Top 12 smartphones in 2017

1.iPhone X

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight: 174g 

Dimensions:
143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7mm 

OS: iOS11 

Screen size: 5.8-inches 

Resolution: 1125 x 2436 pixels 

CPU: Apple A11 Bionic 

RAM: 3GB 

Storage: 64/256GB 

Battery: 2716mAh 

Rear camera: Dual 12MP 

Front camera: 7 MP f/2.2

REASONS TO BUY

1.Incredibly desirable

2.Future of the iPhone

REASONS TO AVOID

1.Gestures take getting used to

2. Fragile

Is the iPhone X the best phone this year? Yes. But only by a whisker. The Samsung Galaxy S8 is so close (especially if you prefer Android), while Apple’s own iPhone 8 Plus gives you so much of the iPhone X technology without the extra cost. In the end, though, it's the ultra-desirability of the iPhone X that wins it.

The first thing that strikes you about the design is, obviously, the 5.8-inch AMOLED screen.  It's certainly true that the edge-to-edge screen looks absolutely stunning, both from a design perspective and from a technology viewpoint. 

Of course, there's also the top 'notch'. This does intrude on the screen slightly, especially when you want to be fully immersed in something, but call me crazy – I kind of like it. It gives the phone a visual identity. Aside from the screen, you've got Apple's blazing fast A11 Bionic processor, a fantastic dual camera with portrait lighting mode, and FaceID (which actually works very well).

It’s the marriage of software and hardware, something that Apple's always been good at, that’s so effective here and that’s especially the case when it comes to Face ID.  

Of course, here is the price. The iPhone X costs a considerable ₹86500, making it the most expensive iPhone to date. 

We'll start by saying this, if you think that's too much money then the iPhone X isn't for you. Is it worth £999? Well, it's complicated. Just like a Louis Vuitton Bag, there are more affordable alternatives that do exactly the same job, but it's all about prestige and branding.
Apple has slowly been morphing into a luxury goods company for a while now, and the iPhone X is another step in that direction. It's essentially a luxury item from a designer brand, so I feel it charging ₹86500 is somehow more justified than Samsung charging ₹73650 for the Note 8.

Basically, it's the refresh the iPhone needed, and Apple has succeeded in creating an incredibly desirable package. It's the best smartphone you can buy.

2. SAMSUNG GALAXY S8

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight: 155g

Dimensions: 148.9 x 68.1 x 8mm

OS: Android 7.0

Screen size: 5.8-inches

Resolution: 1440 x 2960 pixels

CPU: Exynos 8895 Octa

RAM: 4GB

Storage: 64GB

Battery: 3000mAh

Rear camera: 12 MP f/1.7

Front camera: 8 MP f/1.7

REASONS TO BUY

1.Amazing design

2.Almost flawless

REASONS TO AVOID

1.Fingerprint sensor location

2.Expensive

The Samsung Galaxy S8 is the best Android smartphone in the world right now, boasting the brilliant Infinity Edge display which occupies 84-percent of the body and cutting-edge guts. Yep, this futuristic smartphone is a looker and instantly made its competitors look dated. It's the next step in smartphone design.

The S8 is the complete package, as well as the amazing display and industry-leading specs, this handset also has decent battery life, an excellent camera, and amazing performance. With all of that combined, you get not only the best-looking smartphone but one of the top performing smartphones in the universe. Yes, the universe! 

We think the 5.8-inch S8 is perfect, but if you're after an ever larger smartphone, Samsung also offers the Galaxy S8+, which features a massive 6.2-inch display.

Okay, so, unfortunately, Samsung hasn't released a perfect phone - there are a few small niggles - such as the weirdly places fingerprint sensor next to the camera and poor Bixby implementation. But we guarantee you won't be disappointed if you buy this phone.

