Best phones of 2026 haven't all arrived yet, because half of this year has passed, yet its real surprises still hide behind curtains. Over coming months six phones are arriving that could rewrite this year's contest for that top spot. Let's see which ones, plus why exactly these are set to become this year's best. Let me say first, unreleased phones mean a large share of these details comes from leaks plus rumors, final math arrives only on launch stages.

1. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (July 22)

For first time in Samsung's history an Ultra name lands on a Fold, plus hearing its specs explains why. A 200 megapixel main camera, a dedicated telephoto, a 50 megapixel ultrawide, plus a crease far less visible than before. Alongside sit Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 'For Galaxy' plus up to 16GB of RAM. It stays in this race for best because folding phones' two oldest complaints, weak cameras plus crease marks, both are set to vanish here. Its price stays that only fear, rumors say $1,999 to $2,499.

2. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 (July 22)

Second star of that same stage, but of a completely different philosophy. A passport-like wide build, merely 4.5mm thin when open, weighing 201 grams, holding a 7.6-inch 4:3 screen inside. It enters this best list because it erases folding phones' biggest barrier, that heavy plus elongated feeling itself. Closed it's nearly an ordinary phone, open it's a small tablet, plus a move to capture this market before Apple's folding iPhone arrives.

3. Google Pixel 11 Pro (August 12)

Made by Google event's date stands officially confirmed, in New York. Rumors say no big visual change arrives, its lone exception being a light indicator named "Pixel Glow". So why would it be best? Because Pixel's real game never lived in looks. With a new generation Tensor chip, Gemini-powered AI goes even deeper this time, plus in computational photography Pixel already teaches this world. In a year when everyone races over AI, a new phone from AI's king cannot stay off that best list.

4. Folding iPhone (September)

This year's most awaited phone, without any doubt. Apple's first foldable, priced at $2,300 to $2,500 by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo's math, yet demand runs so high that selling out right as pre-orders open stays a real fear, resale prices climbing 50 to 100 percent cannot be ruled out either. It will be best because Apple never races to be first, it races to be flawless. After years of waiting, when they step into folding phones, this entire industry sits up.

5. iPhone 18 Pro Max (September)

A new A20 Pro chip, an even bigger battery, which per leaks could surpass even Galaxy S26 Ultra in some markets, plus rumors of a shrinking Dynamic Island. iPhone 17 Pro Max currently wears that crown of world's best phone, plus its successor naturally stands as first claimant to that crown. One thorn only, by Counterpoint's math its price may rise $200 on average.

6. OnePlus 16 (September, expected)

It's expected alongside Qualcomm's new Snapdragon chips, plus rumors say with slimmest bezels in OnePlus history. OnePlus 15 stunned everyone this year with a 7,300 mAh battery, that battery reign should continue on 16 too, so goes belief. It stays on this list because OnePlus remains master of that game of delivering flagship power at comparatively lower cost. One uncertainty exists though, questions hang over whether it arrives in United States plus Europe at all.

So what's the summary? July through September, what's about to happen in phone's world across these three months hasn't happened in years. Two Samsung foldables, Google's AI weapon, Apple's history-making first folding iPhone plus a new Pro Max, alongside OnePlus fighting on price. Holding any plan of buying a new phone, wisest move right now is folding your hands plus waiting. Because this year's best phones haven't climbed onto shop shelves yet.