Right now there’s only one iPhone that runs 64-bit code, has the M7 motion co-processor, shoots 120 FPS slow motion video, and has a Touch ID sensor. Two years from now, these will be standard features across the line – Daring Fireball
Now that Apple is simultaneously pushing multiple new iPhone versions it makes sense that the flagship features eventually get pushed down to its less glamorous siblings. As the production cost for a piece of technology reduce it becomes an effective mechanism for promoting those features in ever more affordable devices. We see examples of this in features like Super Sensitive touchscreens which were lauded as a premium feature in leading Lumia phones, but can now be seen in budget $100 dollar Lumia devices.
There are two improvements in our premium devices that I believe should be ubiquitous for all devices over the next two years, camera quality and battery life.
Camera QUALITY
Point and click cameras under $150 are all but dead, however, over the next two years I expect smartphones to obviate most HD Digital Video cameras under $500. It is clear, at least to me, that Nokia’s phones are leading in photo quality. I am not sure I have seen a real market for 120fps video cameras but that may indeed be the case and Apple has now shone a really bright light on that feature.
Battery Life
The current trend for processors in smart phones, and to a lesser extent tablets, appears to be faster, not more efficient, and so this has resulted in better performance but a general flattening in the average battery life. I am assuming hoping that the battery life in our entry level devices will be measured in days in the near future not hours.
Comments are closed.