10 Mobile Phone Trends to Watch Out For in 2020

One of the things that people look forward to every year is the latest technology trend. This is not surprising as tech-savvy individuals want to get their hands on the newest device. This year, we will be seeing more foldable phones, smaller bezels, as well as AR headsets just to name a few. Fortunately, there are more to be discovered as the year unfolds, but if you are interested to know more about up and coming Mobile Phone Trends in 2020, you’ll find them below. 

Mobile Phone Trends to Keep an Eye Out This Year

Mobile phone innovations just keep getting better and better, and for this year, there are ten trends that are going to make a buzz. Can’t wait to learn more about them? Let’s get started.

1. Foldable Phones Are Finally Here

Everyone was waiting with bated breath when tech giants claimed that 2019 was going to be the time of foldable phones. Due to unforeseen errors, only a few brands were able to roll out their take on phones with folding displays. Among these are Mate X by Huawei, Galaxy Fold by Samsung, and FlexPai by Royole. This year, we can expect more from mobile manufacturers in terms of folding phones. For starters, Samsung has released the Z Flip which is fully equipped with a staggering 6.7 inches OLED screen that, when folded, shrinks to a more compact device. This is not the only brand that we can expect folding phones for this year.

2. 5G Connectivity Rolls Out

5G connectivity may have been off to a rocky start, but it seems that this year it will finally come out in full force. Spearheading this drive is the rumors that Apple will be releasing its first ever 5G iPhone this coming fall. In connection with this, several carriers are expected to rollout 5G for their consumers. Hans Vestberg, Verizon’s CEO, has pledged that they will be providing at least half of their clients with access to 5G connection this year. Samsung has already rolled out their flagship phones that have 5G connectivity, but it seems that this year, more smartphone brands will be joining in once carriers roll out their 5G support.

The recently revealed Snapdragon 865 gave us a general idea on what to expect with the release of flagship phones for this year. This processor is paired with the X55 modem which is linked to 5G. When combined, they can support up to a maximum of 7.5 Gbps. Benchmarking tests that have been conducted showed significant improvements by more than 20%. However, this will all depend on the type of apps that you are going to use as well as the current network that your device is running on.

Fortunately, Snapdragon has already laid out the base in time for 5G’s appearance in the US. Even if it is still using a low-band type of 5G, which is limited to just 1Ghz, we are expecting further enhancements this year.

3. Smaller Bezels for Camera Phones

Smartphone manufacturers have been looking for ways to make their bezels smaller with the goal of optimizing their display’s surface. We have seen pop-up cameras in previous models last year, including the water drop type notch, but based on the designs for mobile phones that were released for 2020, we will see a single or double punch hole type of cameras in front, while the notch style will be replaced fully by full screens instead. Most smartphone users prefer to have bigger and better-looking displays, but don’t want to lose the chance to take selfies. Last year, brands like Samsung and Huawei used the hole-punch designs, but this year we are sure to see more of it in others.

4. Wireless Charging is Possible

Another trend that we will be seeing more of this year is something that people are dying to see which is wireless charging. Who doesn’t want to be able to charge their device without getting tangled in wires? Although this feature won’t be universal yet, you will see wireless chargers amongst the latest mobile phones from tech giants. Some brands that are already embracing wireless charging include OPPO, with their soon-to-be-released Find X2 and Xiaomi with their Mi 10 models. Both these tech companies will have devices that support wireless chargers powered at 30W.

5. Bigger and Better Cameras

Most mobile devices that we are seeing today come with improved software as well as hardware with their cameras being one of their best features. We have seen OEMs developing products that are not only interesting for their customers but unique as well. Before, smartphones only had a single camera to take photos with, but as the years went by, we are seeing dual and triple cameras being sported in these devices. In 2020, it is possible that we will be seeing flagship phones bearing quad cameras and up. So far, in terms of megapixels, they still range from 32MP to 108MP.  Although having better megapixels doesn’t equate to improved quality of your photos, this is one specification that mobile phone users are still considering. A good example here is the CC9 Pro from Xiaomi which is their first-ever smartphone that sports a 108MP camera plus five cameras in the rear. Of course, the rest of the tech giants out there will surely come up with something bigger and better which is worth waiting for.

6. Headsets for Augmented-Reality

Another mobile phone trend that we can expect this year is the launch of AR or augmented-reality headsets by Apple. It is believed that Apple will be releasing this product, including other hardware that they have developed by the second quarter of the year according to Ming-Chi Kuo, a renowned analyst for Apple products. The tech giant is said to be working closely together with other brands with the development of their AR gadget which can be best described as a pair of glasses with AR functionality. It is believed that Apple’s AR glasses will be sold as an accessory for their smartphones, wherein it will work as a display while the iPhone delivers the processing power and additional functions. That said, once Apple has launched their new accessory, we can expect that others will follow suit.

