With spring in full swing, there are enough brand new phone choices out in the market right now to make a smart purchase without feeling too left out when newer phones come out later in the year.
Sprint customers have quite the lengthy list to peruse, with a wide selection of high-end to midrange to budget-friendly phones.
For the time being, the focus is on flagships that have made it to Sprint's network, to help existing subscribers and new customers in choosing which brand new phone to get.
Most flagships have the same capabilities with just an extra trick or two up their sleeves to make them stand out. It's those unique qualities that will be discussed in the list below.
Note, however, that while Sprint does indeed sell phones off-contract, those units tend to be abnormally overpriced compared to other sources where unlocked smartphones can be bought for less.
Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge
Topping the list of non-iPhone handsets is what is arguably still the best Android phone on the market right now, Samsung's Galaxy S7 and the beautiful Galaxy S7 edge.
With its latest flagships, Samsung has not only broken the mold of stale smartphone design with the handy and aesthetically pleasing curves of the S7 edge, but it's also learned from past mistakes to make an even better phone in 2016.
In 2015, Samsung stripped out expandable storage and strapped in crappy battery life in its Galaxy S6 flagships. In terms of design, the S6 was nearly perfect, but had those two main issues slowing it down.
Now, the Galaxy S7 flagships have amended those shortcomings with expandable storage and massive batteries with quicker quick charging. Alongside beefier graphics, the S7's camera also sets the standard for both speed and quality in mobile photography.
To sweeten the deal, Sprint is also giving away $100 worth of Samsung Pay credits to those who buy a new Galaxy S7 and S7 edge.
iPhone 6s and 6s Plus
Yes, we know. Apple will be outing the next generation of iPhone in just a few months. However, Apple's current flagship can still match up with the best of the best in the Android space this far into 2016.
An overall fantastic choice for a capable, all-around smartphone, the iPhone 6 and 6s Plus have Apple's iconic design in both hardware and software. What makes the iPhone different from any other Android smartphone is that Apple's device is a match made in heaven between software and hardware.
In fact, what makes this latest batch of iPhones different from previous versions is the addition of a new layer of software interaction in iOS using Apple's new 3D Touch hardware technology.
Using special sensors beneath the glass and Retina HD display of an iPhone, iOS can measure finger pressure on the screen and provide responsive feedback in the form of subtle taps that allows a new way of interacting with iPhones.
LG G5
LG's latest effort has more than just a trick or two up its sleeve.
Right now, because of its one of a kind modular design, the G5 actually has three: a bigger, swappable battery, a more functional camera grip and a fancy amp that outputs higher quality sound.
Its standout feature is the "magic slot" that allows users to swap out the G5's stock battery with different components that offer more functions. Even if LG went out of its way to stand out in a crowded market, however, the rest of the G5 looks plainer than plain.
Besides the vanilla aesthetics, the G5's other goodies keep the flagship in the running. In fact, the G5's dual lens 16-megapixel camera gives Samsung's Galaxy S7 camera a run for its money.
HTC 10
In what may be HTC's last attempt at staying relevant in the smartphone industry, the HTC 10 actually plays it safe compared to the other models we've already mentioned here.
Playing within the bounds of current feature and design trends, the HTC 10 doesn't step on any toes, but it doesn't come off as too boring either. In fact, the HTC 10's physical design stays true to the original One's all-metal aluminum unibody, albeit without the dual front facing BoomSound speakers we all knew and loved.
The device, though, still offers higher than usual high-resolution 24-bit audio by using the front speaker/earpiece and a bottom speaker that provides stereo-ish sound.
What makes the HTC 10 stand apart from other flagship Androids isn't in its hardware - it's the software. HTC's Sense 8 skin just doesn't get in the way, nor is it as ugly as Samsung's TouchWiz or LG's skin, for example.
Better yet, Sprint has the HTC 10 on a special offer for $0 down on a $21 a month plan, too.
Special Mention: Nexus 6P
Google's own flagship can't be bought with a contract from Sprint. In fact, the Nexus 6P can't be bought from any carrier at all. Nonetheless, we'd be remiss if we didn't give the 6P some love for staying true to the Android operating system.
Even if the Nexus 6P has to be bought off contract, the device is comparatively cheap compared to our list of flagships above.
A 5.7-inch QHD AMOLED screen, Snapdragon 810, 3,450 mAh battery, 12 MP camera, and slew of other features easily place it in the $600 and above market. However, Nexus 6P starts at just $499 on the Google Store.
For those interested in a stock version of Android that won't get bogged down by unnecessary extras and will keep its tip-top shape years later, the Nexus 6P is quite a deal.
Featured Image: Mike Mozart | Flickr
