15 most anticipated gadgets of 2015
Smartphone class 2014, get ready for graduation! And don't forget to step back to make way for the freshmen of smartphone, tablet, and wearables class of 2015
In 2015, we will see the beginning of the transition to 64-bit for Android, and Qualcomm - the largest chip maker on Android - has stepped up to the challenge with a comprehensive lineup of 64-bit chips covering everything from the high to the low-end and in-between. The Snapdragon 810 will be at the heart of many of the flagships, leading the way with impressive new features like higher clock speeds, faster, LPDDR4 RAM support, Adreno 430 graphics. The new chip will even outpace high-end cameras with its support for HEVC and the new h.265 codec that will make possible longer and more efficient recording in high resolutions like 4K.
2014 has also started a little revolution in battery life longevity with multiple devices now capable of running a full two days off the charger even under heavier use, and the introduction of ultra power saving modes help your phone last the night even when battery life falls in the single percentage zone. Expect this trend to continue in 2015.
The OnePlus One was unveiled early in 2014, showing us how Chinese smartphone makers can often do what seems impossible: put truly flagship-grade specs in a smartphone and adorn them with a price of a mid-ranger. The company, a spin-off of Oppo, however, seems to have launched the OnePlus One more for the hype that it generated rather than for the mass user. With a series of mishaps, a sexist marketing campaign, and a confusing invitation-based system, the OnePlus One quickly started becoming a OnePlus Annoyance for its wanna-be buyers. Rumors have been flying around for a follow-up, though, a OnePlus Two of kinds. Hopefully, the company has learned from its mistakes, and the rumored smaller (some say 5.2") OnePlus Two could finally offer us that lucrative combination of a good price and flagship-grade specs.
The Moto X started a new chapter for Motorola under Google in 2013, and while it was not a technological wonder, it offered wonderous customization options - you could tweak its color and even the material of the back cover. In 2014, two things happened - the Moto X (2014 edition) showed that Google is learning from its mistakes, as it fixed the specs on the Motorola flagship, bringing it on par with the competition, and then... Lenovo acquired Motorola.
However, this is just a part of what we expect to see in the smartphone class of the new year. Join us as we start our countdown for the most anticipated device of 2015 right below. Which one do you like best?
15. OnePlus Two
Expected release date: April 2015
14. Moto X (2015 edition)
Expected release date: September 2015
We're curious to see what the Moto X (2015 edition) brings as Lenovo has confirmed that it will continue using the Motorola brand in many markets.
We've been waiting for a successor to the Nokia Lumia 1020 for nearly a year and a half now, as the 2013 Nokia flagship still has unmatched camera performance. After all the turbulence in Nokia Windows Phone land, though, it seems all is clear for launch: the Microsoft Lumia brand has killed Nokia, and the awesome PureView technology that has been years in development could finally grace more people.
The Note 4 has launched not too long ago, and we've already heard the first rumors about the Galaxy Note 5. Those claim that the next big thing in the world of phablets is expected to feature a slightly larger 5.9” display with a massively sharper, Ultra HD resolution. You, however, should know that those early rumors hold little value, as chances are that the device has not yet hit the manufacturing lines, and things are still subject to change.
The Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus made for another record-breaking year for Apple in 2014, and they do stand-out with their remarkable, premium design, as well as evolved software with iOS 8 that manages to keep the simplicity of use, and still deliver further-reaching functionality.
13. Microsoft Lumia 2020 PureView (Lumia 1020 successor)
Expected release date: Spring 2015
In 2014, Microsoft has focused on releasing a huge Windows Phone 8.1 update, and with the software as a base, the Lumia 2020 PureView (or whatever the Lumia 1020 successor is called, we're just speculating with the name) is eagerly anticipated.
Amazon's lineup of Kindle Fire tablets has performed strongly, competing with Samsung for the title of the most popular Android-based tablet brand, but as the future of tablets becomes less clear and more complicated it's hard to predict what the 2015 edition of the Kindle Fire will look like.
12. Amazon Kindle Fire 2015 edition
Expected release date: Late September 2015
With rumors all around for a jump to larger screen sizes that allow for more laptop-like productivity, we would not be at all surprised to see the new Kindle Fire tablets jump to a 12" screen size, or even slightly more. As always, we also expect great price, top-notch hardware, and Amazon's heavy custom skin on top of (hopefully) Android 5.0 Lollipop.
The Motorola Moto G started a little revolution in affordable devices back in late 2013 when the first generation of the phone launched, and this years, the 2014 edition of the Moto G also impressed with its continued focus on a great price-to-feature ratio.
11. Motorola Moto G 2015 edition
Expected release date: Spring 2015
However, times are changing and the Snapdragon 400 system chip in the Moto G phones of 2013 and 2014 is starting to show its age. That's why we expect Motorola/Lenovo to introduce a new, Snapdragon 410-powered and 64-bit-running Moto G in 2015 with the same great display, good battery life and camera.
After Microsoft's first Surface laptop/tablet combo that finally hit a good vibe with customers, the Surface Pro 3, we have all reasons to expect that the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 will be even better.
