10 phones we're looking forward to in 2015

Mobile phone line-ups are a little like Hollywood movie franchises, and by now we have a pretty good idea of what we should be expecting to see over the next 12 months: all the big players will be producing sequels to their blockbusters of 2014 and we can look forward to better photos, faster performance and lighter handsets across the board.

• What's the top choice right now? The current best smartphones - 2015 edition

With the HTC One M8, the iPhone 6, the iPhone 6 Plus, the Nexus 6, the Galaxy S5 and many others we've been spoiled over the last year, but there's always room for improvement: QHD displays, DSLR-quality cameras, high-end audio, 4K video and the Snapdragon 810 should make 2015 a year to remember for smartphone buyers.

So here's our handy guide - if you're looking to upgrade at some point in the next 6 months, these are the ones you should check out.

1. HTC One M9

Predicted release date: March 1

Estimated price: £549 / $649 / AU$849+

How excited are we? 5/5

We like the sound of a rumoured partnership between Bose / Dolby and HTC to bring even better audio to the HTC One M9 than the M8 had, as well as rumoured upgrades including an octa-core Snapdragon 810 processor, 3GB of RAM and a beefed up 2840 mAh battery, which should give it a lot of life as HTC is supposedly sticking to a 1080p screen rather than using a juice-chugging QHD one.

Android phones are still looking for the magic formula as far as high-quality camera optics are concerned, but HTC is as good a bet as anyone to get it right. Hopefully the M9 will build on the progress made with the M8 and Ultrapixels (for awesome low light snaps) and finally give the iPhone something to think about in the photography department.

So far that's looking likely, as there's talk of a 20MP sensor on the back and a 4 UltraPixel one on the front, so you should be able to take world class low-light selfies, if that's what floats your boat.

Of course this wouldn't be an HTC flagship without a stunning design and we expect the One M9 to build on the M8, with a similar but even more perfect look and feel. The HTC One M8 is our favourite phone on the planet and the HTC One M9 will hopefully be a worthy successor. We should find out soon as HTC is holding a press event on March 1.

• Check out everything we know about the HTC One M9 so far.

2. Samsung Galaxy S6

Predicted release date: March 1

Estimated price: Around £560, $855, AU$1100

How excited are we? 5/5

Both the high specs of the Galaxy S5 and the premium style of the Alpha point to where Samsung is going to be heading with the Galaxy S6: its most powerful, best-looking phone yet, (with an all-new look if Project Zero is anything to go by) and that's worth getting excited about.

And boy, does Samsung need this phone to be a cracking choice.

We're hoping for a thin, curved, all-metal chassis, a resolution boost to QHD for the screen and perhaps the overlapping display trick we saw with the Galaxy Note Edge in a separate (but similar inside) phone called the Samsung Galaxy S Edge.

A 64-bit octa-core CPU, 4GB of RAM and Android Lollipop should all make their way into Samsung's next flagship phone too.

Expect camera improvements as well, as Samsung looks to better its already impressive Galaxy S5 snapper with a new 20MP unit. There's no word on battery life yet, but if past form is anything to go by we doubt the S6 will let us down in that area.

We were a little disappointed by the Galaxy S5, but with a truly premium design and whispers of a stripped back interface that's close to stock Android the Galaxy S6 should be worth getting excited about. Like HTC, Samsung is holding a press event on March 1, so stay tuned.

• Keep up to date on all the Galaxy S6 happenings with our constantly updated guide.

3. iPhone 6S / iPhone 7

Predicted release date: September 2015

Estimated price: At least £539 / $649 / AU$869

How excited are we? 4/5

You can usually set your watch by Apple's annual iPhone refresh, and 2015 should be no different with the release of the iPhone 6S/7, though there is some talk that it could be here as soon as spring. Whenever it arrives we hope Apple ditches the 'S' naming system and introduces super-strong sapphire glass as well as applying the usual specs bump.

The refreshed 2014 design is unlikely to change significantly in 2015, so expect a similar look and screen, but there are early rumours of a major camera upgrade in the pipeline that will bring DSLR-like quality to the iPhone's snaps — if they're true, we're looking forward to seeing it in practice.

There's also talk of a new A9 processor, set to be 15% smaller, 20% more powerful and 35% more power efficient than the A8 in the iPhone 6. Plus it's thought that Apple might finally double up on RAM to 2GB.

As we learn more and the release date gets closer we're bound to become even more excited about it, but even now we're confident that the iPhone 6S/7 will be one of the best phones of the year.

• There are already iPhone 6S/7 rumours emerging. Check out our seasoned guide of all them for yourself.

4. LG G4

Predicted release date: May 2015

Estimated price: Around £500 / $600 / AU$800

How excited are we? 4/5

The LG G3 impressed us a great deal but we still want more from the LG G4. The rumoured reduction in screen size to 5.3 inches would make handling it a touch easier and we might even see the bendable technology that LG has used on the LG G Flex 2.

One of the key reasons to look at the new LG will be price: LG usually charges a lot less for the same premium features, so it's definitely worth checking out.

The 20.7MP camera upgrade we've heard rumours about would be most welcome and we want to see an improvement in the chassis design too: how about a metal casing, LG? And better battery performance while you're at it. You used to be so good at that.

Like many other flagships we're expecting an octa-core Snapdragon 810 processor and 3GB of RAM, so it should certainly be powerful if nothing else.

