Smartphones have acquired a major part of lives, and they have become way more than just a style statement. In the year 2015, we have seen major flagship smartphone launches from the makers such as Apple, Samsung, LG, Xiaomi, OnePlus, and many more. These companies gripped the year 2015 better than other companies.
As we have stepped into a new year, there are going to be many more flagship releases. So, we at TelecomTalk, decided to come up with a list that will give you a glimpse of what smartphones are going to be the talk of the town in the year 2016. We have compiled the list on the basis of the buzz that these smartphones have already created on the internet through leaks and speculations about them.
Apple iPhone 7
Apple, as usual, is going to keep up with its iPhone upgrade. Going by the previous names, the phone is expected to be named as the iPhone 7. The device is going to be a major upgrade in terms of design and specifications. Recent rumors suggest big changes in comparison with the iPhone 6s.
As per the recent leaks and rumors about the iPhone 7, many of them claimed that the device might feature 3GB of RAM with waterproof design. Other reports suggested that the device might sport a dual-lens primary camera with DSLR-like image quality. Some reports also hinted that Apple might get rid of the 3.5 mm audio jack and home button in the iPhone 7. The device is expected to come with waterproof coating. Going by Apple’s launching trend, the company will be unveiling the iPhone 7 in September
Samsung Galaxy S7
The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge were impressive flagships. Premium design, top-of-the-line specs, and software that Samsung finally got around to making faster and smoother, all of it was a part of the company’s first two 2015 hero devices. But Samsung took away a couple of features many can’t live without - namely, a removable battery (the battery capacity was also considerably smaller) and a microSD slot. The two phones gave the iPhone tough competition in terms of the overall experience, and the S6 edge also happened to be extremely attractive in terms of design.
With the Galaxy S7, Samsung is reportedly working on fixing every shortcoming found on the Galaxy S6 and its curved sibling. The Galaxy S7 (and the S7 edge) will apparently come with a microSD slot, large batteries, and even water-resistance, a feature Samsung experimented with on the Galaxy S5. The rest of the specs will be as high-end as possible, including the Exynos 8890/Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, 12 MP cameras with improved low-light imaging and Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box.
All this is based on rumors, but if the rumors turn out to be accurate, the Galaxy S7 could be one of the perfect smartphones to launch in 2016.
Google Nexus 2016
Google’s Nexus phones have been sought by geeks and those looking for great hardware at low prices, though the latter feature disappeared with the Nexus 6, which was priced pretty high (though still lower than other flagships). Nexus devices suffered from poor battery life and camera performance until 2015 - the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P fixed the two biggest shortcomings of Google’s Nexus phones, and, at least, the Nexus 6P was near-perfect in terms of design, hardware specs and software experience.
Now that Google has started putting more and more effort into making sure Nexus devices are as good as can be, the next Nexus flagship is expected to be even more polished. Of course, the fact that it will introduce "Android N" to the world will be its biggest draw, and we can expect the accompanying hardware to offer everything one looks for in a premium smartphone.
LG G5
If the rumors are to be believed, LG is planning to announce its next-generation LG G5 smartphone sometime in February. It is pretty unusual for LG, as the company generally launches its flagship devices in the second quarter. But going by the features that LG included in the G4, we can expect the G5 to be a powerhouse.
The leak also suggests that LG has made substantial changes in the G5 when compared to its predecessor, the LG G4. This time around, the flagship will feature a full-metal body, which will be identical to the LG Zero smartphone. The LG G4 was launched with a leather back, that was one of the highlights in the smartphone. Another leaked information suggests that the forthcoming smartphone might come with a 5.6-inch QHD (2560×1440 pixels) display. It is expected to be powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 820 chipset, a 21-megapixel primary camera with 1/2-inch sensor, along with an 8-megapixel front-facing camera.
Xiaomi Mi 5
As this list comprises of the most-talked-about and speculated flagships debuting in 2016, Xiaomi Mi 5 should have a spot too. The Xiaomi Mi 5 is expected to launch sometime this year. The device was expected to come out of the veil sooner, but Xiaomi has delayed the device on purpose. Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun revealed the reason behind the delay, he said that the Mi 5 is going to be “very, very good” and “worth the wait”.
Rumors that have surfaced until now, suggest that the smartphone will feature a 5.2-inch Quad HD display with Gorilla Glass 4 protection. It will sports a 20MP primary camera with dual LED flash, PDAF, OIS, along with an 8MP front-facing camera. It will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset clubbed with 4GB of RAM, 32GB storage. Backing the Mi 5 will be a 3,000mAh battery and Android 6.0 Marshmallow-based MIUI 7 ROM. Keeping up with the trends, we expect the device to come with other advanced features such as fingerprint scanner, quick-charging technology, and USB Type-C port.
OnePlus 3
OnePlus was pretty much out there in the field throughout the year 2015. The company launched two new smartphones in 2015, along with many accessories. Now, in 2016, OnePlus’s major release would be the successor to the OnePlus 2, the OnePlus 3. There is not much buzz about the smartphone yet, but we expect a lot more news flowing in the coming months.
However, there have been plenty of rumor reports that suggested the OnePlus 3 to come with a Full-HD display and Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset. Keeping in mind that the OnePlus 2 was launched in August, the 2016 flagship might also be unveiled around the same time.
So, which smartphone among these do you think is worth waiting? Let us know through the comments section.
