Welcome to our guide to the best upcoming phones of 2020. There's never been a better time to look ahead to the future of the smartphone industry: with handsets reaching a plateau in terms of technological advancement, the industry is beginning to stew, and the question on the lips of everyone from here to Samsung HQ in South Korea is: What's next?
Some manufacturers are answering that question with bendable display technology , while others are exploring how we interact with our phones on a daily basis. Some particularly whacky firms are even trying to see just how many camera sensors you can stuff into a single device before it starts to look daft .
Below, we’ve pulled together a nifty little list, in which you’ll find our pick of the most exciting upcoming smartphones of early 2020 – and beyond.
The best upcoming phones of 2020
1. Samsung Galaxy S20
Release date: 11 February 2020 (rumoured)
That's right: Samsung is almost certainly hurdling the "Galaxy S11" moniker and instead opting to call its new triad of flagship smartphones the "Galaxy S20" series. The Galaxy S20, S20 Plus and S20 Ultra all use the same Exynos 990 chipset, as well as the same Super AMOLED display (possibly).
The similarities end there, however. The S20 Ultra will be the first Samsung phone to use a much-discussed 108-megapixel camera sensor – it will also have a 40-megapixel selfie camera, a 5,000mAh battery and a whopping 12GB of RAM minimum. The remaining two handsets are equally impressive – you can find out more via the link below.
Everything you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy S20
2. OnePlus 8
Release date: Mid 2020 (rumoured)
OnePlus releases a smartphone every ten seconds, it seems. The Chinese manufacturer produces four handsets in a year, which means it is quite easy to estimate when the OnePlus 8 will launch; we’re currently placing our money on a May 2020 release date.
You can expect a gorgeous 120Hz Quad HD+ display that flows like a waterfall over the edges of the handset (courtesy of manufacturer Oppo). The OnePlus 8 will also no doubt use a Snapdragon 855+ processor, and is rumoured to feature ultra-fast charging and a new “macro lens” - although this could just be a camera setting.
Everything you need to know about the OnePlus 8
3. Microsoft Surface Duo
Release date: Late 2020
That’s right: Microsoft is back in the phone game. Don’t panic, though, as this new handset is a far cry from the Windows Phones of old; with two displays joined by a hinge and a remarkably sleek chassis, the Surface Duo is shaping up to be the most interesting smartphone of 2020.
We know very little about the Duo, other than what Microsoft has deigned to share. The two displays will each be 5.6in in size, apparently, and held together by a 360-degree hinge; running the show will be a Snapdragon 855 processor and - somewhat relievingly - the latest iteration of Android with a Windows-themed overlay. It also supports the Surface Pen.
Everything you need to know about the Microsoft Surface Duo
4. iPhone 12
Release date: September 2020 (probably)
No list of the best upcoming smartphones would be complete without at least one Apple product. Next year’s trio of handsets will follow the same routine as this year’s iPhone 11 series: Two premium handsets with top-notch specs, and one cut-back “budget” offering.
All three new handsets will almost definitely launch in September 2020. In terms of specs, it’s shaping up to be a big year for Apple: the iPhone 12 could be the first to offer 5G support, an in-display fingerprint sensor, an in-display selfie camera and a screen with a variable 60Hz/120Hz refresh rate.
Everything you need to know about the iPhone 12
5. Google Pixel 5
Release date: October 2020
Sadly, we know very little about the Google Pixel 5. That's hardly surprising: the Pixel 4 launched only a few short months ago with groundbreaking motion-sense technology and – at long last – a second rear camera.
We're hoping the new Pixel phone will have a MUCH better battery, along with some more ingenious ways to make use of the Soli motion sensor – if Google decides not to confine it to the pages of history.
Everything you need to know about the Google Pixel 5
