Top 8 phones of the year (photos)

Its gorgeous curves and shimmering surfaces top an already impressive phone.

Apple's larger-screen all-arounder gave us more than we thought we'd get for an "S" year -- including the first experiments with pressure-sensitive screens.

The smallest phone in the Z5 trio is also the best buy. You get the same camera and nearly all the power in a more portable -- and cheaper -- package.

Google's debut phone for Android 6.0 Marshmallow embraces powerful specs for a price to win anyone over. Terrific combo.

We were skeptical about quality when we first saw this phone's low, low price -- but quickly changed our minds when the 5.5-inch phone kept up with our demands.

This is the best phone for power users, and a standout overall. It shares the Galaxy S6 family's specs and design style, with a larger screen and stylus.

The ultimate in customization, this budget phone is easy to love, especially if you design it yourself.

A classy-looking phone that stands up to the best of Apple or Samsung, but at a much more aggressively low price.