Best Cellphone 2017: The Top Picks and What They Cost

Best Cellphone 2017: How the Year Shaped the Market

The best cellphone 2017 options spanned three tiers: streamlined flagships that set the template for today's devices, ambitious all-screen experiments that divided opinion, and mid-range handsets that delivered exceptional value. If you are choosing now, the buying logic has shifted — but understanding what made these phones stand out explains why today's smartphones are built the way they are. This review weighs camera quality, battery endurance, display quality, software support, and price so you can decide which type of phone still makes sense.

iPhone 8 vs Samsung Galaxy S8: The Flagship Core

The iPhone 8 and Galaxy S8 bookended the year in a way that still frames the market. The iPhone 8 stuck with a familiar 4.7-inch display, glass back for wireless charging, and Apple's A11 Bionic chip — a combination that translated into years of software updates. The Galaxy S8 countered with a 5.8-inch curved AMOLED panel, a taller 18.5:9 aspect ratio, and relatively compact dimensions that made one-handed use feasible. Camera differences came down to processing philosophy: the iPhone favored balanced exposure and true-to-life color, while the Samsung pushed saturated tones and sharper detail in good light. Battery life on the S8 was modest by today's standards, but the smaller iPhone 8 held its own through efficient chip design. For buyers who valued longevity, the iPhone 8's support lifecycle made it the safer investment.

Galaxy Note 8: The Stylus Powerhouse

The Galaxy Note 8 arrived as the productivity-focused contender. Its 6.3-inch Quad HD display and S Pen set it apart from every other phone on this list. The dual-camera system, with wide and telephoto lenses, matched the iPhone 7 Plus in portrait mode and offered more versatility for framing. Battery capacity was the largest in the group, which translated into screen time that comfortably lasted a full day of heavy use. The trade-off was size and cost; the Note 8 was a phablet in an era when many buyers still preferred one-hand operation. For stylus-dependent users — annotating documents, sketching, or navigating complex apps — nothing else in 2017 could touch it.

iPhone X: The Ambitious Experiment

The iPhone X redefined the flagship category with its edge-to-edge OLED display, Face ID, and the removal of the home button. Animations and gesture navigation felt futuristic, and the stainless-steel frame gave it a premium feel that competed with the Note 8. Camera performance was excellent, particularly with Portrait Mode and the new Portrait Lighting feature that simulated studio lighting effects. The trade-off was steep: the price was the highest of any phone in 2017, and the notch reduced usable screen area in a way some users found distracting. Battery life was adequate but not class-leading. The iPhone X proved Apple's vision for the future of smartphones, but its high cost and unconventional design made it a niche pick rather than a universal recommendation.

Mid-Range Standouts: OnePlus 5 and Google Pixel

Flagship prices put premium phones out of reach for many buyers, and the best mid-range 2017 phones delivered surprisingly capable alternatives. The OnePlus 5 offered a Snapdragon 835 processor, a sleek design, and fast charging at roughly half the cost of the iPhone 8. Camera performance was competitive in daylight but struggled in low light compared to the flagships. The Google Pixel stood out for its camera software; computational photography tricks like HDR+ and top-notch Portrait Mode made the single lens punch above its weight. Stock Android guaranteed fast updates and clean software. The trade-off was average battery life and a design that felt more utilitarian than premium. Both phones remain compelling if you prioritize performance and camera quality over brand cachet or water resistance.

iPhone 7 Plus: The Enduring Value Option

The iPhone 7 Plus carried forward as the budget-friendly iPhone of 2017, and its dual-camera system still held its own. Portrait Mode on the 7 Plus was the first widely available implementation, and it worked reliably for casual portraits. Apple's A10 Fusion chip remained smooth for everyday tasks, and the Home Button — now with solid-state taptic feedback — appealed to users who found gesture navigation stressful. The trade-off was an aging design with thick bezels and a LCD panel that looked washed out next to the OLED screens of the S8 and Pixel. For buyers who wanted iOS without the iPhone X premium, the 7 Plus was the pragmatic choice.

Comparison Table: Best Cellphone 2017 Models

What to Prioritize When Choosing

Camera capability, battery endurance, software update longevity, and price shaped the value proposition of every phone on this list. If you valued streamlined software and long-term support, the iPhones led. If you prioritized display quality and hardware variety, Samsung and Google led. The best cellphone 2017 for you depended on whether you preferred established reliability or experimental convenience features. The trade-offs were real: larger screens meant bulkier devices, premium prices limited upgrade cycles, and battery life varied dramatically with screen brightness and network conditions. Choose based on which compromises you are willing to live with.