Best dual-SIM Android phones (January 2016)

Share

While many folks can get by with a single-SIM handset, there’s something to be said about the flexibility that is afforded to you when you have a dual-SIM device. A dual-SIM setup allows you to not only potentially have two different phone numbers but y ou can also have one SIM for data, another SIM for calling and text, and you can more easily travel abroad without having to remove your primary SIM card.

Typically manufacturers do not make dual-SIM versions of all their phones, instead they usually create dual-SIM models for phones that are popular in international markets. Sorted by price, on this page is where you will find our list of the best dual-SIM Android phones currently available. We will keep this list up to date as new phones are released, and as always please share your thoughts on what you think the best dual sim Android phone is.

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

Update, January 2016: This month we removed the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 (4.7-inch) and the Sony Xperia Z3+ from our list to make room for the honor 5X and Huawei Mate 8.

Best phones under $200

#1 – Motorola Moto G (2015)

The Moto G, one of the most beloved budget phones on the market, is now in its third iteration. This time around, the handset offers up a 1.4GHz quad-core Snapdragon 410 processor and either 8GB storage and 1GB RAM, or 16GB storage and 2GB RAM. bother models include microSD support, a 13MP rear cam, a 5MP front cam, a 5-inch 720p LCD display, and a hefty 2470mAh non-removable battery. While the Moto G has never been about flashy extras, this year’s model does introduce waterproofing and LTE to the mix.

For those that lust for customization, the Moto G also includes limited Moto Maker support. While this feature isn’t as robust as you’d find with the Moto X Style (Pure Edition), it’s still a great step in the right direction. As for software? The phone runs Lollipop out of the box, and it is likely only a matter of time before a Marshmallow upgrade makes its way into the hands of consumers.

There is one trick, though! The U.S. version doesn’t have a dual SIM card slots. You will have to either find the right version elsewhere and have it imported… or you could skip this one and check out the other options.

Specs

5.0-inch LCD display with 720 x 1280 resolution
1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 CPU
1/2GB of RAM (depending on storage option)
8/16GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 32GB
13MP rear cam, 5MP front cam
Non-removable 2470mAh battery
Android 5.1.1 Lollipop
142.1 x 72.4 x 11.6mm, 155g

Read more

Buy now from eBay

#2 – BLU Life One X

The BLU Life One X is a newcomer to the budget-friendly space, and it packs quite the punch. It boasts a 5.2-inch Full HD display, a super fast MediaTek MT6753 CPU, microSD expansion and a big 2900mAh battery. Not to mention the solid build quality – this device has a real aluminum frame and a plastic back plate that makes for a great in-had feel.

We’d normally expect a device of this stature to go for about $200-$250, but that’s not the case here. You can purchase the BLU Life One X for only $149.99 from BLU’s website.

Specs

5.2-inch LCD display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, 424ppi
1.3GHz octa-core MediaTek MT6753 processor
2GB of RAM
16GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 64GB
13MP rear-facing camera, 5MP front-facing camera
Non-removable 2900mAh battery
Android 5.1 Lollipop
186.8 x 72.8 x 8.4mm

Read more

Buy now from Amazon

#3 – honor 5X

Huawei has finally announced its plans to break into the US market with the honor 5X. The honor 5X was announced a number of months ago, but it was just recently revealed that the dual-SIM budget handset would be coming to the United States for only $200.

Featuring an all-metal build and a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, the 5X absolutely comes to market with a few features that we don’t normally see on sub-$200 smartphones. It comes with a big 5.5-inch Full HD display, snapdragon 615 processor, 16GB of storage and microSD expansion up to 128GB. It also comes with a 13MP rear camera, a pretty sizable 3000mAh battery, and runs Huawei’s EMUI atop Android 5.1 Lollipop out of the box. Huawei says the device will receive its update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow sometime soon, as well.

You can pre-order the honor 5X from Amazon in Dark Grey, Daybreak Silver or Sunset Gold color options for only $199.99.

Specs

5.5-inch IPS LCD display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, 401ppi
1.5GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor
2GB of RAM
16GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 128GB
13MP rear camera, 5MP front camera
Non-removable 3000mAh battery
Android 5.1 Lollipop
151.3 x 76.3 x 8.2mm, 158g

Read more

Buy now from Amazon

Best phones between $200 and $400

#1 – OnePlus 2

OnePlus is at it again with another “flagship killer”, but can it really live up to that claim? We can’t really say that without getting some stones thrown at us, but what we can tell you is that this phone is a hell of an offering for $329. It has a great design, powerful specs and some killer software features you won’t be able to find anywhere else.

