2016 Smartphone Comparison Guide

Your process of buying a new phone doesn't always have to start and end with one or two brands. Sure, Samsung and Apple are the commercial leaders, and makers of some of the best phones out there, but our Best Smartphone of 2016 pick so far comes from HTC, a company that doesn't even do much (if any?) TV advertising these days. No matter which phone you go with, make the best possible decision by starting with this latest installment of our biannual Smartphone Comparison Guide.

Mercedes-Benz Arrow460 Granturismo is 46 feet of floating excess

For all intents and purposes, the Mercedes S-Class Convertible is the perfect car for a seaside cruise. It's beautiful, powerful, and the cabin has been specially designed so your fancy haircut isn't ruined by pesky buffeting. Problem is, it doesn't float, so cashed up car buyers with a nautical bent can't enjoy S-Class level opulence once they arrive at the marina.

North Sails unfurls game-changing new sail technology

In fact, new aerodynamic discoveries coupled with exotic materials have turned modern sails into veritable works of high tech art. Today, sailmakers know that the less a sail distorts (through stretching, shear, compression or shrinkage), the more force or drive remains available to power the boat - especially helpful when you're in a close race for that final buoy. Now, the innovative designers at North Sails have woven an interesting array of tricks into their unique new 3Di line of "canvas" - laminated, heat-molded sails that hold their shape so well, they come close to performing like rigid airfoils.

Hyundai's RM series evolves, with the latest N performance car concept

Hyundai is continuing to tease characteristics of its upcoming N performance sub-brand, with the release of another concept in its RM series. The RM16 is said to further develop Hyundai's performance technologies, while inheriting features from both the RM14 and the RM15.

Renault spices up the Twingo with punchy GT

There's something intrinsically right about a quick, cheap hatch. On a deserted back road they'll keep up with anything short of McLaren or Ferrari's finest, but you don't have to worry about sky-high insurance premiums and expensive carbon panels in an accident. It's a potent recipe, and one that Renault has almost perfected over the years, so it's with great excitement we welcome the little Twingo GT into the world.

Breitling pairs with Bentley for blacked out B06 Midnight Carbon

In the complex world of status symbols, few brands carry the same weight as Bentley. It's why the Continental has been co-opted as the car of choice for famous singers and footballers keen to show off their hefty pay packets with a piece of automotive extravagance.

German for "you don't need an SUV"

Mercedes has plugged every four-wheel drive niche imaginable, but that doesn't mean the team at Stuttgart has forgotten about traditional families who just want a plain old wagon. The E-Class Estate has space for the family and all their kit, but unlike many SUVs, it doesn't try to be something it's not. And we're perfectly okay with that.

Samsung Galaxy S7 Active

It must be that time of year again: Samsung and AT&T are back with yet another rugged variant of the latest Galaxy flagship. If you paid attention to last year's model, then this new one is exactly what you'd expect – a Galaxy S7 with a beefier, sturdier and plastic body, along with a 33 percent larger battery.

HTC 10 vs. Samsung Galaxy S7 (and S7 edge)

For a while there, it looked like the HTC vs. Samsung smartphone rivalry had been snuffed out, after HTC's disappointing 2015 flagship fell short of being a true threat to Samsung's envelope-pushing Galaxy S6. This year is a different story, though, as the companies have the two top Smartphone of the Year candidates (so far). Read on for our hands-on comparison of the HTC 10 vs. Samsung Galaxy S7 – which also includes the larger Galaxy S7 edge.

Toyota 4Runner Trail Premium

The Toyota 4Runner stands as one of the last true, off-road-worthy mid-size SUVs in the US market, maintaining fast-disappearing features like body-on-frame construction and a 4WD transfer case shifter. This made it a natural choice for our recent 350-mile (563-km) round trip between Phoenix and Overland Expo. We put a 4Runner 4x4 Trail Premium through its paces across the sunburned Phoenix metro area, up and down undulating highway, through wind-ravaged forests, and over rock-littered trail, relying on it as both carriage and castle.