Best smartphones to look forward to in 2016

With the pace of smartphone evolution moving so fast, there’s always something waiting in the wings. No sooner have you spied the latest handset, then there’s anticipation of something else, the next big thing.

We’ve rounded up the best smartphones for 2015, those we consider to be the best across all platforms, and we’ve regularly updated that list as the smartphone world has evolved.

You can find those in our Best smartphones 2016: The best phones available to buy today feature. If your budget is a little smaller, there is also our Best budget smartphones 2016: The best phones available to buy for under £250.

Here we’re looking at those phones that haven’t yet launched, those we know are coming, or are anticipated. We’ll be updating this list on a regular basis, with those device rumours we think are credible and exciting, and devices just announced but yet to hit the shelves.

Venture Beat

Samsung Galaxy S7, S7 edge, S7 edge plus

The Samsung Galaxy S7 has been the subject of rumours for several months, along with its siblings – the Galaxy S7 edge and the Galaxy S7 edge plus.

Reports have suggested we will see two devices launch at MWC, with the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge both expected. It is thought the Galaxy S7 edge plus may arrive a little later in the year. The Galaxy S7 is said to be coming sporting either a 5.1-inch or 5.2-inch Qhad HD flat display, while the Galaxy S7 edge is said to bump its dual-edge screen up to 5.5-inches.

In terms of processor, rumours suggest Samsung may launch two variants of the devices, sticking to Exynos in one and opting for the latest Qualcomm SD820 in the other. There’s also been reports of a return to supporting microSD cards, along with the addition of USB Type-C but the design of the two devices will remain similar to their predecessors based on the image leaks.

A 16-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front camera are expected, although according to SamMobile, Samsung is testing a dual-camera setup in some prototypes, as well as a 20-megapixel ISOCELL sensor.

As for the timeline, put the eve of Mobile World Congress 2016 in your diaries – 21 February.

READ MORE Samsung Galaxy S7, S7 edge and S7 edge plus: What’s the story so far?

LG

LG G5

The LG G5 is the next flagship smartphone from the South Korean company expected to succeed the LG G4. An invite has been sent to journalists for the “next flagship smartphone” with the date set for 21 February. In case you haven’t realised, that’s the same day the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge are expected so it’s looking like a big day for the smartphone world.

Rumours have suggested the LG G5 will arrive with a full metal unibody design but a modular build to accommodate a removable battery. A 5.6-inch display has been discussed with a Quad HD resolution but there have also been talks of two displays like the previously launched LG V10 and LG has confirmed it will come with an Always On display.

Other reports have suggested we will see an iris scanner appear on the new flagship, while in terms of power, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 has been touted several times. Apparently the LG G5’s battery will be 2800mAh and the rear camera will be a 16-megapixel snapper. Only very small details have been officially confirmed so far but as you can see, rumours are in full force.

READ MORE LG G5: What’s the story so far?

LG

LG X series

The LG G5 isn’t the only smartphone LG will be debuting at MWC this year after it took the wraps off two mid-range smartphones, falling within what the company is calling the X series. The two devices are called the X screen and X cam and both come with their own specialist features, alluded to in their names.

The LG X screen has a 4.93-inch Full HD display along with a 1.76-inch LCD screen with a 520 x 80 pixel resolution that acts as an Always-on display – something that has been touted for the LG G5. It also offers a 2300mAh battery, 1.2GHz chip and a 13-megapixel main camera, coupled with an 8-megapixel front camera.

The LG X cam is all about the camera offering dual rear cameras at 13-megapixels and 5-megapixels, another feature that is also rumoured for the flagship G5 device. There is also an 8-megapixel front-facing camera and this device comes with a 5.2-i9nch Full HD display, 1.14GHz processor and a 2520mAh battery. Prices and availability have yet to be announced.

READ MORE LG X series announced

hamdir

HTC One M10

HTC had a difficult year in 2015, with the M9 perhaps not being the hit it wanted. There’s the suggestion that HTC may abandon the name M10 for the next handset, but until we know more, we’re going to keep using it.