3. GOOGLE PIXEL 2 XL

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight: 175g

Dimensions: 157.9 x 76.7 x 7.9mm

OS: Android 8

Screen size: 6.0-inches

Resolution: 1440 x 2880 pixels

CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835

RAM: 4GB

Storage: 64/128GB

Battery: 3520mAh

Rear camera: 12MP f/1.8

Front camera: 8MP f/2.4

REASONS TO BUY

1.Great camera

2.Super software

REASONS TO AVOID

1.Plastic-like metal

2.Lackluster screen

We can't tell you how close it is to the Google Pixel 2 XL, iPhone X and S8 for the title of 'best smartphone in the world.' All three are great, but the sleek design and amazing screen put the iPhone and Samsung in the lead, just. The Google Pixel 2 XL is still an amazing smartphone - especially if you prioritize camera quality and want software straight from Google.

Whether it's the excellent camera, the metal-and-glass chassis, oodles of power involved or just the fact that the software and virtual assistant work in perfect harmony with the hardware, Google's got a lot right here and this is a brilliant phone. 

2017 has seen Google come into its stride with the Pixel sequels. Google now has a clear vision for its flagship smartphones. The design is distinctive and has character, and the Pixel 2 XL's edge-to-edge screen makes it the one to go for.

Of course, if you prefer smaller screens, the 5-inch Pixel 2 is also available, which is identical the OG (apart from size and screen).

4. ONEPLUS 5T

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight: 162g

Dimensions: 156.1 x 75 x 7.3mm

OS: Android 7.0

Screen size: 6-inches

Resolution: 1080 x 2160 pixels

CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835

RAM: 6/8GB

Storage: 64/128GB

Battery: 3300mAh

Rear camera: Dual 16MP f/1.7 + 20MP f/1.7

Front camera: 16MP f/2.0

REASONS TO BUY

1.Low price for flagship

2.Premium build with all-screen design

REASONS TO AVOID

1.Not waterproof

2.'Only' HD screen

Looking to upset dominance by the big brands is OnePlus, who took the mobile world by storm in 2014 with one goal, to be the flagship killer. We think it's the latest smartphone, the OnePlus 5T has finally achieved that goal. 

The OnePlus 5T gives you the latest smartphone trends, including an impressive 6-inch edge-to-edge display and dual camera set up with portrait mode. These new features are backed up by crazy powerful specs, a lightning fast fingerprint sensor, and a genuinely premium design.

Perhaps what's most impressive is that you'll get all of that for less than ₹43324.

The OnePlus 5T isn't perfect though, the premium aluminium casing still lacks waterproofing, and the screen is only HD, rather than QHD (2K) found in many of its more expensive rivals.

Still, it's a very impressive phone, and if you're reluctant to spend more than ₹43324 on a device, this is definitely the one to go for.

5. IPHONE 8 PLUS

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight: 202g

Dimensions: 158.4 x 78.1 x 7.5mm

OS: iOS11

Screen size: 5.5-inches

Resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels

CPU: Apple A11 Bionic

RAM: 3GB

Storage: 64/256GB

Battery: 2691mAh

Rear camera: Dual 12MP

Front camera: 7 MP f/2.2

REASONS TO BUY

1.Excellent camera

2.Convenient wireless charging

REASONS TO AVOID

1.Dated design

2.iPhone X is coming

Here we have the iPhone 8 Plus - probably one of the most anticipated smartphones of the year. Some feel its sheer size does make it tricky to hold, but there's no denying Apple's beautiful 5.5-inches is a winner. If you prefer iOS to Android and don't want to splash out on the iPhone X, this should be your first choice.

Apple has chosen to stick with a similar design to the iPhone 7, swapping the out the all-metal case for a glass back and making it heavier (more premium feeling). There is a glorious new Gold colorway available, and to top it off, the glass casing allows Apple to add wireless charging. The recent S8 design does make the iPhone 8 feel slightly dated now, however.

It's inside where the iPhone 8 Plus has received the biggest overhaul - now packing Apple's blazing fast A11 Bionic processor. The dual camera has also received a significant upgrade, now a better sensor and smart software powering it. To finish it off, the iPhone 8 Plus comes running iOS 11, Apple's latest and greatest mobile OS.

