When 2017 rolled around, the smartphone market delivered one of its most competitive and exciting years ever. Whether you were a casual user looking for reliable daily-driver performance or a power user craving cutting-edge camera technology and flagship processing power, the best smartphones of 2017 offered something extraordinary for every budget and preference. This 2017 smartphone comparison guide walks you through the standout devices, their strengths and weaknesses, and the key factors you should weigh before making your next purchase decision.

Why a 2017 Smartphone Comparison Still Matters

You might wonder why a guide focused on phones released over seven years ago still holds value. The truth is, understanding the landscape of 2017 gives you a foundational perspective on where modern smartphone design and feature sets originated. Many of the breakthroughs that define today’s devices, including OLED displays, AI-powered cameras, and wireless charging ecosystems, first gained mainstream traction during this pivotal year. Whether you are shopping for a budget-used device, writing a retrospective piece, or evaluating which features truly mattered, this 2017 smartphone review comparison remains highly relevant.

Top Contenders in the 2017 Smartphone Market

The 2017 lineup featured several devices that redefined expectations across every major category. From Apple’s refined iPhone iteration to Samsung’s industry-dominating Galaxy S series and Google’s pure Android experience, the year delivered fierce competition at every price tier.

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+

The Samsung Galaxy S8 series arrived with a stunning Infinity Display, a sleek curved glass design, and the company’s Exynos 8895 or Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor depending on the region. The S8 introduced Bixby, Samsung’s ambitious AI assistant, and set a new standard for screen-to-body ratios. Its 12-megapixel dual-pixel camera delivered exceptional low-light performance, while the IP68 water resistance rating gave users genuine peace of mind.

Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone X

Apple brought two flagship contenders to 2017. The iPhone 8 offered familiar design language with a powerful A11 Bionic chip, wireless charging support, and an improved camera system featuring Portrait Mode and Portrait Lighting. Meanwhile, the iPhone X made history by eliminating the iconic home button in favor of a revolutionary edge-to-edge OLED display, Face ID facial recognition technology, and gesture-based navigation that would influence Apple’s entire product line for years to come.

Google Pixel and Pixel XL

Google’s first wholly self-designed smartphones arrived with pure Android 7.1 Nougat, guaranteed rapid software updates, and an outstanding camera that dominated DxOMark rankings upon release. The Pixel’s computational photography approach, powered by Google’s AI and machine learning, delivered impressive HDR+ processing that made every shot look remarkably polished without requiring manual intervention.

OnePlus 5

OnePlus positioned the OnePlus 5 as a premium performer with a competitive price tag. Featuring the Snapdragon 835 chipset, up to 8GB of RAM, a dual-camera system with wide-angle and telephoto lenses, and a remarkably fast charging technology called Dash Charge, the OnePlus 5 appealed directly to enthusiasts who wanted flagship-level performance without paying flagship-level prices.

iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus (Still Relevant in 2017)

Though replaced by the iPhone 8 and X, the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus remained popular choices throughout 2017 due to aggressive pricing from Apple and retailers. The iPhone 7 Plus introduced the dual-camera system that laid the groundwork for modern smartphone portrait photography, while the A10 Fusion chip continued to deliver smooth performance well into the following years.

Head-to-Head Specification Comparison

The table below provides a direct technical comparison of the leading 2017 smartphone flagships, helping you identify which specifications mattered most for your usage patterns.

This 2017 phone comparison table reveals some interesting trade-offs. Apple consistently used less RAM than competitors yet delivered comparable or superior performance thanks to the A-series chips’ exceptional efficiency. Samsung’s larger batteries and AMOLED panels appealed to multimedia consumers, while Google’s Pixel line prioritized software purity and computational photography over raw hardware supremacy.

Key Factors to Consider When Comparing 2017 Smartphones

Display Technology and Design

2017 marked the year OLED panels truly entered the mainstream flagship space. Samsung’s Infinity Display and Apple’s Super Retina HD on the iPhone X showcased how edge-to-edge screens transformed the user experience. When evaluating devices, consider not just resolution but color accuracy, brightness levels, and how the display affects daily usage like reading, gaming, and video consumption.

Camera Performance Beyond Megapixels

Megapixel counts told only part of the story in 2017. Google’s 12.3-megapixel Pixel consistently outperformed competitors with higher megapixel counts in independent camera tests. The dual-pixel autofocus system in Samsung’s offerings and Apple’s Portrait Mode features demonstrated that software processing and sensor quality mattered far more than raw numbers alone.

Battery Life and Charging

Quick charge support, wireless charging capabilities, and raw battery capacity all played significant roles in daily satisfaction. OnePlus’s Dash Charge technology, which could fill roughly half the battery in under 30 minutes, gave the OnePlus 5 a compelling advantage for users who frequently ran low during busy days.

