Best Phones 2015

2015 was a landmark year for smartphones, giving buyers a rare mix of durability, camera leaps, and battery breakthroughs. Anyone shopping today can still find value in these older flagships if they know which models truly stood out.

This guide distills the standout handsets of that year into clear buying pointers, pairing each recommendation with practical tips on where to find units, how to check their condition, and what accessories still make sense.

Apple iPhone 6s & 6s Plus

The iPhone 6s family brought 3D Touch, a 12 MP sensor, and the A9 chip to the table. These additions turned everyday gestures into shortcuts and lifted photo quality to a level that rivals still chase.

When hunting a used 6s, prioritize devices that still register firm presses on the screen; dead zones often signal deeper display issues. Ask sellers for battery-health screenshots; anything under eighty percent tends to throttle performance noticeably.

Look for listings that include the original box and Lightning cable—counterfeit accessories remain common and can fry the logic board.

Camera Tricks That Still Impress

Live Photos captures three seconds of motion, turning still shots into tiny stories. Tap and hold any Live Photo in the Photos app to replay the moment.

For sharper low-light shots, lock exposure by long-pressing the viewfinder, then slide to lower brightness before you shoot.

Storage & Longevity Tips

The 16 GB model is a trap; apps and 4K clips chew space fast. Stick with 64 GB or 128 GB versions.

Enable “Optimize Storage” for iCloud Photos to keep full-resolution files in the cloud while thumbnails stay on the phone.

Samsung Galaxy S6 & S6 Edge

Samsung ditched plastic for Gorilla Glass 4 and an aluminum frame, finally matching Apple’s build prestige. The 5.1-inch Quad HD panel remains one of the sharpest ever fitted to a mainstream phone.

Fast wireless charging debuted here, letting the S6 refill on any Qi pad at twice the speed of earlier standards.

Check the metal frame for dings; cracked glass back panels are cheap to replace, but bent frames ruin water resistance permanently.

Camera Strengths

The f/1.9 lens and 16 MP sensor excel in daylight, producing punchy colors without oversaturation. Double-tap the home button to launch the camera in under a second.

Enable Pro mode to pull RAW files, giving you editing headroom that JPEGs can’t match.

Battery Realities

The 2550 mAh cell is small by modern standards, yet Samsung’s aggressive app dozing helps. Replace the battery via a local repair shop; the glass back comes off with heat and patience.

Turn off Always-On Display if you need every extra minute of screen-on time.

Google Nexus 6P

Huawei’s all-metal Nexus 6P delivered pure Android, front-facing speakers, and a fingerprint reader long before mid-range phones caught up. The 5.7-inch AMOLED screen still feels roomy for media and ebooks.

Its camera uses larger pixels to soak in more light, producing cleaner night shots than many 2015 peers. The rear visor houses an IR laser for near-instant autofocus.

Before buying, boot into the bootloader and run a battery cycle test; early batches had early shutdown issues that software never fully cured.

Software Edge

Being a Nexus, the 6P moved swiftly through major Android updates until late 2018. Flashing a custom ROM like LineageOS can keep security patches current today.

Enable the built-in LED notification light in Settings > Sound & notification > Pulse notification light to regain subtle alerts.

Accessories That Still Work

USB-C cables and chargers have become ubiquitous, so replacements are cheap and reliable. Grab a textured TPU case; the 6P’s aluminum shell is slippery and dents easily.

A tempered-glass screen protector prevents micro-scratches that mar the oleophobic coating.

LG G4

The G4’s leather back option gave shoppers a tactile luxury rarely seen in Android land. Its 16 MP camera pairs with an f/1.8 lens and manual controls that mimic a DSLR.

The removable 3000 mAh battery and microSD slot make it a favorite for power users who hate sealed designs.

Inspect the leather back for peeling edges; replacements are inexpensive, but discoloration can be stubborn.

Manual Photography Mode

Tap the manual icon in the camera app to set ISO, shutter speed, and white balance. Long exposures up to 30 seconds unlock silky light trails without extra apps.

Save shots in RAW and edit later in Snapseed for richer color grading.

Bootloop Warning

Early G4 units suffered from a motherboard defect causing sudden bootloops. Ask sellers for proof of a warranty repair or a serial number starting with higher batches.

If the phone randomly reboots during testing, walk away.

Sony Xperia Z5 Series

Sony’s Xperia Z5 Compact packed flagship specs into a 4.6-inch body, a size now extinct among high-end Android phones. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor is both fast and reachable with one hand.

Its IP65/IP68 rating means dust and water resistance long before the feature hit mid-range devices.

Check the flapless USB port for corrosion; salt water exposure can pit the contacts.

Display Choices

The Compact uses a 720p panel that sips power yet remains sharp at the smaller size. The full-size Z5 and Z5 Premium bump resolution to 1080p and 4K respectively, trading battery life for clarity.

Pick the Compact if all-day endurance matters more than pixel density.

Camera Performance

The 23 MP sensor leans toward higher megapixels, but Sony’s Superior Auto mode keeps processing simple. SteadyShot stabilizes 4K video without gimbals.

Use the physical shutter button for half-press focus, mimicking a point-and-shoot.

