SPEED has always been a big talking point within the smartphone community — though we would be quick to argue that having more CPU cores and more RAM are not necessarily as advantageous as some companies make them out to be. The iPhone 7, to wit, has a quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM, but it handily beats its Android counterparts in real-word and synthetic tests.

Then again, Apple has control over both hardware and software, and it uses its own custom-built chips to power its mobile devices. For other manufacturers, the choice is pretty straightforward when it comes to their signature product: Run Android (preferably the latest version) on the best Qualcomm processor money can buy.

This year, we’ve seen plenty of manufacturers try and take the fight to Apple by releasing phones with the Snapdragon 821 at the helm, with Google being one of them. Here are 10 smartphones that make use of Qualcomm’s fastest chip yet.

Google Pixel and Pixel XL

At this point, very little needs to be said about these phones to convince people they’re as good, if not better, than most other Android releases on the market. Reviews from practically every major tech site have been consistent in saying that Google’s latest flagships deliver the best Android experience yet. They’re also the only phones that support Google’s smart digital assistant right out of the box. Oh, and in case you’ve already forgotten, the Pixel was recently crowned the “best smartphone camera” ever by DxOMark, a website that does rigorous camera analyses to review smartphones. (Click this for the Pixel’s complete specs and price, and this for the Pixel XL’s.)

ASUS ZenFone 3 Deluxe

The Deluxe is billed as the first Snapdragon 821 device on the market, though that distinction may be lost on ZenFone fans who expected a midrange-priced handset in line with previous years. In the Philippines, it starts at P34,995, the highest price of any ZenFone model, and is slated for release sometime later this year. For the money, you’re looking at a Snapdragon 821 chipset aided by 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. (Click for full specs.)

Xiaomi Mi 5s and Mi 5s Plus

The Mi 5s and 5s Plus have been overshadowed by the slightly newer Mi Note 2 and Mi MIX. But don’t let that get in the way of your appreciation of Xiaomi’s earlier releases; the Mi 5s and Mi 5s Plus, at least on paper, are just as powerful as any Android phone out there. There’s another incentive to get the Mi 5s: It’s the cheapest and most compact Snapdragon 821-based handset in Xiaomi’s stable. Because not all of us are are born with baseball mitts for hands, you know? (Click this for the Mi 5s Plus’ specs and price.)

Xiaomi Mi Note 2

The Mi Note 2 looks a lot like Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7, except it has better innards to make up for the absence of waterproofing and a highly functional stylus. It is already available for pre-order in the Philippines through unofficial sources, though pricing remains a mystery at the moment. The base model with 4GB of RAM and 64GB onboard storage will retail for 2,799 yuan (around P20,000) in its native China. (Click for complete specs.)

Xiaomi Mi MIX

This is a flagship device if we ever saw one. Xiaomi, however, insists it’s more of a concept phone than a mainstream powerhouse because of its premium pricing. The MIX has a pin-sharp, borderless display and enough firepower in its ceramic body to make most other Androids weep salty tears. We could only hope it would find its way here sooner rather than later. (Click for specs and price.)

Smartisan M1 and M1L

Not much is known about these flagship smartphones from China and the company that produced them. Based on the specs sheet, the M1 and the M1L are essentially the same device, save for the display size and resolution and battery capacity. The Snapdragon 821 chipset that powers both devices is paired with up to 6GB of RAM and up to 64GB of storage. But the real kicker here is the price: 2,499 yuan, or just under P18,000, for the M1’s base model.

LeEco Le Pro 3

Another premium powerhouse that hasn’t seen much attention beyond the Far East, the $399 Le Pro 3 sports a full-metal jacket and wields all the power that comes with Qualcomm’s top-tier chip. In fact, it makes use of an overclocked version of the Snapdragon 821, so it may do better in benchmark tests than its peers.

Video you may want to watch: How to increase your Android phone’s RAM

Via The Android Guy

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