The Note 8 announced last week and the Xperia XZ1 and LG V30 announced today are among the best phones we've seen this year, but it's not the last. Should you wait before you upgrade? Read the latest news and rumours on the best new phones launching in 2017 and early 2018.
- Apple iPhone 8 - September launch
- LG V30 - 31 August launch
- Samsung Galaxy Note 8 - 23 August launch
- Samsung Galaxy S8 mini - launch TBC
- Samsung Galaxy S9 - 25 February launch
- Sony Xperia XZ1 - 31 August launch
- Google Pixel 2 - September/October launch
- Motorola Moto Z2 Force - 25 July launch
- Nokia 8 - 16 August launch
- Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 - launch TBC
You can expect this processor to be paired with at least 4- but potentially as much as 8GB of RAM, a minimum amount of 32GB of storage, extra-large Quad-HD screens and class-leading cameras.
We've already seen some great smartphones announced earlier this year, including the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus, LG G6, HTC U11, Sony Xperia XZ Premium, Xiaomi Mi6 and OnePlus 5. These are all now on sale, so we have removed them from this article. However, here are some more great phones coming in the next 12 months, including the Note 8 that was announced last week, and the LG V30 and Sony Xperia XZ1 announced this morning.
Apple iPhone 8
The iPhone 8 could be the iPhone with which Jony Ive finally gets his own way: an iPhone that resembles a single sheet of glass with an edge-to-edge OLED screen.
Other rumours suggest the iPhone 8 will feature wireless charging for the first time, and possible biometric features such as facial recognition or iris scanning. It'll run the Apple A11 processor and motion co-processor, and be devilishly fast.
The iPhone 8 will almost certainly launch beside an iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus, but it's the former everyone is most interested in.
Click here for more iPhone 8 rumours.
Google Pixel 2
The key difference between the two is expected to be screen size and resolution, with the larger Pixel XL2 featuring a 5.99in Quad-HD screen and the smaller Pixel 2 a 4.97in full-HD panel. The XL2 should also feature 6- rather than 4GB of RAM.
We know that the new Google phone will be the first to run Android O, for which the public beta is now available and the final release could be here as early as next week. The second-gen Pixel phones won't be available until late-September/early-October 2017, however.
Read more Google Pixel 2 rumours here.
LG G7
It's thought that the firm will release the LG G7 as early as January 2018 pegging the launch at CES 2018. This would give it a head start against major rivals such as the Galaxy S9.
Another rumour suggests that LG is already wroking with Qualcomm and the G7 will be the first with its new Snapdragon 845 processor.
Read more about the LG G7 here.
LG V30
The V30 runs a Snapdragon 835 processor with 4GB of RAM, and has a dual-camera with a large f/1.6 aperture. You could say it's the phone the G6 should have been.
Available in South Korea from 21 September, other markets should follow soon after.
Read more about the LG V30 here.
Microsoft Surface Phone
Should it truly exist, the Surface Phone is expected to arrive in 2017 with a 5.5in Quad-HD AMOLED display, 4GB of RAM, 64- and 128GB storage options (with microSD support), a 64-bit Intel processor and 21Mp rear- and 8Mp front cameras. The Surface Phone could also get a Surface Pen and a USB-C port.
Read more about the Surface Phone.
Motorola Moto G5s & G5s Plus
Announced on 1 August 2017, the G5s and its bigger brother are special editions of the G5 and G5s that were released earlier this year. The exact release date has not been confirmed, but we know they will go on sale in early August, costing £219 and £259 respectively (the Moto G5 costs £179 and the G5 Plus £249).
A more premium design with a metal unibody is the first difference you'll notice in the new Moto G5s. Inside the battery capacity has also been increased, and the camera upgraded from 13Mp to 16Mp with PDAF. The screen has also been bumped up to 5.2in.
The Plus model has also had something of a redesign, and you'll now find dual 13Mp cameras at the rear and a new 8Mp camera at the front, complete with an LED flash. Its screen also sees an upgrade, now at 5.5in.
