Upcoming Smartphone Launches In January 2026: Table of Contents
January 2026 is shaping up to be a hectic month for smartphone launches, especially in India. Kicking off the year are multiple Chinese brands that appear keen to set the tone early, with back-to-back launches across different price segments.
From experimental battery tech to delayed flagships and possible rebrands, January isn’t just about new phones: it’s about where the smartphone market is headed next.
Upcoming Smartphone Launches In January 2026
Redmi Note 15 5G
- Release Date: January 6, 2026
Kicking off the new calendar year are two Chinese brands: Redmi and Realme. Both of them have smartphone launches scheduled for January 6, 2026.
The first phone in the Note 15 series, the Redmi Note 15, will debut in India on Tuesday. It is the first of three phones. Redmi could release other phones, such as the Note 15 Pro and Note 15 Pro+, in the near future. For now, let’s talk about the vanilla Note 15.
The brand has confirmed a few specifications for the smartphone. They include a 108MP primary camera, the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 SoC, a 6.77-inch curved AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 5,520 mAh battery supporting 45W wired charging, and an IP65 dust- and water-resistant rating.
Other than that, the smartphone could feature a 20MP front-facing camera and ship in multiple memory and storage variants. The specifications (though some are underwhelming) suggest the phone could be placed in the upper mid-range segment. The Redmi Note 14, for those catching up, is currently priced around Rs. 16,500.
The Redmi Note 15 5G could be priced similarly or command a slight premium over the phone.
Also Read: Exclusive: Redmi Note 15 Series India Launch Set for January 2026
Realme 16 Pro
- Release Date: January 6, 2026
On the same day, Xiaomi’s sister company, Realme, will also launch the next iteration of its number series in India. Instead of launching the base model first, Realme is unveiling the Realme 16 Pro and the Realme 16 Pro+.
Thanks to the promotional materials and the phones’ microsites, we have detailed information about the two phones. First, both will feature a bold, premium “Urban Wild” design language with multiple colorways at launch.
Both phones are said to feature a 200MP primary camera, but the Realme 16 Pro+ will also feature a dedicated periscope zoom camera. The Pro+ is also said to sport a massive 7,000 mAh battery that should support around 80W fast wired charging.
While the non-plus model will feature the Dimensity 7300 Max chipset, the Pro+ model is confirmed to ship with the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 SoC. Finally, both phones will feature high-brightness AMOLED screens with a 120Hz refresh rate and run on the Realme UI 7.0.
The Realme 16 Pro could cost around Rs. 30,000 for the base variant with 8GB of memory and 128GB of storage, while the Realme 16 Pro+ could cost around Rs. 40,000 for the baseline variant, likely with 256GB of storage.
Also Read: realme 16 Pro Roundup: 200MP Primary Camera, Revamped Design, Punch-Hole Screen & Everything Else
Poco M8
- Release Date: January 8, 2026
Two days after Xiaomi and Realme launch, Poco will unveil the Poco M8 5G. Per its confirmed and leaked specifications, the handset appears to be a rebranded version of the Redmi Note 15 5G.
Expect the handset to feature a 6.77-inch FHD+ OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, run on the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset, and include a 5,520 mAh battery supporting 45W wired charging. A couple of days ago, the brand also confirmed its thickness: 7.35mm.
Oppo Reno 15
- Release Date: January 8, 2026
Earlier today, Oppo confirmed the launch date of the Reno 15 series in India: January 8, 2026. The series comprises the Reno 15, Reno 15 Pro, and Reno 15 Pro Mini.
All phones in the series will feature the company’s HoloFusion technology, delivering a premium design. Further, the company has confirmed that 120Hz AMOLED displays will be available across the lineup. While the Pro and Pro Mini will feature a 200MP primary camera (with PureTone Imaging technology), all phones will run ColorOS based on Android 16.
The smallest phone in the lineup, Pro Mini, could feature a 6.32-inch screen; the Reno 15 could feature a 6.59-inch screen; and the Reno 15 Pro is rumored to ship with a 6.78-inch screen. While the non-Pro model could feature the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset, the other two might be powered by the Dimensity 8450 SoC.
