It's been an interesting year, especially for Samsung. As we head into the end of 2016, there's not many surprises left on the immediate horizon. The Google Pixel has been announced and is coming soon. The same goes for the LG V20. As for the Huawei Mate 9? Nothing is 100% official about it yet, but more details continue to surface. Meanwhile, the Tango phone and Asus Zenfone 3 allude us as continued delays keep them from hitting the market.
The only major wild card on this list is the Samsung Galaxy S8, which is obviously still many months off, but with the Note 7 drama that has been unfolding, it stands as a crucial device for the Korean giant.
So without further ado, let's take a look at some of the most interesting upcoming devices heading our way in the hopefully not too distant future!
See also: Best Android phones Google Pixel and Pixel XL
The Pixel and Pixel XL are easily two of the most anticipated devices on this list. The Pixel family represent a new hardware-centric vision from Google, and while they hold a lot in common with the philosophy behind the now retired Nexus, the Pixel line actually sees some custom features that are outside the typical 'stock' wheelhouse, such as Google Assistant and the new Google Pixel launcher.
For years, OEMs have been giving smaller flagships second-glass citizen treatment, but with the Pixel and Pixel XL you are looking at two phones that are not only visually identical, but they offer nearly the same internal specifications as well.
The Pixel and Pixel are powered by the brand new Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, accompanied by an Adreno 530 GPU and 4GB RAM. On the camera front we are looking at a 12.3 rear camera and an 8MP front cam, which happens to be currently rated by DxOMark as the best camera package on the market. Both phones also offer Android 7.1 Nougat with the aforementioned Google customizations baked in.
Where things diverge are on the battery and display fronts. The Pixel offers a 1080p 5-inch display, while the Pixel XL has a QHD 5.5-inch screen. The larger size of the Pixel XL also allows Google to fit in a large 3450mAh battery, while the Pixel packs a 2770mAh battery.
The LG V20 is expected to arrive in the US in the next few weeks, though high demand means it could take until the end of November (or later) to reach the hands of all would-be buyers.
Specs
- 5.5-inch IPS LCD display with 1080p resolution, or 5.5-inch QHD display (Pixel and Pixel XL, respectively)
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor
- 4GB of RAM
- 32/128GB of on-board storage
- 12.3MP rear camera with f/2.0, 8MP front cam
- Rear mounted fingerprint scanner
- 2,770mAh non-removable battery for Pixel, 3450mAh for Pixel XL
- Android 7.1 Nougat with Pixel Launcher and Assistant
- 143.8 x 69.5 x 8.6mm, 143g – Pixel, 154.7 x 75.7 x 8.6mm, 168g – Pixel XL
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LG V20
The LG V20 was officially announced a while ago now, and while we still haven't had the opportunity to publish the full review, we have had a lot of time with the phone and are super excited for it to hit general consumers.
The V20 is basically the phone for power users, especially with the Note 7 out of the picture now. It has a a big Quad HD display, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 processor, plenty of RAM and on-board storage, dual 16MP rear-facing cameras, and a removable 3,200mAh battery. Of course, the unique Second Screen makes a return this year, along with the addition of Quad DAC, military standard durability, and it's already running Android 7.0 Nougat.
The LG V20 is expected to arrive in the US at the end of the October, and similar timeframes are expected for most other major markets.