It is expensive and may be too large for some, so the standard iPhone 8 with a 4.7-inch display is also worth your consideration.

6. HTC U11

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight: 169g

Dimensions: 153.9 x 75.9 x 7.9mm

OS: Android 7.0

Screen size: 5.5-inches

Resolution: 1440 x 2560 pixels

CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835

RAM: 4/6GB

Storage: 64/128 GB

Battery: 3000mAh

Rear camera: 12MP f/1.8

Front camera: 16MP f/1.8

REASONS TO BUY

1.Great battery life and camera

2.Amazing sound and software

REASONS TO AVOID

1.Bezels

2.Fragile design

The HTC U11 is the biggest shake-up HTC has made to its flagship range for many years. Taking the best bits from the 11, and putting them in a sexy glass and metal casing, with a bit of extra innovation thrown in for good measure. It's again shown the rest of the competition how to make a premium smartphone, and its camera, battery life, and performance is right up there too. HTC has really worked on the criticisms of the previous generation devices and created their best ever flagship smartphone.

It's great to see HTC innovating with the squeezable edges, which make interacting with the device much easier, and the minimal tweaks they've made to stock Android are amazing, making this one of our favorite smartphones in 2017.

7. HUAWEI MATE 10 PRO

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight: 178g

Dimensions: 154.2 x 74.5 x 7.9mm

OS: Android 8.0

Screen size: 6-inches

Resolution: 1080 x 2160 pixels

CPU: Kirin 970

RAM: 4/6GB

Storage: 64/128GB

Battery: 4000mAh

Rear camera: Dual 20MP + 12MP Leica

Front camera: 8MP f/2.0

REASONS TO BUY

1.Premium design

2.Battery life

3.Business features

REASONS TO AVOID

1.Software

2.Just' HD screen

The Huawei Mate 10 Pro is the latest flagship from the Chinese smartphone giant, and we really, really like it. It's the ideal smartphone if you need a powerhouse for business, but it's also got plenty of features which make it great as a personal device as well. 

We love the Mate 10 Pro's Leica-branded dual camera, which can capture some very pleasing images, and the OS is coming by leaps and bounds as well.

One of the coolest features packed into the device is mobile-PC experience when you hook up it to an external display. It only needs a USB-C to HDMI cable, rather than powered dock, making it more portable and as a result, immeasurably more useful.

But it's not quite perfect. The UI still lags behind its competitors, as does the camera. While we love the design, it's a little more generic than the likes of Samsung and Google.

Despite its flaws, we really enjoyed using it, thanks to a neat blend of design and features. Plus, the battery life is class leading, capable of lasting around two days.

8. LG G6

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight: 163g

Dimensions: 148.9 x 71.9 x 7.9mm

OS: Android 7.0

Screen size: 5.7-inches

Resolution: 1440 x 2880 pixels

CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 821

RAM: 4GB

Storage: 32/64GB

Battery: 3300mAh

Rear camera: Dual 13MP

Front camera: 5MP f/2.2

REASONS TO BUY

1.Large screen

2.Dual camera

REASONS TO AVOID

1.Less premium than rivals

2.UI

LG has finally made a good-looking, premium smartphone free from gimmicks. There are a lot of features we love here - that wide-angle screen is great, the bezels are tiny, and the dual-camera is really handy. Basically, we really enjoyed using it.

But it’s far from a perfect phone. LG has used a 2016 chipset, so it’s not the most efficient smartphone available, and the skin over Android Nougat isn't the best out there. It also feels less premium than its rivals, with a slightly hollow feel to the rear casing.

Certainly, though, LG has done enough to redeem itself from the unfortunately unsuccessful G5 last year. It’s not the best Android phone released in 2017, but we don’t think you’ll regret buying it, especially if you can pick it up for a decent price.

