From iPhone 16 to Galaxy Z Fold 6: The top phones we expect in 2024

It’s been a busy year for the smartphone world. 2024 has kicked off with a slew of product announcements from Samsung, OnePlus, Oppo and Xiaomi, while Google unveiled the Pixel 8A ahead of its I/O conference. But as long as Apple, Samsung and Google follow their usual patterns, there will still be plenty of new phones to look forward to before the year is out.

Samsung, for example, typically launches new foldable phones at its summer events. This year, the Galaxy Unpacked event will be held in Paris on July 10, while Apple usually holds its annual iPhone launch event in September. Google followed suit with the new Pixel in October.

read more: Best phones of 2024

As for expectations, artificial intelligence may become a major theme in mobile phones this year. We’ve already seen this with the Galaxy S24 series, as well as last year’s Pixel 8 series, which was the first to include Samsung’s new Galaxy AI features.

Thanks to the success of ChatGPT, generative AI (that is, AI that can generate content when prompted by training data) has made breakthrough progress in 2023. But 2024 will be the year to test what these AI-driven features really bring to the mobile experience, especially as new dedicated AI devices like the Rabbit R1 and Humane AI Pin try to surpass smartphones.

In addition to new AI features, we expect companies like Apple, Samsung, and Google to continue improving the cameras and processors in their upcoming phones.

Here are the most anticipated phones in 2024 from the industry’s biggest manufacturers.

read more: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra can do more with artificial intelligence

look at this: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review: More AI, higher cost

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apple

iPhone 16 series

What to expect: Apple launches new iPhones every September, and we have no reason to believe this year will be any different. Well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that all iPhone 16 models are expected to have upgraded microphones to improve Siri performance. The change comes as Apple is said to be enhancing the iPhone’s artificial intelligence capabilities, according to Bloomberg.

According to MacRumors, analyst Jeff Pu reported that in addition, the iPhone 16 series is rumored to use Apple’s new A18 chip, and the Pro model will use a version called A18 Pro Bionic. According to Bloomberg, Apple may also introduce action buttons to all iPhone 16 models, not just Pro. Kuo also reports that the camera on the regular iPhone 16 Pro is also expected to have a quad-prism telephoto lens like the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which means it could come with a 5x telephoto zoom instead of 3x. There may even be a new dedicated button for capturing footage, according to Bloomberg. Read our full iPhone 16 rumor roundup.

why we’re excited about this: The iPhone 16 sounds like a modest upgrade to the iPhone 15 series, but I’m curious to see how Apple sees AI improving the smartphone experience. Siri is expected to be a big part of this, and I expect Siri to be more than just a quick way to set a timer or check tomorrow’s weather forecast.

iPhone SE 4

what happens: Apple’s next budget iPhone could be a complete overhaul if reports from analysts at MacRumors and TF International Securities are any indication Ming-Chi Kuo true. According to MacRumors, Apple may use a modified version of the iPhone 14 chassis in the next-generation iPhone SE, which means it will have a 6.1-inch screen compared to the current version’s 4.7-inch display. Modern features such as ID, action buttons and USB-C charging will also appear on the next iPhone SE.

As for timing, the iPhone SE’s release pattern is less predictable than the standard iPhone’s. Apple launched the first-generation iPhone SE in 2016, but did not release the second model until 2020. Intelligence suggests it could launch in 2022.

Why we’re excited about this: Apple’s small iPhone needs an upgrade. While it runs the same A15 Bionic processor as the iPhone 14, its iPhone 8-like design is starting to feel dated. We’d be very grateful if Apple came out with a modern version of the iPhone that was more affordable, had a bigger screen, and would hopefully come with a secondary camera.

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

What to expect: Samsung last week sent out invitations to its July 10 Galaxy Unpacked event. It may include new products from Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 third generation processor and Galaxy Artificial Intelligence like Galaxy S24 series.

The company also typically makes subtle design improvements with each generation of Z Fold. According to SmartPrix, Samsung may bring a squarer, flat-edged shape to the Galaxy Z Fold 6 this year, with the company working with well-known electronics leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer. @OnLeaks on X) released what it claimed were renders showing what the phone would look like. Often reliable Samsung leaker Ice Universe has posted a photo purportedly showing the top of the Galaxy Z Fold 6, suggesting it may indeed have a wider, squarer design.

