Has Phone Hardware Innovation Stagnated?

[RedTurbo]

There is only so much we can do with phone technology. Battery life and storage space are the two biggest things holding smartphones back. Although it could be argued that, since smart phone are aimed at the average user, they actually have more than enough data I beg to differ but whatever.

My problem with phone technology is that it's not being introduced in a healthy way. While one could say that the iphone 6 is definitely and objectively better than the iphone 2g from 2007, most iphone users are getting or have the iphone 4 which was released in 2010. A company can't release a brand new hardware model every year with upgrades that aren't "wow" worthy to the average user without their being a loss of value and that's why I really hope that companies start focusing on practicality vs innovation because innovation will lead to a crash after there's nothing left to do due to present day technology limitations.

If we waited every 2 or 3 years for a new smartphone we'd see massive improvements much like how we wait a minimum of 4 years for a new video game console. They'd be able to fix the problems that need to be fixed and justify the upgrades.

 

[blast0rama]

It's like when new computers come out now. Sure, you could be the early adopter type, but if you wait longer, you get stronger returns for your money.

This is why I just stay on the New-Every-2 cycle. Went from the iPhone 4s to the 5s, and it was awesome. Can't wait for 2015's 6s or whatever.

 

[gcubed]

I feel like phones get significantly better every year. The iPhone 6 rumours have Apple leveraging the fingerprint scanner (thusfar a pretty minor feature) to achieve better merchant / credit card processing rates and wider national partnerships for NFC purchasing. That's a big deal if it works. If it doesn't, like past Android-based NFC purchasing initiatives, then obviously that's a bummer.

More and more new model cars have better and better phone integration. Home automation standards use smartphones. Screen size innovation has changed app design a good deal. Waterproofing makes phones more convenient. Faster processors allow phones to replace more and more of the daily tasks computers used to do, although obviously input is limited. My phone has already replaced so many things--I can't wait for the day that it replaces my wallet, passport, and keys fully.

Android NFC payment option works just fine through Google wallet and works where NFC is accepted. I don't see what they are going to bring that will be any different, besides apple inventing NFC payments. That coupled with the currently happening replacement of all POS systems in the USA to chip and pin that will have NFC built in will make another "apple made it happen" narrative.

I agree that the movement to replace things will be great, but as many have said here, that's mainly limited to battery technology. You can't replace your world with a battery that can barely last a day

 

[Krejlooc]

I just want to start seeing some science fiction tech in smart phones. Give me a hard light keyboards and other crazy stuff.

they just announced a virtual reality phone like a few days ago.

 

[Deleted member 10571]

If we waited every 2 or 3 years for a new smartphone we'd see massive improvements much like how we wait a minimum of 4 years for a new video game console. They'd be able to fix the problems that need to be fixed and justify the upgrades.

I don't think it'd work like that. We have three console manufacturers. And about a hundred+ mobile manufacturers, spread all over the world, working on the same shit and wanting to sell it. Also, no need to stay on the market with one system for as long as possible because of game sales, that's just not happening on mobile until we have games that only run on system x.

Both are way too different to compare them like this.

 

[SMattera]

People have been saying phone hardware has been stagnant for years.

Go back and read some Galaxy SIII reviews -- incremental improvement over SII. Then dig up some SIV reviews -- incremental improvement over SIII. Then S5 -- same thing.

 

[TacticalFox88]

I do wonder what phones will be like in 2020

 

[rexor0717]

I feel like voice quality could really be improved on a lot of smart phones.

 

[Deleted member 10571]

I do wonder what phones will be like in 2020

The same as today, only with more smart watches around and higher res.

 

[LastGamer84]

Battery.. Gives up a phone that works more than 2 days straight.

This times a thousand...stop shoving more power onto a weak battery phone makers. We want a better battery at this point, not a better phone.

 

[RedTurbo]

I don't think it'd work like that. We have three console manufacturers. And about a hundred+ mobile manufacturers, spread all over the world, working on the same shit and wanting to sell it. Also, no need to stay on the market with one system for as long as possible because of game sales, that's just not happening on mobile until we have games that only run on system x.

Both are way too different to compare them like this.

My problem though is that I've never been able to justify getting a new phone or feel like I need another one unless mine breaks and I'm the tech person of my friends and family group.

I am seriously considering the Note Edge because I need another phone and I'm willing to pay to have that model if it lasts 4 or so years, but I believe that my buying habits are similar of the general public's in terms of buying phones. That's why I wouldn't be surprised if in 3 or so years the latest phones are less innovative because of that.

 

[Spork4000]

Agreed. I'm really hesitant about buying the iPhone6 just because it seems they kept that shit home button. Every single one of my iPhones has had a problem with that button.

Pretty sure that home button isn't going anywhere, sorry dude.

