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Johannesburg - This year will go down as one of the most exciting for phones, with the launch of surprise devices building on the best features of previous smartphone models.
The year 2017 had it all, showing the nostalgia a cellphone can evoke and how users can still be impressed by never-before-seen features in a smartphone.
Fin24 has compiled a list of phones released in 2017.
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10. Apple iPhone 8
Coming in at number 10 on the list is the underrated iPhone 8. If the iPhone X had not been released, Apple’s latest flagship might have seen higher sales.
Although many of its specs lag behind those of its rivals, the iPhone 8 is a great device packed with features such as the introduction of wireless charging.
The iPhone 8 has a great camera with sharp display.
9. LG G6
The all-new design of the G6 works for the device and it was one of the first smartphones in South Africa to adopt an almost bezel-less display.
Even though it offers a large display, almost the size of a phablet, the G6 still maintains a regular size overall, keeping a shape which is even smaller than other smartphones.
8. Samsung Galaxy S8
It is safe to say that South Korean company Samsung redeemed itself with its first smartphone launch since the fire-prone Note7 saga in late 2016.
The S8 comes fitted not only with an infinity display, but also with a screen which is essentially curved at the ends like the older Samsung Edge devices. It also has a great camera for low-light photography.
7. Huawei P10
The first entry on this list from the Chinese manufacturer, the P10 gained massive interest from the public when the company made major improvements to its predecessor.
Before being overtaken by the launch of the S8, the P10 held top spot for the best camera on the market, with pro features still hard to compete with today.
6. Sony Xperia XZ Premium
The Xperia XZ Premium lives up to its name as a super-premium device. Fitted with Sony’s renowned camera and new super slow-motion video capture feature, the XZ Premium is a great smartphone.
Watching content off this device offers an almost cinematic experience.
5. Xiaomi Redmi Note 4
The Redmi Note 4, from the manufacturer whose name almost no one can pronounce, is another highly underrated device.
The Note 4 is packed with premium smartphone features like a fast processor, great camera and full HD display, while coming in at an entry-level price point.
4. Samsung Galaxy Note8
After its slick recovery with the launch of the S8, the Note8 helped Samsung regain credibility as one of the top phone-cross-tablet producers.
The hammed-up version of the S8 Plus builds on processing speed, battery life and camera quality, and includes a stylus.
3. Huawei Mate 10
The second entry on this list from Huawei is the Mate 10, because this device has shaped the future for Artificial Intelligence (AI) in mobile technology.
Not only does it feature premium specifications, it has also has been designed to cater for AI applications that may only be released towards the end of 2018, such as the recognition of food and the calories in them.
2. Nokia 3310
The Nokia 3310 has to be included on this list as the only feature phone, because of the hype created around the device when its launch was announced in February this year.
The 3310 was reportedly sold out in stores across South Africa and is still difficult to purchase today. A colour screen display and tiny 2MP camera are the only new features added to the device launched 17 years ago.
1. Apple iPhone X
Many Android users will wonder why the iPhone X tops this list, but this device likely generated the most hype out of all smartphones this year. Ditching the iPhone home button in favour of an almost borderless display with facial recognition to unlock it caused a stir around the world.
The pricey iPhone X incorporates high-end features from smartphones already launched years ago. However, this device still emerges on top because of the way these features are packaged.
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