The 10 Coolest Smartphones Of 2017

Top Smartphones

In the history of smartphones, 2017 may go down as a major turning point toward "edge-to-edge" designs, and away from large bezels. Yes, some phones such as the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus kept the bezels intact, but Apple leapt into the edge-to-edge game with the debut of the much-anticipated iPhone X. Apple joined vendors such as rival Samsung, which launched three phones with huge displays and minimal bezels this year -- the Galaxy S8, S8 Plus, and Note8.

But there were plenty of other major releases in 2017, too, from vendors including Google, LG, Motorola, and even BlackBerry.

What follows are our picks for the 10 coolest smartphones to hit the North American market in 2017.

Get more of CRN's 2017 tech year in review.

Apple iPhone X

Display: 5.8 inches; Super Retina OLED; 2,436 x 1,125 pixels

Processor: A11 Bionic (six-core, 2.39GHz)

Features: Along with having the largest display ever on an iPhone -- and the first iPhone design that is nearly edge-to-edge, aside from the camera notch -- the iPhone X includes notable features such as Qi wireless-charging capabilities and a dual-camera setup. The iPhone X also introduces Apple's FaceID facial recognition technology for unlocking the device, taking the place of TouchID fingerprint recognition.

Apple iPhone 8 / 8 Plus

Display: 4.7/5.5 inches; Retina LCD; 1,334 x 750 / 1,920 x 1,080 pixels

Processor: A11 Bionic (six-core, 2.39GHz)

Features: Like the iPhone X, the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus both offer Qi wireless charging, which recharges the device through laying it on a charging pad. Both phones also include a new glass backing, which enables wireless charging. Meanwhile, the iPhone 8 Plus features a dual-camera setup and a new camera option called "portrait lighting," which improves the lighting of the contours over a subject's face in real time.

BlackBerry KEYone

Display: 4.5 inches; IPS; 1,620 x 1,080 pixels

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 (eight-core, 2GHz)

Features: The KEYone is a BlackBerry-branded phone made by TCL, and its biggest differentiator is a physical keyboard -- which can do more than just type. Users can program keys to become shortcuts to certain contacts and apps, and the keyboard has some of the responsiveness of a trackpad, as well. Another leading feature is that the KEYone uses BlackBerry's fabled mobile security software, while the phone also promises all-day battery life (thanks to a 3,505mAh battery) and includes a 12-megapixel camera with a Sony IMX378 sensor.

Essential Phone

Display: 5.7 inches, LCD, 2,560 x 1,312 pixels

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (eight-core, 2.35GHz)

Features: Along with a minimal bezel around its large display, key features of the Essential Phone include a titanium body with a ceramic back and a dual-camera setup. The smartphone also includes a connector that magnetically snaps to external accessories, for extending the functionality of the device. The first accessory is a small 360-degree camera -- though there's an expectation of many more to come.

Google Pixel 2 / 2 XL

Display: 5/6 inches, AMOLED / pOLED, 1,920 x 1,080 / 2,880 x 1,440 pixels

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (eight-core, 2.35GHz)

Features: The Pixel 2 XL is the higher-end of the two devices, with a smaller bezel around its display, though both phones use a variety of OLED technology in their displays. Both models also include a 12.2-megapixel rear-facing camera with features including optical image stabilization, improved autofocus, and a new type of portrait mode. And like with the original Pixels, the Google Assistant is built into the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL smartphones.

LG V30

Display: 6 inches, OLED FullVision, 2,880 x 1,440 pixels

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (eight-core, 2.35GHz)

Features: The LG V30 aims to specialize in its photo- and video-taking capabilities, with a dual-camera setup (16-megapixel and 13-megapixel) that has an f/1.6 aperture lens on the main camera, as well as improved color-grading presets and point zoom. The V30 also features strong durability, with IP68 water resistance and Gorilla Glass 5 on its edge-to-edge display.

Moto Z2 Force

Display: 5.5 inches, pOLED, 2,560 x 1,440 pixels

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (eight-core, 2.35GHz)

Features: Motorola's Moto Z2 Force features a dual-camera system, along with drop protection via a "shatterproof" display and aluminum body. The phone also offers the option of snapping on "Moto Mods," such as a professional camera, premium speakers, and a gaming controller (all sold separately).

OnePlus 5

Display: 5.5 inches, Optic AMOLED, FHD (1,920 x 1,080 pixels)

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (eight-core, 2.35GHz)

Features: One key differentiator for the OnePlus 5 is the amount of RAM offered-6 GB or 8 GB -- which enables rapid speeds when paired with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. The smartphone also includes a dual-camera setup with Sony IMX sensors, fast-autofocus, and a large aperture. Also, the OnePlus 5 features fast storage and Gorilla Glass 5 on the display.

Samsung Galaxy Note8

Display: 6.3 inches, Super AMOLED, 2,960 x 1,440 pixels

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (eight-core, 2.35GHz)

Features: The digital pen housed in the phone itself is back with the Galaxy Note8, while other productivity-oriented features include App Pair, which lets you open two apps in split-screen mode with a single press. The Note8 also features strong battery life and a dual-camera setup, with options such as "Live Focus," which lets you automatically blur the photo's background.

Samsung Galaxy S8 / S8 Plus

Display: 5.8/6.2 inches, Super AMOLED, 2,960 x 1,440 pixels

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (eight-core, 2.35GHz)

Features: Samsung's Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus both feature large displays with a minimal bezel so that the phone doesn't feel massive overall. Along with strong battery life, the phones include strong durability features -- Gorilla Glass 5 for display protection, IP68 rating for withstanding submersion in water. The S8 and S8 Plus also offer iris scanning and facial recognition for biometric authentication, as well as the new DeX feature, which lets you connect the phone to an external display, keyboard, and mouse using a special dock.