To be clear, it’s a standard false impression that “there’s no innovation” within the smartphone world. Though this would possibly appear to be the case, I can guarantee you telephones have gotten a lot better at doing what they have been already able to doing 5-10 years in the past.
The best option to see some actual progress is likely to be to have a look at the digicam 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 assist in comparison with the Galaxy S10 and Pixel 4.
2024 is the yr 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)
Due to the Galaxy S24, Pixel 8 and Gemini, Android is main AI innovation within the cellphone market.
Nevertheless, Google’s best AI achievement (a minimum of thus far) is named Gemini – Google Assistant’s future successor, which is now out there on the Play Retailer and App Retailer. Try my sensible take a look at of Gemini’s capacity 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 to start with of 2024 – can Google and Apple prime that?
That being mentioned, considerably surprisingly, Samsung’s Galaxy S24 is likely to be the present AI cellphone to beat. Due to Samsung’s grand partnership with Google, the Galaxy S24 sequence boasts AI methods no different cellphone can do proper now – not even the Pixel (a minimum of not but).Actually, 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 nearly 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, among 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 individuals on the earth) Dua Lipa discuss AI, bounce to minute 27 of their interview (out there 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 advanced 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 in the event you don’t see/get/prefer it
Given all of the AI options within the Galaxy S24 sequence, I’m shocked 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 photographs 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 facility 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 difficult query…
For one, AI is already making smartphones extra thrilling, and I’d go so far as saying that AI is respiration 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 other.
Nevertheless, 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/current cellphone sooner. And the reason being easy – AI is a bit of software program, and software program might be added to previous/current telephones through 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 have the ability to 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 would possibly find yourself reaping essentially the most advantages from the entire AI revolution.
Why? Effectively, Apple tends to be fairly conservative on the subject of including thrilling new options to older iPhones through an replace. So, don’t be shocked if the iPhone 16 will get some unique AI options that gained’t be out there on older iPhones working “the identical model” of iOS 18.
After all, that’s solely an informed guess on my half. Nonetheless, Apple has a really lengthy historical past in maintaining thrilling new options unique to the brand new iPhone to entice individuals to purchase it.
Both means, customers will at all times be trying 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 relatively 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 necessary second for smartphones. Now, is it going to be the game-changer we’d prefer it to be? I suppose we’ll discover out within the subsequent few years…
Is AI an necessary smartphone promoting level for you?