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Flagships, foldables, midrangers and affordable models - there's an upcoming phone for all budgets
Tom Morgan-FreelanderFollow @TomMorgan3
The tech world never takes a day off, so there are always shiny new upcoming phones to get excited about. From hero handsets and foldable flagships to affordable mid-rangers, there’s sure to be something on the horizon for you – no matter your budget.
All the upcoming phones listed below look set to arrive within the next twelve months or so. We’ve included confirmed releases, rumoured reveals and likely launches, along with what you can expect in terms of specs, camera capabilities and software smarts. And for some added context, check out the summary of every major smartphone announcement from recent months, with links to our review of the biggest hitters.
Only care about phones you can buy right now? Read our guide to the best smartphones on sale today.
All the best upcoming phones we’re expecting soon
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 / Flip 6
Samsung has brought forward its smartphone release schedule this year, with the Galaxy S24 series launching in January – a month earlier than previous efforts. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 will continue that trend, at an Unpacked event held in Paris on July 10.
These next-gen foldables are expected to blend design elements from the Galaxy S24 and the S24 Ultra. The Z Fold 6 should also get a more mainstream aspect ratio for its outer screen, which was seriously skinny on the outgoing model. The Z Flip 6 is expected to keep the same screen sizes as last year. Camera upgrades sound pretty sparse, according to rumours, while Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 power is expected no matter where you live in the world.
The biggest surprise could be two variants of the Z Fold 6: a regular and an ‘ultra’. The former would make the book-style foldable a little easier on the wallet, while the latter may finally find room inside for an S Pen stylus – though that’s still very much a rumour for now.
With Samsung promising long-term software support, the Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 remain fantastic buys – and can be had for considerably less cash now the new generation is looming.
- Read more: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 preview: everything we know so far
Google Pixel 9 series
The next generation of Pixel phones will be officially revealed on August 13. A Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro are almost certain to appear, but the latter is expected to get a smaller screen – and make way for a larger Pixel 9 Pro XL. It’s a naming scheme Google hasn’t used for a few years, but makes sense if two Pro options are on the way.
A fresh take on the distinctive camera bar is expected, and a new Tensor G4 chipset will probably include even more AI acceleration than the outgoing Pixel 8 series. Camera hardware may not get a huge upgrade, as Google tends to wait two years before it swaps to a new set of sensors. Algorithm updates and more editing tools are pretty much a given, though.
Until the Pixel 9 series arrives the Pixel 8 Pro remains one of our favourite smartphones. It takes stunning photos, has plenty of clever AI enhancements, and has the slickest design of any Pixel to date.
- Related: Google Pixel 9 preview – specs, release date and all we know
Google Pixel Fold 2
Working out when the Pixel Fold sequel would launch was a shot in the dark after Google’s I/O event came and went in May. Newer leaks and rumours have suggested it will arrive alongside the Pixel 9 series in August – and with a name change to boot. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold will, as the name suggests, be a folding version of the Pixel 9 Pro, with a complimentary design and identical internals.
The rear camera module will apparently swap from a device-spanning bar to a pill-shaped bump contained to one corner. It’s unknown if the cameras themselves will see any serious upgrades. A Tensor G4 chipset and a larger capacity battery are also expected, as is a taller, narrower pair of screens that more closely match folding rivals.
If you can’t wait that long, the original Pixel Fold is still doing the rounds – and for less than retail price.
- Related: Google Pixel Fold 2 preview – everything we know so far
Apple iPhone 16 series
Apple fans worldwide have long learned to mark early September in the calendars for the new iPhone generation. 2024 looks set to see larger Pro variants, with 6.3in and 6.9in screens rumoured. They could also include a dedicated “capture” button for content creators, alongside the returning Action button – which itself will filter down to the standard iPhone models.
New Apple silicon looks guaranteed, and iOS 18 will almost certainly be made official on the same day (it’s currently in preview for keen testers). Apple has already showed off its AI ambitions for the new software generation, with Apple Intelligence bringing chatGPT integration in a big way. Whether the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 5x telephoto lens will make its way down to the more palm-friendly iPhone 16 Pro is still a mystery.
