Over the previous 5 years or so, there’s been a pattern of smartphones wanting extra alike than ever earlier than, no matter who makes them. Extremely-thin bezels on the entrance, a hole-punch cutout for the selfie digital camera, and a few mixture of glass, aluminum, and plastic.
The one actual distinction comes within the display dimension, weight, and the digital camera array on the again. So when the Galaxy S24 was introduced, it is fairly apparent why a lot time was spent on the software program, outdoors of Samsung bringing Titanium to the Extremely. Certain, there was additionally discuss how different supplies are getting used which can be “protected for the planet,” however let’s be actual, no one really cares about that.
In addition to the entire Galaxy AI additions, I got here away feeling a bit bored. Not due to the software program, however as a result of Samsung is totally embracing the “Apple for Android” moniker. The Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S24 are virtually an identical, with arguably the most important change coming within the type of the flat show on the S24 Extremely as Samsung is lastly transferring away from the annoying curved screens.
A query that stored coming again to me was, “What’s subsequent?” I imply, it is not simply a Samsung downside, however the place does the design for smartphones go from right here? It is a part of the explanation why I am a believer in foldable telephones as a result of it is a medium that is nonetheless maturing and there is room for innovation.
In fact, I am simply sitting right here writing phrases on the net and have zero design expertise. However I can not assist however really feel as if that is the perfect that we will get. Google has its distinctive digital camera bar, however even that’s extra of an evolution of the Nexus 6P. Different manufacturers, like Oppo/OnePlus, have began transferring the cameras to the middle of the again, housing the entire digital camera sensors in a comically massive module.
Actually, I form of like that the OnePlus Open has a centered digital camera module. It is higher for lining up footage, nevertheless it additionally made it doable for OnePlus to offer us the perfect cameras that we have seen in a foldable telephone. You may argue that the Pixel Fold remains to be a greater digital camera expertise, however a lot of that’s within the software program processing, whereas the Open’s bodily sensors are rather more versatile.
On the opposite aspect, Samsung is sticking with its trypophobia-inducing digital camera setup that simply “pokes” out of the again glass. Now that Samsung has moved to the flat display, possibly the digital camera module is subsequent. Or possibly it will introduce an Motion Button of its personal. With my luck, that is precisely what’s going to occur, however we’ll solely have the ability to use it with Bixby till a developer manages to determine a workaround.
The humorous factor, to me, at the very least, is that Apple will get blasted yearly when it releases the identical telephone design for years. The onslaught of memes is endless, however in actuality, Samsung is simply as responsible. It is even so dangerous to the purpose that whereas the general design seems basically the identical, there’s simply sufficient of a distinction that you could’t even re-use the identical circumstances. As I identified with the Galaxy Tab S9 Extremely, the adjustments are so refined that the entire equipment you’ve got accrued find yourself within the bin.
I haven’t got a solution for what might probably be subsequent for the design of slab telephones. And that is most likely for the higher as a result of I will not know whether or not I like one thing or not till it is leaked or introduced. On the identical time, I can not assist however really feel that we have reached “peak smartphone design,” and that is just about it.