Software Ecosystem and Update Support

Google’s Pixel phones offered the advantage of stock Android with guaranteed timely updates directly from the source. Samsung introduced Samsung Experience (later One UI predecessors) with generous customization but typically slower update cycles. Apple maintained its reputation for supporting devices with updates for five years or more, a critical consideration for long-term value.

Best 2017 Smartphones by Use Case

1. Best Overall Flagship: Samsung Galaxy S8+ — offered the ideal balance of display quality, camera performance, battery life, and water resistance.
2. Best for Photography Enthusiasts: Google Pixel XL — the computational photography pipeline delivered consistently excellent results without requiring photography expertise.
3. Best Innovation and Future-Proofing: Apple iPhone X — Face ID, the edge-to-edge OLED display, and gesture navigation set new industry standards.
4. Best Value for Performance: OnePlus 5 — delivered flagship-level speed and features at nearly half the cost of competing devices.
5. Best for Apple Ecosystem Users on a Budget: iPhone 7 Plus — the dual-camera system and iOS longevity provided outstanding long-term value at a reduced price point.

Expert Tips for Choosing the Right Device

• Always prioritize your personal usage patterns. If you consume lots of media, display quality and battery capacity should dominate your decision.
• Consider your ecosystem investments. Switching between iOS and Android involves more than hardware — it affects your app library, cloud services, and smart home integrations.
• Read professional camera samples rather than relying solely on spec sheets, since image processing and lens quality create dramatic real-world differences.
• Factor in resale value and software update timelines when calculating long-term cost of ownership.
• Visit retail stores to test devices hands-on before purchasing, since ergonomics and build quality matter significantly in daily use.

The Legacy of 2017’s Smartphone Innovations

The innovations introduced during the 2017 flagship wars shaped the entire industry trajectory for the next decade. Samsung’s edge-to-edge display design philosophy, Apple’s facial recognition authentication, Google’s AI-first photography pipeline, and OnePlus’s direct-to-consumer premium model all became standard features across subsequent generations. Understanding the 2017 smartphone comparison landscape helps you appreciate how far mobile technology has progressed and which design principles proved most enduring.

Conclusion

The 2017 smartphone comparison landscape remains one of the most compelling in mobile history. Each flagship device brought something genuinely transformative to the table, and the choices available reflected diverse priorities and budgets. Whether you gravitated toward Samsung’s display excellence, Apple’s ecosystem integration, Google’s computational photography dominance, or OnePlus’s performance-per-dollar philosophy, the best 2017 smartphone ultimately depended on what mattered most to you as an individual user. Use this guide to understand the key distinctions and make an informed decision that aligns with your specific needs and preferences.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the best smartphone camera in 2017?

The Google Pixel and Pixel XL consistently earned top marks from testing organizations like DxOMark, thanks to Google’s advanced HDR+ processing and machine learning-based image enhancement. However, the Samsung Galaxy S8’s dual-pixel autofocus and Apple iPhone X’s dual optical zoom system each excelled in specific shooting scenarios, making the “best” camera dependent on your photography style.

Which 2017 phone offered the longest battery life?

The Google Pixel XL and Samsung Galaxy S8+ stood out for exceptional battery endurance in 2017, with the Pixel XL’s 3450mAh cell delivering consistently strong screen-on times. The OnePlus 5’s efficient Snapdragon 835 power management and aggressive battery optimization also made it a top performer for users prioritizing all-day usage without frequent charging.

Was wireless charging available in 2017 flagships?

Yes, both Apple and Samsung introduced wireless charging support in their 2017 flagship lineup. The iPhone 8 and iPhone X supported Qi wireless charging standard, while the Galaxy S8 series also offered the same capability. OnePlus notably omitted wireless charging from the OnePlus 5 to keep the device slim and affordable.

Which 2017 smartphone had the best display?

The Samsung Galaxy S8+ featured the largest and most vibrant AMOLED panel, with a 18.5:9 aspect ratio and Quad HD+ resolution delivering exceptional color accuracy and contrast ratios. Apple’s iPhone X Super Retina HD OLED display matched or exceeded the S8+ in many brightness and color tests, making both devices excellent choices for display quality.

Is the 2017 smartphone comparison relevant for buying used phones today?

Absolutely. Many 2017 flagships remain functional as secondary devices or entry-level smartphones in 2024 and beyond, particularly the iPhone 8, Galaxy S8, and Pixel series. When purchasing used 2017 devices, focus on battery health, storage capacity, and whether the manufacturer still provides security updates for your particular model.