The best upcoming Android phones that are worth the wait

There’s no shortage of powerful smartphones to go around, but it’s our nature to wonder what’s ahead. What could be in the works for the rest of 2022 and beyond? Let’s talk about the hottest upcoming Android phones. We’ll mainly focus on devices that will likely be released in the next six months or so, just to keep things more relevant and not speculate on far-off projects.

See also: The best Android phones

The best upcoming Android phones

• Google Pixel Fold and Pixel 7a
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5
• Samsung Galaxy S22 FE
• ASUS ROG Phone 7 series
• OnePlus foldable
• Samsung Galaxy A54

Editor’s note: We’ll regularly update this list of the best upcoming Android phones.

Google Pixel Fold and Pixel 7a

Neither of these phones are confirmed, but the rumor mill has been spinning for some months, and it seems Google might have a couple of devices to show off at Google I/O 2023. These would be the Google Pixel Fold and the Pixel 7a.

Of course, the Pixel 7a is almost guaranteed to come sometime this year, as the series has a long history of launches. We can expect the Pixel 7a to be a value device with a great experience, like previous Pixel A-series devices have been. If it follows the same pricing as the Pixel 6a, it should come in at $449 MSRP.

We’ve seen the Pixel 7a appearing in some leaks and rumors. One of them was straight from Amazon, which allowed users to sign up for emails regarding 7a news. Another leak made it seem like the phone would come with high-end features we haven’t seen in an A-series phone before, such as wireless charging and a 90Hz refresh rate. We got to see some renders of what the phone could look like. There’s even a leaked video going around.

The Google Pixel Fold, on the other hand, is a more adventurous project that would be a first of its kind coming from Google. We’ve already seen some leaked renders and have a general idea of its specs. There’s also a rumor of a unique camera position going around. Of course, nothing is for sure yet.

While we expect to see these devices announced at Google I/O 2023, they may launch later. Likely sometime between the announcement and August. Rumors say production might begin in Q3, 2023.

More recently, a Google device showed up at an FCC filing. It could be the Pixel 7a or Pixel Fold. We’ll have to wait and see.

• When will the Pixel 7 series be released? — Sometime between May and August 2023

Samsung Galaxy Z fold 5 and Z Flip 5

The Samsung Galaxy S23 series is here, so now we need to move to the next big announcements from the Korean manufacturer. Of course, all attention is on the following foldable; the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5.

Rumors are still scarce, but we know every other Fold has launched in August. Chances are we will see both the Fold 5 and Flip 5 around the same time.

A July 2022 report claims Samsung is planning to dial things down a bit, though. Apparently, Samsung plans to sell fewer 5th-generation Folds and Flips, setting a target of 10 million units. The same source claims the Fold 5 will come with three cameras in the back, including a 50MP GN3 sensor, as well as a 12MP front-facing shooter.

Rumors of the Galaxy Z Flip 5 are also scarce, but it’s said it might come with a larger three-inch external display. Additionally, murmurs say the hinge is being reworked to decrease crease visibility.

• When will the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 be released? — Expected in August 2023

Samsung Galaxy S22 FE

Samsung Galaxy S22 FE rumors have been all over the place. Some say Samsung might actually be killing the Fan Edition lineup, so it might not even come at all. Another source is confirming this, saying the S22 FE might be killed because Samsung used up all its chips with the Galaxy S22 Ultra.

Other rumors claim the device might still come, though. It might even be a replacement for the Galaxy A74. This rumor comes from RGcloudS, which also claims the device is coming with an Exynos 2300. But wait, others are saying it will have a MediaTek chipset!

Yeah, it’s a mess. We do hope the phone comes into existence, though. Fan Edition Samsung devices offer a more affordable alternative to the overpowered, expensive lineups from the manufacturer, which are often too much for some customers.

• When will the Samsung Galaxy S22 FE be released? — Might not launch

ASUS ROG Phone 7 series

We actually haven’t heard any halfway reliable rumors about the ASUS ROG Phone 7 series, but it’s definitely a lineup we know many of you are hoping to see in 2023. ASUS makes some of the best gaming phones around, and the ROG Phone 7 devices should be no exception.

These handsets are almost guaranteed to come with incredible speeds, great displays, massive batteries, plenty of RAM, and everything that makes a good gaming experience. Additionally, you can expect a specialized cooling system, shoulder triggers, and that gaming look we all know and love.

We have no idea about a launch date just yet, but the ASUS ROG Phone 6 series came out in July. The ROG Phone 5 series came out in April.

• When will the Xiaomi 12T series be released? — Likely between April and July 2023

OnePlus foldable

The OnePlus 11 is great, but it’s not as exciting as a OnePlus foldable. Despite CEO Pete Lau saying the company hasn’t found significant value in the foldable smartphone market, rumors of a OnePlus foldable have been surfacing since May 2022, when a tip stated OnePlus might be copying the OPPO Find N to make its first foldable device in 2023.

Since then, the company has filed for hinge patents and trademarked the OnePlus V Fold and OnePlus V Flip names. The topic picked up again when OnePlus took some time to tease what looked like a foldable on stage. A tipster claimed it would not be a rebranded OPPO Find N2.

In an effort to kill all rumors, OnePlus took to MWC 2023 to confirm there are definitely plans for a foldable device. The previous teaser claimed it was coming in Q3, but we should hear some more murmurs until then.

• When will the OnePlus foldable be released? — Expected in Q3, 2023

Samsung Galaxy A54

The Galaxy A53 is currently one of the best — if not the best — budget phones on the market. With that in mind, we’re excited to see what its successor will bring to the table.

We haven’t heard much about the new affordable handset, but a few rumors exist. Renders show a design that’s more similar to the Galaxy S23 series, with individual camera cutouts and a clean overall look. Aesthetics have been confirmed by more recent renders, too.

A list of specs has also leaked, including a 120Hz AMOLED display, an Exynos 1380 processor, up to 8GB of RAM, a triple camera setup, and a sizeable 5,000mAh battery, as well as an IP67 rating. Those specs aren’t half bad, but other rumors say there will also be a price hike.

• When will the Samsung Galaxy A54 be released? — Expected in March 2023

Keep in mind these are only some of the best upcoming Android phones. We’ve focused on the ones we’re most looking forward to. It’s essential to remember that the industry continues to push forward, so we’re sure there will be plenty of other exciting announcements in the next six months. As always, we’ll be here at AndroidAuthority.com telling you all about them!