9. HONOR 9

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight: 155g

Dimensions: 147.3 x 70.9 x 7.5mm

OS: Android 7.0

Screen size: 5.1-inches

Resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixelsCPU: Kirin 960

RAM: 4GB

Storage: 32/64GB

Battery: 3200mAh

Rear camera: Dual 20MP + 12MP

Front camera: 8MP f/1.9

REASONS TO BUY

1.Great price

2.Excellent design

REASONS TO AVOID

1.Software

2.Low light photography

If you disregard the price, the Honor 9 is a good smartphone, it has a solid design, decent camera, and high-end specs. But when you take the price into consideration, it becomes the bargain of the century.

There are a lot of neat touches, too, we especially like the single navigation key, and the dual camera is capable of taking some striking images.

The Honor 9 is 100% solid in every key respect, although, it may lack that little bit of innovation which makes a phone a true Android flagship. Still, we really can't fault it at the price.

10. IPHONE SE

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight: 113g

Dimensions: 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6mm

OS: iOS 10

Screen size: 4.0-inches

Resolution: 640 x 1136 pixels

CPU: Apple A9

RAM: 2GB

Storage: 32/128GB

Battery: 1624mAh

Rear camera: 12MP f/2.2

Front camera: 1.2MP f/2.4

REASONS TO BUY

1.It's small

2.Great battery life

REASONS TO AVOID

1.Old, boxy design

2.Due an update

Notice how all of these smartphones have 5+ inch screens? What if you have small hands? You can't reach all four corners of the screen. It's a problem not many of us face, but the truth is -- some people just prefer smaller phones but don't want to sacrifice high-end specs. The iPhone SE is for you. 

With a 4-inch screen and guts which match the iPhone 6S, including the 12MP rear camera, 2GB RAM, Apple Pay, Retina display, and Apple A9 chipset, this thing is a little pocket rocket.

There are a few drawbacks - the design isn't beautifully curvaceous like the iPhone 8 (the SE is based on the iPhone 5), the front-facing camera has fewer megapixels, and the Touch ID fingerprint sensor is older and therefore slower. The best thing about it? Despite its range-topping specs, the iPhone SE is also one of the cheapest smartphones Apple has ever released.

11. MOTOROLA MOTO Z2 FORCE

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight: 143g

Dimensions: 155.8 x 76 x 6.1 mm

OS: Android 7.1

Screen size: 5.5-inches

Resolution: 1440 x 2560 pixels

CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835

RAM: 4/6GB

Storage: 64/128GB

REASONS TO BUY

1.Durable design

2.Unbreakable screen

REASONS TO AVOID

1.Weak battery life

2.Not waterproof

The Moto Z2 Force is a refreshing phone - it's both designed to be sleek and sophisticated, as well as durable with the ability to survive a beating. That's mainly down to the screen, which features a thick, toughened outer layer which won't break - no matter how hard you try. 

The casing is also pretty rugged, with a strong aluminium skeleton, the Moto Z2 Force doesn't look like it belongs in a workman's tool bog. The specs are up there with every other device on this list, and the ecosystem of Moto Mods is impressive too.

Android is left close to stock which is also good news, but battery life isn't stellar.

12. LENOVO P2

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight: 177g

Dimensions: 153 x 76 x 8.3mm

OS: Android 7.0

Screen size: 5.5-inches

Resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels

CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 625

RAM: 4GB

Storage: 64GB

Battery: 5100mAh

Rear camera: 13MP f/2.0

Front camera: 5MP f/2.2

REASONS TO BUY

1.Outstanding battery life

2.Great display (for price)

REASONS TO AVOID

1.Camera

2.Looks like a brick

The Lenovo P2 isn't pretty, it doesn't have a sexy bezel-less display, and it doesn't have an amazing camera. It does have the best battery life of any smartphone we've ever tested, with the P2 lasting up to three days! 

If all you care about is battery life, this smartphone is definitely for you, but Lenovo has done a good job elsewhere, as well, with a decent metal build, great display, and solid UI design. All in a pretty affordable package.