Upcoming mobile phones
This overview lists the upcoming mobile phones: handsets that are not yet available in shops in the Netherlands. These range from models that the manufacturer has already unveiled to handsets known only from rumours. For handsets that have not yet been officially announced, the specifications are not yet listed; we will add these as soon as they are known. Below the overview, you can read how reliable an entry is and when it is advisable to wait.
What does ‘expected’ mean in this overview?
How much you can deduce from an entry depends on the status of the device. Furthermore, ‘expected’ says nothing about a UK release date: 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 finalised; only the release has not yet begun
- Announced without a Dutch release date: the device exists, but whether and when it will be released here remains to be seen; this is particularly common with models that are released outside Europe first
- Not yet announced: annual successors and devices from the rumour mill; no specifications are known for these yet, so it’s not possible to compare them
Until the official launch, the name, model and even the existence of a device may still change. The arrival of a successor that comes out every year is therefore a much safer assumption than a model that only features in rumours.
What if a device isn’t available in the Netherlands?
In that case, importing is the only option, with four drawbacks you’ll want to be aware of beforehand.
- Warranty: this is handled by the overseas seller, so repairs take longer and incur additional postage costs
- Import costs: outside the EU, import duties and VAT may apply
- Frequency bands: these may differ from those used by Dutch networks, resulting in poorer coverage or slower speeds
- Software: a device from another region may come with different services or languages
You can find out what else to look out for in 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 handset is still working and you want the latest model
Check out the pre-order if you want to receive the handset on the day of sale
Check out the current generation if you need a phone right now
What you need to know about pre-ordering
A pre-order is an order placed before the release date, also known as a pre-sale: you reserve the device and it will be delivered later. The downside is that you have to wait: if your current phone is broken, pre-ordering isn’t a solution. You can cancel the order sooner than you might think: according to the ACM, when making an online purchase, you do not have to wait until the device has been delivered to cancel the purchase, and your cooling-off period continues for up to fourteen days after delivery.
Wait or go for the current generation?
Waiting is particularly worthwhile 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 shops, the price of its predecessor generally drops, whilst the device itself remains unchanged. You should also check the update window, as this usually starts from the model’s launch rather than when you buy it; an older handset therefore has fewer years of updates left. You can find what’s already on sale under new phones.
