Weekly poll: what will be the best feature of 2019 smartphones?

Peter, 13 January 2019

Carriers are trying to get a 5G hype train going - some quite desperately. 5G networks will offer much higher bandwidth and will deliver better Internet to homes - better than the crummy wired Internet some people are getting, at least. And it's low-latency promises VR/AR and autonomous vehicle applications.

But do smartphone users care about 5G? Well, you tell us - what feature are you most looking forward to in 2019? Here are a few major trends we think might be "the next big thing".

Motorola Moto Z3
Motorola Moto Z3

Triple, quad and even penta cameras have become standard on flagships and are gaining ground in the mid-range. These will take smartphone photography to a new level, offering flexibility similar to digital cameras with a zoom lens.

Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) LG V40 ThinQ Huawei Honor View 20
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) • LG V40 ThinQ • Huawei Honor View 20

Or perhaps computational photography is a bigger deal to you? Night Sight and other night modes, HDR+ and even bokeh effects have massively improved image quality, all without any majors revolutions in image sensor tech (40+ MP Quad Bayer filters are catching on, though).

Google Pixel 3 Huawei Mate 20 Pro Xiaomi Redmi Note 7
Google Pixel 3 • Huawei Mate 20 Pro • Xiaomi Redmi Note 7

While on the topic of cameras, makers are adopting punch hole selfie cameras en masse - as quickly as they jumped on the notch bandwagon. Is that a turn for the better?

Samsung Galaxy A8s Huawei nova 4
Samsung Galaxy A8s • Huawei nova 4

Of course, a selfie camera is not needed if you have a phone with a second screen on its back. We already have a few of those, but software support needs work.

vivo NEX Dual Display ZTE nubia X
vivo NEX Dual Display • ZTE nubia X

Perhaps foldable phones will be a bigger deal. Some fold so there's a screen on both sides, some fold the other way (screen goes on the inside), but they all promise several times the screen size of modern phones.

Slider phones are a thing again too, another way to solve the notch/punch hole debacle. However, as cool as they look, the added mechanical complexity may not be worth it. That said, it seems that sliders are taking over from phones with powered pop-up cameras.

Huawei Honor Magic 2 Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 Lenovo Z5 Pro GT
Huawei Honor Magic 2 • Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 • Lenovo Z5 Pro GT

Time to vote. If you think we've missed something, you can click the Other option and write in your answer.

What will be the best feature of 2019 smartphones?
5G
Tri, quad, penta cameras
Computational photography
Punch hole cameras
Dual screens
Foldable phones
Sliders
Other
Please Specify:

Related

Reader comments

Okay you don't believed me? Talk to me again when you'e diagnose with cancer.

  • Anonymous
  • 17 Jan 2019
  • gEm

Radio waves do not have enough energy to become ionising radiation. Go to school to learn physics.

Dual screens only if it's implemented like in Nubia X, not like in Nex DD. The second screen shouldn't be obscene, and it should only work as viewfinder., and No other gimmicks.

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