Top smartphone reviews of 2017

Being a mobile tech reviewer definitely has its perks. Shiny new devices are great and all, but still, at the end of the day, the most gratifying thing is to see our work actually help out readers and eager buyers navigate the vast and often confusing smartphone market. 2017 was a really interesting year, with many great announcements and more than one interesting trend set in motion and ready to unfold in 2018.

Before CES kicks off and draws our collective attention to the future of mobile, what better time to sift through the top ten reviews of 2017, as rated by your interest. Starting from the top of the list, it's clear that Samsung had yet another strong year in the business. Not only is the Korean giant getting the lion's share of sales in most markets, but it is also drawing ever-growing amounts of attention towards its industry-leading and trend-setting designs. The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+, in particular, really shook thinks up vigorously, with their bold Infinity Display, curvy profile, finally breaking the long-standing "slab" design mold.

Besides, topping the review popularity chart, Samsung phones also proudly hold the sixth and seventh spot. Forth place goes to one of the company's devices as well, the Galaxy A5 (2017), but that represents a whole other 2017 trend, we are probably even more excited about - the quest towards great value devices. It's true. Whether it is the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4, the more expensive Xiaomi Mi A1, or the pricier still OnePlus 5 budget flagship, more and more companies are trying their best to deliver great value handsets in most every price bracket. Better still, consumers are starting to expect and demand these offers.

2017 saw an interesting mix of value-first trends in the industry, along with a new breed of ultra-expensive flagships, officially passing the $1000 barrier. Nokia's surprisingly well-received comeback added, even more, excitement to the mix. We can only imagine what new developments and intriguing devices 2018 has in store. In the meantime, if you've missed any of our top reviews in 2017, now might be a great time to catch up.

Samsung Galaxy S8 review:Essence distilled

When 5 inches is the de-facto standard for a compact Android handset, yet you want to prove that more is always better...

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625) review:Take note!

After getting to know Xiaomi's Redmi Note 4 with Helio X20, it's time to meet the Snapdragon 625 edition. It promises better....

Nokia 6 review:International flavor

We're back at checking out one of the most hyped phones this year - the Nokia 6. This time around though, it's repackaged for....

Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) review:Alphabet soup

A 5.2-inch Super AMOLED display, 14nm Exynos chipset, a body made out of a glass/metal combo, IP68 certification, 16MP....

OnePlus 5 review:Doing the math

Strange that with a name like that OnePlus doesn't know simple addition. Oh well, tetraphobia is real and many product lines....

Samsung Galaxy S8+ review:Infinity and beyond

What was once an impossible fantasy - a sketch in someone's book, a render of an ambitious concept - is now a reality. These...

Samsung Galaxy Note8 review

The Note8 is here and we can't help but feel the tension rising, especially in Europe where this is the first Note device to...

Nokia 8 review:Connecting the dots

This is it then. The long-awaited Finnish flagship that goes all in against the phones that rule today. The Finnish...

LG G6 review:Cutting corners... Like a pro

Cutting corners - it's the story of the LG G6's life. And we mean this both literally and figuratively. Literally because its display...

Xiaomi Mi A1 review

With the Xiaomi Mi 5X confined to the domestic Chinese market soon after launch, its double, the Mi A1, is called upon....