Best upcoming phones: future phones for 2024
From affordable phones to fresh flagships and folding phones, there's no shortage of exciting upcoming phones on the horizon
Like to follow every smartphone launch like a hawk? Your diary must be busy. From affordable phones and fresh flagships to foldables, there’s a whole host of shiny new phones coming your way in 2024.
We’ve rounded up the confirmed releases, probable launches and rumoured reveals for the year below, so you can keep your smartphone knowledge well ahead of the curve. We’ve also summarised the major smartphone announcements from recent months, with links to our reviews of the big hitters. Our regularly updated list has all the best upcoming phones we expect to see.
Here’s our guide to the best upcoming phones set to land over the next twelve months.
All the best upcoming phones we’re expecting soon
Google Pixel 8a
Google’s Pixel A-series phones dilute down what makes their full-fat bigger brothers such fab flagships, for a much more palatable price. We’re expecting the Pixel 8a to do the same when it arrives, most likely in May to coincide with Google I/O. There were whispers Google would skip an affordable model this year, but those appear to have been silenced for now.
Expect Tensor G3 silicon, and a light redesign to better match the Pixel 8 Pro’s more rounded corners. Otherwise we can’t think of any one area the 8a needs serious attention; the Pixel 7a was a stellar mid-ranger, after all. AI abilities seem all but guaranteed, seeing how artificial intelligence is the latest phone industry buzzword, and Google went big on it for the Pixel 8’s launch.
Until the 8a lands, the Pixel 7a remains one of the best all-rounder phones in its price bracket:
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 / Flip 6
With the Galaxy S24 series arriving in January 2024, a month earlier than Samsung typically like to launch its mainstream models, there’s every chance the next-gen Fold and Flip folding phones will land a little sooner than anticipated too. Both are most certainly in the works, with leaks suggesting a tweaked design for the former that will more closely match the angular Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Camera fans may be disappointed to hear rumours are pointing to an unchanged set of sensors, while performance will surely come courtesy of a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 CPU. The Fold will hopefully be shorter and wider than its predecessor, which was still on the skinny side compared to other book-style phones. The Flip will surely see fewer styling changes, as Samsung only debuted that oversized cover screen with last year’s Z Flip 5.
Apple iPhone 16 series
A new generation of Apple silicon seems likely, as does a new version of iOS. We’re also hoping the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 5x telephoto lens makes its way down to the more palm-friendly iPhone 16 Pro.
The one every Apple fan will be waiting for. The iPhone 16 line-up will almost certainly be revealed in early September 2024, bringing multiple sizes and at least one Pro variant. There’s little info out there right now, other than Apple is apparently going to go big on AI this year – just like the rest of the phone world.
September 2024 feels like a long way off right now, though. The iPhone 15 line-up is as good as it gets in Apple land today:
Google Pixel 9 series
It’s inevitable Google will introduce a new Pixel generation in 2024 – but the rumours suggest there’ll be three Pixel 9 handsets rather than two. The Pixel 9 Pro will shrink down a little, to make room for a larger Pixel 9 Pro XL – reviving a naming scheme Google hasn’t used for several years now. The Pixel 9 will be a more mainstream offering, as is tradition.
New designs with reshaped camera bars are mooted, as is a new Tensor G4 chipset. We have our fingers crossed that Qi2 charging will also make the cut. Camera hardware seems unlikely to get a big overhaul this generation – Google usually goes two years between sensor swaps – but expect the usual range of software tweaks and algorithm upgrades to keep it competitive.
Until the Pixel 9 series arrives, most likely in September, the Pixel 8 Pro remains one of our favourite smartphones. It takes stunning photos, has plenty of clever AI enhancements, and has the slickest design of any Pixel to date.
Sony Xperia 1 VI
Sony has kept quiet about its 2024 smartphone plans so far, with few details leaked online. The only whispers we’ve heard so far is that the Xperia 1 VI will ditch the signature 21:9 aspect ratio display, in favour of a more mainstream shape and size. That would also suggest the 4K resolution will go, as there aren’t any panels in other phones with that many pixels.
Elsewhere we’d expect the latest Snapdragon silicon, a big battery (with Sony’s excellent power optimisation), and a trio of rear camera sensors. If history has taught us anything, it’ll be that you’ll need to use Sony’s extensive manual modes to get the best results from them.
New Xperia 1 phones tend to arrive in April or May, so there shouldn’t be long to wait. The Xperia 1 V is still a heck of device, though, and can be picked up for a fair bit less than the original RRP if you shop around.
Google Pixel Fold 2
As much as the Pixel Fold was an exciting introduction to foldable phones from Google, it also felt very much like a first effort device. The bezels were chunky, performance was merely OK, and stamina wasn’t very impressive. But it did deliver some fantastic rear cameras, and had a very well optimised version of Android for dual-screen setups. Google is widely expected to change the form factor for Pixel Fold 2, going taller and narrower than before to more closely match folding rivals.
Another big design change should be the rear camera module, which will swap from a device-spanning bar to a pill shape contained to one corner. A bigger capacity battery and newer generation Tensor CPU is also on the cards, but it’s unknown whether the cameras will see any serious upgrades.
It could potentially make its debut at Google’s I/O event in May, or the firm may hold off and launch closer to the Pixel 9 series later in the year. If you can’t wait that long, the original Pixel Fold is still doing the rounds – and for less than retail price.
Latest smartphone releases
Asus broke from tradition with this latest Zenfone. Instead of being pocket-friendly, the 11 Ultra went big with a 6.78in display. It’s flagship-grade everywhere you’d expect, including chipset (a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3), big battery, OLED screen and triple rear camera setup with stabilised main snapper. However, there’s a lot more competition among larger phones than there is at the smaller end of the smartphone spectrum, making it tough to recommend in light of more capable rivals.
