5 options I want in my subsequent telephone — beginning with a quicker, longer cost

We’re at a crossroads within the smartphone trade, whether or not telephone makers realize it or not. Annual {hardware} upgrades have develop into more and more incremental, to the purpose that corporations like Apple, Google, and Samsung are specializing in AI as a substitute — regardless 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 received a laundry record 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 certainly one of these items does not seem.

1 A telephoto lens with 10x optical zoom

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It may be a bit aggressive to demand 10x zoom — I discover the 5x zoom on my iPhone 16 Pro greater than sufficient, normally — however I come from a professional pictures background, and one of many chief guidelines of composition is “fill the body.” There should not be any lifeless house in a photograph until it is intentional, and in that regard, even 5x zoom could be inadequate in case you’re attempting to shoot trip surroundings, or the lead singer at live performance. Heck, it typically falls quick if you’re attempting to snap somebody on the reverse finish of a giant room.

The optical a part of my demand is important. The Galaxy S25 Ultra technically helps 10x zoom, however solely at “optical high quality” — which means it makes use of sensor and software program tips. That will not look the identical as true optical zoom, particularly in order for you 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 motive, we have collectively accepted the concept that smartphones ought to solely final a day on a cost, not less than with out turning on particular battery-saver modes. The implications 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 fashionable telephones are certainly one of their most costly elements, and so doubling their dimension would result in greater finish prices, particularly given the additional design house concerned. For that motive, I am not anticipating a two-day battery life anytime quickly — it is only a objective telephone 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 an ordinary 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 is usually a recreation changer. It means with the ability to verify the climate or my notifications at a look through the workday, and at night time, immediately realizing whether or not I can return to sleep.

Having mentioned all that, it is vital that AOD tech be readable in daylight. My iPhone could be tough 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 advantageous 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 gadget, and even pictures could be large nowadays, given the existence of 100- and 200-megapixel sensors. Apps are rising as effectively, notably in the case 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 stage appears life like for 2026, or not less than 2027. Telephone makers already cost us extra for reminiscence upgrades than they’re value in components, and it is onerous 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 once I’m in a rush

You may anticipate me to record Qi2 right here as a substitute, however that normal tops out at 15W, and I am already utilizing it on my iPhone. I am not notably involved with velocity once I’m doing wi-fi charging, anyway — I discover the very best use of it’s sitting my telephone 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 telephone caught up with the velocity we see on flagship Chinese language units. 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’d imply the distinction between efficiently topping up in your journey to Austin, or your telephone dying halfway via 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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