We already know the big trends of 2020: 5G is coming, along with it will come bigger batteries in our smartphones, faster speeds, more and better cameras that allow you to zoom further, capture ultra-wide images and get more detail in pictures. Of course, 2020 will also be a hugely important year for foldable phones, an experiment barely launched in 2019, foldable phones should prove their worth in 2020 and compete against traditional smartphones.

First half of the year:

Second half of the year:

Coming in the First Half of 2020:

Samsung Galaxy S20 series

The new Galaxy S20 series promise to bring one of the most memorable updates to the series: first and foremost, that will be the introduction of 5G support across the line, along with it much larger batteries that will last longer, and far from least, the new massive camera island on the back that is expected to feature one of the most capable cameras ever put on a smartphone.

The camera focus of the S20 is evident: for the first time in a few years, we are expected to see a shift in the actual camera sensor used on smartphones from a traditional 12-megapixel one used on most phones up until 2019 to a brand new 108-megapixel one on the S20. This much larger sensor is still expected to output 12-megapixel images, but it will bin 9 pixels into one to achieve much better image quality and deliver a lot more detail to photos. The list of new features even mentions a 5X periscope camera that will give you the option to capture much cleaner zoomed photos and even capture 8K video.

Samsung Galaxy Fold 2

After a rocky start, foldable phones will have their first serious test with the public in 2020. The original Galaxy Fold launch had to be cancelled because the phone broke down in reviewers hands in a matter of a couple of days, and Samsung had to relaunch it after making a few fixes in late September 2019. But at nearly $2,000, few people bought that phone.

In 2020, Samsung is expected to release at least one new foldable phone and it might utilize a totally different design too. Whatever the final design, chances are that device will be one of the most exciting phones of the year and hopefully it will come with a price that will be a bit more manageable for the general public.

So far details are scant: we have been hearing rumors about a clamshell design similar to that of the new Moto Razr phone, but also the second generation of the Galaxy Fold design is also due in 2020.

Expected announcement date and price: August 2020, prices in $1,500 range

Apple iPhone 9

Here is what we know about it:

Yes, just $350 for a brand new iPhone is the lowest that Apple has gone in quite a few years and the price alone will make this phone interesting.

Expected announcement date and price: March, 2020, prices in $350 range

Huawei P40 Pro

Status: Unannounced

The Huawei P series are all about redefining the boundaries of smartphone photography, and the P40 Pro is expected to do just that.

We expect the P40 Pro to continue improving in all these areas: zoom, night time and detail and clarity. Along with that, expect the recurring theme for 2020 and Huawei’s forte: 5G connectivity, faster performance (here with a built-in Kirin chip), and more storage and a larger battery.

Expected announcement date and price: March 26th, 2020, prices in $1,000 range

Moto Razr

The Moto Razr is already official, but it will actually go on sale in January 2020, so it will technically be the first foldable phone of the new decade.

We have already seen the ways this form factor it’s interesting: it hits the right nostalgia notes with the clamshell design and there’s even a retro Razr easter egg. Apart from that, we were impressed with how the crease in the middle of this phone is almost invisible and how it snaps tightly so that no debris can enter into it.

Of course, $1500 is a bit of an overkill for a phone that is not even powered by a top-tier chip, but if you want cool tech and one that folds in a tiny, compacy size, the Razr has got this going for it.

Release date and price: January, 2020, $1,500

OnePlus is expected to start the year with a brand new affordable phone, a break from its tradition of releasing only “flagship killers”.

The OnePlus 8 might be what it ends up being called, or there might be a different, higher-end phone too.

At the moment, it’s too early to tell, but while we know that OnePlus excels in the speed and smoothness of its UI, we hope the camera ups its camera game too and finally creates a phone with a “flagship killer” camera.

Expected announcement date and price: May 12, 2020, prices in $700 range

The LG G9 ThinQ is the phone that LG has to get right. 2019 was a rough year for the company as its flagships received a lukewarm reception: vein recognition and motion sensing sounded like cool features at launch, but few people cared about them in real life and they were seen as gimmicks on the G8.

The G9 ThinQ has to get back to the fundamentals: LG phones might have kick-started the ultra-wide camera craze back in the day, but they lack the versatility of a dedicated zoom lens these days, and LG will need to seriously work on the battery life of its phone.

The company has already been among the pioneers for 5G adoption, so we expect the G9 will be a 5G phone with all the bands necessary for smooth and fast connectivity in 2020 and the future.

Expected announcement date and price: February, 2020, prices in $800 range

The Sony Xperia 2 (the name is not confirmed) is the company’s biggest and baddest smartphone in 2020.

As a true flagship, it is said to come with the most powerful chip on the Android platform, the Snapdragon 865, as well as bring a sprinkle of Sony camera magic to a new camera system that should be able to enter a contest with the very best out of Apple, Samsung and Google. Sony has previously focused on some impressive prosumer camera features, including manual controls for video, and we expect it to improve that further here.

Along with that, expect this phone to also be different: tall and narrow, with a 21:9 aspect ratio, the new Xperia will be easier to hold and operate with one hand, but it might be a bit on the tall side for comfortably carrying in a pocket.

Coming in the Second Half of 2020:

The 2020 iPhones will be one of the biggest upgrades ever for the iPhone family.

Not only are they expected to introduce 5G to the iPhone family for the first time, they are also projected to bring back the iconic edgy iPhone 4 design with sharper corners and flat sides, but also with a modern twist.

After a massive upgrade with Night Mode and an ultra-wide angle camera in 2019, we expect the 2020 Pro series of iPhones to add a new, fourth camera that will open the way to a new augmented reality experience and the upcoming Apple Glasses.

And here is a breakdown of all the various iPhone 12 models expected in 2020:

Expected announcement date and price: September 10th, 2020, prices from $1,000 for Pro range

Expected announcement date and price: August 12th, 2020, prices from $1,000

The main problem with those phones was a battery life that was… well, quite poor. They also focused on bets that did not pay off like the Project Soli radars…. that did absolutely nothing new to impress users.

There are two possible ways ahead for Google: one is to admit its mistakes and redesign the Pixel 5 from scratch, scrapping the unsuccessful radar ideas and other gimmicks. The other is to try and refine those sensors and give them some meaning that they are currently lacking, but whatever it is, chances are we’ll understand in late 2020.

Expected announcement date and price: October 14th, 2020, prices from $800

The Huawei Mate 40 Pro is expected to launch in late 2020 with a focus on innovative features that are not necessarily centered around the camera.

Expect further improvements in 5G connectivity, battery life, and 3D face recognition, as well as other power user features. While the P series Huawei phones are the line where the company pours out its latest and greatest camera improvements, the Mate series are reserved for boosts in performance and other features.

Expected announcement date and price: September, 2020, prices from $1,000

While it’s still way too early to talk about the upcoming OnePlus 8T, we expect it to arrive on schedule in late 2020 as the redefined OnePlus flagship.

OnePlus has recently started making more than one phone in an attempt to diversify its portfolio, and we do expect the OnePlus 8T will also come in a Pro and non-Pro versions. Prices are also likely to stay at around $700 to $750 for the Pro model, while the non-Pro version might retail for a bit north of $600.

The good price, the flagship specs and the ultra-fast experience is what makes OnePlus phones so alluring, and in 2020, we expect a proper 5G support added to that list as well.

Expected announcement date and price: Late September 2020, prices in $700 range

Asus Rog Phone III

Status: Unannounced