With the year wrapping to a close, smartphone enthusiasts must be awaiting the debut of some exciting new smartphones from leading brands in 2016.
We take a look at some of the best upcoming smartphones in 2016 and their rumored release dates.
Samsung Galaxy S7
Samsung is poised to release the successor of its Galaxy S6 smartphone, the Galaxy S7 in 2016. Rumors have hinted at a 4K display for the phablet and Samsung returning to the Snapdragon processor, potentially the upcoming Snapdragon 820 chipset. Rumors also point to the device imbibing 3D Touch-like technology, a retina scanner and fast charging capabilities.
The smartphone is also said to mark the return of the microSD card expansion slot which was done away with for the Galaxy S6.
Launch date: The Samsung Galaxy S7 will likely be introduced in March 2016, followed by an April release.
iPhone 7
Apple is expected to launch the next-gen iPhone 7 in 2016. Rumors have pointed to some design changes and Apple could possibly be ridding the device of the headphone jack and deploy wireless headphones instead and the Lightning port.
This would aid the iPhone 7 to be slimmer than the iPhone 6s, but could compromise the battery size. The camera is rumored to have multiple sensors which will further improve the quality of images and the focus speeds. The iPhone 7 will possibly get the faster A10 processor and an M10 motion co-processor.
Launch date: September 2016 debut, followed by an October release.
HTC One M10
HTC is also expected to release a new Android-powered flagship in Spring 2016 dubbed the One M10. This handset will be the successor of the One M9 and will also boast the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset. Rumors hint at a full display vis-à-vis a Quad HD one. HTC will hopefully improve the camera capabilities on the One M10 as the predecessors' cameras disappointed.
Launch date: The HTC One M10 is anticipated to debut in March or April 2016.
Microsoft Surface Phone
Microsoft is allegedly working on a new Windows 10 Mobile powered handset which is Surface branded. Microsoft's Corporate VP Panos Panay is said to be streamlining the project.
The prototype of the Surface Phone is anticipated to sports a 5.5-inch Quad-HD AMOLED display. It will likely house a 64-bit Intel processor and 4 GB of RAM. The Surface Phone will also have a 21-megapixel and 8-megapixel primary and secondary cameras and 64 GB and 128 GB of storage. The smartphone from Microsoft could also have a stylus i.e. the Surface Pen, putting it in the same league as the Samsung Galaxy Note 5.
Launch date: Expected to launch in August 2016.
OnePlus 3
The successor of the OnePlus 2 is anticipated to release in 2016. Concept designs of the OnePlus 3 are already emerging online and fans would be hoping that OnePlus will imbibe a fingerprint scanner in the home button or opt for an iris scanner instead.
Leaks point to the impending Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset and support for Quick Charge 3.0, as well as Adreno 530 GPU. The OnePlus 3 will likely get a 1080p HD screen.
Launch date: Potentially late July 2016 launch and a country-wise release from August 2016 if the same launch/release pattern as the OnePlus 2 is retained.
Project Ara
Google's Project Ara i.e. its modular phone has been in the news for sometime. The smartphone with its changeable components is expected to release in 2016, possibly making its debut at the MWC which will take place from Feb. 22 to Feb. 25.
Project Ara will enable users to opt for the battery size or camera of their choice. One can even upgrade the components over time instead of purchasing a new device.
Launch date: February during MWC 2016.
Xiaomi Mi 5
This eagerly awaited and much-rumored smartphone from Xiaomi is expected to be the first smartphone to house the latest Snapdragon 820 chipset form Qualcomm. The smartphone is rumored to sport a 5.2-inch screen but leaks have hinted at a smaller 5-inch 2K display for the Mi 5 and a physical home button. The Mi 5 is also anticipated to tout 4 GB of RAM and either a 16-megapixel or 20-megapixel primary camera and a 3000mAh battery. The smartphone is also said to imbibe 3D Touch technology in its display.
Launch date: Expected to release in January 2016.
Google Nexus 6 (2016)
While the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X have released recently, the next-gen Huawei-made Nexus 6 smartphone will be the one to watch out for. Why? Because it will be the first smartphone to feature the latest Google OS - potentially Android N. The Nexus 6 2016 will also house the Snapdragon 820 and support Quick Charge 3.0.
Launch date: October 2016 judging by Google's launch cycle, followed by a November release.
