As we near the end of 2018, we wonder what new smartphone features the New Year might bring. After finding some hints strewn about the internet, we have an idea as to what those new innovations just might include.
2018 brought with it some top-notch phones, including the iPhone XS and Samsung Galaxy, but what does the all-too-near future have in store for us? We’ve sniffed around the web and gathered the data that might give us a clue.
1. 5G Phones
According to New Atlas, even though 5G network infrastructure is still in early stages of development, “most of the big names have already confirmed they’re going to be introducing 5G technology during 2019,” including Samsung, OnePlus, Sony, and Huawei. With 5G will come faster upload and download speeds, and more network capacity, with an overall decrease in loss of signal while in crowded places.
2. Phones that Fold
Foldable phones are another new smartphone aspect to keep a lookout for. Also according to New Atlas, they may be chunky and expensive, but they are “definitely coming at some point during 2019,” as they said Samsung has already shown off a prototype foldable phone and will be “one of the first out of the gate with this kind of technology over the next 12 months.” However, Samsung won’t be alone. Huawei has also stated they are working on a foldable phone, which will be unveiled during 2019, and at least one other company’s patent applications suggest they are working on the same type of innovation as well.
The main advantage of a foldable phone—and we don’t mean something with a hinge in the middle, but a device that actually bends—is to give the user a “large screen, tablet-style experience when the device is opened out, but a smaller, more pocket-friendly phone form factor when needed.” [New Atlas, 2018]
3. Notch Evolution
The front display notch on various smartphones has been changing, evolving, and even shrinking. Sources indicate that we can expect handset makers to experiment with different types and positions of notches during the upcoming year. According to New Atlas, “Next year might be the last hurrah for the notch, brief though its time in the spotlight has been. Manufacturers are already working out how to embed fingerprint sensors under the front display, and it’s only a matter of time before cameras can be hidden with the same trick – which means no more need for the notch.”
4. A Possible Increase in Camera Lenses
Different sources suggest that phone manufacturers believe camera lenses in particular is an area where improvements and jumps can still be made. The dual-lens camera came first, followed by the triple-lens camera, then the quad-lens camera; so would it be hard to believe that next year we could see it go even beyond that? According to New Atlas, “We’re dealing with rumor and speculation here rather than confirmed fact, but considering that LG has been spotted patenting a camera with 16 lenses—a hexa-lens camera—it seems likely that the major players are going to keep adding lenses on the back of their phones until there’s no more room left.”
5. Added AI
While artificial intelligence (AI) already plays a big role in leading smartphones, sources indicate that as we progress through 2019, that role is expected to get bigger and better, allowing smartphones to do more than ever without our help.
According to New Atlas, “Most high-end phone processor chips now have dedicated components for artificial intelligence calculations. That means they can handle tasks specifically suited for machine learning, like being able to recognize a dog and a cat in a photo, or being able to tell your voice from anyone else’s.” They’ve also suggested a “host of improvements” to come on the software side as well, as Siri, Bixby, and Google Assistant will continue to get smarter.
So, will you be spending the holidays this year hoping for a new smartphone or smart gadget? Tell us in the comments below!
If you have a story related to this, or a topic idea you’d like to pitch, please email me directly at Christina.Hart@advantagebizmarketing.com.
