Underwhelmed with smartphone features in 2019? Skeptical about the hype-wagon surrounding certain flagship brands? Well, time has come for the big reveal.
It is that time of the year again (believe it or not) when we get to see if all the leaks and predictions turn out to be true. A time to see if smartphone manufacturers live up to the promises they’ve made (here’s looking at you, Google Pixel).
In other words, for those looking to buy a new smartphone in 2019 and have not been impressed with the releases so far, now is your chance.
Read: Samsung Galaxy S10 Versus IPhone Xs Max: How They Measure Up
Will smartphone makers redeem themselves this year? Will it be glory days for the iPhone again? Or will a gaming phone overthrow popular favourites?
Here are five smartphone releases we are looking forward to in 2019:
Samsung Note 10
Slated to be released on 7 August 2019 at the Unpacked event, the Samsung Note 10 will be available in three models: the regular Galaxy Note 10, Galaxy Note 10+, and a Galaxy Note 10+ 5G.
Samsung has shocked ardent audio jack fans by announcing that the new Samsung Note 10 will not carry the staple 3.5mm port – the company’s first flagship to do so. Instead, Samsung will have new USB-C headphones and a USB-C-to-3.5mm dongle, according to reports.
If leaks are to be believed, the Note 10 will have Samsung’s Infinity-O panel with a cutout for the front-facing camera smack dab in the middle. It’s an incredibly clean aesthetic, with no fingerprint sensor on the back or side of the phone.
iPhone 11 Series
It’s never just one model with the iPhone, is it? Come September, Apple will release much awaited details about the next generation of iPhones, the iPhone Series 11 trio.
Apart from the camera however (leaks point to a radically different square-shaped rear camera), Apple has failed to generate any excitement.
Cnet reported that the iPhone trio will look similar to the 2018 models, with the same screen sizes: 5.8, 6.1 and 6.5 inches. They’ll also (most likely) have the same resolution and screen technology: OLED on the XS and XS Max sequels and an LCD screen on the followup to the XR.
What people seem to be most excited about is the new Smart Frame feature, which allows for enhanced perspective editing and cropping after an image is captured. Time will only tell if the wait is worth it.
Google Pixel 4
Google has gone ahead and publicly shared a render of the Google Pixel 4 and even officially confirmed the handset’s name: Pixel 4 (surprise, surprise). I reckon the formal unveiling of the phone to take place in early October, with handsets made available for purchase towards the end of the month.
Google has also revealed face unlock technology instead of a fingerprint sensor. And like their other flagship models this year, both phones will probably be powered by the Snapdragon 855.
Once again, it is unlikely that Google will bring back the headphone jack.
Asus ROG
With up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, 6.59in display with a refresh rate of 120Hz, and a screen resolution of 1080×2340 – Asus ROG 2 is the phone all gamers have dreamed of.
Asus has even increased the battery size by 50% to 6000mAh, which promises 7 hours of non-stop PUBG mobile action.
Even if you don’t spend countless hours playing PUBG Mobile, this is a powerhouse of a device. With a 48Mp Quad Bayer flanked by a 13Mp sensor with 125° ultra wide-angle lens and a 24Mp selfie camera – if you’re looking for something outside your comfort zone, the Asus ROG 2 is it.
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Technically, Samsung’s first foldable does not have a launch date – yet. But no list is truly complete without mentioning the Samsung Galaxy Fold.
Announced in February, the Galaxy Fold is Samsung’s first foldable device. It opens and closes like a book and features a 4.6-inch display on the outside and a 7.3-inch screen on the inside. The phone has six cameras on board, is powered by the Snapdragon 855 chipset, and is 5G ready. It was initially scheduled to go on sale on April 26, but Samsung pushed back the launch date due to problems with the phone’s display.
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