The 15 most exciting new tech products launching in 2017

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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'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.

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.

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.

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.

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.