What Does The Future Of Smartphones Look Like?

Mobile phones have come a long way since the 1973 release of the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X – the world’s first ever handheld cellular communication device. Smartphones are exponentially changing as time passes.

Today, the mobile phone market is saturated with manufacturers, who each make phones that are capable of things that people couldn’t imagine in the 1980s.

Without a doubt, the most notable development was the introduction of the “smartphone”. In 2007, Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone: a pioneering touchscreen mobile phone that featured internet access and media playback facilities that were revolutionary for the times.

Since then, even more technological breakthroughs in the realm of mobile telecommunication and smartphones are ubiquitous – so much so, that over 75% of the world’s population uses smartphones, according to data from Statista.

Yet, the story is far from over. This begs the question: what developments are on the horizon? We’ve written this short guide to explore some possible answers.

Wireless Charging

There are a familiar array of USB ports used to charge smartphones and other devices, with these USB types becoming faster charging with each new model. It’s predicted that in the not-too-distant future, we’ll be able to charge our smartphones wirelessly using radio waves. The first steps towards this technology have been taken. Wireless charging pads are already making it far simpler and easier for us to charge our smartphones.

Augmented Reality

This incredible tech was brought to the forefront in 2016 with the release of Pokémon Go. This popular game allowed players to “find” their favourite fictional animals in real locations using their smartphones. This is a perfect example of what augmented reality (AR) can do – it combines images from the real world with virtual objects to enrich our experience. Expect to see more AR in the coming years.

6G Networks

Lately, we’ve seen the introduction of 5G networks. And even though this service isn’t yet available in all areas, it’s already greatly improved upon the connection speeds that were previously available. Yet, this latest development certainly isn’t the last chapter in the book of smartphone connectivity.

In fact, 6G services are estimated to be commercially available as early as 2028 according to the Global Sixth Generation (6G) Wireless Market Report 2022. These services will likely be secure, fast, and reliable in ways that current networks aren’t capable of being.

Folding Phones

First Samsung and Huawei, and now many more brands are joining this segment of the smartphone market, which has been thriving since 2019. Folding phones are adding variety and novelty to the industry, offering users devices that break the rectangular mould that’s been the status quo for almost a decade.

With single-fold, tri-fold and even flexible smartphones now available to choose from, customers have the chance to opt in for a far more immersive screen experience than has previously been available.

What developments would you like to see in smartphones in the near future? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section!