Read more about the Moto G5s and Moto G5s Plus.
Motorola Moto Z2 Force
The Z2 Force is a tough smartphone with a ShatterShield screen and Quad-HD 5.5in AMOLED display. Just 6mm thin it has a good-looking metal shell, though unfortunately one that lacks a headphone jack.
Two 12Mp cameras are found on the rear, while inside is the hardware you'd expect from a flagship: the Snapdragon 835, 4GB of RAM (likely 6GB in the UK) and 64GB of storage with microSD support.
Read more about the upcoming Moto Z2 here.
Nokia 8 & Nokia 9
The Nokia 8 is built for content creators, with Car Zeiss cameras, a 'Bothie' capture mode that captures the full picture by combining front (13Mp) and rear (dual-13Mp) cameras, and Nokia Ozo audio recording.
Nokia phones are different to rival Android phones in three main ways: through Nokia's relentless focus on the everyday experience; through its premium design and build quality; and through its use of the purest version of Android you have seen, with monthly security updates, fast Android platform updates and the implementation of the Google Assistant across the range.
Read more about the Nokia 8 and Nokia 9. Also check out rumours on an upcoming Nokia 2 and Nokia 7.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
As we expected there's a 6.3in Quad-HD SuperAMOLED Infinity Display with support for the enhanced S Pen stylus - this now has improved pressure sensitivity, a refined tip, allows you to create, edit and pin notes to the Always-on display, and can translate entire sentences, units and currencies.
The Note 8 is also the first Samsung flagship to offer a dual-camera, with twin telephoto and wide-angle 12Mp lenses that both offer OIS.
Key specs include the Snapdragon 835 processor, 6GB of RAM, 64GB of storage with microSD support, IP68 waterproofing and a 3,300mAh battery.
Read more about the Galaxy Note 8 here.
Samsung Galaxy S8 mini
Rumours suggest a Galaxy S8 mini with a 5.3in screen (that feels much smaller given the curved edges), Snapdragon 840 processor, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of storage and an iris scanner is in development in Korea. Such a device has recently popped up on Geekbench too, suggesting a launch could be imminent.
Read more about the Galaxy S8 mini here.
Samsung Galaxy S9 & Galaxy S9+
New in the Galaxy S9 and S9+ is likely to be the 7nm Snapdragon 845 or 8nm Exynos 9810 processor and dual-lens rear cameras, plus fingerprint scanners embedded into the Infinity display.
Performance will definitely get a boost, and we might see Samsung finally go above the 4GB of RAM seen in the company's previous flagships. The design is not likely to change significantly, and hopefully neither will the price.
We expect to see a March 2018 announcement for the S9 and S9+, though the earliest they could make an appearance is ahead of MWC on Sunday 25 February.
You can read more Galaxy S9 rumours here.
Samsung Galaxy X
The Galaxy X, previously known as Project Valley, is thought to be a smartphone with a dual-screen (one on each side) that folds out to reveal a 7in tablet. An 8in tablet that folds up into a 5in phone has also been rumoured.
Read more Samsung Galaxy X rumours here.
Snapchat Smartphone
Should a Snapchat smartphone come to reality it will likely be the ultimate selfie phone, and perhaps the first phone to feature a 360-degree camera.
Read more Snapchat smartphone rumours here.
Sony Xperia XZ1 & XZ1 Compact
While neither boasts a dual-camera, full-screen display or other forward-facing tech, they do have some interesting features including an HDR screen (XZ1 only), high-res audio support, stereo speakers and high-quality 19Mp cameras.
Both are available to pre-order now, with the XZ1 shipping next week and the Compact some time later in September.
Read more about the Xperia XZ1 here.
Read more about the Xperia XZ1 Compact here.
Xiaomi Mi Mix 2
Xiaomi hopes to design a phone that has a screen that entirely covers the front of the device. Plus it could be the first Chinese phone with no physical buttons.
Read more Mi Mix II rumours here
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