 

[Pagusas]

Does that AR stuff actually work like they do in the ads?

Yup sure does. Download world lens and play with it yourself.

 

[rrvv]

I do wonder what phones will be like in 2020

it will be smartglasses that can do VR and AR

 

[jstripes]

 

[outunderthestars]

I can always count on you to have the exact opposite of my opinion. <3

I was literally going to type this exact response.

 

[solarus]

I think touch id was a pretty awesome hardware addition, especially once iOS 8 comes out.
One password with touch id support will be godly.

 

[GabDX]

While it is not a fully formed idea by any stretch of the imagination, I quite like that Samsung is thinking out-of-the-box here about how innovative hardware ideas can lead to new and better experiences for the user.

I mean, let's face it. Whatever Apple announces this week, we know it is going to take the same basic form factor as every other smart phone out there...a rectangular touch screen.

The initial ideas that this phone brings actually has me excited about phone hardware again. If this becomes a 'thing', can you imagine what some of the more imaginative developers will come up with?

Plus, they had me at 'clock mode'.

Do you actually believe the crap you're saying? Is this satire or do you work for Samsung?

 

[terrisus]

they could charge the same price for a keyboard enabled version, but what exec would go for a profit eating decision like that?

Then why "innovate" at all?
Reduce costs while keeping the price the same then.

Charge more for it, I don't care.
Just bring back keyboards for most phones.

Hardly anyone wants that except you though, so why would they?

Well...

*nod*

We may be alone, friend, but we are correct. And sometimes that's enough.

Mah man.

God, if the Nokia N900 was on my carrier, there was no way I would have ever gotten the iPhone 3G. Same with the G1.

I would pay a premium for an Android with a full keyboard.

I miss my touch pro 2 so much

THIS

I'm right there with you

My man. Give me my fucking keyboard back!

Some people want the superior option at least.

 

[joeygreco1985]

The only thing they need to do, is to fix the fucking batteries.
That is what everyone really needs.
The smart phones are complete and ready for whatever app that will come.
So fix the fucking battery life so we dont have to charge it every other night.

Every other night? I need to charge my battery after half a day

 

[The Faceless Master]

Android NFC payment option works just fine through Google wallet and works where NFC is accepted. I don't see what they are going to bring that will be any different, besides apple inventing NFC payments. That coupled with the currently happening replacement of all POS systems in the USA to chip and pin that will have NFC built in will make another "apple made it happen" narrative.

I agree that the movement to replace things will be great, but as many have said here, that's mainly limited to battery technology. You can't replace your world with a battery that can barely last a day

indeed. the Target hack made it happen. hell, i wouldn't be surprised of Apple added NFC because of the Target hack.

 

[The Faceless Master]

Then why "innovate" at all?
Reduce costs while keeping the price the same then.

Charge more for it, I don't care.
Just bring back keyboards for most phones.

the innovation was getting rid of hardware keyboards and all of the added cost and complexity that comes with them and evolving software keyboards with autocomplete, word drawing, voice to text, etc...as for reducing costs while keeping prices the same... they have to compete with others, that's why. remember when the Moto X launched? did people say it was a bad phone? no, but people said it was a ripoff because it cost as much as phones with better hardware.

 

[Ecto311]

It has to at some point since this device does so much and takes over for so many other devices. It has to be a phone, mp3 player, camera, pda, game device, slim, and portable among other things. So the design has to consider all that when/if changing.

Plus I think some kind of new tech has to come along and warrant a change similar to paper book to eBook. We had the tech and the tools to make books better (to some, me included) so the eBook was born. The phone does just about all the stuff it should and can for now.

 

[Jon Armdog]

Battery.. Gives up a phone that works more than 2 days straight.

Hell yes. This is the only innovation I care about now in phone hardware

 

[KevinRo]

The word innovation needs to be shot to the moon and left there forever.

 

[jelly]

I want to see a wrist/forearm wrap around sort of device. Then further in the future, hologram display from said device. A watch and phone, nah. Wearable smartphone device, yeah.

 

[terrisus]

the innovation was getting rid of hardware keyboards and all of the added cost and complexity that comes with them and evolving software keyboards with autocomplete, word drawing, voice to text, etc...as for reducing costs while keeping prices the same... they have to compete with others, that's why. remember when the Moto X launched? did people say it was a bad phone? no, but people said it was a ripoff because it cost as much as phones with better hardware.

So would it be "innovation" to get rid of all the advanced processors in phones and the added cost and complexity that comes with them?

It wasn't "innovation," it was "getting rid of a feature to go with an inferior feature for the purpose of saving money/making more profits."

 

[soco]

nothing will seem that innovative anymore for phones. The thing is, once you get used to the innovation cycle, you eventually stop seeing things as 'ground breaking'. Everything seems possible and the next step is always around the corner. You've seen so many, everything seems possible. You've probably thought through so many of the possible advances in day dreams or discussions with friends.