Up until recently, you needed an invitation to purchase the OnePlus 2. Thankfully the company changed that, meaning you can now purchase one of these smartphones whenever you’d like (depending on whether or not it’s in stock, of course). It’s available in two different storage sizes – 16GB of storage with 3GB of RAM or 64GB of storage with 4GB of RAM. No matter which one you choose, you won’t have to shell out an arm and a leg to get your hands on one.

There are a few caveats here, though. There’s no NFC on board, meaning you won’t be able to take advantage of Android Pay. It also doesn’t have the best camera on the market. If those aspects don’t bother you, though, the OnePlus 2 is a solid offering for a great price.

Specs

5.5-inch LTPS IPS LCD display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, 401ppi
Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor
3/4GB of RAM (depending on storage option)
16/64GB of on-board storage, no microSD card expansion
13MP rear camera, 5MP front camera
Non-removable 3300mAh battery
Android 5.1 Lollipop
151.8 x 74.9 x 9.9mm, 175g

Read more

Buy now from OnePlus

#2 – OnePlus X

The OnePlus X is one of the best budget devices you can purchase right now. It’s compact, extremely fast, and boasts many of the same software features that come with its older brother, the OnePlus 2. It has an impressive 5.0-inch AMOLED display, a perfectly capable Snapdragon 801 processor, 3 gigabytes of RAM, microSD card expansion up to 128GB and two SIM card slots.

There are a few things to watch out for, though. If you want to activate the device on AT&T or T-Mobile’s networks, you may not have great 4G LTE coverage, as the device is missing the appropriate bands. It also comes with no NFC on board, so you won’t be able to use mobile payment methods like Android Pay. It’s also only available for purchase if you have an invite… well, at least most of the time. OnePlus still employs its dreaded invitation system here, except for every Tuesday. If you don’t have an invitation, Tuesday is the only day of the week you can actually buy this handset.

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly smartphone and don’t mind spending a few extra bucks, get the OnePlus X. You can purchase it from OnePlus’ website for $249.99.

Specs

5.0-inch AMOLED display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, 441ppi
2.3GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor
3GB of RAM
16GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 128GB
13MP rear camera, 8MP front camera
Non-removable 2525mAh battery
Android 5.1.1 Lollipop
140 x 69 x 6.9mm, 138g

Read more

Buy now from OnePlus

#3 – Asus Zenfone 2

ASUS launched its newest flagship, the ZenFone 2, at CES 2015. It was originally marketed as the first smartphone to feature 4GB of RAM, but that’s not all this powerhouse brings to the table. Toting a 5.5-inch 1080p display, the ZenFone 2 features a big 3000mAh battery, 13MP rear-facing camera, a powerful 64-bit Intel Atom Z3580 processor and runs Android 5.1 Lollipop.

The Asus ZenFone 2 is now available in the U.S., China, Taiwan, Europe and a few other regions. The base model, which is the variant running on 2GB of RAM and the Z3560 processor, is now available from Newegg, Amazon, and several other major retailers starting at just $199. If you want to spring for the higher-end model, which has a 2.3GHz Intel Atom Z3580 processor, 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, that will only run you $299.

Specs

5.5-inch full HD display with 1920 x 1080 resolution
64-bit quad-core Intel Atom Z3560/Z3580 processor (running at 1.8 or 2.3GHz)
2/4GB of RAM
16/32/64GB of on-board storage, microSD card expansion up to 64GB
13MP rear camera, 5MP front camera
Non-removable 3000mAh battery
Android 5.1 Lollipop
152.5 x 77.2 x 10.9 mm, 170g

Read more

Buy now from Amazon

#4 – Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 (5.5-inch)

The Alcatel Onetouch Idol 3 (5.5-inch variant) is one of the best budget-friendly smartphones on the market. It features a simple and elegant design, a solid 13MP rear-facing camera and a fantastic audio experience. For the price, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better value than the Idol 3 – it has a beautiful 5.5-inch Full HD display, a capable Snapdragon 615 processor, and runs a slightly customized version of Android 5.0 Lollipop.

