It may not feel like it to many, or most, but this year flew by for me. Each time I look at the calendar, I still can’t believe how close we are to the end of 2014. With 2015 practically right around the corner, looking ahead of what’s to come is obviously the next logical step. Of course, right now it’s just general teasing from companies that are going to make an appearance at this year’s CES in Las Vegas, while every other company is going to try and play their cards close to their chest leading up to their own personal announcements.

And there are going to be a lot of phones coming down the pipe in 2015. It’ll start as it usually does, with HTC unveiling whichever flagship they’ve been working on, and then followed by other companies like Samsung, and LG, and Motorola, and so on and so forth.

Like this year, 2015 is already expected to be a pretty big year for the mobile market. With brand new operating systems and features from Google and Apple, the hardware is what the majority of the year will be about. The question is, is there enough there in the hardware part of our smartphones to capture attention all over again?

The design of upcoming smartphones is certainly going to play a role, but it may still not be enough. Software is still going to be a key role for many manufacturers, including companies that make Android-based handsets with proprietary software. And then there’s Microsoft with its Windows Phone platform, which will see a lot of attention with the upcoming release of Windows 10, and an ecosystem that aims to be one presence across different industries.

So, which company is going to make the biggest waves?

There’s quite a bit to look forward to, and for anyone that’s aiming to buy a new smartphone in 2015, some companies may already be on the radar. For example, rumors regarding HTC’s codenamed Hima handset probably have a few people ready to see what the final product looks like. And reports of Samsung going back to the drawing board when it comes to the physical design of its flagship handsets, like the Galaxy S6.

Let’s not forget LG, either. With the release of the G3, which improved on an already great G2, there’s plenty of room to consider that the Life’s Good crew could very well release a flagship in 2015 that sweeps a lot of people off their feet.

Usually, Apple is the one to watch in any given year, but I’m wondering if this year’s going to be the same thing. The company has the Apple Watch launching in the first part of 2015, yes, but the latter part of the year is going to be about the iterative launch of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus successor, so there might not be a lot to talk about.

Then again, it’s Apple, so there always seems to be a lot to talk about.

In any event, I’m curious to know which company, or companies, you’re going to be watching the most when 2015 rolls around and you’re in the market for a new handset. Which company do you think is going to make the biggest impact on you, and the market as a whole? Let me know!