HTC’s most interesting device in 2015, perhaps, has been the HTC One A9. It has a refreshed design, opts for an AMOLED display and runs a lighter version of Sense than we’ve seen before. It also performs well on its mid-range hardware.

There have been fewer leaks on the next HTC flagship in comparison to its competitors but a 5.1-inch AMOLED display with a Quad HD resolution has been suggested, along with the SD820, 4GB of RAM and 32GB of memory. It has also been claimed the design will follow in the lines of the A9 and the measurements might be 144.6 x 69.7 x 9.6mm, while we have also heard the name might change.

Despite the One M9 launching on the eve of MWC like Samsung and LG will this year, it looks like we will be waiting a few more weeks for the M10. Reports suggest HTC will do a separate event in March or April for the launch of its new flagship.

READ MORE HTC One M10: What’s the story on HTC’s next flagship?

Pocket-lint

Nextbit Robin

The Nextbit Robin wants to shake up both hardware and software, taking Android deeper into the cloud with a unique storage management approach.

The unique selling point of the Nextbit Robin is how it manages storage. The device comes with 32GB of internal storage, but has 100GB of cloud storage too. It works seamlessly with the cloud using that space to backup and offload the content of your phone and this doesn’t just include photos and videos, but apps and data too.

Nextbit will sync your apps with the cloud, meaning it can free-up local storage as it’s needed. That means you won’t run out of storage when you need it, for example taking photos or video on a day out. It does this by backing up to the cloud at convenient points – at night when connected to Wi-Fi and a charger, for example.

The software recognises the apps you use regularly, so keeps them on the device, but, for example, if you rarely use a travel app, it will let that space be over-written with other data. The real magic is that when you want that app back again, it can be seamlessly restored to your device with all the data in place, and no need to login again.

The Nextbit Robin will hit general retail in Q1 2016, for $399 (£260) and will be available internationally.

READ MORE Nextbit Robin hands-on

Pocket-lint

Apple iPhone 5SE

Rumours for an updated iPhone at the bottom of the pack have been circulating for some time. Currently, the iPhone 5S is still sold by Apple, with the colourful plastic iPhone 5C having been discontinued. But rumours suggest that might change on March 15 with Apple having apparently scheduled an event for that date where this device is expected, along with the iPad Air 3 and Watch 2.

There have been several rumours circulating about the successor to the Apple iPhone 5C, which is going by the name of the Apple iPhone 5SE. If Apple is to release an new 4-inch device, it’s likely it will replace the position of the current 5S, hence the name. Reports suggest it will bring some features from the iPhone 6, like Apple Pay support, as well as an aluminium body in the same colour offering as the iPhone 6S including the rose gold.

The same display resolution as the iPhone 5S is expected, as well as the same camera but it is thought a faster processor and slighter bigger battery capacity will be on board. As is always the case with Apple, there is a lot of speculation but little or no verifiable fact as yet.

READ MORE Apple iPhone 5SE: What’s the story so far?

Pocket-lint

Huawei P9

Huawei has been busy over the last few months, not only joining the Nexus party with the Nexus 6P, but also launching its Mate S and more recently expanding its phablet line-up with the Mate 8. That’s not all the Chinese company has up its sleeve though with rumours circulating around the successor to the P8 flagship – the P9.

The P9 was originally rumoured to be coming at CES 2016 but speculation now suggests Huawei will be waiting until a couple of weeks after Mobile World Congress that is taking place at the end of February so expect it sometime in March.

In terms of features, there have been claims of a dual lens rear camera, a curved back, a Quad HD display and an octa-core processor, to name but a few. Some rumours have also suggested there would be four devices launched with the names P9, P9 Lite and P9 Max all being thrown about.

READ MORE Huawei P9: What’s the story so far?

wapvnet

Motorola Moto X (2016)

Motorola announced three Moto X devices in July of 2015 but rumours for the successor have already started. Chinese website Wapvnet leaked an image claiming to be the new Moto X 2016 device featuring an all-metal body, which wouldn’t be a completely unreasonable suggestion. The image appears to show a raised and larger rear camera lens, suggesting a thinner handset than the current models.

