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Key Takeaways
- 2024 is slated to be jam-packed with new smartphone releases.
- We’re expecting new handsets from all the big players, including Apple, Samsung, Google, among others.
- Slab-style phones aren’t the only devices on the horizon — we expect new Android foldables to hit the market this year too.
The smartphone industry never slows down. It never fails that as soon as you upgrade your phone, a new model is released just weeks or months later. Having a general idea of what’s coming in the near future is helpful when you’re deciding if you should try to get another few months from your current phone. Not to mention, it’s downright fun to keep up with the latest tech trends and rumors.
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Below, we’ve rounded up all the smartphones we expect to see at some point in 2024. We’ll keep this list updated regularly with new device rumors as they happen, adding new features, removing features, and fine-tuning the release timeline as needed. So, bookmark this page and keep checking back — we plan on refreshing this story as news is available. Or, if you need a smartphone right now, check out our guides to help you find the best iPhone, Android phone, Samsung Galaxy phone, OnePlus phone, or Pixel phone.
iPhone 16 series
Bigger and better … again
The iPhone 15 is now a few months old, so the rumor mill is ramping up in preparation for the iPhone 16. An industry analyst specializing in display tech claims that the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro will have larger screens than the current crop, going up to as large as 6.8 inches for the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
There have been a few interesting rumors about the iPhone 16 series. Among them is the claim that the iPhone 16 Pro will have an under-display FaceID system, getting rid of the permanent pill-shaped cutout currently used for the Dynamic Island features. It’s also suggested we’ll see ever higher levels of camera zoom on the iPhone 16 Pro Max. This builds on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which featured a decent level of zoom but was not quite on the same level as Samsung’s top-of-the-line Galaxy S24 Ultra.
If you want to know more about the iPhone 16 series of phones, here’s everything we have heard so far.
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Pixel 9 and 9 Pro
Tensor G4 is a safe bet
Like clockwork, Google is expected to announce the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro later this year. As has been the recent tradition, Google will probably release the Pixel 9 devices in October, so we’re far from getting our hands on the physical phones. But in true Google fashion, we could start seeing Google leaks that show off the new phones as soon as Google I/O in May. Still, it’s never too early to start thinking about what the phone can offer. Like the Pixel 8, we expect the phones to launch at $700 for the Pixel 9 and $1,000 for the Pixel 9 Pro.
We’re confident the Pixel 9 lineup will feature the next-generation Tensor G4 processor, though we know next to nothing about what that new chip will bring to the table. Outside of that, we expect more rumors to drop as the phone gets closer to launch, and we’ll continue to update that article as leaks start flowing.
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Pixel 8a
What does the A stand for again?
It doesn’t seem like that long since the Pixel 7a launched, but — as with any new product — it wasn’t long before rumors of its replacement started. The Pixel 8a was heavily rumored to feature a Tensor G3 processor — the same processor that’s in the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro — plus 8GB RAM. These rumors wound up being entirely accurate.
The Pixel 8a made its first public appearance at Google I/O in late Spring 2024, where we got confirmation of its $499 asking price. Not long after, the midrange handset officially went up for sale.
The flagship models of this series, which launched in 2023, both offer an exceptional everyday experience with excellent results from the camera with minimal effort, plus lots of entertaining AI-powered goodness that make them a very different experience to previous Pixel models. The Pixel 8a feels and acts much like the 8 series proper but with a lower price tag.
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Pixel Fold 2
Will Google get it right this time?
Google entered the foldable space last year with the Pixel Fold, and we expect the company to iterate on its success with the Pixel Fold 2 in 2024. Android Authority got its hands on a photo of a potential early version of the phone, which may have revealed several of its secrets. The prototype phone’s design features a narrower cover screen, which would bring it more in line with the look and feel of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold.
The camera module also looks quite different, but it’s hard to know whether this is a final design or a different look for the prototype. If this design does come out, the camera bar looks to be going away, which is a significant departure from the design we’ve grown used to on the last few generations of Pixel phones.
