Last year our reviewers always had something interesting on their hands, but the fun for 2015 is now over. Time to see which of our reviews proved to be the most popular before CES kicks off and pulls the spotlight towards 2016 gadgets.
This year marked a major turnaround for Samsung, which completely rethought its design with the Galaxy S6 and flexed its advanced manufacturing muscle with the Galaxy S6 edge. The S6 review was our most read this year and even then people were curious enough to check out the S6 edge review.
The Galaxy S6 also starred in some of the best-read shootouts this year. Our Intergalactic camera shootout was the peak of the versus articles, but the S6 also brawled with the LG G4, HTC One M9, Apple iPhone 6 and Sony Xperia Z5.
For all of Samsung’s popularity, the Asus Zenfone 2 review breathed down the neck of the S6. That review was published a month later, so maybe with enough time the competitively priced mid-ranger could have taken the crown.
Speaking of, the Motorola Moto G (3rd gen) review wasn’t quite as popular as the Zenfone but it beat out all the rest for third place.
LG’s highlight was the G4, the V10 came too late in the game to score enough hits. At least LG had a flagship make its mark, our most-read Sony review was of the Xperia M4 Aqua. The Xperia Z3+ is much lower on the list and the Z5 isn’t even on it. The rapid fire of Z3, Z3+ and Z5 may have caused some reading fatigue.
Xiaomi did quite well too with the Mi 4i and Redmi 2 reviews garnering a lot of interest, ahead of other Android upstarts.
If in 2015 you decided to take a break from fast-paced world of smartphones, now is a good chance to catch up with the reviews our readers found most interesting.
 | Asus Zenfone 2 review: A balancing actWorld domination was surely on the mind of at least one top exec over at Asus headquarters, when the crew gathered to outline the Zenfone 2 game plan. The smartphone will be sold globally, and the stores in a few lucky countries already have their shelves well stocked. The company is aiming to sell 30 million phones this year, with the Zenfone 2 being a chief contributor to that number. |
 | Moto G (3rd gen) review: Good as goldIt is hardly a surprise that the third generation Motorola Moto G is one of the most anticipated smartphones of 2015. After all, in less than two years after the first iteration of the smartphone (Moto G became the most successful phone in the company’s history) made its debut, the Moto G product family has successfully redefined what a budget Android handset should look, feel, and perform like and how much it should cost. |
 | Galaxy S6 edge vs. Galaxy Note Edge: A camera shootoutWe had the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge with us for a short time so we took a stroll though Barcelona with a Galaxy Note Edge for an impromptu shootout. We also had an Apple iPhone 6 on hand so we snapped a couple of photos with that too. After all, with Samsung’s new appreciation of metal frames the Galaxy S6 edge will look to attract converts. |
 | Galaxy S6 vs. Galaxy S5 vs. Note 4 vs. iPhone 6: Intergalactic camera shootoutA quality camera has always been a big part of Galaxy flagships and Samsung is pushing new improvements every six months. The two-step cadence goes Galaxy S then Note then S again – we’re at the Galaxy S6 step of this cycle and it’s time for a retrospect of how image quality has developed since 2014. |
 | Samsung Galaxy A5 and A5 Duos review: Five starSamsung’s newly found love for “premium build” is spilling down the ranks and if the new A-series get half the love and attention the S-line has been getting, it will be a job well done. The South Koreans are right to try and stir things up in the midrange to turn declining profits around. Flagships are to be admired from a distance, the average user would think, and spend their cash on gadgets that are simpler, safer and more affordable. |
 | LG G4 review: Sharp and shooterFlagships get better with every generation but some of last year’s are as good as reborn. The LG G4 improves on the three best features of its predecessor: design, screen, the camera – and does so decisively. It adopts a G Flex curve, but makes it its own with an optional stitched leather back, and has what may as well be the most advanced camera module on a phone yet. |
 | Xiaomi Mi 4i review: Hands downThe Xiaomi Mi 4i was designed to be an affordable semi-flagship, but tries to punch above its weight. The Mi 4i is thinner, lighter and more connected than the original, and lands straight on Android Lollipop. |
 | Sony Xperia M4 Aqua review: The lookalikeThe Xperia M4 Aqua is Sony’s take on what a mid-ranger should look like. And for the first time in a while it has got us excited. It has all the right specs coupled with a thin profile and premium looks, all bundled up into a €299 phone. |
 | LG G4 vs. Samsung Galaxy S6: Next door rivalsSometimes the biggest rivalries are between neighbors. The newest additions to clan LG and clan Samsung are from two different worlds – the organic LG G4 and the industrial Galaxy S6. One is curved with soft leather, the other is a cool glass and metal sliver. |
 | Samsung Galaxy A7 review: Alpha leaderThe original Alpha project wanted no ties with the Galaxy line – which has been all over the place, from entry-level to premium. After a welcome identity boost, the A-series returns home. The Galaxy A7 is at the helm, a slim, light, metal-trimmed phablet to offer an alternative to the Galaxy Note 4 and other premium phablets. |
 | Samsung Galaxy Note5 review: The 5bletAs the fourth successor of the product that defined what a phablet should be, Samsung Galaxy Note5 is arguably the most radical release in the product family to date. The newcomer marks a noteworthy departure (no pun intended) from all of its predecessors in terms of both design and available hardware features. |
 | Samsung Galaxy S6 vs. HTC One M9: Dressed to killThe last two generations of HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S were separated by the looks versus practicality debate. Samsung’s revamped design erodes this difference, while HTC stepped up its camera game. |
 | Sony Xperia Z3+ review: The pre-sequelThe Sony Xperia Z3+ is the Japanese flagship we’ve all been anticipating, but is it really the one we’ve been hoping for? Or are the predictable chipset update and minor design touches simply a prelude to a proper upgrade later this year? |
 | Xiaomi Redmi 2 review: Spare handThe Xiaomi Redmi 2 is helping the company cross into the 64-bit era. A catchy enough headline for a sequel that’s not overly generous with the upgrades. On second thought, a new generation chipset (lower-midrange but still), a more recent OS and LTE are not a package to frown on. Especially considering that the upgrade costs the same – if not less – than the predecessor. |
 | iPhone 6s vs. Galaxy S6 vs. Xperia Z5: Monster BrawlSome phones just can’t be reviewed in a vacuum, the competition between them is so fierce – and their price tags so high – that they have to be compared against each other under a microscope to determine the best one for you. The Apple iPhone 6s and Samsung Galaxy S6 are joined by the Sony Xperia Z5 for this three-way fight. |
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