Best Smartphones of 2026: Foldables, Rollables, and AI Cameras

By asad

As we look ahead to 2026, the smartphone category stands on the brink of an exciting new chapter. With advancements in flexible displays and robotic mechanics, plus ever-more powerful on-device AI, three major trends are making up the future: foldables, rollables, and AI-powered cameras. Here's a close-up look at what to expect-and which concept devices are most likely to define the next generation of phones.

1. Foldable : The Maturing Chapter

Foldable smartphones aren't new, but by 2026 they are maturing rapidly. Key players like Samsung, Google, and Honor are refining designs, boosting durability, and integrating deeper AI capabilities.

  • Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7

Setting the benchmark in 2025–2026, one of the most anticipated foldables is the Galaxy Z Fold 7. It's impressively slim: 8.9 mm when folded and a mere 4.2 mm when open.

But more than the size, what really stands out is how Samsung is leveraging its foldable design to enhance AI features: the larger internal display allows for generative image editing, object removal, and more sophisticated creative workflows using “Galaxy AI.”

  • Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold

Google brings its AI-first philosophy to folding devices. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold, expected at the end of 2025 into 2026, is powered with its new Tensor G5 chip, which enables on-device AI processing and privacy-forward features.

It's also the first dust-resistant fold with IP68 protection, which helps assuage the long-standing durability concerns in folding phones.

On the camera front, Google continues to push innovations: the Pixel 10 series comes with new AI tools like “Camera Coach”-which gives framing and lighting suggestions in real-time-and enhanced computational photography.

  • Honor Magic V Flip 2

Honor is doubling down on fashion and imaging. Their Magic V Flip 2, announced in 2025 and expected to set the trend in 2026 foldables, puts a clamshell design together with a high-resolution 200 MP main camera.

Importantly, it’s full of AI-powered photo tools  everything from AI Super Zoom to Deepfake Detection driven by Honor’s Image Engine.

Its premium finish - including a limited-edition version with Jimmy Choo design - signals that foldables are no longer just a technical novelty but luxury fashion accessories too.


2. Rollables: The Wild Card

Sure, foldables have more momentum, but rollable phones represent the real frontier. As flexible display tech improves, concept phones are pushing boundaries-even if commercialization is not yet guaranteed.

  • Motorola Rizr (Rollable Concept)

Motorola first teased its Rizr rollable concept at MWC 2023. Instead of folding, its screen can smoothly extend and retract — changing between compact and expanded modes.

Three different states are supported on this device: “peek,” compact, and extended, via a motorized flexible OLED mechanism.

Though still a concept, the Rizr points to what rollables can bring in the future: bigger screens when needed, but no sacrifice in everyday pocketability. A mass-produced version of such a device in 2026 could change how we think about screen real estate.

Challenges Ahead

Despite promise, rollables face hurdles: Reports indicate that Motorola’s “Felix” rollable phone never made it beyond early concept stages.

And from a user point of view, durability, mechanism longevity, and manufacturing cost remain serious concerns. As one commenter put it: “Rollables are the next step … but the tech … needs to be developed a lot more.”

Still, if even a few brands crack the code, the payoff could be huge: seamless, crease-free displays that adapt dynamically to the user’s needs.


3. AI Cameras: The Smart Lens Revolution

Beyond folding and rolling, perhaps the most transformative change in 2026 will come from AI-powered imaging systems. This isn't just an upgrade of traditional cameras; the devices are intelligent and context-aware, with innovation in mechanics and software.

  • Honor Robot Phone

One of the most radical of the many concepts emerging is this Honor "Robot Phone," with a fold-out, gimbal-mounted camera arm set to make its appearance in MWC 2026.

This robotic lens can swivel, track subjects, and reorient itself to capture photos or videos from optimal angles.

Behind the movement is a suite of AI: image framing, subject tracking, motion stabilization, and perhaps even autonomous decision-making about when to snap a photo.

The goal? A phone that doesn't just take pictures it thinks about them.

The ASUS Zenfone 12 Ultra, released early in 2025, already epitomizes how AI is changing photography, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite to provide neural-network-driven image processing, gimbal-style stabilization, and advanced on-device computational photography.

While not a concept per se, it is a tangible step toward the type of intelligence we will see across the board in 2026.

Trends in On-Device AI

This direction is further supported by academic research. For instance, one 2025 work proposed an SPAS, a smart point-and-shoot system to guide users in framing and shot composition by providing live feedback.

Another recent study showed efficient neural networks-like PyNet-V2 Mobile-which can process RAW images entirely on-device.

These technologies hint at a future where AI isn't just editing photos — it helps take them better.


4. Looking Ahead: Why 2026 Could Be a Turning Point

Putting it all together, here's why 2026 might feel like a watershed year in smartphones:

  • Mainstream AI Integration: AI will be baked more deeply into the hardware and software, moving past "nice-to-have" features into core functionality like framing, stabilization, and autonomous shooting. 
  • Flexible Form Factors: Users will finally begin to choose based on experience, not compromise, as there are more refined foldables and working rollables.
  • Mechanical Innovation: Ideas such as Honor’s gimbal phone point to a future where devices won’t just be smart-they’ll move. These blur the line between smartphone and robot. 
  • Battery & Processing Power: On-device neural processing units and power-efficient AI chips, such as Tensor G-series and Snapdragon Elite, will make always-on AI viable without draining your battery. 

5. Things to Consider Before Buying in 2026

 If you’re thinking of getting a next-gen phone when these devices hit the market, keep the following in mind:

  •  . Durability: Flexible or moving parts introduce new modes of failure. Check the robustness of hinges or gimbals, repairability, and warranty. 
  • . Software Longevity: AI features are only as good as their updates. Prefer brands that commit to longer-term updates.
  •  . Privacy: The more autonomous sensing, the higher the privacy stakes. How is data stored, processed, and transmitted? 
  • . Value vs. Gimmick: Certain features of the concept-like robotic arms-may remain niche. Decide whether you want bleeding-edge innovation or reliable performance.

 

Conclusion :

 Not only will the chips be faster and the screens better, but the "Best Smartphones of 2026" are all about reimagining what a phone is. Foldables will continue to refine, rollables might finally make a real entrance, and AI-powered cameras are set to transform how we capture life. Whether you are a creative, a power user, or just someone who loves cutting-edge technology, the next few years will be wildly exciting.

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