New & upcoming Android phones (November 2017)

We just witnessed the latest rush of flagship releases from Samsung, LG, Apple, and more, and previously announced devices like the Essential phone have finally started making their way to consumers. Unlike a few years ago however, it's not a clear cut spring and fall announcement cycle anymore, and we still have quite a few new and upcoming Android phones look forward to as 2017 draws to a close.

So without further ado, let's take a look at some of the most interesting new and upcoming Android phones heading our way in the hopefully not too distant future!

New Android smartphones

In the first half of this post we talk about the new Android phones that have either been formally announced or have been on the market for 90 days or less. In the second part we turn on our crystal balls and talk about upcoming Android phones that have yet to be confirmed, pointing out some of the biggest rumors we've been hearing so far.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

upcoming android phones

Samsung had a lot to make up for with the latest addition to their Galaxy Note series after the fiasco that was its predecessor, and fortunately, the company has yet another winner on their hands with the Galaxy Note 8.

Like the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus, the Galaxy Note 8 comes with a 6.3-inch curved Super AMOLED Infinity display with a Quad HD+ resolution and 18.5:9 aspect ratio. The display is easily one of the best features of this smartphone, and while Samsung's prowess in this department isn't particularly surprising, they continue to push it to new heights each and every time.

Another aspect where Samsung never fails to impress is when it comes to the camera. The Galaxy Note 8 is the first Samsung smartphone to feature a dual camera setup, and they take advantage of all that is possible with two rear cameras available, allowing for clear and impressive bokeh shots all the time.

With a beautiful design, the expected top of the line specifications and features, the introduction of a dual camera setup, and new software features that highlight the S-Pen, Samsung has certainly ticked all the right boxes with the Galaxy Note 8, making it one of best Android smartphones you can currently get your hands on.

Specs

6.3-inch Super AMOLED Infinity Display with 2960 x 1440 resolution, 521 ppi
Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 or Octa-core Samsung Exynos 8895 processor (depending on region)
6 GB of RAM
64/128/256 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256 GB
Dual 12 MP rear cameras, 8 MP front camera
Non-removable 3,300 mAh battery
Android 7.1.1 Nougat
162.5 x 74.8 x 8.6 mm, 195 g

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LG V30

LG's V series has emerged as an impressive contender over the past couple of years, the LG V30 continues to further refine and add to what made its predecessors such great options. This time around, LG combines the beautiful design and display of the G6 with the best features of the V series to make for a device that many consider to be the company's true flagship.

There isn't a lot that stays the same with the V30 when compared to its predecessor, with it now featuring a metal and glass construction, a near bezel-less design up front, and a new P-OLED display panel, along with the fact that the secondary display is not available any longer. Despite looking completely different, the V30 does retain key elements like a MIL-STD 810G certification for impact and shock resistance, as well as an IP68 rating for dust and water proofing.

As was the case with previous generations, one of the highlights of the LG V30 is its advanced photography and videography features as well. The device comes with a dual rear camera that includes a 16 MP sensor with a f/1.6 aperture, along with a 13 MP sensor with a wide angle lens and a f/1.9 aperture, with the latter always being a lot of fun to use. Video creators should have fun with software features like Cine Video, which allows users to quickly put in video effects, along with Point Zoom, which will let owners zoom into any point in a video.

Audiophiles should also be happy with the LG V30, with its support for Hi-Fi Quad DAC tuned by B&O Play. It is also the first smartphone to support MQA, which is supposed to let users stream high-res audio, but with a smaller file size and no loss in quality.

LG's flagship offerings sometimes get lost in the crowd in this saturated market, but if there is one device that can and certainly deserves to break through, it is the LG V30.

Specs

6.0-inch P-OLED FullVision display 2,880 x 1,440 resolution, 538 ppi
Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor
4 GB of RAM
64 (V30) / 128 (V30 Plus) GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 2 TB
Dual 16 and 13 MP rear cameras, 5 MP front camera
Non-removable 3,300 mAh battery
Android 7.1.2 Nougat
151.7 x 75.4 x 7.3 mm, 158 g

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Essential Phone

After lots of speculation followed by teasers, the man who co-created Android, Andy Rubin, officially announced his next big project, the Essential Phone. The device was announced a while ago, but has finally begun going out to consumers only recently.

Front and center is a gorgeous looking edge-to-edge display, with the front-facing camera the only slight encroachment up top. The device is also built with a combination of a ceramic body and titanium frame, that should prove to be quite durable, while also looking and feeling great in the hand. Finally, the Essential also boasts some modular capabilities, with accessories, like the 360 degree camera and a charging dock, connecting to the device via metal pins, and for those missing the headphone jack, an upcoming mod should be bringing that feature back as well.