All phones should feature a battery with 6,000+ mAh and support fast wired charging. The phones could debut at around Rs. 50,000 pricing for the base variant and Rs. 60,000 for the Pro variants.
Also Read: Exclusive: Oppo Reno 15 going Global with Different Internals Compared to the China model
Global Smartphone Launches Expected In January 2026
OnePlus Turbo 6 (China)
- Release Date: January 8, 2026
On the same day, another Chinese smartphone maker, OnePlus, will launch one of the most-hyped smartphone series of recent times, the OnePlus Turbo 6 series, primarily due to its battery capacity.
The series comprises two smartphones: the OnePlus Turbo 6 and the OnePlus Turbo 6V. While the former relies on the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, the latter uses the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4. This trend holds across all specifications, indicating that the Turbo 6 is the better-equipped handset.
Both smartphones will feature a 1.5K AMOLED screen (the Turbo will get a 165Hz refresh rate panel, while the Turbo 6V features a 144Hz refresh rate). However, the main highlight of the Turbo series, the 9,000 mAh battery, should be reserved for the Turbo 6, while the 6V should come with a 7,000 mAh battery.
Although the brand hasn’t confirmed this, the OnePlus Turbo 6 could be launched in India as the Nord 6.
Also Read: OnePlus Confirms Turbo 6 Series Ahead of January Launch, Big Battery and High Refresh Rates Teased
Galaxy S26 (Global)
- Release Date: January/February
Last year, Samsung unveiled its flagship Galaxy S series on January 22, 2025, with general availability on February 7, 2025. However, that might not be the case with this year’s Galaxy S26.
It is delayed for several reasons, including rising component costs, internal chipset strategy changes, and supply chain adjustments. Initially, Samsung was rumored to unveil the phone in January, but that might no longer be the case.
Samsung could still announce the phone in late January 2026, but general availability could be delayed to either February or March (in the worst-case scenario). The series should include the regular models: Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus, and Galaxy S26 Ultra.
The vanilla Galaxy S26 could feature a 6.3-inch AMOLED screen, run on the Exynos 2600 chipset in India, have a 50MP primary camera, a 4,300 mAh battery, and ship with One UI 8.5 out of the box. The Galaxy S26 Plus is expected to feature a 6.9-inch display and a larger 4,900 mAh battery.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra could feature a 6.9-inch QHD+ AMOLED screen, a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC, a 200MP primary camera, and a slightly larger battery than the outgoing Galaxy S25 Ultra. Samsung may increase the handset’s charging speed, but nothing is certain at this time.
Also Read: Samsung May Raise Galaxy S26 Prices as Memory Costs Spiral Out of Control
Honor Power 2 (China)
- Release Date: January 5, 2026
The Honor Power 2 will debut in China on January 5, 2026. It will feature a 6.79-inch 1.5K screen, run on the Dimensity 8500 Elite chipset.
However, its main specification is the gigantic, and, not to mention, never-heard-of, 10,080 mAh battery, which promises to last up to 22 hours of video playback and 14 hours of gaming between charges. The phone will change users’ perceptions of smartphone batteries in a very real way.
Although it may not reach the international market, the Honor Power 2 indicates where compact battery cells are headed and that the charger hunt could be a thing of the past in a couple of years, as the technology could see mass adoption soon.
Xiaomi 17 Series (India & Global)
Although there’s no official confirmation about it, the Xiaomi 17 family phones, including the vanilla Xiaomi 17 and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, have clear signs of an Indian launch in early 2026.
Most recently, the standard Xiaomi 17 and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra were spotted on the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) website, suggesting an imminent launch. However, there’s no mention of the Xiaomi 17 Pro or the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max.
To that end, the Indian tipster Abhishek Yadav claims that the Pro handsets might not arrive in India.
Also Read: Mobile Phones With the Largest Battery
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