The year 2016 has no doubt witnessed the influx of a good number of 4G-enabled smartphones into the consumer technology market.
4G LTE (Fourth Generation Long Term Evolution) technology provides faster Internet speed and connections compared to the existing 3G networks.
Following the introduction of 4G LTE network in Nigeria by both ISPs like Swift, Spectranet and Smile, mobile network providers including Glo, MTN, Etisalat and Ntel Nigeria rolling out their 4G LTE services. This surely paves way for more 4G-enabled smartphones to enter the booming Nigerian tech market in the coming years.
Here are top 10 4G-enabled smartphones that were launched in 2016 in no particular order and their major features:
Apple iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
Launched in September, 2016, the latest iPhone series and the first water resistant iPhone series from U.S. tech company, Apple. The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus come in silver, gold and rose-gold colour variants and supports the latest 4G Internet connectivity. The iPhone 7 series supports up to 25 LTE bands for seamless roaming and LTE Advanced for three times faster data rates than iPhone 6, Apple says.
- Apple iPhone 7 series
iPhone 7 comes with 12-megapixel camera with optical image stabilisation, and a larger ƒ/1.8 aperture and 6-element lens which enables brighter, more detailed photos and videos, as well as a wide color capture. iPhone 7 Plus features the same 12-megapixel wide angle camera as iPhone 7 and adds a 12-megapixel telephoto camera that together offer optical zoom at two times and up to 10 times digital zoom for photos.
Most interestingly, the iPhone 7 series come with iOS 10, Apple’s biggest OS release ever. Apple says iOS 10 introduces a huge update to messages that delivers more expressive and animated ways to message friends and family, the ability for Siri to do more by working with apps and new ways to interact with apps.
Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge
The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge were launched in March 2016 by the South Korean tech company, Samsung. The smartphones come in four glimmering colours that include gold, platinum, white pearl, silver titanium, and the newly-developed black onyx. The water- and dust-resistant Galaxy S7 series are certified to still function after falling into a five feet depth of water for up to 30 minutes, according to Samsung.
- Samsung Galaxy S7
The smartphones feature ‘Samsung Pay”, a mobile payment system said by Samsung to be secure and easy to use with just a swipe or tap on your card. The Samsung smartphones also come with 32GB inbuilt memory space that can be expanded with an additional 200GB micro SD card and supports 4G LTE network.
The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge feature big Quad HD displays of 5.1 inch and 5.5 inch respectively and they are both powered by the latest Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS. The Galaxy S7 series feature 12mp rear camera with dual pixel and 5MP front camera. The Galaxy S7 features 3,000 mAh battery, while the Galaxy S7 edge comes with a higher battery capacity of 3600 mAh.
Tecno Phantom 6 and Phantom 6 Plus
The Phantom 6 and Phantom 6 Plus was launched by Chinese tech company, Tecno in September 2016. Flaunting an amazing 6.15mm ultra slim design with premium chamfered edges, the new Phantom 6 is very slim and features dual rear camera.
- Tecno Phantom 6 Plus
Spotting the unconventional dual rear 13MP plus 5MP auto-focus cameras with LED flash, the Phantom 6 also stomachs an expanded storage space for better operations; running on 3GB RAM and 32GB ROM expandable to 128GB. The device is powered by 2.0GHz speed MediaTek Octa-core processors.
The Phantom 6 Plus flaunts an impressive 6.0 inch IPS touch display and Tecno’s first tri-fold security on a smartphone (fingerprint, eye scanner and TrustLook antivirus). Like the Phantom 6, the Phantom 6 Plus is also powered by super-fast Mediatek Helio ×20 Deca core processor with 4GB DDR3 RAM and 64GB ROM, expandable to 256GB. Both Phantom 6 and Phantom 6 Plus spot USB Type-C port with super-fast charge capabilities and support 4G LTE network.
Huawei P9
Launched in April 2016 by Chinese tech company, Huawei, the P9 is a 4G-enabled smartphone blends superior hardware and software with Leica dual lenses. The Huawei P9 smartphone flaunts 8 megapixel front-facing camera with which Huawei says users can achieve superior selfies even in low light.
The Huawei P9 is designed with diamond-cut edges, rounded out by beautiful curvatures. The Huawei P9 is sculpted using aerospace-class unibody aluminum and a superior-grade 2.5D glass, as well as a stunning 5.2-inch FHD display with 96% colour saturation and high contrast, as stated by the device maker.
- Huawei P9
Huawei’s P9 integrates Signal+ 2.0 virtual Triple antenna which means users don’t need to worry about their hand position under different signal conditions. The smartphone also integrates Wi-Fi+ 2.0 which automatically connects to the strongest available Wi-Fi network. The Huawei P9 automatically ranks Wi-Fi hotspots, and prioritises the best connection. The Huawei P9 also features enhanced fingerprint sensor and 3000mAh battery.
HTC 1o
HTC 10 was launched in May 2016 by Taiwanese tech company, HTC Corporation. HTC 10 is designed with the beauty of light with a bold new chamfered contour and sophisticated dual-textured finish. With HTC 10, the device maker says apps launch faster and run smoother, the screen reacts instantly to users’ every touch.
- HTC 10
HTC 10 introduces OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) in both its front and back cameras and the device maker says its new generation UltraPixel sensor with OIS and a bright ƒ/1.8 lens radiates up to 136% more light in every shot. The HTC 10 smartphone features 12 million UltraPixels (1.55um per UltraPixel) to give users brilliant high-resolution photos even in low light.
The HTC 10 comes with fingerprint security which keeps your data safe. The smartphone also unlocks in 0.2 seconds and its smart algorithm learns to recognize the user even faster and more accurately over time. Featuring next generation 2K LCD display, HTC 10 brings users the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon processor for the best performance plus enhanced 4G LTE support for faster network speeds and hassle free roaming in more countries.
LG G5
Launched in February 2016 by South Korean tech company, LG Corporation, the G5 comes in modular design which lets users customise their phone features based on their needs. The LG G5 smartphone is designed with a 3D Arc Glass and metal alloy body available in a variety of Silver, Titan, Gold and Pink colours.
- LG G5
The LG G5 smartphone features a 5.3-inch Quad High Definition display with 2560 x 1440 pixel resolutions at 554 pixels per inch, dual rear cameras (16MP and 8MP) and 8MP front camera with wide angle lens options to capture big pictures without compromising quality. LG G5 smartphone, which is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 Processor, also features 2800mAh battery, 4GB RAM, 32GB storage capacity and Fingerprint Sensor.
LG says users can record video and play back through the LG Friends app before sharing it with their networks. Users can also slide the battery out and replace it with an LG Friend. With the dual function battery cradle, LG says users can charge their G5 battery or use it as a power source to charge USB compatible devices including tablets and smartphones.
Xiaomi Mi Max
Launched by Chinese tech company, Xiaomi in May 2016, the Mi Max doubles up as an e-book reader. The 16.4cm (6.44) super-large display shows more words at a glance, so users have to flip fewer pages. The dual-SIM Mi Max supports 4G Internet connectivity.
- Xiaomi Mi Max
The smartphone’s large screen supports its navigation as it projects clear visibility which is fundamental for driving safely. Mi Max shows more of the map so users don’t have to squint at their phone. The big screen makes searching for addresses more convenient.
At 7.5mm and 203g light, Mi Max is thin, light and fits perfectly in one hand despite having a large 2.5D
curved display and metal body. The smartphone is powered by 4850mAh battery which Xiaomi says can last 14 hours on average with extreme usage. The Mi Max runs a Snapdragon 652 / 650 processor, 16MP PDAF camera and fingerprint recognition.