As we found in our review, the phone is gorgeous to look at and hold in the hand, and the device packs all the high-end specs that are expected from a current generation flagship. Some features may be missing, like dust and water and resistance, but as we've now found out, its $700 price tag is actually quite cheaper than the likes of the Galaxy Note 8 and the LG V30.

Specs

5.71-inch IPS LCD display with 2560 x 1312 resolution, 504 ppi
2.45 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor
4 GB RAM
128 GB built-in storage, not expandable
Dual 13 MP rear cameras, f/1.9 aperture, PD and Laser auto focus, LED flash
8 MP front-facing camera
3,040 mAh battery
Android 7.1 Nougat
141.5 x 71.1 x 7.8 mm, 185 grams

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Xiaomi Mi Mix 2

While there have been a few devices before it, Xiaomi can be credited with kicking off the bezel-less trend and odd display aspect ratios last year with the Mi Mix. Xiaomi recently unveiled their follow up, the Mi Mix 2, and while there is a lot more competition in this segment now, the device doesn't fail to impress.

Xiaomi addressed the issues with the alternative to the phone speaker last year by just including a phone speaker this time around, even though the top bezel remains almost as thin as the side bezels, and the front-facing camera continues to be below the display, which some people may prefer over having a notch at the top of the screen.

The Mi Mix 2 comes with a beautiful metal and ceramic construction and all the high-end specs that is expected from a current generation flagship, and there is also a special edition of the phone that comes with a whopping 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of built-in storage.

Of course, Xiaomi's big thing has always been their aggressive pricing, and the Mi Mix 2 is surprisingly affordable for all that it offers with a price range of $500 to $720 in China. Granted, the price will vary as the phone makes its way to other countries, but Xiaomi will definitely continue to undercut the competition in these markets as well.

Specs

5.99-inch IPS LCD display with a 2160 x 1080 resolution, 403 ppi
octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor
6/8 GB RAM
64/128/256 GB built-in storage
12 MP rear camera, 5 MP front-facing camera
3,400 mAh battery
Android 7.1 Nougat
151.8 x 75.5 x 7.7 mm, 185 grams

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Motorola Moto Z2 Force

Last year, Lenovo and Motorola introduced two flagship phones with Moto Z and Moto Z Force, but this year they've consolidated their lineup, and we only have the Z2 Force as their main 2017 flagship. The device retains the shatterproof display feature from its predecessor, but introduces key changes like a thinner body, dual cameras, new Moto Mod accessories, and availability on all U.S. carriers.

There isn't a huge change in the design of the phone to allow for compatibility with previous generation Moto Mods as well, but the phone does now come with a metal unibody construction that looks great and feels nice in the hand.

The Moto Z2 Force does feature high-end specifications and features, but Moto Mods are a huge part of getting the most out of this phone. The release of the Z2 Force has also brought along some new Moto Mod accessories, with a new 360 degree camera and a gamepad that will add physical controls and buttons to your mobile gaming experience. Like all Moto Mods, these will fit Moto Z devices old and new for at least a few years, and the previous generation of Moto Mods are perfectly compatible with the Z2 Force as well.

Specs

5.5-inch P-OLED display with a 2560 x 1440 resolution, 535 ppi
octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor
4/6 GB RAM
64/128 GB built-in storage
Dual 12 MP rear cameras, 5 MP front-facing camera
2,730 mAh battery
Android 7.1.1 Nougat
155.8 x 76 x 6.1 mm, 143 grams

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Sony Xperia XZ1 / Xperia XZ1 Compact

Sony took the wraps off of their latest flagship offerings at IFA 2017 earlier this month, and while these devices are once again iterative updates, they do offer some special features that make them not only stand out from their predecessors, but from the competition as well.

The biggest feature on both devices is Sony's new Motion Eye camera, which aims to show off the company's prowess in imaging. The Motion Eye app allows you to scan your face or your full head and it then renders both of these in 3D. From here, there are several uses including creating custom wallpapers, an AR effect (where you can put multiple of you in one picture), gaming, and 3D Printing.

The only major difference between the two is the display size – 5.2-inch Full HD screen for the larger XZ1, and a 4.6-inch 720p display for the Compact. What may be a let down for some though is the design. Both look very similar but the Xperia XZ1 uses a loop surface and seamless metal body design, while the Xperia XZ1 Compact combines a metal panel with a glass woven, plastic body. In a world of near bezel-less smartphones, the thick bezels and huge top and bottom chin are particularly glaring, but fans of Sony will appreciate the signature look.

