Will Smartphones As We Know Them Still Be Around in 2020?

Smartphones, as we know them today, will be around for many more years. In fact, by the year 2020, which is only a few years away, we can expect to see some significant advancements. The smart phones being designed now are just in the early stages of development. But what about beyond 2020? Let’s explore the future of smartphones.

Smartphones in 2020 and Beyond

By 2020, it is highly probable that smartphones will still be very much around. The smartphones that will be released by then are already in the early stages of design. However, what about the years to come? Will smartphones remain a staple in the tech landscape for the next decade? Absolutely, and here’s why.

2030 and Beyond

Yes, smartphones will still be around in 2030. By then, we can expect further advancements in technology. However, it’s possible that what we know as 'smartphones' will have evolved into something else. The year 2040 might see the emergence of something entirely different, but let’s not worry about that just yet. For the next decade, we can focus on the current trajectory of smartphone technology.

Current Outlook: 4 More Years

In my opinion, within the next 4 years, the changes in smartphones will not be significant. Perhaps we might see a minor evolution in design and power, but the overall structure and functionality will remain largely the same. Companies rely heavily on constant growth and must sell more each year to maintain their market share. This leads to a continuous cycle of yearly updates, even when most people already own a phone. Battery technology and flexible screens are exceptions to this rule, but they are not the norm. Similar to current smartphones, we can anticipate devices that are more powerful and possibly with slightly different designs, but the core structure will remain fundamentally the same.

The current economic system is largely driven by carriers who implement restrictive data plans. Instead of providing more data for less money as technology advances, they are offering less data for more money. This model stifles innovation, particularly in the extended applications of smartphones. Furthermore, carriers directly impact the smartphone industry by hindering the development of new and imaginative applications. For instance, a less powerful device with longer-lasting batteries could be a result of a more data-available future. Users would rely on cloud processing and management, with devices merely functioning as displays. This scenario would require carriers to revise their data plans to promote innovation and better tech experiences.

As for smartwatches, they are unlikely to succeed on their own unless companies begin giving them away for free as part of a device purchase. Currently, the standalone value proposition for smartwatches is limited due to their dependency on smartphones. Without integrated support or compelling standalone features, smartwatches struggle to gain mainstream adoption. Future advancements in technology might change this scenario, but for now, their success seems uncertain.