Technologies

Top Phones to Expect in 2024: iPhone 16, Galaxy S24 and More

Apple, Samsung, Google and other major phone-makers are all likely to add more AI to their phones in 2024.

It was a busy year for smartphone launches, and 2024 is expected to be just as eventful. Major phone-makers like Apple, Samsung and Google each typically launch new devices around the same time every year, introducing more sophisticated cameras, faster processors and enhanced designs.

But 2024 may be different. Tech companies are looking for new ways to infuse generative AI, or artificial intelligence that can create conversational (but not always accurate) responses to prompts based on training data, into their products. As 2023 draws to a close, we got our first glimpse at how that tech is appearing in smartphones through the Pixel 8 family and new mobile chips from Qualcomm and MediaTek.

While 2023 was the year generative AI went mainstream, 2024 will test how truly useful these AI-powered features are. With AI being the new buzzword thanks to the success of ChatGPT, every tech company is jumping at the chance to weave it into their products. Now, we’ll have to see if it lives up to the hype.

Here’s a look at the most anticipated phones from the industry’s biggest players next year, not including foldable phones and budget phones.

iPhone 16 lineup

What to expect: Apple launches new iPhones every September, and we have no reason to believe next year will be any different. All iPhone 16 models are expected to get upgraded microphones to improve Siri performance, according to well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The change would come as Apple is said to be ramping up the iPhone’s AI features, Bloomberg reports. Otherwise, the iPhone 16 family is rumored to get a new A18 chip from Apple, with the Pro models getting a version called the A18 Pro Bionic, analyst Jeff Pu reports according to MacRumors. The camera on the regular iPhone 16 Pro is also expected to get a tetraprism telephoto lens like the iPhone 15 Pro Max, Kuo also reports, meaning it would likely have a 5x telephoto zoom instead of 3x. Read our full iPhone 16 rumor roundup.

Why we’re excited about it: The iPhone 16 sounds like it will be a modest upgrade over the iPhone 15 family. But I’m interested in seeing Apple’s take on how AI can improve the smartphone experience. Siri is expected to be a big part of that, and I’m looking forward to seeing Siri evolve into more than just a quick way to set timers or check tomorrow’s weather forecast.

Samsung Galaxy S24 series

Samsung Galaxy S23, S23 Plus and S23 Ultra on stands on a wooden table, backs to us

What to expect: AI will likely be a big focus for Samsung’s next flagship smartphone. The South Korean tech giant in November announced Galaxy AI, which it describes as a “mobile AI experience.” Since the Galaxy S24 series is expected to launch in January according to SBS Biz News, it seems plausible that Galaxy AI will play a big role in the new device. Otherwise, the Galaxy S24 Ultra may get a flat screen instead of a slightly curved one, according to leaks that have surfaced on X (formerly Twitter) from accounts under the aliases David Martin and SuperRoader. The phones will also likely get routine camera and processor upgrades and may run on Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, which can process AI tasks without pinging the cloud. Read our Samsung Galaxy S24 rumor roundup for more.

Why we’re excited about it: I’ve been waiting for Samsung to come up with clever new software features the way Google has for its Pixel devices. Galaxy AI could be the answer, but we won’t know for sure until Samsung announces the new phones.

Google Pixel 9 and 9 Pro

What to expect: There haven’t been many rumors about Google’s next Pixel phones yet since they typically launch in October. But based on Google’s product strategy, it’s probably safe to assume we’ll be seeing new AI-powered features similar to the ones that debuted in the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. Earlier this month, Google introduced its new AI model Gemini, which runs on the Pixel 8 Pro to power features like conversation summaries in the Recorder app. It seems plausible that Google would build on that, adding more AI-fueled capabilities to its next Pixels. Otherwise, we can likely expect routine upgrades like a new Tensor processor and camera improvements. Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants, also says the new phones will have larger screens than the Pixel 8 generation, according to a post on X.

Why we’re excited about it: Google’s Pixel phones are usually among CNET’s favorite phones of the year. The Pixel 8 generation felt like an early look at Google’s new AI-focused direction for smartphones, and I imagine Google will apply learnings and feedback from the Pixel 8 to the Pixel 9. Plus, given that the Pixel 8 Pro’s camera didn’t impress CNET reviewer Andrew Lanxon the way he had hoped, I’d like to see Google make up for that with the Pixel 9 Pro.

OnePlus 12

What to expect: OnePlus already introduced its new flagship phone in China, and an international release is expected in early 2024. The OnePlus 12 is a modest upgrade over the OnePlus 11 that runs on Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, has a higher resolution 64-megapixel telephoto camera like the OnePlus Open compared to the previous model’s 32-megapixel zoom camera, more storage in the base model (256GB instead of 128GB), and faster 50-watt wireless charging among other changes.

