Over the past 12 months, several smartphones have been released that have become desired by millions.
The year began with CES, where we saw a seriesinnovative prototypes and technologies that will then be used in new devices this year. We are also waiting for the improvement of existing developments. Here's what we expect from 2018 smartphones.
Fingerprint scanner in display
One of the most powerful trends of 2017 (although it startedhe is still in 2016) – the desire to create smartphones with a display on the entire front panel. With the 18:9 aspect ratio becoming the standard, manufacturers can now make the display larger and still be usable with one hand. The same trend, on the other hand, has led to the relocation of the fingerprint scanner to the rear panel, or, in the case of the iPhone X, the complete abandonment of this technology.
However, there is another solution to this problem– not as radical as what Apple has adopted. Qualcomm and Synaptics have demonstrated new types of scanners that can be placed directly under the display. As a result, you can unlock the device using a fingerprint directly on the working part of the display. It is expected that at least several top smartphones this year will be equipped with similar technology. At CES we already saw a working prototype of such a smartphone from Vivo. If the first models are successful, under-display scanners will soon become the new standard.
Face Recognition Technologies
Apple is far from the first to come up with face scanninguser to unlock the smartphone, however, it was this company that significantly improved existing developments in this area and equipped the new iPhone X with the Face ID biometric authentication system – fast, safe and works regardless of lighting. So far, face scanning can hardly be called a standard even for flagships, but this may well change in 2018. Many manufacturers have already announced their analogues of Face ID, although less sophisticated and secure. Samsung offers iris scanning, which is considered more reliable, but less fast and convenient.
Judging by analyst reports, Apple will add Face IDin the new iPhones 2018. Most likely, many top manufacturers will pick up this trend. Machine learning suggests that the more people use these scanners, the more reliable and accurate the authentication becomes. However, most likely, in 2018, such sensors will be just one of the unlocking methods, and not the only one available.
More Augmented Reality
Although they are already talking about augmented realityseveral years, the true potential of the technology has not yet been revealed. With the ever-increasing performance of smartphones and platforms like Google ARCore and Apple ARKit, augmented reality could take off this year. Both iOS and Android will not only release many high-quality applications, but the toolkit for developers will almost certainly improve.
Dual camera in every smartphone
For everyone who often has to take photos orvideo with zoom or wants to simulate background blur as on DSLR cameras, smartphones with a dual camera have become a must-have in 2017. The additional module provides optical zoom, the ability to select the focus point after the photo has been taken, and many other interesting functions. We saw good examples of this in the iPhone X and 8 Plus, Galaxy Note 8, and Huawei Mate 10 Pro. From the list of devices, it’s easy to understand that this trend is more of a flagship – but this will soon change. Excellent proof of this – Moto G5S Plus with dual 13-megapixel cameras.
We cannot say that the double module –It is a prerequisite for the camera to be good. A great example of this – Google Pixel 2 XL. When compared with the iPhone X, its camera produces more than decent results and even outperforms the iPhone in some respects. But the potential opportunity to find budget models with a dual camera is definitely encouraging.
Wireless charging – new standard
As with Augmented Reality,Wireless charging has been heard for years. The very idea of not getting confused in the wires, but just putting the phone on a special stand or rug and picking up a charged device in the morning, will memorize amazingly. And now, when two top manufacturers, Apple and Samsung, began to implement it in their smartphones, we can very well expect the same from lesser-known brands. In addition, we should expect an increase in the number of available wireless charging models.
An equally interesting branch of this technology– contactless charging. Although prototypes of devices that are capable of charging smartphones within a certain radius exist, such chargers are not yet available for sale. Perhaps they will appear this year?
Artificial intelligence will make life easier
Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL reflect currentthe possibilities of integrating AI into a smartphone in all its glory. It helps you take better photos, recognize objects, and plan your day. Huawei is also showing great interest in artificial intelligence. The company's new processor even has a dedicated neural chip for these tasks. Amazon is also trying to get Alexa into as many devices as possible, and the same goes for Google Assistant.
Of course, prejudice and fear aroundartificial intelligence is enough. Nevertheless, there is real potential behind it, and almost every major manufacturer has its own developments in this area. We hope that 2018 will offer us new ways to use AI in our smartphones.
Folding displays
There are already rumors about a foldable smartphone from Samsungfor many years, and the concept itself sounds quite interesting. We're not talking about dual-screen models like the ZTE Axon M – We are talking about a one-piece display that can be folded in half, like a book, and the device can be used as both a smartphone and a tablet. Unfortunately, it appears that Android is not yet ready to work with this form factor, so the Galaxy X is unlikely to go on sale this year. One more question – How convenient and useful will such a folding display be? We will only be able to find out after the release, but for now we hope for new prototypes with different designs.
Improved Batteries
To increase the battery capacity of smartphones, wewe hope with each update of existing rulers. However, manufacturers often prefer to make the device thinner instead of increasing autonomy. In 2017, manufacturers managed to significantly increase the speed of charging batteries, and there is a chance to believe that in 2018 this trend will continue to gain momentum. In addition, attempts to make lithium-ion batteries even smaller do not stop, which also gives a chance to increase the battery life. If all these advantages do not come to naught due to more energy-intensive displays and processors, perhaps this year we will be able to leave the outlet more often.