Phone makers to watch (not named Apple or Samsung)
Phones
Welcome to Top 5 where we count down things.
I'm your host, Iyaz Akhtar.
In the phone universe, there are two top dogs.
Apple and Samsung.
But they're not the only game in town.
Today, we're counting down the Top 5 phone makers you should keep an eye on that aren't Apple or Samsung.
At number five is OnePlus.
This company currently only makes one phone and it's called the OnePlus 2 which for some reason I can't help but add to call it the three in my head.
Anyway, the 2 put together lots of great specs and good build quality with an affordable price.
[MUSIC]
One of the key features that sets apart smartphones these days is the camera.
And the OnePlus too packs a great one.
To drum up interest, OnePlus sells this phone using an invite only method that must be done online.
It's an interesting strategy that could build up a cult like following other invite only thing.
And number four is Xiaomi.
This is the company that Hugo Barra, a Google vice president at the time, left Google for.
Barra took the position of vice president of international at Xiaomi.
The company Company makes some pretty awesome phones.
At first glance, the products look like Apple knock-offs, but that never hurt anyone.
Right, Samsung?
However, it's phones are well-built and affordable, plus it's Android skin is actually pretty polished.
With Barrett as it's VP of International, expect to see these phones in places like the US eventually.
At number 3, is Motorola, yet another company that knows how to build low cost, well crafted phones.
After a brief period of being owned by Google, Lenovo snapped up Motorola Mobility.
That's the company that makes those snazzy smartphones like the Moto X. The deal close in late October 2014.
This wasn't Lenovo's first go and buy another company.
Lenovo famously purchased IBM's computer business and did a great job with the ThinkPad line.
Recently, Lenovo had been making a number of phones.
This didn't really see the light of day outside of Asian markets, perhaps we'll see some of those arrive under the Motorola banner.
And number two is LG, this company is desperately trying to get your attention, you've seen the series of commercials on TV, with leather being crafted to fit the LG G4 the thing is LG makes some pretty awesome phones, the LG G series Phones are considered some of the best Android phones for Android fans.
It's also made three of Google's Nexus phones.
The four, the five, and the new 5s.
LG's Nexus phones were generally well liked too.
Will it ever have a monster hit like the Samsung Galaxy S line?
I think it's very possible.
And at number one is Huawei.
This is a company that makes a brand new Google NExus 6p.
The company name might not be terribly familiar to some, but Huawei is making a big push right now.
The company is the world's third largest smartphone maker.
And with Google's stamp of approval, this will garner a lot of attention.
From cnet's time with the 6p, we found it to be really well built, and its specs are top notch.
IT's also really perdy, maybe the p in 6p stands for perdy.
Anyway, keep an eye Huawei.
[NOISE] And there you have it, the top five phone makers to watch, not named Apple or Samsung.
Do you thing Mazu or Oppo should've been on this list?
Let me know on twitter, I'm @iyaz.
For more top fives like this, visit top5.cnet.com.
Thanks for watching, and we'll see you later.
