TOP 5 phones of the second half of 2026 I'm most looking forward to

The second half of the year is usually the most exciting period for mobile phone enthusiasts – one flagship after another is released, and I’m already marking my calendar. I’ve selected the five I’m most looking forward to in the coming months, and I’m adding a reason for each one. The vast majority of information about the phones themselves is currently based on mere leaks or speculation, so you should take it with a certain reserve. For example, regarding the Pixel 11 Pro, which I also included on the list, we already know practically everything from the internet just before its premiere.

Honor Robot Phone: a phone straight out of sci-fi

The Honor Robot Phone fascinates me with its audacity and reminds me of something from sci-fi movies. It won’t be a classic smartphone you already own – its main 200Mpx camera is supposed to sit on a motorized gimbal on an extendable “neck,” which reportedly erects in 0.8 seconds and can tilt and rotate almost 360°. Artificial intelligence is expected to track the object itself. Inside, a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is expected, along with a battery whose capacity leaks vary from six to seven thousand mAh. The manufacturer itself already showcased the concept at MWC and again in Shanghai.

I’m most curious whether it will even make its way to Europe. The premiere is expected on August 12th, but so far only for China, where pre-orders are already running at around 47 thousand Czech crowns (15,000 yuan). Although the brand’s CEO spoke of a “global” launch, no specific date for this region has been mentioned.

Apple iPhone Ultra: the first foldable from Cupertino

It took Apple a long time to commit to the foldable format, and that’s why there’s so much tension surrounding the first foldable iPhone. According to consistent leaks – from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo to renowned insider and journalist Mark Gurman – it will be a book-style foldable phone with roughly a 7.8″ inner and 5.5″ outer display, which is expected to be among the thinnest on the market (around 4.5 millimeters unfolded). Due to its thinness, Face ID reportedly couldn’t fit into the body, so fingerprint recognition in the side button is expected to return. It will be powered by an A20 chip, a pair of 48Mpx sensors will handle photography, and the price is expected to climb to roughly 50 thousand Czech crowns (around 2,000 dollars). The premiere is expected in September alongside the iPhone 18 Pro series.

With the first foldable iPhone, I’m personally not as interested in the parameters as I am in how the model will fare, given that it’s essentially the last to enter the market. A comparison with the recently introduced Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 will certainly be interesting, as it “copied” the design of the upcoming iPhone Ultra even before it was released – and is already experiencing considerable success.

Google Pixel 11 Pro: a phone I might actually buy

I myself use a Pixel 9 Pro XL and am already slowly looking for a successor. The Pixel 11 Pro will be officially unveiled on August 12th, and the number one attraction for me is clearly Pixel Glow: an array of RGB LEDs directly in the characteristic camera bar, which light up for notifications, incoming calls, or Gemini activity when the phone is face down. The principle somewhat resembles Nothing’s Glyph, but in a much more subtle design. Inside, a new Tensor G6 chip manufactured with a 2nm process is expected to tick.

I, of course, ask myself whether an upgrade from the nine will ultimately make sense. The Tensor G6 will likely offer snappier AI and better efficiency rather than a dramatic increase in performance, and magnets will remain from last year’s generation, which my Pixel doesn’t offer. Google can be expected to deliver a wide range of new software features, but the most interesting ones are usually regionally restricted and won’t make it to the Czech Republic. I’ll see how the manufacturer sets prices and what bonuses it offers.

Xiaomi 18 Ultra: a camera phone that might not even be released

This year, I got my hands on the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, and I really enjoyed taking photos with it. However, the fate of its successor is currently uncertain, and informants cannot agree on whether the Xiaomi 18 Ultra will actually arrive on the market, or if it will be postponed, or even completely canceled. The memory crisis is said to be to blame.

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If it does arrive, I’m naturally most looking forward to the cameras. There’s talk of a telephoto lens with a 200Mpx sensor and continuous optical zoom, as well as a larger main chip with LOFIC technology for a wider dynamic range, of course, still in collaboration with Leica. As for the rest of the features, we expect a flagship chip from Qualcomm, possibly a slightly larger battery, and support for fast charging around 90 W or more.

Vivo X500 Pro: a compact killer with brutal cameras

The last item is a bit of an insider tip. While the Vivo X500 Pro won’t have the same hyped PR as Apple’s flagships, on paper, it looks like one of the best compact camera phones of the year. It’s expected to feature a 50Mpx Sony main sensor with LOFIC technology, a 64Mpx periscope, and a battery over 7,000 mAh in a surprisingly small body with a 6.37″ flat display. It’s supposed to be powered by MediaTek Dimensity 9600. We wrote about the previous generation, the Vivo X300 Pro, as one of the best camera phones – and the 500 will likely follow suit.

TOP 5 phones of the second half of 2026 I'm most looking forward to Adam Kurfürst Articles Adam Kurfürst Articles

Why did it catch my eye? Because of the LOFIC adaptation. This acronym for Lateral Overflow Integration Capacitor, which I already used for the Xiaomi 18 Ultra above, means that each pixel gets an auxiliary capacitor that absorbs excess light and prevents bright areas from blowing out – resulting in a noticeably wider dynamic range in backlighting or near night lamps. It’s precisely the trick that the Xiaomi 17 Ultra showcased, and Vivo will adopt it.

Which of these five are you most looking forward to – and would you add anyone else to the ranking?