Best smartphones 2015: Galaxy S6, LG G4, Huawei P8, iPhone 6 and more

THE SMARTPHONE MARKET is becoming increasingly competitive, make it harder and harder for buyers to choose which handset is right for them. 
With smartphone buyers being spoiled for choice, we have compiled a list of our favourite smartphones available for you to buy, so you can see which one best fits your needs - whether you're after a smartphone with a high-resolution display like the Galaxy S6 or LG G4, or a phone that will protect you from government snooping like Silent Circle's Blackphone.
Keep this page bookmarked, as we'll update it when another worthy contender is launched.
 
Samsung Galaxy S6

 

The Galaxy S6  is a phone of firsts for Samsung. It's the first flagship Galaxy phone to ditch plastic in favour of a high-end metal and glass body, the first to boast a QHD 2560x1440 display and the first to allow users to delete bloatware.

The Galaxy S6 packs a zippy Samsung-branded octa-core processor under the hood, which comes paired with Android 5.0 Lollipop and 3GB, and ships with either 32GB, 64GB or 128GB storage. There's also an iPhone-style fingerprint scanner baked into the home button, a 16MP rear-facing camera with OIS and real-time HDR and a 2,600mAh battery complete with wireless charging support. 

LG G4

 

If LG's claims are anything to go by, the G4's selling point is its design. As well as being made available in a 'ceramic' model, the LG G4 can be picked up clad in real leather. This leather casing houses the smartphone's 5.5in QDHD 2560x1440 538ppi display, which comes powered by a hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, 3GB RAM and Android 5.0 Lollipop.  

LG is also looking to win over buyers with its custom Android skin, which adds unique features such as Knock Code and Smart Notice, an app that claims to know what you want before you do. Much like its LG G3 predecessor, the G4 also features its hardware controls on its rear, which the firm claims makes them more comfortable to use.

iPhone 6

The iPhone 6, soon to be no doubt be succeeded by the iPhone 7, is the first time Apple has gone beyond a screen size of 4in, with the smartphone boasting a 4.7in Retina display. Of course, for those who scoff at a 4.7in screen, the iPhone 6 Plus comes with an even-bigger 5.5in offering. It may be bigger than the iPhone 5S, but it's also slimmer, measuring in at a mere 6.9mm thick. This is thanks in part to its new design, with the iPhone 6 featuring a curvier look than its predecessor. In terms of specifications, Apple hasn't skimped, kitting out the iPhone 6 with an A8 processor, improved 8MP and 1.2MP cameras, an improved screen resolution, a beefier 1,810mAh battery and a built-in NFC for making mobile payments.

HTC One M9 

The HTC One M9 sees the firm upping its game in a bid to compete with Samsung and Apple, smartphone's design, camera and software. The flagship handset boasts the same metal design as its One M8 predecessor, housing its 5in 1080x1920 resolution screen. There's also an octa-core Snapdragon 810 processor under the hood, and a 20.7MP rear-facing camera.

HTC has also focused heavily on software with the One M9, equipping the phone with a contextually-aware app launcher, HTC Themes and an updated version of BlinkFeed. 

Huawei P8

The Huawei P8 was announced in April and sees the Chinese phone maker taking on the likes of the Galaxy S6 and iPhone 6, especially in terms of design. The handset has a similar metal chassis to the Apple smartphone and measures in at a skinny 6.4mm thick.

The Huawei P8 packs  a 5.2in 1920x1080 screen which comes powered by a 2GHz 64-bit octa-core Kirin 930 processor, 3GB RAM and Google's Android 5.0 Lollipop software. There's also a 13MP rear-facing camera, an 8MP front-facing camera with built-in 'selfie' software features, 4G LTE support, a 2,680mAh battery and Signal+ technology, which Huawei claims will enhance the handset's call connection rate.