Best Sprint Android phones (January 2016)

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Are you a Sprint customer looking for your next smartphone? We understand it can be frustrating to look through the gigantic list of phones, so we’re here to help. Sprint has a wide selection of top-tier, mid-range and budget-friendly Android phone options, so we’ll help you decide which one is best suited for your lifestyle.

It should be noted that Sprint does sell phones without contracts, though for some reason, they’re really expensive if you buy through the carrier. If you want to buy your smartphone off-contract and bring it to Sprint, we’ll be happy to let you know where you can buy your phone at a cheaper price. So without any further ado, let’s dive right in!

Editor’s note – We will be updating this list as more devices hit the market.

Update, January 2016: This month we saw the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 take the top stop as the best Android phone you can buy on Sprint’s network for over $200. Following the Note 5 is the Galaxy S6/S6 Edge and Galaxy S6 Edge+. We’ve also removed the LG G Flex 2 from the list, as Sprint is no longer advertising this device on its website.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5

It’s hard denying that Samsung has always been the king of large-screened smartphones, and that still holds true today. With its crystal clear 5.7-inch display, powerful Exynos 7420 CPU and killer 16MP rear-facing camera, the Galaxy Note 5 is one of the best Android phones available on the market right now.

It’s an all-around solid device, boasting an all-glass chassis that’s similar to that of the Galaxy S6. It comes with an improved S Pen and some great multitasking features that will make it easy to get work done. The software is much more clean and simple than we’ve seen from the company in the past, too.

With all of that said, though, this device doesn’t come without its caveats. Samsung’s decision to omit the microSD card slot and removable battery has been a controversial one over the past few weeks, especially among Samsung die-hards. Even with these notable omissions, the Note 5 can still be considered one of the best out there.

You can purchase the Galaxy Note 5 from Sprint starting at $30.80 per month with a 24-month installment plan. We’ve also attached an Amazon link below if you’re interested in buying off-contract.

Specs

5.7-inch Super AMOLED display with 1440 x 2560 resolution, 518ppi
Samsung Exynos 7420 processor
4GB of RAM
32/64GB of on-board storage, no microSD card slot
16MP rear camera, 5MP front camera
Non-removable 3000mAh battery
Android 5.1.1 Lollipop
153.2 x 76.1 x 7.6 mm, 171g

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Buy now from Sprint
Buy now from Amazon

Samsung Galaxy S6 / S6 Edge

Depending on who you ask, one might tell you that the last truly impressive member of the Galaxy S family was the widely popular GS3. While the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S5 were not bad handsets, their highly derivative nature came under fire, bolstered further by the fact that many of its rivals have since taken to pushing more premium builds made of metal, glass and other similar materials.

With the Samsung Galaxy S6, the Korean giant has finally delivered a truly premium Galaxy S experience, melding a glass front and back with a metal frame. Most tech journalists and even everyday tech enthusiasts agree that the redesign is a welcome one. Of course, Samsung’s new look isn’t without sacrifice, ditching Samsung staples like a removable back and battery. The microSD slot is also absent on the Galaxy S6.

Another major change for the Galaxy S6 is the processing package, with Samsung electing to leave behind Qualcomm, solely offering up its Exynos 7420 processor, paired with 3GB RAM. And finally, the software has also been scaled back a bit with the latest iteration of the Galaxy S.

Like the idea of the Galaxy S6, but hoping for something that stands out even further? The Galaxy S6 Edge offers the same specs, but adds dual edges and a few special features that take advantage of the phone’s unique design.

Specs

5.1-inch Super AMOLED with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 577ppi
Samsung Exynos 7420 processor
3GB of RAM
32/64/128GB storage options, no microSD expansion
16MP rear camera, 5MP front camera
Non-removable 2,550 mAh battery (S6), 2,600mAh battery (S6 Edge)
Android 5.1.1 Lollipop
143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8mm, 138g

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+

Launched alongside the Galaxy Note 5 at IFA 2015, Samsung announced a new phablet for the Android space called the Galaxy S6 Edge+. If you’re a fan of the Galaxy S6 Edge (listed above) but would like a larger screen, this is the device for you.

