Darwin, Joy of Android
Auckland, August 9, 2020
“The future phones would be far different from what they are now.”
Those were the words of Ivan Guzenko, Chief Executive and Co-Founder of SmartyAds when asked to share his ideas of how the future smartphones would be.
Modern technology continues to advance with time.
So, smartphone users ask themselves what futuristic features await their mobile devices.
Smartphones Now
If we look at smartphones today, we could say that smartphone innovation has come a long way.
Everything is possible. From using many applications at once to robust memory.
We have faster speed, high-definition cameras, online streaming, and days worth of battery lives.
Thus, try to imagine ten years from now. Twenty years. Or even in fifty years!
Can you picture how our smartphones would look like and the things they could do? No doubt, these probably are things that we have never thought of before.
What to Expect from future mobile phones?
While it is hard to tell, various users have shared their insightful predictions. And some of them are outlined below.
Holographic Displays
From the Marvel Cinematic Universe and even beyond, holograms land on almost every fantasy film. Characters are swiping their fingers in the air as virtual images appear in front of them.
Hence, smartphone users are intrigued whether this is possible with future devices as well.
However, if one may recall, this may not be far from happening; or, more interestingly, holographic phones may be around now.
Rumours circulated that iPhone 6 came with a holographic feature. But many frowned upon finding out there was none.
Although iPhone 6 disappointed many, Red boosted everyone’s hope yet again.
This happened when the company released a phone dubbed as Hydrogen One in 2018. At that time, Red Hydrogen One appeared to be the world’s “first holographic smartphone.”
The release of the said phone was immensely hyped. Thousands were so eager to get hold of a smartphone that offered high-quality camera and holographic functions. Everything turned out good until users have reviewed the product themselves.
In this Mashable report, the product received negative feedback. Many complained about its “poor design, mediocre camera quality, and underwhelming holograms.” In response, Red pointed out that the failure was on the device manufacturer. But such a claim was yet to be further substantiated.
Therefore, the ideal holographic smartphone may not be around for now. But with the series of attempts done in the past years, it certainly will not take too long.
Flexible and Stretchable Build
Software customisability is essential. But a smartphone with hardware flexibility would also make a great deal. The idea behind this is that users could fit their smartphones wherever they want. They could even transform their shape into whatever they please.
This feature could be handy when users engage in activities like walking or jogging. It would be useful if they could wrap their phones around their wrist, for example. If users also want to keep their phones as small as possible, they could fold it like a piece of origami. Also, this feature could save a user’s phone from damage if it falls a couple of meters above ground.
Nokia introduced this kind of idea through its The Morph phone in 2008. Aiming to redefine user-experience, Nokia described the phone to be transformable.
Nevertheless, this kind of smartphone is not out in the market just yet.
Other companies like Samsung, Huawei, or LG, have also drafted similar ideas.
For instance, Samsung is working on a more polished clamshell design. At the same time, Huawei and LG have been perfecting their stretchable displays.
Eco-friendly Features
Advocating for environmental preservation is a noble cause. Including saving our planet into our smartphones is highly considered by many.
Recently, phone manufacturers turned to renewable sources to power smartphones.
For instance, Kyocera introduced a solar-powered prototype during a 2016 trade show.
Another prototype by Mikhail Stawsky showcased a kinetic energy-harnessing phone. One can do this by spinning a phone on one’s finger.
Hands-free Experience
Voice assistants and other forms of touch-free mobile phone interactions are available nowadays. Many experts predict that future smartphones may be wholly manoeuvred hands-free.
Guzenko believed that advancements in augmented reality would make this innovation possible.
Jose Morey of Liberty Biosecurity has also pointed out that Neuro-linguistic programming and Artificial intelligence would aid in making smartphone use, both professionally and personally, hands-free. In line with this, he predicted that there would be more Siri, Alexa, or Cortana in the future.
Built-in Portable Projector
Joyofandroid has reported some of the best projectors that are compatible with android phones. But imagine if the projector itself is already built-in?
Remember that phones are essential in businesses and office settings.
Smartphones with presentation tools would come very helpful for a compelling business presentation. This feature would allow users to set-up reports during meetings. All while skipping the hassle of bringing bulky projectors.
This trend has already been started by Samsung Galaxy Beam when it was introduced in the market last 2010. It featured a DLP WVGA projector that could project up to 50 inches. Thus, seeing more smartphones with a portable projector in the next years would come in no surprise.
More Powerful Upgrades
Lastly, the next wave of smartphones would most likely improve present functions.
These improvements could encompass internet connectivity, camera quality, and graphic displays, among others.
5G connectivity would play a considerable role in smartphone evolution. As more countries set-up 5G networks, phone manufacturers are also in the race to produce phones with seamless 5G capabilities. Oppo, Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi, and Motorola have already started building their own. However, these new 5G phones still come at a high price, and their supply remains less accessible to a broader international market. At the same time, more companies are upgrading their cameras. Most by adding more megapixels and depth.
This trend also applies to graphic displays. They are updated continuously for a more powerful display and more reliable processing capacity.
For instance, companies are integrating the Snapdragon 855 Plus, Qualcomm’s gaming chipset. This makes smartphones better geared for gaming and other high-end processes.
Who knows what lies ahead?
We are in the golden age of modern technology. Developers are continuously taking the fiction out of science fiction.
Thus, it is exciting to look forward to how our smartphones might become years from now. However, in the meantime, the best we could do is to expect what we least expect. We should wait as we see the future of smartphones unfold before our very eyes.
The above article and pictures were supplied by Darwin at ‘Joy of Android.’
