We take a look at the best new smartphones that are expected to launch in 2015.
Forget the iPhone 6, the Samsung Galaxy S5 and the LG G3. They’re last years phones. If you’re due a smartphone upgrade then cast your eyes over the list below.
o put your mind at rest, release date predictions are not purely guess work - far from it. After covering smartphone launches for several years, there’s one thing you notice - other than the screens getting bigger - it’s that they are very predictable.
For example; Samsung likes to launch its flagship phones in March/April time, while Apple chooses to update its iPhone around the month of September. Other manufacturers, with the exception of Sony, also follow this annual pattern.
Expectations from phones which are launching in 2015
“Bigger, better, stronger, power” are the nonsensical words that no-one’s favourite pop singer, Justin Bieber once sang. Why am I sharing them with you now? Because they explain exactly what you can expect from 2015’s crop of phones.
Stronger phones in 2015: The last couple of years has seen phones race ahead in terms of screen size. The drawback is the materials that encase the hardware have not always kept up. Think back to the iPhone 6 Plus’ Bendgate scandal, and more recent reports of the Nexus 6 having a rear cover glueing issue.
To counter this Apple was expected to launch new tougher “Sapphire glass” protection for its smartphones. However, production issues delayed its inclusion in the iPhone 6 - we’re confident Apple will have production under control for 2015’s iPhone.
Better phones in 2015: Moore’s law is far from done in the mobile world. Specifically, Android phones are certain to receive a nice boost. This is because Qualcomm has confirmed its Snapdragon 810 (and 805 to a lesser degree) processor(s) will feature in 2015’s high-end smartphones.
The octa-core 810 is made up from 4x Cortex-A57 cores for heavy-duty computing tasks, and 4x Cortex-A53 cores for less intensive jobs. While there's nothing new about that relationship, Qualcomm does insist that its chips will improve the following: voice quality, better photos and HD video, new ways to interact (voice activation, ultrasound pen, gestures), superior modem, better GPS, faster Wi-Fi speeds and better better battery life.
LG launches LG-Flex 2
This G FLex 2 was announced on 5 January this year at CES and is LG’s second attempt at producing a bendy phone. The first G Flex (6in display) was met with an indifferent reception as there isn’t much appetite for smartphones shaped with a fixed bend. It’s hard to see how the Flex 2 - with it’s more compact design (5.5in display) and updated specs - is going to be any different. Nevertheless, it’s an impressive phone as a concept.
HTC One M9
The HTC One series’ good looks and Sense UI has so far helped HTC smartphone’s stand out from the high-end Android crowd. Early reports suggest that HTC is not willing to break away from this successful formula, with leaked images of the M9 pointing towards a design that’s very similar to the M8.
The real difference, as always, can be found in the specs column. The HTC is set to make use of the new Snapdragon 810 processor mentioned above, and pair it with 3GB of RAM. The relationship between the new chip and 3GB RAM, means the good looking smartphone will be powerful to boot.
Rumours are suggesting the phone will launch in early March, probably at MWC. It’s thought the M9 will be available for pre-order soon after it’s unveiled with units likely to be shipped towards the end of the month.
Samsung Galaxy Note 5
The Note invariably launches at the Berlin trade show IFA - which takes place in September. Galaxy Note smartphones are Samsung’s flagship ‘phablets’, and come with powerful specifications. The new Snapdragon 805 processor is likely to drive the large smartphone too.
iPhone 6s/7
Apple has release a new version of the smartphone every year since 2007. It’s now on its 9th generation of smartphone and there’s no reason to expect anything different from Apple in 2015. Unless something happens in the supply chain, a September launch is a safe bet.
Microsoft Lumia 940
Since Microsoft bought Nokia, the goalposts have changed with the Lumia brand somewhat. Previous release date cycles can be ignored as we expect Microsoft bring the Lumia smartphone brand in line with its Windows 10 release.
What does this mean for the 940? It’s not exactly clear. However, with Microsoft pushing Windows 10 as an OS for all platforms, it’s very likely the Lumia 940 will launch as the flagship smartphone for the new OS. If this happens, you can expect to see it around the same time as Windows 10 launches.
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