The phone is now available from Amazon for just $200, which is quite the steal considering the impressive features this phone brings to the table. Be sure to head to the links below to check out our full review. Trust us, this phone might surprise you.

Specs

5.5-inch IPS LCD display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, 401ppi
1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & 1.0 GHz Cortex-A53 Snapdragon 615 processor
2GB of RAM
16/32GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 128GB
13MP rear camera, 5MP front camera
Non-removable 2910mAh battery
Android 5.0 Lollipop
152.7 x 75.1 x 7.4mm, 141g

Read more

Buy now from Alcatel OneTouch

Best phones above $400

#1 – 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.

Specs

5.7-inch Super AMOLED display with 1440 x 2560 resolution
Samsung Exynos 7420 processor
4GB of RAM
32/64GB of on-board storage, no microSD card expansion
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

Read more

Buy now from Amazon

#2 – Samsung Galaxy S6

Save for a slightly smaller battery and a completely flat display, the S6 and the S6 Edge are the same device. It features the powerful Exynos 7420 processor, an impressive 16MP rear-facing camera and a crystal clear 5.1-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display.

Although Samsung decided to forgo the removable battery and microSD card slot this time around, we’d wager to say that the much-improved build quality with the S6 is a pretty decent trade off. Basically, if you can get past these two caveats and don’t mind Samsung’s Touchwiz software overlay, the Galaxy S6 is one of the best phones you can buy with dual SIM capabilities.

The Samsung Galaxy S6 was definitely one of the best smartphones of 2015, and for those that need it, is also available in a dual SIM variety, available on Amazon for $575. Keep in mind that since this is an international version, you will have to check for 4G LTE support with your network carrier first.

Specs

5.1-inch Super AMOLED with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 577 ppi
Samsung Exynos 7420 processor
3GB of RAM
32/64/128GB storage options, no microSD card expansion
16MP rear camera, 5MP front camera
Non-removable 2550mAh battery
Android 5.1 Lollipop
143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8mm, 138g

Read more

Buy now from Amazon

#3 – 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. 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.

Specs

5.5-inch LCD Quantum Dot display with a 2560 x 1440 resolution, 534 ppi
1.82 GHz hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor
3GB of RAM
32GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 128GB
16MP rear camera, 8MP front camera
3,000 mAh battery
Android 5.1 Lollipop
148.9 x 76.1 x 6.3 – 9.8 mm, 155g

Read more

Buy now from Amazon

#4 – Huawei Mate 8

Huawei recently unveiled its latest flagship smartphone, the Mate 8. Featuring an extremely premium build, market-leading performance and great battery life, this is one heck of an Android device. Huawei still has yet to make the Mate 8 available in the United States, but that caveat is easily bypassed when buying the device from Amazon or any other online retailer. Luckily Huawei decided to include just about every band needed to connect to U.S. carriers’ networks, so if you do choose to import, you likely won’t have many problems on the connectivity front.

All in all, the Mate 8 is one of the better Android devices we’ve used in recent memory. It has a big 6.0-inch display, fast Kirin 950 processor, plenty of on-board storage and a decent camera. It’s also running the latest version of Android, which is a nice touch. Huawei’s software overlay may not be the most appealing to folks in the U.S., but that’s really one of the only downsides we have with the device.

Specs

6.0-inch IPS-NEO LCD display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, 368ppi
2.3GHz octa-core HiSilicon Kirin 950 processor
3/4GB of RAM
32/64GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 128GB (uses SIM 2 slot)
16MP rear camera, 8MP front camera
Non-removable 4000mAh battery
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
157.1 x 80.6 x 7.9mm, 185g

Read more

Buy now from Amazon

So there you have it – our picks for the best dual-SIM options Android has to offer at the moment. Did we miss anything? Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

Next: Best prepaid phone plans

News

Company:

Best dual-SIM Android phones (January 2016)

Best phones under $200

#1 – Motorola Moto G (2015)

#2 – BLU Life One X

#3 – honor 5X

Best phones between $200 and $400

#1 – OnePlus 2

#2 – OnePlus X

#3 – Asus Zenfone 2

#4 – Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 (5.5-inch)

Best phones above $400

#1 – Samsung Galaxy Note 5

#2 – Samsung Galaxy S6

#3 – LG G4

#4 – Huawei Mate 8

Table of contents

More News