5 options I would like in my subsequent cellphone

We’re at a crossroads within the smartphone trade, whether or not cellphone makers understand it or not. Annual {hardware} upgrades have change into more and more incremental, to the purpose that corporations like Apple, Google, and Samsung are specializing in AI as a substitute — irrespective of how helpful it might be, or even when it is prepared. Many Apple Intelligence features are nonetheless lacking in motion, months after the launch of the iPhone 16.

That mentioned, there’s nonetheless loads of room for real enchancment. I’ve acquired a laundry checklist of options I need to see on my subsequent smartphone, whether or not I am shopping for it in 2025, 2026, and even later. In actual fact, I’d must suppose twice about upgrading from my present iPhone if one in all this stuff does not seem.

1 A telephoto lens with 10x optical zoom

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It is perhaps a bit of aggressive to demand 10x zoom — I discover the 5x zoom on my iPhone 16 Pro greater than sufficient, often — however I come from a professional images background, and one of many chief guidelines of composition is “fill the body.” There should not be any useless area in a photograph except it is intentional, and in that regard, even 5x zoom will be inadequate should you’re making an attempt to shoot trip surroundings, or the lead singer at live performance. Heck, it typically falls brief whenever you’re making an attempt to snap somebody on the reverse finish of a giant room.

The optical a part of my demand is crucial. The Galaxy S25 Ultra technically helps 10x zoom, however solely at “optical high quality” — which means it makes use of sensor and software program methods. That will not look the identical as true optical zoom, particularly if you would like the identical decision you had at 2x.

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2 Two-day battery life

A person can dream, cannot he?

For no matter purpose, we have collectively accepted the concept smartphones ought to solely final a day on a cost, a minimum of with out turning on particular battery-saver modes. The results are throughout us — you should purchase quick-chargers at your native pharmacy, and emergency support organizations typically provide charging stations. It’s kind of ridiculous, contemplating that “dumb” cellphones can final a number of days.

What’s holding smartphones again? The price of batteries, most likely. The lithium-ion packs in trendy telephones are one in all their costliest elements, and so doubling their measurement would result in increased finish prices, particularly given the additional design area concerned. For that purpose, I am not anticipating a two-day battery life anytime quickly — it is only a purpose cellphone makers ought to put (again) on their radar.

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3 An always-on show

That is readable in daylight, that’s

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In switching from a regular iPhone to a Professional mannequin, one of many issues I have been spoiled by is an always-on show (AOD). I do know the tech is old-hat for Android customers, however together with lockscreen widgets and iOS’s StandBy mode, AOD could be a recreation changer. It means with the ability to examine the climate or my notifications at a look in the course of the workday, and at evening, immediately realizing whether or not I can return to sleep.

Having mentioned all that, it is necessary that AOD tech be readable in daylight. My iPhone will be troublesome to learn with daylight pouring within the home windows, by no means thoughts standing outside.

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4 256GB of storage by default

Time to replace the usual

Many individuals are most likely getting alongside tremendous with 128GB on their telephones, myself included. Quickly, although, 128 goes to be the brand new 64 — too small to be sensible. It is unrealistic to shoot 4K HDR video on a 128GB machine, and even pictures will be big today, given the existence of 100- and 200-megapixel sensors. Apps are rising as properly, significantly in terms of high-quality 3D video games like Resident Evil 8. These can occupy a number of gigabytes on their very own.

Making 256GB the brand new entry degree appears real looking for 2026, or a minimum of 2027. Telephone makers already cost us extra for reminiscence upgrades than they’re value in elements, and it is arduous to promote clients on options like generative AI or 200-megapixel cameras if there’s barely any reminiscence to make use of them.

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5 45W wired charging (or higher)

No extra panicking after I’m in a rush

You may anticipate me to checklist Qi2 right here as a substitute, however that customary tops out at 15W, and I am already utilizing it on my iPhone. I am not significantly involved with velocity after I’m doing wi-fi charging, anyway — I discover the very best use of it’s sitting my cellphone on a stand in a single day. Once I’m in a rush, I need a wired reference to the very best efficiency.

It is about time each cellphone caught up with the velocity we see on flagship Chinese language gadgets. The OnePlus 13, for instance, can cost from zero to one hundred pc in 43 minutes, and that is with the 80W North American variant — the unique 100W one does it in 36 minutes. The extra wattage the higher, since it would imply the distinction between efficiently topping up on your journey to Austin, or your cellphone dying halfway by way of watching Aliens once more. I point out 45W right here solely as a result of that is what the Galaxy S25 Extremely helps — I do not need something much less.

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