Smartphone fall preview
During this time of year, smartphone manufacturers release a bevvy of exciting devices. Read on to see which handsets we're anticipating the most.
Motorola Moto X Pure Edition
Price: Starts at $400
Availability: September
The outlook: Also known as the Moto X Style, the Moto X Pure Edition is a 5.7-inch water-repellent Android device that can be used on any US carrier. It also sports a Snapdragon 808 processor, a 21-megapixel camera and up to 128GB of external storage.
The new Apple iPhone and iPhone Plus
Price: Expected to start at $200 and $300 for the Plus
Availability: Announcement and retail availability expected in September
The outlook: Though little is officially known about the successors to the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, Apple make its announcement on Wednesday, September 9. Rumored to be called the 6S and 6S Plus, they are expected to run iOS 9 and will probably feature incremental updates, per the company's trend of introducing more robust iPhone upgrades every even-numbered year.
Samsung Galaxy Note 5
Price: Starts at $670-$740 (32GB) and $770-$840 (64GB) without a contract
Availability: Now
The outlook: Sporting a smart S Pen stylus, an expansive 5.7-inch display and a stylish metal and glass design, Samsung's Note 5 was made for the smartphone power user.
The next Nexus (or two)
Price: TBD
Availability: Announcement expected in October; retail availability projected for November
The outlook: For its latest flagship, Google is rumored to release two versions -- one manufactured by LG (which also made the Nexus 5 and 4) and another by Huawei. Both of these may also have USB Type-C ports and fingerprint scanners. They will likely run the company's latest Android 6.0 Marshmallow mobile OS as well.
OnePlus 2
Price: $330 (16GB) and $390 (64GB)
Availability: Now
The outlook: Equipped with a Snapdragon 810 processor, up to 4GB of RAM and a 5.5-inch, 1,080p display, the OnePlus 2 is one of the most powerful and (most importantly) affordable unlocked phones on the market.
HTC Desire 626
Price: $185 (AT&T) and $192 (Verizon)
Availability: Now
The outlook: The Desire 626 is part of HTC's line of midtier phones and offers decent devices at a sub-$200 price bracket. It's available on both AT&T and Verizon and has a quad-core processor, an 8-megapixel camera and a 5-inch display.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+
Price: Starts at $720-$792 (32GB) and $815-$888 (64GB) without a contract
Availability: Now
The outlook: Doubling down on its curved screen endeavors, Samsung launched the Galaxy S6 Edge+. Though its name leaves something to be desired, the phone itself is excellent. It has a long-lasting battery, a unique high-end design and its curved edges feature extra software functionality. The only drawback, however, is its expensive price.
Motorola Moto G (2015)
Price: $180 (8GB) and $220 (16GB)
Availability: Now
The outlook: The quality and hardware of budget phones keep getting better and the Moto G is no exception. It features a 5-inch screen, Android 5.1 Lollipop and a water resistant construction for that extra peace of mind.