There are currently only a few rumours floating about for the Motorola Moto X (2016) so we are mainly running on guesswork at the moment. It has been claimed by Lenovo’s senior vice president that a fingerprint sensor would be appearing on Motorola smartphones this year, which would be welcomed as it is a noticeable feature missing from the 2015 Moto X line up.

We’d expect improvements in most areas with the new model as this tends to be the way so a faster processor, more RAM, microSD support, a larger battery capacity and the latest software would all be reasonable predictions. We’d also expect the camera to be a big consideration as it was in 2015. Don’t expect anything to appear before the summer though.

READ MORE Motorola Moto X (2016): What’s the story?

Pocket-lint

Next Nexus

Google could be set to change the way its Nexus phones are made, taking control from hardware manufacturers. That could mean that the next Nexus could be more like a Pixel, with Google exerting end-to-end control.

Until now the Nexus smartphones have been created by hardware manufacturers with experience in the area. It’s been a showcase of different manufacturer’s skills. Sources talking to The Information claim that Google is looking at designing the hardware as well as the software in future. This will effectively make the smartphone manufacturer a contractor, rather than a partner in the project.

The Information reports that some of the larger brands are unlikely to bend the knee to Google willingly, but the company might find a compatriot in HTC. There are already rumours that HTC is in talks with Google about making future Nexus hardware. Google usually releases its Nexus handsets towards then end of the year, around September. The next Nexus may well find itself only carrying Google branding and none from the manufacturer.

READ MORE Could the next Nexus phone be a Pixel phone?

Pocket-lint

OnePlus 3

The OnePlus 2 has been kicking around for a while now, launching in July 2015, while the OnePlus X only graced us with its presence in October 2015 but that hasn’t stopped rumours sparking for the next OnePlus device – the OnePlus 3.

Rumours are currently thin on the ground but a set of leaked specs suggested a Full HD display and Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chip under the hood. The leak suggested a fingerprint sensor might not be on board this time round, although we think this is unlikely.

We expect the rumours and speculation for the OnePlus 3 to pick up over the next couple of months, but for now, we would predict the OnePlus 3 will arrive with a similar design and size to the previous models, along with Qualcomm’s SD820 processor, 4GB of RAM and USB Type-C. We don’t expect to see a QHD display, nor iris recognition but a larger battery capacity and a slight increase in price from the OnePlus 2 wouldn’t surprise us.

READ MORE OnePlus 3: What’s the story so far?

Pocket-lint

OnePlus 2 Mini

It seems OnePlus is busy at the moment. Not only have rumours started for the company’s next flagship, but speculation also suggests it is working on a mini version of its current flagship. A leaked benchmark on GFX Bench for an “unknown” OnePlus handset is what has sparked the rumours for the OnePlus 2 Mini. 

The OnePlus 2 Mini is rumoured to be coming with a 4.6-inch display, which would make it the smallest OnePlus device available. It has also been rumoured to come with a Full HD resolution, which makes sense given that’s what its bigger brother offers. At this size and this resolution however, it would make it the sharpest display in the OnePlus portfolio.

A 12-megapixel rear camera, 5-megapixel front camera and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 have also all been rumoured, along with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. We’d expect the OnePlus 2 Mini to arrive with the OxygenOS if it arrives at all.

READ MORE OnePlus 2 Mini: What’s the story?

Pocket-lint

Sony Xperia Z6

There are few smartphone updating machines quite as determined as Sony Mobile. The Xperia Z3+ was only on sale for a few months before the launch of the Xperia Z5 family. And there’s now rumours of the next step, the Xperia Z6.

Sony’s latest update made a few changes – there’s the 4K display model, the addition of a new camera module and the fingerprint scanner.

Rumours are light on the ground for the new models, except the suggestion that there will be a wide range in the new family and that it might appear in the second half of 2016, perhaps at IFA 2016. We’ll keep our ears peeled on this one to see what comes next.

READ MORE Sony Xperia Z6: What’s the story so far?

