Despite the current situation the world is dealing with, phone companies still plan to release new phones this starting this month and well into the summer. While some of us might be tightening the belt right about now, manufacturers like Apple and Samsung are at this very moment still building phones and they still want you to buy them.
I guess we'll see how well that works out. Phones shipments were down 38% in February compared to the same month in 2019, amid coronavirus concerns. I can't imagine March was any better, but we'll see. No one really knows how the next few months will play out, but as far as phone releases go, what follow is the current plan.
Samsung Galaxy Fold 2
© Provided by CNET This is the first Galaxy Fold. We still expect the sequel to make an appearance this year. Angela Lang/CNET |
Samsung is one company betting that foldables are the future of mobile devices. It worked on foldable displays for years before unveiling its Galaxy Fold in February 2019. Samsung's device, which expands from a phone into a tablet, captured the world's attention, but it quickly ran into troubles.
The company delayed the launch of the $1,980 Fold by five months from April to September after some reporters found screen defects in their review units. This year, it's expected to launch round two of the Fold, building on what it learned from last year's disaster and February's Galaxy Flip. There aren't any firm details about when the Fold could launch, but some leakers suggest we'll see the phone as early as the second quarter.
Notable updates to the Fold could include a glass display instead of plastic and a bigger internal screen. Some rumors even suggest it will come with an S Pen stylus. Still, the coronavirus pandemic could push back the launch, and Samsung's still having trouble making enough Galaxy Flips for potential buyers.
Expected release date: September 2020
Notable updates to the Fold could include a glass display instead of plastic and a bigger internal screen. Some rumors even suggest it will come with an S Pen stylus. Still, the coronavirus pandemic could push back the launch, and Samsung's still having trouble making enough Galaxy Flips for potential buyers.
Expected release date: September 2020
Huawei P40 Pro series
© Provided by CNET Actual photo of the P40 series. Huawei |
Expected release date: No US release date, but on sale now in many European countries.
Samsung Galaxy Note 20
© Provided by CNET Th Note 10 in all its iridescent glory. Sarah Tew/CNET |
That seems wholly unlikely as the world hunkers down to weather this coronavirus pandemic. It's possible that Samsung could host an online event like rivals instead of the usual stadium or music hall venue. The company didn't reply to a request for comment on the topic.
What is likely is that the Note 20 will build off the Galaxy S20's key features, from 5G data speeds and a fast 120Hz screen refresh rate to those high-resolution cameras -- whenever -- and however -- it's eventually unveiled.
Expected release date: August 2020
Xiaomi Mi 10, Mi 10 Pro
© Provided by CNET The Xiaomi Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro. Xiaomi |
The phones will also come packed with other top-shelf specs including the latest Snapdragon 865 chipset, 90Hz displays, a 4,500-mAh battery and a 30-watt wireless charging option. Xiaomi says it'll release the phones in European countries including Spain, Italy and France in April, but stopped short of announcing any details of a possible US launch or release. In Europe, the Mi 10 will start at €799 with the 10 Pro starting at €999. Under these prices, converting to US dollars would have the Mi 10 costing $877 and the 10 Pro at $1,096.
Expected release date: Xiaomi did not announce plans to launch in the US market
Samsung Galaxy A Series
© Provided by CNET Samsung |
The 4G LTE lineup, which includes four phones, consists of the $110 Galaxy A10, the $180 Galaxy A11, the $250 Galaxy A21 and the $400 Galaxy A51, which is the followup to 2019's Galaxy A50. Then we have the two 5G phones: The 5G version of the Galaxy A51 will cost $500, while the new Galaxy A71 5G comes in at $600.
Again, that's some real aggressive pricing from Samsung and over the coming months we'll know if they're worth it even at the lowest prices.
Expected release date: Available now through the end of the summer, depending on the model.
Google Pixel 4A and 4A XL
© Provided by CNET The Pixel 3A. Angela Lang/CNET |
Expected release date: April or May 2020
Redmi Note 9S
© Provided by CNET Redmi's latest Note 9S model comes in three colors: Aurora Blue, Glacier White and Interstellar Grey. Xiaomi |
Other notable features include: the Redmi Note's first-ever in-display selfie camera and the quad-camera system on its rear, led by a 48-megapixel main sensor. The Redmi Note 9S will be available globally, the company said, arriving first in Singapore and Malaysia with other release dates and pricing for the US to be announced later. We're expecting the base model that comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage to start at around $215 after converting to US dollars from its price in Singapore.
Expected release date: Redmi did not announce plans to launch in the US market
OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro
© Provided by CNET The next OnePlus phone is being announced soon. Andrew Hoyle/CNET |
OnePlus announced that it will launch its latest line of flagship phones on April 14 through a digital event. Likely to be called the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro, the phones are confirmed to have 5G connectivity and 120Hz displays. Because of this, we expect the phones to be pricier compared to last year's. Other rumors include a hole-punch screen for the front-facing camera and a possible budget-minded variant called the OnePlus 8 Lite.
Expected release date: April or May 2020
Expected release date: April or May 2020
TCL 10 Pro
© Provided by CNET TCL's 10 Pro has a curved AMOLED screen and a $449 price. Angela Lang/CNET |
Expected release date: April 2020
TCL 10L
© Provided by CNET TCL's 10L is the company's budget phone. Sarah Tew/CNET |
Expected release date: May 2020
Apple iPhone SE
© Provided by CNET The original SE. Angela Lang/CNET |
Rumored release date: April 2020
Apple iPhone 12
© Provided by CNET Angela Lang/CNET |
Expected release date: Early September 2020
Moto G Stylus
© Provided by CNET Sarah Tew/CNET |
Expected release date: Spring 2020
Moto G Power
© Provided by CNET The G Power and G Sylus. CNET |
Expected release date: Spring 2020
Sony Xperia 1 ii
© Provided by CNET Sony |
The Xperia 1 ii, like last year's Xperia 1 will borrow camera tech from its Alpha line of cameras like the A7ii and A9 ii. One of the best is Eye AF that instantly finds the focus on a person's eye when taking photos. The phone will also support 5G, but not in the US. There's no word on pricing.
Expected release date: Late Spring 2020
Sony Xperia Pro
© Provided by CNET Sony's Xperia Pro has millimeter wave 5G. Sony |
Expected release: Late Spring 2020
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