As we push into 2016, we’re hearing about the phones that are in the pipeline for the new year. The list includes the iPhone 7, Samsung Galaxy S7, LG G5, and others. If you’re planning to upgrade next year, your eyes should be on this list of confirmed and rumored smartphones.
2015 was full of exciting smartphone releases. Early on, the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge delighted smartphone enthusiasts with their metal designs, cameras and toned down Android software.
Shortly after their release, LG released the LG G4, a solid competitor for the Galaxy S6 and other name-brand Android smartphones.
In the fall, Apple released the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. The two flagships replaced last year’s iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Samsung released the Galaxy Note 5, a successor to the popular Galaxy Note 4. And Google came out firing with two new Nexus phones, a Nexus 5X and a Nexus 6P.
If you’re looking for a smartphone in 2016, you won’t have a shortage of options. Companies have already announced a number of new devices and plenty more are on the way.
It’s early yet but we’ve already seen a number of exciting details emerge and today we want to take a look at a few phones you should have your eyes on as we push into 2016.
This list includes the best devices from early 2016 and we expect rumors to fill in the blanks as we close in on the summer and the holidays.
Table of Contents
Apple iPhone 7
| Every year, Apple releases a new iPhone. 2016 probably won’t be any different as iPhone 7 rumors are already starting to paint an early picture for prospective iPhone buyers.
The iPhone 7 release date isn’t expected to land until the fall but early rumors have begun outlining some potential iPhone 7 specs. And with the next phone not expected to be an “S” release, some big changes could be in store for Apple’s iconic device. Early iPhone 7 rumors suggest that we might see a change to the 3.5mm headphone jack that’s been a mainstay on the iPhone. Instead, the company might introduce an all-in-one Lightning connector. The iPhone 7 will evidently support Lightning headphones and Bluetooth headphones. The phone could arrive with Lightning EarPods. In turn, this could lead to a thinner iPhone 7. The iPhone 6s is 7.1mm thin and the iPhone 7 could be 1mm thinner than that. iPhone 7 rumors also include talk of a waterproof design and some analysts believe that Apple will ditch the physical home button. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 5 both delivered new designs so there’s a chance that Apple will make some big changes next year. Rumors also point to camera upgrades, a new processor, new storage options, and Apple’s upcoming iOS 10 operating system. Apple’s iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s laid a great foundation for the future and it will be exciting to see where Apple takes the iPhone and its technology next year. |
iPhone SE
Apple reportedly has a media event scheduled for March 21st and it looks like we could see more than just iOS 9.3 and a new iPad Pro on stage.
The company is rumored to have a new 4-inch iPhone up its sleeve, a 4-inch iPhone SE that will reportedly arrive alongside Apple’s upcoming iOS 9.3 release.
The iPhone SE will apparently take the place of the iPhone 5c and do so with an array of colors, an A9 processor, NFC, Touch ID, 16GB/64GB of storage, and 2GB of RAM. If it’s real, it will serve as an entry level device and a solid option for those that don’t want a huge screen.
Release date rumors are scarce though Apple is known for releasing its iPhones almost immediately after its launch events.
With an announcement likely on the 21st, don’t be surprised if the iPhone SE release date lands on the Friday following the event.
Samsung Galaxy S7
The Samsung Galaxy S7 and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge are official and they are currently on sale in the United States and regions around the world. They are, without a doubt, two of the most exciting phones from the new year.
Here is what you can expect from the Samsung Galaxy S7’s specs. This is not the full list of specifications. Instead, it’s a list of highlights.
– 5.1-inch 2560 x 1440 Quad-HD Display
– Qualcomm 820 Processor with 4GB of RAM (Exynos outside the US)
– 32 GB of storage with a micro-SD slot
– New 12 “Dual Pixel” Rear Camera with f/1.7 aperture, OIS and more, 5MP front camera
– 3,600 mAh battery with Fast Charging, Wireless Fast Charging
– Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with TouchWiz
– Fingerprint Scanner
– IP68 Dust & Water Resistance
– Always-on display feature
– Flater Design (nearly no camera bulge)
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge replaces the Galaxy S6 Edge as Samsung’s flagship model and it does so with some key changes.
Here is a list of the features on board the Galaxy S7 Edge. The biggest difference between it and the regular model is that it offers a larger 5.5-inch display with a curved edge that takes advantage of unique software features.
– 5.5-inch 2560 x 1440 Quad-HD Curved Display
– Qualcomm 820 Processor with 4GB of RAM (Exynos outside the US)
– 32 GB of storage with a micro-SD slot
– New 12 “Dual Pixel” Rear Camera with f/1.7 aperture, OIS and more, 5MP front camera
– 3,600 mAh battery with Fast Charging, Wireless Fast Charging
– Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with TouchWiz
– Fingerprint Scanner
– IP68 Dust & Water Resistance
– Always-on display feature
– Flater Design (nearly no camera bulge)
For more about the Galaxy S7 Edge, please take a look at our full run down of the differences between it and the Galaxy S6 Edge. It will help get you started.
LG G5
The Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge aren’t the only flagships making their way to shelves in early 2016. LG’s also announced a Galaxy S7 rival, a follow-up to the company’s popular LG G4.
The LG G5 is official and it will be coming to the United States and regions around the world later this year. Like the Galaxy S7, the LG G5 features powerful hardware along with Google’s Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow OS.
Here is a quick look at the most important LG G5 specs:
– 5.3-inch 2560 x 1440 Quantum HD Display
– 8-core Snapdragon 820 processor with 4GB of RAM
– 32GB of storage, micro-SD slot for expansion
– 16 and 8 Megapixel Dual rear cameras, OIS, laser auto-focus and more
– 8 Megapixel front camera
– 2,800 mAh removable and replaceable battery
– Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
– Fingerprint Scanner on back (buttons moved to side, not on back like prior years)
– Premium All Metal Design
– USB Type-C Charging Port
For more on the LG G5, take a look at our comparison between it and the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. It will fill you in on the key differences between two of the most exciting smartphones of 2016.
HTC One M10
The HTC One M9 wasn’t the success the company was hoping for and it looks like it will try again with a new flagship in 2016.
The HTC One M10 is the logical name for the next flagship that could come a lot later than expected. Release date rumors currently point to a release in May, a few weeks after the release of the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge.
May or not, it looks like HTC’s next flagship will include a 5.1-inch 2560 x 1440 Quad-HD display, an 8-core Snapdragon 820 processor with 3 to 4GB of RAM, 32GB of storage with a micro-SD slot, a bigger battery, and an improved 12 “ultrapixel.” It might also include a tweaked metal design and a new fingerprint sensor.
HTC knows that it needs to impress with its next flagship and we’re excited to see added competition for the Samsung Galaxy S7, LG G5 and the iPhone.
Nexus 2016
This might not be the only flagship that HTC has planned for 2016. Rumor has it, the company might be producing this year’s Nexus smartphone or smartphones.
Early Nexus 2016 rumors suggest that HTC might be lined up for another run at Google’s Nexus brand of devices.
Not much is known about either phone and plans could certainly change between now and the fall when Google typically releases its Nexus devices alongside new software.
Still, a possible return (HTC also built the Nexus One) is an exciting prospect and one that you should keep tabs on throughout the year. For now, you’re stuck with the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, two extremely solid smartphones.
