The next step forward in innovation.

[Southernboyj]

So over the past several years, the key features in defining what makes a phone a key flagship has been constantly changing.

The hottest thing since the iPhone 4 has been pixel density.
Also, upping the processors to quad-core and even octa-core in Samsung's case.

While these are all welcome, I feel we're at a point where the 1080p panels found on smart phones are very good, the software and hardware are optimized so that nearly all phones run smooth on iOS, Android, Windows Phone, etc.

I believe the next evolution we need to take in portable devices (Laptops, Tablets, Phones, etc.) needs to be battery life.

With the exception of a few devices (Droid Razr Maxx HD, Note 2) most devices that come out seem to have the standard target battery life.

Such as for MacBook's I believe its around 8-10 hours of battery life.

I get the feeling that make these phones with the strategy of "Let's make this next generation as thin as possible while maintaining the same battery life."

Instead of making the phones thinner while maintaining battery life, I feel it would be much more effective for them to make the battery life much longer, while maintaining the same dimensions.

What do you guys think? For example lets say the Galaxy S4 get's 10 hours of battery life currently (random number).. would you rather the Galaxy S5 be half the thickness, and still get 10 hours.. or be the same size and get 18 hours?

Within reason, I just think a larger mAh battery > making the phone as absolute thin as possible.

 

[zbarvian]

Apple made the iPhone 5 really thin with significantly better battery life than the 4S. I'd like to have both things up to a point (3-4 mm thickness is pretty thin enough). Truthfully I've just been spoiled by the slimline trend and now anything over 9mm thick looks chunky. I don't think engineering and design should have to take a backseat to battery technology, I think we just need to change the battery chemistry to get more juice out of the same size. When will that be? Anybody's guess.

 

[GoCubsGo]

You're not going to see battery chemistry changed anytime soon, IMO. I think the thickness of the 5 is by far the thinnest the iPhone should go but I'd be okay with a thicker phone if the battery can last longer.

 

[daveathall]

I would like an industry standard wireless charging system (Not a mat). One could have a wireless hot spot in the car, all cafes, public transport, airplanes etc would be the same, as would all public buildings. Just walking into work or one's house and the battery just starts charging, it would always be topped up and not need to be larger.

 

[Southernboyj]

Apple made the iPhone 5 really thin with significantly better battery life than the 4S. I'd like to have both things up to a point (3-4 mm thickness is pretty thin enough). Truthfully I've just been spoiled by the slimline trend and now anything over 9mm thick looks chunky. I don't think engineering and design should have to take a backseat to battery technology, I think we just need to change the battery chemistry to get more juice out of the same size. When will that be? Anybody's guess.

The iPhone 5's battery does last longer than the iPhone 4S.. However I wouldn't call 1-2 hours "significant". If the main focus because a mAh race, similar to the megapixel race.. I'd be happy.

 

[swingerofbirch]

The idea of electronics/computing being obvious like real-life objects and not lost in ideas of managing files seems to have been Apple's focus. You tap on what you want and move it with your hand. Computing has become more appliance like. I don't have an iPad myself, but the idea of having one I think is that it's a more natural part of your life than a desktop computer or even notebook. You pick it up, use it, set it down. Like a magazine. Like a book. Etc.

To me, it's almost like carrying a stone . . . the idea is that the object becomes more and more natural in your every day life. It seems less like technology. To that end, I don't understand why waterproofing for all technologies does not become more of an ideal that is strived toward. Right now it's sort of a niche technology. There are high-end Android phones that are water proof, but for some reason people don't seem to be excited about it. I have this feeling that if Apple were to announce a water proof anything, it would be the next big thing. It seems that for whatever reason, nothing becomes the next big ideas in the imagination of consumers until Apple unveils it, even if it already exists, as do water-proof phones. I think that's why Samsung says, "The next big thing is already here." People wait for the next big thing to come from Apple.

What could be more natural than using your iPad in a hot tub or the bath. What could be more natural than washing off a smudgy screen the way you wash a dish. It makes the device even more organic and even less like a desktop computer. It's like any another object in your day to day life. Not something you have to treat delicately or differently than other objects you use.

I might not have the biggest imagination, but I could see water-proof technology becoming the next big thing.

 

[Southernboyj]

The idea of electronics/computing being obvious like real-life objects and not lost in ideas of managing files seems to have been Apple's focus. You tap on what you want and move it with your hand. Computing has become more appliance like. I don't have an iPad myself, but the idea of having one I think is that it's a more natural part of your life than a desktop computer or even notebook. You pick it up, use it, set it down. Like a magazine. Like a book. Etc.

To me, it's almost like carrying a stone . . . the idea is that the object becomes more and more natural in your every day life. It seems less like technology. To that end, I don't understand why waterproofing for all technologies does not become more of an ideal that is strived toward. Right now it's sort of a niche technology. There are high-end Android phones that are water proof, but for some reason people don't seem to be excited about it. I have this feeling that if Apple were to announce a water proof anything, it would be the next big thing. It seems that for whatever reason, nothing becomes the next big ideas in the imagination of consumers until Apple unveils it, even if it already exists, as do water-proof phones. I think that's why Samsung says, "The next big thing is already here." People wait for the next big thing to come from Apple.

What could be more natural than using your iPad in a hot tub or the bath. What could be more natural than washing off a smudgy screen the way you wash a dish. It makes the device even more organic and even less like a desktop computer. It's like any another object in your day to day life. Not something you have to treat delicately or differently than other objects you use.

I might not have the biggest imagination, but I could see water-proof technology becoming the next big thing.

Wow... that was a long post. I wasn't saying battery will be the next step, I was saying I wish it was.

