The world of smartphones has obviously become an integral part of most people’s lives over the past fifteen years.
But what innovations and trends can we expect for the rest of the year and beyond that will actually improve the user experience? Here are five smartphone trends for 2024 that actually matter.
Looking for a new smartphone? Check out our roundup of the best budget, mid-range, and flagship smartphones.
coming year that will bring back the wow factor or just make things better for users? Here’s the top trend we think will matter most in 2024.
1. On-device AI
There has been an explosion of interest and use of AI over the past year.
Gone are the days when Siri looked smart (to be fair, they didn’t last long). Today, thanks to ChatGPT, Claude, and similar software advancements, we’re starting to have AI write our emails, write resumes, create illustrations for projects, and even screen your calls for you.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
While these are great, most of the features people have started using are internet-based, requiring all the work to be done in the cloud. But that’s changing this year, with more AI capabilities built into new phones.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 line leads the way, although Galaxy AI has since been added to many other Samsung phones. It includes real-time call translation (a feature also available on the Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra), article summaries, and Circle to Search, although the latter also works on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.
It’s not an in-device AI, but you can also use artificial intelligence to edit photos on any smartphone via Google Photos.
Learn more in our separate guide to the best smartphones for AI features.
2. Sustainable and environmentally friendly technology
This should hardly have escaped anyone’s attention, but the world isn’t exactly in a healthier place right now. The current scale of the climate change crisis may not be immediately apparent to some, but it is having an effect on both manufacturing and consumer demand.
Some companies are already innovating in this area, with the Fairphone 5 being a great example of how you can produce smartphones that are good, will last for years, and can be easily repaired. Other phones, including the Nokia G22 and HMD Pulse, are also easily user-serviceable.
Stricter rules regarding the right to repair and the length of time companies support their products with security updates have also seen positive developments.
Matthias Inghé
Matthias Inghé
Matthias Inghé
On the software side, Samsung and Google offer seven years of OS and security updates for flagship phones, followed closely by Apple and many other Android phone makers.
Consumer appetite for this suggests they want to keep their phones longer, which is a good thing for the environment. But it also challenges manufacturers to make the differences between new and old devices much more impressive, in order to entice customers to upgrade their phones. This could spur innovation while saving the planet. Not a bad deal by any standard.
Another eco-friendly option is to buy a refurbished phone, which is definitely worth considering. It could also save you a lot of money compared to buying new.
3. Cheaper foldable phones
The foldable smartphone market has been one of the most interesting areas in recent years, as it brings a new style of device that seems to be the future of the platform.
A major problem with them however is the cost. Sure, most flagship phones come with eye-watering prices, but foldables take it to another level. This could change soon, however, as technology advances and production costs decrease.
Chris Martin / Foundry
Chris Martin / Foundry
Chris Martin / Foundry
The Nubia Flip 5G is the cheapest we’ve seen at just $599, while the regular Motorola Razr 40 isn’t far behind at £799/$799.
However, the big name in the foldable industry, Samsung, appears ready to make cheap foldables itself. Both the Galaxy Z Flip FE and Galaxy Z Fold FE could be significantly more affordable than their regular counterparts.
If foldable devices are going to become more popular, they need to be cheaper. These rumors could therefore portend a bright future for the sector in the coming year.
4. Better zooms
Nowadays, smartphones are sold almost mainly because of their cameras. They all do pretty much the same thing in other departments, so the question most people have about a new model is, “Are the cameras any good?”
Most mid-range or flagship phones these days take great photos, but zoom is one area that has proven elusive. Although almost all phones allow you to zoom in on a subject, relying on a digital version often results in images being blurry and grainy.
To achieve optical zoom, which does not compromise image quality, you need a telephoto lens. But this requires a large sensor, which often adds extra bulk to the device.
Chris Martin / Foundry
Chris Martin / Foundry
Chris Martin / Foundry
Recently, we’ve seen companies experiment with periscope lenses, which use prisms and mirrors to create bulk-free physical zoom lenses. We’ve seen them appear on models like the Honor Magic 6 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max, and Xiaomi 14 Ultra, which seem to offer the best of both worlds.
A 5x, 3x, or even 2x telephoto lens can make a big difference in the quality of zoom shots, so it would make sense for its rollout to be accelerated throughout 2024 and beyond.
5. Better Battery Life
If there’s one thing that’s the bane of smartphone users’ lives, it’s having to worry about your phone dying and becoming a very expensive paperweight. Things are changing though, which could make life a little less stressful for those who fear the low-power warning message.
Computerworld recently reported how Apple was working on designs to improve the batteries of its upcoming phones. These include new conductive materials that would allow batteries to charge faster and discharge more slowly. The dream!
You can be sure that if Apple works on this, Samsung and the other tech giants will all have their own variations.
Martyn Casserly
Martyn Casserly
Martyn Casserly
It’s not just the batteries themselves that should allow for longer charging intervals, as the use of other components will reduce demand on the cells of new smartphones. These include new LTPO displays that consume less power, AI software that intelligently manages application resource demands, and chipsets that are more energy efficient.
We’ve already seen smartphone manufacturers implementing these innovations in 2024. Let’s hope this continues throughout the year and beyond.
Looking for specific devices on the go? Check out our roundup of the best smartphones coming in 2024.
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