The upheavals of 2020 might have slowed many things but they didn’t seem to affect the tech world as we saw a number of stellar smartphones launched last year. 2021 has started on a bright note with the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S21 series but what are the other most anticipated phones of the year? Keep reading to find out.
Although the iPhone 12 was launched only a few months ago, it’s not out of place to begin to anticipate the iPhone 13 already. We are expecting some big upgrades on the new models as rumours have it that storage might go up to 1TB and Apple might just bring back the under-display Touch ID too. Also, word is that it may feature a smaller notch and that we will finally see the 120Hz screen refresh rate that didn’t make the cut on the iPhone 12.
Since the iPhone SE went on sale back in April 2020, there’s a good chance that we might see the release of its successor in 2021 much earlier than the arrival of the iPhone 13. If it is launched this year, it will probably have an A14 Bionic chipset and a large 5.5 or 6.1-inch screen but we expect it to remain affordable like the iPhone SE.
Huawei is expected to roll out new P-series models this spring if the company follows its usual release cycle. Expect to see three entries into the flagship series – a P50, P50 Pro and P50 Pro Plus. Following the restrictions from 2019 and 2020, the company has moved to Harmony OS, so we expect that much of the focus will be on the software. Plus, the phones might just be powered by the Kirin 9000 processor, and be the first set of phones from the brand to use 120Hz panels.
The OnePlus 9 is likely to land in March or April, and we expect that it will follow the company’s traditions of blending cutting edge tech with an affordable price tag. Rumours have it that there will likely also be an OnePlus 9 Pro and a new model dubbed the OnePlus 9E. In terms of specifications, the phones should come with the 120Hz refresh rate that’s on the OnePlus 8T with an upgrade to the top-end Snapdragon 888 chipset.
Samsung proved that it is the undisputed leader in foldable phone tech when it launched the Galaxy Z Fold 2 as a follow up to the original Z Fold. With this new model, Samsung is poised to offer a more polished product with major expectations including the S Pen stylus, an in-screen camera and possibly even have an EGC light strip on its hinge.
Agreed, Oppo is not a big name, but the specifications on their phones can rival a number of smartphones from Samsung and iPhone. Following the launch of the Find X Pro 2, you won’t be wrong to look out for the next model. We predict that it will have a macro camera that could function a bit like a microscope with Snapdragon 888 processor to boot.
Last but not the least is the Pixel 5A, which Google is expected to launch in summer 2021. Unlike others on the list, it can be hard to know what to expect on the new model but you can be certain that 5G support will be present.
No matter when these phones launch, we can expect more variety than we’ve ever seen before in terms of design and the tech inside of them. Overall, the smartphones of 2021 won’t just be a delight to own but will also help push the smartphone world forward.