The OnePlus 2, Samsung Galaxy Note 5, Nexus 5 2015 and iPhone 6s should be this year's top contenders, with various leaks and teasers already offering exciting details.
The 2015 lineup of flagship smartphones from top companies are expected to start hitting the scene soon, so here's what we know so far about each upcoming powerhouse.
OnePlus 2
The OnePlus 2 will soon launch as the successor to the widely popular OnePlus One, which debuted in 2014 with flagship specs at half the price of competing smartphones in the same category. The OnePlus 2 will follow the same strategy and offer top-notch specs at an affordable price and it already sounds quite promising.
Confirmed to make its debut on July 27, the OnePlus 2 should boast several notable improvements over its predecessor. The company already offered a number of teasers aiming to boost the hype ahead of the official launch, giving us a glimpse into what to expect. The OnePlus 2 should pack a 64-bit octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor under the hood, a hefty 4GB of LPDDDR4 RAM, a fingerprint scanner for extra security, a Type C USB, and an attractive price tag of less than $450. On the processor side, OnePlus has been working with Qualcomm on a Snapdragon 810 v2.1, a revamped version of the chipset that should resolve the overheating issues marring the original model.
In terms of battery life, the OnePlus 2 will come with a 3,300 mAh battery on board, which is slightly larger than the 3,100 mAh unit powering the OnePlus One. This indicates that it should last longer on a single charge, but it will also depend on the type of display the smartphone uses. Things remain a bit hazy in this regard, as it's not certain just yet whether the OnePlus 2 will rock a QHD (2560 x 1440 pixels) or a Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) display.
The fingerprint scanner will reportedly be faster than Apple's Touch ID, or at least that's what OnePlus teased. No hints yet on where the fingerprint sensor will be located, however, as the OnePlus 2 is not expected to have a physical home button.
The OnePlus 2 should further boast a 16-megapixel main camera with optical image stabilization (OIS) and an 8- or 5-megapixel front shooter, based on recent rumors. When it comes to design, the handset will not feature a metal build, but will reportedly use a rough plastic that should provide a good grip. Some leaks, however, have indicated that it may sport a metal back after all.
On the software side, the OnePlus 2 will run the company's own OxygenOS, which is a customized Android layer.
Lastly, OnePlus confirmed a while ago that its OnePlus 2 will launch on the same invite system of its predecessor. While the OnePlus One is now available for purchase without an invite, the OnePlus 2 will again require interested customers to have an invite for purchasing the device. No invite, no smartphone. To justify this strategy, the company explained that it wants to keep "razor-thin margins" and avoid creating more units than necessary. Consequently, interested buyers might want to sign up for an invite as soon as OnePlus 2 registration opens up.
Samsung Galaxy Note 5
Samsung's next-generation flagship phablet, the Galaxy Note 5, is expected to launch in August or September, boasting impressive specs and features all around. While initial assumptions pegged the Galaxy Note 5 unveiling for September at IFA 2015, more recent rumors suggest that it may in fact debut on Aug. 12 and go on sale on Aug. 21.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is also expected to boast a Type-C USB, and launch alongside a dual-edge variant building on the Galaxy S6 Edge's success. Other rumored specs include a top-notch 5.7 or 5.9-inch display with 2K (2560 x 1440) or 4K (3840 x 2160) resolution, an in-house Exynos 7422 processor or a Qualcomm Snapdragon 815 chipset under the hood, 4GB of RAM, a 16-megapixel main camera with OIS and potential 4K video recording capabilities, a 3,220 mAh battery. Some reports have also suggested that the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 could run the upcoming Android M out of the box, but it's rather unlikely.
It's also worth pointing out that the aforementioned Exynos 7422 processor could be an all-in-one solution packing the CPU, GPU, RAM and storage, as well as an LTE-compatible modem. This would allow for a more compact form factor, but it remains to be seen just how Samsung will play it out.
Lastly, being part of the Note family, the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 will also boast a high-end S Pen stylus, which could rock double the sensitivity of previous Galaxy Note iterations.
Nexus 5 (2015)
The next-generation Nexus smartphone from Google has stirred a slew of rumors so far, with various leaks trying to paint a picture of what to expect. Google is rumored to launch two Nexus handsets this year, one made in collaboration with LG and the other with Huawei. The LG model is reportedly codenamed "Bullhead," while the Huawei handset is codenamed "Angler."
The "Nexus 5 (2015)" unofficial moniker refers to the purported LG-made smartphone, i.e. "Bullhead."
The LG Nexus 5 (2015) is expected to sport a 5.2-inch display with a QHD resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels, a 64-bit octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 or hexa-core Snapdragon 808 processor, 3GB of RAM, a 16-megapixel main camera, and a battery of 2,700 or 3,000 mAh. The next-generation Nexus 5 (2015) is also expected to serve as a launch vehicle for Google's upcoming Android M.
When it comes to release date, various rumors have pointed in various directions. While Nexus smartphones typically debut in October, some rumors indicated that Google may speed things up this year and unveil the final Android M build as soon as August. In turn, this could mean release sometime in September for at least one of the two purported 2015 Nexus smartphones, but nothing is officially confirmed for now.
iPhone 6s
The next-generation smartphone could not be absent from this rumor roundup, as it is also one of the most highly anticipated smartphones of this year. Back in 2014, Apple finally took the step toward bigger screens with its iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, and the 2015 iterations are not expected to boast any major changes in terms of design.
The purported iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, or iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, are also expected to boast large displays, but also notable upgrades over their predecessors. The company already went for a major redesign with its 2014 iPhones, so its 2015 smartphone lineup will most likely focus on internal hardware upgrades and software improvements.
With the new-generation iPhones set to launch later this year, Apple is rumored to finally boost the megapixel count and equip the smartphones with 12-megapixel rear shooters to better compete against rivals. A 12-megapixel main camera would also allow for 4K video recording, which would be a great improvement compared to the current iPhones' 8-megapixel camera that supports lower-resolution video shooting.
The 2015 iPhones are also expected to boast Apple's much-touted Force Touch technology, which would enable the device to tell the difference between a quick tap and a longer touch of the display and react accordingly. The technology is already present on the Apple Watch and the new MacBook and has stirred plenty of interest, so it would make sense for Apple to capitalize on the tech and make it even more popular with its next-generation iPhones.
The iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus are also expected to pack 14-nm Apple A9 processors under the hood and finally pack 2GB of RAM. While other smartphones have launched with a whopping 4GB of RAM, Apple has still not moved beyond 1GB of RAM.
Other rumors surrounding the 2015 iPhones point to a new NFC chip, faster LTE, a more durable build material consisting of a tougher 7000 series aluminum alloy, a new Rose Gold color option (envisioned in the concept design pictured above), more powerful batteries with wireless charging, and other neat upgrades. Storage configurations should consist of 16GB/ 64GB/ 128GB options.
Lastly, when it comes to release date, the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus are widely expected to make their debut in September. Apple typically follows a steady launch cycle and its yearly iPhone releases have so far respected the same "guidelines." Assuming that the company follows the same strategy as with previous launches, the new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus should make their official debut on Tuesday, Sept. 8, and go on sale on Friday, Sept. 18.
