The year is pretty much over, as far as the tech world is concerned.
Just about every major product that’s been announced is available to buy
in time for the holidays.
But 2017 is almost here, and we’re expecting a bunch of cool new
products. Below you’ll find the most important gadgets likely to launch
next year.
Keep in mind this isn’t a comprehensive list, and it doesn’t account
for the surprises we’ll likely see in 2017. But these are the gadgets we
think you should be the most excited about.
Samsung Galaxy S8
Samsung’s first opportunity to recover from the Galaxy Note 7
debacle will come with the launch of its new flagship phone, the Galaxy
S8, in the spring of 2017.
While we don’t know too much about the device, Samsung has announced that it will include a new digital assistant powered by Viv,
the artificial intelligence startup Samsung bought earlier this year.
Oh, and Viv was founded by the same people who built Siri.
A foldable Samsung phone?
image: https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/582dd85dba6eb61b008b4de7-960-720/a-foldable-samsung-phone.jpg
Samsung has been working on bendable displays for years, but 2017 could be the first time we actually see it in a phone.
The company recently filed a patent for such a device, fueling speculation that it’s coming soon.
Galaxy Note 8?
The future for Samsung’s Note phones are uncertain, following the unprecedented recall of the Galaxy Note 7 this year.
There have been some scattered reports that Samsung may abandon the
Note altogether in 2017. But if the Note does make its return, then
expect to see it in the fall.
New iPads
Apple is expected to refresh its iPad lineup in the spring of 2017, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
The new iPad models will focus on the Pro line, with improvements to the Apple Pencil stylus and new screen sizes.
New iMac
While the iMac has been updated with new, high-resolution
displays in recent years, it’s been a long time since Apple has
significantly updated the computer.
Bloomberg’s Gurman reported
that Apple has considered adding the new USB-C port to the iMac lineup,
which makes sense since the company’s other computers are adopting the
new standard too.
However, there haven’t been any solid reports on the timing of a new iMac.
iPhone 8
The next iPhone is going to be a major refresh for the product, according to a various reports and rumors.
The so-called iPhone 8 is said to have an all-glass design, an
organic LED display for better images, no home button, new screen sizes,
and more. We’ve also reported that Apple is working on adding built-in augmented reality features — think Pokemon Go, but for all kinds of apps — but that might not make it into the next phone.
2017 will mark the iPhone’s tenth birthday, so expect Apple to go all out to mark the occasion.
An update to the Google Pixel phone
Google hit a home run with its first-ever phone, the Pixel, this year.
Although there haven’t been any reports on what Google is planning
for 2017′s Pixel phone, the company’s hardware ambitions are just
getting started. It’s more than reasonable to expect another great Pixel
phone from Google in the fall of 2017.
A new laptop from Google running a special version of Android
Google is planning a major overhaul of its Chrome and Android operating systems to work on many more devices.
The so-called Andromeda OS will also power a new kind of laptop built by Google, according to Android Police.
The computer is expected to launch in the fall of 2017 and show off
Google’s vision for the future of Chromebooks. The laptop is said to
work as both a tablet and traditional laptop and have a lot of power
under the hood.
A smartwatch made by Google
Google delayed its big software update for Android Wear watches
until 2017, and the company is expected to launch its own watch as well,
according to Android Police.
The circular smartwatches will be Google’s opportunity to inject new
interest into its wearable computers, a category that’s been dominated
by the Apple Watch so far.
A new version of Microsoft’s Surface Pro
We didn’t get a new Surface Pro in 2016 — that’s the first
calendar year with no refresh since the Surface Pro debuted. We’ll be
overdue for an update in 2017, so it’s pretty reasonable to expect one
from Microsoft.
Microsoft Surface Book 2
Microsoft’s first-ever laptop, the Surface Book, should be due
for an update in 2017, too. The computer got a bit faster and more
powerful this year, but it’ll be interesting to see if Microsoft can
push its capabilities even further in 2017.
New virtual reality headsets that work with Windows 10
A new, free update coming to Windows 10 early next year will let just about anyone use a VR headset with their PC.
The headsets will start at just $299 and come from a variety of
companies like Dell, Asus, and Lenovo. That’s much cheaper than other
headsets like the Oculus Rift, which starts at $599.
New form factors from Fitbit.
Fitbit launches new fitness trackers every year, but 2017 could have a twist. The company said recently that it’s exploring new form factors for its products.
What does that mean? It’s unclear, but it sounds like we may see Fitbit expand beyond fitness trackers you wear on your wrist.
Nintendo Switch
March 2017 is going to be a big month for Nintendo fans.
That’s when the iconic video game company will release the Nintendo
Switch, its new gaming console that works on televisions and doubles as a
portable system. Nintendo announced the Switch in a three-minute video
this fall, but we won’t learn final details like pricing and launch
titles until January 12, 2017.
Xbox Project Scorpio
Microsoft is going to supercharge the Xbox.
The company is currently working on Project Scorpio, a more powerful
version of the Xbox One designed for 4K TVs and potentially virtual
reality headsets like the Oculus Rift.
The console will be aimed at gamers who value performance over everything else. It’s expected to launch in the fall of 2017.
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