Best Android phones with expandable memory (April 2017)

A few years ago, smartphones with expandable storage were starting to become a dying breed. It makes sense, too – Google hasn’t included support for microSD expansion in their Nexus handsets for years. Something must have changed, though, because the company included support for adoptable storage in Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

Best Android phones (April 2017): our picks, plus a giveaway

1 week ago

Best microSD cards

December 13, 2016

This is making microSD support popular again, and today we are making it easy for you to find a good smartphone with expandable storage. We have created a list of our very favorite phones with microSD support, so let’s get started!

Editor’s note – We will be updating this list as more devices hit the market.

LG G6

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Throughout 2016, the LG G5 struggled to take on the Galaxy S7, HTC 10 and all the other flagships released that year. It’s not a bad phone, per se, it just lacks the level of polish we normally expect from top-tier smartphones nowadays. The phone would have been more widely accepted if it nailed the modular implementation, but unfortunately the whole module-swapping process was wonky and the three “Friends” that launched with the G5 weren’t all that appealing. With the G6, LG has gone back to the basics.

Certainly the most standout feature on the G6 is its 5.7-inch Quad HD LCD display, with its interesting aspect ratio of 18:9 and rounded corners. It also comes with a Snapdragon 821 processor, 4 GB of RAM, plenty of on-board storage, an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance and dual 13 MP rear cameras. It’s worth noting that not all LG G6s are created equal. For example, the G6 that’s coming to the U.S. is the only variant that supports wireless charging, while the Hi-Fi Quad DAC is exclusive to South Korea and certain markets in Asia. What’s more, the G6 with 64 GB of storage is only available in a handful of markets.

This isn’t a phone that introduces a bunch of gimmicky features that you’ll never use. It’s simply a solid, well-built smartphone that nails the main areas users care most about.

Specs

5.7-inch IPS LCD display with 2880 x 1440 resolution, 564 ppi
Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor
4 GB of RAM
32/64 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256 GB
Dual 13 MP rear cameras, 5 MP front camera
Non-removable 3,300 mAh battery
Android 7.0 Nougat
148.9 x 71.9 x 7.9 mm, 163 g

Buy now from Best Buy

Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge

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Samsung did a killer job with their 2015 flagship smartphones, the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. Design-wise, many would say those two phones were close to perfect. The company forwent a plastic design and instead included glass front and back panels with an aluminum frame. They weren’t without their flaws, though. The S6 and S6 Edge didn’t offer expandable storage or removable batteries — two features Samsung has been known to include in all its smartphones for years.

Now the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge have made their way to the masses, and they fix many of the problems the S6 line introduced last year. While they don’t offer removable batteries, Samsung included expandable storage on both handsets in case the 32 GB of on-board storage isn’t enough. Samsung mostly stuck to the same design this time around, though they did shrink down the camera bumps on the back and made the devices a little thicker to make room for larger batteries.

In terms of specs, these are top-of-the-line smartphones. They come with Quad HD Super AMOLED displays, Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processors, 4 GB of RAM, great 12 MP rear-facing cameras and run the latest version of Android. Instead of featuring the same screen sizes this time around though, Samsung kept the S7 at a smaller 5.1 inches, while the S7 Edge has been bumped up to a larger 5.5-inch panel.

Seriously, these are some incredible smartphones. They are a little pricey, but all in all, we think the high asking price is worth it.

Specs

Samsung Galaxy S7

5.1-inch Super AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 577 ppi
Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
4 GB of RAM
32 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 200 GB
12 MP rear camera, 5 MP front camera
Non-removable 3,000 mAh battery
Android 7.0 Nougat
142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9 mm, 152 g

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 534 ppi
Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
4 GB of RAM
32 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 200 GB
12 MP rear camera, 5 MP front camera
Non-removable 3,600 mAh battery
Android 7.0 Nougat
150.9 x 72.6 x 7.7 mm, 157 g

Buy the Samsung Galaxy S7 Buy the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

Huawei P10 and P10 Plus

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If you love Huawei’s Mate 9 but need something a bit smaller, look no further. Huawei’s new P10 and P10 Plus feature improved software, a new-and-improved dual camera setup, and top-tier specs.

The P10 and P10 Plus are the first devices to launch with Huawei’s EMUI 5.1 interface on top of Android 7.0 Nougat. Compared to EMUI 5 on the Mate 9, Huawei says the improved interface brings some notable performance improvements, as well as a smarter theming engine that will adapt to the color of your phone.

Under the hood, these devices sport the Kirin 960 processor, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage and microSD expansion up to 256 GB. Plus, both phones come with dual 12 and 20 MP rear-facing camera setups (co-developed with Leica, of course), with optical image stabilization. Both devices also have Leica-branded 8 MP front cameras.

