In just the last 10 years, we’ve seen incredible advancements in smartphones. But do you ever wonder what your smartphone will look like in another ten years? Our research takes a deep dive into the latest tech advancements, and we’ve put together a guide surrounding what to expect from future smartphones. We’ve put together some of the most interesting things we’ll gain – and what we’ll lose. Tech is evolving at a rapid rate, and phone manufacturers are constantly creating newer, more impressive features for our smartphones. Here’s what we can expect to see on our handsets in the near (and distant) future.

Related blog: Why Are Smartphones 'Going Slim'

Do all phones have 5G?

Of course, the first foreseeable shake-up in the smartphone world is 5G. It’s the fifth generation of cellular mobile technology, which is what your phone uses to send and receive data, so you can use the internet, send messages and make calls. 5G is up to 20 times faster than the 4G LTE network currently available – to put that in perspective, it takes around half an hour to download a 3GB app, but with 5G, it would only take around 35 seconds. That’s fast.

How popular are foldable phones?

Many phone manufacturers are stepping into the future with foldable phones – which are essentially tablet-sized phones, but you can fold the whole structure over (including the screen!) to create an average-sized smartphone with a screen on both the front and back. Samsung is one of the leading tech brands to pioneer folding and flip smartphones. Take a look at them on our website!

How can I control my phone without hands?

This one sounds very futuristic – but soon enough, you might be able to control your phone using just your mind!

Back in 2017, Facebook first announced their research lab, Building 8, was working on a computer-brain interface that would allow users to complete actions without picking up their smartphone. More recently though, plans to create a silent speech system were revealed, which would allow users to type 100 words per minute – using only their brain. While this kind of tech is already available and is used widely in medical settings for people suffering from impairments such as paralysis that affects their verbal speech, this usually involves implants within the brain. Facebook wants to make a non-invasive wearable piece of tech, that will let users type with their mind.

Facebook aren’t the only tech giant thinking about mind-computer connections either. Elon Musk has just announced his plans for some revolutionary brain implants. Named Neuralink, the project is looking into brain implants that will telepathically control tech – similar to the previously mentioned silent speech implants - but they will cover a broader aspect of tech control. Essentially, you’ll be able to control every aspect of your phone or computer just as you would with your hands, but with your mind. Spooky!

Which phones still have a headphone jack?

The death of the headphone jack is well underway. It was forfeited in the name of design, structure, and durability, amongst other things. More and more phone manufacturers are creating new handsets that no longer have a 3.5mm headphone jack – but instead, provide an adapter to be used in the charging port, or you can purchase Bluetooth headphones instead.

This is because, first and foremost, the headphone jack made it harder for devices to become waterproof. It also stopped phones from being able to be as thin, and simply, some manufacturers just thought the design of handsets looked better without it.

What colour phone options exist?

An odd one, but manufacturers are working towards selling phones that aren’t a set colour. They’re trying to develop technology that allows you to change the colour of your phone whenever you want.

The idea is, that the back of a device would be made from a glass-like material that could absorb all the light, and with the help of LEDs, you would be able to change the colour of the phone just by adjusting settings to what kind of light is let into the back. The finished result should look like the colour is completely painted, just as the phone backs look now.

Related blog: The Downfall Of The Blackberry

Conclusion:

There’s still so much to look forward to in terms of mobile phone technology. However, we have a long wait until most of this technology is advanced for commercial use. So for now, if you’re looking for an upgrade, you can find a whole selection of the latest refurbished phones on our website – we stock all of the current favourites, such as the iPhone 16 and Galaxy S24, so join the future and pick up your latest handset with us today at Envirofone.