It’s a big departure from Nothing’s last two phones, and makes a major change on the inside too – but the Nothing Phone 2a is still a compelling alternative to affordable models from big-name rivals. It simplifies the firm’s Glyph lighting, debuts a redesigned rear and uses MediaTek silicon to provide the power. It’s got a big battery and two capable cameras (for the cash), making it a winner in the sub-£350 class.
Honor’s latest flagship phones doubles down on a speedy set of rear snappers, only this time it also goes hard on the zoom front. A 180MP sensor with OIS and a 2.5x optical zoom promise near-perfect portraits, and AI assistance should mean better subject detection and motion tracking. A top-tier display, Snapdragon silicon and an especially big battery give it plenty of plus points.
The more mainstream of Xiaomi’s two 14 series models has a compact 6.36in screen, but that doesn’t mean it had to skimp on hardware. A sizeable battery capacity, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, and a trio of very capable Leica-tweaked rear cameras make it a true rival to the likes of Samsung’s Galaxy S24.
Arguably the biggest story out of this year’s MWC show, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra promises the best camera hardware you’ll find on any phone – plus a dedicated upgrade kit that adds physical controls into the mix. A 1in sensor main camera with variable aperture, twin telephotos with OIS and an ultrawide with an equally high pixel count make it a force to be reckoned with – and it’s undeniably a flagship phone everywhere else, with slick styling, plenty of power and a beefy battery. It’ll be on sale in Europe and the UK from mid-March.
Asus ROG Phone 8 / ROG Phone 8 Pro
Aggressive styling and mediocre cameras made older ROG phones tricky to recommend to non-gamers. The new ROG Phone 8 Pro changes that with a tempting trio of rear snappers and much more sedate styling. An IP68 rating and AMOLED screen help the ROG Phone 8 Pro go toe-to-toe with big name rivals, while the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 CPU and oversized battery keep it a performance monster.
Technically still China-only at the time of writing, OnePlus’ latest flagship killer is expected to land in Europe imminently. We know exactly what to expect: the OnePlus 12 will land with a 6.82in AMOLED screen good for an astounding 4500nits peak brightness, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 CPU, and a three-lens rear camera setup headlined by a Sony-developed LYTIA stacked sensor.
The Galaxy A series are easily Samsung’s most popular phones in terms of worldwide sales, and the firm has gone all out with this latest generation to please the masses. It borrows a metal and glass build from the pricier Galaxy S24, and a matching main camera at the rear with a 50MP sensor. It doesn’t skimp on power or battery life, either. As an affordable entry to the range, it looks like the real deal.
Samsung Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24 Plus
This year’s two mainstream Galaxy flagships see minor styling tweaks compared to their predecessors, and reuse the same camera hardware. Bigger batteries, brighter displays with skinnier bezels, and an unwavering focus on on-device AI help them stand out, with the larger of the two also getting a higher screen resolution and faster wired charging.
The new hero of the Galaxy line-up has a titanium frame and Corning Gorilla Armor glass, making it super tough as well as super luxurious. That screen is flat now, rather than curved, and there’s a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 lurking underneath for serious power. AI is a big deal this year, being baked in to multiple apps and especially useful for generative photo edits.
It’s not a brand many European phone owners will know, but Vivo regularly knocks it out of the park with its photography-focused flagships. The X100 Pro is no different; a 1in main sensor and ‘floating lens’ periscope telephoto help it take phenomenal shots in just about all lighting conditions. Portraits are a speciality, and the rest of the hardware isn’t to be sniffed at. Getting hold of one is the biggest challenge; availability is largely limited to India and East Asia.
Don’t want to wait for the coming year’s crop of phones to be released? This extensive list includes full reviews of all the major launches from the last twelve months which have yet to be succeeded by newer models, and that you can go out and buy right now.
- Apple iPhone 15 and 15 Plus: Makes the switch to USB-C and brings Dynamic Island smarts from last year’s Pro models.
- Apple iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max: Titanium construction and fantastic camera zoom abilities make this the best iPhone yet.
- Asus Zenfone 10: Still flying the flag for small phones, with very capable cameras and powerful internals
- Google Pixel 7a: Hard to beat for photographic ability, given the price. A great affordable all-rounder everywhere else.
- Google Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 8: the benchmark for Android phone photography, now with AI assistance and premium build quality.
- Google Pixel Fold: Google’s first attempt at a foldable gets a lot right, but leaves room for improvement.
- Honor Magic V2: Takes the title of slimmest book-style foldable phone, and doesn’t disappoint elsewhere either in terms of hardware. Rivals do multitasking better, though.
- Huawei P60 Pro: Seriously clever camera hardware suited to all lighting conditions, but the usual Huawei software stumbles
- Motorola Edge 40 Pro: The definition of a ‘mainstream flagship’ phone gets plenty right, including the price.
- Motorola Razr 40 Ultra / Razr+: Moto continues to iterate its foldables, now with options to suit different budgets.
- Nothing Phone 2: It’s only Nothing’s second handset, but Phone 2 bests many longer-running rivals for streamlined software.
- Oppo Find X7 Ultra: Hands down one of the best cameraphones around right now – but it sadly only got a Chinese release
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5: A much more usable cover screen makes this our favourite clamshell phone to date.
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: A brilliant book-style foldable that improves on a familiar formula
- Sony Xperia 1 V: The best of Sony in a smartphone, with a strong focus on creative content. Takes a fab photo.
- Sony Xperia 5 V: A more mainstream Xperia with perfectly potent hardware and all of Sony’s familiar features.
Tom Morgan-Freelander
Deputy Editor 
