Phones & Accessories – TheCanadianTechie Gift Guide 2016

There was quite a few phones that came out this year but in this list, you’ll find some of my favourites for from this year.

Google Pixel & Pixel XL

Google really hit it out of the park with their Pixel phones, great hardware paired with excellent software and an awesome camera to top it all off. The Pixel and Pixel XL are available now from the Google Store from $899 CAD.

Samsung Galaxy S7

Samsung did a great job with the Galaxy S7, it’s one of the best Android phones out there but it’s being dragged down by Samsung’s TouchWiz skin. It’s available now from a variety of retailers and carriers.

Here’s a link to the Galaxy S7 Review.

HTC 10

HTC seems to go under the radar, the HTC 10 is a great phone for anyone who doesn’t want a Galaxy S7 or iPhone. It’s available now from a variety of retailers including HTC’s website.

Here’s a link to the HTC 10 Review.

Moto Z

Moto is on the right track on how to approach modular phones with their Moto Mods system. The Moto Z is a great phone.

Here’s a link to the Moto Z Review.

iPhone 7 Plus

No gift guide would really be complete without some mention of Apple’s latest iPhone. Even though I didn’t get a chance to do a full review of the iPhone 7/7 Plus (the only hands-on time, I’ve gotten is at the Apple Store), it’s still a great phone and good for those who want the latest and greatest iPhone. I would recommend getting the iPhone 7 Plus, partly because you’ll get better battery life and the dual-camera array to take some cool photos.

The iPhone 7 & 7 Plus are available now from Apple’s website from $899 CAD.

VEDFUN TurboCube and TurboDrive

If you’re in the market for Qualcomm Quick Charge compatible charger for your Android phone then look no further than the VEDFUN TurboCube and TurboDrive. They are made well and should last a long time and come with flat microUSB cables.

The chargers are available now from Amazon.ca and Amazon.com.

Here’s a link to the VEDFUN TurboCube & TurboDrive Review.

SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive USB Type-C

USB Type-C is the future of connectivity, chances are that you’re next Android phone will have a USB Type-C port. And if you’re to get a phone such as a Google Pixel and opted to get the 32GB, you’ll probably also know that just like the Nexus phones before it, it doesn’t have expandable storage, so you’re stuck with whatever capacity you chose to buy.

But fear not, SanDisk has a few USB Type-C offerings such as the SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive USB Type-C which comes in 16GB, 32GB, 64GB and 128GB. I’ve been using it for the past few weeks and it works great with the Google Pixel XL, it’s small and compact and offers fast transfer speeds.