One quarter in, and we’ve already seen some polarizing smartphone launches in 2026. While Google’s Pixel 10A and Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Plus are arguably the most iterative upgrades, phones like the Galaxy Z TriFold, Xiaomi 17 Ultra and Oppo Find N6 are keeping us on the edge of our seats. These are strong follow-ups to the best phones of 2025, a year that saw Samsung reinvent the Galaxy Z Fold and Apple announce an all-new, slim and light iPhone Air.
After early 2026 phone launches, there should be room for a few more surprises. But a RAM shortage and the increasing competition around generative AI might be a larger challenge for phone-makers to overcome this year. And that puts more pressure on brands to release bold designs and add features that are as useful as they are innovative.
The folding phone market is expected to attract more entrants. We could finally see Apple launch a folding iPhone, Motorola teased its first-ever
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