7 Best Alternatives to Samsung Note 7

On the surface, the Samsung Note 7 promised a whole lot. It had the potential of being one of, if not the best mobile phone on the market. With the latest specs such as Iris scanners and USB Type-C, excellent camera, sleek and beautiful design, IP68 certified dust and water resistance, 5.7-inch Quad-HD display, 4GB RAM, storage expansion via a microSD slot and of course, the S Pen that gives off a natural handwriting experience; the Note 7 was the phone to have this year.

However, all those specs blew up in Samsung’s face; literally. If you had invested in a Note 7, you should consider yourself lucky if the exploding Note 7 just left a hole in your wallet and nothing else. With over a 100 cases worldwide of the latest device from Samsung exploding or catching fire and even the replacements going up in flames, Samsung has finally decided to discontinue the model after attempting a recall of over 2.5 million devices proved to be ineffective.

So, if you are in the market to look for a phone that can replace the Note 7, here are a few options for you to consider.

Samsung S7 Edge–Buy Now

This one is a no-brainer. The S7 Edge has more or less the same specs as the Note 7, minus the Iris scanner, Type-C plug and the S Pen. With the elegant glass and metal design, water resistance and a slightly larger (3,600mAH) battery, the S7 Edge is a cheaper alternative to the Note 7. The only drawback would be the slightly smaller screen (5.5-inch) but that is negligible in the grand scheme of things.

Google Pixel XL

The larger version of Google’s own phone will give you an Android experience in its purest form. Not only will it come with 7.1 Nougat out of the box, you will also be first in line for updates from Google directly. The 5.5-inch screen, is again, slightly smaller than Note 7’s but can display dynamic visuals itself. It has the latest Snapdragon 821 processor, coupled with 4GB RAM and 128GB storage; with unlimited cloud storage to boot. Furthermore, the best camera on a smartphone yet makes this phone worth a look when it is finally available for purchase later this month.

OnePlus 3

OnePlus is quickly developing a market of its own. While not as flashy as the big names in the market, OnePlus plays on the specs at a mind-blowing price. It boasts a nearly stock Android interface. A 5.5-inch Quad-HD AMOLED display can be as good replacement for the Note 7’s. Furthermore, 6GB RAM, quad-core Snapdragon 820 processor (same as Note 7) and 64GB worth of internal storage sweeten the pot for this phone.

While it has a slightly smaller battery (3,000mAH) and no IP68 dust and water-resistance; Type-C charging port for fast charging and fingerprint scanner make sure that it is as close to Note 7 you can get at such a price.

Samsung Note 5–Buy Now

While this phone may be last year’s model that the Note 7 was supposed to replace; it remains quite a brilliant device in its own right. With its successor being too hot to handle, Note 5 can reclaim its spot as THE phone with the S Pen functionality. The same 5.7-inch display, 4GB RAM, 32GB storage and a fast processor make the Note 5 a worthy option to revert back to.

Huawei P9 Plus–Buy Now

A cheaper alternative with an elegant aluminum body, 5.5-inch screen, 4GB RAM with 64GB storage, 8 core processor, dual cameras at the back for sharper and detailed photos and fingerprint scanner – this iteration of Huawei is a notable contender for the replacement of Note 7 on a budget.

LG V20

The same screen size as the 5.7-inch display of the Note 7, the LG V20 can be a suitable alternative for those looking for a big screen. With the best sound on any smartphone yet, excellent battery, Android Nougat out of the box, dual cameras, fingerprint scanners and a whole lot more, the LG V20 is a formidable smartphone.

Wildcard – iPhone 7 Plus

If your confidence in Samsung has gone up in flames along with the Note 7, then iOS may be worth considering if you are thinking of jumping ships. Said to be Apple’s best phone yet, the larger variant of the iPhone 7 comes with 5.5-inch screen capable of giving high resolution display and excellent cameras that are said to be one of the best in the industry. High performance, style and sleek designs can be availed at a hefty price.