7. Better Technology for Battery

Three scientists were given the opportunity to share the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their contribution to the creation of the battery using lithium-ion. This is the same technology that is used not only in our smartphones, but electric vehicles as well as laptops too. They were lauded for their achievement as they helped with the creation of a rechargeable world. But this particular technology is said to have a competition this year, because rumor has it that Samsung might be introducing a new type of battery that is running on graphene technology this year or the next. This newer technology is said to increase not just the life of the battery, but its speed when charging too. Evan Blass, who is known for being the source of leaks for incoming smartphone news, stated that the lithium-ion based batteries are subpar. He further stated that Samsung is believed to release at least one device that will feature a graphene battery to test the water. What does this mean for consumers? It means that the battery will be fully charged in less than an hour which can also mean less costs on our end.

8. Devices that are “Always-Connected”

The manufacturing of tablets as well as laptops that are part of the gadgets that are constantly connected has been lagging for years now. However, there are signs that this may take a turn for the better this 2020 thanks to the roll out of 5G connectivity. Lenovo has already reported that they are working together with Qualcomm in developing the first ever PC that has a 5G connectivity feature. This will be a device that is always connected and is powered by Qualcomm’s recently released X55 modem. They are referring to this gadget as “Project Limitless” and has been planned since the start of 2020.

Microsoft, on the other hand, has revamped its Surface Pro into the Pro X which they released late last year. It came with a processor that is ARM-based which was designed with the aid of Qualcomm. This processor was referred to as the SQ1 by Microsoft and is the one responsible for activating mobile connectivity.

9. Defense Against Mobile Threats

Security threats are becoming prevalent and unfortunately, smartphones will be prone to them as well. This has prompted companies to come up with solutions to heighten mobile security not just for the iOS but for Android-based platforms as well. According to Gartner, a research firm, MTD Solutions or Mobile Threat Defense may provide protection to mobile phone users by detecting and dealing with security attacks on mobile devices. It is capable of repelling mobile phishing and comes with app compliance and vetting just to name a few. Gartner further stated that by the year 2020, around 30% of various organizations will have this solution in place.

10. Resurgence of BYOD

What other trends should you watch out for this year? It appears that there is a resurgence with the use of BYOD in the workplace. If you are not familiar with the term, it refers to bring-your-own-device. This is in part of Apple’s latest iOS which is designed to address any concerns with regards to BYOD programs. The tech giant’s User Enrollment program lets corporate employees to keep their personal as well as work information separate from each other on their iPhone. Basically, this protects employees from having their personal information accessed by their IT department, from wiping all the contents of their iPhone to changing their passcode too.

These are just a few concerns that have kept the efforts of promoting BYOD at bay during the time when most companies wanted to adopt this system. Studies show that BYOD has been found to boost productivity levels and is currently being required when using applications in the workplace. This new enrollment feature by Apple may reduce the user’s fear of having someone monitor their phone usage. With this recent release by Apple, we can expect more BYOD programs being offered this year.

These are just a few trends that we will see more of this year in the world of smartphones. Most are waiting for 5G connectivity to be rolled out fully as it promises faster connectivity and download speeds as well. Smartphone companies are coming up with all sorts of interesting innovations for us to enjoy such as the AR glasses, graphite-based batteries, as well as the promotion of BYOD devices.

And who would have thought that wireless charging has now become a reality? Although there are only a few tech companies using this technology with their devices, we are confident that we will be seeing more of wireless chargers being utilized this year. After all, this removes having to deal with tangled wires and such while using and charging the device at the same time.

Of course, we will be expecting better cameras to be equipped in smartphones this year. Gone are the days when we were limited to just single or dual cameras because now, smartphones are designed with 4 or more cameras. Even professional photographers will have a field day with their smartphones when they see the latest specifications on them. Smartphone companies know how to impress their users for sure, because these cameras give you more power in creating interesting shots with just your handheld device.

This year seems promising for us smartphone users as there are several mobile phone trends to watch out for in 2020. This is just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak, as there is a possibility of seeing more amazing features being delivered to us by our favorite mobile phone brands. For sure, we will have more reasons to start switching to recent flagship phones once they are rolled out otherwise we also have the Refurbished Phone option just to stay in previous trend and make our buying in the budget over here.