September feels like a long way off right now, though. The iPhone 15 line-up is as good as it gets in Apple land today:
- Read more: Apple iPhone 16: what upgraded features will appear in 2024?
Apple iPhone SE 4
Apple’s most affordable iPhone model will apparently inherit styling from the iPhone 14, with flat sides and a 6.1in OLED screen bringing the SE bang up to date. That’s a big change from the outgoing model, which has old-school TouchID and a diddy 4.7in screen.
Dynamic Island is unlikely to make the cut, and the Action button probably won’t appear either; expect a notch and a traditional alert slider instead. USB-C connectivity is a given, as European rulings will soon prevent Apple from selling Lightning-equipped devices. A price rise seems likely to account for all that new hardware.
The next SE will probably arrive in March 2025, as this tends to be when Apple introduces new iPhone SE models. There’s still a chance it could appear alongside the iPhone 16 in September 2024. In the meantime, the current SE remains the cheapest way into iOS without shopping second-hand:
- Related: Apple iPhone SE (4th gen) specs and rumors latest – will it appear in 2024?
OnePlus 13
December looks likely for OnePlus’ next ‘flagship killer’ phone, albeit for China only. A global launch should follow in 2025. Early whispers suggest a colossal 6000mAh battery, which is bigger than anything in the mainstream mobile world right now. A Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chipset should also appear, but confirmation will wait until Qualcomm actually announces it.
An AMOLED screen with subtle curves on all four sides and a price competitive with anything Apple or Samsung are also expected. Hasselblad should still be helping out on the camera side, but we’ve heard nothing about sensors as yet.
Don’t want to wait until December for the likely reveal – or even longer for a global launch? The OnePlus 12 is still fantastic value:
Latest smartphone releases
Motorola Razr 50 Ultra
An even larger cover screen, bigger battery, and majorly upgraded camera hardware help cement the Razr 50 Ultra near the top of the flip-style foldable pile. Being able to use any app you like on the outer display transforms the way you use the phone, and translates to impressive longevity. Performance is right on the money, it looks the business in a range of vibrant colours, and takes a fantastic photo for a clamshell. Undercutting the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 makes it a fantastic flip phone option.
Honor 200 Pro
Photo specialist Studio Harcourt was tapped up for Honor’s new AI-enhanced portrait mode, giving the 200 Pro a leg up over the rest of the mid-range field. You’re getting a lot of hardware for your cash here, with three rear snappers, a giant 5200mAh battery, a bright AMOLED screen and Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 power. It’s not as mainstream as a Pixel 8 or Galaxy S24 – but one-ups them both in a few key areas.
Sony Xperia 1 VI
After multiple generations of Sony doing its own thing with OTT screen resolutions and super-skinny aspect ratios, the Xperia 1 VI is a more mainstream flagship offering. It has a 19.5:9 screen with a Full HD+ pixel count, but benefits from higher brightness and LTPO adaptive refresh rate tech for some of the best battery life you’ll get from a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 phone. Sony hallmarks like expandable storage, a 3.5mm headphone port and front-firing stereo speakers remain, of course. The three-lens rear camera setup now zooms further and does a great job in auto mode, so amateur smartphone snappers are much better catered for.
Google Pixel 8a
Essentially a Pixel 8 for considerably less cash, with just a few cutbacks, the Pixel 8a is Google proving once again it can create a phenomenal affordable phone. It’s packing lots of Google’s new AI additions, a Tensor G3 processor, an IP67 rating, 120Hz display… the 64MP main camera and 13MP ultrawide are wonderfully capable, too. If £500 is your maximum budget for a smartphone, you’d be hard-pressed to go wrong with one of these.
Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra
Asus broke from tradition with this latest Zenfone. Instead of being pocket-friendly, the 11 Ultra went big with a 6.78in display. It’s flagship-grade everywhere you’d expect, including chipset (a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3), big battery, OLED screen and triple rear camera setup with stabilised main snapper. However, there’s a lot more competition among larger phones than there is at the smaller end of the smartphone spectrum, making it tough to recommend in light of more capable rivals.
