AI on device
2023 was filled with chatbots and AI news. This trend will continue in 2024 as the large language models (LLMs) behind these generative AI tools get better and better. We will see generative AI become more accessible and run right on high-end devices. Qualcomm introduced the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, equipped with an AI Engine with impressive generative AI capabilities.
Samsung is rumored to bring AI to the Galaxy S24 along with some AI-based features such as real-time call translation, video editing... Google is also rumored to bring AI Pixie to the Pixel 9.
AI-generated wallpapers, smarter correction suggestions based on chat history, the ability to compose long emails or documents with a single prompt… are just some of the features that on-device AI will bring to smartphones in 2024. This is just the beginning. We will see many innovative new uses of AI to enhance work efficiency and make more complex features easier to use.
More freedom when downloading external applications
Android has allowed sideloading since the beginning. But Google has cracked down on it in recent years to prevent users from downloading questionable or unwanted apps onto their phones. The Play Store also doesn’t offer US developers the option of using alternative payment methods like it does in other markets. Apple, a rival to Android smartphone makers, prohibits sideloading apps on iPhones.
But thanks to regulatory pressure, that could change in 2024. Google has announced a major change to how sideloading works on Android. It’s also rolling out an alternative payment system called User Choice Billing for Android users in the US, which will allow developers to get paid through methods other than Google Play. But the company will take a 26% platform fee for every transaction made.
Additionally, manufacturers can put shortcuts to their app marketplaces right on the home screen.
Apple may also allow sideloading on iPhones, at least in Europe, by 2024. The company is required to comply with the Digital Markets Act, which forces major tech companies to open their app stores exclusively to third parties. The company has also confirmed that it will support RCS for iMessage.
As such, we can expect Google, Apple and other major tech companies to further open up their closed services to outside players to avoid legal trouble.
Super bright display
Until a few years ago, Android manufacturers were in a race to use high-resolution screens on their devices. Then there was the race to increase the refresh rate of their screens. If devices like the OnePlus Open, Xiaomi 14 Pro, OnePlus 2 are any indication, 2024 could be the year everyone switches to super-bright smartphone screens.
OnePlus claims a peak brightness of 2,800 nits, the brightest on a foldable smartphone. Xiaomi claims the iPhone 14 Pro screen has a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. OnePlus goes ahead and says the OnePlus 12 screen will reach 4,500 nits. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is rumored to have a screen that's brighter than 2,500 nits.
The screens on today’s best Android smartphones are already readable in sunlight, and with insane brightness levels like these, they’re sure to get even better.
Qi2 on Android
The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) announced the Qi2 wireless charging standard at CES 2023. The first Qi2-compatible products will hit shelves just before the holidays, with more expected to debut at CES 2024. While no Android manufacturers have released Qi2-enabled smartphones yet, that should change in 2024.
Many major Android flagships launching in the second half of 2024 will feature Qi2, allowing them to magnetically attach to wireless chargers for a safer experience. Signs that Google is adding MagSafe-style wireless charging to the Pixel 9 have leaked online.
Qi2 will also allow magnetic accessories to attach to the back of the phone. However, the new wireless charging standard won’t reduce charging times. The current version only supports speeds up to 15W, just like Qi.
Longer software and hardware support
Most Android manufacturers offer three to four years of software support for their premium and flagship devices. But then Google raised the bar with the Pixel 8 this year, promising seven years of OS and security updates.
Hopefully, this trend will continue into 2024. Android smartphone makers may not beat Google's promise of seven years of updates, but any improvement over their current software support timeline would be a welcome addition.
Additionally, Google has made an even more impressive promise of providing replacement parts for the Pixel 8 series for seven years. This is aimed at extending the life of the device and ensuring that users can easily repair their phones during that time.
With the European Union pushing companies to support their devices longer and reduce e-waste, we should see other Android manufacturers offering longer hardware support.
2024 could bring smartphones back to life
Admittedly, the pace of innovation in the smartphone world has slowed down over the past few years. While each new model is an improvement over its predecessor, it’s iterative and doesn’t offer any significant real-world improvements.
2024 could change that. While most of the upgrades are iterative, they will all combine to deliver a better user experience. The addition of generative AI on devices will forever change the way we take and edit photos and videos. Meanwhile, longer hardware and software support will let you get the most out of your favorite phone over its lifetime.
(According to Android Police)
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