10. Microsoft Surface Pro 4
Expected release date: May 2015
Microsoft has perfected the hinge mechanism, and the add-on keyboards are a great addition for the Surface lineup, but the big novelty we expect in the 2015 Surface Pro 4 is a new and more efficient Intel Broadwell 20nm chip. This should contribute to an even longer-lasting battery, and improved performance, something that would add just one more reason to consider the Surface over a traditional laptop.
Sony seems to have decided to stop releasing two flagship Xperia Z handsets every year, and instead focus on one device that will be great all around. In 2015, that device is expected to be the Xperia Z4.
9. Sony Xperia Z4
Expected release date: Late February 2015
Sony is rumored to have decided to go with a larger than before, 5.5-inch display and a Quad HD resolution to match the current trend. We're also hoping that it improves its camera interface (which is just too cluttered and complicated now), and why not, stuff the Z4 with the 64-bit Snapdragon 810 to make it a true rival to current flagships.
Xiaomi, a tongue-twister of a name (it's pronounced as 'show-me'), has managed to somehow become China's largest phone seller in just a year, and it has for a short while enjoyed a place in the top 3 of 2014's world's biggest phone makers, but you might have not even heard about it. Yes, it has managed to do all this without official presence in the United States and most of Europe, relying on Asia and other markets. However, this does not mean it is lacking such ambitions - high-profile ex-Google and now Xiaomi marketing lead Hugo Barra sees Xiaomi's phones more fit for the developing world and markets like Brazil will get its phones in 2015.
8. Xiaomi Mi5
Expected release date: July 2015
The one Xiaomi phone that you should really care about in 2015 is the expected Xiaomi Mi 5. With a price for its flagships traditionally at half that of other, well-established companies, the Mi series still crams in the latest of specs in an impressive package.
The LG G4 might be the first phone to launch with an in-house LG system chip, and continue in the footsteps of the LG G3 - continuing to improve on the 5.5" Quad HD display formula (the screen of the G3 was one of its weakest parts). LG has also traditionally maintained slightly lower prices than its rivals, so we expect to continue putting price pressure on the big ones like Samsung and force them to innovate more.
The HTC One (M8) set a new standard for a refined, sturdy, stylish all-aluminum Android device (and some go as far as to claim it inspired Apple for the iPhone 6 design), but that UltraPixel camera with its poor, 4-megapixel resolution just did not seem to be on par with what everyone else offered in terms of image and video quality.
7. LG G4
Expected release date: May 2015
6. HTC One (M9)
Expected release date: Early March 2015
We're hoping praying that HTC takes note and finally improves the camera resolution as well as quality, and if it maintains that stand-out design, the One (M9) might finally kickstart the return to glory for the ailing company. After all, that style and the fast and smooth Sense software are assets that not many other Androids have.
We've been hearing about a 12.2-inch iPad Pro model for quite a while, but it seems that 2015 will be the year when Apple will finally be ready with the big announcement that will change the face of its iPad lineup, and could change the definition of a tablet. The iPad Pro is speculated to replace the 7.9-inch iPad mini. The new and larger iPad will come with its focus on productivity and we would not be surprised if Apple updated iOS for iPad to include a multi-window multitasking option.
The Galaxy S6 is expected to bring some big changes for Samsung's flagship line. The device is expected to be such a big departure from earlier models that Samsung is said to refer to the phone as "Project Zero" internally.
5. Apple iPad Pro (12” model)
Expected release date: Spring 2015
4. Samsung Galaxy S6
Expected release date: Early March 2015
We expect the Galaxy S6 to adopt the design and premium metal frame of devices like the Galaxy Alpha nad Note 4, and it will also be the first Samsung top-shelf Android smartphone to come with a 64-bit chip, the new and faster Snapdragon 810. On the camera side, we expect either a 16-megapixel or 21-megapixel shooter, likely with a Sony IMX240 sensor (the same that is said to be in the Note 4). A welcome change in the S6 is the fact that storage now starts at 32GB for the base model rather than just 16 gigs. We also expect some surprises from Samsung, as well as more details to surface soon.
3. Samsung Galaxy Note 5
Expected release date: Early September 2015
We ourselves would not bet on such a wild rumor, but we do expect gradual improvements with a new, 64-bit system chip in the Note 4, further improved S Pen functionality, as well as a focus on improved multitasking.
The Apple Watch is no longer a secret - Tim Cook and his lieutenants unveiled it at a massive event in the fall of 2014, but it wasn't what many tech geeks expected. Namely, it is not a device aimed squarely at nerds - rather, it's more of a fashion and fitness oriented piece of technology, and in its most expensive, 18-carat gold versions, it's actually more of a piece of jewelry.
2. Apple Watch
Expected release date: Spring 2015
Yes, it could be that expensive with rumors flying around that while the cheapest version of the Apple Watch will only cost $350, the gold ones could reach a starting price of the whopping $5,000. In exchange, you get a truly exquisite engineering marvel with a dedicated Watch operating system, as well as capabilities to track some of your vitals, and act as a reminder for you to keep a healthy lifestyle.
1. Apple iPhone 6s/iPhone 6s Plus
Expected release date: Mid-September 2015
What could 2015's iPhone 6s and 6s Plus have to surprise us? While we do not expect any changes in design and screen size, we do expect a small further boost in performance power, a bump up in the camera sensor that would bring us more megapixels for more detailed images, and we hope for the usual surprise from Apple.
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