These are the ten most lovely smartphones of the previous 15 years

When a brand new smartphone launches, we frequently spend a whole lot of time speaking about its inner {hardware} specs and what it will probably do that the majority different telephones can’t. Nevertheless, the very first thing anybody ever notices a few telephone is the way it seems to be, and that has a major bearing on how we really feel about it, which is simply as vital as what it will probably do for us.

Over the previous 15 years, we’ve seen some actually gorgeous telephone designs. Right this moment, smartphones may appear to be principally boring rectangles, however that hasn’t all the time been the case. Sometimes, corporations create a murals that simply so occurs to behave as a telephone, and we need to rejoice them right here!

Remember that lots of the units under had been lovely whereas additionally being nice telephones basically. Others regarded unbelievable however had been mediocre units general. This record is barely targeted on seems to be, although, so we’re ignoring all that. If the telephone’s attractive, it belongs on this record!

The Nextbit Robin is a really unusual-looking telephone, however that strains up with its uncommon backstory. In 2015, Nextbit launched a Kickstarter for the Robin, pitching it as a cloud-based telephone that will rely as little as doable on inner storage. The corporate noticed an amazing response, with funding hitting $1 million in simply two weeks.

Across the time the telephone began delivery, although, the preliminary response to its efficiency was tepid. Nonetheless, in 2017, Razer ended up shopping for Nextbit and instantly shutting down gross sales and manufacturing of the Robin. The primary Razer Telephone would launch shortly thereafter, which took all of the joyful design components of the Robin and Razer-ified them (learn: turned all the pieces black and inexperienced).

The Razer Telephone (and its eventual successor, the Razer Telephone 2) didn’t win an viewers. Razer deserted the cell market shortly thereafter, basically killing off Robin within the course of.

Whereas the telephone itself didn’t win us over, the design definitely did. The 2-tone again, playful aquamarine colour scheme, color-matched equipment, and even the delicate tweaks to Android made the Robin a pleasure to make use of (and even simply have a look at in your desk). It’s a disgrace corporations at present don’t appear to take many design dangers or prioritize synergy throughout all components of the telephone as Nextbit did.

Older smartphone followers who noticed the title of this text instantly knew the HTC One M7 could be right here. The design of the M7 has achieved legendary standing to the purpose that you would be able to’t even speak in regards to the basic thought of smartphone design with out bringing it up. It’s just like the Blade Runner of smartphones.

What might be mentioned in regards to the M7 that hasn’t already been mentioned? Its all-metal, unibody design will not be solely attractive but in addition a technical marvel. Its twin front-facing audio system had been fantastic, and its barely curvy again made it a pleasure to carry.

It additionally was a terrific telephone. HTC’s Sense Android pores and skin was pretty, and its BlinkFeed house display screen setup was intuitive and helpful. The digicam {hardware} was nice (for the time, clearly), and its Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor was a lot quick for 2013.

Actually, the one factor that was lacking from the HTC One M7 was wi-fi charging, which the steel design prohibited. Aside from that, it’d simply have been the proper Android telephone, each in type and in perform.

Over the previous few years, the smartphone trade has moved away from curvy shows. They’re much less sturdy, much less sensible for swipe navigation gestures, and are harder to guard with a display screen protector. However in 2016, curvy shows had been simply arising, and the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge was the primary “wow” telephone to have one.

In contrast to earlier “Edge” units from Samsung, the Galaxy S7 Edge was curvy throughout. The corners, entrance, sides, and even the again all had curves. This made it really feel clean and premium in your hand, like a treasured jewel.

It was additionally an incredible telephone and the proper comeback from the lackluster Galaxy S6 sequence. It reinvigorated Samsung’s smartphone gross sales and helped additional differentiate the Galaxy S household from its chief rival, the iPhone.

After all, curvy telephones are out of development in the intervening time, so we doubtless gained’t see something like this once more quickly. However The Galaxy S7 Edge will all the time be remembered fondly for its gorgeous design if nothing else.