Whether the impressive camera, the fact that the Xperia XZ1 Compact is really the only option if you are looking for a small phone with high-end specs, and that these are the first smartphones to launch with Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box are enough to give Sony a hit is something we will see as these phones make their way to consumers over the coming weeks.

Specs

5.2-inch Full HD display, 423 ppi (Xperia XZ1), 4.6-inch 720p display, 319 ppi (XZ1 Compact)
octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor
4 GB RAM
32 GB (XZ1 Compact), 64 GB (XZ1) built-in storage
19 MP rear camera, 13 MP front-facing camera (XZ1), 8 MP front-facing shooter (XZ1 Compact)
2,700 mAh battery
Android 8.0 Oreo
148 x 73 x 7.4 mm, 156 grams (XZ1), 129 x 65 x 9.3 mm, 143 grams (XZ1 Compact)

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Xiaomi Mi A1

A mid-range, affordable smartphone from Xiaomi may seem a little out of place on a list that is home to all the latest flagship smartphones, but the Xiaomi Mi A1 has something special up its sleeve that definitely makes it deserving of a mention when talking about exciting phones that have recently been released.

Xiaomi has done incredibly well in markets like China and India in particular, with their range of relatively affordable but premium looking smartphones a huge success. These devices feature mid-range specifications but offer impressive performance, and a standout feature of all of them in general is the battery life.

If there is one gripe with these devices, it is that that the software package isn't for everybody, and Xiaomi isn't known for their timely Android updates either. The great news is that that should no longer be a concern with the Xiaomi Mi A1, which features stock Android 7.1.1 Nougat on-board, and should be one of the first devices to receive an official update to Android 8.0 Oreo.

Apart from the software, the Mi A1 offers everything we've come to expect from Xiaomi – a beautiful full metal unibody construction, good performance, impressive battery life, and a very reasonable price point, and this phone also comes with a dual camera setup. Partnering with Xiaomi is definitely a great idea by Google to give the Android One program the boost that it requires.

Specs

5.5-inch IPS LCD display with 1920 x 1080 resolution
Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor
4 GB RAM
64 GB built-in storage
Dual 12 MP rear cameras, 5 MP front-facing camera
3,080 mAh battery
Android 7.1.1 Nougat
155.4 x 75.8 x 7.3 mm, 165 grams

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Hands on with the Xiaomi Mi A1

Google Pixel 2

/ Pixel 2 XL

Google's 2017 flagship phones are finally here, and they're great. Both are also exclusive Verizon phones, although they are also available direct from Google. Both the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL feature top-of-the-line specs, IP67 ratings for dust and water resistance (finally), as well as the best smartphone cameras on the market, according to DxOMark. They'll also be the first devices to include Google Lens, and will also come with three full years of OS updates.

More specifically, the Pixel 2 has a 5.0-inch display and a 2,700 mAh battery, while the Pixel 2 XL sports a 6.0-inch pOLED 18:9 display and a bigger 3,520 mAh battery, but other than that, these two phones are pretty much identical. Both have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, 4 GB of RAM, and onboard storage options of 64 GB and 128 GB, but with no microSD card slots.

Specs

Google Pixel 2

5.0-inch OLED display with 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, 441 ppi
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor
4 GB of RAM
64/128 GB of on-board storage, no microSD expansion
12.2 MP rear camera, 8 MP front camera
Non-removable 2,700 mAh battery
Android 8.0 Oreo
145.7 x 69.7 x 7.8 mm 143 g

Google Pixel 2 XL

6.0-inch pOLED display with 2,880 x 1,440 resolution, 538 ppi
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor
4 GB of RAM
64/128 GB of on-board storage, no microSD expansion
12.2 MP rear camera, 8 MP front camera
Non-removable 3,520 mAh battery
Android 8.0 Oreo
157.9 x 76.7 x 7.9 mm, 175 g

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Huawei Mate 10 and Mate 10 Pro

Huawei's recently announced Mate 10 and Mate 10 Pro are the company's latest flagship devices over the past few years. Both of these phones share many of the same high-end hardware features, including the Huawei Kirin 970 processor, dual 20 MP monochrome and 12 MP cameras in the back, an 8 MP front-facing camera and a 4,000 mAh battery. The biggest changes are in their displays. The Mate 10 will have a 5.9 inch IPS LCD screen with a 2,560 x 1,440 resolution,while the Mate 10 Pro gets a 6.0-inch OLED screen at 2,160 x 1,080 resolution.

