When you think of summer, you probably think of long days relaxing in the sun, time spent at the beach, or exciting vacations. But you probably aren’t thinking about upcoming smartphone launches. And this is where normal decent people differ from the average tech geek. So while you’re spending quality time in the sun, think about how we’re all stuck at home watching keynotes and product launches to check out the latest hot new releases.
Okay, a bit of a stretch, but summer is a big time for new device launches. This year we’ve already seen the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S24 series and the Google Pixel 8a, but there are plenty of other devices to enjoy, flagship, budget and all. Here are 8 smartphones coming this summer that we can’t wait to see.
Gone are the days when the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra was considered the most technologically advanced of Samsung’s annual releases. Now, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold has filled this niche, making the Galaxy Z Fold 6 one of the most anticipated smartphones of the year.
All the usual upgrades are expected for the device, including the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, Android 15, and the new Galaxy AI we’ve seen a lot of this year. What was unexpected, however, were the changes Samsung is rumored to be making to both its product lineup and the possible shape of the Z Fold itself. While there is by no means a consensus, most leaks seem to indicate that the Z Fold 6 will be slightly shorter and wider than previous Z Fold devices, less narrow in smartphone mode, and more square when unfolded.
However, this change in shape and size has not been confirmed, and part of the reason for the confusion is the rumor of another Z Fold model. This model, called the “Z Fold 6 Ultra” by leakers, will likely be larger and more powerful than the standard Z Fold 6, which could explain the large size difference reported in various rumors and leaks. It is possible that this model (if it exists) will never see the light of day, or that Samsung is simply experimenting with the idea at this stage.
Whatever the truth, there is a lot to look forward to here. New foldable phones always excite us. We can also expect the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 to arrive sooner than usual, as Samsung appears to be preparing to launch a new folding device just before the 2024 Paris Olympics. Samsung has a long history of sponsoring the Olympics, so it would make sense for them to do so again. Galaxy Unpacked is scheduled for July 10, so we fully expect to see it there.
It’s rare to find a fold without a flip, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is expected to launch at the same time as its bigger sibling. But while the Z Fold 6 will likely get a design update, for now the Z Flip 6 seems mostly unchanged. Leaked renders show a nearly identical device to the one we have now, right down to the 6.7-inch internal display. Rumors from Ross Young suggest that Samsung may increase the size of the external display, but that seems like an outlier at this point.
Normally we’d take it for granted that the phone would feature the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, but that seems suspicious. SamMobile has picked up on rumors that Samsung may take a different approach this time around, equipping the Z Flip 6 with last year’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, but with 12GB of RAM instead of 8GB. This would be a big change for the lineup and would be the first time Samsung has used an older processor in a Z Flip phone. It’s also possible that Samsung wants to increase the number of Z Flip variants, and launch a less powerful (and cheaper) Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 model alongside the regular high-performance model.
Other rumors include the phone’s thicker render than previous models, which could mean a bigger battery. This would be a big upgrade for the Z Flip, which tends to struggle with battery life.
Oh, okay, that’s kind of mean — Apple is also adding two new buttons to the cheaper iPhone. The Action button, which comes to the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus after a brief period of exclusivity on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, also has a new button: the record button. It lets you take photos with a single button press. It’s a detail we’ve seen on some Sony smartphones in the past, and can be seen as an homage to the iPhone’s camera features. The record button is located below the power button and appears to be recessed into the frame of the phone. Some say it will be capacitive rather than physical. The action button, last seen on the iPhone 15 Pro, will replace the mute switch on the iPhone 16, and it will be programmable so it can also become a mute switch if desired.
As far as specifications go, Apple is believed to rely on a cheaper, less powerful processor for the cheaper models. This could mean using the A17 chip (unlike the A17 Pro chip in the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max), but some analysts expect Apple to rename that processor to A18 and integrate it in the Pro models. However, the iPhone 16 is still powerful enough, so there is no need to worry too much.
Apart from the lens shift, there will be no special changes in the camera department of the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus. There will probably be no changes in size or display, which means no increase in 60Hz. However, the battery size will change, so that’s both good news and bad news. While the iPhone 16 is rumored to have a larger battery, the iPhone 16 Plus may actually have a slightly smaller battery. It’s fair to say that this is disappointing news for lovers of larger phones, but hopefully Apple can squeeze a lot out of it through software optimization. Speaking of software, we can also expect Apple Intelligence to be integrated into as many aspects of these phones as possible.
When will these phones arrive? They won’t appear until late summer, helping to close out the calendar year. September is the most common iPhone release date, so it’s always a good time to mark that date on your calendar.
Needless to say, the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max receive the same upgrades as the base iPhone, including a new capture button. However, the Pro models are expected to come with a more powerful A18 Pro processor and relatively higher specs. Rumors suggest that both the Pro and Pro Max will have slightly larger batteries.
From here, the Pro and non-Pro models differ quite a bit. First, it looks like Apple is going to shrink the edge of its Pro phone again. The shrinking business will likely dethrone Samsung as it has the lowest margins in the smartphone industry. The camera module has the same triangular shape, but the notch looks larger than the iPhone 15 Pro models. Apple may back up this rumor by replacing the 12MP ultra-wide lens with a 48MP ultra-wide lens from Sony.