2017 Smartphone Trends and Predictions for International and Local Brands

As we welcome 2017, I reckon it's good to talk about what consumers can expect to get this year from the top players in the most popular consumer gadget category, which is the smartphone segment.

Let's start with possible trends in the flagship level.

I believe that many key features of upcoming top-of-the-line releases will merely be improved versions of main selling points of successful battleship models from 2016. These include the following:

1. Water and Dust Resistant build 2. Shell crafted from luxurious real metal and glass panels 3. Dual-optics camera module with variance in rendition per brand 4. 4K video recorder with OIS 5. High resolution front cam along with selfie-centric beautification software 6. Quad HD display panel 7. Modular construction (most likely limited to Moto models) 8. Iris Scanner or Next generation fingerprint scanner (integrated into the screen) 9, USB Type C port 10. Higher battery capacity.

As for the software and internal hardware of these pricey 2017 phones, I expect those running Android to feature version 7.1 Nougat and to be powered by the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor complemented by at least 6GB of RAM.

Now, allow me to give you my predictions for international and local handset brands that are popular here in the Philippines:

Apple

Steve Jobs flaunting the first generation iPhone released in 2007 (Credit: Digital Trends) Known for celebrating milestones, the Cupertino company surely has something amazing up their sleeves for the 10th anniversary of the iPhone. Apple fans are already looking forward to a complete design revamp, thinner and lighter build, as well as improved display quality and resolution on the next generation model.

Additional Reading: Apple iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, 5 Reasons They'll Be Worth The Wait

Samsung

Expect the Korean Giant to bounce back strong after the Note7 debacle of 2016. This year, the world's top handset vendor will prove that it is more than capable of rising above challenges and leading the pack in terms of introducing mobile innovations.

On December 19, 2016, I received an email from Samsung Philippines' official PR agency, dishing out interesting details about the company's 2017 flagship smartphone, which some are already calling Samsung Galaxy S8. Set to be announced this month, the device will most likely have 1P68 Water and Dust resistance, aro und 16 MegaPixel resolution for the front camera 264GB of ROM, Dual SIM capability, bigger battery with fast charge support, and USB Type-C port.

OPPO

In 2016, popular Chinese brand OPPO achieved tremendous success in the Philippines with the breakout market performance of OPPO F1s Selfie Expert. In fact, according to GFK, the company is now the second most prolific handser vendor in the country, trailing only Samsung; This is an incredible feat considering that they've only been here for less than 36 months.

This year, we can expect OPPO to raise the level of its game as its competitors adjust to its growing dominance. I believe the company will also try to expand the reach of its popularity beyond the midrange segment with the release of a strong flagship level model combining stellar build, powerhouse internal hardware, good imaging capabilities, and industry-leading selfie-centric features.

LG

As someone who has owned an LG G3 and has played with th e LG V20 extensively, I will tell you that the Korean company makes some of the best cameraphone out there. In 2017, I'm expecting LG to reinforce this image with the release of LG G6, which is rumored to also have a Dual Camera set-up and a military-grade construction similar to the V20. Oddly enough, however, (or perhaps, understandably so,) it's said that this year's flagship will no longer have the modular form factor and value-added feature of its predecessor.

Asus

If there's one thing I know for sure about Asus, it is that they make incredible devices - across all categories and price segments - that give consumers great value for money. And I know that they'll simply continue doing this in 2017. I'm personally expecting to see Water-and-Dust-resistant upgrades to all ZenFone 3 models this year.

Nokia

New Nokia Android Smartphone Concept Design by AllTechFishy On May 18, 2016, legendary Finnish giant Nokia officially disclosed that it's making a landmark comeback to the featurephone and smartphone industry via a strategic agreement covering branding rights and intellectual property licensing with HMD Global Oy (HMD). According to various sources, this return will commence in 2017 with the release of at least one flagship level Android smartphone within the first quarter of this year, followed by several midrange models. Labels: Apple Editorial Featured Oppo Samsung Smartphones Tech Basics

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