When the Google Pixel 5 launched in 2020, Google’s smartphone division was in scorching water. The Pixel 4 had been an unmitigated gross sales catastrophe, sufficient in order that the whole Pixel line was in severe jeopardy. The Pixel 5 was a reinvention of the Pixel model (not the primary, and never the final). Total, it went simply OK throughout its retail run, however time has been fairly type to the Pixel 5 due to its small type issue, ingenious design components, and playful aesthetic.

The factor that basically makes the Pixel 5 a marvel is the truth that it’s fabricated from steel however nonetheless helps wi-fi charging. Google made this doable through the use of a singular “mesh” alloy with gaps simply giant sufficient for the wi-fi energy transmission to achieve success.

This distinctive development made the Pixel 5 really feel premium and way more sturdy than any glass sandwich telephone might hope to be. Its small dimension and completely attractive Sorta Sage colorway solely enhanced its standing as one of many best-looking telephones of the yr.

Sadly, Google made a giant wager with the Pixel 5 that didn’t pan out: choosing a mid-range processor as a substitute of the everyday flagship CPU one would count on with a mainline Pixel. This was a one-off, because the Pixel 6 as soon as once more reinvented the model fully and launched the Tensor chipset we nonetheless see in Pixels at present.

The true query, although, is why Google hasn’t tried to convey that lovely unibody steel design to some other telephones?

For a lot of, the OnePlus 9 sequence was the final launch from the “previous” OnePlus, that means earlier than Carl Pei left and the corporate was folded instantly into OPPO. If you happen to agree, what a telephone to exit on, because the OnePlus 9 Professional, specifically, is likely one of the most lovely smartphones we’ve ever seen.

The mirrored end of the Morning Mist colorway was particularly gorgeous. It will seem to alter colour in a sure mild, making it a telephone you’d detest to restrict to a case. The Forest Inexperienced model was additionally fairly breathtaking, and even the usual Stellar Black regarded positively stylish.

The telephone itself was additionally one of the best factor we had seen from the corporate up till that time. It had essentially the most highly effective processor on the time, a digicam system that was a step up for OnePlus (a model that’s infamous for chopping corners within the digicam division at any time when it will probably), and what was indisputably among the finest shows of the yr.

“Outdated” OnePlus is likely to be gone, however the OnePlus 9 Professional will endlessly be remembered as its most lovely creation.

The Important Telephone was one of the thrilling releases within the historical past of Android. It had the notable pedigree of being the brainchild of the grandfather of Android itself, Andy Rubin. It had a singular titanium and ceramic construct that made it really feel each like a tank and a murals. It had an edge-to-edge display screen, too, that was the primary to hold a notch on the prime.

These qualities made the one and solely telephone from Important Merchandise an actual head-turner. The truth that it got here with an almost inventory model of Android that obtained updates sooner than Pixels on some days made it an Android lover’s dream.

Sadly, the telephone was removed from good. The digicam left lots to be desired, each from {hardware} and software program viewpoints. Important additionally made the large mistake of constructing the telephone unique to Dash. Bear in mind, this was again within the days when shopping for telephones unlocked wasn’t quite common. Even again then, Dash was struggling to retain prospects, which left the Important Telephone excessive and dry for gross sales.

An enormous worth reduce didn’t save the telephone, and Important finally canceled the deliberate launch of the Telephone 2. Regardless, we’ll all the time bear in mind the Important Telephone as representing what might be doable if an organization actually put some thought behind its smartphone design.

Android followers have all the time had a love/hate relationship with Sony. Whereas most Android followers would agree that Sony makes unbelievable telephones, they’re normally overpriced, troublesome to get, and have such a poor assist dedication from Sony that it’s laborious to abdomen really shopping for one.