Specs (confirmed)
- 5.7-inch IPS LCD display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 513ppi
- Secondary display: 2.1-inch IPS LCD display with 160 x 1040 resolution, 513 ppi
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
- 4GB of RAM
- 32/64GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256GB
- Dual 16 and 8MP rear cameras, 5MP front camera
- Removable 3,200mAh battery
- Rear mounted fingerprint scanner
- Android 7.0 Nougat
- 159.7 x 78.1 x 7.6mm, 174g
Read more
- LG V20 hands-on and first impressions
- LG V20 tips and tricks
- LG V20 drop test
- LG V20 Feature Focus: software
- LG V20 specs, price, release date and everything else you should know
- LG V20 vs LG V10
- LG V20, G5, Note 7, S7 Edge: display showdown
- LG V20 vs Galaxy Note 7: camera comparison
ASUS ZenFone 3 series
When ASUS released the ZenFone 2, it was obvious the company meant business, becoming one of the most well-received ultra-budget smartphones of last year. This year, ASUS appears to be upping the ante by releasing not just one ZenFone 3 device, but in May it announced an entire ZenFone 3 series: ZenFone 3, ZenFone 3 Deluxe, and ZenFone 3 Ultra. If that wasn't enough, in June Asus announced it was further expanding the line with the ZenFone 3 Laser and ZenFone 3 Max.
Despite announcing many of these models almost a half year ago now, to date, the only models that have formally hit store shelves are the ZenFone 3 Deluxe, ZenFone 3 Laser, and ZenFone 3 Max. So that leaves the ZenFone 3 and ZenFone 3 Ultra as unreleased and upcoming.
So what are the big differences between the remaining unreleased members of the family? Honestly, there are actually a number of differences. The ZenFone 3 is powered by a Snapdragon 625, while the Ultra has a Snapdragon 652. The ZenFone 3 is a modest 5.2 or 5.5-inches, the Ultra is a massive 6.8-incher. There's also differences in camera performance, storage configurations, and more. That said, they both offer Asus' Zen design language and have pretty solid specs, just some appreciable distinctions, as you can see in the spec chart below.
Overall, the ZenFone 3 series is an impressive family of devices that, collectively, will surely appeal to a very broad range of users. Its unclear when all the models will launch, and in which markets, but Asus has a history of solid yet well priced devices and we don't expect that to change with the ZenFone 3 series.
Specs (confirmed)
- ZenFone 3 Ultra:
- 6.8-inch IPS display with 1080p resolution
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 processor
- 3 or 4GB RAM
- 32/64/128GB storage, microSD
- 23MP rear camera, 8MP front camera
- Non-removable Li-Ion 4600 mAh battery
- Rear fingerprint scanner
- Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
- ZenFone 3:
- 5.2 or 5.5-inch IPS LCD display with 1080p resolution
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor
- 3 or 4GB RAM
- 32/64GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion
- 16MP rear cam, 8MP front cam
- Non-removable Li-Ion 2600 mAh battery
- Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
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Huawei Mate 9
Although it's certainly not a newcomer, Huawei became a global name after making last year's Nexus phablet. Since then, Huawei has seen success with the Huawei P9, Huawei P9 Plus, Huawei Mate 8, and Honor 8 among a few others. But with the release of new devices comes speculation as to what comes next. Lately, there's been anticipation building for the Huawei Mate 9. It hasn't yet officially been announced, and as you can imagine, the rumor mill has been working overtime.
So what can we expect from the Mate 9? While nothing is set in stone, current rumors suggest an octa-core Kirin 960 processor with up to 6GB RAM and up to 256GB on-board storage. Another big stand-out will be the improved dual Leica camera setup. With the Note 7 out of the running, the Mate 9 could also steal a lot of its previous fans with the presence of an optional curved display, according to the latest rumors.
We had expected an official announcement for the Huawei Mate 9 at IFA, but alas, we still don't have an official release date. The Mate 8 launched last November and the Mate 7 launched in October the previous year. Analysts are predicting a December launch for the Mate 9, so at the very least there seems to be strong chance of a fourth-quarter release. Also, according to a product listing the Huawei Mate 9 will ship with Android Nougat.