CrackBerry

BlackBerry Vienna

No soon had BlackBerry announced the Priv – it’s first Android handset – another model appeared, codenamed Vienna. 

There’s little information on the Vienna so far, but it appears to be a candybar device, offering a fixed physical keyboard under the large display.  The company has recently announced it will be opting for Android only now, with no BB10 OS devices planned so we at least know to expect a similar software experience to the Priv for the alleged Vienna.

We suspect that this is going to be more affordable than the Priv flagship, based on the design that looks a lot like the finish of the Leap (the cheapest all-touch BB10 handset).

There’s little else to go on at the moment, but it seems that in some small way the worm has turned for BlackBerry. There’s no word on release date, but the Priv was first flashed at MWC 2016, so the Vienna could appear in February 2016, or at least be teased.

READ MORE BlackBerry Vienna: What’s the story so far?

Martin Hajek

Apple iPhone 7

As sure as the sun rises, there will be an iPhone 7. It’s likely to stick to the same launch cycle as it has done previously, and won’t appear until October 2016.

However that hasn’t stopped the rumours circulating. The iPhone 7 is said to be ditching the headphone socket. This isn’t a new idea and it’s one of the oldest components on the handset, taking up a lot of internal space – space that could be filled with more battery or unicorn tears. The Lightning connector already supports audio, so it’s not too far fetched.

We’d expect a new design, as the 6 and 6S share the same looks, and Apple updates the iPhone design on a two-year cycle. There has been talk of waterproofing the handset too. Other rumours have suggested the design might be similar to the iPhone 6S but see the removal of the antenna strips across the back, as well as a camera lens that sits flush with the metal.

It will launch with iOS 10 (we can easily predict along) with more powerful hardware. As for new features, we suspect Apple will want to refine the camera experience and work on increasing the functionality of the 3D Touch display. 

READ MORE Apple iPhone 7: What’s the story so far?

Pocket-lint

Microsoft Surface Phone

The Surface Phone is something of a Windows phone holy grail. With Nokia then Microsoft Devices producing plenty of Windows Phones, the spectre of the Surface Phone has been hanging around as the idea of the ultimate Windows mobile device.

It’s perhaps a little odd, seeing as Microsoft now owns and produces its own handsets in the Lumia family, but rumours are that this will be Surface branded and Intel powered.

There’s also the suggestion that Surface Phone will run a brand new update of Windows 10, aiming to capitalise on the branding and offer the ultimate experience.

Launch isn’t expected until the latter half of 2016.

READ MORE Microsoft Surface Phone news

 

Acer

Acer Predator 6

Acer announced the Predator 6, a high-end smartphone aimed at gamers, during its pre-IFA 2015 press conference. The device has a 6-inch screen and deca-core MediaTek processor – that’s 10-cores of power – and there is 4GB of RAM in order to play console-style games when on the move.

There’s a 21-megapixel camera on the rear, four speakers and haptic feedback when held in portrait mode to help simulate joypad controls on the touchscreen. The Acer spokesperson on stage said it would “dominate any mobile games you can throw at it”.

Few other details have been released about the phone so far, but it joins a whole family of gaming products from Acer, all of which come under the Predator banner. A Predator 8 tablet was announced earlier in 2015 and the high-end smartphone has much of the same functionality. We will keep you updated.

READ MORE Acer Predator 8 hands-on 

Google Images

Google Project Ara

Created by Motorola, and now shifted over to Google after the sale of Motorola to Lenovo, Project Ara has recently announced that it’s postponing and won’t be expected until sometime in 2016.

Project Ara is essentially an exoskeleton that allows users to modify what parts they want. That way someone that wants to spend the bulk of their budget on the camera, but doesn’t need as much storage, can chose to upgrade that way. Perhaps one person will skip NFC in favour of faster 802.11ac Wi-Fi, for example.

There should also be third party components on offer that will allow for competitive pricing as well as new types of parts – like sensors. A person with diabetes may want a blood sugar sensor where another may not.

READ MORE Google’s Project Ara modular smartphone: Everything you need to know