A Samsung patent has fueled speculation that the Galaxy Z Fold 6 may feature an S Pen slot for the first time, which would make it easier to store and quickly use the stylus. this Galaxy Z Fold 5 The Z Fold 6 doesn’t come with an S Pen in the box, so hopefully the inclusion of a dedicated slot on the Z Fold 6 means that will change.

However, since this is just a patent, it’s unclear whether this reflects Samsung’s actual plans for future Galaxy Z Fold devices. Perhaps even more exciting is the possibility that Samsung will launch multiple versions of the Galaxy Z Fold. According to Korean news website The Elec, the company is about to launch a cheaper version of the Galaxy Z Fold 6, while Galaxy Club reports that a higher-end Galaxy Z Fold 6 Ultra may be in development.

Why we’re excited about this: The original Galaxy Z Fold was one of the first foldable phones you could buy when it launched in 2019, and Samsung has continued to refine its design and features over the past few years. Samsung’s Won-Joon Choi also teased that the company is customizing Galaxy AI features for specific types of devices, such as foldables and tablets, rather than just copy-pasting features already in the Galaxy S24 series. With that in mind, I’m excited to see if Samsung brings something unique and new to the next Galaxy Z Fold on the software side.

If rumors and speculation about cheaper version of Galaxy Z Fold 6 and S Pen slot If this turns out to be true, Samsung may be addressing some of our biggest criticisms of the Z Fold with its next model.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6

What to expect: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 The Z Flip 4 represents a huge leap forward thanks to its larger cover screen, which makes it possible to use the device without having to open it. So there’s a chance we won’t see major design changes in the Galaxy Z Flip 6, which could debut at the Galaxy Unpacked event in July.

But we expect it to inherit some features from the Galaxy S24, such as the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and Galaxy AI capabilities. However, as is the case with the Galaxy Z Fold 6, it’s possible that Samsung will tailor Galaxy AI features specifically for the Z Flip 6. However, according to the blog SamMobile, leaked specifications that appeared on the benchmarking platform Geekbench indicate that Samsung may be using an older processor to test the model. Samsung may also upgrade the phone’s core features, such as the camera and battery life, with blog Galaxy Club reporting it will feature a bigger battery and a sharper 50-megapixel camera.

why we’re excited about this: With a larger screen and sleeker design, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 has become one of our favorite foldable phones. For the Galaxy Z Flip 6, I’d like to see more use cases for screen protection and a lower price.

Google

Google Pixel 9 and 9 Pro

What to expect: based on what we’ve seen Pixel 8 series and the Galaxy S24 series, it’s a safe bet that we’ll see more new AI features on the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro. At the end of last year, Google launched the artificial intelligence model Gemini, which runs on Pixel 8 Pro and provides support for features such as conversation summarization in the Recorder application. This model also supports some of the new Galaxy AI features on the Galaxy S24 series, including those in Samsung’s Notes and Voice Recorder apps. Recently, Google said it was bringing Gemini Nano as a developer option to the regular Pixel 8 as well. It seems likely that Google will build on this foundation and add more AI-driven features to the next-generation Pixel.

Otherwise, we can expect routine upgrades such as new Tensor processors and camera improvements. Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants, also said that the new phone will have a larger screen than the Pixel 8 generation. Posts on X, although a recent report from Hemmerstoffer and MySmartPrice suggested that the Pro model will feature a smaller 6.5-inch display. According to the same report, the Pixel 9 Pro may also feature an iPhone-like flat edge design.

Why we’re excited about this: Google’s Pixel phones are often among CNET’s most popular phones of the year. The Pixel 8 generation feels like an early demonstration of Google’s new direction for AI-focused smartphones, and I imagine Google will apply the learnings and feedback from the Pixel 8 to the Pixel 9. Not as impressed as CNET reviewer Andrew Lanxon was, I hope to see Google remedy this shortcoming with the Pixel 9 Pro.

Based on rumors, reports, and announcements so far, this year’s phones should balance new AI features with updates to existing key features like performance and design upgrades. While artificial intelligence still has to prove its usefulness in phones, the idea of ​​actually bringing new, useful software capabilities to phones is refreshing.