Specs (rumored)
- 5.9-inch IPS-NEO LCD – likely 1080p, possibly QHD
- Hisilicon Kirin 960 processor
- Up to 6GB RAM (multiple configurations likely)
- Up to 256GB storage with microSD (multiple configurations likely)
- Dual 20 MP Leica rear cam, 8MP front cam
- Non-removable Li-Po battery – size unclear, but likely 4000mAh+
- Rear mounted fingerprint scanner
- Android 7.0 Nougat
Read more
- Huawei Mate 9 to feature curved and flat display options
- Huawei Mate 9 rumored specs leak
- Huawei Mate 9 images leak
Lenovo Phab 2 Pro – The first Google Tango phone
People have been waiting to get their hands on the first Tango-enabled device since Google announced their partnership with Lenovo at CES 2016. If the term "Tango" doesn't ring a bell, it's a new proprietary augmented reality technology Google has been developing. That's the simplest way to explain it. But to be more specific, Tango will use a variety of sensors in your mobile devices to create depth maps of your surroundings as well as to track your motion through and position in the area. It's a bit difficult to conceptualize, but Google has released a few short videos with examples of what Tango can do.
Although the Tango-equipped Lenovo Phab 2 Pro was originally expected to arrive to consumers by now, the handset has ran into a few delays that leave us waiting for it to arrive this November.
See also: Lenovo Phab 2, Phab 2 Plus, Phab 2 Pro hands on So what makes the Phab 2 Pro so special? The star of the show is its unique camera system, which is what makes Tango tech possible. At the center of this tech are a number of sensors and additional cameras, with the back of the phone featuring not one, not two, but three cameras with the primary being a 16MP shooter with phase detection autofocus as well as depth- and motion-tracking sensors; the other two cameras are to allow the camera to render images in 3D.
The rest of the specs aren't half bad either, with a high performance octa-core Snapdragon 652 processor, 4GB RAM, and 64GB internal memory with microSD card slot, tucked behind a huge 6.4-inch QHD (2560×1400) display. The Phab 2 also comes with a 4,050mAh battery, Quick Charge technology, and a fingerprint scanner on the back.
Pricing for the Phab 2 Pro is expected to set at $499 when it finally makes its way to consumers.
Specs (confirmed)
- 6.4-inch IPS QHD display
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 processor
- 4GB RAM
- 64GB storage, microSD for expansion
- 16MP rear cam, 8MP front cam
- Extras: IR camera and a fisheye lens alongside a whole host of neatly concealed sensors
- Rear mounted fingerprint scanner
- Non-removable Li-Ion 4050 mAh battery
- Android Marshmallow
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Samsung Galaxy S8
With Samsung pulling the plug on the Note 7, it's only natural that rumors would turn to the Samsung Galaxy S8. While the handset isn't expected until sometime closer to Mobile World Congress (depending on the rumor you cite..), there are a number of alleged features heading to the device.
First, the Galaxy S8 will reportedly offer up two variants, a 5.1-inch and 5.5-inch model with a QHD and 4K display respectively. Both models are said to be curved, with Samsung throwing out flat screens altogether.
Other rumors claim that Samsung will ditch physical buttons, shrink bezels, introduce a dual camera setup, and will offer different processor configurations depending on the market: Snapdragon 830 or Exynos 8895. None of these changes are that unexpected, given Samsung's past behaviors in terms of using mixed processors and adapting to new technology trends.
Obviously there's a lot unknown about this device, but below you'll find some of the rumored specs — just keep in mind this list will be updated as we hear more.
Specs (rumored)
- Standard model: 5.1-inch AMOLED QHD display, curved
- Phablet model: 5.5-inch AMOLED 4K display, curved
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 830 or Exynos 8895, depending on market
- No solid rumors on RAM, but likely in the 4 to 6GB range
- No solid details on storage, microSD or external UFS likely
- 16MP/8MP dual camera setup
- Under-glass front facing fingerprint scanner
- Non-removable battery
- Android Nougat
Read more
- Samsung Galaxy S8 to feature 4K display and new assistant
- Galaxy S8 rumors: no physical button, "full screen" display, and dual camera
- Samsung might drop the flat display for the Galaxy S8
What phones are you excited about?
Are there any phones we didn't add to this post and you are looking forward to? Hit the comments and let us know! Also share your thoughts on the handsets listed above.
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