Why we’re excited about it: OnePlus built a reputation for offering some of the fastest charging speeds available in smartphones, and it sounds like that could hold true yet again for the OnePlus 12. In addition to supporting 50-watt wireless charging, there’s also 100W wired charging. Plus, it’s one of the first phones to run on Qualcomm’s new chip, which has been optimized for AI-powered tasks like generating details beyond the frame in an image to make it look like the photo was taken with an ultrawide lens. Now, I’m waiting to see how OnePlus puts that chip to use.

Oppo Find X7 series

What to expect: If Oppo maintains the same launch schedule as 2023, the Oppo Find X7 could arrive in early 2024. (The Find X6 series launched in March.) It may have 100-watt fast charging, according to tech blog The Tech Outlook, which says two Oppo devices expected to be the Find X7 and X7 Pro have been spotted on a Chinese certification database. The Find X7 family will also have a Hasselblad Hypertone camera system, which uses computational photography to cut down on distortion and image noise. It could also run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, since an Oppo press release mentions that chip will appear in the company’s future flagship phone.

Why we’re excited about it: Oppo is known for offering phones with sleek hardware and quality cameras, and soon we’ll learn if the Find X7 upholds that reputation. However, the Find X6 only launched in China, so it’s unlikely that we’ll see an international release for the Find X7.

Xiaomi 14 series

What to expect: Xiaomi introduced its new pair of flagship phones at the end of October, touting that they’re the first with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. Otherwise, the Xiaomi 14’s display can reach 3,000 nits of peak brightness, and its camera sensor can take in 180% more light than the Xiaomi 13. There’s also 90-watt fast charging on the regular Xiaomi 14 and 120 watts on the Pro. Both phones run on Xiaomi’s new HyperOS software, which is designed to power mobile devices, cars and smart home devices. Xiaomi typically launches new phones in China before bringing them to other markets, although these phones aren’t expected to arrive in the US.

Why we’re excited about it: Xiaomi’s phones are known for packing powerful performance, massive cameras and speedy charging. It’s the third-largest phone-maker behind Apple and Samsung by global shipment volume, so its new devices and technologies are bound to have an influence on the industry.

Based on the rumors, reports and announcements so far, next year’s phones should bring a balance of new AI features and updates to existing staples like charging speeds. Although AI still has to prove its purpose in phones, the idea of software features that truly bring something new and useful to phones is refreshing.

Technologies

Trump Maintains US‑Iran Negotiations Continue Amid Tehran’s Denials of Duplicity

President Trump insists that US‑Iran talks are ongoing despite Tehran’s denial of any negotiation plans, while warning that only a deal or total surrender will allow passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Conflicting statements from both sides have heightened uncertainty as the conflict enters its sixth month.

On Monday, President Donald Trump asserted that negotiations between the United States and Iran are still taking place, even after Tehran stated it has no intention of engaging in direct talks with Washington.

In a fiery Truth Social post, Trump labeled Iran’s leaders “unbelievably duplicitous,” claiming they are lying about ongoing peace talks “whether Iran wants to admit it or not.” He repeated his assertion that the United States completely controls the Strait of Hormuz, despite maritime traffic through the crucial route lingering at only a small fraction of pre‑conflict levels.

He wrote, “Nothing reaches Iran unless we allow it, and nothing will pass unless a deal—or total surrender—is achieved.”

Earlier that day, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told reporters there is no imminent plan for U.S.–Iran negotiations, contradicting Trump’s earlier comment that talks would resume Monday afternoon. Baghaei added that Iran’s only current discussions are with Oman concerning the Strait of Hormuz.

The conflicting statements have heightened uncertainty over the peace‑talk process and the broader conflict, now in its sixth month.

Trump’s assertion about new negotiations came a day after he said on Truth Social that he had agreed to cancel a massive strike against Iran “subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL.” He said in the same post that Iran and other Middle Eastern countries had asked him to hold off on that attack because “the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to.”

Trump has claimed dozens of times throughout the more‑than‑five‑month‑long war that a deal is at hand. No permanent deal has been signed, and a temporary ceasefire reached in June has fallen apart.

Trump has also repeatedly threatened to launch devastating strikes against Iran before backing off. After the latest example, oil prices on Monday fell and stocks surged.

BMI, a research unit of Fitch Solutions, said in a note Monday that a broader diplomatic understanding on reopening the Strait of Hormuz is still achievable this quarter, while raising the probability of its escalation scenario to 35% from 25%, citing mounting military, diplomatic and economic signs of rising U.S.-Iran tensions.