In addition the Mate 10 is limited to 4 GB of RAM and just 64 GB of onboard storage, but it does have a microSD card slot to expand that storage by up to 256 GB, and it even includes a 3.5 mm headphone jack. The Mate 10 Pro will be released with either 4 GB or 6 GB of RAM, and with either 64 GB or 128 GB of storage. The Mate 10 Pro will also lack both a microSD card slot and a headphone jack. The Mate 10 should be on sale now in a number of countries, while the Mate 10 Pro will go on sale in mid-November. Both are definite additions to our most anticipated upcoming Android phones of 2017.

Specs

Huawei Mate 10

5.9-inch IPS LCD screen with a 2,560 x 1,440 resolution
Kirin 970 processor
4 GB RAM
64 GB built-in storage, microSD card for adding up to 256 GB
4,000 mAh battery
Dual 20 MP and 12 MP rear cameras, 8 MP front-facing camera
Android 7.1 Nougat
3.5 mm headphone jack

Huawei Mate 10 Pro

6.0-inch OLED screen at 2,160 x 1,080 resolution
Kirin 970 processor
4/6 GB RAM
64/128 GB built-in storage, no microSD card
4,000 mAh battery
Dual 20 MP and 12 MP rear cameras, 8 MP front-facing camera
Android 7.1 Nougat
No headphone jack

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HTC U11 Life

The HTC U11 Life is a recently launched budget friendly member of the HTC U family. It keeps the same look of the other phones in the series, and includes the mirror-like Liquid Surface finish on the back. Inside it has a 5.2-inch Super LCD 1080p display, a Snapdragon 630 processor, 3 or 4 GB of RAM (depending on the market), 32 GB or 64 GB of on board storage (again depending on the market), and microSD expansion up to 2 TB. It also has 16 MP cameras on both the front and the back, as well as a 2,600 mAh battery.

The phone lack a 3.5 mm headphone jack but does have a IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, which means it can withstand submersion in 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes. There are two versions of the HTC U11 Life. The US version, which is now on sale via T-Mobile, comes with HTC Edge Sense, support for Amazon Alexa and Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box. However, the global version will be available through Google's Android One program, which runs a bare-bones version of Android 8.0 Oreo along with Edge Sense (but with no Alexa). The T-Mobile version is priced at $12 down with $12 per month for 24 months, or $300 without a contract. HTC is also selling it unlocked for $349. The Android One version of the U11 Life is on our upcoming Android phones list; it will be out later this year.

Specs

5.2-inch Super LCD display with 1,920 x 1,080 resolution
Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 processor
3/4 GB RAM
32/64 GB built-in storage
16 MP rear camera, 16 MP front-facing camera
2,600 mAh battery
Android 7.1.1 Nougat/Android 8.0 Oreo
149.09 x 72.9 x 8.1 mm, 142 grams

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Get it at T-Mobile

Get it at HTC

Upcoming Android phones

That is it for the new smartphones that have recently been announced or have begun to ship to customers. However, the year is far from done, and there are still a slew of upcoming Android phones to be released that we are certainly excited about. Let's take a look!

HTC U11 Plus

The HTC U11 Plus will be the even higher end version of the HTC U11 that launched a few months ago. Nearly everything about this phone is impressive in terms of its hardware specs. The U11 Plus will have a bigger 6-inch display than the U11, with a 2,880 x 1,440 resolution. It also will have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, with 4 or 6 GB of RAM (depending on the market), 64 GB or 128 GB of on board storage (again depending on the market), and a big 3,930 mAh battery.

The camera hardware in the U11 Plus is the same as the one found in the U11, with a 12 MP UltraPixel 3 sensor in the back, with f/1.7 aperture and 1.4 μm pixels, and a 8 MP sensor in the front. The phone lacks a 3.5 mm headphone jack, but does have an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. The U11 Plus has the Edge Sense squeezable body found in the U11, with the addition of the Edge Launcher, which lets you access favorite apps, contacts, and quick settings by squeezing the phone's frame. Finally, the phone will come with the option of a Translucent color in the back, which will let you see through the Gorilla Glass back of the phone. This option will you check out the internal hardware of the U11 Plus.

There's no word yet on the price or availability of the phone but it is expected to be launched by the end of 2017. The upgraded hardware on the HTC U11 Plus make it an easy choice for our most anticipated upcoming Android phones list.

