1. 18:9 aspect ratio to be become the norm 16: 9 is passé and 18:9 is where all the action is now. We are talking about the aspect ratio which we have seen getting integrated on more and more smartphones. It was LG that introduced the feature first with its LG G6 smartphone but it has been aped by almost one and all. Brands like Honor, Xiaomi, Vivo – all feature 18:9 aspect ratio in their displays in smartphones priced under Rs 20,000.
2. Powerful processors When Qualcomm in December 2017 announced its flagship Snapdragon 845 processor, it meant that we can expect almost all flagship devices of 2018 to boast of the latest processor. What it will also mean that the earlier generation processor – Snapdragon 835 processor – could trickle down to relatively cheaper smartphones. As of now, no smartphone which is priced under Rs 30,000 features Snapdragon 835 but with Snapdragon 845 getting popular, it will soon change.
3. The rise and rise of AI With tech giants like Apple, Google, Amazon laying so much emphasis on AI, it’s perhaps a matter of time when others integrate it in their devices. Honor has already launches its AI-powered smartphone, the View 10. Artificial Intelligence or AI will be the buzzword for smartphones and a recent study by Gartner highlighted that by 2022 almost 80% of devices will have AI capabilities. The number stood at 10% in 2017 and is bound to grow in 2018.
4. Android Oreo to grab a bigger bite A big grouse with Android smartphones is that they hardly come with the latest OS as it’s evident with the miniscule number of smartphones having Android Oreo. Only a handful smartphones – Sony Xperia, Honor View 10 among others – come with Android Oreo out-of-the-box. However, we can expect a lot of smartphones in 2018 to be shipped with Android Oreo. It is already being made available on many smartphones including Nokia and OnePlus devices. Considering that every year Google unveils their latest Android version in XX, by that time Oreo will be the new Nougat.
5. Face recognition It can be termed as the curious case of Apple: As even without laying claims to be the first ever to do so, somehow features go mainstream once they’re found on iPhones. It happened with fingerprint recognition in 2013 with iPhone 5s and we can now see it with FaceID and iPhone X. Face recognition is becoming a common feature in smartphones – brands like Infinix and Oppo have it in smartphones priced under Rs 20,000. Whereas brands like OnePlus are touting it has one of their key features. Face recognition will replace fingerprint ID as the new ‘cool’ thing.
6. Fingerprint sensors will get ‘better’ With face recognition going mainstream, it’s not as if the fingerprint sensor will bid adieu. We do expect it to get better and smarter and be integrated into the glass. At CES 2018, Vivo has already announced a device with under-the-display fingerprint sensor. Samsung’s flagship devices for 2018 are also expected to have this new feature. More and more Android devices are expected to roll out fingerprint sensor under the glass in 2018.
7. Dual cameras everywhere Remember the time when selfie cameras were the ‘in’ thing? One moment only a select few smartphones had them and the next they were everywhere. Well, that’s what’s going to happen with dual camera set ups – both at front and rear. A dual camera set up at the rear already became quite popular in 2017 but front dual cameras weren’t really seen on many devices. However, 2018 will see dual cameras go completely mainstream and we won’t be surprised if they reach the budget smartphone segment as well.
8. Headphone jack stands tall In spite of Apple and Google ditching the good ol’ headphone jack from their lineup of smartphones, it is not going to go away anytime soon. With brands like OnePlus, Honor, Motorola – all sticking to the 3.5-mm headphone jack, it’s a trend that will not go mainstream. Even though companies have stopped giving a pair of earphones inside the smartphone box, the headphone jack is here to stay.
9. Fast charging support and Type-C port We have seen it getting integrated in a lot of smartphones but it’s mostly in devices priced above Rs 20,000. However, users won’t stop complaining about battery life being poor and how smartphones take a long time to charge. Quick, fast or dash – whatever you might want to call it – charging will go mainstream as brands will integrate them in smartphones across price range.
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