5 good alternatives to the Samsung Galaxy Note 7

Had enough of Samsung? Other brands are ready to prove themselves to you.

Apparently, whatever Samsung did to its fresh batch of Galaxy Note 7 devices didn't exactly solve their problems.
The debacle has come to a head when the company finally decided to totally stop the sales and production of its latest flagship amidst reports that more phones have been burning and/or exploding.
Special mention to the Apple iPhone 7 and 7s, since we'll go for Android-powered devices. And a further honourable mention to the Samsung Galaxy S7 devices; hey, they're still good, right?
 
HTC Desire Lifestyle (Dh999)

Why don't we start off with an affordable one?
HTC recently launched the Desire Lifestyle, continuing its tradition of offering decently-specced mid-range phones. The 5.5-inch device specifically designed for audio freaks; it has HTC's signature BoomSound Hi-Fi Edition plus 24-bit hi-res audio that give, as they term it, "crystalc-clear" sound on both its speakers and the headphones you use it with.
Its design is inspired by the Art Deco movement, thus that rather unique looks (to a certain extent). HTC, however, hasn't veered away from the micro-USB port, so it may not be future-proof with the proliferation of USB Type-C.
Best part? The really-tempting Dh999 price tag. But if you want a sturdier one or feel like spending more, its almost-twin, the HTC Desire Pro, will be coming out soon as well.
 
Sony Mobile Xperia XZ

Another smartphone, another choice for those who love snapping away from Sony Mobile.
The Xperia XZ's Triple Image Sensing technology will allow you to capture blur-free photos - even those in motion - which they guarantee will come out in true-to-life colours. The 23MP shooter also promises great stabilisation, providing even smoother videos.
And what's camera talk without touching the selfie subject? The Xperia XZ has a 13MP front snapper that's also built for wide-angled selfies.
The 5.2-inch device is also water-resistant and will set you back Dh2,299.
 
LG V20

Everybody's into ramping up their multimedia capabilities, no?
LG's V20 - the world's first to come with Android 7.0 Nougat and Google In Apps built-in - promises the "best" audio and video experience in a smartphone. And this is guaranteed with souped-up stuff, including Steady Record 2.0, Hi-Fi Quad DAC, HD audio recording and wide angle cameras.
It'll hit UAE shelves in the first week of November. And if the South Korean price tag of 899,800 won is any indication, it means that it's almost Dh3,000. Interesting.
 
Huawei Honor 8

There's really something about Huawei's sub-brand that makes it tick.
Another prime choice for the budget-conscious, the Honor 8 boasts of a sleek design and no-pushover specifications. It's talking point is its dual-camera - something similar to what the iPhone 7s has - which is able to dole out good snaps. It also touts some nice battery life; plug it in for 10 minutes to give you two hours of talk time, and charge it for half an hour to provide you with almost 50 per cent of juice.
It's up for grabs for Dh1,599.
 
Motorola Moto Z


Yet another party-time smartphone, this time from the Lenovo subsidiary.
The Moto Z is another highly-anticipated device, being marketed as the world's thinnest premium smartphone. And, much like the LG G5 and its "friends", the Moto Z has its own gang called the Moto Mods, including the Insta-share Projector Mod, Incipio offGRID Power Pack Mod, JBL SoundBoost Mod and Hasselblad True Zoom Mod - all of which transforms the Moto Z into a whole new form in a snap.
It's available for Dh2,599. Its little bro, the Moto Z Play, will fetch you Dh1,999.
- alvin@khaleejtimes.com