From connecting with our loved ones and socializing online to shopping for groceries, buying medicines, and chalking out trip itineraries, we basically live our lives on our phones. Smartphones have, without a doubt, become an indispensable part of our lives.
Most of us might have witnessed the evolution of smartphones over the years, at least some bits of it. With every little advancement, smartphones are just equipping us to perform most tasks online that conventionally need physical presence. Now, this may have made us lazy, but it doesn’t negate the comfort and convenience of doing everyday tasks that these devices offer.
So, let’s focus on the history and emerging innovations in smartphones that are making them the most uniform and advanced way of communicating.
Smartphones: A Journey Through Time
Let’s look at how the smartphone evolved through the years right from its genesis until it became ever-present in our lives:
● The Smartphone’s Ascension
Ericsson coined the word “smartphone” in 1995, but it was not until the early 2000s that smartphones became popular. The IBM Simon, debuted in 1993, was the first smartphone that included email, a calendar, a calculator, a notepad, and the ability to run third-party apps.
● The First Touchscreen
IBM Simon was the first touchscreen to use a monochrome display. It was, however, pricey and had limited usefulness. The true breakthrough, however, came in 2007, when Apple unveiled the iPhone.
The iPhone included a huge touchscreen, a strong processor, and numerous features.
It was the first smartphone that was simple to use and featured an intuitive UI. The iPhone transformed the smartphone industry and cleared the path for other companies to develop smartphones.
● The Very First PDA
The Apple Newton, the first personal digital assistant (PDA), was released in 1993. The device had a touch screen and handwriting recognition capabilities. However, it did not drive commercial success.
● Smartphone Technology Evolution
Smartphone technology has advanced significantly since the introduction of the iPhone. As a result, we now use smartphones with 5G networks, which offer high data speeds, energy savings, cost savings, and large-scale device connectivity.
Top 5 Emerging Innovations that are Reshaping Smartphone Technology
1. The Advent of 5G
The 5G rollout is beginning, and companies are racing to offer a product that consumers will purchase. To cite an instance, Kyocera is expediting enterprise innovation by providing the first TAA-compliant 5G rugged cell phones on the market. DuraForce Ultra 5G and DuraSport 5G are built for work and adventure, providing you the speed and capacity advantages of 5G to work faster than ever before.
From a rugged standpoint, the Galaxy XCover6 Pro is designed with durability, providing peace of mind no matter what frontline workers may face. This includes intensive testing against drops, harsh temperatures, and other demanding situations — satisfying the stringent MIL-STD-810H standard, as well as IP68 dust and water resistance certification. The addition of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ elevates the Galaxy XCover6 Pro to the ranks of the most powerful Galaxy mobile devices to date.
2. Low Heating, Faster Charging, Advanced Cameras
Smartphones are no longer just about sheer processing power. The majority of OEMs are discussing smartphone advancements in charging, heating, and, of course, cameras, with improved reliability for brands.
The OnePlus 11 Concept has Active Cryoflux technology, which aims to reduce the phone’s temperature by up to 2.1 degrees.
Realme, the sister brand of OnePlus, introduced the Realme GT 3 with 240-watt rapid charging technology.
Honour Magic 5 Pro was introduced as well, with three 50MP cameras and 100x digital zoom. This smartphone is also designed with two front-facing cameras.
3. The AR/VR Bandwagon
Companies are jumping on the AR/VR bandwagon. Immersive technology has already been exhibited in science fiction films. One of the themes at the 2023 MWC Barcelona (an annual trade event) was developments in the AR and VR arena.
With the global rollout of 5G, immersive technology is set to take center stage, with applications in automobiles, sports, and the workplace, among others.
At this year’s MWC, companies such as Oppo, Qualcomm, Xiaomi, and HTC, among others, showed breakthroughs in AR glasses and VR headsets.
4. Democratizing the Smartphone
Recently, Google announced the launch of a less expensive smartphone than its current versions. Software developers who use the Android operating system have strong portfolios of low- and mid-priced smartphones. The corporation had previously focused on high-end phones to avoid cannibalizing its camp.
Aside from speed, 5G networks are popular for their capacity to send data with virtually no lag, a trait that will serve as the foundation for the “Internet of Things” technology.
As a result, many gadgets can serve as data-gathering gateways. Smart speakers, smartwatches, vehicles, and electronics, for example, will serve as routes for collecting a lot of customer data.
5. The Flip And Fold Era
Samsung Electronics has opted to go ahead with MWC Barcelona by introducing the Galaxy Fold, which expands from a 4.6-inch cover display to a 7.3-inch tablet screen. This foldable smartphone will be available in the United States and South Korea next quarter, with prices starting at $1,980.
Huawei Technologies and its Chinese rival Royole have both launched foldable smartphones with high-resolution OLED panels. As firms respond to the desire for rich content to enjoy on huge displays, faster 5G networks will allow these devices to stream high-quality videos smoothly.
What Does the Future Hold for Smartphones?
The future of smartphones will be shaped by the integration of advanced technologies such as improved AI and machine learning capabilities, 5G-enabled connectivity and functionality, holographic displays, and flexible displays.
Smartphones are becoming even more versatile, with the potential for them to be charged wirelessly or act as remote controls for other devices. The value of patient-generated health data (PGHD) that can be captured using mobile devices is also being explored, particularly in the field of oncology.
Nokia Bell Labs has already begun the research work on the development of 6G to make it commercially available by 2030, and it will most likely be faster than 5G.
In the future, smartphones are likely to be defined by cutting-edge technologies that push the boundaries of what they can do for the communication, entertainment, and healthcare realms.