5 smash hit smartphones of 2017 (and why they worked)
So far, 2017 has been a great year for smartphone buyers. From high-end mobile phones to budget buys, the year has seen some good Android smartphones being launched in every segment.
In many cases, the phones' hardware have put to shame offerings from the previous year. From 8GB RAM to ultra fast octa-core CPUs to DSLR-level image sensors, the high-end features made the first half of 2017 the best time ever to buy a smartphone.
Here we list the best of the lot:
OnePlus 5
Arguably the biggest success story of the year, the OnePlus 5 is a phone that received largely positive reviews with most terming it a "flagship", not just a flagship killer.
Launched months after the 3t hit markets around the globe, OnePlus 5 has taken the smartphone industry by storm and represents a decent upgrade on a phone that is still regarded by many as one of the best in the market. It comes with several important upgrades over its predecessor.
The OnePlus 5 comes packing Qualcomm’s top-of-the-line 64-bit Octa-core SoC – the Snapdragon 835. It is the chipmaker's current flagship and is found in phones like Sony Xperia XZ , the US variant of the Samsung S8 and the recently launched HTC U11.
Samsung Galaxy S8
The latest flagship from South Korean tech giant Samsung has been a fan favourite since its launch earlier in April 2017. The Galaxy S8 is easy on the eyes and packs powerful hardware under the hood. It won't be an exaggeration to say the smartphone is an enthusiast's dream.
The Galaxy S8 comes to the table with a 5.8-inch 570 ppi display working at 2960x1440 resolution. The S8 also features a single-lens camera setup with a 12MP camera at the back. The aperture on the camera is rated at F1.7 and it boasts of autofocus and optical image stabilisation.
Depending on where you're buying it from, the phone comes with an Exynos 8895 chip or the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chip paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal memory, which can be expanded using a microSD card. There's a 3,000mAh battery to complete the package.
Nokia 3
The first Nokia smartphone to hit the markets in India after the shutdown of the Lumia series was received well by Indian consumers. With a price tag of Rs 9,499, the phone was put in a direct fight against devices from manufacturers such as Xioami, Oppo, Lenovo, and Motorola. However, the Nokia 3's premium exteriors and above-par specs eventually helped it become a success in a subset of the smartphone market flush with great options.
Speaking about the great demand for the phone, HMD spokesperson said, "We are humbled by the response to Nokia 3. Currently, we are ramping up our production for Nokia 3 on priority to meet the existing consumer demand. In the coming week, we will start production of Nokia 6 and Nokia 5 to get them ready for sales start by mid-august."
The phone's design features a metallic frame sandwiched between a polycarbonate body with a 5-inch HD display. The package is powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek 6737 SoC paired with 2GB of RAM. There is 16GB storage on board that can be expanded to 128GB using a microSD card. The phone packs 8MP cameras at the front and the back and gets its juice from a 2650 mAh battery.
Redmi Note 4
The second budget phone to make this list is the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4. A smartphone which builds on the success of the Note 3, it is powered by the Snapdragon 625 SoC, which is a slight downgrade from the 652 SoC found in the previous variant of the phone. However, there is no denying that the device represents a great buy with its mammoth 4,100mAh battery that powers the 5.5-inch 2.5D curved glass Full HD display on the phone.
Moto G5 Plus
Launched earlier in March, the Moto G5 Plus is a very good option if you plan to buy a smartphone for less than Rs 20,000. The device comes with a 5.2-inch full-HD (1080 pixel) display, covered with a Corning gorilla glass 3 protective sheet. The phone is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 625 octa-core 2.0 GHz processor.
Moto G5 Plus is available in two storage and RAM variants, with the higher-spec variant running 4GB of RAM with 32GB internal storage, which can be expanded using a microSD card. In the photo department, the smartphone sports a 12MP rear camera and a 5MP selfie camera up front.