In 2017 and 2018, smartphone manufacturers hunted down borders. In 2019, after hiding the front camera in a punch, manufacturers turned to photography (we are thinking in particular of the first periscope zooms). The same year, Samsung, Huawei and Motorola also announced the first smartphones with a folding screen, which was supposed to initiate a small technological revolution. In short, despite its maturity, the smartphone market continues to innovate.
Yet in 2020, we can’t really say that the smartphone manufacturers have thrilled us. Between the closure of many factories at the start of the year, the difficulties linked to the pandemic and the lack of success of many technologies in the course of development, the smartphones of 2020 were mainly content to improve the performance of the models of 2019, while providing them with 5G compatibility. Not very foolish.
This year, even if the shadow of the health crisis still hangs over the production capacity of tech companies, smartphones are likely to innovate more. 01net.com offers you a summary of what is expected in the industry in 2021.
Is 5G finally affordable?
Since the end of last year, it is possible to acquire a 5G smartphone for around 300 euros. New processors, like the Snapdragon 750G, have allowed brands to offer mid-range 5G mobiles. A year earlier, it was necessary to spend more than 800 euros to acquire a device compatible with new generation networks.
This year, thanks to new chips like the MediaTek Dimensity 800U or the Snapdragon 480, 5G should be available in all price brackets. At the end of 2021, we imagine that entry-level smartphones at 200 euros will carry a 5G compatible chip.
The camera under the screen finally ready?
For more than two years, we have been talking to you regularly about the concept of camera under the screen. The objective of the manufacturers is to hide the front camera of the mobiles under the screen in order to make it invisible. The ZTE Axon 20 5G, the first product equipped with this technology, uses for example a small translucent highly pixelated screen at the front camera. The rendering is not perfect but rather promising.
In 2021, the camera under the screen could make its appearance at larger brands. Xiaomi and Oppo say they have mastered this technology while Samsung, for its part, has filed patents for a concept of a motorized secondary screen that would move over the camera when you don’t need it. This technology is unlikely to completely replace the punch in 2021 but, hopefully, high-end smartphones in late 2021 will use it.
New generation OLED panels
Samsung’s Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and Galaxy S21 Ultra are the world’s first smartphones with an LTPO panel. This new, more energy-efficient technology allows smartphones to adjust their definition, refresh rate and brightness without the user having to do anything. All this improves the user experience while preserving autonomy.
According to rumors, Oppo and Xiaomi have already ordered an LTPO panel for their high-end devices while Apple, which already uses this technology with its smartwatch, is expected to do the same. In short, in 2021, high-end smartphones should bet on LTPO to differentiate themselves from the rest of the market.
A reformed top 5?
At the end of 2020, the four biggest smartphone vendors were called, in order, Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi, Apple and Oppo. This year, Huawei could suffer the consequences of the Sino-US war and lose market share, which would allow Xiaomi to become Samsung’s main competitor. The other Chinese brands, such as Vivo and Realme, are also expected to gain market share.
However, after an outbreak of many brands in recent years, the trend could be reversed in the coming months. Can Huawei, Honor, Xiaomi, Oppo, Realme, Vivo, OnePlus, TCL and other Chinese players continue to coexist? It is likely that eventually, some of them will disappear in Europe. There are also rumors that other brands, such as LG, are considering leaving this market.
Folding, unrolling… Where are the new formats?
In 2021, Samsung must succeed in imposing its folding formats. The Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold 2 may be excellent, but their prices are still a huge problem. To keep this technology from being forgotten, prices must go down. We hope to see plenty of new folding mobiles in 2021, at Samsung and others.
Finally, there is the question of other new formats. Secondary screen at LG, drop-down screen at Oppo … Several concepts have already emerged. In 2021, these products have little chance of being marketed but should still be talked about. We will have ample opportunity to talk about it again.
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