Everything changed in 2020. With COVID-19, much of the world’s population has been forced to quarantine in the hope of preventing the spread of the virus. As a result, we became more dependent on video calls and social networking than we were before. Our phones have helped us connect, entertain and divert from the relative horrors of the world around us. Fortunately, mobile technology has kept innovation going throughout the year despite the hellish fire that was in 2020. Telephone manufacturers did not drop the ball. In fact, many have shifted boundaries like never before.
With the end of the year (finally!) It’s high time we look ahead. Here’s what you can expect from smartphones during 2021.
See also: 7 smartphone trends that should really stop in 2021
Affordable foldable
Credit: Eric Zeman / Android Government
Phones that fold are still an emerging product category. We saw three major efforts during 2020, including the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip and Flip 5G, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 and the Motorola Razr 5G. Each of these phones has strengths and weaknesses, though we liked the Z Fold 2 a lot. However, if there is a thread for the category for the foldable phone, it is outrageous. The Z Flip and Razr 5G cost more than $ 1,400, and the Z Fold 2 cost a whopping $ 1,980. It is clear that the foldable items of 2020 were not devices for mass consumers.
With the start of 2021, it is reasonable to expect that folding prices will be more affordable. This is not to say that they will be cheap. You can expect phones like the Z Fold 2 to retain their $ 2,000 price points. Instead, new attempts that fall into the middle level with price points in the range of $ 800 to $ 1,000.
Related: The best folding phones you can get
“While most competitors are busy with their first folding, scrolling or rolling phones, Samsung is preparing its third-generation folding ready and promises to lower prices,” said Avi Greengart, president, chief analyst at Techsponential. “More affordable options will help determine how many consumers want their phones to change shape. Microsoft is also worth looking at the first generation Surface Duo, and LG seems particularly inclined to experiment. ”
5G across the board
Samsung was the first major phone maker to add 5G in its entire range of high-end devices and also many of its mid-range. The entire Galaxy S20 series had 5G on board – and the high price tag to match. Later, Samsung brought 5G to its cheaper devices, including the Galaxy A71 and Galaxy S20 FE. Apple, Google, Nokia and others followed, as well as other manufacturers. By the end of 2020, we started to see 5G adoption really start.
For 2021, it is clear that more phones will have 5G than ever. We can thank chipsets in Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 700 series for bringing the new connectivity standard to the mid-range. So we can expect most mid-range phones to have 5G on board next year. What is not yet clear is how far the product card will drop 5G. Google is already offering really affordable 5G phones, like the Pixel 4a 5G. Will we see 5G in phones below the $ 399 price point? It is possible.
Read more: Here’s what’s next for 5G in 2021
5G will also be much faster. While mmWave 5G impresses with its raw performance, its limited availability means that most people are navigating on slower mid-range 5G.
“Phones that integrate with Qualcomm’s X60 modem will deliver significantly faster sub-6 5G speeds, as they offer more flexibility to combine frequency bands,” says Greengart. ‘In the US, the impact in 2021 will be largely limited to the T-Mobile network until the winners of the government’s mid-range auction can build on it. In the second half of 2021, as the pandemic eases, we may also begin to see real use cases for mmWave 5G in busy areas and stadiums. ”
Quick display
Credit: C. Scott Brown / Android Government
If there was one trend we saw in 2020 that we liked, it was the proliferation of fast-paced exhibits. Leading phone makers have increased the refresh rate of their screens from 60Hz to 90Hz, 120Hz and even 144Hz. Faster refresh rates provide a smoother experience, especially when browsing or playing. It is found on phones like the ROG Phone 3 and the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.
We fully believe that the screens with a high refresh rate will be the norm in 2021. Leaks, for example, indicate that cheap Redmi phones will achieve 120Hz screens. What’s more, MediaTek’s Dimensity 700 series chips support 90Hz. This will bring fast screens to cheaper devices.
(Hopefully, Apple will sense the trend and also adopt faster screens.)
Under-display cameras
Credit: David Imel / Android Government
ZTE has introduced the first phone with an undertone camera in 2020, the Axon 20 5G. This brand new technology relies on transparent layers to make a camera take through a screen. The idea is to hide the camera so that the design of the notch or punch hole is lost, creating a more seamless screen experience. Here’s how the camera works under the screen.
It’s a good bet that more phones with hidden cameras are on the way.
Xiaomi was one of the first waves of phone makers to say it would use camera technology. However, you can be assured that Xiaomi and ZTE will not be alone. While we have no more promises from other phone manufacturers and the camera technology that is not displayed is perfect, it is a good bet that more phones with hidden cameras are on the way.
8K recording increases
Credit: Hadlee Simons / Android Government
If there is one trend that you are probably obvious about now, it is that we expect the features found in 2020 mainly on high-end phones to reach phones with lower price points in 2021.
We first saw 8K video recordings enter the spotlight with devices like the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S20 series in early 2020. The feature was introduced later in the year by the LG V60 ThinQ and a number other flagships found. The good news is that a wider range of slides today supports 8K video recordings, which means that the feature will be spread across a wider range of price points. Even more, now that 8K television sets are (almost) affordable, there will be a place to watch that 8K recording.
Augmented reality gets a grip on reality
It’s easy to shoot down the augmented reality. At the moment, Apple and Google appear to be the only companies genuinely interested in the technology. Apple continues to update its ARKit developer tools and makes AR hardware available. That’s not what we’re talking about.
“Qualcomm has invested heavily in AR and VR functionality, and its chips can be found in almost all standalone VR systems on the market,” Greengart noted. “Thanks to Facebook’s Oculus Quest 2, it looks like VR is ready to break through to the mainstream, but primarily as a gaming platform.” If you paid any attention to your television set, you’ve probably seen Oculus ‘push to get consumers’ attention with dramatic ads.
In 2021, we see headsets that connect to Snapdragon-based phones.
“AR, however, has a much greater potential,” Greengart suggests. ‘In 2021, we will see headphones that connect to Snapdragon-based phones leave the labs and get on the shelves. Apple was working on its own AR glasses; if history is a guideline, Apple will single out the first round of solutions next year and later define the market on its own terms. ‘
What smartphone trends do you think we will see in 2021? Let us know in the comments.