I have a Droid Razr Maxx HD that runs Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean), but many things on my list are fairly common features that are available on most smartphones… Why aren't these 10 features in every phone? In the future, there might be a phone that is very expensive but offers features that justify the price. The following are some of the other key features of a smartphone: Internet connectivity. Although many industry analysts would like to call the current level of innovation reaching a stagnation point, there still are some manufacturers which have been able to surprise consumers by truly packing something different in their smartphones. Oppo's positioning in the Australian market is largely with mid-range phones, but that hasn't stopped it from releasing phones with a wide variety of … Model Developer Release date Android version at release Ref. Until a new biometric security system comes along that is superior to a fingerprint sensor, I will only buy phones with a sensor on the front. There are a few drawbacks to the Google Pixel 3a though. Modern cell phones have plenty of functions: they allow you to reach someone at the other end of the world, send messages to all your friends in just a couple of seconds, and surf the Internet. A hardware or software-based QWERTY keyboard. From feature phones to smartphones, flat screen to curved, fragile to shatterproof, mobile phones have evolved over the years. However, as limitless as those choices might seem, the pool of possibilities gets much smaller when you start factoring in your essential smartphone features. … In 2021, Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo are expected to launch their foldable smartphones. Just as long as the price is fair. You might be glad I didn’t put “no notch” down because you’re sick of talking about notches. Battery Life: When it comes to basic cell phones, you'll often find that your battery life is measured in days or even weeks, but you'll still want to check out the specs to look for one that offers maximum talk time and standby time, as well as reading the fine print to find out how much advanced features like the camera and built-in MP3 players may cut into your battery life. I also like Google’s Android skin that’s available on Pixel phones, which itself is a lot like vanilla Android but with subtle tweaks. Myself, I’ve never seen any need for wireless charging, as I only charge my phone in two places consistently: on my bedside table when I go to sleep and in my car. Or, we might share few or even none. Meanwhile, many other companies have pretty bad update reputations, including LG, HTC, and Motorola. Although some have been faster …, Fingerprint scanners make it easier than ever to secure your smartphone, reducing the need to type in a PIN code every single time. I must admit, I’ve never used NFC to set up a peripheral, like a router or something. Without further ado, here we list the upcoming smartphones that are expected to be launched in 2021. It’s a first-world pain, I am well aware, but it was a pain nonetheless. If that’s the case, check out my own personal list of essential smartphone features below. SMARTPHONE 1.75 Billion 38.4% FEATURE PHONES 2.8 Billion 61.6% 4.55 Billion Mobile Phones are there worldwide Smartphone market size and value The global smartphones market is estimated to reach $150.3 billion in 2014 from about $55.4 billion in 2009. List of Android smartphones. I love using Google Pay. Screen. Popular Mobile Phones Poco M3 iPhone 12 Mini Oppo A15 OnePlus Nord Lite Xiaomi Mi 10T Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite Redmi k30 5G Vivo V19 Samsung Galaxy S20 Samsung Galaxy 20 Ultra Upcoming Mobiles However, I must admit that Samsung’s new One UI looks incredibly interesting. The ability to sync more than one email account to a device. Speed is still the ultimate prize in the smartphone arms race. There’s no question that consumers have nearly limitless choices when it comes to buying a smartphone. For the sake of clarity, I’m not going to include the “basics” of a smartphone, such as Bluetooth support, Wi-Fi support, a camera on the front and back, etc. When you’re done reading, cast a vote in the poll at the bottom and let me know what your own essential smartphone features are! iPhone and Android smartphone features top the list. I could also have gone hog wild and paid $1,000 for the Samsung Galaxy Note 9. Starting in late 2017, it seemed everyone became desperate for wireless charging. Unlike a lot of Android fanboys, I am not fond of vanilla Android. Number of Rear Cameras. Get the very best of Android Authority in your inbox. The plastic shell feels tacky compared to most high-end smartphones and the audio quality isn’t fantastic when using the speakers at high volume. You don’t have to spend $1,000 or more to get a high-end smartphone. As such, I would never buy a phone without a near field communication (NFC) chip inside to enable those contactless payments. Obviously, I would like to spend as little money on a smartphone as I must to get the features I want — but I’m not a cheapskate, either. Information about your device and internet connection, including your IP address, Browsing and search activity while using Verizon Media websites and apps. I’ll be hanging around the comments section and chiming in from time-to-time. I absolutely loathed both TouchWiz and Samsung Experience, but this new version seems to be quite balanced. When I say a “fair” price I don’t necessarily mean a “cheap” price. But until Micro-USB is absolutely 100 percent dead in the ground, I’ll always double-check to make sure a new device has a USB-C port so I can be assured I’ll get those fast charging speeds as well as fast data-transfer speeds. That’s a bad investment. However, there are a variety of different standards from different companies. Google's past Pixel phones always lacked some features and couldn't compete with Apple and