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    • I Hate New Smartphones

    2022-05-15

    Phones really haven't changed all that much in the last six or so years. They are still the same glass, metal, and plastic slabs that get slightly more screen real estate, more processing power, and a little larger and thinner every year. Despite this, I see smartphone manufacturers doing things that seem quite illogical.

    The Apple Effect

    Apple dominates the smartphone market, and it seems that every Android phone company has adopted the "if you can't beat them, join them" mentality. We've seen this time and time again.

    2016: Apple removes the headphone jack

    2018: Samsung, critical of Apple, removes the headphone jack on their flagship phones, along with every other major manufacturer.

    2017: Apple introduces the "notch" design on the iPhone X

    2019: Nearly every Android phone has either a notch, teardrop, or punchout design

    2020: Apple stops shipping the charging brick with their iPhones

    2021: Major Android manufacturers follow suit

    While Apple has definitely taken inspiration from Android (many software features, fingerprint scanner, multiple cameras, removing the physical home button, wireless charging, etc.), Apple's effect on Android is extremely significant. These changes that Apple has influenced have negatively affected my smartphone experience.

    When Apple removed the headphone jack, it began the wireless earbud revolution, which is more profitable than the smartphone industry at the moment. Hence, every smartphone company has their own. I don't hate wireless earbuds, but removing a port that's still found in most other technology (including Apple's computers) makes it a hassle for anyone who has wired earbuds.

    I honestly don't mind the notch as much as other people may. In fact, I think Android has done it better, specifically Samsung with their hole-punch design, which maximizes screen real estate without looking too ugly.

    Finally, regarding the charging brick, Apple claims they're doing it for the environment. However, I find it quite convenient when they did it, since the cable that comes with phones after the iPhone 11 are lightning to USB-C, unlike the previous lightning to USB-A. People who haven't upgraded their phone since the iPhone 11 are forced to get a new charging brick since the old ones won't work with a lightning to USB-C connector.

    Android Isn't Safe Either

    Apple has made some interesting decisions, but at least I can clearly tell they are just trying to make the most money possible. Some Android manufacturers make awful decisions that just make no sense whatsoever.

    My biggest pet peeve that exists on phones is the "waterfall edges," where the screen wraps to the edges. Samsung popularized it with their Galaxy S6 Edge, and ever since, all their flagships have some kind of waterfall edge to an extent. I hate these kinds of phones for two reasons: it makes it impossible or really difficult to apply a screen protector properly, and it is very prone to accidental edge presses. Not to mention that since more of the phone is "screen," it is more likely to crack if it lands on its edge. Even though they've been on phones for seven years, I still think that it's a gimmick and provides very little value.

    Another major problem that exists in Android phones is bloatware. Every Android manufacturer makes it their duty to reinvent the wheel and make apps that do not improve the experience whatsoever.

    This brings me to another point related to bloatware, and it's the useless features that nobody asked for. Samsung's Bixby is a prime example of a useless feature that was made just because voice assistants are literally just data mines.

    My Dream Smartphone

    If I could design my own smartphone, I would like to have these features:

    Display

    Camera

    To be honest, I don't really care about cameras all that much. I think all that really matters is a decent back camera sensor with an ultrawide sensor, as well as a selfie camera that isn't extremely terrible.

    Battery

    I'd want it to be large. I don't mind if the phone is a little thicker as a result. I'd also want wireless charging inside. The battery should also be removable, so that when the battery health goes down, I can just switch it. It's much better than going to a repair shop and spending possibly hundreds of dollars to get a battery replacement.

    Processor

    I don't really need a powerful processor. I'd rather have a very power-efficient processor that doesn't emit a lot of heat. I'd ensure that the cooling of the phone is top-notch as well.

    Other Hardware

    Software

    Conclusion

    Smartphones have come a long way, and I can't deny that there have been some really good advancements, especially in display technology. However, there are some small things that I dislike about phones that I wish would change. It would be cool to have a phone with iPhone-level software support and cameras, a Samsung-level display (that is flat), and Google-level software. Dream smartphones are just dreams after all, and I doubt they will ever be achieved. Maybe I should go into phone development in the future and make these changes myself.