This has been exaggerated by the internet, where you know about every advance and can follow updates for years. It's not longer 'wow, this is amazing', it's 'it's finally here. that took forever'

Not that hardware won't play a part, but most of the big innovations in the next 20 years will be software ones. It'll be the stuff that changes your behavior slightly. Makes you walk more, eat more healthily, meet new people. The hardware will enable this through better battery life, a few new sensors, maybe a new interface or two, but most of it will be the software that sits on top.

Again, that's not to say that there won't be plenty of cool hardware advances. There's awesome shit coming out every day, just that you've grown accustom to it. You've grown to expect these changes to happen so frequently. In a few years, even science fiction will struggle to keep up with the advances. The human mind will just expect it even sooner.

 

[neogaffer1]

Drop prices to $99 that'll be innovative

The new Moto X will start at $99 for 16 GB on contract.

 

[The Faceless Master]

So would it be "innovation" to get rid of all the advanced processors in phones and the added cost and complexity that comes with them?

It wasn't "innovation," it was "getting rid of a feature to go with an inferior feature for the purpose of saving money/making more profits."

many would argue that software keyboards are a superior feature. few would do the same for newer generation microprocessors.

 

[terrisus]

many would argue that software keyboards are a superior feature.

And those people would be wrong.
:þ

 

[The Faceless Master]

And those people would be wrong.
:þ

not according to history

 

[lmpaler]

I just wish more phone came with 64GB or more of space. I like having my phone be like an all-in-one device. Use it for music at the gym and the like, but it seem like they are just now getting into the 16GB standard and still charging absurd amounts for expandable media, if the phones even have them anymore(LG G2 doesn't as an example, but comes with 32GB so it isn't a bad trade off)

 

[ShowDog]

The 5S fingerprint sensor is a huge, huge improvement on phone interaction IMO. I love it.

 

[Hoo-doo]

Then why "innovate" at all?
Reduce costs while keeping the price the same then.

Charge more for it, I don't care.
Just bring back keyboards for most phones.




Well...


Some people want the superior option at least.

Superior? How? I don't like giving up 50% of my screen real estate for a dumb physical keyboard, i also wouldn't want a bulky fridge of a flipphone either.

Removing the clunky and outdated keyboards is why phones are as beautiful and sleek as they are today. I don't want to go back to the era of phones that are an inch thick.

 

[Enco]

It went backwards when they removed physical keyboards.
If they want to move forwards again, they can add those back into the majority of phones.

Hell no.

Phones are pretty stagnant yes. Just small spec upgrades year on year.

Edit: fingerprint on 5S is great

 

[choodi]

Do you actually believe the crap you're saying? Is this satire or do you work for Samsung?

I like something so instantly I must work for them. You're an idiot. Actually read the thread and my comments and you'll see I don't like Samsung's software at all.

Edit: Lots of people have criticised my opinion that this is a good innovation. I see a great deal of potential in having an independent secondary screen that can provide important info to the user without the need to turn on the main screen.

Plenty of people have complained about battery life in this thread. This is a potential solution to that problem...well until they actually start improving the actual batteries.

 

[djtiesto]

Physical keyboards are so much better, I hate how inaccurate touch keypads are. I'm waiting for phones to finally have tactile touch screens, right now the interface is what holds them back so much for me (I hate using my phone for most anything outside of making calls due to the interface)

 

[crazy monkey]

i love the edge. love the note 4 3d cinema view. I still use dumb phone and will use dumb for another few more years.

 

[Hylian7]

To those complaining about the lack of physical keyboards, I can understand, however it still wasn't practical to type with two thumbs and will never be as practical as a full keyboard you can type on.

Things like Swype, are better than any physical keyboard ever was on a phone.

 

[Vooduu]

Hardware has stagnated until better technology is affordable to manufacture. Right now, it's about integrating better software with our daily lives, which is the health/watch craze that's going on now.

Things will be more exciting in the future for those who are bored but honestly, smartphones today are pretty great.

Only complaint I have is screen size (iPhone 5) and battery life but I'm sure I'll be satisfied come Tuesday.

 

[terrisus]

To those complaining about the lack of physical keyboards, I can understand, however it still wasn't practical to type with two thumbs and will never be as practical as a full keyboard you can type on.

This is true, of course. But, needless to say, building a full-size keyboard into a phone wouldn't make any sense (would look like that Phantasy Star Online controller for the GCN >.>)

Things like Swype, are better than any physical keyboard ever was on a phone.

This, however, I strongly disagree with.

And I say that having used Swype for the past year+
It "works," but it's annoying, and significantly inferior to a physical keyboard.

 

[Estellex]

It went backwards when they removed physical keyboards.
If they want to move forwards again, they can add those back into the majority of phones.