If you happen to look previous all that, although, you gotta admit that Sony has designed some actual bangers through the years, and the Xperia XZ1 is one in every of them. Its deal with symmetry and particulars actually set it aside from the gang when it launched in 2017.

The Xperia XZ1 was fabricated from a wraparound steel chassis, giving it an ultra-premium really feel. It was additionally one of many earliest telephones to have an HDR show, making it look terrific whereas it lay inert in your desk and likewise once you had been really utilizing it.

An honorable point out right here is the Xperia XZ1 Compact, which, as its identify implies, was a smaller model of this telephone. That system was additionally superb from a design standpoint and makes us lengthy for the times when “compact” telephones had been nonetheless a factor.

The Galaxy Observe line resulted in 2020 with the launch of the Galaxy Observe 20 and Galaxy Observe 20 Extremely. Observe telephones had been then swallowed up by the Galaxy S line in 2022 when Samsung launched the Galaxy S22 Extremely, which was a Observe telephone by a distinct identify.

Earlier than all that went down, although, we noticed the Samsung Galaxy Observe 10 sequence launch, which included the Galaxy Observe 10 Plus. Whereas we might argue all day which Observe telephone was one of the best general (in all probability the Observe 9, truthfully), the Observe 10 Plus stands as essentially the most lovely, particularly the Aura Glow variant you see right here.

Just like the OnePlus 9 Professional talked about beforehand on this record, the mirror-like again of the Aura Glow mannequin modified colours in numerous lighting situations, giving it a beautiful and dynamic look. The curved sides additionally refracted mild in a barely totally different means, making it so the telephone all the time had a “body” round it — actually gorgeous stuff.

The Observe 10 Plus was additionally a tremendous telephone, even when its worth improve in comparison with the Galaxy Observe 9 made it seem to be Samsung was getting grasping. Nonetheless, no record of essentially the most lovely smartphones ever could be full with out this one.

Earlier than Google launched the Pixel line, it partnered with different smartphone manufacturers to create Nexus telephones. These telephones launched with inventory Android and obtained software program updates sooner than most others, making them a prequel to Pixels, of kinds.

One such telephone was the Nexus 4, produced by LG (again when LG nonetheless made telephones, RIP). Whereas most individuals studying this who bear in mind the Nexus days would in all probability agree that the HUAWEI-made Nexus 6P was in all probability the height of the Nexus sequence, few might argue that the Nexus 4 wasn’t one of many prettiest telephones they’ve ever seen.

Essentially the most notable side of the system was its glass again, which featured tiny star-like dots throughout an intricate matrix. It made it seem like the telephone actually sparkled within the mild, which was mesmerizing and simply flat-out superior.

It’s unlucky that the Nexus line finally got here to an finish, and much more unlucky that LG exited the sport utterly. Nevertheless, we’ll all the time look again on the Nexus 4 with a giant ol’ smile.

We talked about earlier how the Pixel 4 nearly doomed the whole Pixel line. There are lots of causes for that: Google’s large misguided wager on Soli (a radar system that allowed for gimmicky hand gesture controls), the shortage of a fingerprint scanner, the shortage of an ultrawide lens, and pricing that left a whole lot of shoppers turning up their noses.

One factor that wasn’t in any respect an issue with the Pixel 4 sequence, although, was how the telephones regarded. As a result of man, they had been scorching.

We’re particularly calling out the XL model right here, however each it and the vanilla Pixel 4 had been lookers. The matte rails had been superior each for aesthetics and grip, and the orange energy button actually stood out. If you happen to like orange, the Oh So Orange mannequin was only for you, which was in all probability the boldest assertion in smartphones we’ve ever seen.

The Pixel 4 could have been a gross sales failure, however it might by no means be a failure in terms of design.

Which of those telephones do you assume is essentially the most lovely? Is there a lovely smartphone we didn’t embody on this record? Tell us your ideas within the ballot under and you’ll want to hit the feedback together with your ideas!