Here’s upcoming phones 2026: release dates and rumors for your next smartphone upgrade

Latest smartphone releases

Apple iPhone Duo

The first foldable iPhone had been rumoured for years but Apple still wowed fans with its big reveal. A passport-shaped handset with a completely rethought iOS interface to better suit its dimensions when both open and closed, it could give Android foldables a real shock when it lands in October 2026 – despite a painfully high price.

Apple iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max

September just saw two Pro iPhones revealed, rather than Apple’s usual two-tier announcement. There’s still plenty to get excited about, with the first variable aperture camera lens in an iPhone and the best battery life of any Apple smartphone to date. Epic power from an A20 Pro chipset and smarter Siri Intelligence are the other highlights.

Honor Robot Phone

The most unusual phone of 2026? This concept-made-real squeezes a gimbal-stabilised camera inside the body of a compact flagship phone, giving it Steadicam skills to rival DJI’s ubiquitous Osmo Pocket handheld action cameras. There are also some clever AI assistant smarts on offer in Honor’s native China, where the Robot Phone will be sold exclusively (at least for now). One for the mobile content creator crowd.

Google Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL

The latest Pixel generation plays it very safe, making the minimum of hardware upgrades and refining, rather than redesigning the now-familiar rear camera bar. Photography remains very competitive, even if you opt for the regular Pixel over the Pro duo, which have superior sensors across the board. Battery life is consistent with last year’s models, but still lags behind the longest-lasting rivals with silicon-carbon batteries. Still, in the Western world, it’s as close as the Galaxy S26 and S26 Ultra get to genuine competition.

Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold

Rather than experiment with new form factors, Google’s latest foldable felt a lot like a retread of the last one, albeit slightly slimmer and rocking a new generation of Tensor chipset. An uprated lead snapper and the addition of HiLight notifications at the rear also help it stand out in an increasingly crowded class, though battery capacity is a backwards step and the focus seems to mainly be on new features for Gemini. Qi2 magnetic charging is still unique among foldables, though, and there’s no denying Google’s stock Android UI is as slick as they come.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8

The first wide-style foldable phone to make it to Western audiences, the Z Fold8 proved that small and wide could be better than tall and slim – even if it meant a little more scrolling than we’ve grown accustomed to. Powerful internals, a capable pair of rear cameras and respectable battery life are par for the course in a Samsung flagship, but it’s the palm-friendly size while folded and multimedia-ready aspect ratio while open that will surely see this become the foldable phone norm.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra and Galaxy Z Flip8

While the Z Fold8’s new form factor (rightly) hogged all the attention at Samsung’s summer Unpacked event, the firm also brought two new models for fans of its existing range. The Z Fold8 Ultra didn’t exactly do much to justify the new label, though, largely being a retread of the outgoing Z Fold7; a mildly faster new chipset and a modest boost to battery life were the headline additions. The Z Flip8 was even less of an upgrade, with a different Exynos chipset leading an otherwise very familiar spec sheet. It did at least make the outer screen a lot more usable than previous iterations, by letting you run more apps natively.

Honor Magic V6

Still super skinny, still packing a very capable rear camera trio, but now with an even bigger battery. The Magic V6 is as slick as skinny book-style handsets get, with much improved multitasking abilities helping to make it a productivity powerhouse. It’s expensive though (or it will be once Honor’s launch day discounts expire) and the combined might of Samsung and Apple is about to make the case for a wider foldable.

Motorola Razr Fold

Moto’s first book-style foldable effort isn’t the skinniest out there, but its sizeable screens both play nicely with a capacitive stylus; that’s great news for creative types. A big battery, three capable cameras and a pared-back version of Android that’s still multitasking-friendly make it a genuine alternative to the Samsung and Google duopoly in the USA.

Motorola Razr 70 Ultra

A refined take on Motorola’s winning flip-style formula, but an expensive one. The overall design is largely unchanged from last year, just with new Pantone-approved colours and a mix of textures like wood grain and Alcantara. A new main camera with LOFIC sensor tech is the big new addition, while battery capacity and charging speeds continue to leave Samsung in the shade.

Samsung Galaxy A57

Another annual update that feels more than a little phoned in, the Galaxy A57 adds improved water resistance and gains a mildly faster Exynos chipset, but otherwise retreads the path its predecessor took a year ago – while also demanding more cash. It’ll keep budget-minded Samsung fans happy, but everyone else will want to check out the competition.

Poco X8 Pro and X8 Pro Max

Proof that the Chinese phone brands now lead the way on battery capacity, the X8 Pro Max finds room inside for a colossal 8500mAh cell and comfortably lasts two days per charge. The smaller X8 Pro still includes a 6500mAh battery, besting pricier rivals from Samsung, Google and Apple.

Nothing Phone 4a Pro

This all-metal mid-ranger stands out with its signature Nothing features like the Glyph Matrix – customisable LEDs that sit alongside three rather capable rear cameras. The firm’s minimalist take on Android is a delight to use and there’s no shortage of CPU muscle for the money.

Nothing Phone 4a

A new take on Nothing’s Glyph lights keeps the Phone 4a feeling fresh, while underneath it’s largely a tried-and-tested take on the affordable phone formula. It takes a decent photo, lasts all day between charges, and isn’t short on CPU oomph. Plus it looks undeniably distinctive, and NothingOS is one of the nicest versions of Android around. There’s little else out there as well-rounded for so little money.