Specs

6.0-inch Super LCD display with 2,880 x 1,440 resolution
Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor
4/6 GB RAM
64/128 GB built-in storage
12 MP rear camera, 8 MP front-facing camera
3,930 mAh battery
Android 8.0 Oreo
158.5 x 74.9 x 8.5 mm, 188 grams

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RED Hydrogen One

As powerful as our smartphones are and as great looking as they are getting with near bezel-less designs and metal, glass, and ceramic constructions, there isn't as much of a "wow" factor anymore, particularly for us who are a part of this world. RED, a famous cinematography camera company that you've definitely heard of if you have any interest in filming, is hoping to change all that with their first smartphone offering – the Hydrogen One.

We don't know a whole lot about this addition to the upcoming Android phones list, except for the fact the prototype looks really good, the phone will be modular, and is expected to release only early next year. However, given RED's area of expertise, we can definitely expect this upcoming Android phones entry to feature an excellent camera setup on-board. Even more exciting is that this phone will feature a holographic display, even if we don't have much of idea of what exactly that entails, but this member of our upcoming Android phones list is one to watch for.

OnePlus 5T

The launch of the OnePlus 5 earlier this year showed that the Chinese company can continue to launch high-end handsets at prices far cheaper than the competition. The latest upcoming Android phones rumors claim that the OnePlus 5T could continue that trend, with an all new design.

In our exclusive teaser image, we showed that the OnePlus 5T will have a 6-inch 2160 x 1080 resolution display with an 18:9 aspect ratio and will ditch hardware buttons on the bottom. Inside, there might be some other improvements compared to the OnePlus 5, including a bigger battery and a better camera. The OnePlus 5T will be officially revealed on Nov. 16, with a launch date of Novt. 20. The new screen design alone makes it one of our most anticipated upcoming Android phones.

Specs (rumored)

6-inch 2160 x 1080 resolution display, 18:9 aspect ratio
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor
6/8 GB of RAM
64/128 GB of onboard storage, no microSD card slot
Dual 20 MP rear cameras, 8 MP front-facing camera
3,450 mAh
Android 7.0 Nougat or Android 8.0 Oreo

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Razer Phone

By far, one of the most anticipated upcoming Android phones is the one that will come from Razer. The well-know PC and console gaming accessory and hardware company has already confirmed that it will begin selling its first mobile phone, simply called the Razer Phone, on Nov. 17, and it's targeting the gaming community.

Razer bought Nextbit, the company that released the impressive Robin phone, early in 2017, to help them make this new product, and the design of the Razer Phone is very similar on the outside to the old Robin. However, the hardware specs on the Razer Phone may be among the highest, if not the highest, on this upcoming Android phones list. It will have a 5.7-inch IGZO LCD display with a 1,440 x 2,560 resolution, but more importantly, it will be the first phone with a 120 Hz UltraMotion screen. That means game developers can make titles that will have almost no lag or stuttering when they are playing on screen.

Audio will come from twin speakers on the front that Razer says are the loudest found on any phone, with Dolby ATMOS support. Headphone users will be able to listen with a special USB-C adapter that includes THX certified DAC support. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor is inside, along with a whopping 8 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage with a microSD card slot, dual 12 MP rear cameras, an 8 MP front facing camera, and a big 4,000 mAh battery.

While the Razer Phone will ship with Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box, it will be updated to Android 8.0 Oreo in the first quarter of 2018. It will be priced at $699 when it goes on sale. It is one of the upcoming Android phones that we are very much looking forward to trying out for ourselves.

Specs

5.7-inch 1,440 x 2,560 resolution IGZO LCD display; 120 Hz UltraMotion screen
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor
8 GB of RAM
64 GB of onboard storage,
Dual 12 MP rear cameras, 8 MP front-facing camera
4,000 mAh battery
Android 7.1 Nougat
158.5 x 77.7 x 8 mm, 197 g

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Samsung Galaxy S9/Samsung Folding Phone

Is it too early to put the Samsung Galaxy S9 on our upcoming Android phones list? If one rumor is to be believed, nope. It claims Samsung plans to launch the next generation version of the Galaxy S series in February, following an announcement in January. Some rumors about the phone include one that claims it will have a camera that can record video at 1,000 fps. There are also reports that Samsung could launch a phone with a folding display alongside the Galaxy S9. None of this is confirmed but it certainly puts both devices on our upcoming Android phones wish list.

And so, there you have it for this roundup of new and upcoming Android phones that we are excited about! Are there any upcoming Android phones out there that you think should be a part of this list? Do let us know in the comments section below!

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New & upcoming Android phones (November 2017)