Robert Triggs / Android Authority
This was a significant year for Android phones, as several innovations and improvements were keenly felt. Whether it’s the Snapdragon 8 Elite’s huge CPU performance leap, the continued rise of silicon-carbon batteries, durability improvements, or slick camera hardware, there were several notable trends in this generation.
Technology waits for no one, though, and next-generation smartphone processors have already been revealed. We’ve even seen the first next-generation high-end phones in the Xiaomi 17 series. With all that in mind, I thought it would be a good idea to look at the features you should expect in 2026’s flagship Android phones.
What are you looking forward to in next-gen phones? 15 votes Higher quality video capture 0 % Bigger batteries/longer battery life 60 % More impressive/powerful AI features 20 % Better 200MP photos 7 % Ultra-dark displays 13 % Other (let us know in the comments) 0 %
Video capture could get a massive boost
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and Dimensity 9500 chips are expected to power the majority of high-end Android phones globally. And the good news is that both of these chips bring impressive video upgrades.
Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon chip is the first mobile processor to support the Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec. This codec is meant to offer “perceptually lossless” video quality while still allowing for adjustments in post-production. These tweaks include color grading and highlight/shadow adjustments. This is an encouraging addition for “prosumers” and enthusiasts in general. Furthermore, Google previously confirmed that Android 16 supports APV, while Galaxy S26 series rumors also mention APV support.
Meanwhile, MediaTek says its Dimensity 9500 is the first Android chipset to support 4K/120fps video with Dolby Vision. It’ll also best Apple’s iPhones by supporting 4K/60fps cinematic portrait video (up from 4K/30fps). So, our fingers are crossed that phone makers take advantage of these video enhancements.
Today’s big batteries will get bigger
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