The 26 best new phones 2015
2015
is already proving to be a great year for smartphones.
Here we round up 26 of the best new phones that
have or are soon to be announced in 2015. Also see the best new tablets you should be most excited about in 2015.
BEST NEW SAMSUNG PHONES 2015
Best new phones 2015: Samsung Galaxy S6
If you're a Samsung fan but would rather stick to a phone than a
phablet then the S6 is just what you're looking for. With Samsung finally
answering build-quality criticisms, it follows in the trend of the Galaxy Alpha and
Galaxy Note
4 with a metal and glass body. There's also a quad-HD screen,
plus plenty of other radical new features, including a super-fast Samsung
Exynos processor (paired with 3GB of RAM), and a redesigned fingerprint scanner
that works a lot more like Apple's Touch ID and, you know, actually works. The
Samsung Galaxy S6 was unveiled at a Samsung Unpacked event on 1 March 2015, and
went on sale on 10 April 2015. Prices start at £599 SIM-free. Read our Samsung Galaxy S6 review
and learn more about the Samsung Galaxy S6 here.
Best new phones 2015: Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
A second version of the Samsung Galaxy S6 launched alongside the
standard S6 at MWC. It follows the trend set by the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge,
but with two curved screen edges rather than one and a marginally
higher-capacity battery than is found in the S6. In other respects the specs
are in line with the standard S6, but expect to pay a premium for that fancy
screen. Learn more about the Samsung
Galaxy S6 Edge here, which went on sale in the UK on
10 April 2015. Prices start at £760 SIM-free for the 64GB version.
Best new phones 2015: Samsung Galaxy S6 mini
A Samsung Galaxy flagship launch is traditionally followed by
several variants, most importantly a compact version, but we've also seen
variants that offer, for example, improved cameras or more ruggedised designs.
The Samsung Galaxy S6 mini is likely to arrive a few months after the standard
Samsung Galaxy S6, perhaps in late July/early August, and will be a more
compact version of its bigger brother with a slightly slimmed down spec. We
expect to see a 4.7in full-HD screen, a slower-clocked Qualcomm Snapdragon 810
processor, perhaps 2GB of RAM and 16- and 5Mp cameras. You can read our Samsung
Galaxy S6 mini predictions here.
Best new phones 2015: Samsung Galaxy S6 Active
Yet another rumoured Samsung Galaxy S6 variant, the Active
should be a rugged version of the Samsung Galaxy S6. It's a credible theory,
given that the Samsung Galaxy S6 no longer features waterproofing. Plus, with
an S4 Active and S5 Active before it, we could well see an S6 Active, but
probably not until the summer. We've rounded up all the Samsung Galaxy S6 Active
rumours here.
Best new phones 2015: Samsung Galaxy A7
Samsung has confirmed its Galaxy A7, a gorgeous phablet with a
6.3mm unibody metal chassis, a 5.5in Super AMOLED screen and a 64-bit octa-core
processor. The Samsung Galaxy A7 is not yet on sale on the UK, but will come in
both single- and dual-SIM variants. Read all about the Samsung Galaxy A7
here.
Best new phones 2015: Samsung Galaxy Note 5
Everyone always bangs on about Samsung's Galaxy S line-up, but it's
the Note series that really impresses. The Note 4 was
unveiled at a Samsung Unpacked event prior to September's IFA tradeshow (3
September 2014), and right now sits at the top of our fastest
smartphone and best
phablet charts. Traditionally Samsung's Note launches
are held at IFA in September, but rumours suggest we might see the Note 5 as
early as July to give it a headstart on the new iPhones. Check out all
the Samsung
Galaxy Note 5 rumours here.
BEST NEW HTC PHONES 2015
Best new phones 2015: HTC One M9
We are massive fans of the HTC One M8,
and the HTC One M9 is even better. Although HTC has kept the full-HD screen
rather than the quad-HD screens seen in the new Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge,
the HTC One M9 is a very attractive phone with some impressive performance. You
can check out our HTC One M9 review here, and learn more about the HTC One M9 release date, price and specs here.
The phone went on sale in the UK on 31 March from £569 SIM-free, making it
£30 cheaper than its rival the Samsung Galaxy S6.
Best new phones 2015: HTC One M9+
A 5.5in-screen phablet version of the HTC One M9 is the One M9+ -
and this is the one we were waiting for, with a Quad-HD screen and a
fingerprint scanner. It's been announced only in China at 4,299
Yuan (£522), with UK availability and pricing not yet confirmed - that's
if it ever officially comes to the UK. Read more about the HTC One M9+
here.
BEST NEW SONY PHONES 2015
Best new phones 2015: Sony Xperia Z3+ (UK Sony Xperia Z4)
After all the rumours that the Sony Xperia Z4 would be delayed
until September, the Z4 was recently unveiled in Japan. The Z4 won't come to
the UK, but in late May Sony announced its Xperia Z3+ over here. The UK version
of the Z4, the Z3+ is almost identical - read our Z3 vs Z3+ comparison
to see exactly how it differs to both Z3 and Z4. In essence, the Sony Xperia
Z3+ is a slightly slimmed down and much faster version of the Z3, with
performance we expect to fall in line with the HTC One M9. The Z3+ will go on
sale in the UK in June, with final pricing TBC. Read more about the Sony Xperia Z3+ here
and check out our hands-on Sony Xperia Z3+ review.