Samsung flagships -- so this approach makes much more sense. These “deal breaker” features are aspects of a smartphone that you absolutely cannot do without. I saved this one for last because of all the seven essential smartphone features on this list, it’s the most variable. There have been countless articles written and videos made featuring …, Fast charging is a must have feature in today's phones. When that day comes, I might change my mind, but for now, all I care about is charging as quickly as possible. For that, wireless charging and standard charging just don’t work, which is why I would never buy a phone without a fast charging feature. Unfortunately, I think the Galaxy Note 9 is overpriced, and I think the Google Pixel 3 is as well. When I buy a new smartphone, it’s an investment: I plan on using it for at least two years, maybe longer. The SIM card allows users to change phones by simply removing the SIM card fro… Granted, I will probably upgrade earlier than that because I love smartphones and want the newest stuff, but I’ll still hold onto that phone anyway. Unlike a lot of Android fanboys, I am not fond of vanilla Android. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. These measures allow device owners to use various body parts including fingerprints, faces, irises, and voices to unlock their devices. You might be flabbergasted that I don’t care about the latest high-end processor, camera quality, or IP ratings. Smartphone technology like you have never seen before. In both of those cases, I found myself cringing every time I needed to pick up the phone from my desk in order to unlock it. We and our partners will store and/or access information on your device through the use of cookies and similar technologies, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. The dispute over the placement of the fingerprint sensor can get pretty passionate for some people, with each side claiming the superiority of whichever choice. There are more than a dozen high-profile manufacturers, some of which push out over a dozen phone models each year just on their own. The new port is officially called  USB Type-C and as …, If you want the freshest version of Android as fast as possible, the Google Pixel range is clearly your best bet. Features & Apps Get Started Smart Touch Call Samsung Care Product Information ... T&Cs and a list of eligible devices. Finally, the sensor is back on the front where it belongs, and I don’t have to lift it off my desk to unlock it! Creating an Android skin is kind of like a delicate art. Maybe you don’t have a mental list of all the things you need a smartphone to have or do in order to be worthy of your cash. 10 smartphone must-have features 1. Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G; Galaxy S21+ 5G; Galaxy S21 5G; Galaxy A32 5G; Galaxy M02s; Galaxy A12 Plus, I have some USB-C dongles I’d rather not have to replace. Starting in late 2017, it seemed everyone became desperate for wireless charging. The smartphone features the powerful and fast A14 Bionic processor, dual rear cameras, 5G and a magnetic "MagSafe" feature that allows it … Android 4.0.3 brought in several new additions and improved the overall software aspect of the Android smartphone. There’s not much about either device that makes me think they should be that expensive, especially when the OnePlus 6T has everything I need for hundreds less. Some only work with specific …, If you've bought a new smartphone in the past couple of years, chances are it has a new port used for charging and possibly even audio. I’m interested to try it out at some point soon. Paying with the phone is so much easier. It can be in-display or a regular sensor — I’m not picky — but it’s gotta be on the front. Some of the general features that mobile phones have are as follows: 1.The phones of these days, not only support calls but also facilitate other operations. Foldable smartphones are yet to become popular. News, reviews, deals, apps and more. This includes real-time colors, real-time blur, smoother animations, new privacy settings, and health features. Most of the phones of the present day have many features in common. A lot of Android skins I’ve used are so overblown with proprietary features and bloatware apps that you can almost feel the phone get slower as you navigate around, while some others have design tweaks that make no sense, are ugly, or both. It's a big reason why Samsung phones feature so prominently in our list of smartphones that support wireless charging. Yes, these are obviously essential smartphone features, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a recent phone that doesn’t include them. The most important smartphone features ranked 1. You might be ready to explode because the term “headphone jack” wasn’t uttered once in the entire article. In my experience, no Android skin has ever topped OxygenOS, the skin that comes with OnePlus phones. However, I might do so in the future, who knows? When I get to the register, why should I put my phone away to grab my wallet instead? Historically, other Android manufacturers have been much less reliable. List of Xiaomi phones, smartphones and tablets. These features therefore, can be termed as general features. Your smartphone could have a shrink-ray or turn lead into gold and it would still be useless... 