Unfortunately you’re going to have a hard time getting your hands on one of these bad boys if you live in the United States. Huawei currently has plans to bring the P10 lineup to around 30 different countries, but the U.S. isn’t on that list. You can probably import one from another country if you’d like, but be prepared to pay a little extra if you’re going that route.

Specs

Huawei P10

5.1-inch IPS LCD display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, 431 ppi
Octa-core Hisilicon Kirin 960 processor
4 GB of RAM
64 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256 GB
Dual 20 and 12 MP rear cameras, 8 MP front camera
Non-removable 3,200 mAh battery
Android 7.0 Nougat
145.3 x 69.3 x 6.98 mm, 145 g

Huawei P10 Plus

5.5-inch IPS LCD display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 534 ppi
Octa-core Hisilicon Kirin 960 processor
4/6 GB of RAM
64/128 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256 GB
Dual 20 and 12 MP rear cameras, 8 MP front camera
Non-removable 3,750 mAh battery
Android 7.0 Nougat
153.5 x 74.2 x 6.98 mm, 165 g

See it at Huawei

Huawei Mate 9

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Huawei has done a great job at making its way to the mainstream over the past few years – first with the Huawei P9, and now with the Mate 9.

With a big 5.9-inch display, powerful Kirin 960 processor, dual-SIM capabilities, microSD expansion up to 256 GB, and an impressive camera setup, the Mate 9 may be one of the best big phones of the year. While its display is ‘only’ 1080p and its software is a bit odd sometimes, we still think the high price tag is worth it. If you’re after a smartphone that offers exceptional battery life and incredible performance, the standard Mate 9 delivers in spades. If money is no object and you want a smartphone that is unattainable to most customers, the Porsche Design Mate 9 might be worth your while.

Specs

5.9-inch IPS LCD display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, 373 ppi
Octa-core Hisilicon Kirin 960 processor
4 GB of RAM
64 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256 GB
Dual 20 and 12 MP rear cameras, 8 MP front camera
Non-removable 4,000 mAh battery
Android 7.0 Nougat
156.9 x 78.9 x 7.9 mm, 190 g

Buy now from Amazon

LG V20

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The V20 is basically the phone for power users. It has a a big Quad HD display, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 processor, plenty of RAM and on-board storage, expandable storage up to 256 GB, dual 16 MP rear-facing cameras, and a removable 3,200 mAh battery. Of course, the unique Second Screen makes a return this year, along with the addition of Quad DAC, military standard durability, and it’s already running Android 7.0 Nougat.

If top-of-the-line specs and an impressive feature set is what you’re looking for, you can’t go wrong with the V20.

Specs

5.7-inch IPS LCD display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 513 ppi
- Secondary display: 2.1-inch IPS LCD display with 160 x 1040 resolution, 513 ppi
Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
4 GB of RAM
32/64 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256 GB
Dual 16 and 8 MP rear cameras, 5 MP front camera
Removable 3,200 mAh battery
Android 7.0 Nougat
159.7 x 78.1 x 7.6 mm, 174 g

Buy now from Amazon

Moto Z and Moto Z Force

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Motorola (well, Lenovo actually) is doing something different with their flagship phones this year. Instead of releasing just one flagship under the Moto X moniker, they’ve decided to release two new smartphones that do things a bit out of the ordinary. The Moto Z and Moto Z Force not only bring flagship-level specs, but also support for modules.

These modules, called Moto Mods, attach to the back of both phones via magnets. There are only a few available right now, but they actually bring some handy features to the phones. You can purchase an external battery module, a powerful speaker, and even a projector!

They both have killer specs, too. Both devices come with a 5.5-inch Quad HD AMOLED display, a Snapdragon 820 processor, 4 GB of RAM, plenty of on-board storage, expandable memory, and run Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box. You might be wondering – what’s the difference between these two phones? The standard Moto Z is super thin at only 5.2 mm in thickness, but it only comes with a 2,600 mAh battery. The Moto Z Force is thicker, has a 3,500 mAh battery, and also has a shatterproof display.

These aren’t the cheapest phones on the market, but they’re certainly some of the best.

Specs

Moto Z

5.5-inch AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 535 ppi
Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
4 GB of RAM
32/64 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256 GB
13 MP rear camera, 5 MP front camera
Non-removable 2,600 mAh battery
Android 7.0 Nougat
153.3 x 75.3 x 5.2 mm, 136 g

Moto Z Force

5.5-inch AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 535 ppi
Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
4 GB of RAM
32/64 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256 GB
21 MP rear camera, 5 MP front camera
Non-removable 3,500 mAh battery
Android 7.0 Nougat
155.9 x 75.8 x 7 mm, 163 g

Buy the Moto Z from Amazon Buy the Moto Z Force from Amazon

Those are our favorite microSD-compatible smartphones! Do you have a favorite that is not listed? Is microSD support even a big deal to you? Hit the comments to let us know in the comments!

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