Predicting the future phones 2017

With the pace of smartphone evolution moving so fast, there's always something waiting in the wings. No sooner have you spied the latest handset, then there's anticipation of something else, the next big thing. So, we have rounded up the best smartphones for 2017, those we consider to be the best across all platforms, and we've regularly updated that list as the smartphone world has evolved.

Here we're looking at those phones that haven't yet launched, the best upcoming phones for 2017. We'll be updating this list on a regular basis, with those device rumors we think are credible and exciting, and devices just announced but yet to hit the shelves.


LG V30

We know - because it was confirmed by Google - that the LG V30 will be Daydream compatible and LG has confirmed that the V30 will have a 6-inch OLED display with an 18:9 aspect ratio, as well as a f/1.6 glass camera lens. We're expecting a sleek metal body, Snapdragon 835 and plenty of music and video potency. With the LG G6 going early and now facing rivals with more powerful handsets, the V30 might be the device to plug the power gap and bring LG back into contention.
For the last two years, LG has been playing the two flagship phones game. The V series have been limited to Asia and the US, but with an event scheduled by LG Mobile for 31 August, it looks like LG is launching the V30 in Europe for the first time, at IFA 2017.

Motorola Moto X4

Based on the leaks, it will offer IP68 certification, a 3000mAh battery and it will offer dual rear cameras, along with a fingerprint sensor on the front that is said to be able to detect gestures. There's no knowing if Moto will include compatibility with the Moto Mods of Moto Z range and exactly how Motorola will keep distinction between E, G, X and Z remains to be seen, but there's a growing body of evidence to suggest the Moto X4 is coming.

Sure, Sony has the XZ Premium, its 4K flagship phone, but the company has confirmed that it's got further plans for 2017, so we could be seeing two more phones, rumoured to be called the Xperia XZ1 and Xperia XZ1 Compact.

The company has also said that it's going to be leaving some of the lower-tier models to retire and aiming at higher things instead so we're expecting flagship specs for these two devices, thought to be launching at IFA 2017.

There's little to go on at the moment, but we're expecting to see something that steps down a little from the XZ Premium, but sticking to that same camera experience. We're looking at power but in a smaller package.

Huawei Mate 10

Huawei has made it public knowledge that the Mate 10 is going to be a powerful device - the most powerful smartphone it has ever made, according to reports from the company itself.

Little else is know about where this big phone will fit into the line up of huge phones we've got coming in late 2017, but there's already the suggestion of a 16 October 2017 date attached to it and a suggestion that it will be launched in Munich.

HTC Ocean Life / HTC U11 Mini

There have been a couple of rumours to suggest a mini version of HTC's flagship - the U11 - might appear in the form of the HTC U11 Mini, currently codenamed HTC Ocean Life. It is expected to be a mid-range handset, with talk of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor, 5.2-inch Full HD display, 16-megapixel cameras on the front and back and a 2600mAh battery.
The leaks suggest the device will come with Sense 9.0, Edge Sense and HTC USonic, though no release date or pricing has been suggested as yet.

Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus

Google Pixel 2

The Google Pixel has received great acclaim for it's pure Google phone approach, with a lot of people really loving the camera experience.

Rumours are light on the Google Pixel 2 - we don't even have confirmation of the name - but it has been confirmed that there will be a new Pixel device in 2017. That was confirmed by Rick Osterloh, SVP of hardware at Google, i.e., the chap who will be responsible for it. Other details are light, but Osterloh also confirmed that the Pixel 2 would retain its premium positioning.

That's about all we know so far, but you can expect Android O, and potentially another phone manufactured by HTC, though LG has also been mentioned too. We'd expect it to launch about October time, about a year after the original.

Microsoft Surface Phone