Smartphones have been arguably the most revolutionary gadgets of modern technology. Most decent smartphones can do everything that a PC can do and more – and they fit easily in your pocket.
Smartphones have come a long way since they were first developed. They have come from bulky gadgets that were mostly for a show to slim and sleek devices that can monitor your health – and more. They are still developing, and the future smartphone will be better in virtually every aspect.
Are you curious about what the future smartphone will have to offer? Here is an overview of eight features that will improve drastically.
Network
It is embarrassing that smartphone users across the world still struggle with unreliable network connections. Fortunately, you can avoid that using this guide to cell phone boosters by weBoost. However, this is expected to change soon with the introduction of the 5G network.
5G technology is expected to support revolutionary new advances in technology. One of its greatest benefits will be a strong and reliable network connection and fast internet speeds. This means that your video and voice calls will be flawless, making for reliable communication. You will also enjoy smooth streaming and ultra-fast download speeds.
5G technology is already at the world’s doorstep. However, it has been the cause of global controversy and technology wars between the U.S. and China. Additionally, some entities are concerned that rolling out 5G technology worldwide may have adverse effects on the environment.
However, researchers are working to find solutions to these limitations. More importantly, the technology is already in use in some parts of the world.
It is also worth noting that network providers and smartphone manufacturers are planning to phase out SIM cards. SIM cards will be replaced with electronic versions of programmable SIM chips that will be built into the handset. This will also have a wide range of benefits, including switching network carriers at will when travelling abroad to avoid high international roaming costs.
Screen
The screen is the most prominent feature on the smartphone. A smartphone’s screens most important factors at the moment are its size and resolution/display. However, smartphone screens of the future are pushing the limits when it comes to functionality.
Smartphone screens will be pressure-sensitive, for starters. This feature will make it possible for your smartphone’s screen to sense how much pressure you apply.
The idea is that varying levels of pressure will unlock different features, making the screen more functional – especially for gamers. This feature has already been rolled out by Apple on its smartwatches, dubbed the Force Touch.
The future smartphone screens will also feature photonic crystal displays. This new feature is expected to improve smartphones’ overall display, especially when you are out in the sun.
The current smartphone screens become less visible when surrounded by bright natural light. Photonic crystal displays will automatically detect the surrounding ambient light and adjust the display to ensure optimal visibility.
These are not the only gains made in screen development. For example, Samsung has a new foldable screen. However, these features will be dismal compared to what the future has to offer.
Battery
Smartphones have a few shortcomings, and low-capacity batteries are at the top of the list. These devices are only useful when they are running.
Unfortunately, most smartphone batteries can only store enough power to last an average of eight hours, which is not usually enough to get most users through the day. To this end, many smartphone owners usually travel around with their chargers and power-banks to keep their smartphones on.
Smartphone batteries have been improving gradually, and new batteries can store more power for longer. However, they still pale compared to future smartphone batteries, which are expected to charge much quicker and last much longer.
StoreDot, an Israeli tech company, is working on a nano-tech battery. This battery has been inspired by the discovery that peptide molecules have an exceptionally high capacitance and show great potential for storing power.
StoreDot’s nano-tech battery has already passed the first phases of development. The battery was charged from zero to 100% in less than a minute during the initial test in 2015. However, its power retention capacity was lower than the standard lithium-ion battery. The company is currently working on improving its capacitance before releasing it to the public.
Camera
The camera is one of the most popular features on a smartphone. To this end, many smartphone users snap dozens of photos and record videos using their smartphone cameras daily.
Consequently, smartphone developers have been working on improving the quality of their cameras. For example, Apple and Samsung have introduced a new camera design featuring three individual cameras designed to work simultaneously. Additionally, new versions of virtually every smartphone model are featuring smaller cameras with higher megapixel capacities.
Future smartphone cameras will be smarter and capable of identifying individual objects. This will make cameras capable of spotting targets within a frame, making them functional for purposes more important than snapping photos.
Qualcomm is already working on a camera that can identify different objects by referencing a vast database of these objects’ shapes, colors, texture, and other characteristics. Google is also working on algorithms that will enable its search engine to make search queries based on images.
Voice Command
The voice command feature on smartphones is already impressive. In fact, many people interact with their smartphones, mostly via voice command. It is simple: just issue a command to Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant, or your chosen voice command feature and wait for an answer!
However, there is only so much that Siri and Alexa can do. For example, these voice assistants often get commands wrong, and it is frustrating trying to articulate what you want. To this end, the current voice command assistants will seem dismal compared to future voice assistants.
Smartphone developers, led by Apple and Google, are working on new voice command algorithms that will be integrated with Artificial Intelligence (AI). This will solve the problem of confusion and miscommunication when issuing commands.
More importantly, it will make these voice assistants intuitive, making them capable of anticipating your thoughts and actions. It will be like having a human assistant in your pocket.
Keyboard
Smartphones currently don’t feature physical keyboards, which were phased out with the first-generation mobile phones. However, future smartphones will feature a revolutionary keyboard – one that will be made of liquid!
The future smartphone screens will also have buttons – liquid buttons. Developers are using micro-fluid technology to form button-shaped controls beneath the smartphone’s screen. This technology is already under development by Tactus Technology, and it has been touted as something out of an advanced alien civilization.
Security
Your smartphone is a treasure trove of your personal information, including intimate details that you wouldn’t want anyone else to know. Many people try to secure their smartphones using passwords and other cybersecurity features.
However, hackers are becoming smarter and developing new ways around these security measures. To this end, smartphone manufacturers are focusing more on biometric forms of cybersecurity, which are more secure.