This year I have been fortunate enough to have reviewed a large number of phones. As the year has moved on each phone does ultimately become another rectangle with minor differences over the last phone reviewed. Rarely does a new phone come along that is a “game changer”.
Cheap budget phones are starting to offer 2gb ram and 1080p screens as standard. At this point if a £150 phone does all you need why bother with a £660+ flagship from Apple or Samsung?
Ok, flagships are moving to QHD screens, but even that price point is lowering to £400 or even less in some cases. Camera? This is an area where flagship phones generally do excel. But if you are sharing your photos only on social media, any camera will suffice.
For a flagship to really survive, it has to offer stunning build quality and desirability backed up with faultless software and after sales support.
So what do you think? Are these changes affecting how you will decide when or what to buy next?
Gavin's Gadgets & Photography 
I think the case for expensive Android phones is getting weaker. Apple already has great CS and support so can continue to charge a premium. Having said that I am looking to get the Note 5.
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IMHO, i still think QHD screen for <6" screen are a definite overkill.
my ideal phone for me would be a 5" (5,5" tops) FHD screen with adequate amount of processing power, at least 3 gigs of RAM, 32gb internals (if there's a microSD port) or 64gb internals (if no SD card port).
having that said, me personally would totally get Z3+; such a shame that phone is horribly overpriced in the first place, mediocre camera performance for a USD 750++ phone, and Sony already have some horrendous reputation in my country
looking at where flagship phones are heading, i think i'd get O+ Two as my next phone.
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These are good points about many not needing cutting edge specs on a phone.
Ironically my first smartphone in 2012 was LG Motion 4G – although a midrange Phone it had VoLTE and was factory overclocked to 1.5 Gigahertz speed .
Many of us use our phones as a Pocket Laptop and a Phone so the advanced Flagships will remain important and cutting edge features trickle down to Midrange Devices.
The Cameras will soon replace Point and Shoot Cameras and can be important for Pros in Real Estate, Design, Architects, etc. to take quick photos and email them for Business.
Ironically more midrange phones keep SD Support- I hope backup/ additional storage remains on Flagships.
I also like the rigidity and durability of the new Metal Phones- less likely to break from flex in your pocket etc.
However I HOPE Flagship does NOT equal 5.5″ and 5.9″ screens and HOPE
Manufacturers make Flagships in 2 sizes 4.7″ to 5.1″ Compact Devices- (even Galaxy S6 is pocket sized )
AND Devices for large screen Fans.
The trend toward very thin phones at 7.0 millimeters and below with weak, sealed Batteries like S6 is a bad one IMO.
IF the “Thinness Race” continues I hope we see Pro Devices at 8.0 millimeters thick with large Batteries and Cameras which protrude less.
I would LOVE to see and LG 4 Compact at about 5.0″ screen or slightly less with all features and same CPU and Camera for example.
And also Note Series Compact at about S6 Size or less but MUCH thicker with large Battery – 3500 Mah.
Flagships are still great – and Cameras are getting excellent so we still want them!
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