Love your smartphone and think it couldn’t possible get any better? Think again. Changes are a part of life, and that’s certainly just as true of mobile devices as anything else. But where are our phones headed in 2018?
Let’s explore the potential future of smartphones together.
- Quicker unlocking abilities
Apparently, people want to access their phones in lightning-quick time. We’re not sure why that’s such a must-have feature, but it’s definitely something technology companies are taking into account.
The iPhone X has famously introduced a system which allows you to reach your home screen without having to use your digits. Fingers? What is this, the dark ages? Mac World provide a rundown of how this fantastic new tech works.
- Focus on apps for communication
A decade ago we probably couldn’t have imagined communicating with someone over a long distance on any medium other than a phone. In 2018 things are very different. As Ding point out, just 39% of people still use a phone to stay in contact, with WhatsApp the most common method for chatting.
As such, it would be sensible to assume smart phones might begin to focus their attention on enhancing this particular feature. With contacts instantly appearing in most communication apps as a dedicated profile already, it’s likely more effort will be concentrated towards improving this.
- Improved AI
Whether it’s Siri, Alexa or Cortana, AIs (artificial intelligence) have taken a considerable step forward in the past few years. While they’re not quite ready to react to us on the same level as we’ve experienced in sci-fi movies (such as “Her”), it’s eerie how advanced some of this tech is getting.
Expect this upwards trend to continue as 2018 progresses. Right now, we can set reminders and choose our favourite tracks with the use of AI, but what does the future have in store? We’ll soon see.
- Direct laptop connection
Samsung are paving the way for the replacement of laptops, with a dedicated desktop dock which allows you to connect a smartphone to PC monitor. The Galaxy S9 is rumoured to be able to support this feature, allowing users to operate their mobile as though it were a computer.
Given the continued reliance on smartphones, it’s reasonable to imagine this might become a strong trend in the coming year.
Intrigued to see if smartphones change as we’re predicting? Whatever happens in 2018, one thing we know for sure is that phones will continue to advance. Watch this space for further advancements to your favourite models.