Physical keyboards actually made phones bigger and added an extra mechanical hardware component that can be prone to breaking.

A phone's main goal is to be as small as possible and be compact. Adding a physical keyboard would make it bulky, which is not what the average consumer wants. Every year, phone manufacturers are trying to make their phones as slim as possible. (EX: Samsung, Apple).

Also factor in a case, which is pretty important and even a slim phone like the Galaxys can become pretty bulky with a good protective case on.

 

[terrisus]

Physical keyboards actually made phones bigger and added an extra mechanical hardware component that can be prone to breaking.

Alright?...

A phone's main goal is to be as small as possible and be compact.

I disagree.
And so do plenty of other people - otherwise all sorts of miniscule phones that already exist would be beating all of these "big, bulky" phones that people continue to buy.

That someone could state a universal "a phone's main goal is..." is silly anyway.
I could just as easily state that "a phone's main goal is to be as functional as possible" - with a physical keyboard being a key part of that.

 

[Estellex]

Alright?...



I disagree.
And so do plenty of other people - otherwise all sorts of miniscule phones that already exist would be beating all of these "big, bulky" phones that people continue to buy.

That someone could state a universal "a phone's main goal is..." is silly anyway.
I could just as easily state that "a phone's main goal is to be as functional as possible" - with a physical keyboard being a key part of that.

If a lot of people want phones with physical keyboards then phone manufacturers would have put them out already.

Obviously there isn't as high of a demand to warrant making flagship phones with physical keyboards.

I was once in your boat and tried looking for a good phone with a physical keyboard. Then I thought about how it would make the phones more easily breakable. I got used to the touchscreen and then everything changed.

The closest thing I could think of is to add in a keyboard case. Like the ones for tablets.

 

[Jazzy Network]

If a lot of people want phones with physical keyboards then phone manufacturers would have put them out already.

Obviously there isn't as high of a demand to warrant making flagship phones with physical keyboards.

I was once in your boat and tried looking for a good phone with a physical keyboard. Then I thought about how it would make the phones more easily breakable. I got used to the touchscreen and then everything changed.

The closest thing I could think of is to add in a keyboard case. Like the ones for tablets.

 

[terrisus]

If a lot of people want phones with physical keyboards then phone manufacturers would have put them out already.

Yeah, pretty much.

 

[Estellex]

Yeah, pretty much.

Well point is we won't see any flagship phone with physical keyboards coming out anytime soon.
Instead of saying phone manufactures are going backwards, which was in your original post in the thread I would argued that they are going forward. Physical keyboard smart phones appeal to a very limited market these days.

Pros of a physical keyboard:

Tactile feedback
Can type without having a V-keyboard blocking some screen real-estate

Cons:
Phone would become bulky and less compact.
An extra hardware component that can be prone to breaking.
Cost to manufacture would also increase.



The majority of consumers want new technological advancements that are aesthetically pleasing. A physical keyboard would actually be a step backward since it wouldn't fit into the "minimalist" design standpoint of any new flagship phones out today. Noticed how it is major marketing to note out the size and dimension of a phone. Samsung usually is the one that like to do this the most.

 

[terrisus]

Well point is we won't see any flagship phone with physical keyboards coming out anytime soon.
Instead of saying phone manufactures are going backwards, which was in your original post in the thread I would argued that they are going forward. Physical keyboard smart phones appeal to a very limited market these days.

Pros of a physical keyboard:

Tactile feedback
Can type without having a V-keyboard blocking some screen real-estate

Cons:
Phone would become bulky and less compact.
An extra hardware component that can be prone to breaking.
Cost to manufacture would also increase.



The majority of consumers want new technological advancements that are aesthetically pleasing. A physical keyboard would actually be a step backward since it wouldn't fit into the "minimalist" design standpoint of any new flagship phones out today. Noticed how it is major marketing to note out the size and dimension of a phone. Samsung usually is the one that like to do this the most.

Your focus still seems to be on your previous statement of:

A phone's main goal is to be as small as possible and be compact.

Since it hasn't seemed to sit that that isn't "a phone's main goal" for everyone, I submit:

Small, minimalist, not bulky, very compact, fewer hardware components that can be prone to breaking, low cost to manufacture.
It hits all of your key points of "a phone's main goal."

So, why hasn't this type of phone taken the world by storm?
Because things aren't as clear-cut as your statement of "A phone's main goal is to be as small as possible and be compact."

There are many considerations that go into a phone, and different things that are important to different people in different amounts.

And if having a phone "as small as possible" is the key point for you, here's the website for that above-pictured phone, for your purchasing needs.

 

[Drifters]

Quite frankly the only thing that has hit stagnation is peoples imagination of how to use them. Thankfully, we have the Moto X for that.