Google Pixel 10a

Another year, another affordable Pixel – only this one isn’t all that far removed from the last-gen effort. Google has revised the styling so subtly you’d struggle to notice it, and stuck with pretty much the same internals. There’s little here for Pixel 9a owners but anyone after a sensibly priced Android will like its cameras.

Xiaomi 17 Ultra

With a 1in lead camera backed up by a 200MP telephoto and choice of two Photography Kit accessories, Xiaomi’s latest Ultra-badged flagship is a photography powerhouse that’s comfortably in the running for my cameraphone of the year nomination. There’s also a Leica-badged version called the Leitzphone, complete with rotating camera ring that can control things like aperture and zoom.

Xiaomi 17

Leica-grade optics and a big battery set the Xiaomi 17 apart from compact rivals from Samsung, Google and Apple. It’s a performance beast courtesy of a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, has a gorgeous display, and can manage two days between charges. It’s my first pick for a small yet mighty smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

A shoulder snooper’s worst nightmare. The Galaxy S26 Ultra marks the debut of Samsung’s Privacy Display, a hardware toggle that can cut viewing angles and keep your secrets hidden from view. It also brings faster wired charging speeds, a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 For Galaxy chipset with oodles of power, and a refined set of rear cameras. It’ll surely become one of 2026’s best-selling Android flagships, though I’m disappointed that battery capacity remains unchanged.

Samsung Galaxy S26 and S26+

This pair of all-rounder Androids aren’t the most exciting of annual updates, with a new home-grown Exynos 2600 chipset being the biggest new addition. The smaller handset does get a bigger battery, but one that still pales in comparison to the silicon-carbon competition. Samsung’s brand appeal will surely see them in good stead against rivals with higher-end hardware, though I’d rather put my money elsewhere.

Honor Magic8 Pro

Honor’s latest flagship is more an evolution of its predecessor than a ground-up rewrite, with similar styling and a largely unchanged trio of rear snappers led by a 200MP periscope zoom. Power now comes from a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, and battery capacity has taken a welcome step up – though the global variant doesn’t get quite as much of a boost as the Chinese model. A four figure RRP at launch and some image processing inconsistencies make it a heart over head purchase, though regular discounts make it easier for me to recommend.

OnePlus 15

The 2026 Android benchmark has been set. Not only does the OnePlus 15 have Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 silicon providing more than most people will know what to do with, it’s also packing a giant battery that makes it a true two-day phone. A gorgeous screen, unique Sand Storm finish and streamlined looks make it stand out, while the rear lens trio comfortably keeps pace with the competition. It’s a fantastic all-rounder at a very reasonable price, and my first choice for anyone looking for a new phone right now.

Oppo Find X9 Pro

Don’t dismiss the Find X9 Pro as ‘just’ a OnePlus 15 but with more of an emphasis on photography. Oppo’s alternative has an even bigger battery and its MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chipset is more efficient, making it an absolute battery champion. Its 200MP zoom lens is among the best around, and that’s before you bolt the optional Hasselblad lens extender accessory on for 10x optical magnification. If you care strongly about good phone photography it would be my top choice.

Apple iPhone Air

The thinness war has truly escalated now. Apple’s ultra-slim iPhone Air (note no ’17’ in the title there) is just 5.6mm at its narrowest point, yet is also unbelievably strong, with a Ceramic Shield on the rear that can shrug off scratches. Power comes from the same A19 Pro chip as this year’s Pro iPhones, and battery life is slated to last all day. Screen size is an in-betweener 6.5in, and it only comes with a single 48MP rear camera that on paper sounds very similar to the one found on the more affordable iPhone 16e. I’m sure it will find fans, but it’s not for everyone.

Apple iPhone 17

The iPhone 17 may be similar to the iPhone 16, but it’s larger. The display is up to 6.3 inches, matching this year’s Pro, and there’s no bigger Plus version anymore. Apple’s ProMotion has finally trickled down from the Pro models, so you’re getting 120Hz refresh rates for smoother scrolling and video playback. The Always-On Display also belatedly makes its way to the base-level model. An Apple A19 chipset, 256GB base storage, twin 48MP rear snappers and an all-day battery make it all the iPhone most people could need. If you’re an Apple fan, this would be my first choice phone.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

The new wave of ‘thin’ phones is surely on the way, now that Samsung has unleashed its debut effort. The S25 Edge is a svelte 5.8mm thick and weighs just 163g – impressive figures given it has a huge 6.7in screen, and a powerful snapdragon 8 Elite chipset underneath. Samsung had to compromise somewhere, so you get two rear cameras instead of three – but the lead is a 200MP unit capable of clean and colourful snaps. The battery is the biggest weak point, struggling to last all day on a single charge. But if you value slimness, I’m sure you’ll appreciate what’s on offer here.

Apple iPhone 16e

After three generations of SE, Apple has taken its most affordable phone more upmarket – and made it a little less affordable in the process. The 16e gets impressively close to the regular iPhone 16, with a 6.1in OLED screen, A18 chip and 48MP rear camera. It sticks with a notch instead of dynamic island, and doesn’t support Magsafe accessories, but you’re otherwise getting the full iOS experience, including Apple Intelligence.