Top 10 Best Upcoming Phones in January 2026

January 2026 is shaping up to be a huge month for smartphone releases. We're talking about confirmed launches, not just rumors, with details on expected prices and some insider tidbits. Let's dive into what's coming.

Key Takeaways

Realme 16 Pro Series: Launches January 6th with two models, the Pro and Pro Plus, featuring textured backs and distinct designs. The Pro gets a flat display and Dimensity 7300, while the Pro Plus boasts a quad-curve display and Snapdragon 7 Gen 4.
OnePlus Turbo: Expected late January or early February, this phone might feature a massive 9,000 mAh battery and a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor.
Vivo X200T: A rebranded X200S from China, launching late January or early February, with a 1.5K AMOLED display and a triple 50MP camera setup.
Oppo Reno 15 Series: Three models arriving in the second week of January: Reno 15, Reno 15 Pro, and Reno 15 Pro Mini. The Pro and Pro Mini share camera specs, while the Reno 15 gets a Snapdragon 7 Gen 4.
Samsung Galaxy A07 5G: An entry-level device launching in January with a 6.7-inch 120Hz LCD, Dimensity 6300, and a 6,000 mAh battery.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Series & Poco M8 Series: The Note 15 series includes three phones with varying processors and cameras. The Poco M8 and M8 Pro will share specs with the Note 15 and Note 15 Pro Plus, respectively, with camera differences to keep costs down.
AI Plus Nova Flip: A budget flip phone is also rumored to be launching, though details are scarce.

Realme 16 Pro Series Arrives Early

Kicking off the year on January 6th, Realme is set to launch its 16 Pro series. We'll see two models: the Realme 16 Pro and the 16 Pro Plus. Both phones sport a soft, textured back that feels nice in the hand, though the camera modules look pretty familiar. The main design difference is that the Pro model has a more flat, boxy feel with sharp edges, while the Pro Plus features curves all around and a more integrated camera bump.

Realme 16 Pro Specs:

Display: 6.78-inch 1.5K, 144Hz flat panel
Processor: Dimensity 7300
Battery: 7,000 mAh with 80W charging
Cameras: 200MP main, 8MP ultrawide, 50MP selfie

Realme 16 Pro Plus Specs:

Display: 6.78-inch 1.5K, 120Hz quad-curve panel
Processor: Snapdragon 7 Gen 4
Battery: 7,000 mAh with 80W charging
Cameras: 200MP main, 8MP ultrawide, 50MP periscope telephoto (3.5x), 50MP selfie

Pricing is a bit tricky, but the 16 Pro is expected to be under 30,000 rupees, with the 16 Pro Plus around 35,000 rupees.

OnePlus Turbo: The Battery Beast?

After the OnePlus 15 and 15R, you might think OnePlus would slow down, but it seems they have something big planned for January. Rumor has it they're launching their biggest battery phone yet, possibly called the OnePlus Turbo. This phone could pack a massive 9,000 mAh battery. On the performance side, it's expected to run on a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor with up to 16GB of RAM and feature a 1.5K, 165Hz display. We're looking at a launch either at the end of January or early February.

Vivo X200T: A Familiar Face

Instead of an "FE" model, Vivo is bringing the Vivo X200T to the market. This is essentially a rebranded version of the X200S that launched in China. It's expected to feature a 6.67-inch 1.5K AMOLED display, a 6,200 mAh battery with 90W wired and 40W wireless charging, and a triple 50MP camera setup. Powering it will be the Dimensity 9400+ with UFS 4.1 storage. The Chinese price was around 4,200 yuan, which converts to about 50,000 Indian rupees, so let's hope Vivo keeps it competitive here. Expect this one in late January or early February.

Oppo Reno 15 Series: Compact Option Included

Oppo is also confirmed to launch its Reno 15 series in the second week of January, and this time, there will be three phones: the Reno 15, Reno 15 Pro, and a new Reno 15 Pro Mini. The Reno 15 will be a rebranded Reno 15C, and the Pro Mini will be a rebranded Reno 15 from China. This marks Oppo's first compact phone launch in India.

The Reno 15 Pro and Pro Mini will share a camera setup: a 200MP main, 50MP ultrawide, 50MP 3.5x telephoto, and a 50MP selfie camera, all powered by the Dimensity 8450. The main difference will be the display size and type – the Pro gets a larger LTPO panel, while the Pro Mini has a smaller 6.32-inch LTPS display. The Mini also has a slightly smaller battery and no wireless charging.

Both Pro models will feature a holographic back with a metal frame and IP69 rating. The standard Reno 15 will use a Snapdragon 7 Gen 4, a triple camera setup (50MP main, 50MP 3.5x telephoto, 8MP ultrawide), and a 6,500 mAh battery.

Samsung Galaxy A07 5G: Entry-Level Option

If you were expecting the S26 series or A57/A37, those launches have been pushed to February and March, respectively. However, Samsung is launching the Galaxy A07 5G in January. This is an entry-level device featuring a 6.7-inch 120Hz LCD, a Dimensity 6300 processor, and a 6,000 mAh battery – a first for Samsung in this segment. It will come with Android 16 out of the box and promises 6 years of OS updates. The expected price is around 10,000 rupees.

Xiaomi: Redmi Note 15 and Poco M8 Series

Xiaomi is also having a busy January with the Redmi Note 15 series and the Poco M8 series.

The Redmi Note 15 series will include three phones: Note 15, Note 15 Pro, and Note 15 Pro Plus. The design is similar to previous Notes, with a centered camera module.

Redmi Note 15: Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, 45W charging, 108MP main camera with OIS, 8MP ultrawide, 6.77-inch curved AMOLED. Expected around 20,000 rupees.
Redmi Note 15 Pro: Dimensity 7400 Ultra, 200MP main camera, 8MP ultrawide, 6,580 mAh battery with 45W charging, 1.5K curved AMOLED. Expected around 25,000 rupees.
Redmi Note 15 Pro Plus: Same display and rear cameras as the Pro, but with Snapdragon 7S Gen 4, a 32MP selfie camera, and faster 100W charging. Expected around 30,000 rupees.

For Poco, we'll see the Poco M8 and Poco M8 Pro. These phones will share most specs with the Redmi Note 15 and Note 15 Pro Plus, respectively. The main difference will be in the camera sensors, likely to make the M8 series more affordable. The Poco M8 is expected around 15,000 rupees, and the M8 Pro around 25,000 rupees. Note that the Poco X8 Pro won't be launching in January.

Mystery Phone: AI Plus Nova Flip

Finally, there's a potential budget flip phone on the horizon: the AI Plus Nova Flip. While specs are still unconfirmed, it was recently tweeted about. Let's hope it brings something interesting to the foldable market.

So, that's a look at what's coming in January 2026. Which phone are you most excited about? Let me know in the comments!