2. Well, let me know how you feel! There are plenty of so-called flagship killers available for roughly half the price that come with a powerful chipset, a bunch of …, Aside from the Android vs. iPhone debate, the fight between stock Android and skinned Android is probably the argument Android enthusiasts are most passionate about. The SIM securely stores the service-subscriber key (IMSI)used to identify a subscriber on mobile telephony devices (such as mobile phones and computers). To enable Verizon Media and our partners to process your personal data select 'I agree', or select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices. Luckily, I only have to worry about one company releasing devices with a non-standard proprietary port (*cough* Apple Lightning *cough*), so it’s easy enough to avoid that. The report suggests that the most expensive S10 Plus model, which packs 12GB RAM and 1TB …, The best Samsung Galaxy S21 alternatives: 6 phones to consider before you buy, 5 things we want to see from PlayStation in 2021, This is all the data WhatsApp will soon collect on you and share with Facebook, 15 best offline Android games that require no WiFi. Speaking of charging, the days of the Micro-USB port are over: for me, it’s USB-C or I’m not buying your phone. Ultimately, if I felt paying $1,000 for a smartphone was a fair price for that phone, I would pay it. I fall squarely on the side of the front-facing sensor. I’m excited to see what Android Authority readers have to say about their own essential smartphone features. Learn more about the Samsung Galaxy range of devices and how you can trade-up and save. Opinion: These are my 7 essential smartphone features A bloat-free, lean Android skin. Samsung too rumoured to be working on an affordable foldable smartphone. Shares. 4.5 - 4.9 inches(521) 5 - 5.1 inches (1126) 5.2 - 5.4 inches (257) 5.5 - 5.6 inches (663) 5.7 - 5.9 inches (242) 6 inches and above (1258) 5 MORE. We can expect these devices to arrive with advanced camera, processors, and other aspects. Engadget is part of Verizon Media. If that happens — and it meets my other six requirements here — I’ll buy it. When I got the OnePlus 6T with its in-display fingerprint sensor, it was such a relief. Show me what you got! Xiaomi MIUI 12 Android-based custom skin is officially announced. One of the main reasons behind this is the price tag. Certain companies have proven themselves when it comes to software support, including OnePlus, Essential, Google (obviously), and even Samsung (the company’s made big strides over the past year). The typical feature set of these palm-size marvels is astounding. Majors in the market and their products 21. List of Samsung phones, smartphones and tablets. I find it too anemic... Fast charging support. Present Market 22. Your Smartphone in 2018: 15 Futuristic Features Tricorder Smartphones. However, this is hardly a complete list of what your device is actually capable of. That’s not even factoring in the offerings from smaller players. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Your Privacy Controls. When my phone does get low on battery at an inopportune time, I don’t want to put it on a charger for a few hours to get it topped up again: I want it charged and ready to go in minutes, if possible. It’s simple, beautiful, and brings in important features missing from vanilla Android while not getting too overbearing. You notice when apps lag or... 3. Single Camera(4214) 20. We have collated a bunch of screenshots of the purported MIUI 12. It’s plain to see from this list that I have quite a few options when it comes to buying a phone. However, I could just have easily bought a Google Pixel 3, which starts at $799. C’mon, let’s have a … Now I know I can never go back. Design and build quality. The software’s still Android 10 but ushers in a swathe of features, UI, and performance improvements. My current daily driver — the OnePlus 6T — meets all the requirements on this list and starts at $549. Maybe you don’t have any idea what I’m talking about. For a long time, I used a OnePlus 5 as my daily driver which has a front-facing sensor. Whatever the case, the NFC chip is an integral part of any Android smartphone, as far as I’m concerned, if only for Google Pay alone. Sometimes, you’ll find that nothing meets your needs at all. It keeps our batteries topped up through busy days. Who knows, maybe you’ll change my mind. What’s the point of making an investment like that only to find that less than a year later the manufacturer isn’t pushing software updates (or, even worse, security patches)? These features aren’t in any particular order, as they are all equally important as far as I’m concerned. It's become an invaluable tool for the modern smartphone …, Samsung I'm sure my eyes weren't the only ones watering at the leaked price for Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S10. Again, screen size is linked to usability. Warp-speed processing. Your Eyes (or Voice) Are Your Password. I then jumped to using a Google Pixel 2 XL for a time, and then to a OnePlus 6, both of which have a rear sensor. ©2021 Android Authority | All Rights Reserved. Some companies take this way too far, however. I like when companies add to the Android experience by including interesting features, designs, and additional details that make Android a pleasure to use on a day-to-day basis. A long-lasting battery. This list could help you come to your own conclusions and help you be a more savvy shopper. Poco F2 Pro long-term review I find it too anemic for my own personal taste. Putting a wireless charging pad in my car would be nonsensical, and I don’t mind taking the extra two seconds to plug my phone in before I go to sleep. Talking about design as your first consideration might seem superficial, but it's not just... 2. To … Major Companies 23. If you have small hands, you might not want a massive screen that... 3. For most of us, mobile phones are at the center of our universe. CES 2021 Day 1: Rolling phones, giant TVs and tech for the coronavirus era Dell's 2021 UltraSharp 40 and siblings display some novel combos of features Best Products Your choices at any time by visiting your Privacy Controls might not want a screen... Our batteries topped up through busy days section and chiming in from...., reviews, deals, apps and more, smartphones and tablets Care product information... t & Cs a! Information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy a Subscriber Identity Module or SIM card allows users to change by! 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