Need a phone upgrade? Find out the best new smartphones launching in 2018
To determine if you should buy a brand new phone today or wait for the next best thing, I've shortlisted the best upcoming smartphones launching in 2018.
Upcoming smartphones of 2018: Predicted release dates
Upcoming smartphones: What's coming in 2018?
Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+
Following on from rumours, the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ are finally here. The phones have a QHD+ HDR display, an octa-core Exynos 9810 processor and 64GB of storage. The 5.8in S9 features a single 12-megapixel camera with a f/1.5 aperture, while its larger sibling, the 6.2in S9+ features a dual 12-megapixel camera with f/1.5 and f/2.4 aperture. Both phones will be released on 16 March for £739 and £869, respectively.
If you're looking to get the S9 on contract, Sky Mobile leads the pack in terms of value, offering the Galaxy S9 from just £33 per month on its Swap24 plan.
Nokia 1, 7 Plus, 6, 8 Sirocco and 8110 4G
Nokia announced a flurry of new phones at MWC 2018, five to be precise, all very different from each other:
The Nokia 1 is a cheap and cheerful phone that has a 4.5in IPS display and a quad-core processor. It's aimed at those who want their very first smartphone - especially with Android Go built-in. It's due for release in April 2018 at around $85.
Next, is the Nokia 6; a mid-range smartphone with a 5.5in Full HD display and an octa-core Snapdragon 630. The phone will also launch in April, but at a much higher price tag of €279.
If you're looking for a mid-range phone, but want an FHD+ display, then the Nokia 7 Plus might be for you. It faces a lot of stiff competition from the likes of Huawei and Honor, but the 7 Plus has an octa-core Snapdragon 660 processor and a 6in display. It'll launch in April for €399.
Moving up a notch and comparing itself to the Galaxy S9 is the Nokia 8 Sirocco. This 5.5in 2K OLED display is simply spectacular. With an 18:9 aspect ratio, too, the phone looks and feels amazing. It has a Snapdragon 835 processor housed inside and is due to launch in April for €749.
Then, there's the Nokia 8110 4G or better known as the Banana phone and the Matrix phone. This retro-looking device is not built for those who want a flagship device, rather, a nostalgic feeling. It'll be available in May for €79.
Sony Xperia XZ2, XZ2 Compact
Sony recently announced the XA2 and XA2 Ultra at CES 2018, in Las Vegas, but that didn't stop the phone manufacturer in launching two more phones at MWC 2018.
The XZ2 and XZ2 Compact are two flagship phones that will be coming in April for £699 and £549, respectively. Both phones feature near-identical specs, with a Snapdragon 845 and an 18:9 FHD+ display. However, they differ in size - the XZ2 has a 5.7in display, while the XZ2 Compact sports a 5in display instead. Read more on the XZ2 here, and the XZ2 Compact here.
Huawei P20: 27 March 2018
The P20 was initially rumoured to come out at MWC, in February 2018, but it looks like Huawei has had a few minor setbacks. Due to the company's struggle to penetrate the US market, it's not anticipated to launch until March. We've actually received an invite to their launch on 28 March that takes place in Paris.
The phone is rumoured to come with an ultra-fast Kirin 970, have a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, a razor sharp 18:9 display and have an impressive dual-lens camera.
LG G7: June 2018
Many expected the LG G7 to come out alongside other phones at MWC 2018, in February. However, due to a recent rumour that surrounds the G7's design, it seems that LG's flagship phone will come out in June 2018. It'll feature an 18:9 display, a Snapdragon 845 processor, 64GB of internal storage and feature a class-leading camera.
HTC U12: June 2018
There's very little known on the HTC U12, but following the release of the HTC U11+ and its 18:9 display, HTC plans on releasing a flagship phone with a dual-camera setup around the back. We'd hope the U12 will feature the latest processor, run on Android 8 oreo out-the-box and feature HTC's stereo speakers.
It's also rumoured to be the first phone to feature 5G - see this tweet from a 5G conference.
Asus ZenFone 5/5Z: July 2018
At MWC 2018, Asus showcased two new phones, the ZenFone 5 and 5Z - both phones look similar, with an iPhone X notch-like 6.2in FHD+ display, a rear 12-megapixel camera and an 8-megapixel camera for selfies. Internally, the two phones differ – the 5 has a Snapdragon 636 and 6GB of RAM with 64GB of storage space, while the 5Z has the Snapdragon 845 and 8GB of RAM with 128GB of space.
The phones are expected to be available in July 2018. Pricing has yet to be announced for the 5, but the 5Z will be released for £500.
Note 9: August 2018
The Note 9 is expected to come out in August 2018. At this stage, there's very little known on the handset. Rumours suggest it'll incorporate an under-display fingerprint sensor, which will be the first of its kind. The design will be reminiscent of the Note 8, with the only difference being the removal of the rear-mounted fingerprint sensor.
iPhone 9 / 11 / XI: September 2018
Every year we're greeted with a brand new iPhone from Apple. The launch of its phones for the past couple of years has been at a dedicated event that takes place at Apple's headquarters in the US.
At this stage, there's barely any information out there around the new iPhone, but we're sure that Apple will release a successor to the iPhone X and its iPhone 8, 8 Plus line. Expect a big price tag, wireless charging, Face ID and an even faster processor.
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