WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE SMARTPHONES OF 2021
The smartphone industry had significantly surged this year and 2021 is expected to be a year of groundbreaking technologies apart from the development & extensive use of recently-introduced technologies. With all these, the industry is hoping for an exciting year ahead. At this point of time, rumors are floating around about some technologies like enhanced protective glass, new versions of Android, and more. Let's have a look at some of those notable features & technologies that might be available with the smartphones of 2021.
Expected New Features And Improvements:
Under-Display Selfie Camera
In an attempt to maximize the screen-to-body ratio, brands have been placing front cameras in notch displays, in-display punch-holes, and even in rotating and pop-up modules. Now, smartphone manufacturers have turned to under-display front cameras, an innovative move to increase the screen-to-body ratio. Though under-display selfie camera smartphones are already available, they are not good enough to perfectly cover the underlying camera. However, a flawless in-display camera is anticipated in 2021.
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
The flagship devices of 2021 will be widely equipped with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, capable of surviving falls from up to 2 meters onto hard and rough surfaces, which is a step higher than its predecessor - Gorilla 6. Besides, Victus has better scratch performance than its predecessors. Adopting Gorilla Glass Victus can provide significant improvement in the durability of smartphones. Moreover, the cameras on the back which are prone to damage as they have become larger and protruding can be secured to a great extent with Victus
Android 12 & iOS 15
Android 11 has already rolled out, but most smartphones are yet awaiting the update. Moreover, it is also expected that Google will be rolling out Android 12 during 2021. However, there is not much information available regarding the next Android update. Still, there are rumors regarding Google making Android Runtime a module in Android 12's Project Mainline that could enable frequent OS updates through Play Store, instead of the less frequent conventional over-the-air updates.
Apple is expected to launch the iOS 15 in 2021 alongside the iPhone 13, enhancing the iOS 14. There are no sufficient details concerning the exact launch date and the expected features. However, leaks indicate that the iOS 15 will only be available for the iPhone 7 and later. We will have to wait to hear from Apple to know more about iOS 15.
Snapdragon 888
The premium smartphones of 2021 might pack the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, which is supposed to take connectivity, artificial intelligence, camera, gaming, performance, and security to the next level. Furthermore, With the Snapdragon 888, connectivity features like 5G, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth will be improved, thus providing a futuristic mobile experience. Also, it is capable of transforming smartphones into cameras producing professional quality pictures and videos. This chipset is also capable of boosting performance and gaming experience, along with providing improved power efficiency. Another advantage Snapdragon 888 can provide is advanced security with utmost privacy. Apart from all these, AI leaps forward and blends in with almost every feature to deliver a performance boost.
Faster Wireless Charging
Fast charging has been evolving over the past years, and currently, smartphones supporting up to 120W fast charging are available while wireless fast charging is in the range of 10W to 15W. Moreover, wireless charging is getting approval everywhere. And so, it is obvious that in 2021 wireless fast charging will undergo significant improvements. There are rumors that manufacturers are working to boost wireless fast-charging up to 100W. Anyway, there is a lot more manufacturers have to work on as faster charging reduces battery life over time. Let us keep our fingers crossed.
Foldable Smartphones With Multi-Fold Design
Foldable smartphones are already available in a whopping price tag many can't afford and are bi-folded. But in 2021, multi-folded smartphones may be launched by smartphone manufacturers. A multi-fold design could help multiple the screen sizes according to our requirements. Hence, we can use them as a regular smartphone that is handy or as a tablet for multitasking, gaming, streaming, and so on. However, most multi-fold devices are just a concept or a prototype, and the wear and tear of such devices is still a concern for brands.
Rollable Smartphones
Rollable smartphones are becoming the anticipated alternatives for the existing foldable smartphones, and the first rollable smartphone is expected in 2021. Unlike foldable phones that use a folding display, rollable phones use an extendable display that rolls out to enlarge the screen size. The rollable design significantly reduces the total size of the phone. As a result, switching between the smaller and bigger screens becomes easier.
Back Panels That Change Color
2021 might be the year of colour-changing smartphones, as smartphone makers are introducing phones with back panels that change colour based on electrochromic technology. The colour change occurs with a touch or a wave over the back, and it is speculated that the changing colours may even be used in notifying the users when receiving notifications.
Nearly Bezel-Less And Transparent Smartphones
Brands have been filing patents for years to design a transparent phone. In 2021 a transparent phone may not become a reality, but there are chances we might see one in the near future. Nevertheless, bezel-less smartphones are currently available, and next year we might get an opportunity to witness the launch of almost nil bezel smartphones.
Affordable 5G Smartphones
5G smartphones are already available, but considering the current price tag, it is not affordable for most of them. This might not be the same in 2021 since smartphone manufacturers are already working on affordable 5G phones. Though 5G is not yet available in India, it is anticipated that 5G phones will have a wider reach with availability in every budget.
Conclusion
The smartphone industry is to witness so much during 2021 in terms of innovative technologies capable of providing outperforming slimmer smartphones. Brands are doing big reveals about the launch of their latest products, and it seems 2021 is going to be a promising year. All we have to do now is to wait and watch to find out what is in the making.