The best Android phones of 2016 - A mid-year comparative overview

Of the ten in this list, Samsung's early 2016 champions are probably the ones that took the least risk and had the least gimmicks. Almost like the old man in the crowd, the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge instead aimed for refinement rather than flashy new features. It may defy logic as far as flamboyant features go, but it worked! Thanks to a near perfect set of specs and a very early launch, Samsung's first quarter finally showed hope for the company's coffers. Sure, we're still missing a removable battery, but the return of a microSD card slot and some ruggedness are exactly what the smartphone doctor ordered.

• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 or Exynos 8890 Octa• RAM: 4 GB• Storage: 32 or 64 GB, microSD• Display: 5.1-inch QHD• Main Camera: 12 MP, F1.7, OIS• Secondary Camera: 5 MP, F1.7• Battery: 3,000 mAh• Dimensions: 142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9 mm• Weight: 152 g• Other Features: IP68, Quick Charge 2.0Samsung Galaxy S7 Review Review

Sony just can't seem to take a break. That or it can't make up its mind. After a disastrous Xperia Z4/Z3+, the Japanese company was able to recuperate a bit with the Xperia Z5 trio. And then surprisingly, it decided to practically axe the premium Xperia Z line, to be replaced by the Xperia X generation. Promising exquisite design paired with intelligence, the Xperia X Performance, slightly beefier than the nominal Xperia X flagship, touts a new Predictive Hybrid AF camera that can smartly identify subjects and adjust accordingly. Unfortunately, it might not be so smart about thermal control, as there is already a report about overheating. It doesn't seem to be widespread, however, but the trauma of 2013's "hero" device should give Sony fair warning.

• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820• RAM: 3 GB• Storage: 32 GB, microSD• Display: 5.0-inch FHD• Main Camera: 23 MP, F2.0, Predictive Hybrid AF• Secondary Camera: 13 MP, F2.0• Battery: 2,700 mAh• Dimensions: 144.8 x 71.1 x 7.6 mm• Weight: 164 g• Other Features: IP65/IP68, Quick Charge 2.0, STAMINA ModeSony Xperia X hands-on: unabashedly replacing Z

Huawei was quite proud of its association Leica, the first partnership between the famed German camera maker and a Chinese smartphone maker. But in fact, it has two reasons to be proud of the Huawei P9. A colored one, and a black and white one. There have been many smartphones sporting two camera sensors on their rears, but Huawei was the first one to think slightly out of the box. Employing a monochrome only sensor, the P9 promises to increase the contrast and detail of its images. It is also notable to be the one of two in this list not running on a Qualcomm chip. But given it only drives a Full HD screen, the Kirin 955 and 3 GB of RAM are noted to be quite OK for the job, or so says AnTuTu.

• CPU: HiSilicon Kirin 955• RAM: 3 or 4 GB• Storage: 32 or 64 GB, microSD• Display: 5.2-inch FHD• Main Camera: Dual 12 MP F2.2, Phase Detection AF• Secondary Camera: 8 MP, F2.4• Battery: 3,000 mAh• Dimensions: 145.0 x 70.9 x 7 mm• Weight: 144 g• Other Features: dual cameras (colored, monochrome)Huawei P9 debuts with dual Leica-certified cameras

Samsung and Apple have been at each other's throats for years while at the same time shaking hands behind the scenes. The stereotypical frenemies. If they where anthropomorphized, they would probably be in a very rocky, love/hate, on and off relationship. And the Meizu PRO 6 would be their offspring. At least visually speaking. Meizu's latest flagship checks all the right boxes when it comes to specs. But most people will probably notice it more as a cross between Samsung's and Apple's best features and designs. Of course, it's hard today not to even touch something that has been done before, and, to its credit, the PRO 6 isn't simply a blatant ripoff. Still, if you ever wanted a combination of Android, Samsung, and the iPhone, this would be it.

• CPU: MediaTek MT6797T Helio X25• RAM: 4 GB• Storage: 32 or 64 GB• Display: 5.2-inch FHD• Main Camera: 21 MP, F2.2, Laser AF, Phase Detection AF• Secondary Camera: 5 MP, F2.0• Battery: 2,560 mAh• Dimensions: 147.7 x 70.8 x 7.3 mm• Weight: 160 g• Other Features:Meizu PRO 6 Review Part I: The Galaxy iPhone missing link

The Moto Z possibly evokes some conflicted feelings. On the one hand, you have a top of the line Android smartphone coming from the makers of the the famed (first) Moto X. On the other hand, it might not exactly feel like a Moto X, especially considering there will be a new Moto X, according to Lenovo. Those conflicted feelings might also manifest themselves with the biggest feature the Moto Z and Moto Z Force, the latter the only so slightly higher spec'ed of the two. They're calld "Mods", but they're not exactly the modular parts that the likes of the LG G5 or Project Ara inspire. They're more like "modifications" that you slap on and take off on a whim. Not that it's a bad thing, but it's more like a performer quickly changing clothes to fit a role than changing body parts.

• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdraggon 820• RAM: 4 GB• Storage: 32 or 64 GB, microSD• Display: 5.5-inch QHD• Main Camera: 21 MP, F1.8, OIS, Laser AF, Phase Detection AF• Secondary Camera: 5 MP, F2.2• Battery: 3,500 mAh• Dimensions: 155.9 x 75.8 x 6.99 mm• Weight: 163 g• Other Features: Moto Mods, TurboPower ChargingMoto Z first impressions and hands-on

The Android smartphone market has never been at a loss for choice. Here we already have 10 flagships, and they're definitely not the only ones. Though sometimes, that sheer number of choices also works against the platform, paralyzing consumers with the dilemma of which one to spend their precious money on. With specs nearly identical nowadays, the choice boils down to your proclivities, for serious business, experimental fun, or budget saver. Or maybe even none of the above. The choice is yours to make, and that's the freedom that Android offers.