BEST NEW HUAWEI PHONES 2015
Best new phones 2015: Huawei P8 and Huawei P8 max
Huawei's latest flagship has a gorgeous unibody metal design that's
stylish enough to rival HTC and Apple, yet it undercuts the price of those
smartphones with a starting price of 499 Euro, or £357. There is a standard
5.2in Huawei P8, or a huge 6.8in P8 max. The phone and phablet should have gone
on sale in the UK in April, with a worldwide launch following 15 May. We're
unable to find them for sale right now, but keep your eyes peeled - they're
worth hunting down. For more info check out our Huawei P8 and P8 max UK release date, price
and specs, Huawei P8
review and Huawei P8
max review.
BEST NEW LG PHONES 2015
Best new phones 2015: LG G4
LG is calling the G4 the 'most ambitious smartphone yet', which is
focused on delivering 'comfortable elegance, a great visual experience and a
human-centric user experience'. We stand by our statement that the LG G3 was
the very best phone you could buy in 2014, and things just get better with the
LG G4 - although opinion is divided on that leather case (also available in
ceramic versions). Key specifications include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808
processor, a 5.5in Quad HD IPS Quantum display, 32GB of storage (with microSD
support) and a 3000mAh removable battery. The G4 was unveiled at a press
event on 28 April, and will go on sale on 28 May from £500 SIM-free. Read all
about the LG G4 here,
and check out our LG G4
hands-on review.
Best new phones 2015: LG G4 Note
Rumour has it LG has an even bigger and better flagship than the G4
planned for 2015. The G4 Note, if it materialises, will be a metal-chassis
phablet with a faster Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chip and a massive 4GB of RAM.
Check out all the LG G4 Note rumours here.
Best new phones 2015: LG G Flex 2
The G4 and G4 Note aren't LG's only exciting new smartphone for
2015. At CES 2015 it unveiled the G Flex 2, a curved-screen handset. The G Flex
2 is a 5.5in-screen smartphone with a 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core
chip, and it features self-healing technology. Read all about the LG G Flex 2
here.
BEST NEW MICROSOFT PHONES 2015 | BEST NEW WINDOWS PHONES 2015
Best new phones 2015: Microsoft Lumia 940 & Lumia 940 XL
Part of the reason we're so excited about the upcoming Microsoft
Lumia 940 and 940 XL is that they will be among the first handsets to run full
Windows 10 - Microsoft is to finally tackle the Windows Phone apps problem by
running one OS across phones, tablets, PCs and laptops. The Lumia 940 has the
beefiest spec of any Windows Phone we've seen too, and the XL is a larger
version with a 5.7in screen. Check out all the Microsoft Lumia 940 and 940 XL UK release
date, price and specs rumours here, and find out more about Windows 10
for phones here.
BEST NEW APPLE iPHONES 2015
Best new phones 2015: iPhone 7 / iPhone 6s
The iPhone 6
and 6 Plus
were released in September, and in the months leading up to that the rumour
mill went mental. Be prepared for more of the same with the iPhone 7, which
will launch in September 2015 running iOS 9.
As always, we're expecting a faster processor and some upgraded specs, but
little change to the design. (Note that it will probably be called the iPhone
6s rather than iPhone 7, but we're sticking with iPhone 7 for now.) Check out
all the iPhone 6s
and iPhone 7 rumours
here.
Best new phones 2015: Apple iPhone 6S Plus
Let's not forget Apple's other smartphone - the massive iPhone 6 Plus
is also due a refresh this September. We're not expecting any major changes to
the design (although the iPhone 6S Plus should be more durable - we haven't
forgotten Bendgate), with the key improvements geared for speed. There will
likely be an Apple A9 chip inside, paired with an M9 motion co-processor. Don't
be surprised to find Apple Watch-style wireless charging and a larger-capacity
battery, plus an upgraded camera - possibly to 12Mp. Check out all the iPhone 6S
Plus rumours here.
BEST NEW GOOGLE PHONES 2015
Best new phones 2015: new Nexus 5 2015
The new Nexus phone for 2015 is hotly tipped to be another Nexus 5.
Google is reportedly in talks with both LG and Huawei, and a Huawei-made device
has already leaked in an official Google promo video for Project Fi (now why
would you do that, Google, when the only known device to work with Project Fi
today is the Nexus 6?).
If Huawei is in line for the new Nexus 5 2015 that can mean only one thing -
Google's going back to its high-end specs, mid-range price business model.
