The premium smartphone race was taken to a whole new level in 2015. Major advancements in terms of specs were made to lure consumers. While companies like Apple, Samsung, Sony, Google and others launched their respective flagship devices with premium price tags, others like OnePlus and YU launched their affordable premium smartphones this year.
Here's a list of top flagship releases throughout 2015 and their impact on the market:
Apple iPhone 6s series
Apple launched the new iPhone 6s series in India this year, succeeding the highly-successful iPhone 6 series. The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus were launched with surprisingly high price tags, which resulted in lower-than-expected sales in India. The company later realized and slashed the prices of its 2015 flagship devices by up to 16 percent in order to take advantage of the holiday season. As per the new pricing, iPhone 6s 16GB variant sells for between Rs. 52,000 and Rs. 55,000 and the price cut was exercised across all variants.
Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge
Samsung advanced on several levels to make its 2015 flagships worthy and attractive. Everything from a new and most advanced processor to a lavish new design helped set a new standard in the flagship race. Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge was well-received for its dual-curved display, first in the industry to feature a curved screen. The glass back and metal body design was a long departure from the usual plastic build Samsung favoured over the years. The Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge received their share of popularity but did not perform exceptionally well in terms of sales due to iPhone 6's popularity.
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and S6 Edge+
Samsung's Galaxy Note series is a successful lineup and the company launched its Galaxy Note 5 along with Galaxy S6 Edge+ with same dual curved screen as the Galaxy S6 Edge but with a bigger screen. The Galaxy Note 5's S Pen feature, its fine camera, incredible display really made a lasting impression on consumers and critics alike.
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
Touted as the world's first smartphone with a 4K display, Sony Xperia Z5 Premium was a great improvement from its predecessors. With a great camera, good fingerprint sensor and an improved battery, Xperia Z5 Premium appealed to a wide range of audience. But the buyers were not taken by the extremely high price tag, which might have affected the sales of the handset. It is still one of the best premium devices out there.
Google Nexus 6P
If you love stock Android with high-end smartphone experience, Nexus 6P is the go to device. It offers great camera, good quality build, stock Android and not-to-mention timely software updates. The handset's Indian debut was a bit delayed compared to U.S. launch but managed to arrive just in time for holidays. Nexus 6P is available in 32GB and 64GB variants with a recent price drop on both models costing Rs. 37,999 and Rs. 40,999, respectively.
YU Yutopia
If you are skeptical about spending your savings on a high-end phone, YU offers a similar experience at a much affordable price point. YU Yutopia packs industry's leading specs with a great camera and design, reliable battery, Cyanogen OS and lot more for Rs. 24,999. Yutopia was launched just this month but has the potential to make up for the lost time with the combination of finest specs offered in a smartphone in this price range.
OnePlus 2
OnePlus established a trustworthy brand for itself in India. The company's latest flagship, OnePlus 2, made some waves in the market. Complete with premium features such as good design, great camera and battery, fingerprint scanner and lot more, OnePlus 2 helped the company grow fonder in the hearts of its fans in the country. Started off with invite-only sales, OnePlus 2 is available freely without invites through Amazon India. The 64GB variant is priced at Rs. 24,999 and challenges some of the industry's biggest rivals.
