Those planning to upgrade their smartphone this year will surely have plenty of options.
From new foldable phones that Samsung and Huawei unveiled last month to devices made by Apple and Google that are rumored to arrive later in 2019, this year is shaping up to be a promising one for smartphone launches.
See below for the phones we’re most looking forward to seeing this year, some of which have already been announced and others that are only rumored.
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Samsung’s first foldable smartphone, the appropriately namedSamsung Galaxy Fold, has an April 26 launch date. The $1,980 device can open like a book thanks to its flexible screen and hinge. When closed, the Galaxy Fold offers a smartphone screen measuring 4.6 inches; when unfolded, the device functions as a 7.3-inch tablet.
The company says it has been working with developers to ensure that apps transition smoothly between phone and tablet mode. The phone can also run three apps on-screen at once.
Samsung unveiled the phone during an event on February 20 alongside its new Galaxy S10 lineup. But since Samsung didn’t make the phone available for media to try following its keynote, we still don’t know much about what it’s like to actually use the Galaxy Fold.
Huawei Mate X
Not to be outdone, Huawei unveiled its own foldable smartphone, the Mate X, just days after Samsung’s Galaxy Fold debuted.
But there are some key differences between the two, especially when it comes to design. Unlike Samsung’s phone, the Huawei Mate X features a wraparound display, giving it a paper-like crease that more naturally blends into the screen. It offers a 6.6-inch screen on the front and a 6.38-inch screen on the back when in phone mode and an 8-inch tablet display when unfolded.
The Mate X is expected to cost about $2,600 and launch in the middle of 2019.
Motorola Razr
Your favorite flip phone from the early 2000s is due to make a comeback this year, but with a very 2019 twist: It will have a foldable screen.
The Wall Street Journal reported in January that the Lenovo-owned company planned to launch a new foldable version of the Razr that would cost about $1,500 — which would make it much cheaper than both Samsung’s and Huawei’s foldable phones.
It’s unclear when the device will launch, but it seems plausible that it will come in 2019 considering the report said it could debut as soon as February. Motorola has yet to unveil the device. More