Another leak, also to Android Authority, suggests the Pixel Fold could entirely skip the Tensor G3 and go with the yet-unannounced Tensor G4. The rumor also suggests a very powerful 16GB of RAM, which would be the most memory ever shipped on a Pixel phone.
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Galaxy Z Fold 6
Let’s hope for a big upgrade
Samsung/Pocket-lint
The large version of Samsung’s foldable phone is expected to arrive in the summer of 2024, so if you’re waiting for one more generation before you jump into the foldable world, you’ll only need to wait a few more months. Like last year’s model, we expect the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 to be expensive, with a starting price of $1800. However, a model number has been spotted for a more affordable model, which could be the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 FE, though we don’t know how much that’ll cost.
A few leakers have suggested that the Fold 6’s external display will have a different aspect ratio. Perhaps it’ll borrow from the Google Pixel Fold’s wider screen, which some people prefer over the long and lean display of the Galaxy Z Fold 5. A disappointing rumor suggests that we won’t see much in the way of camera improvements, though the cameras are already solid on the Z Fold 5.
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Galaxy Z Flip 6
A mysterious device, thus far
The Z Flip 5 launched in August 2023, and we’re confident a new generation will follow it in 2024. Understandably, it’s been a little quiet on the rumor front.
The Z Flip 5 reviewed well here at Pocket-lint, thanks to the smart combination of sturdy design and a robust software system designed to take advantage of the big folding screens. The Z Flip 5’s big outer screen makes it a far more useful display than what’s on the older versions, and we expect further improvements from the next model.
Not much has been said about the next gen’s design or spec changes. Still, we expect the foldable phone to arrive in the summer of 2024, continuing the launch patterns of previous versions of the phones. We expect the rumors to start dropping more heavily over the next couple of months.
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Motorola Razr and Razr+
Arguably the best foldable for money
While most people think of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip clamshell first, the Motorola Razr and Razr+ are not to be ignored, as they’re quite powerful and have the same portable form factor. Additionally, the Razr is the cheapest foldable with a $699 starting price, and we expect Motorola to stick with a similar price point for this one.
The Razr+ launched in June of last year, while the more affordable standard Razr made its debut in October. Hopefully, this year we’ll see both models launch at the same time, and sooner than later give Samsung some competition on the foldable front. Thus far, reliable leaks and rumors have been few and far between, but we’ll update this piece as it gets closer and rumors start flying.
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Xiaomi 14 series
It’s finally arrived
Xiaomi
Interestingly, the Xiaomi 14 series was already launched in China late last year. However, it took a bit of time to reach other markets. Historically, the Xiaomi models have made their way outside of China within a couple of months. With the Xiaomi 13 series, we saw the Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro launch in Western markets in the early part of the year. The range was expanded further with the Xiaomi 13 Ultra a little later in the year and the 13T and 13T Pro in the fall of 2023.
As expected, the Chinese firm debuted its Xiaomi 14 Series on the international stage on February 25, during Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024. The lineup includes the Xiaomi 14 and the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, but with no word on the Xiaomi 14 Pro model making its way overseas.
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The Xiaomi 14 series comprises two models: Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 14 Pro. The former is a smaller model with a 6.36-inch display, the latter has a 6.7-inch display. Both are powered by the newly-announced Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, feature 120Hz displays with 3000 nits peak brightness, and are powered by Xiaomi’s new Android skin: HyperOS, based on Android 14. We expect a launch outside of China in the coming months.
Other phones to watch out for
There’s a healthy mix of options coming
These are the more affordable mid-range phones that don’t tend to get as much attention in the rumor mill because the expensive flagships make for flashy headlines. Still, if you’re on the lookout for a phone that isn’t the most garish, these are worth keeping on your radar:
- Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra: As suggested by rumors, Asus is moving away from the small form factor for which the Zenfone is known. The new and much larger Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra is now available, as of April.
- Samsung Galaxy A55: When it comes to mid-range phones, the Galaxy A-series tends to dominate the scene, and the A55 — which launched in March — keeps that trend alive.
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