Are smartphones getting boring? Not the same emotions from the top segment? “Iron” is not developing? Don't jump to conclusions ..
Yes, we have to admit that Android mid-range devices are better than ever: with devices like the OnePlus 3, users have the easiest access to top-end build and performance. As a result, the gap between the $ 400 and $ 700 devices has almost disappeared.
But this does not mean that the days of the flagships in the traditional sense are numbered. There are many reasons to spend a pretty penny on a smartphone in late 2016 and early 2017. While most budget smartphones can now be said to be 'performing well enough', innovation hasn't stopped. Let's try to understand how smartphones can lure us in the future.
Today, the performance of smartphones is at a sufficient level, with a few exceptions: unbalanced hardware (phones with 1080p displays based on Snapdragon 615), terrible software optimization (Moto X Play, Lg G Flex 2) or frankly 'garbage' in the stuffing of a budget device (hello , Wileyfox Spark). In most other cases Android 6.0 is already 'ripe' for stable operation on hardware of any level. So why then look for something beyond this limit?
VR
One of the answers to the question lurks in a niche area that is predicted to develop extensively in the next year – VR. With the advent of the Google Daydream platform, virtual reality will act as a catalyst for the development of the premium segment of smartphones. We've already explored how VR could help drive the shift to 4K in upcoming smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S8 for a more accurate VR experience. In addition to increasing the pixel density in the display, power also needs to be increased, especially for VR gaming.
In fact, the Google Daydream initiative is mostly about hardware that needs to fit the platform's requirements. Smartphones that are candidates for Daydream certification must meet performance standards, thermographic parameters and have fast response times to avoid delays when moving through space. Smartphones like these will be the determining factors in the top-end processors of the future, which will be powered by smartphones in the top-end price range, which is definitely not the case for the mid-range and budget segments.
Battery
Even if you are not interested in VR, you can see development in other aspects of mobile technology, in particular – in the development of new technology for the production of batteries. We may have more or less adapted to charge our devices at night, but soon we will see new types of batteries that will significantly increase the autonomy of gadgets of the future. The lithium-ion batteries used in the vast majority of modern gadgets will be replaced by safer lithium-sulfur batteries that can store much more charge in a physically smaller space. An excerpt from our recent material on smartphones of the future:
'The most likely candidate to replace the lithium-ion battery is the lithium-sulfur one. It is almost ready for mass production and has shown promising results, both in capacity and safety, while being relatively cheap to manufacture. This technology is an extremely attractive alternative to modern technology, it is also easy to manufacture and has a large capacity. Another plus is that the new technology does not require the use of explosive solvents, which significantly reduces the risk of fire in the event of a puncture and short circuit. Lithium-sulfur batteries are being tested and are approaching the 'conveyor', however, their non-linear nature of discharge creates a new charge circuit to prevent rapid loss of charge. '
It will probably take a few more years, but when the next generation of batteries does hit the market, the flagship devices will be the first to get them. Caring for battery preservation is a daily challenge for many of us, and in this aspect, significant differentiation can be made by incorporating technology into expensive smartphones. Or, in simple terms, if the cost of a smartphone for you cannot overcome the psychological milestone of $ 400, then the likelihood is quite high that you will think twice before spending money on a device with a new generation battery. If $ 700 is an acceptable amount, then you have options.
Camera
A similar approach can be applied to smartphone cameras, another area with potential for technological development. Undoubtedly, many cameras, even the cheapest ones, allow you to get passable pictures in daylight conditions. Today, not all even top smartphones succeed in taking clear photos without 'noise' in a dim light setting of a bar or in night lighting conditions. Therefore, in smartphones this year, we see an emphasis on shooting in low light, the cameras are equipped with lenses with a wider aperture and larger pixels, as well as advanced optical stabilization. Upon reaching the 12-16 megapixel mark, further increasing their number loses its significance, so it is advisable to direct development efforts in a different direction. In the coming year, we can expect flagships with dual cameras, especially in terms of the many rumors about such an innovation in the coming iPhone.
There are many examples of how a dual camera can make a real difference. The most obvious is the use of different types of lenses, a great example of this is the LG G5 with its optional wide-angle camera. Likewise, it is not difficult to imagine a second or third camera that is responsible for the magnification and allows you to use it effectively without resorting to digital 'zoom'. Or, as in the case of Huawei P9, the secondary camera may be in charge of improving contrast and controlling autofocus.
The fact that quality smartphones have become generally available does not mean that flagships are a thing of the past. While the next industry revolution may not happen, manufacturers still have ways to attract buyers to buy new top-end devices.
Original article by Alex Doby.
From year to year, we are promised, if not a breakthrough, but something new and more advanced, this is especially often heard about batteries. Even if it is a little ridiculous to read such, sometimes utopian forecasts, once again, but nevertheless, hope remains. In one of the Gazebos issues, we have already discussed ways to differentiate top-end smartphones, be it design or modular accessories. Here the author describes purely internal changes, innovations in hardware and software. VR has every chance of success in the gaming environment, dual cameras will definitely find their buyer, I won't say anything about batteries, this is understandable. Let's see if manufacturers can justify the cost of their future flagships. What would you like to see in the top smartphones of the next model year?