With many companies showing off really inter­esting technology at the recent 2018 International Consumer Electronics Show, we can rest assured 2018 will see exciting developments in consumer electronics. From foldable TVs to augmented reality glasses, there is plenty to look forward to in 2018, but at the cusp of the year, it is worth looking back at the products of 2017 that have, undoubtedly, paved the way for the future. Here are a few of them:

 

1. Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ (Rs 70,000-90,000)

 

 One of the most important devices of 2017, Sam­sung’s flagship phone redefined a smartphone’s look and feel by coming up with a phone with 83.6 percent screen-to-body ratio. With many com­panies like Sharp and Xiaomi experimenting with the bezel-less designs, bezel-less smartphone had been a hot topic of discussion online. While Sharp’s Aquos Crystal and Xiaomi’s Mi Mix did create buzz among technology enthusiasts, it was Samsung’s bezel-less version that pushed the ‘enthusiast technology’ into mass market. Everything about the S8 Edge spells well-thought out design. There hasn’t been a compro­mise on any front-facing functionality, unlike many of the other devices that resort to experimental new technology. While there are some rough edges in design, like the awkwardly placed fingerprint sensor, overall, the Samsung Galaxy S8 is a refreshing rejig of smartphone design.

 

 

1. Nintendo Switch  (Rs 45,000-50,000)

 

There has always been a stark divide between portable gaming and console gaming. Consoles are known for their graphical performance and gaming complexity while portable consoles are better suited for light gaming on the go. Even power­ful portable gaming consoles like the PSP does not have the graphical or logical compute performance to back bigger triple-A titles. It wasn’t until Ninten­do’s release of the Switch in early 2017 that a truly hybrid console experience was achieved. The Switch effortlessly changed between portable and console gaming modes, as per the gamer’s preference. The Switch, however, still can’t compete with more per­formance-driven consoles like the Playstation 4 or the Xbox One. But seen through Nintendo’s aesthetic approach to gaming, the Switch manages to produce a great looking, utterly novel and remarkably fun gaming experience. Paired with games like The Leg­end of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the Nintendo Switch carves out an exciting new niche in gaming.

 

 

1. DJI Spark   (Rs 65,000- Rs 85,000)

 

In mid-2017, DJI announced their affordable Spark drones. While up to this point drones needed a controller to navigate, the Spark introduced a new gesture feature that made controlling the drone and interacting with it effortless. With a really affordable price tag of $500, the DJI Spark instantly launches from your palm and reacts to your palm controls. Intelligent enough, the drone also positions itself for automatic framing of pictures and videos and even recognizes and reacts to obstacles in its flight path. Considering the affordability and ease of use of the Spark, drones might further penetrate the mass market in 2018. Looking back at 2017, there have been countless other revolutionary products that defined the year. But considering just how innovative the past year has been for consumer electronics, we can’t help but look into the future with great expectations.

(Figures mentioned are the average market prices)