Technologies to look forward to in 2018

As 2017 comes to a close, it's time to take a look at what's coming next year. Here are some of the tech you can look forward to.

In-display fingerprint scanner

The first smartphones with this feature will appear in the first quarter. Notably, it is not a big name like Apple or Samsung (which has been involved in researching this technology for a while), but Vivo - a company from China. It is not yet clear how effective the technology will be, but it looks very promising.

The Clear ID FS9500 chip will first appear on commercial smartphones from Vivo PHOTO: AFP

The first fingerprint scanner integrated into the screen by Synaptics developed is called Clear ID FS9500. It includes a small CMOS sensor placed under the AMOLED display, illuminating the finger so that the fingerprint scanner can read the fingerprint reflections and authenticate.

Foldable phones

They have been rumored for years but the final product may not appear until the end of 2018. According to leaks, Samsung is considering launching a foldable phone in late 2018 called the Galaxy W.

However, the Korean company may have to delay the official release of the product to the market until 2019, when the curved Super AMOLED technology is truly perfected.

Apple's first AR headset

Apple is actually working hard on an augmented reality (AR) headset — a technology that differs from current virtual reality (VR) devices because it doesn't require users to be immersed in a virtual world.

It's unclear when Apple will launch its AR headset, but more information about the product could be released in 2018 before it officially releases in 2019, with the role of bringing breakthroughs like what the iPhone did to the smartphone world more than 10 years ago.

Smart speaker with great sound quality

Amazon is leading the smart speaker market with its Echo product line that integrates the Alexa virtual assistant, making it the most sought-after home appliance in the US in 2017.

HomePod will help promote improvements in sound quality on smart speakers PHOTO: AFP

But while useful, none of these smart speakers offer a particularly great audio experience from a pure music perspective, so analysts expect 2018 to be the year of the smart speaker, as Apple steps in with the HomePod and Google begins to refine its Home product.

Cheap phones from China

China is no longer a laggard when it comes to phones. Huawei, Oppo or Xiaomi are all brands that have grown strongly with many eye-catching designs and interesting features.

Most notably, Huawei, the world's third-largest phone company, has confirmed that it will offer the Mate 10 Pro to US carriers, marking a Chinese company's foray into the market. AT&T is expected to be the first carrier to sell the Mate 10 Pro next February.

Meanwhile, Xiaomi also entered the European market in 2017, specifically Spain. The company also said it is planning to expand to the US, which requires careful preparation if it is to be successful.

Google's flagship AI phone

Google's Pixel 2 series of phones offer two features that make them stand out from the rest: fast Android updates and the power of Google AI.

AI will be increasingly improved in Google's Pixel smartphone PHOTO: REUTERS

AI (artificial intelligence) is a broad term, but Google is making its benefits more clear in very specific ways. The new Pixel 2 and 2 XL cameras are the best we've ever seen, especially when it comes to night photography. This is thanks to AI.

Google Photos also has smarter search capabilities, and AI is embedded in modern Google services, so 2018 is shaping up to be a year of exciting things for the Pixel 3 and 3 XL, where AI will be taken to the next level.

According to TNO