“Diplomatic progress is likely to be punctuated by periodic military flare-ups, while miscalculation by either side could trigger a renewed escalation,” BMI analysts wrote in a note. The firm said the key issue to watch is the future governance of the strait, as the Iran-Oman talks — potentially backed by Gulf states, China and the U.S. — point to efforts to build a post-conflict shipping framework.

Shipping risks persist even as diplomacy appears to be advancing. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre said it received a report of an incident 20 nautical miles (23 miles) northeast of Khasab, Oman — at the mouth of the strait — with a tanker’s master reporting an explosion in close proximity to the vessel at about 20:37 UTC Sunday (4:37 pm ET). The vessel and crew were safe and authorities are investigating, UKMTO said, advising ships to transit with caution.

The proposal Trump announced over the weekend calls for the U.S. and Iran to return to negotiations and continue ironing out some of the thorny issues that had derailed diplomatic efforts, according to The Associated Press, citing a regional official involved in the mediation efforts.

The official said the proposal also includes a reopening of the Hormuz Strait and halting attacks across the region, including by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq on the Arab Gulf countries and Jordan.

The U.S., for its part, will end its naval blockade on Iran and allow Tehran to export its oil, the official said, adding that no deal has been reached, although the mediation efforts remained underway.

Trump’s weekend reversal has lowered the temperature after days of escalating attacks across the Gulf. Kuwait said Saturday that Iranian forces launched a wave of drones within its airspace, with its military destroying multiple aircraft after Iran targeted critical infrastructure in the country’s north.

A parallel track with Muscat is also advancing. Iranian diplomats said Tehran was close to reaching a new arrangement with Oman to manage shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a deal critical to preventing the war from escalating further, according to the Financial Times.

Iranian officials said negotiations over future management of the Hormuz Strait with Oman, which sits on the opposite shore of the waterway, are in their final stages. The agreed shipping route would be different from those used before, according to Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Baghaei, adding that the new route was separate from the issue of the strait’s reopening or continued closure.

Technologies

Oil Prices Slide as Trump Halts Planned Iran Strike

Oil prices dropped after Trump cancelled a planned strike on Iran, with WTI down about 5% and Brent near 5% lower. He said the move followed requests from Tehran and regional allies for a pause while a deal shaping the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program is negotiated.

Oil prices fell on Monday after President Donald Trump announced he had cancelled a planned strike on Iran. WTI futures dropped roughly 5% to $80.34 a barrel, while Brent slipped about 4.7% to $83.77 a barrel.

Trump said early Sunday he called off the strike after Iran and several Middle Eastern nations asked him to hold off, noting that the outlines of a deal had been agreed upon. He added that the prospective accord would entail the immediate, full opening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, according to his Truth Social post.

The president had been considering another round of strikes as diplomatic hopes waned since the conflict began on February 28. He said the U.S. and Iran would meet for talks on Monday, but Iran denied any scheduled negotiations with Washington, citing PressTV. Iran’s foreign‑ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei clarified that Tehran was only discussing shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz with Oman. In a follow‑up Truth Social message, Trump insisted that, regardless of Iran’s acknowledgment, the United States is indeed discussing a solution to a long‑standing problem created by Iran.

Technologies

Oil Prices Drop as Trump Cancels Planned Attack on Iran

Oil prices fell sharply after President Trump announced the cancellation of a planned strike on Iran, citing a new deal that would open the Hormuz Strait and end Iran’s nuclear threat.

Oil prices fell sharply on Monday after President Donald Trump announced that he had called off a planned strike on Iran.

West Texas Intermediate futures, the U.S. benchmark, slipped roughly 5% to close at $80.34 per barrel, while Brent crude, the international benchmark, declined 4.7% to settle at $83.77 a barrel.

Trump made the announcement early Sunday, saying he had canceled the strike following requests from Tehran and other Middle Eastern countries.

In a Truth Social post, he wrote: “We have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to.”

The president indicated that the proposed agreement would include the immediate, complete, and total opening of the Hormuz Strait, as well as an end to Iran’s nuclear threat.

Trump had been weighing additional strikes amid diminishing prospects for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict that began on Feb. 28. He stated that the U.S. and Iran would hold negotiations on Monday.

Tehran denied that talks were planned with Washington, according to state news outlet PressTV.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran was only holding talks with Oman regarding the routes ships can use through the Strait of Hormuz.

In a subsequent Truth Social post, Trump added that whether “Iran wants to admit it or not, we are, in fact, talking of a solution to a problem that they have caused for decades.”