What technology should manufacturers be focusing on?

[appledes7]

Nowadays, you see some crazy specs in phones. You even start to hear rumors of stuff even more crazy. Like 4K screens at 5", 8+ core CPUs, 4GB RAM, 40+ mp cameras, etc.

I want to know what other users would like companies to focus on. If I missed something, go ahead and let me know! And tell me why you think companies should focus more on one thing over the other.

EDIT: I forgot to add form factor/thinness/weight as an option.

 

[F123D]

Battery battery battery.

I'm loving the wireless charging on the Nexus 5 but we're only scratching the surface. It could be a whole lot better.. Give me at least 3 - 4 days of heavy usage and wireless charging where you enter a room and it'll automatically start charging without having to place it on a charger.

 

[cube]

Removable batteries.

 

[appledes7]

Removable batteries.

Just out of curiosity, would you prefer a phone with a 2000 mAh removable battery, or a phone with a 3000 mAh non-removable battery? If you still prefer a removable battery at that point, at what point does a non-removable battery win?

 

[cube]

Just out of curiosity, would you prefer a phone with a 2000 mAh removable battery, or a phone with a 3000 mAh non-removable battery? If you still prefer a removable battery at that point, at what point does a non-removable battery win?

A non-removable battery never wins.

I bought a Z10 given that it has a removable battery and a card slot, and I would never consider a Z30 because it has a non-removable battery, even if it lasts much longer.

 

[appledes7]

A non-removable battery never wins.

I bought a Z10 given that it has a removable battery and a card slot, and I would never consider a Z30 because it has a non-removable battery, even if it lasts much longer.

So a 10 mAh removable battery is better than a 4000 mAh non-removable battery? Sorry, I had to.

In all seriousness, do you prefer removable batteries because it is easy to just swap it for a new, fully charged battery, because it is easy to take out if your phone gets wonky, or because it makes it easy to replace a degraded battery? If you had to pick one of those, what would be the main reason?

 

[cube]

So a 10 mAh removable battery is better than a 4000 mAh non-removable battery? Sorry, I had to.

In all seriousness, do you prefer removable batteries because it is easy to just swap it for a new, fully charged battery, because it is easy to take out if your phone gets wonky, or because it makes it easy to replace a degraded battery? If you had to pick one of those, what would be the main reason?

Replace a degraded battery.

I would also need to replace the battery in a long flight if I use the phone as an iPod.

And I guess it might happen that one has no resort other than taking out the battery to shut it off / reset.

 

[cube]

I just got one of these, even if I don't need it right now. It's very cool:

http://crackberry.com/blackberry-battery-charger-bundle-must-have-accessory-blackberry-z10-owners

 

[cube]

Dual-SIM data and LTE.

Global LTE.

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QWERTY sliders.

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128GB and higher microSDXC.

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Built-in stylus.

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Unbreakable screens.

Nice looking plastic.

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Wristband loop.

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Waterproof openness.

 

[cube]

Built-in ANT+

 

[cube]

2 GiB RAM at the low end.

16GB of internal storage at the low end.

1080p at 4.7"

quad-core

64-bit

optical zoom and OIS

Reversible USB replacement, but not crippling like Lightning.

 

[T5BRICK]

I voted for battery, but to me camera quality is nearly as important.

Displays on high end phones are all pretty good now, so that isn't an issue for me. Same goes for processors, they're all fairly fast on the high end. 1GB of RAM doesn't seem to be an issue in my 5s and 2GB worked great in my HTC One, I don't know if more is needed. With Android 4.4, it at least SOUNDS like Google is attempting to make the OS more efficient.

 

[ucfgrad93]

Battery battery battery.

I'm loving the wireless charging on the Nexus 5 but we're only scratching the surface. It could be a whole lot better.. Give me at least 3 - 4 days of heavy usage and wireless charging where you enter a room and it'll automatically start charging without having to place it on a charger.

Agreed. I'd really like to see major improvements in battery life more than anything else.

 

[McGiord]

Increase connection speeds therefore some of the hardware features can be performed via software and will enable longer lasting hardware: new features are added with a software update instead of needing new hardware every 6 months.
Establish a leading standard for connecting and managing other devices therefore they do not drain the battery.
Developed a charging methods that leverage the device movement when the user walking, or simply any movement, and when typing on the device.

 

[spinedoc77]

Foldable screens!!!!! I want a 4" phone that unfolds put to 8". Also battery life would be nice.

 

[Dr McKay]

Foldable screens!!!!! I want a 4" phone that unfolds put to 8". Also battery life would be nice.

They need to get Spinedoc onto the team so he can have complete control, like the Jonny Ives but with Android, so they can release a limited edition version of Android that he actually likes.

Android 4.5 Spinedoc. Before moving onto 5.0

 

[spinedoc77]

they need to get spinedoc onto the team so he can have complete control, like the jonny ives but with android, so they can release a limited edition version of android that he actually likes.

Android 4.5 spinedoc. Before moving onto 5.0 :d

It's all part of the master plan, muahaha...

 

[cube]

Full-matrix OLED

 

[tbayrgs]

Dual-SIM data and LTE.

Global LTE.

----------

QWERTY sliders.

----------

128GB and higher microSDXC.

----------

Built-in stylus.

----------

Unbreakable screens.

Nice looking plastic.

----------

Wristband loop.

----------

Waterproof openness.

Built-in ANT+

2 GiB RAM at the low end.

16GB of internal storage at the low end.

1080p at 4.7"

quad-core

64-bit

optical zoom and OIS

Reversible USB replacement, but not crippling like Lightning.

Full-matrix OLED

Are you just spewing out every feature that comes to mind?

 

[cube]

Are you just spewing out every feature that comes to mind?

No, the things that matter.

 

[cube]

MANY concurrent input languages (not just 3)

Fix stupid autocorrect and make it business-aware in all languages, where applicable.

Fix bad autocorrect interface where applicable.

Concurrently multilingual autocorrect

 

[ozaz]

1. Battery
2. Camera (in particular, low light performance)

I'm pretty happy with all other aspects of modern smartphones, although I would like to see sd cards supported on more high end phones.

If we're talking tablets, I'd like to see active digitisers more generally supported, and especially on ipad.

 

[Fanaticalism]

ART.

Which basically falls under number 1,2, 5...

 

[Truefan31]

Battery life. Camera optimizations.

 

[Irishman]

A non-removable battery never wins.

I bought a Z10 given that it has a removable battery and a card slot, and I would never consider a Z30 because it has a non-removable battery, even if it lasts much longer.

I don't know that removable batteries means anything for Joe Schmoe phone user. I mean, I've got a phone with a removable battery, and you know what, I've never bought a second battery for when the battery dies. When it goes dead, you know what I do? I plug it in and charge it! There's no absence of micro-USB chargers in the world today.

I've just not seen a use case for it.