That's probably not too unlikely, either, given its Q1 2015 earnings call, in
which it revealed Google Play takings were up, but the 2014 Nexus devices
hadn't done so well at their higher price points. Being a Chinese phone maker,
with Huawei we could also see the first dual-SIM
Nexus phone, finally bringing dual-SIM functionality into
the mainstream in the UK. Alternatively, with LG onboard, we could be about to
get another Quad HD Nexus phone. One thing is for sure, the new Nexus 5 2015
will be the first device to run Android M,
the latest Google OS that we expect to hear more details on in May's Google I/O.
For more details on the new Nexus 5 2015 check out our New Nexus 5 2015 UK
release date, price, specification and feature rumour round-up.
BEST NEW XIAOMI PHONES 2015
Best new phones 2015: Xiaomi Mi Note and Xiaomi Mi Note Pro
Xiaomi has officially unveiled its Mi Note and Mi Note Pro, with
the latter hailed as the most powerful phone in the world. Both offer
staggering value at £244 and £350 respectively, given their amazing specs.
These two Chinese phones are fitted with 5.7in curved screens - the Mi Note
full-HD and the Note Pro Quad HD. The Mi Note Pro in particular should offer
unrivalled performance, thanks to a 2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 64-bit octa-core
chip, a massive 4GB of RAM and Adreno 430 graphics. And still it's thinner than
the iPhone 6 Plus. There's loads more to drool over in Xiaomi's juicy spec
sheet too - read more about the Xiaomi Mi
Note and Mi Note Pro UK release date, price and specs here.
The Mi Note went on sale in China on 27 January and sold out within minutes,
while the Mi Note Pro went on sale on 6 May. These phones won't officially go
on sale in the UK, but it's probable that you'll be able to get them on grey-market
or auction sites.
Best new phones 2015: Xiaomi Mi 4i
Xiaomi has taken the wraps off its Mi 4i, a plastic, upgraded
version of its flagship Mi 4, with a low price tag of Rs. 12,999 (£136) yet
some very good specs. It has a 5in full-HD screen with Sunlight display, a
second-generation 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor, 2GB of RAM and 16GB
of storage. Just 7.8mm thick, Xiaomi has still managed to squeeze in a 13Mp
rear camera that lies flush to the case. It's dual-SIM dual-standby out the
box, with both SIMs supporting 4G. The Xiaomi Mi 4i will go on sale on 30
April, but to buy one in the UK you'll need to go through unofficial channels.
Read more about the Xiaomi Mi
4i UK release date, price, specification and features.
BEST NEW ONEPLUS PHONES 2015
Best new phones 2015: OnePlus 2 / OnePlus Two
The OnePlus One is an amazing phone if you've managed to
get hold of one. It's priced from £229 but has the spec to match a £600
smartphone, hence OnePlus marketing it as a 2014 flagship killer. According to
OnePlus co-founder Carl pei, the OnePlus Two will surprise us, and is likely to
focus on flagship-rivalling design rather than specs. He told our sister site
PC World the OnePlus Two would arrive in June 2015, along with a second model -
perhaps a OnePlus Mini? More recently, OnePlus has announced it is ready to
shake up the phone market once again on 1 June. We expect to see a
Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, 4GB of RAM, a 3300mAh battery and a 5.5in 2K
screen. It will also run OnePlus' own OxygenOS, rather than Cyanogen. Check out
all the OnePlus Two
rumours here.
BEST NEW ASUS PHONES 2015
Best new phones 2015: Asus Zenfone 2
We've yet to get our hands on an Asus Zenfone 2, but the
top-end model (ZE551ML) is now available at Amazon
for £309.99. This powerful phone has a staggering 4GB of RAM and a 2.3GHz
64-bit Intel Atom Z3580 quad-core processor. For storage 32GB is fitted, and
you can get more through microSD. There's 4G LTE support (dual-SIM, dual
active), a 5.5in full-HD IPS screen, and 13Mp rear- and 5Mp front cameras. The
stylish brushed-metal case is just 3.9mm thick at the edges. Running the fully
customisable ZenUI software, the Zenfone 2 also has Trend Micro security
preinstalled. The Asus Zenfone 2 is well worth a look.
BEST NEW TESCO PHONES 2015
Best new phones 2015: Tesco Hudl smartphone
The Hudl tablet has seen phenomenal success,
allowing the masses to enter the world of tablet computing. Tesco's taking a
slightly different tack with its smartphone, however, which will be a high-end
device with an aggressive price. Just the type of device we get excited about.
The Tesco Hudl smartphone was supposed to be here in time for Christmas 2014,
but Tesco put the project on hold. Despite recent financial problems causing Tesco to sell off its
Broadband & Homephone and Blinkbox services, it remains
committed to its mobile business. Check out all the Tesco Hudl smartphone
rumours here.
BEST NEW UBUNTU LINUX PHONES 2015
Best new phones 2015: Ubuntu smartphone
The Ubuntu phone is finally here in the form of the Aquaris E4.5
Ubuntu Edition. It costs €169 and runs a 1.3GHz quad-core processor with
1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage. More importantly, this is not an Android or iOS
phone, it runs Ubuntu Linux - and that's interesting.
The 26 best new phones 2015
![The 26 best new phones 2015]()
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