Hardware

Gallery: 10 upcoming tech products to get excited about in 2017

By // March 24, 2017, 8:43 AM PST // bviglia

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  • ​Will 2017 be a banner year for tech products?

    From the IoT to self-driving cars, there's a lot to expect from tech product makers this year. Here's a look at 10 products that are coming--or rumored to be coming--in 2017.

    Not all the products you see here have been given a release date, so be sure to check back often: We'll be updating the list as new details are revealed.

    Did we miss something you're excited about? Let us know so we can add it!

    Image: iStock/hoodesigns

  • ​March: Samsung Galaxy S8

    Samsung's newest flagship phone is due to launch on the 29th of March, and with it comes the chance at redemption. It has been a bad year for Samsung and the S8 is their chance at proving a shiny new phone doesn't double as an explosive device.

    Image: CNET/Onleaks/GearIndia

  • ​First quarter: Amazon Echo Touch

    One of the biggest problems with smart speakers is that there's no display. It's not strictly necessary to see things when Alexa or Google is speaking it to you, but studies prove most digital assistant skills go unused simply because we don't remember them.

    Rumors suggest Amazon knows that, and its next Echo is reportedly coming with a seven-inch touchscreen. Will seeing Alexa's capabilities make it a bit more useful?

    Image: TechRepublic

  • ​Third quarter: Foldable Samsung phone

    Samsung filed a patent for a foldable phone in 2015, and rumors suggest 2017 is the year it will launch. The foldable device would have an external screen for use as a phone, but could also fold out into a tablet.

    Image: CNET

  • ​July: Tesla solar roof

    Solar panels are ugly. Combined with their lack of aesthetic appeal is a ridiculous price, making renewable energy great in theory but impractical in practice.

    Tesla wants to change the solar game with its new roof tiles. They're designed to look like regular shingles, tiles, or slate but each one is also a solar cell. Elon Musk says they're going to be available in July and that they'll be cheaper than a regular roof. We'll see.

    Image: Tesla

  • ​August: Samsung Galaxy Note 8

    It's been confirmed: Samsung isn't killing the Note series. In fact, it plans to launch a new version of the Note this year, presumably in August like other Note devices.

    Keep an eye out for this one: The S8 may be Samsung's chance to prove they've still got it, but the Note 8 will be the real test of consumer confidence.

    Image: CNET

  • ​September: iPhone 8

    It's the 10th anniversary of the iPhone, and Apple is expected to spare no expense in reasserting itself as the mobile giant to beat. Rumors about the iPhone 8 continue to swirl ahead of its expected September reveal, so only time will tell if the Cupertino innovators can recapture some of the magic lost in the past few years.

    Image: CNET

  • ​End of the year: Tesla Model 3

    All-electric vehicles are slowly gaining traction, and it may be in large part due to the popularity of Tesla vehicles. The price for previous Tesla models was too high for the average consumer, but the Model 3 is going to change that: It starts at $35,000.

    And yes, the Model 3 will come with Autopilot, so you won't be missing out on the future of driving by trying to save money.

    Image: CNET

  • ​Unknown: An Apple Echo competitor?

    Bloomberg reported that Apple is testing a Siri-powered smart speaker in its engineers' homes, which means they've moved beyond R&D. So it's possible that an Apple-made, Siri-powered smart speaker could be coming this year.

    Would an Apple smart home hub be enough to make you ditch Alexa?

    Image: CNET

  • ​Unknown: Google Pixel Phone 2​Unknown: Google Pixel Phone 2

    Google has said that it's planning to follow the industry's yearly release trend with its new line of Pixel phones, so expect one to come out this year at some point. The previous one was revealed in October, so it's a safe bet the Pixel 2 will release toward the end of the year. Hardware manufacturers love their consistency.

    Spec rumors include a faster processor, improved water resistance, and (gasp) no headphone jack.

    Image: CNET

  • ​Forgotten: The iMac

    Poor iMac fans--it's been a couple of years since new hardware was announced and those 2015 series iMacs are getting a bit long in the tooth. There seems to always be some iMac speculation swirling, but Apple's partnership with LG to produce displays seems to point in a good direction ... right?

    Don't forget USB C either--if Apple truly migrates to the new port it's almost forced to update the iMac. Or just release more dongles.

    Image: CBSinteractive/Brandon Vigliarolo

​Will 2017 be a banner year for tech products?

From the IoT to self-driving cars, there's a lot to expect from tech product makers this year. Here's a look at 10 products that are coming--or rumored to be coming--in 2017.

Not all the products you see here have been given a release date, so be sure to check back often: We'll be updating the list as new details are revealed.

Did we miss something you're excited about? Let us know so we can add it!

Image: iStock/hoodesigns

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By Brandon Vigliarolo

Brandon writes about apps and software for TechRepublic. He's an award-winning feature writer who previously worked as an IT professional and served as an MP in the US Army.