Best Smartphones of 2017

So... what is the best of the best? Is it the phone with the biggest camera? The phone with the most space? The phone with the longest lasting battery? Or is it the most expensive?

Every company comes out with their highest end model each year in an effort to snag your hard earned dollars. The best of the best offer a blend of the most sought after features that their customers value, even if it isn't necessarily what the customers know they want. Often this comes down to the camera, in my opinion, because that is the first thing I am looking for.

1. Samsung Galaxy S8 (Starting at $1,035 CAD): The Samsung Galaxy S8 impressed with its stunning 5.8-inch Infinity Display, which curved around the edges. It boasted a powerful Exynos 8895 or Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, depending on the region. The device featured a 12 MP rear camera with optical image stabilization and an 8 MP front camera. Its iris scanner and fingerprint sensor offered enhanced security features. (Note that the S8+ is arguably slightly better because it is slightly bigger.)
   

2. iPhone X (Starting at $1,319 CAD): The iPhone X introduced a significant redesign with its edge-to-edge 5.8-inch Super Retina OLED display. It featured Apple's A11 Bionic chip for enhanced performance and Face ID facial recognition technology. The dual-camera system with 12 MP sensors provided optical zoom and portrait mode capabilities. The iPhone X set a new standard for flagship smartphones in 2017.

3. Google Pixel 2 XL (Starting at $1,099 CAD): The Google Pixel 2 XL showcased a 6-inch P-OLED display and ran on the Snapdragon 835 chipset. It stood out with its exceptional camera performance, featuring a 12.2 MP sensor with advanced computational photography capabilities. The device offered unlimited Google Photos storage, exclusive Google software features, and quick software updates.

4. LG G6 (Starting at $699 CAD): The LG G6 featured a 5.7-inch QHD+ FullVision display with minimal bezels and an 18:9 aspect ratio. It was powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor. The device had a dual-camera setup with two 13 MP sensors, one offering a wide-angle lens. The G6 was water and dust resistant, and its unique aspect ratio provided a more immersive multimedia experience.

5. OnePlus 5T (Starting at $659 CAD): The OnePlus 5T offered a 6.01-inch Optic AMOLED display with minimal bezels and a 2:1 aspect ratio. It ran on the Snapdragon 835 chipset and featured a dual-camera system with 16 MP and 20 MP sensors. The device provided a near-stock Android experience with OxygenOS and boasted impressive performance and fast charging capabilities.

6. Huawei Mate 10 Pro (Starting at $1,099 CAD): The Huawei Mate 10 Pro featured a 6-inch FullView OLED display and ran on the Kirin 970 chipset. It offered a dual-camera setup co-engineered with Leica, with 12 MP and 20 MP sensors. The device provided advanced AI capabilities, a large battery capacity, and a sleek design with water and dust resistance.