If features all of the same specs as the Note 5 – an Exynos 7420 processor, 4GB of RAM, a 16MP rear camera, a big 3000mAh battery and a massive 5.7-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display. This device doesn’t come with an S Pen, though. Instead, the S6 Edge+ features a display that curves on the left and right sides, leaving room for a few edge-based software features for quick access to contacts, favorite apps and more.

Don’t get us wrong, this is a great device. It might be a tad pricey for some users, though, which is why it’s achieved the number three spot on our list. Check out the review below to get a better look at what this device can do.

You can purchase the Galaxy S6 Edge+ from Sprint starting at $30.00 per month with an installment plan. We realize this might be a bit too expensive for some, so we’d recommend purchasing it off-contract and bringing it to the carrier instead. We’ve attached an Amazon link below if you’re interested.

Specs

5.7-inch Super AMOLED display with 1440 x 2560 resolution, 518ppi
Samsung Exynos 7420 processor
4GB of RAM
32/64GB of on-board storage, no microSD card slot
16MP rear camera, 5MP front camera
Non-removable 3000mAh battery
Android 5.1.1 Lollipop
154.4 x 75.8 x 6.9mm, 153g

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Buy now from Amazon

LG G4

The LG G4 enters the market promising pristine performance, a design that will have any crowd turning heads, insane battery life and customization like we no longer see in modern smartphones. In an industry where most manufacturers sacrifice battery life for thinness, LG manages to stand out from the crowd by offering a massive 3000mAh battery. It also happens to be removable, so you can easily swap batteries at will. Furthermore, it supports expandable memory, which also happens to be a feature under risk of extinction.

Oh, and this phone looks good! You can switch your back plates, but I am sure you won’t want to once you put that genuine leather back in there. Add in the fact that the phone comes with one of the best smartphone cameras in the market and you have a true winner. It does have some slight issues that need fixing, though, which is really why it didn’t make it higher up the list. Of course, you can read our LG G4 review to see what this phone is all about before you fork out your hard-earned cash.

You can purchase the LG G4 from Sprint starting at $19.00 per month with an installment plan. You can also find it on Amazon for a little over $400 without a contract.

Specs

5.5-inch LCD Quantum Dot display with 1440 x 2560 resolution
Hexa-core 2xCortex A57+ 4xCortex A53 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor
3GB of RAM
32GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 128GB
16MP rear-facing cam with f/1.8 aperture, 8 MP front-facing cam
Removable 3000mAh battery
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
149.8 x 76.2 x 6.3-9.8 mm, 155g

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Buy now from Amazon

HTC One A9

HTC is doing something different, yet oddly familiar with the One A9. Straying away from the all-too-familiar design of the One M series, the HTC One A9 more closely resembles Apple’s latest iPhones rather than past HTC flagships. Still, the design is beautiful – it has an all-metal build that feels great in the hand and looks superb.

Under the hood, the One A9 sports a Snapdragon 617 processor, 2 or 3GB of RAM, 16 or 32GB of on-board storage and microSD expansion up to 200 additional gigabytes. It also has one of the best cameras HTC has ever produced, and comes with a surprisingly long lasting 2150mAh battery. HTC is also committed to quick software updates with this phone. The Taiwanese company is actually promising software updates for the unlocked model within 15 days of Google’s first push to Nexus devices. Not bad, right?

The HTC One A9 is available from Sprint for $29.00 per month with an installment plan. You can also purchase the unlocked One A9 from HTC directly for $499.99.

Specs

5.0-inch AMOLED display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, 441ppi
1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 processor
2/3GB of RAM (depending on storage option)
16/32GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 200GB
13MP rear camera, 4MP UltraPixel front camera
Non-removable 2150mAh battery
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
145.8 x 70.8 x 7.3mm, 143g

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Buy now from HTC

HTC One M9

The HTC One M9 is a really good phone. It’s one of the most beautifully-crafted Android devices out there, and boasts some killer audio and software features as well. It doesn’t stray too far away from the One M7 or One M8, but that’s perfectly fine for most people. It features a very nice 5.0-inch Full HD display, a powerful Snapdragon 810 processor and plenty of storage space for all of your games, photos and videos. It may not have the best camera around, but it’s certainly good enough for the average user.

