In this review article, we discuss the synthesis, properties, and novel device applications of low-symmetry 2D materials, including black phosphorus and its arsenic alloys, compounds with black-phosphorus like structure such as the monochalcogenides of group IV elements like Ge and Sn, as well as the class of low-symmetry transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) materials such as rhenium disulfide (ReS2) and rhenium diselenide (ReSe2). Their unique physical properties resulting from the low symmetry in-plane crystal structure and the prospects of their application in nanoelectronics and nanophotonics, as well as piezoelectric devices and thermoelectrics are discussed. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.