Don’t Buy a New Phone Just Yet. These 6 Smartphones Are Still Coming Out Later This Year
Tech Features Smartphone
August isn’t exactly the best month to buy a smartphone. In the front half of the year, many of the biggest smartphones from Asia hit the market, showing their faces at events like the Consumer Electronic Show and Mobile World Congress. We’ve already seen some incredible smartphones, including the Galaxy S8, the LG G6 and the OnePlus 5.
There are also a large group of smartphones that aim for the back-to-school and holiday release schedules. This year, there are more phones than ever, all nudging for the spotlight. So if it’s coming up on your time to upgrade your phone, keep an eye out for these six smartphones, listed chronologically according to release date:
1. Galaxy Note 8
After last year’s debacle, it was unclear if we’d ever get a new Galaxy Note again. But with the success of Samsung’s other flagship phone, the Galaxy S8, anticipation is at a fever pitch for the Note 8. The Note line of phones are always larger, as well as include support for the S Pen.
This year’s device will follow suit, but will also include the improvements of the Infinite Display of the S8, as well as a number of other new features. The Note 8 will be launched next Wednesday at a press event where we’ll get to see the details of what Samsung has cooked up with its newest smartphone.
Release Date: September 2017
2. Essential Phone
The Essential Phone is the newcomer in this year’s smartphone race. Before you start casting doubt on new smartphones trying to break into the market, you should know that the Essential Phone comes from a new startup formed by the creator of Android himself, Andy Rubin.
The first thing you’ll notice about the Essential Phone is that it is quite nearly all display, even wrapping around the front-facing camera at the top. Bezels are a thing of the past and the Essential Phone completely embraces that future. It also has support for a new form of modules, which include a tiny wireless 360 camera that looks pretty cool. The Essential Phone is available for pre-order now and should be making it into the hands of users some time in September.
Release Date: September 2017
3. LG V30
The LG G6 was a great comeback for the company, which hit a bit of a slog with the G5 in 2016. The V series has been interesting to watch over the past couple of years as it has stood alongside the G series as the large, more premium, niche device in LG’s collection. This year’s V30 seems to be taking that to another level with its even smaller bezels, even thinner frame, and 6-inch display.
The most interesting thing about the V30, however, is that it will be the template for the new Google Pixel device, which is listed below. Google is partnering with LG this year for its devices—and all the recent reports have stated that it will be based on the design of the LG V30.
Release Date: September 2017
4. Nokia 8
The brand name of Nokia has quietly made its return to smartphones and Android this year. While it’s more just a name than anything else, I’d be lying if the prospect of using a Nokia phone again didn’t catch my interest.
While the Nokia 8 doesn’t have the flashiest design next to some of the others on this list (those bezels are real eyesores), the Nokia 8 features top-of-the-line specs and simplified design reminiscent of past Nokia phones.
Release Date: September 2017
5. iPhone 7s / iPhone 8
Render by iDrop News.
Every year in September, we get the new iPhone. For the foreseeable future, the iPhone will always be the trend-setter and the phone the market anticipates most. While that’s won’t change this year, there is one big difference: All the reports from this year having been pointing toward not just two new iPhones this year, but three.
We’re expecting to see an iPhone 7s, an iPhone 7s Plus, as well as a third device that has been speculated to be the iPhone 8 (though I have a feeling it’ll have a different name). The iPhone 7s and 7s Plus will have a very similar design to the iPhone 7, with a few improvements here and there—that’s not the big story here.
The mystery iPhone, which is said to correspond with the 10th anniversary of the original iPhone, will be a complete redesign, removing things like the home button, all bezels, and even the unibody design. Everything is still in the rumor phase surrounding the third iPhone, but from the looks of things, it’s going to be a game-changer.
Release Date: Late September 2017
6. Google Pixel 2
Render by Android Police
The last smartphone we’re looking forward to in 2017 is the Google Pixel 2. It’s the follow-up to the surprise first Pixel released back in October of 2016. We don’t know much about the next Pixel, but we know that (as stated above) that it’s going to be based on the design of the LG V30.
As you can see in the photo above, that means a very thin design and a nearly bezel-less display. Things I hope return? The world-class software design, the spectacular camera, and a headphone jack (which seems unlikely at this point). Either way, the Pixel was our phone of the year in 2016, so this is the one we are the most excited to see revealed.
Release Date: October 2017 (estimated)