2026 looks set for steady rather than revolutionary smartphone updates. Budget options such as the Google Pixel 10A and premium models like the Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus have delivered fairly routine improvements so far. At the same time, devices including the Galaxy Z TriFold, Xiaomi 17 Ultra and Oppo Find N6 continue to add fresh ideas, building on the momentum from 2025 when Samsung refreshed the Galaxy Z Fold line and Apple introduced its slim iPhone Air.

Additional surprises may still appear before the end of the year, yet ongoing RAM constraints and rising competition in generative AI features are forcing manufacturers to focus on meaningful design changes and genuinely helpful new capabilities.

The foldable segment is likely to welcome new competitors. Apple is widely expected to unveil its first folding handset, while reports suggest Samsung could introduce a wider-screen foldable inspired by the Huawei Pura X.

In short, several compelling handsets remain on the horizon for the rest of 2026.

Devices already launched during 2026

Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Google Pixel 10A
Apple iPhone 17E
Xiaomi 17 Ultra
Vivo X300 Ultra
Oppo Find X9 Ultra
Motorola Razr 2026 and Razr Fold

Apple

Revised iPhone 18 rollout plan

Apple brought several refinements to the iPhone 17 series, including an 18-megapixel front camera, improved rear lenses and better cooling on Pro models, plus the addition of the slender iPhone Air. This year the company may adjust its traditional September launch window.

Industry sources indicate Apple could delay the standard iPhone 18 until early 2027 to prioritize the foldable model. Multiple devices are still expected in September 2026, but the mix would shift toward the updated iPhone Air, iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max in fresh color options, and the debut of the iPhone Fold. The base iPhone 18 and iPhone 18E would then arrive together in March 2027.

A possible schedule includes:

March 2026: iPhone 17E
September 2026: iPhone Air 2, iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, iPhone Fold
March 2027: iPhone 18 and iPhone 18E
September 2027: iPhone Air 3, iPhone 19 Pro and Pro Max, iPhone 20

Because the regular iPhone 18 is slated for 2027, attention now turns to the models more likely to appear this year.

Apple iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max

The iPhone 18 Pro models are expected to retain the overall design of the previous generation while introducing new color choices such as coffee, purple and burgundy. Both sizes are forecast to keep the existing 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch screens, yet Apple may adopt an under-display Face ID sensor to shrink the Dynamic Island area.

Instead of a fully invisible camera, the Pro models are tipped to feature a small punch-hole cutout in the top-left corner for the selfie lens. This approach avoids the image-quality compromises seen on current under-display solutions.

On the rear, a variable-aperture lens is anticipated, giving photographers greater control over light and depth of field. Apple is also said to be testing a new three-layer stacked sensor from Samsung that could improve noise handling and dynamic range. Power will come from the A20 Pro chipset built on TSMC's 2nm process, promising notable gains in efficiency and speed, along with Apple's next-generation C2 modem.

The iPhone Fold

Reports differ on timing, with some pointing to a 2026 debut alongside the Pro models and others suggesting a possible slip into 2027. The device is expected to follow a book-style format similar to the Galaxy Z Fold, featuring a compact 5.5-inch cover display and a 7.8-inch inner screen. Thickness is projected at roughly 4.5 mm when open.

Ultra-thin glass, a titanium-and-liquid-metal hinge to reduce creasing, and a 48-megapixel main camera paired with a matching ultrawide are among the rumored specifications. The handset may rely on Touch ID rather than Face ID and could cost between 1,800 and 2,500 dollars.

Software updates in iOS 27 are expected to introduce sidebar navigation and improved multitasking tools borrowed from iPadOS to better utilize the larger inner display.

Samsung

Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Flip 8

After the Galaxy Z Fold 7's successful redesign that delivered the thinnest and lightest book-style foldable available in the US, Samsung is expected to focus on battery capacity for the next generation. A move to around 5,000 mAh is under discussion, along with new hinge technology aimed at further minimizing the crease.

The S Pen digitizer removed from the Fold 7 could return, though engineers will need to balance any added thickness. For the Galaxy Z Flip 8, attention centers on expanding the usefulness of the cover screen so third-party apps run more smoothly.