Skipped the upgrade this year? 5 Upcoming Android Phones Worth Saving For

This year’s crop of smartphones hasn’t been the most exciting. Iterative releases, coupled with big price increases, have made it much easier to keep your money in your wallet. As an enthusiast (and someone with columns to fill), this was difficult to watch. Foldable devices have been a breath of fresh air, but I can’t help but wonder if better devices are on the horizon.

Fortunately, the roadmap for the coming months gives us a little more hope. I see myself excited about several upcoming devices, including some names you wouldn’t expect.

Just because 2026 is looking expensive doesn’t mean there’s no reason to get excited about smartphones in the future.

At first glance, it might seem strange that I’m so excited about the upcoming Motorola Signature 27. It’s not a revolutionary foldable form factor, and it will most likely be expensive when it launches. However, it’s a game-changer for Motorola and a device we desperately need in the US market. I’m not naive enough to think Samsung will suddenly wake up and become the relentless innovator it was years ago. Still, more competition is positive and I like what Motorola brings.

The Signature 27 is expected to feature the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chipset, an impressive camera system, and a large battery. Moto also promises 7 years of software support, which is expected from a flagship product. Unfortunately, it’s 2026 and I’m sure the phone will be expensive.

However, Moto has the opportunity to offer a real alternative in a way that others cannot. The company’s devices can be found in carrier stores, with all the potential for discounts and trade-in deals that come with it. Buyers will have access to generous financing, and Moto has the ability to siphon off curious buyers accustomed to adding $30-40 a month to their phone bill.

I don’t think this is a device Motorola can use to turn the tide, but I’ve loved the Razr series for years, and it would be welcome to have a viable third option alongside Samsung and Google.

It goes against every fiber in my body to be genuinely excited about a new (non-foldable) Samsung phone, but here we are with the Galaxy S27 Ultra. I feel like we’ve been teased for years, and I kept telling myself there was no chance the company would roll out the same general design again. It looks like the upcoming Galaxy S27 Ultra is where we’ll finally see a break.

The phone will sport a new look, as Samsung redesigns the camera bar. It will also come with a long-awaited upgrade under the hood. We saw Samsung start to move into silicon-carbon batteries in the latest Z Fold 8 series, including an unspecified percentage of silicon in the anode. The Galaxy S27 Ultra should go all the way this time; Although the cell capacity, estimated at 5,700 mAh, will still be lower than that of the foreign competition, it is a step in the right direction.

While I can criticize Samsung for many of its hardware decisions, the software has been solid. One UI 9 remains a great experience for Samsung fans, and One UI 10 promises the same. I wish the company had integrated its AI strategy into the everyday user experience a little better (Now Brief is painful), but there’s a lot to like about the company’s overall software efforts. Combined with (finally) refreshed hardware, the Galaxy S27 Ultra promises to be a good model.

I’m looking forward to the Pixel 11a, not because it promises to be a stellar upgrade, but because I can’t wait to see what Google does with its mid-range phone. The Pixel 10a just got an unsightly price increase, jumping to $600. I know prices change and costs go up, but something is wrong with the phone at this price.

Still, all is not lost and Google has a chance to impress with the Pixel 11a. I lived with a relatively unchanged spec sheet on the Pixel 10a because I felt that keeping the same price mattered more than anything. If Google keeps the Pixel 11a priced high, I’d like to see something in return. I’m sure we won’t get more RAM, but the return of the Tensor G6 chipset to the A-series would go a long way to alleviate frustrations.

As much as people like to complain about the Pixel 10a, it still offers more than you can usually get at this price, especially with all the Pixel extras. However, $600 is $600 for a mid-range phone, and we’re right to ask for as much as possible.

It is absolutely cruel that OnePlus has chosen to abandon the American market this year, while the OnePlus 16 is shaping up to be a monster. The phone is expected to feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chipset, an improved camera, and a 9,000mAh silicon-carbon battery. Pair that with the already impressive OnePlus charging speeds, and you get a phone that could easily be the battery champ of 2027. I got phenomenal battery life with my OnePlus 15, and I can’t even imagine what a cell of that size could produce.

While I’m frustrated that the phone won’t be easy to pick up in the US, diehards will still have luck importing global versions. I have no problem using foreign devices on T-Mobile, and many MVNOs work on their network which should also be solid (I’ve also used Mint Mobile).

I understand that it felt like exactly 30 people had to pick up a Galaxy Z TriFold, but I was one of them and I haven’t been silent since. It completely changes the way you want to use your phone, and if I didn’t have to change SIM cards to test new devices, this would be my daily driver without hesitation. Unfolding your phone to reveal a sprawling 10-inch screen with a wider aspect ratio is fantastic for working, watching videos, and browsing the web. It’s ridiculously expensive, but as Ferris Bueller would say, I highly recommend one if you can afford it (or a business account you can write off).

Naturally, the rumors of a sequel excited me. I’m sure the phone will benefit from the usual specs, and I don’t have any pressing notes on the design. However, I would like Samsung to work on the price. If the Galaxy Z TriFold 2 retailed for $2,500, it wouldn’t exactly be affordable, but that would make it more of a conversation piece. Prices for flagship smartphones approach $1,500, and prices for foldable smartphones start at around $2,000. A $2,500 price tag and higher production numbers could get the TriFold 2 into more hands, and I’m telling you, you’ll love the experience.

2026 may not have been the most exciting year for smartphones, but the next few months should make up for it if you haven’t bought anything. I may be one of the few who thinks smartphones can still be exciting, and 2027 should prove me right.