In the smartphone ecosystem, no brand can rely on a particular version for more than 8-10 months. And buyers, spoilt for choice, aren’t averse to jumping ship, should rivals offer better specifications at a lower price. All major smartphone makers are lining up their new big guns for 2015:
Xiaomi Mi5
Expected: March 2015
Xiaomi shipped 61.1 million phones in 2014, which is a 227% increase over 2013. These numbers tell just one side of the story. In reality, it was the cocktail of powerful specifications at an affordable price which made Xiaomi’s phones so popular. Let us look at it this way—the Mi3 loaded a Qualcomm processor and a Full HD IPS display at a price of around Rs15000, which other more established smartphone brands would charge upwards of Rs30000 for. And all eyes are on the Mi5, which is expected before the summer. It has been suggested the phone will sport a 5.5-inch screen, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor and a Quad HD display, which brings it at par with the Samsung Galaxy Note 4.
HTC One M9
Expected: March 2015
The HTC One M8 is still the best looking Android smartphone that money can buy. The precisely chiselled speaker grille on the aluminum chassis is the single biggest indicator that a lot of thought has gone into the design. Expect the M9 to carry on with the trend. There will be pressure on HTC to increase the screen size, but we expect it to remain at 5-inches. We’ll have to wait and watch whether HTC retains the Full HD screen or upgrades it to Quad HD. The UltraPixel camera does a steady job, but cannot match up to the rivals’ improved optics (Xperia Z3 and Galaxy Note 4, for example)—expect a 13-megapixel or 16-megapixel snapper.
Samsung Galaxy S6
Expected: March 2015
Samsung has recently indicated a change in design philosophy, with the Galaxy Alpha and Note 4 being prime examples. Criticisms of un-exciting designs may be a thing of the past, because the Galaxy S6 will have sharp looks. The interface is also being redone, to bring it in line with Android 5.0 OS. Internally, the company is calling this phone “Project Zero”, because it is being designed from the ground up. It’ll again be a tough battle between Samsung and HTC, because both flagships are expected around the same time.
Microsoft Lumia 2020
Expected: April 2015
Last year, the switch to Microsoft ownership took up most of Nokia’s time. Which is why, it has been an year and a half since the Lumia 1020 was launched. We are simply speculating the name, but it is expected to further improve the excellent camera performance of the 1020’s 41-megapixel PureView camera. With Microsoft in charge of the operating system, expect this to come preloaded with Windows Phone 8.1, along with a bevy of services such as Skype and OneDrive.
Moto X (3rd gen)
Expected: July 2015
Motorola truly turned a leaf when the 2013 Moto X (and the more affordable Moto G) created excitement in the market. Last year’s X improved on the first generation, with boosted specifications and general performance improvements all round. The unique battery cover options (wood, leather etc.) add a dash of uniqueness. This year’s iteration, will be released under the ownership of Lenovo. We expect top of the line specs (whatever they are, at the time this is unveiled), with a price tag a notch more affordable than other Android flagships. Battery life will be improved as well.
