With iPhone 11, Google Pixel 3, Galaxy Note 9 and other big smartphones to come in 2018, the remainder of the calendar year will undoubtedly be an important one for the mobile niche. While releases from Apple, Google and Samsung such as iPhone 11, Google Pixel 3, Galaxy Note 9 and Galaxy S9 will dominate the landscape, there are plenty of other viable contenders on the horizon as well.
Galaxy S9
First of all, it is important to mention the Galaxy S9, which precedes releases such as iPhone 11, Google Pixel 3, Galaxy Note 9, and other big players. The Galaxy S9 from Samsung has already been announced and unveiled, with the release schedule of the device now well underway. Early reviews of the device have also been more than decent, meaning that Samsung seemingly has another Galaxy S range success story on its hands.
While the Korean manufacturer has declined to make radical changes from previous releases in the series, the photographic capabilities of the Galaxy S9 are a particular standout. The world-class aperture of the snapper included means that the images produced by the Galaxy S9 are probably the best ever from any smartphone.
OnePlus 6
The OnePlus 6 is expected to be released in June 2018, with the manufacturer OnePlus having already confirmed its existence. While iPhone 11, Google Pixel 3, Galaxy Note 9 and Galaxy S9 may be the highest profile releases in the calendar year, the OnePlus 6 is said to be the most innovative in many ways.
Improvements in design are expected over the excellent OnePlus5T, with the display, biometric sensors and camera performance all upgraded. This device will undoubtedly be an affordable smartphone as well, likely to be priced at around $499, but this doesn’t mean that it fails on the spec front.
Always intriguing, innovative and incendiary, the OnePlus range has become known as probably the best budget smartphone series in the world. Thus, many will be waiting with baited breath for the release of the OnePlus 6, even though it may not be the noisiest smartphone release this year.
Essential Phone 2
The Essential Phone is intended to work seamlessly with Android, designed as it is by Andy Rubin; one of the original creators of the mobile operating system. Of course, it is difficult to muscle in on a smartphone landscape dominated by big hitters, and the original Essential Phone effectively failed to achieve this.
Nonetheless, it will be intriguing to see what Rubin has in mind for the Essential Phone 2, which is also likely to land in June this year. Already some impressive specifications and an improved display had been linked with this Android contender, and this will be one of the more unpredictable smartphone products of 2018.
LG V40
With the LG television division increasingly producing exciting and genre-defining products, the smartphone team will hope to close the gap on the market leaders in 2018. While LG mobiles have generally been fairly well received, they have yet to establish themselves in the same way that LG TVs have become instantly recognizable.
Arriving in August 2018, the LG V40 is likely to be a premium smartphone when released, armed with some of the best specs in the industry. There has even been speculation that LG could consider producing a 4K resolution smartphone over the next six months, but this is likely to be hampered by expense considerations. Nonetheless, this should certainly be one smartphone well worth waiting for.
Galaxy Note 9
The Galaxy Note series has become arguably the most exciting range of products produced by Samsung over the last few years, even if the Galaxy Note 7 was undoubtedly a disaster for the corporation. Samsung tends to reserve its biggest innovations and risks for the Galaxy Note range, and this should be reflected once more when the Galaxy Note 9 debuts in August.
It will be interesting to see what the Korean manufacturer has in mind for the Galaxy Note 9, but a foldable display is one possibility. The Galaxy Note 9 could also be the embryonic 4K resolution mobile from Samsung, while virtual reality and advanced camera features have also been linked with this forthcoming phone.
Arriving just before the iPhone 11, this will undoubtedly be one of the key releases of the smartphone year.
iPhone 11
Coming in September will be the next generation iPhone 11, which has a lots of work to do in order to build on the successes of the iPhone X. Already, though, it is rumored that Apple will completely discontinue the iPhone X in favour of an upgraded model, with a larger Plus variant also offered. With three iPhone 11 devices mooted for 2018, there will be plenty of choice for Apple’s hugely loyal consumer base during the calendar year.
Branding will certainly be interesting as well, with some suggesting that iPhone XI is a possible name for the mobile. Meanwhile, Apple could also choose to embrace 4K resolution, while its Face ID and Siri systems are set for major upgrades, in a mobile range that will benefit from the largest display in the history of Apple smartphones.
Google Pixel 3
When the Pixel 3 arrives, it will pretty much decide whether or not Google has succeeded in its ambitious aim of toppling Apple and Samsung. It is too early for the mega-corporation to catch up with the market leaders, but the Google Pixel 3 could establish Google as a clear player in this profitable niche.
In common with the other major smartphones available, the Google Pixel 3 will probably feature a dual-camera. Meanwhile, early benchmark leaks seem to suggest that there will be three Pixel products produced in 2018, offering those Android consumers opting for the Pixel 3 range additional choice.
Expect the Google Pixel 3 to arrive in October.
While the iPhone 11, Google Pixel 3, Galaxy Note 9 releases may be the most important of the calendar year, there are plenty of other smartphones available this year that could challenge their hegemony. 2018 will be defined by a diversifying product range in the smartphone niche, as Apple and Samsung are increasingly challenged by more affordable alternatives.
