6 Innovations to Look for in the Smartphone of the Future

You might think that smartphones have come nearly as far as they're going to in the way of advancements, but that's an incorrect assumption. Every generation is better than the last, but the most recent improvements in mobile technology are nothing compared to what's on the horizon. Soon enough, you'll be in a position to rule the world with your device.

A Hands-Free Future

Smartphones are already mostly hands-free. With assistants such as Siri, Cortana, and Alexa, you're able to dictate and send text messages and emails, ask your phone to make calls, and have your messages read out loud. In the not-so-distant future, those hands-free tasks will be even easier. Tech companies are currently working on pieces of smart jewelry through which you have access to your personal assistant. The voice-activation features likely work even better with a handy piece of jewelry, an idea that's no doubt leapfrogging off of smartwatches.

Improved Mobile VR

Image via Flickr by UTKnightCenter

Virtual reality is the next big thing, although it's already here. At the moment, even though mobile devices pave the way for consumers to access VR, the technology is still in its infant stages. Google has its Daydream platform in the works, and Samsung has already come out with Gear VR. In the future, mobile VR promises to become unbelievably immersive. The new 835 chip, for example, guarantees speedy graphics, crisper sound, and enhanced sight. Quick refresh rates will combine with decreased latency to create a smooth, true-to-life experience with powerful tracking of head motions, eye movements, and gestures.

Lightning-Fast Connections

It's almost impossible for phones to get much smaller. There are some areas where manufacturers and tech gods simply can't make further improvements. A faster smartphone is still possible, though — and it's coming. The next generation of chips in development has incredible features, such as the promise of gigabit wireless connections. By 2018, the tech world will probably have a 5G network. All signs point in that direction. It's likely that your children will never know what “buffering” even means. 

To prepare for this game-changing advance, you need to make sure you have a carrier that can handle that amount of power. Look into cell phone plans from a reliable provider such as T-Mobile, which OpenSignal has named the world's fastest network. While you're at it, you might want to upgrade your phone to something that's capable of following the tide of tech evolution.

Bend It

Several smartphones on the market already have flexible screens. The next wave of new phones will almost certainly include more of them. A bendable, movable screen is a brilliant way to make the surface area even larger without making the phone itself cumbersome. It's hard to fit a big phone in your pocket, but you can fold and unfold a flexible screen. Essentially, this feature provides the best of both worlds — a compact smartphone with a sizable screen.

Tighter Security

From fingerprint scanners to facial scanners, smartphone security is always evolving. The goalpost never moves in this regard. The object is to provide tighter security options for each new generation. As hackers get more sophisticated, so must the safety measures used on the devices that contain nearly every detail of our lives. In the coming years, biometric security is set to take over. Every manufacturer is likely to include biometrics at some level. Since faces and fingerprints are already in the mix, the next step is the stuff of high-tech spy stories — iris scanners.

Smart Accessories

Smartwatches have officially taken off, and smart jewelry is the next big thing. Rumors suggest that the next wave of wearable tech is practical as well as innovative. Can you imagine wearing your smartphone right in your favorite fashion accessories? There are even whispers about the possibility of smart contact lenses — but that's not possible, right?

The smartphone arena is about to undergo a renaissance that will provide us with innovations we've barely dared to imagine. What future advances are you looking forward to the most? What do you wish your phone could do?