6 Cool Smartphones Introduced At CES 2017

Smartphone Showcase

While many vendors wait until Mobile World Congress in February to announce new smartphones, a few didn't pass up the chance to debut new offerings at the gadget bonanza of CES 2017.

Huawei came out swinging with a new device aiming to rival the iPhone, while LG and Asus debuted two new smartphones apiece. Meanwhile, ZTE added a device with some higher-end features at a mid-range price.

We were on hand at CES 2017 to check out the new Android smartphones, and in the following slides we've got the details you need to know about each of them.

Asus ZenFone AR

It's not the first smartphone to market to support Google's Tango augmented-reality technology, but the ZenFone AR is the first to support both Tango and Google's Daydream virtual-reality platform. That means that AR and VR apps alike will be accessible on the device, with high performance provided by a Snapdragon 821 processor and 8GB of RAM. The ZenFone AR also features a 5.7-inch, WQHD Super AMOLED display and a three-camera setup (23-megapixel main camera, motion-tracking camera and depth-sensing camera).

The Asus ZenFone AR will be available in the second quarter of 2017. Pricing hasn't been disclosed.

Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom

The 5.5-inch ZenFone 3 Zoom is aimed at photography junkies with its dual-camera setup of 12 megapixels apiece. One camera features a 25mm wide-angle lens while the other includes a 59mm lens, and users can switch between the two to get a 2.3X optical zoom. The cameras also come with upgraded autofocus that automatically chooses from among three available autofocus options. In addition, the ZenFone 3 Zoom boasts a huge 5000mAh battery which means, for instance, that users can capture up to 6.4 hours of continuous video on a charge.

The Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom will be available in February. Pricing hasn't been disclosed.

Huawei Honor 6X

While touting customer satisfaction scores on par with those of Apple's iPhone, Huawei launched a new smartphone in its Honor line at CES 2017, the Honor 6X, that aims to lure away users (especially millennials) from the iPhone. Advantages of the Honor 6X over the latest iPhones, says Huawei, is stronger battery life (at up to two days for average usage), a speedy octa-core processor and a far lower price -- starting at $249.99. The Honor 6X also comes with a dual-camera setup, improved photo editing software and high-definition video capabilities.

The Huawei Honor 6X is priced at $249.99 (3GB RAM, 32GB of storage) or $299.99 (4GB, 64GB of storage).

LG K10

LG introduced an updated model for its mid-range K-series, the K10, with an eye toward bringing over some of the premium features from its higher-end models. Those features include the 13-megapixel rear camera that's been used in the flagship G series and a wide-angle 5-megapixel front camera – as well as a fingerprint scanner, a metallic U-frame and a 2.5D curved glass display for the 5.3-inch smartphone. The updated K10 also borrows some UX features from the LG V20 such as the camera timer.

Pricing and availability for the updated LG K10 haven't been released.

LG Stylus 3

In the realm of larger-screened phones, LG also announced the new Stylus 3 at CES 2017, which is aimed at users looking to do note-taking on their device. The third-generation digital pen – which is stored inside the device – features a new 1.8mm diameter fiber-tip, and the Pen Keeper function displays a warning on the phone when the stylus is a significant distance away. The Stylus 3 has a 5.7-inch HD display and a sizable 3,200mAh battery, while weighing just a third of a pound.

Pricing and availability for the LG Stylus 3 haven't been released.

ZTE Blade V8

ZTE used CES 2017 to announce the Blade V8, a mid-range phone with some premium features including a 5.5-inch FHD display and dual 13MP rear cameras with dual-flash. The smartphone also includes Gorilla Glass 3 on the display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor and a fingerprint recognition scanner.

The ZTE Blade V8 has a starting price of $229.98.