Most people upgrade their smartphone only every two to three years. So when you finally decide to spend that money, the last thing you want is to regret your decision two months later because a better phone has launched in the market.
That is exactly the situation for millions of buyers right now, because the second half of 2026 is stacked with some of the most significant smartphone launches in years.
This is not just a normal upgrade cycle. Foldable phones are going mainstream. Apple is entering a category it has avoided for years.
Samsung is launching two book-style foldables simultaneously for the first time. Google is finally fixing its biggest hardware complaint. And battery life, across the board, is taking a genuine leap forward thanks to new silicon-carbon chemistry.
So, if you are also about to upgrade your smartphone, here’s the list of new smartphones going to launch in the upcoming months.
1. Apple iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra
Expected Price: Starting above $2,000 (likely $1,999 for 256GB)
This is the biggest smartphone launch in years, not because it is necessarily the best phone, but because of what it means. Apple’s first foldable iPhone has entered trial production at Foxconn, and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has confirmed that the device is on track for a September 2026 launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
The name is still unsettled. Many fans have called it the iPhone Fold, but more recent leaks suggest Apple may position it as the iPhone Ultra. Whatever it’s called, its hardware is expected to have a 7.76-inch inner display when unfolded and a 5.49-inch outer display when folded, with no visible crease.
Under the hood, it runs Apple’s A20 Pro chip on TSMC’s 2nm process, with 12GB of RAM stacked directly onto the chip wafer using new packaging technology.
There are real compromises to know about up front. The iPhone Fold will have two rear cameras instead of three, including a Wide and an Ultra Wide, but no Telephoto lens, because there is no room for it. Apple also didn’t have space for TrueDepth Face ID, so the phone uses Touch ID via the power button instead.
2. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra
Expected Price: Starting at $1,999 (256GB)
Samsung Galaxy is confirmed for July 22, 2026, in London. The star of that show will be the Galaxy Z Fold 8, which is now expected to be officially called the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra based on FCC certification filings.
The upgrades over last year’s Fold 7 are meaningful. Major hardware improvements include a 5,000mAh battery, 45W wired charging, a significantly upgraded 50MP ultrawide camera, and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. The device is also expected to be just 4.1mm thin when unfolded, bringing it in line with the Honor Magic V5 and making it one of the slimmest foldables ever made.
It had been displayed with no visible crease at CES 2026, and while it’s unclear whether that exact panel technology makes it into the Fold 8, Samsung has clearly committed to reducing the crease significantly.
3. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide
Expected Price: Around $1,800
This is the genuinely new one. For the first time, Samsung is launching two book-style foldables simultaneously, a tall model (the Ultra) for power users who need zoom and the biggest screen, and a wider, lighter model aimed at productivity buyers.
The Wide’s inner display is a 7.6-inch LTPO OLED panel with a 4:3 aspect ratio, which is wider than any previous Galaxy Fold, and its cover screen is 5.4 inches with a 4.7:3 aspect ratio. It will be wide enough to actually be useful for checking messages without opening the phone.
The camera system is simpler with two 50MP rear cameras, wide and ultrawide, with no telephoto. And at around 200 grams, it’s noticeably lighter than the Ultra variant.
It runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, carries a 4,800mAh battery, and supports Android 17 with One UI 9 and seven years of software updates.
4. Google Pixel 11 Series
Expected Price: Starting around $799
The Pixel 11 series is expected to arrive in August 2026, and the incoming Tensor G6 chip is set to solve the thermal throttling and cellular battery drain issues that have plagued older Pixel generations.
Three things that can define this generation are the Tensor G6 chip built on TSMC’s 2nm process, a new Pixel Glow feature and a switch to a MediaTek M90 modem, finally ending Pixel’s six-year relationship with Samsung Exynos modems.
The standard Pixel 11 is expected to feature a 6.3-inch OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and peak brightness up to 2,200 nits, a new 50MP main sensor, and a battery rated around 4,840mAh.
One thing that needs attention is that the base Pixel 11 could ship with 8GB of RAM, despite Google’s newest on-device AI features reportedly requiring at least 12GB. It raises a real question about whether buyers of the entry-level model will have access to Google’s full AI experience or not.
5. Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold
Expected Price: Between $1,699 and $1,999
The Pixel 11 Pro Fold will arrive later than the rest of the lineup, expected around October 2026. It will fold to 10.1mm and open to 4.8mm with an 8-inch inner display and a 6.4-inch outer display, both at 120Hz.
It runs the same Tensor G6 chip and MediaTek modem as the rest of the Pixel 11 family, with a redesigned camera module. The camera bar on the Fold gets a reimagined layout with the flash and microphone now built into the cutout, and the phone is expected in at least two colour options, including a new green finish.
What separates this from the Samsung foldables is software. Google’s foldable runs stock Android with Gemini deeply integrated, and the camera processing remains among the best on any phone regardless of price.
All prices, specifications and launch dates are based on leaks and credible industry sources as of June 2026. Final details will be confirmed at official launch events.
Also Read: Should You Update To Android 17? Here’s Everything New In Google’s Latest OS
