I don’t know if I’m the one one who feels this fashion, however flagship smartphones simply don’t excite me anymore.
The primary cause is that {hardware} innovation has slowed to a crawl, at the least within the telephones most of us will truly find yourself shopping for. Whether or not it’s Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel or Apple’s iPhone, each launch feels more and more predictable.
That’s to not say these firms aren’t bettering their telephones. Yearly brings a sooner chip, a brighter show, and a few software program tweaks. However for those who take note of the advertising and marketing, virtually all the pieces revolves round one factor – the digicam.
Samsung talks about its 200Mp sensor and zoom capabilities. Apple showcases cinematic movies and portrait photographs. Manufacturers like Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi do the identical, though I’d argue they’re at the least experimenting with extra fascinating {hardware} than the mainstream gamers.
The issue is that it feels just like the trade has change into obsessive about pictures whereas different elements of the smartphone expertise obtain far much less consideration. Higher battery expertise, sooner charging, stronger connectivity, thermal administration, repairability, and sturdiness are all areas the place significant enhancements would make an even bigger distinction to on a regular basis use.
But 12 months after 12 months, the highlight stays mounted on digicam upgrades. I’m not satisfied that’s the path smartphones needs to be heading.
We don’t want any extra digicam upgrades
I don’t suppose flagship smartphones want higher cameras anymore.
Take a look at what’s accessible in the present day. Whether or not you decide up an iPhone 17, a Samsung Galaxy S26, a Google Pixel 10, a Vivo X300 Extremely, a Xiaomi 17, or an Oppo Discover X9, you’re getting a digicam system that might have been unimaginable 5 years in the past. These telephones shoot glorious images in daylight, deal with low gentle surprisingly effectively, report cinematic-looking movies, and may zoom far past what most individuals really want.
Chris Martin / Foundy
The issue is that smartphone cameras have change into victims of their very own success. Yearly, manufacturers arrive with larger sensors, extra megapixels, longer zoom ranges, and new partnerships with digicam firms. Samsung talks about its 200Mp sensor. Xiaomi talks about Leica. Vivo talks about Zeiss. Oppo talks about Hasselblad. Apple talks about professional-grade pictures and filmmaking.
…smartphone cameras have change into victims of their very own success
And but, for those who handed most individuals images from any of those telephones with out telling them which system took them, I doubt they’d constantly decide a winner. That’s as a result of we’ve reached a degree of diminishing returns.
The distinction between a flagship digicam in 2026 and one from 2023 is nowhere close to as dramatic because the distinction between a flagship digicam in 2020 and one from 2017. Many of the large issues have already been solved. Dynamic vary is great. Night time pictures is great. Video high quality is great. Portrait mode is sweet sufficient. Zoom cameras are ok.
Britta O’Boyle
The trade retains performing as if smartphone pictures nonetheless has large unsolved issues, however for most individuals, it actually doesn’t.
What makes this even stranger is that cameras have change into the defining function of virtually each flagship telephone in the marketplace. The bigger digicam bump, the extra weight, the upper worth, and a good portion of the advertising and marketing finances all exist to help enhancements that many individuals will barely discover in day-to-day use.
The vital issues are being ignored
Whereas the digicam division retains seeing upgrades, the areas that truly want consideration are ignored.
In terms of charging, Apple continues to be within the “as much as 50% in round half-hour” camp on the iPhone 17, with MagSafe topping out at 25W and Qi at 7.5W.
Samsung will not be way more aggressive both, with the Galaxy S26 Extremely stubbornly caught at 5000mAh and charging speeds relying on the adapter you utilize – which isn’t within the field, in fact. The Pixel 10 Professional XL can hit 45W, however solely when you’ve got a suitable charger.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
That’s the reason the Chinese language flagships stand out. The Xiaomi 17 Extremely brings a 6000mAh battery with 90W wired charging and 50W wi-fi charging. Oppo’s Discover X9 collection is in an analogous place with 80W wired charging and huge batteries, Vivo X300 Extremely helps as much as 100W charging with a 6600 mAh battery, and the OnePlus 15 goes all the way in which to an unimaginable 120W charging on its mammoth 7300mAh battery.
And that is the place the true frustration kicks in. A greater digicam does nothing for a telephone that takes too lengthy to cost, loses sign in dangerous protection, or feels unreliable when you’re out all day. Even Samsung’s personal fantastic print says precise battery life varies by community setting, which is strictly the purpose. Reception and battery life will not be horny spec-sheet speaking factors, however they determine how reliable a telephone feels in actual life.
Reception and battery life will not be horny spec-sheet speaking factors, however they determine how reliable a telephone feels in actual life
I don’t suppose the trade has a digicam downside. I feel it has a precedence downside. Manufacturers hold performing like yet another imaging improve will change all the pieces, when lots of people would get extra worth from sooner charging, higher battery life, stronger connectivity, and fewer compromises in day-to-day use.