Moto X Pure Edition (Style)

Motorola’s Moto X Pure Edition shipped with near-stock Android, front-facing stereo speakers, and Moto Maker customization that let buyers pick wood or leather backs. The 5.7-inch Quad HD screen was crisp, though LCD rather than AMOLED.

Its microSD slot and water-repellent nano-coating addressed two pain points Samsung had just abandoned.

Look for sellers who still have the TurboPower charger; standard 15 W bricks charge slower and heat the phone.

Software Freedom

The Pure Edition was sold unlocked with an unlockable bootloader, making custom ROMs painless. Flashing a lightweight ROM can restore snappy performance despite the aging Snapdragon 808.

Moto Display still lifts the screen for glanceable notifications without waking the CPU fully.

Camera Handling

The 21 MP sensor lacks OIS, so brace your elbows or lean on surfaces for sharp shots. Use the twist gesture to launch the camera quickly, even from a locked screen.

Enable “Quick Capture” in Moto Actions to skip the viewfinder when speed matters.

OnePlus 2

OnePlus marketed the 2 as the “2016 flagship killer,” yet it launched in 2015 with a USB-C port and a customizable alert slider. The Snapdragon 810 required thermal throttling, so sustained gaming sessions dip frames quicker than on the 6P.

Its fingerprint sensor is ceramic, not sapphire, so expect micro-scratches that rarely affect accuracy.

Verify that the USB-C port grips cables firmly; loose ports are costly to resolder.

Alert Slider Utility

The three-position slider flips between all notifications, priority only, and silent without waking the screen. Map the middle position to alarms only for bedside use.

Custom ROMs can remap the slider, adding flashlight or camera shortcuts.

OxygenOS Tweaks

Long-press recent apps to split-screen two apps, a feature stock Android wouldn’t ship until later. Dark mode in OxygenOS saves battery on the LCD panel.

Disable capacitive keys and switch to on-screen navigation to reclaim screen space.

HTC One M9

HTC refined the all-metal M8 design into the M9, swapping the UltraPixel duo for a 20 MP single shooter. The BoomSound speakers grew louder and crisper, ideal for podcasts without headphones.

Its Snapdragon 810 runs warmer than the M8’s 801, so expect throttling during intensive tasks.

Check the power button for wobble; HTC used a plastic insert that loosens over time.

Audio Edge

BoomSound offers a dedicated amp that drives high-impedance headphones better than most 2015 phones. Pair the M9 with a good wired set to appreciate the DAC’s clarity.

Use the built-in EQ to tame sibilance in streaming tracks.

Camera Trade-offs

The 20 MP sensor favors detail over low-light prowess. Stick to daylight scenes and avoid digital zoom to keep noise down.

Enable RAW capture in the camera settings for post-processing latitude.

BlackBerry Priv

BlackBerry’s first Android phone fused a curved AMOLED display with a slide-out physical keyboard, targeting users who type thousands of words weekly. The 18 MP Schneider-Kreuznach lens offered OIS and phase-detect autofocus.

Its curved edges light up for custom notification colors, a subtle but useful glance feature.

Inspect the sliding mechanism for grit; lint can jam the rails and crack the frame.

Keyboard Productivity

The physical keys support capacitive swipes for scrolling, letting you browse without smudging the screen. Assign long-press shortcuts to launch apps or compose messages.

Use the keyboard as a trackpad to fine-tune cursor placement in documents.

Security Suite

BlackBerry’s DTEK app grades your security posture in real time. Enable “Picture Password” for a two-factor unlock that combines a number grid with a chosen spot on an image.

Rooting the Priv disables secure boot, so weigh custom ROMs against enterprise-grade encryption.

Where to Buy Safely in 2024

Swappa and eBay dominate the secondary market for 2015 flagships. Filter listings by carrier compatibility and insist on original photos, not stock images.

Meet sellers in person when possible; test call quality, GPS, and gyroscope on the spot. Bring a laptop to run manufacturer diagnostics—Samsung’s Members app and Apple’s GSX both expose hidden faults.

Carriers occasionally purge IMEI databases, so verify the phone isn’t blacklisted before handing over cash.

Battery Replacement Guide

Most 2015 phones used adhesive-sealed backs, making DIY swaps tricky. The G4 and Priv still offer removable batteries, so stock up on OEM cells from reputable vendors.

For sealed designs like the 6P or S6, budget twenty to forty dollars for a shop replacement. Ask technicians to reseal with new adhesive strips to retain water resistance.

Aftermarket batteries often skimp on thermal sensors; stick to OEM or well-reviewed third parties.

Accessories That Age Well

Cases and screen protectors for 2015 models remain plentiful on Amazon. Prioritize TPU over polycarbonate; older metal frames dent under hard shells.

Qi wireless pads work with the S6 and Nexus 6P via third-party receivers. Pair them with a 10 W brick to match the original charging speed.

Bluetooth 4.1 headphones pair seamlessly and sidestep the dying 3.5 mm jack on some models.

Final Shopping Checklist

Confirm the screen has no burn-in or dead pixels by displaying solid color images. Test the fingerprint sensor with multiple fingers; flaky readers rarely recover.

Run the camera for five minutes straight; overheating often predicts deeper SoC issues. Verify the vibration motor and earpiece clarity during a voice call.

Lastly, ensure the original charger is included; many 2015 USB-C or Quick Charge bricks are now out of production and expensive to source alone.