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Like to follow every smartphone launch like a hawk? Your diary must be busy. From affordable phones and fresh flagships to foldables, there’s a whole host of shiny new phones coming your way in 2024 – here’s our guide to the best upcoming phones set to land over the next twelve months.
We’ve rounded up the confirmed releases, probable launches and rumored reveals for the year below, so you can keep your smartphone knowledge well ahead of the curve. We’ve also summarised the major smartphone announcements from recent months, with links to our reviews of the big hitters. Our regularly updated list has all the best upcoming phones we expect to see.
Latest launch: OnePlus 12
Following the launch of the OnePlus Open, all attention turned to the OnePlus 12. The firm’s mainstream flagship officially debuted in China in early December 2023, and is expected to have a global launch in January 2024.
Hardware-wise it’s a true blooded flagship, with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 CPU, as much as 24GB of memory and 1TB storage. The 6.82in AMOLED screen has a ridiculous peak brightness of 4500 nits, and the huge 5400mAh battery can manage 100W wired charging or 50W wireless top-ups.
All the best upcoming phones we’re expecting soon
Apple iPhone 16 series
The one every Apple fan will be waiting for. The iPhone 16 line-up will almost certainly be revealed in early September 2024, bringing multiple sizes and at least one Pro variant. There’s little info out there right now, other than Apple is apparently going to go big on AI this year – just like the rest of the phone world.
A new generation of Apple silicon seems likely, as does a new version of iOS. We’re also hoping the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 5x telephoto lens makes its way down to the more palm-friendly iPhone 15 Pro.
September 2024 feels like a long way off right now, though. The iPhone 15 line-up is as good as it gets in Apple land today:
Nothing Phone 3
Nothing’s third ever smartphone is a mere whisper right now. The fledgling firm has sent out invites for an event in February at Mobile World Congress 2024, but the rumour mill says we’re unlikely to see a handset revealed – instead expect official confirmation of its existence, and possibly the first hardware details.
It would make sense for the new handset to be an entry-level model, possibly replacing Phone 1 in the line-up. It will have been around for two years in July. The higher-end Phone 2 likely has another year of life before it’s due an upgrade. Patent filing images hint at a very similar design – transparent rear and glyph lighting – to the current Nothing line-up. Even the name is a mystery; some have suggested Nothing Phone 3, while others think it’ll be Nothing 1a.
We’re expecting Nothing to continue selling Phone 2 for the foreseeable, and it’s up there with the best mid-rangers around:
Samsung Galaxy S24
Samsung’s Galaxy S phone trio remain some of the most popular smartphones that don’t wear an Apple badge. This year’s S23, S23+ and S23 Ultra weren’t giant leaps forward from the previous generation, so hopes are high that Samsung will pull something special out of the bag for 2024. A January reveal is expected, based on rumours – a month or so earlier than usual.
Currently we’re betting on the S24 Ultra using titanium, to keep pace with the iPhone 15 Pro. The S24 and S24+ should stick to aluminium. Camera hardware may not see a huge overhaul, and there’s a chance Samsung will return to a two-chip strategy. That might mean the US gets Qualcomm hardware, while other countries get Exynos-powered handsets. Both should focus on AI, which will almost certainly be 2024’s hot topic.
Don’t fancy waiting that long for a new handset? The S23 range is still plenty punchy, with fantastic cameras and very respectable battery life for a flagship phone:
Asus ROG Phone 8
We’re looking at an unusually quick turnaround for Asus’ latest gamer-friendly smartphone. The arrival of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 CPUs has thrown out the usual phone industry schedule, so it’ll be just six months between ROG Phone generations. Asus has confirmed it will reveal the new phone at CES in Las Vegas in January 2024, although it’s not clear if it’ll go on sale right away in all territories.
Either way we’re expecting the same hardware hardware, including active cooling accessories to keep the components cool while gaming for hours at a time. Some colourful LEDs or an OLED rear panel will probably add some gamer flair, and the screen and battery will surely be suitably giant. As will the price – this year’s ROG Phone 7 Ultimate remains one of the priciest non-folding phones on sale.
Xiaomi 14 series
Xiaomi usually unveils its next-gen smartphones in December, with home nation China receiving them first before a more global rollout in the Spring of the following year. 2023 breaks that trend, with the firm announcing its new generation mobiles around chipmaker Qualcomm’s annual Snapdragon Summit in October.
The reason? It’s among the first phones to rock a new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 CPU, which brings incredible on-device AI smarts as well as improved performance, efficiency and camera cleverness. China was still first in line, of course, with the rest of the world likely to follow in early 2024, so we’re keeping it in this list for now.
