Over the previous 5 years or so, there’s been a pattern of smartphones wanting extra alike than ever earlier than, regardless of who makes them. Ultra-thin bezels on the entrance, a hole-punch cutout for the selfie digital camera, and a few mixture of glass, aluminum, and plastic.
The solely actual distinction is available in the display measurement, 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 Ultra. Sure, there was additionally speak about how different supplies are getting used which can be “protected for the planet,” however let’s be actual, no one truly cares about that.
Besides all of the Galaxy AI additions, I got here away feeling a bit bored. Not as a result of of 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 similar, with arguably the largest change coming in the type of the flat show on the S24 Ultra as Samsung is lastly transferring away from the annoying curved screens.
A query that saved coming again to me was, “What’s subsequent?” I imply, it isn’t simply a Samsung drawback, however the place does the design for smartphones go from right here? It’s half of the motive why I’m a believer in foldable telephones as a result of it is a medium that is nonetheless maturing and there is room for innovation.
Of course, I’m simply sitting right here writing phrases on the net and have zero design expertise. But I can not assist however really feel as if that is the finest that we’ll get. Google has its distinctive digital camera bar, however even that’s extra of an evolution of the Nexus 6P. Other manufacturers, like Oppo/OnePlus, have began transferring the cameras to the middle of the again, housing all of the digital camera sensors in a comically giant module.
Honestly, I form of like that the OnePlus Open has a centered digital camera module. It’s higher for lining up photos, however it additionally made it doable for OnePlus to offer us the finest cameras that we have seen in a foldable cellphone. You can argue that the Pixel Fold remains to be a greater digital camera expertise, however a lot of that’s in the software program processing, whereas the Open’s bodily sensors are way more versatile.
On the different facet, 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, perhaps the digital camera module is subsequent. Or perhaps it’s going to introduce an Action Button of its personal. With my luck, that is precisely what’s going to occur, however we’ll solely be capable of 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 similar cellphone design for years. The onslaught of memes is endless, however in actuality, Samsung is simply as responsible. It’s even so unhealthy to the level that whereas the total design seems to be primarily the similar, there’s simply sufficient of a distinction you can’t even re-use the similar circumstances. As I identified with the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, the modifications are so delicate that every one of the equipment you have accrued find yourself in 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. At the similar time, I can not assist however really feel that we have reached “peak smartphone design,” and that is just about it.