2014 brought us some absolute belters in the Android world, but things are about to get a whole lot better
Samsung Galaxy S6
If you're a Samsung fan but would rather stick to a phone than a phablet then the S6 will be just what you're looking for. Currently there are two designs in the works, with the final yet to be decided. One has an all-metal unibody chassis in line with that of the Galaxy Alpha, while the other is half metal with a removable plastic rear like the Galaxy Note 4. Rumour has it there will also be a Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge – like the Galaxy Note Edge, but with two curved edges that make it better suited to lefties as well as those righthanded folk the tech industry seems to favour. We wouldn't be surprised to also see a quad-HD screen, plus plenty of other radical new features, including a redesigned fi ngerprint scanner that works a lot more like Apple's Touch ID and, you know, actually works. In the UK, we're likely to see the Snapdragon 810 processor paired with 3GB of RAM. We should see the Samsung Galaxy S6 unveiled at a Samsung Unpacked event prior to MWC 2015, probably on 1 March 2015.
Samsung Galaxy S6 mini
A Samsung Galaxy fl agship launch is traditionally followed by several variants, most importantly a compact version, but we've also seen variants that over, 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 slowerclocked Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, perhaps 2GB of RAM and 16- and 5Mp cameras.
Samsung Galaxy A7
Samsung has confi rmed its Galaxy A7, a gorgeous phablet with a 6.3mm unibody metal chassis, a 5.5in Super AMOLED screen and a 64-bit octacore processor. The Samsung Galaxy A7 is not yet on sale on the UK, but will come in both single- and dual-SIM variants.
HTC One M9
We are massive fans of the HTC One M8, and we just can't wait for a better version of the phone. Full specs have leaked for the HTC One M9, and if these are to be believed it will have a 5in full-HD Super LCD3 display, a Snapdragon 810 processor, Adreno 430 graphics and 3GB of RAM. The HTC One M9 is expected to follow the HTC Desire Eye with a super-selfi e 13Mp front camera, plus 20Mp at the rear. Rumour has it the M9 will also be ultra-thin at 7mm. Based on HTC's previous form, the Android Lollipop- and HTC Sense 7.0-based HTC One M9 won't be here in time for MWC 2015, but we can expect to see it around March.
HTC Hima Ace Plus
Coming alongside the HTC One M9 is said to be a 5.5in-screen phablet version known as the HTC Hima Ace Plus. Except not exactly alongside – we'll likely be waiting until September for this variant. If rumours are true, the HTC Hima Ace Plus will pack a 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor and 3GB of RAM.
Sony Xperia Z4
Sony updates its flagship handsets every six months, so with the Sony Xperia Z3 released in September 2014 we can expect the Sony Xperia Z4 in March at IFA (running 2- to 5 March 2015). There is speculation that the Sony Xperia Z4 will tie in with the new James Bond movie, with actor Daniel Craig and director Sam Mendes expected to be involved in its design. Rumour has it that it will be a super-fast Android Lollipop smartphone with an octa-core Snapdragon 810 processor, potentially 4GB of RAM and a Quad HD screen.
LG G4
We stand by our statement that the LG G3 was the very best phone you can buy in 2014. Things can only get better with the LG G4.The LG G3 was officially released in the UK at the end of June 2014. The LG G4 should be here around the same time this summer.
LG G Flex 2
The G4 isn'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 octacore chip, and it features self-healing technology.
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. The Note 5 won't be released until September 2015, but it's going to be well worth the wait.
New Nexus 6 2015
In 2012 we had the Nexus 4, then in 2013 the Nexus 5 and, on 15 October 2014, the Nexus 6. We can't possibly be about to get a new Nexus 7, since that's already a tablet, so we're going for new Nexus 6 2015. It'll likely run Android M, and be unveiled in October 2015 with a November 2015 on sale date. Whereas Google offered flagship specs with mid-range prices for the Nexus 4 and Nexus 5, the Nexus 6 is more costly at £499. We're hoping Google will go back to its excellent-value roots with the new Nexus 6 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 fi tted with 5.7in curved screens – the Mi Note full-HD and the Note Pro Quad HD. They Mi Note Pro in particular should over unrivalled performance, thanks to a 2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 64-bit octacore 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.
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 fl agship-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? We expect to see a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, 4GB of RAM, a 3300mAh battery and a 5.5in 2K screen.
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 fi nancial problems causing Tesco to sell off its Broadband & Homephone and Blinkbox services, it remains committed to its mobile business.
Nokia N1
This one's a defi nite: having sold off its Lumia brand of smartphones to Microsoft, Nokia is shifting focus to tablets. The N1 may be another Android tablet to add to the already huge list, but Nokia's innovative Z Launcher certainly adds more value to the package. Another bonus is the expected sub-£200 price, which isn't bad considering the specs: it will be a lot cheaper than the iPad mini with which it shares quite a few on-paper specs. It's expected to become available in February.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S 2
Sooner or later, Samsung will launch new tablets in 2015. The Tab S impressed us back in June 2014, and the fi rm is sure to update the two models – potentially keeping the same 8.4 and 10.5-inch screen sizes. Since the original models had 32-bit processors, the most obvious upgrade will be to 64-bit chips. They'll also run Android Lollipop, just like virtually every other Android device which will launch in 2015. Expect the Tab S 2 in July.
Tesco Hudl 3
Tesco has seen huge success with its own-brand tablet, the Hudl, scoring another win with the followup – the Hudl 2 in 2014. Given that the new model is bigger than the original, it's impossible to say what the Hudl 3 will be like. You can be sure it will be cheap, though. Even if the third Hudl gets a 9in screen, it should be one of the best-value around. Expect the Hudl 3 in September.
