Snapdragon 820 at 2.15Ghz.
  • Memory & storage – 6GB LPDDR4 RAM; 64Gb, 128Gb or 256GB of internal storage; expandable up to 2TB via microSDXC.
  • Cameras – 23MP main camera, 8MP front camera.
  • Connectivity – dual SIM, Bluetooth, GPS, NFC, USB Type-C
  • Sensors – Accelerator, E-Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity sensor, Hall sensor, Ambient light sensor, RGB sensor, IR sensor, Fingerprint.
  • Battery – 3,000mAH battery.
  • Colors – Glacier Silver, Titanium Gray, Shimmer Gold.


Learn more about the ZenFone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL.


6. Moto Z Force Droid

"Way to go, butterfingers! You cracked the screen again." If that sounds familiar, you need to take a look at the Moto Z Force, because it features a shatterproof display. Drop the phone and the screen will not crack.


Moto Z Force Droid – Main Specs
  • OS – Android 6.0.1, Marshmallow.
  • Display – 5.5-inch AMOLED Quad HD (2560 x 1440) 535ppi.
  • Processor – Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor with up to 2.2 GHz CPU Quad-core CPU and Adreno 530 GPU Natural Language Processor.
  • Memory & storage – 4GB LPDDR4 RAM; 32GB or 64GB internal storage; microSD card support up to 2TB.
  • Cameras – 21MP main camera, 5MP front camera.
  • Connectivity – Moto Mods connector, USB Type-C, 2.5mm to USB-C heaphone port adapter, Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS, NFC.
  • Sensors – Fingerprint sensor, Accelerometer, Ambient Light, Gyroscope, Hall Effect, Magnetometer, Proximity.
  • Battery – 3,5000mAh battery.


Learn more about the Moto Z Force Droid.


7. LG V20

Apart from Google’s Pixel, none of the phones featured so far come with Nougat. The LG V20, which will be available for purchase from most network operators in the US starting October 28, comes with Android 7.0 Nougat and some seriously powerful hardware.

LG V20 – Main Specs
  • OS – Android 7.0 Nougat.
  • Display – 5.7-inch Quad HD main display and a secondary 2.1-inch display.
  • Processor –Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 quad-core CPU and Adreno 530 GPU.
  • Memory & storage – 4GB of RAM; 32GB or 64Gb of internal storage; microSD up to 256GB.
  • Cameras – 16MP dual camera; 5MP front camera.
  • Connectivity – Bluetooth, GPS, NFC, WiFi, USB Type-C, Infrared.
  • Sensors – Fingerprint, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, color spectrum
  • Battery – 3,200mAh battery.


Learn more about the LG V20.


8. Huawei Mate 8

At first, I wanted to put the Nexus 6P (which is made by Huawei) on this list. It’s true that the Nexus 6P is an interesting alternative to the Note 7. But seeing that we already have the Pixel XL on the list and seeing that Google kicked the Nexus 5x and 6P from its online store, I decided to go with the sleek and powerful Mate 8 instead.

Huawei Mate 8 – Main Specs
  • OS – Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
  • Display – 6-inch FHD, 1920 x 1080, 368ppi.
  • Processor – HUAWEI Kirin 950 (64-bit,16nm FinFET+), Octa-core (4 x 2.3 GHz A72+ 4 x 1.8 GHz A53) + i5 co-processor.
  • Memory & storage – 3GB or 4GB of RAM; 32GB or 64GB of internal storage.
  • Cameras – 16MP main camera; 8Mp front camera.
  • Connectivity – GPS, WiFi, MicroUSB, NFC.
  • Sensors – Fingerprint Sensor, G-Sensor, Gyroscope sensor, Compass, Ambient Light Sensor, Proximity sensor, Hall sensor, Barometer
  • Battery – 4,000mAH battery.


Learn more about the Huawei Mate 8.


9. ZTE Axon 7

ZTE’s Axon 7 looks and performs like phones that cost a whole of a lot more. This 5.5-inch, aluminum full metal body phone is just $400.

ZTE Axon 7 – Main Specs
  • OS – Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow.
  • Display – 5.5-inch AMOLED, 1440 x 2560, 538ppi.
  • Processor – 2.15 GHz Quad-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 (MSM8996) with integrated Qualcomm Adreno 530 GPU.
  • Memory & storage – 4GB RAM; 64GB internal storage.
  • Cameras – 20MP dual image stabilization main camera; 8MP front camera.
  • Connectivity – dual SIM, Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS, USB Type-C, 3.5mm headphone jack.
  • Sensors – Fingerprint, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass.
  • Battery – 3,250mAh battery.
  • Colors – Ion Gold, Quartz Grey.


Lean more about the ZTE Axon 7.


10. OnePlus 3

The OnePlus 3 has a stylish aluminum and glass body, it’s very thin, it packs some powerful hardware under the hood, and it is very affordable.

OnePlus 3 – Main Specs
  • OS – OxygenOS based on Android Marshmallow.
  • Display – 5.5-inch 1080p Full HD, 1920 x 1080, 401ppi.
  • Processor – Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 Quad Core Kryo 2 x 2.2 GHz, 2 x 1.6 GHz; Adreno 530 GPU.
  • Memory & storage – 6GB LPDDR4 RAM; 64Gb internal storage.
  • Cameras – 16MP main camera, 8MP front camera.
  • Connectivity – USB Type-C, dual SIM, 3.5mm audio jack, WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS.
  • Sensors – Fingerprint sensor, Gyro, Proximity sensor, Ambient light sensor, Electronic compass.
  • Battery – 3,000mAh battery.
  • Colors – Graphite, Soft Gold.


Learn more about the OnePlus 3.


Mandatory mention – iPhone 7 Plus

If you’re looking for a Note 7 alternative, chances are that you don’t want to switch from Android to iOS. But if you are, then I just have to mention the iPhone 7 Plus.

It has a 5.5-inch, 1920 x 1080, 401ppi display; a powerful A10 Fusion 64-bit processor and an embedded M10 motion coprocessor; a 12MP main camera and a 7MP FaceTime HD camera; a built-in fingerprint sensor; and all the other bells and whistles you’ve come to expect from a premium phone.



Learn more about the iPhone 7.



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