 

[cynics]

I don't think we'll see larger devices to accommodate larger longer lasting battery. I think everything will stay the same until batteries technology gets better.

Do you know what will happen then? The devices will get smaller and we will be back to where we started. A few manufacturers will make a normal sized (of today) phone but no one will buy it.

To answer your question, I'd prefer an iPhone 5 at an iPhone 4S sized thickness just for more battery life.

 

[zbarvian]

I wonder how long the One's battery would last if it had a 720p screen. I think I'm actually interested in today's midrange devices. A 4.5 inch, 720p screen, with a Snapdragon 400 should give a great experience. And with the same size battery as flagships, it should last extra long. I think the specs race has gone far enough. Now, we can focus on squeezing out more juice from our current sized batteries.

 

[paulbennett95]

The idea of electronics/computing being obvious like real-life objects and not lost in ideas of managing files seems to have been Apple's focus. You tap on what you want and move it with your hand. Computing has become more appliance like. I don't have an iPad myself, but the idea of having one I think is that it's a more natural part of your life than a desktop computer or even notebook. You pick it up, use it, set it down. Like a magazine. Like a book. Etc.

To me, it's almost like carrying a stone . . . the idea is that the object becomes more and more natural in your every day life. It seems less like technology. To that end, I don't understand why waterproofing for all technologies does not become more of an ideal that is strived toward. Right now it's sort of a niche technology. There are high-end Android phones that are water proof, but for some reason people don't seem to be excited about it. I have this feeling that if Apple were to announce a water proof anything, it would be the next big thing. It seems that for whatever reason, nothing becomes the next big ideas in the imagination of consumers until Apple unveils it, even if it already exists, as do water-proof phones. I think that's why Samsung says, "The next big thing is already here." People wait for the next big thing to come from Apple.

What could be more natural than using your iPad in a hot tub or the bath. What could be more natural than washing off a smudgy screen the way you wash a dish. It makes the device even more organic and even less like a desktop computer. It's like any another object in your day to day life. Not something you have to treat delicately or differently than other objects you use.

I might not have the biggest imagination, but I could see water-proof technology becoming the next big thing.

I agree with this 100%.

With more mobile devices, computers are shifting from being a machine to a more integral part of peoples lives. You don't need to worry if your car gets a little wet, or if your house gets wet, why worry about your phone or tablet? Of course having to buy a new phone because it gets a little wet (and there sure is a lot of water in peoples lives) is a great incentive for companies to keep waterproof devices in a niche market...


And to the OP, I agree as well. Unlike others I don't care about phone thinness or weight that much, but im sure im not the only one who thinks the thinness of devices needs to plateau, and battery life needs to be front and center in terms of new devices.

 

[Assault]

I would like an industry standard wireless charging system (Not a mat). One could have a wireless hot spot in the car, all cafes, public transport, airplanes etc would be the same, as would all public buildings. Just walking into work or one's house and the battery just starts charging, it would always be topped up and not need to be larger.

LOL. Good luck getting that past health and safety. I doubt a law allowing large amounts of EM energy running throughout homes and buildings will make it through the Parliment/House of Commons any time in the next decade! Did you read how much red tape it took just to get 4G up and running?

 

[KentuckyHouse]

I would absolutely accept a phone of greater thickness for more battery life, without question. Ever since Apple started the "race to the thinnest" a few years ago with the iPhone 4, I knew we were headed down a bad road. I've never understood why Jobs was so obsessed with having the thinnest phone. At some point it becomes too thin (see the bent iPhone 5 posts from shortly after release).

I love the long battery life of my Note 2, but let's be honest. That great battery life comes from the fact that its got a HUGE battery, not because the phone is so great at sipping juice. You put an iPhone 5-sized battery in it and it would be dead in 3 hours.

So yeah, bring on the thicker phones with larger batteries that give me 7-8 hours of screen-on time and stop trying to make paper thin phones.

Hey, waterproof would be nice too!

 

[Explicitic]

If Motorola is able to fit such a large battery into a small form factor phone (3300 mah - MAXX), any manufacturer should be able to. They simply choose not to for whatever reason.

 

[dkersten]

Personally, I think phones/tablets/personal devices will become many people's only personal computer. Most phones and tablets have the computing power already to accomplish the activities the general populace mostly enjoys such as surfing the internet, light gaming, emails, social media, content consumption (not work related, content creation, heavy gaming, etc.). The only things lacking are input devices (mouse/keyboard), battery life, and larger screens.

Honestly if the future is anything like this I'll be excited. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hSAYrHQCMo

I believe people's personal devices (phones/tablets) will connect to and power all these objects in people's houses (appliances and such). Wireless technology needs to evolve though, especially wireless charging

 

[YooperHunter]

Apple made the iPhone 5 really thin with significantly better battery life than the 4S.

On paper, sure, in practical use I have not found it to last any longer than the 4S with the same usage cycles.

I agree with the OP that the batteries need a boost.

 

[KentuckyHouse]

If Motorola is able to fit such a large battery into a small form factor phone (3300 mah - MAXX), any manufacturer should be able to. They simply choose not to for whatever reason.

You make a great point and I agree completely. When I had my Atrix HD, I actually did the MAXX battery mod. It was easy, didn't change the phone at all, and I had tons of juice. I have no clue why companies don't do this more often.

 

[daveathall]

LOL. Good luck getting that past health and safety. I doubt a law allowing large amounts of EM energy running throughout homes and buildings will make it through the Parliment/House of Commons any time in the next decade! Did you read how much red tape it took just to get 4G up and running?

Yep, I totally agree, one can wish though.