The HTC One M9 is available now from Sprint for $29.50 per month with an installment plan. Amazon also sells unlocked models for just around $300 if you’re interested in going off-contract.

Specs

5.0-inch Super LCD3 display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, 441ppi
2.0GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor
3GB of RAM
32GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 200GB
20MP rear camera, 4MP UltraPixel front camera
Non-removable 2840mAh battery
Android 5.1.1 Lollipop
144.6 x 69.7 x 9.6mm, 157g

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Buy now from Sprint
Buy now from Amazon

Going off-contract?

If you’re not keen on spending $600+ on one of the off-contract smartphones listed above, there are certainly some other smartphones out there that are worth your hard-earned money. The top two off-contract smartphones that we’d recommend can’t be purchased from any carrier, which is why they didn’t make our initial list. So if you’re looking for a great off-contract smartphone, you can go wrong with the Nexus 6P or Motorola Moto X Pure Edition.

Nexus 6P

As the successor to last year’s Motorola Nexus 6, Google recently unveiled the Huawei-made Nexus 6P. This device is the higher-end of the two Nexus phones announced at Google’s event, and that’s incredibly apparent when looking at the spec sheet.

It comes with a big 5.7-inch Quad HD AMOLED display, super fast Snapdragon 810 processor, a giant 3450mAh battery and an impressive 12MP rear-facing camera. Want to get your hands on one? The Nexus 6P is pretty cheap, considering the specs and build quality. You can purchase it from the Google Store starting at just $499!

This is really one of the best Android handsets we’ve ever seen. If you have a few hundred dollars to spend and aren’t keen on the best from Samsung or LG, get the Nexus 6P.

Specs

5.7-inch AMOLED display with 1440 x 2560 resolution, 518ppi
Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor
3GB of RAM
32/64/128GB of on-board storage, no microSD expansion
12MP rear camera, 8MP front camera
Non-removable 3450mAh battery
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
159.3 x 77.8 x 7.3mm, 178g

Motorola Moto X Pure Edition (Moto X Style)

With the original Moto X, Motorola proved you don’t need to have the latest specs to get a great user experience. With the second generation, the Lenovo-owned company took no chances and double-downed on the spec side as well, packing the new Moto X (2014) with a dense 5.2-inch AMOLED screen, a beefy processor, and a capable 13MP camera. But with the Moto X Style, Motorola reaches the perfect balance between performance, simplicity, price and… well, style.

By Style we are mostly referring customization capabilities, a factor which has been an integral part of the Moto X experience since day one. Customers can use Moto Maker to manipulate their devices’ aesthetics to their will. You can change the color of the metal areas, engrave the back and even choose from a plethora of back options, including materials leather, wood, rubber and other materials.

The device is not a bad contender in terms of hardware, either. The larger screen puts the phone up with contenders like the OnePlus 2, Nexus 6, LG G4 and the Galaxy Note series. It may not sport the “best” processor in the market, but the Snapdragon 808 is pretty close to the 810, and Motorola has proven time and again they can make a super fast phone without the greatest chipset.

It’s worth noting that the phone will be sold in most markets under the Style branding, though in the United States it will be sold as the Moto X Pure Edition, an unlocked model that will play nice with all U.S. carriers. You can purchase the Moto X Pure Edition from Motorola or Amazon for only $399.99.

Specs

5.7-inch IPS LCD display with 2560 x 1440p resolution, 520ppi
1.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor
3GB of RAM
16/32/64GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 128GB
21MP rear camera, 5MP front camera
Non-removable 3000mAh battery
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
153.9 x 76.2 x 11.06 mm, 179g

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Best Sprint Android phones (January 2016)

Samsung Galaxy Note 5

Samsung Galaxy S6 / S6 Edge

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+

LG G4

HTC One A9

HTC One M9

Going off-contract?

Nexus 6P

Specs

Read more

Motorola Moto X Pure Edition (Moto X Style)

Specs

Read more

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