This year, we saw a lot of new technologies and breakthrough features in smartphones such as the fingerprint sensor and 4K Ultra HD screen up to the retina or iris scanner and USB type-C port.
The problem, however, is that most of these exciting specs and features are available and limited to high-end and flagship devices only. But in 2016, most of these may arrive at the budget and mid-range phones too. Below are the top features to consider buying in your next smartphone in 2016.
USB Type-C
The reversible design and faster data transfer and charging speed of the new USB type-C port are definitely the must-have features in your smartphone. It’s expected that new laptops, phones and tablets next year will feature the same port while slowly leaving the microUSB type-B 2.0 interface.
Fast Charging
We won’t see any big improvement in battery life until 2018, at least. But right now you could start enjoying Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 2.0 technology in smartphones particularly in Android and Windows 10 devices that are powered by Snapdragon 808 or Snapdragon 810 chipsets. In 2016, Snapdragon 820, 650, 652 and 430 will be released and those promise of up to 4x faster charging speed thru Quick Charge 3.0 than conventional and 38% more efficient than Quick Charge 2.0.
Fingerprint
Google and Apple have successfully improved the integration of their fingerprints in Nexus and iPhones, respectively. Next year we will finally see these fast and accurate scanners not only to Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X or iPhone 6s, but also to budget phones like your Xiaomi Mi 5, Meizu and iPhone 6C.
See also
- Huawei Nexus 6P Review – One of the best Androids in 2015
- LG Nexus 5 X Review – One of Androids I want to Buy
Retina or iris scanner
It is Microsoft that first brought the Retina scanner (Windows 10 Hello) to commercial phones (Lumia 950/950 XL) and computers this year with other brands already speculated to include the new security feature too in 2016.
4K UHD Resolution
Forget iPhone’s retina screen as next year we will finally see more 4K UHD phones following the foot steps of Sony Xperia Z5 Premium. We found out that there is, in fact, a difference between 4K UHD and 2K QHD screens. It is not only in sharpness, but the Xperia Z5 Premium was able to show some very pleasing color rendering, contrast, saturation and brightness level. Hopefully, by 2016 we will see more 4K screens not only in phones but in tablets and monitors too.
Other honorable features to look out include the front-facing stereo speakers that are common to Motorola and Sony Xperia Z devices, the 2 days battery life in Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 and Xperia phones, and Super AMOLED screens in cheap Samsung Galaxy J series. In mobile operating system, Android 6.0 Marshmallow upgrade will finally arrive to several phones including in LG G series, Xperia, Galaxy and Mi. More Windows 10-powered phones will be released too next year. And as usual, Apple will announce iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 6c and new iOS version 10.
See also
Have anything to add in our list? What features keep you excited for next year?