Nothing Phone 2a
It’s a big departure from Nothing’s last two phones, and makes a major change on the inside too – but the Nothing Phone 2a is still a compelling alternative to affordable models from big-name rivals. It simplifies the firm’s Glyph lighting, debuts a redesigned rear and uses MediaTek silicon to provide the power. It’s got a big battery and two capable cameras (for the cash), making it a winner in the sub-£350 class.
Honor Magic 6 Pro
Honor’s latest flagship phones doubles down on a speedy set of rear snappers, only this time it also goes hard on the zoom front. A 180MP sensor with OIS and a 2.5x optical zoom promise near-perfect portraits, and AI assistance should mean better subject detection and motion tracking. A top-tier display, Snapdragon silicon and an especially big battery give it plenty of plus points.
Xiaomi 14
The more mainstream of Xiaomi’s two 14 series models has a compact 6.36in screen, but that doesn’t mean it had to skimp on hardware. A sizeable battery capacity, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, and a trio of very capable Leica-tweaked rear cameras make it a true rival to the likes of Samsung’s Galaxy S24.
Xiaomi 14 Ultra
Arguably the biggest story out of this year’s MWC show, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra promises the best camera hardware you’ll find on any phone – plus a dedicated upgrade kit that adds physical controls into the mix. A 1in sensor main camera with variable aperture, twin telephotos with OIS and an ultrawide with an equally high pixel count make it a force to be reckoned with – and it’s undeniably a flagship phone everywhere else, with slick styling, plenty of power and a beefy battery. It’ll be on sale in Europe and the UK from mid-March.
Asus ROG Phone 8 / ROG Phone 8 Pro
Aggressive styling and mediocre cameras made older ROG phones tricky to recommend to non-gamers. The new ROG Phone 8 Pro changes that with a tempting trio of rear snappers and much more sedate styling. An IP68 rating and AMOLED screen help the ROG Phone 8 Pro go toe-to-toe with big name rivals, while the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 CPU and oversized battery keep it a performance monster.
OnePlus 12
Technically still China-only at the time of writing, OnePlus’ latest flagship killer is expected to land in Europe imminently. We know exactly what to expect: the OnePlus 12 will land with a 6.82in AMOLED screen good for an astounding 4500nits peak brightness, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 CPU, and a three-lens rear camera setup headlined by a Sony-developed LYTIA stacked sensor.
Samsung Galaxy A55
The Galaxy A series are easily Samsung’s most popular phones in terms of worldwide sales, and the firm has gone all out with this latest generation to please the masses. It borrows a metal and glass build from the pricier Galaxy S24, and a matching main camera at the rear with a 50MP sensor. It doesn’t skimp on power or battery life, either. As an affordable entry to the range, it looks like the real deal.
Samsung Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24 Plus
This year’s two mainstream Galaxy flagships see minor styling tweaks compared to their predecessors, and reuse the same camera hardware. Bigger batteries, brighter displays with skinnier bezels, and an unwavering focus on on-device AI help them stand out, with the larger of the two also getting a higher screen resolution and faster wired charging.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
The new hero of the Galaxy line-up has a titanium frame and Corning Gorilla Armor glass, making it super tough as well as super luxurious. That screen is flat now, rather than curved, and there’s a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 lurking underneath for serious power. AI is a big deal this year, being baked in to multiple apps and especially useful for generative photo edits.
- Related: Best camera phones – smartphone cameras for perfect shots tested
Tom Morgan-FreelanderDeputy Editor
About
A tech addict from about the age of three (seriously, he's got the VHS tapes to prove it), Tom's been writing about gadgets, games and everything in between for the past decade, with a slight diversion into the world of automotive in between.As Deputy Editor, Tom keeps the website ticking along, jam-packed with the hottest gadget news and reviews.When he's not on the road attending launch events, you can usually find him scouring the web for the latest news, to feed Stuff readers' insatiable appetite for tech.
Areas of expertise
Smartphones/tablets/computing, cameras, home cinema, automotive, virtual reality, gaming
