The end of smartphones
Smartphone sales are expected to be down this year. For the first time, sales will show a decline of 0.7% according to estimates. In total, 1.455 billion smartphones will be sold worldwide.
By 2019, the number of smartphone users will reach three billion, thus it is difficult for the number to increase. “Even the shape of the devices has stayed almost the same from the first iPhone model to the latest. The real improvements happened on the inside, or by increasing the screen dimensions for video. Even at that level we’ve exhausted the limits,” according to Andrew Kitson, a telecoms expert at Fitch Solutions.
But the rate of production continues to increase, and manufacturers are coming up with new and exciting ways to present products. For example, they recently created the idea of foldable screens. Because of Power being a feature that is constantly improving, you can spend more than $1000 on your new device. “The market has reached a level where in order to add value, you need to offer experience. Apple, which is the perfect exemplar of this trend, is trying to be less dependent on hardware and devices,” according to Roberta Koza, an analyst at Gartner.
Amy Webb in her annual report on technology trends, predicts that 2018 will be the beginning of the end of smartphones. She believes there will be a move towards invisible objects. This includes headsets with receivers and speakers, rings and bracelets that detect movement, connected glasses’. These gadgets are absolutely going to revolutionize our relationship with the world, bringing humanity into an age of augmented reality.
Some analysts see AI as complementary to smartphones, and not replacements in that it won’t be as impactful. “There will be a connection with different devices, as shown by the glasses, that will stay connected to the smartphone for a few more years. It will continue to serve as a bridge between different worlds: work, home, car, etc.,” according to Thomas Hasson, vice president and analyst at Forrester.
“To the extent that watches, glasses, headphones or even clothes will be more ‘connected’ and smart, we will move from touch to voice, and then the smartphone will ‘disappear’ in the sense that it will no longer come out of the pocket or bag. But it’s a change that will happen slowly. It will take at least 5 to 10 years to happen, not to mention the time necessary for the masses to adopt it”. Roberta Cosa summarizes.
“The smartphone market has resources to continue its growth for many years,” assures David McQueen, analyst at ABI Research.
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Author: PC-GR
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