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

When a brand new smartphone launches, we frequently spend numerous time speaking about its inner {hardware} specs and what it may do that the majority different telephones can not. Nonetheless, the very first thing anybody ever notices a few telephone is the way it appears to be like, and that has a major bearing on how we really feel about it, which is simply as essential as what it may do for us.

Over the previous 15 years, we’ve seen some actually gorgeous telephone designs. Right now, smartphones may appear to be largely boring rectangles, however that hasn’t at all times 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!

Understand that most of the gadgets beneath had been stunning whereas additionally being nice telephones basically. Others seemed unbelievable however had been mediocre gadgets general. This listing is barely centered on appears to be like, although, so we’re ignoring all that. If the telephone’s attractive, it belongs on this listing!

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 might rely as little as potential on inner storage. The corporate noticed an awesome response, with funding hitting $1 million in simply two weeks.

Across the time the telephone began transport, 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 Cellphone would launch shortly thereafter, which took all of the joyful design parts of the Robin and Razer-ified them (learn: turned every part black and inexperienced).

The Razer Cellphone (and its eventual successor, the Razer Cellphone 2) didn’t win an viewers. Razer deserted the cellular 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 refined tweaks to Android made the Robin a pleasure to make use of (and even simply take a look at in your desk). It’s a disgrace corporations right now don’t appear to take many design dangers or prioritize synergy throughout all parts of the telephone as Nextbit did.

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

What could be stated concerning the M7 that hasn’t already been stated? Its all-metal, unibody design shouldn’t be solely attractive but additionally a technical marvel. Its twin front-facing audio system had been great, 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 beautiful, and its BlinkFeed dwelling display setup was intuitive and helpful. The digicam {hardware} was nice (for the time, clearly), and its Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor was lots quick for 2013.

Actually, the one factor that was lacking from the HTC One M7 was wi-fi charging, which the metallic design prohibited. Aside from that, it’d simply have been the right Android telephone, each in kind 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 tougher to guard with a display protector. However in 2016, curvy shows had been simply developing, and the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge was the primary “wow” telephone to have one.

In contrast to earlier “Edge” gadgets 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 valuable jewel.

It was additionally a terrific telephone and the right 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.

In fact, curvy telephones are out of pattern for the time being, so we probably received’t see something like this once more quickly. However The Galaxy S7 Edge will at all times 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 critical jeopardy. The Pixel 5 was a reinvention of the Pixel model (not the primary, and never the final). General, it went simply OK throughout its retail run, however time has been fairly form to the Pixel 5 due to its small kind issue, ingenious design parts, and playful aesthetic.

The factor that basically makes the Pixel 5 a marvel is the truth that it’s made from metallic however nonetheless helps wi-fi charging. Google made this potential by utilizing a novel “mesh” alloy with gaps simply massive sufficient for the wi-fi energy transmission to achieve success.

This distinctive development made the Pixel 5 really feel premium and much more sturdy than any glass sandwich telephone may hope to be. Its small measurement and completely attractive Sorta Sage colorway solely enhanced its standing as one of many best-looking telephones of the 12 months.

Sadly, Google made a giant guess with the Pixel 5 that didn’t pan out: choosing a mid-range processor as a substitute of the standard 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 totally and launched the Tensor chipset we nonetheless see in Pixels right now.

The actual query, although, is why Google hasn’t tried to deliver that lovely unibody metallic design to some other telephones?

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

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

The telephone itself was additionally the very best factor we had seen from the corporate up till that time. It had probably the most highly effective processor on the time, a digicam system that was a step up for OnePlus (a model that’s infamous for reducing corners within the digicam division at any time when it may), and what was indisputably among the finest shows of the 12 months.

“Previous” OnePlus is perhaps gone, however the OnePlus 9 Professional will without end be remembered as its most stunning creation.

The Important Cellphone 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 novel titanium and ceramic construct that made it really feel each like a tank and a murals. It had an edge-to-edge display, too, that was the primary to hold a notch on the high.

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

Sadly, the telephone was removed from good. The digicam left rather a lot to be desired, each from {hardware} and software program viewpoints. Important additionally made the large mistake of creating the telephone unique to Dash. Keep 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 Cellphone excessive and dry for gross sales.

A large value minimize didn’t save the telephone, and Important ultimately canceled the deliberate launch of the Cellphone 2. Regardless, we’ll at all times keep in mind the Important Cellphone as representing what could possibly be potential if an organization actually put some thought behind its smartphone design.

Android followers have at all times had a love/hate relationship with Sony. Whereas most Android followers would agree that Sony makes unbelievable telephones, they’re normally overpriced, tough to get, and have such a poor help dedication from Sony that it’s onerous to abdomen truly shopping for one.

In the event you look previous all that, although, you gotta admit that Sony has designed some actual bangers over time, and the Xperia XZ1 is one among them. Its deal with symmetry and particulars actually set it other than the gang when it launched in 2017.

The Xperia XZ1 was made from a wraparound metallic 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 in addition while you had been truly 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 gadget was additionally wonderful from a design standpoint and makes us lengthy for the times when “compact” telephones had been nonetheless a factor.

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

Earlier than all that went down, although, we noticed the Samsung Galaxy Be aware 10 sequence launch, which included the Galaxy Be aware 10 Plus. Whereas we may argue all day which Be aware telephone was the very best general (most likely the Be aware 9, truthfully), the Be aware 10 Plus stands as probably the most stunning, particularly the Aura Glow variant you see right here.

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

The Be aware 10 Plus was additionally a tremendous telephone, even when its value improve in comparison with the Galaxy Be aware 9 made it look like Samsung was getting grasping. Nonetheless, no listing of probably the most stunning smartphones ever can 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 acquired 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 keep in mind the Nexus days would most likely agree that the HUAWEI-made Nexus 6P was most likely the height of the Nexus sequence, few may argue that the Nexus 4 wasn’t one of many prettiest telephones they’ve ever seen.

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

It’s unlucky that the Nexus line ultimately got here to an finish, and much more unlucky that LG exited the sport utterly. Nonetheless, we’ll at all times 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 various causes for that: Google’s huge misguided guess on Soli (a radar system that allowed for gimmicky hand gesture controls), the dearth of a fingerprint scanner, the dearth of an ultrawide lens, and pricing that left numerous customers turning up their noses.

One factor that wasn’t in any respect an issue with the Pixel 4 sequence, although, was how the telephones seemed. 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. In the event you like orange, the Oh So Orange mannequin was only for you, which was most likely the boldest assertion in smartphones we’ve ever seen.

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

Which of those telephones do you suppose is probably the most stunning? Is there an exquisite smartphone we didn’t embrace on this listing? Tell us your ideas within the ballot beneath and remember to hit the feedback along with your ideas!