When you think of summer, you probably think of long, lazy days in the sun, time at the beach, or exciting vacations. But you probably don’t think about the impending smartphone launches, which is where normal, decent people differ from the average technology obsessive. So while you’re enjoying a nice moment in the bright sun, spare a thought for those of us stuck inside, watching keynotes and product announcements to make sure you can keep up to date with the latest releases.
Okay, we’re exaggerating the pudding a bit, but summer is A hot period for the launch of new devices. The Samsung Galaxy S24 and Google Pixel 8a range have already been launched this year, but there are plenty of other devices – flagship, budget and everything in between – that you can savour. Here are eight phones coming this summer that we can’t wait for.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
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 fills that niche, and as a result, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is one of the most anticipated smartphones of the year.
We expect all the usual updates on this device, like using the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, Android 15, and the new Galaxy AI that we’ve seen much of this year. But what’s unexpected are the rumored changes Samsung is making to both the lineup and potential shape of the Z Fold itself. While they’re far from agreed, most leaks seem to point to the Z Fold 6 being a bit shorter and wider than previous Z Fold devices, making it less narrow in smartphone mode and more boxy when is deployed.
However, this change in shape and size is far from confirmed, and part of the reason for the confusion is rumors of another Z Fold model. Titled “Z Fold 6 Ultra” by leakers, this model would likely be larger and more powerful than the standard Z Fold 6 and could explain the large size differences reported in different rumors and leaks. This model may never see the light of day (if it exists at all), and it could be that Samsung is simply experimenting with the idea at this stage.
Be that as it may, there is a lot to expect from this launch and we are always excited to see a new foldable phone. We can also expect the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 to arrive earlier than usual, as Samsung is apparently preparing to launch its new foldable phones just before the 2024 Paris Olympics. Samsung has a long history of sponsoring the Games. Olympics, so it makes sense that he would do it again. A Galaxy Unpacked is expected on July 10, so we hope to see it there.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
There is rarely a Fold without a Flip, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is expected to hit the market at the same time as its older brother. But while the Z Fold 6 is likely to receive a design update, for now, it looks like the Z Flip 6 will remain largely untouched. The leaked renders show a device that is practically the same as the one we currently have, even with the 6.7-inch internal screen. There is a possibility, according to Ross Young’s rumors, that Samsung will increase the size of the external screen, but that seems to be an exception for the moment.
Normally we would say the usual things about the phone. of course It comes with the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, but that seems to be in doubt. SamMobile has heard rumors that Samsung might be taking a different approach this time and might be looking to pack the Z Flip 6 with last year’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, but including 12GB of RAM instead of 8GB. This would be a big change for the line and would be the first time Samsung would use an older processor in a Z Flip phone. There’s also a chance that Samsung is looking to increase the number of Z Flip variants and may include a lower-powered (and cheaper) Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 model alongside the usual high-powered model.
Other rumors include the possibility of a larger battery, due to the renders being thicker than previous models. This would be a big improvement for the Z Flip, which tends to struggle with battery life.
As expected, this phone will be revealed at the same event as the Z Fold 6. July 10 makes the most sense for a reveal, as it would give Samsung a chance to unveil the phones ahead of the Summer Olympics in Paris.
iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus
Here they are: The great ones; The phones you knew would be here. Squatting at the end of the year, towering above everything else and casting a deep and terrible shadow. Apple’s new iPhone range will always be one of the biggest launches of the year, and the launch of the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus will be no different.
Apple is making some changes this year, but there appears to be no major design update. And just to show you how dry the well is for design changes, one of the biggest tweaks appears to be moving the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus camera modules to vertical instead of diagonal. Spree! They have returned to the style of the iPhone 12.
Oh, okay, we’re being a little naughty: Apple is also adding two new buttons to lower-priced iPhones. The Action button comes to the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, after a brief period of exclusivity on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, but a new button is also included: the Capture button. It’s exactly what you think it is: a photo button. It’s a detail we’ve seen on some Sony smartphones in the past and can be seen as a dedication to the iPhone’s camera capabilities. The Capture button appears to be located below the power button and appears to be recessed into the frame of the phone. Some say it will be more capacitive than physical. The Action button, last seen on the iPhone 15 Pro, will replace the iPhone 16’s mute switch and will be programmable, so it can be a mute switch if you prefer.
In terms of specifications, current wisdom has Apple opting for cheaper, less powerful processors in its lower-cost models. This could mean using A17 chips (different from the A17 Pro chips in the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max), but some analysts expect Apple to rename that processor A18 to match the A18 Pro in the Pro models. The iPhone 16 will continue to be plenty Although it is very powerful, we wouldn’t worry too much about it.
Aside from moving the lenses, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus won’t receive any particular changes in the camera department. You’re also not likely to see any changes to size or displays, meaning there will be no change from 60Hz. However, battery sizes are changing and that’s both good and bad news. The iPhone 16 is rumored to have a larger battery, but the iPhone 16 Plus may have a slightly smaller one. To say this is disappointing news for lovers of big phones is an understatement, but hopefully Apple manages to squeeze a lot of juice out of it through software tweaks. Speaking of software, you can also expect to see Apple’s intelligence built into as many aspects of these phones as possible.
When can you expect to see these phones? They won’t arrive until late summer and tend to help fill out the calendar year. September is the most common date for iPhone releases, so it’s always the best option if you need to mark it on a calendar.
iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max
The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are two big releases this year, but fans may be disappointed by how few changes Apple is making to its lower-priced iPhones this year. Well, then pay attention, because there are a whole host of changes about to happen for the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max.
Needless to say, the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will receive the same updates as the base iPhones, including the new Capture button. However, expect the Pro models to get a more powerful A18 Pro processor as well as comparatively higher specifications. Both the Pro and Pro Max are also rumored to have slightly larger batteries.
From here, professionals and non-professionals diverge quite a bit. First, Apple is apparently looking to once again slim down the bezels on the Pro phones. Making them smaller will likely give them the smallest bezels in the smartphone industry, dethroning Samsung. The camera module has the same triangle shape, but the cutout looks huge: larger than the iPhone 15 Pro models. Possibly confirming the rumors, Apple is replacing the 12 MP ultra-wide lens with a 48 MP ultra-wide lens. MP built by Sony.
Phones may also become completely larger again. According to the leaks, the iPhone 16 Pro will increase from 6.1 inches to 6.3 inches, while the Pro Max will go from 6.7 inches to 6.9 inches. The shrinking of the bezel may mean that the phones don’t increase in size correspondingly, but it will still mean that they are larger than the previous generation. However, this increase in size could mean that the iPhone 16 Pro finally has a periscope zoom lens instead of a standard 3x lens.
Like the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, expect to see them appear in September. However, these are some of the most speculated devices out there, so we can expect to know almost everything about all four before they are officially revealed.
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