After all the hubbub surrounding the Galaxy Note 7 — the unprecedented global recall, the exploding of "safe" replacement units and whatnot — Samsung had no other choice but to pull the plug on the phablet, hitting the final nail on the coffin.
That said, consumers who bought the handset in question early and haven't found an alternative yet are now left looking for other options in the market.
To help things move along, here are a couple of smartphones that could more or less take the place of the Galaxy Note 7.
From The Same Brand: Samsung Galaxy S7 edge
The Galaxy S7 edge is probably the obvious choice, as it essentially offers the same experience as the Galaxy Note 7 in terms of how it's held and how the software also known as TouchWiz runs things behind the scenes.
Basically, it pretty much has all the same specs, including the IP68 dust- and water-resistance rating, the 12-megapixel camera, side screen features, always-on display, a microSD card slot, wireless charging and Snapdragon 820 paired with 4 GB of RAM.
Also, it has a similar-sized edge screen at 5.5 inches compared with the phablet's display that measures at 5.7 inches. What's more, it has a slightly larger battery of 3,600 mAh than 3,500 mAh.
However, what's out of the equation are the USB Type-C port, the S Pen and the not-so-useful iris scanner.
In other words, customers are going to miss out on a few features here and there when they downgrade from the Galaxy Note 7 to the Galaxy S7 edge, but hey, at least it doesn't explode as often.
Cutting The Price By Half: OnePlus 3
The OnePlus 3 is likely not an alternative that comes to everyone's mind when Samsung bid the last farewell to the Galaxy Note 7, but it's a viable option.
Other than having 6 GB of RAM under the hood, the smartphone's Android layer OxygenOS is a lot lighter than TouchWiz, and that's why it comes out on top performance-wise.
However, it's not on the same playing field in resisting water and dust, and it doesn't really earn marks with its 3,000 mAh cell and lack of a microSD card slot in this short comparison.
Still, it has a screen that's 5.5 inches, and it only costs $399. That's less than half the cost of the Galaxy Note 7.
The Upcoming Competitor: LG V20
What made the Galaxy Note series is that it has offerings that no other phones have, and the LG V20 is bringing a similar flavor to the table.
To start things off, it should be pointed out that the handset also measures at 5.7 inches, just like the Galaxy Note 7. Across the board, it also houses a Snapdragon 820, a microSD card slot and fast charging. Out of the box, it runs on Android 7.0 Nougat, something that the Samsung phablet doesn't offer.
However, it has a smaller 3,200 mAh battery, but the best part is that it's removable.
For the mobile photography enthusiast, the LG V20 is equipped with a dual camera setup on the rear — one 16-megapixel sensor and another 8-megapixel snapper to take wide-angle photos.
More than that, it has a secondary display that can serve as an always-on display and provide added functionality for notifications and shortcuts, among other things.
Of course, to no one's surprise, it doesn't have an S Pen or an equivalent of it, and it's not exactly water resistant. The display is also LCD, and there's no wireless charging support.
Those who are interested in the LG V20 will have to wait, though, as it's going to hit shelves on Oct. 28.
The Hot Smartphone This Year: Google Pixel XL
Google's Nexus successor that is the Pixel is nothing like the Galaxy Note 7 in many ways, particularly how it's going to run on a special version of Android Nougat minus manufacturers' bloatware.
However, the larger variant Pixel XL is comparable regarding specs: 4 GB of RAM, 3,450 mAh battery with quick charging support, 5.5-inch AMOLED screen and USB Type-C. To make things better, it also packs in a Snapdragon 821, and it has one of the best smartphone cameras among the current brood.
As for the minor downsides, it only has an IP53 rating for water and dust resistance, and there's no microSD card slot and wireless charging. Needless to say, don't expect an S Pen or anything like it for this one too.
It's also worth mentioning that the Pixel XL is available for preorder at Verizon, and the Big Red has a trade-in promo that lets customers save up to $300 and get a free Daydream View VR headset. It's expected to start shipping out on Oct. 20.
Wrapping Things Up
The Galaxy Note 7 was arguably the best smartphone out in the market, as it provided practically everything that power users were looking for in a device — USB Type-C, impressive performance, water-resistant build and a microSD card slot, to name a few.
On top of that, if Samsung designed it with a removable battery instead of the gimmicky iris scanner, then it would've come across as an even better handset to some.
Unfortunately, there's nothing left to do with the Galaxy Note 7 but to turn it in and grab a different smartphone at this point.
What do you think of these alternatives to the Samsung phablet? Drop by our comments section below and let us know.
