Best Android smartphones for work and play (Sept 2015 edition)

The new kid on the block. A powerhouse of an Android handset, but with a price tag to match. Excellent quality components and construction – just don't insert the stylus into it the wrong way!

Tech spec:

• Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop)
• 5.7 inch 1440 x 2560 pixel Quad HD Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display featuring Corning Gorilla Glass 4
• Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 with quad-core 2.1 GHz Cortex-A57
• 4GB of RAM
• 32/64GB of storage
• Fingerprint sensor
• Non-removable Li-Ion 3000 mAh battery
• 16-megapixel rear-facing camera with optical image stabilization
• 5-megapixel front-facing camera
• Wireless charging support
• Color options: Black Sapphire, Gold Platinum, Silver Titan, White Pearl

For more information, along with pricing on various carriers, read the CNET review of the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 here.

The signature S Pen has a whole new design featuring a solid and sleek metallic finish.

The Galaxy Note 5 is exceptionally well made, and the engineering and finish is second to none.

Tech spec:

• Android 5.0.2 (Lollipop), upgrades depend on carrier
• 5.1 inch 1440 x 2560 pixel curved-edge Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display featuring Corning Gorilla Glass 4
• Corning Gorilla Glass 4 back panel
• Octa-core Exynos 7420 CPU with Mali-T760MP8 GPU
• 3GB of RAM
• Non-removable Li-Ion 2550 mAh battery
• 16-megapixel rear-facing camera with optical image stabilization
• 5-megapixel front-facing camera
• Fingerprint sensor
• Wireless charging support
• Color options: Gold Platinum, White Pearl, Black Sapphire and Green Emerald

For more information, along with pricing on various carriers, read the CNET review of the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge here.

Tech spec:

• Android 5.0.2 (Lollipop), upgrades depend on carrier
• 5.1 inch 1440 x 2560 pixel Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display featuring Corning Gorilla Glass 4
• Corning Gorilla Glass 4 back panel
• Octa-core Exynos 7420 CPU with Mali-T760MP8 GPU
• 3GB of RAM
• Non-removable Li-Ion 2550 mAh battery
• 16-megapixel rear-facing camera with optical image stabilization
• 5-megapixel front-facing camera
• Fingerprint sensor
• Wireless charging support
• Color options: Gold Platinum, White Pearl, Black Sapphire and Blue Topaz

The Samsung Galaxy S6 is not a small handset. In fact, it's quite a handful, as most modern smartphones are these days.

For more information, along with pricing on various carriers, read the CNET review of the Samsung Galaxy S6 here.

Tech spec:

• Android 5.0 (Lollipop), upgradable to 5.1
• 5.96 inch 1440 x 2560 pixel AMOLED display featuring Corning Gorilla Glass 3
• Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 CPU with Adreno 420 GPU
• 3GB of RAM
• Non-removable Li-Po 3220 mAh battery
• 13-megapixel rear-facing camera with optical image stabilization
• 2-megapixel front-facing camera
• Wireless charging support
• Colors: Midnight Blue, Cloud White

For more information, along with pricing on various carriers, read the CNET review of the Motorola Nexus 6 here.

Motorola Nexus 6 color options.

Tech spec:

• Android 5.0 (Lollipop), upgrades depend on carrier
• 5.0 inch 1080 x 1920 pixel Super LCD3 capacitive display featuring Corning Gorilla Glass 4
• Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 CPU with Adreno 430
• 3GB of RAM
• Non-removable Li-Po 2840 mAh battery
• 20-megapixel rear-facing camera
• 4-megapixel front-facing camera
• FM radio
• Quick Charge support
• Colors: Gunmetal Gray, Amber Gold, Silver/Rose gold, Gold/Pink

For more information, along with pricing on various carriers, read the CNET review of the HTC One M9 here.

One of the color options for the HTC One M9.

Tech spec:

• Android 5.1 (Lollipop), upgrades depend on carrier
• 5.5 inch 1440 x 2560 pixel PS LCD capacitive display featuring Corning Gorilla Glass 3
• Hexa-core Qualcomm 808 CPU with Adreno 418 GPU
• 3GB of RAM
• Removable Li-Ion 3000 mAh battery
• 16-megapixel rear-facing camera with optical image stabilization
• 8-megapixel front-facing camera
• FM radio
• Wireless charging support
• Colors: Grey, White, Gold, Leather Black, Leather Brown, Leather Red

For more information, along with pricing on various carriers, read the CNET review of the LG G4 here.

The LG G4 is the only handset features to have a removable battery.

A cheaper "feature" version of the Galaxy S6 (around $200 compared to $600), with a specific focus on the cameras and LTE.

Tech spec:

• Android 4.4.4 (KitKat)
• 5.0-inch 540 x 960 pixels capacitive-touch TFT
• Qualcomm MSM8916 Snapdragon 410 with Adreno 306
• 1GB of RAM
• 8-megapixel rear camera
• 5-megapixel front camera
• Dual-SIM
• User-replaceable 2600mAh Li-Ion battery
• Colors: White, Gray, Gold.

For more information, along with pricing on various carriers, read the CNET review of the Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime here.