We don't know anywhere near as much as we'd like to about it but we may not have long to wait. As while nothing is set in stone our best guess for a release date is May, given LG's past form - although that might be brought forward to April.

• Keep up to date with all the LG G4 news and rumours.

5. Sony Xperia Z4

Predicted release date: Summer 2015 (probably IFA in September)

Estimated price: At least £549 / $630 / AU$849

How excited are we? 3.5/5

There's a lot riding on the Xperia Z4 for Sony and the company is clearly taking its time as it now seems like we won't see it until the summer.

A super-fast processor and a camera upgrade are the order of the day, with talk of an octa-core Snapdragon 810, 4GB of RAM and a beefy 3420 mAh battery, alongside an improved 20.7MP snapper, but Sony needs to create a big splash if it's to make a dent in terms of sales.

Of course we'd like to see the 4K video recording feature actually work this time around, while a QHD display is the logical next step up for the screen, though currently there are conflicting rumours as to whether it will get a QHD upgrade or stick with 1080p.

The hardware design is due a refresh too, though current leaks suggest it will be polished rather than overhauled. Look forward to a mirrored front and back, thinner bezels and more rounded corners.

We're hoping that if the rumours are true and Sony is switching to one flagship a year it will use the time wisely and deliver more than just a minor upgrade. Fingers crossed.

• Check out our constantly updated guide to all the Xperia Z4 news and rumours.

6. Samsung Galaxy Note 5

Predicted release date: October 2015 (launched at IFA 2015)

Estimated price: At least £620 / $720 / AU$920

How excited are we? 4/5

Will the Note 5 be Samsung's first device to sport a 4K UHD display? We wouldn't complain at a 2160 x 3840 pixel resolution or a 746ppi density rating, even if we have to wait until October to get our hands on it.

With the line between phones and phablets becoming more and more blurred, the Galaxy Note 5 will need to do something special to stand out. Be prepared for a 6-inch display and an even better version of the S Pen stylus.

Plus with Samsung likely to radically overhaul the design of its flagship Galaxy S phones we'd imagine it will use a similarly premium build for the Galaxy Note 5. So expect a lot of metal.

There's nothing much in the way of specs rumours yet, but we'd wager it will be one of the most powerful phones of the year, beating even the Galaxy S6 for raw power.

7. The new Nexus

Predicted release date: October 2015

Estimated price: At least £499 / $649 / AU$700

How excited are we? 2.5/5

Where does Google take the Nexus smartphone next (if indeed it takes it anywhere at all)? It can't use the Nexus 7 name for one thing, and it needs to overcome the supply problems that have dogged the Nexus 6.

Lollipop is a mobile OS that looks good and works well so its successor should also hit the mark, and as for the hardware we'd like to see something that can be used easily in one hand — and how about a fingerprint scanner too?

We know almost nothing about it so far, which hints that the Nexus program might not continue. But if it does, more power is a given and hopefully the camera will be further improved, while we're optimistic that the price will at least slightly undercut the competition. If past releases are anything to go by you should keep an eye out for it in October.

8. Microsoft Lumia 1030

Predicted release date: September 2015

Estimated price: At least £499 / $649 / AU$700

How excited are we? 3/5

We've been waiting for a successor to the Lumia 1020 since 2013 and in that time Microsoft has taken over the reins from Nokia. A leaked image we saw a little while ago suggests the wait might finally be over sometime this year- but not until the second half, at least.

If the rumoured Lumia 1030 is actually a real device then the star of the show is likely to be its 50MP camera. A snapper of that quality with the Lumia technology behind it might even be worth switching to Windows Phone for, especially since that itself is undergoing some major changes as it becomes Windows 10.

We don't know much about the Lumia 1030 yet, if it even exists, but with a class-leading camera and a brand new operating system it should be worth the wait, especially as a new Windows Phone flagship is long overdue.

9. Moto X+2

Predicted release date: September 2015

Estimated price: At least £269 / $349 / AU$400

How excited are we? 2.5/5

We've only quite recently been treated to a revamped Moto X (originally known as the X+1) so the next version is still some way off. It's a great handset though, and this year's model stands a good chance of stealing some of the Nexus market.

What we really want to see is more of the same from Motorola: clever features like Active Display, competitive pricing, a stand-out screen and some internal improvements would be just the job, with more customisation options as well.

With the current Moto still quite nascent, and Lenovo taking over the brand, not a lot has leaked thus far so it's hard to get too excited, but with a less is more approach combined with the same stylish build and relatively affordable price tag as last year's model it could be a cut-price king.

10. OnePlus 2

Predicted release date: July - September 2015

Estimated price: At least £420 / $499 / AU$534

How excited are we? 4/5

The rumours of the OnePlus 2 keep changing but the signs are that it will retain the same low price level as its predecessor, which instantly puts it high on our watch list — a more straightforward buying procedure would be a big improvement, of course.

The OnePlus One delivered high-end specs at a budget price and we'd expect that formula to continue with the 2015 model. One upgrade we can predict is the arrival of Android 5.0 Lollipop to the OnePlus line-up, albeit with a new OxygenOS ROM, which should make it more appealing than ever.

Early rumours also point to an octa-core Snapdragon 810 processor, 4GB of RAM and a big 3300 mAh battery. The screen is so far said to be staying at 5.5 inches, but there's a chance it could be boosted to QHD resolution, while the body is reportedly going to be slimmer, with an edge-to-edge display.

We might have a while to wait for it though, as the release has been pushed back to the third quarter, so expect it sometime between July and September.