There’ll be two versions: the Xiaomi 14 and 14 Pro. No word on an even more premium Xiaomi 14 Ultra just yet. The Pro will land with an iPhone 15-aping titanium frame, which should help save weight. Both get screens with 3000 nits peak brightness, which is higher than any phone on sale right now; there’s a 6.36in panel on the Xiaomi 14, and a 6.73in screen on the Xiaomi 14 Pro. Both have 120Hz refresh rates. Each has a trio of rear cameras, but the Pro adds variable aperture smarts to the mix to help in low light. Leica is on board again to help, too. They run a new HyperOS skin on top of Android 14. Expect a global launch in February.
Until then, you can still pick up a Xiaomi 13 or Xiaomi 13 Pro – both are some of the best phones around when it comes to photography.
Honor Magic 6 Pro
Another upcoming smartphone confirmed at Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Summit, the Honor Magic 6 Pro will eventually arrive with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor inside. It’ll use that chip to bring “Magic Capsule”, an eye-tracking information pill at the top of the screen that looks partly inspired by Apple’s Dynamic Island.
Other specs have yet to be confirmed (the phone isn’t expected to arrive until Mobile World Congress in February at the earliest) but we’re betting photography will remain a key part of the offering. A 1in main sensor and powerful telephoto are the two biggest rumours right now. The Magic 5 Pro is still up there with the best phone cameras, and can be picked up for less than RRP right now:
Best upcoming phones: late 2023 and 2024’s top smartphone releases so far
OnePlus Open
It took a little help from stablemate Oppo, but the first foldable to wear a OnePlus badge is an absolute corker. The OnePlus Open has plenty of power, a sublime set of cameras, and a gorgeous book-style foldable design. It’s the streamlined software that really makes the most of that folding internal screen, and the fact it undercuts big-name rivals from Samsung and Google, that makes it the best folding phone we’ve used.
2023’s biggest phone reviews
Wondering how the current crop of smartphones compare to what came before? Below is a round up of our biggest smartphone reviews from 2023. Click the link to read each review in full.
Apple iPhone 15 and 15 Plus: Makes the switch to USB-C and brings Dynamic Island smarts from last year’s Pro models.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max: Titanium construction and fantastic camera zoom abilities make this the best iPhone yet.
Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate: Uncompromising gaming performance with the distinctive styling to match.
Asus Zenfone 10: Still flying the flag for small phones, with very capable cameras and powerful internals
Google Pixel 7a: Hard to beat for photographic ability, given the price. A great affordable all-rounder everywhere else.
Google Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 8: the benchmark for Android phone photography, now with AI assistance and premium build quality.
Google Pixel Fold: Google’s first attempt at a foldable gets a lot right, but leaves room for improvement.
Honor Magic 5 Pro: Seriously quick, very capable rear camera hardware make this a great pick for photographers.
Huawei P60 Pro: Seriously clever camera hardware suited to all lighting conditions, but the usual Huawei software stumbles
Motorola Edge 40 Pro: The definition of a ‘mainstream flagship’ phone gets plenty right, including the price.
Motorola Razr 40 Ultra / Razr+: Moto continues to iterate its foldables, now with options to suit different budgets.
Nothing Phone 2: It’s only Nothing’s second handset, but Phone 2 bests many longer-running rivals for streamlined software.
OnePlus 11: This early contender for 2023 phone of the year steps further into flagship territory than ever.
Oppo Find N2 Flip: Gives Samsung a run for its money as the best clamshell phone going.
Samsung Galaxy S23/S23+: Samsung plays it safe, but both S23 models remain some of the best Android phones around.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: The best camera hardware you’ll find in a Samsung phone, plus S Pen smarts
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5: A much more usable cover screen makes this our favourite clamshell phone to date.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: A brilliant book-style foldable that improves on a familiar formula
Sony Xperia 1 V: The best of Sony in a smartphone, with a strong focus on creative content. Takes a fab photo.
Sony Xperia 5 V: A more mainstream Xperia with perfectly potent hardware and all of Sony’s familiar features.
Vivo X90 Pro: A superb camera phone with plenty of performance, but not available in all regions
Xiaomi 13 / Xiaomi 13 Pro: Two superb flagship phones with all the features you’d want and ace, Leica-tuned cameras.
Xiaomi 13 Ultra: Takes lessons learned from the Xiaomi 13 Pro and adds even more of a photography focus.
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