What smartphones will be like in 2030: Technologies of future
Technological evolution of smartphones in 5 years (photo: Freepik)
Smartphones are changing at an incredible rate, and what seems like cutting-edge technology today will become obsolete tomorrow. By 2030, we will have devices with revolutionary capabilities.
Charging through the air
Imagine that your battery is dead and you don't have a charger at hand. In the coming years, this will no longer be a problem, as new smart devices are expected to be able to charge through the air. This will not be just wireless charging as we know it: Radio waves can be used to transmit energy, which will also have a lower environmental impact.
There are many rumors that Elon Musk may be planning to release a smartphone called the Tesla Model Pi. There is very little reliable information, but the leaks hint at a flagship device whose battery will be able to be charged by solar energy.
Other, more predictable rumors claim that the phone will be deeply integrated with Tesla cars, but there is no information on the timing of its release.
6G technology
6G, as the name suggests, will be the sixth generation of mobile communications. Despite the fact that 5G has not yet been implemented everywhere, Samsung, together with the University of California, is already testing early versions of 6G modems.
Their download speeds are expected to be 50 times faster than 5G, which is already capable of providing multi-gigabit connections.
However, 6G is a major technical challenge. Its implementation requires expanding the frequency spectrum to 3000 GHz (3 THz), as well as building new antennas and infrastructure.
Not so long ago, a group of Chinese researchers was able to transmit 1 TB of data in one second over a distance of 1 km. This is approximately 8000 Mbps (8 Gbps).
Engineers at Tsinghua University in Beijing were able to simultaneously stream more than 10,000 videos in high quality. Thus, China is already a leader in this area: more than 40 percent of all 6G patents are registered in this country.
What 6G will give us in practice:
- Superfast Internet
- Minimal delay
- Download movies in seconds
- Increased energy efficiency
- Truly immersive augmented reality (including holographic calls)
- Automated artificial intelligence with advanced capabilities.
The first 6G-enabled devices are expected to be available by 2030. This technology will be able to connect more complex devices such as autonomous cars, flying vehicles, and drones.
Smart artificial intelligence
In the next 10 years, artificial intelligence will become even more powerful and play a crucial role in our lives. AI is already a key feature of modern smartphones, helping with voice assistants, photography, augmented reality, and instant translation. However, future devices will become even smarter.
The next generation of artificial intelligence will be able to make more complex and "human" decisions. It can become the center of an ecosystem of smart devices, from entertainment and connected cars to smart homes. AI will be able to book restaurants for you, recommend new experiences, read bedtime stories to children, manage your schedule, and organize your shopping.
In the near future, AI will even be able to understand human emotions. Your device will act as a psychologist: cheering you up when you're upset or giving you advice when you feel overwhelmed. It can even become your friend and confidant.
Holographic displays
Holograms have long been a part of sci-fi movies such as Star Wars, Blade Runner 2049, I, Robot, and Iron Man.
By 2030, smartphones may have holographic displays capable of displaying 3D images and videos hovering above the device. These projections can be viewed from different angles without the need to wear 3D glasses.
Smartphones without ports and buttons
Another trend of the future is the creation of mobile devices without connectors and buttons, only with a screen. Already today, many smartphones have abandoned the 3.5 mm headphone jack and offer to use Bluetooth.
The USB port is expected to disappear completely as well. Vivo and Meizu have already developed the first concepts of such devices, including the Vivo Apex 2019. Some laptop manufacturers are also exploring the possibility of creating models without ports.
Environmentally sustainable development
Sustainable development is a global trend of the future. The European Union, the United States, and China have already set specific targets for reducing emissions. Moreover, in the EU, these goals are enshrined in law, not just stated as intentions.
That's why mobile device manufacturers are increasingly developing products from recycled materials, equipping gadgets with durable and energy-efficient batteries that require fewer charges, and experimenting with self-healing materials.
Given all these trends, in the next decade, smartphones will become even more efficient, smarter, and time-saving.
Improved security
Technological advances have led not only to convenience but also to new cyber threats. Therefore, smartphones of the future will increasingly use biometric authentication to protect data, especially in applications such as banking services.
In this context, retinal and voice recognition could become key security technologies, providing even better protection for user data.
Sources: Tech Advisor, BBVA Suiza.
