Upcoming smartphones to watch out for in 2024

❘ Updated: 2024-05-10T15:37:34

Samsung

Need a new smartphone in 2024? We’ve rounded up some of the best handsets you should keep your eyes on, including the iPhone 16, OnePlus Open 2, Pixel 9, and more.

If you follow the launch of every phone, then the year 2024 will be fascinating for you. Phone manufacturers are preparing several new flagship devices featuring the latest innovations in chip technology, camera capabilities, and more.

Right from budget phones to affordable premium devices to the best foldable phones, a wave of upcoming smartphones is ready to be released next year.

While some of these are confirmed to arrive with the release date being unconfirmed, some are part of a regular rumor mill. We will keep this article updated with the best new upcoming smartphones, so it is a good idea to bookmark this page for future reference.

iPhone 16

The Apple iPhone 16 would be the most awaited smartphone launch of the year. With Apple already adopting Type-C and universal design language for all its phones, the iPhone 16 could be an iterative update over the iPhone 15 lineup.

Among the phones in the new lineup, we can expect an iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max. While the Pro models could retain the same design as the iPhone 15 Pro models, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus could get a vertical camera module like the iPhone 12. Apple could also add a pressure-sensitive capacitive button called the Capture button to all four models for clicking pictures and videos.

All four iPhones could get changes in their battery capacities. According to leaker Majin Bu on X, the standard iPhone 16 could have a 3561 mAh battery. The iPhone 15 has a 3349 mAh battery. The iPhone 16 Pro Max could feature a 4676 mAh battery, up from the 4441 mAh battery in the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Apple could reduce the iPhone 16 Plus battery from 4383 mAh to 4006 mAh while the iPhone 16 Pro could get a 4676 mAh battery unit— an improvement from 4441 mAh iPhone 15 Pro.

There’s plenty of information available about the iPhone 16 series. Read more in our detailed roundup.

Samsung Galaxy Fold 6 & Galaxy Flip 6

Samsung’s next Galaxy Unpacked event will be held on July 10, according to Sammobile, and that’s when the Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 are expected to launch. Rumors suggest both foldables will get a new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset under the hood. Their design is expected to be the same as last year, but Z Fold 6 might get changes in its size.

Leaker @UniverseIce claims the Z Fold 6 will have a 7.6-inch foldable display with a 7:6 aspect ratio and a 6.3-inch cover screen with a 22:9 aspect ratio. That’s larger and broader than the Z Fold 5’s 6.2-inch cover screen with an aspect ratio of 23.1:9. It might also see higher resolution and a reduction in overall weight.

While the Z Flip 6 may retain the same design and display as Z Flip 5, it may see an increase in battery life from 3591mAh (advertised as 3700mAh) to around 3887mAh.

Our Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 roundups offer more information about the two foldables, including their cameras, specs, and expected pricing.

Nothing Phone 3

Nothing has slowly but surely been able to create a space for itself. The young company is expected to launch its third smartphone in 2024. While there’s no official information regarding the launch, a 91Mobiles report recently claimed the Nothing Phone 3 will be equipped with the Snapdragon 8S Gen 3 chip.

This new chipset was announced in March 2024 and is claimed to be only slightly less powerful than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which powers Galaxy S24 Ultra and OnePlus 12. 91Mobiles also claims the Phone 3 will get a price increase. Its expected price range will fall between ₹40,000 to ₹45,000 in India (roughly $480 to $540), which is more than ₹36,999 ($444) Nothing Phone 2. The price hike could extend to the US as well.

Google Pixel Fold 2

The Pixel Fold 2 or the Pixel 9 Pro Fold (according to Android Authority) might debut in the second half of 2024. Google is reported to opt for a Tensor G4 chip for the foldable, the same chip that might power the Pixel 9 series. If this turns out to be true, we expect the Pixel Fold 2 to launch alongside the Pixel 9 Series this fall. The original Pixel debuted during Google I/O 2023.

Google’s next foldable could bring a massive design change, ditching the visor-like camera system for a somewhat rectangular camera bump sitting in the top left corner. A leaked image suggests the foldable could also bring a narrower cover screen.

A Smartprix report claims the Pixel Fold 2 rocks a 6.4-inch outer display, a solid bump from the 5.8-inch panel on the Pixel Fold, and even bigger than the 6.31-inch OnePlus Open. The Pixel Fold 2 may also feature 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage. Details about the phone’s camera and battery are not known.

Microsoft Surface Duo 3

The Microsoft Surface 3 is expected to be different. When Microsoft first announced its return to phones, its split-screen solution was accepted due to the limitations of foldable displays. However, a split-screen phone might not cut through with foldable displays becoming mainstream.

The Surface Duo 3 was initially reported as shelved. However, recent rumors hint that Microsoft might have adopted the modern foldable design, and the phone might launch soon next year.

With the phone likely to launch later next year, we have little information about its innards.

Google Pixel 9 series

The flagship lineup of the Pixel phones for 2024 is expected to include the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro. Though another “Pro” device might debut this year. The phones are expected to launch in October 2024 and might continue to use Google’s Tensor chipsets (Tensor G4 to be specific).

The Pixel 8 Pro from last year will be succeeded by a new device called the Pixel 9 Pro XL, featuring a 6.7-inch display. However, Google will also launch a new Pixel 9 Pro, which will be an entirely new phone with a 6.2-inch panel. The Pixel 9 (without any suffixes) will debut with a 6.1-inch display.

The Tensor G4 is expected to offer modest upgrades over its predecessor. The Pixel 9 series could also see huge changes in the design. Read detailed info on the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro. We also have a roundup for the Pixel 9 Pro XL.

OnePlus Open 2

OnePlus Open 2 is expected to be a follow-up to the OnePlus Open— the company’s first foldable smartphone. While the details about the upcoming device are limited, it is expected to launch sometime this year. The original model debuted in October after a delay, so OnePlus Open 2 might launch earlier.

The upcoming foldable is rumored to bring a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor under the hood. Upgrades in the camera, display, and design department are expected but there are no reports that could corroborate these expectations.

OnePlus 13

OnePlus releases its flagship phones towards the end of the year. The OnePlus 12 was announced in China in December 2023, but it made it to the global market in early 2024. We’d expect the OnePlus 13 to get the same treatment.

If leaks are to be believed, OnePlus might change the OnePlus 13’s design. Instead of the circular camera module seen on the OnePlus 11 and 12, the OnePlus 13 might get a squarish camera island like the one seen on the OnePlus 10 Pro and the Xiaomi 14 series, according to a Weibo leaker. However, another tipster claims the circular island is here to stay.

OnePlus 13 will get a 6.8-inch 2K LTPO display, according to tipster Digital Chat Station. The rest of the display specifications are not known yet. We’d expect to see a 120Hz refresh rate, both Dolby Vision and HDR10+, and up to 4,500 nits.

Judging by past trends, the OnePlus 13 should be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. Gizmochina says the smartphone could be the first to get this chipset. The camera sensors are reported to be the same as the OnePlus, as are the battery capacity and charging speed.