The smartphone is a massive success story and it’s a technology many of us use everyday. But if you look back at mobile phones of the past, they were quite different. In fact, the first smartphones weren’t even labelled as such (it wasn’t until 2000 when Ericsson introduced the R380 phone).
Early phones were large and bulky with physical QWERTY keyboards, relying on resistive touchscreen input and offering push email access and wireless data networks. They were also a bit expensive for the average user, but they grew in popularity with business users and early adopters.
Today’s smartphones have more features than ever before. They can act as computers, cameras and GPS units, all in one device. And they’re a lot cheaper than they used to be, thanks to lower manufacturing costs and the rise of Android phones.
Smartphones have been evolving at a rapid pace and there are plenty of new ideas being proposed for future tech phones. Some might remain a concept, but others could be the next big thing. Tech enthusiasts are particularly excited about foldables that eliminate the compromise of a hinge and crease, rollable phones that avoid the screen crumpling and are easier to transport, and improved batteries that enable faster charging and more cycles.
Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to be the first ‘tri-fold’ phone out of the gate, with an outer display and giant inner display separated by a middle section. Google’s Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro are likely to launch in late 2025 with Tensor G5 on a 3nm process, a familiar horizontal camera bar design, a 6.3-inch and 6.7-inch OLED screen, and Android 16/17.