To be clear, it’s a standard false impression that “there’s no innovation” within the smartphone world. Though this may appear to be the case, I can guarantee you telephones have gotten significantly better at doing what they had been already able to doing 5-10 years in the past.
The best strategy to see some actual progress is perhaps to have a look at the digital camera efficiency of the iPhone 15 Professional vs the iPhone 13 Professional vs the iPhone 11 Professional, and Galaxy S24 Extremely vs Galaxy S22 Extremely vs Galaxy S10. Or how a lot quicker charging has gotten over time. Or the Galaxy S24 and Pixel 8’s software program help in comparison with the Galaxy S10 and Pixel 4.
2024 is the 12 months when telephones will now not really feel new due to {hardware} upgrades however due to software program upgrades. Extra particularly (say it with me)… AI.
The Galaxy S24 would’ve been a disappointing improve if it wasn’t for AI; Google’s Gemini could make your previous cellphone really feel new and thrilling
![Thanks to the Galaxy S24, Pixel 8 and Gemini, Android is leading AI innovation in the phone market. - iPhone 16, Galaxy S24, Pixel 9: Your "boring" phones will feel new again - all thanks to AI!](https://m-cdn.phonearena.com/images/articles/411339-image/gemini-android.jpg)
Because of the Galaxy S24, Pixel 8 and Gemini, Android is main AI innovation within the cellphone market.
Nonetheless, Google’s best AI achievement (at the least to this point) is named Gemini – Google Assistant’s future successor, which is now accessible on the Play Retailer and App Retailer. Take a look at my sensible take a look at of Gemini’s potential to be your free, real-life assistant.
If it wasn’t for Google’s AI and clear software program expertise, wouldn’t the Pixel 8 Professional be “simply one other Android cellphone”?
Samsung stole the AI present at first of 2024 – can Google and Apple high that?
That being mentioned, considerably surprisingly, Samsung’s Galaxy S24 is perhaps the present AI cellphone to beat. Because of Samsung’s grand partnership with Google, the Galaxy S24 sequence boasts AI methods no different cellphone can do proper now – not even the Pixel (at the least not but).The truth is, the Galaxy S24 sequence of telephones are the proper instance of smartphones that really feel new due to software program and AI, and never due to {hardware} upgrades – these are just about lacking from the brand new Galaxy S24 and S24+ (in comparison with their predecessors).
The Galaxy S24 and S24+ would’ve been a disappointing improve to the Galaxy S23 and S23+ if it wasn’t for the plethora of AI options Samsung launched. That being mentioned, a few of the AI options within the new S24 are anticipated to come back to the S23 quickly, which is nice (and a bit ironic, guess).
Generative AI and Siri revamp in iOS 18 to make iPhone 16 really feel like one of many largest iPhone upgrades ever; Tim Prepare dinner says AI (already) is in all of Apple’s merchandise
![To hear Tim Cook and (from all the people in the world) Dua Lipa talk about AI, jump to minute 27 of their interview (available on YouTube). - iPhone 16, Galaxy S24, Pixel 9: Your "boring" phones will feel new again - all thanks to AI!](https://m-cdn.phonearena.com/images/articles/411338-image/tim-cook-ai.jpg)
To listen to Tim Prepare dinner and (from all of the folks on the planet) Dua Lipa speak about AI, bounce to minute 27 of their interview (accessible on YouTube).
Apple can be reportedly engaged on gen AI options for Apple Music, Pages, Keynote, Xcode and the already super-powerful and underrated Shortcuts app, together with automation for complicated duties.
iOS 18 ought to break cowl in June, three months earlier than its official debut on the iPhone 16 sequence in September, so count on extra (and extra concrete) leaks and rumors concerning the new AI options coming to iPhone (and iPad?) within the close to future.
Giant sensors and variable apertures are cool however AI is already altering smartphone cameras – even should you don’t see/get/prefer it
Given all of the AI options within the Galaxy S24 sequence, I’m stunned Samsung has chosen to skip on making the last word AI cameraphone. Regardless, increasingly flagship telephones in 2024-2025 will begin counting on AI to take higher pictures and movies, whereas the Vivo X100 Professional seems to be a pioneer on this space.
![Galaxy S24 Ultra 5x Portrait mode (left) vs Vivo X100 Pro 4.3x Portrait mode (right). - iPhone 16, Galaxy S24, Pixel 9: Your "boring" phones will feel new again - all thanks to AI!](https://m-cdn.phonearena.com/images/articles/411335-image/s24u-vivo-portrait1.jpg)
Galaxy S24 Extremely 5x Portrait mode (left) vs Vivo X100 Professional 4.3x Portrait mode (proper).
Furthermore, though Vivo’s bigger zoom sensor actually helps, the Portrait mode pattern wouldn’t be practically as clear and put collectively if it wasn’t for the ability of computational pictures, AI, or no matter you select to name it.
I’m planning to debate how AI has/will change smartphone pictures in a future story, so keep tuned.
Can AI lastly make new telephones really feel fascinating and “new” sufficient to justify upgrading?
![iPhone 16, Galaxy S24, Pixel 9: Your "boring" phones will feel new again - all thanks to AI!](https://m-cdn.phonearena.com/images/articles/411341-image/sirirai.jpg)
Effectively, that’s a tough query…
For one, AI is already making smartphones extra thrilling, and I’d go so far as saying that AI is respiratory new life into the stagnant slab cellphone. That’s kinda the entire level of this story, so it’d be hilarious if I mentioned the alternative.
Nonetheless, what I’m not so satisfied about is whether or not AI will assist new telephones promote higher, and appeal to customers to improve their previous/present cellphone sooner. And the reason being easy – AI is a bit of software program, and software program could be added to previous/present telephones by way of an replace.
As I mentioned above, the Galaxy S23 sequence is already anticipated to get a bunch of the identical AI options that make the Galaxy S24 really feel so particular. But when Samsung is keen to be beneficiant, why would I improve to the S24 if I have already got the S23? Furthermore, Google’s revolutionary Gemini assistant is actually an app anybody will be capable of obtain on their Android/iPhone quickly.
Apple to reap essentially the most advantages from the AI smartphone revolution?
Shock, shock… That’s precisely why Apple may find yourself reaping essentially the most advantages from the entire AI revolution.
Why? Effectively, Apple tends to be fairly conservative with regards to including thrilling new options to older iPhones by way of an replace. So, don’t be stunned if the iPhone 16 will get some unique AI options that gained’t be accessible on older iPhones operating “the identical model” of iOS 18.
In fact, that’s solely an informed guess on my half. Nonetheless, Apple has a really lengthy historical past in retaining thrilling new options unique to the brand new iPhone to entice folks to purchase it.
Both manner, customers will all the time be seeking to improve it doesn’t matter what. What’s sure is that smartphones have reached a degree the place they really feel like a necessity fairly than one thing you purchase as a result of it’s thrilling.
And that’s why the AI revolution was a a lot wanted and vital second for smartphones. Now, is it going to be the game-changer we’d prefer it to be? I assume we’ll discover out within the subsequent few years…
Is AI an vital smartphone promoting level for you?