Upcoming Phones
This overview lists the upcoming phones: devices that aren't yet available in stores in the Netherlands. These range from models the manufacturer has already unveiled to devices known only from rumors. For devices that haven’t been officially announced yet, the specifications aren’t listed; we’ll add them as soon as they’re available. Below the list, you can see how reliable each entry is and when it’s best to wait.
What does "expected" mean in this list?
How much information you can glean from a listing depends on the device’s status. Additionally, “expected” does not indicate a release date in the Netherlands: a device may officially exist but still be missing from this list.
How do the devices in this overview differ?
- Announced with a release date: the manufacturer has officially unveiled the device and the specifications are finalized; only sales have not yet begun
- Announced without a Dutch release date: the device exists, but whether and when it will be released here is still uncertain; this is especially common with models that are released outside of Europe first
- Not yet announced: annual successors and devices from the rumor mill; no specifications are known for these yet, so comparisons aren’t possible
Until the official unveiling, a device’s name, model, and even its existence can still change. The arrival of a successor that comes out every year is a much safer bet than a model that only appears in rumors.
What if a device isn’t available in the Netherlands?
In that case, importing is your only option, with four drawbacks you’ll want to know about in advance.
- Warranty: it’s handled by the foreign seller, so repairs take longer and incur shipping costs
- Import costs: outside the EU, import duties and VAT may apply
- Frequency bands: these may differ from what Dutch networks use, resulting in lower coverage or slower speeds
- Software: a device from another region may come with different services or languages
For more things to keep in mind, see our article on importing products.
Wait, pre-order, or go for the current generation?
That depends on how much of a hurry you’re in and what the new model actually offers you.
Wait for the release if your current device is still working and you want the latest model
Check out the pre-order if you want to receive the device on the release date
Check out the current generation if you need a phone right now
What you need to know about pre-orders
A pre-order is an order placed before the release date: you reserve the device, and delivery follows later. The downside is that you have to wait: if your current phone is broken, a pre-order isn’t a solution. You can cancel the order sooner than you might think: according to the ACM, when making an online purchase, you don’t have to wait until the device is delivered to cancel the purchase, and your cooling-off period continues until fourteen days after delivery.
Wait or go for the current generation?
Waiting is especially worth it if the new model offers something you really need. If not, the previous model is usually the better choice: as soon as a successor hits the stores, the price of its predecessor typically drops, while the device itself remains unchanged. Also consider the update window, as it usually begins with the model’s launch and not when you buy it; an older device therefore has fewer years of updates left. You can find what’s currently available under new phones.
