With the influence of social media OTT consumption, work and study from home and content creators on the go, the smartphone industry evolved 360 degrees to cater to the customers of the future.
Let’s look at some interesting trends that are likely to dominate the smartphone industry in the times to come:
5G – What’s Next?
With noise around 5G spectrum always high in India, customers and smartphone makers look forward to the 5G experience. Based on a recent report by Research and Markets, India’s smartphone market size is expected to reach US$ 281 billion and grow with a CAGR of 10.5% by 2028. Also, for the first time ever, 5G enabled smartphone sales jumped 51% initially. According to a Counterpoint report, 4G has surpassed smartphone penetration this year. 5G shipments grew >600% YoY and smartphone revenue touched $37Bn in CY2021. With the increase in technological advancements over the past few years, we have seen a spurt in 5G adoption from 2021 onwards. And this is evidenced by the recently concluded MWC, where several players showcased their 5G capabilities and how they plan to use the technology.
These reports suggest a spurt in procurement of future-ready equipment. As download and upload speeds increase, it is expected that smartphone makers will take advantage of cloud storage, improve battery consumption and increase mobile-friendly OTT content. This will change the entire network landscape and bring about a shift from smart homes to smart cities and much more. Without a doubt, there will be a 5G revolution that will bring rapid changes across the spectrum.
Adaptable / foldable screens to be the new normal – bigger is always better!
With smartphones becoming the primary device for content consumption, there is a growing demand from customers for bigger and better screens. What was once considered a phablet has become the new benchmark in the industry. Customers are looking for large displays that are compact and follow the ergonomic design language. We will see an increase in foldable screens that provide the productivity of a tablet and the convenience of a phone.
Gaming smartphones are becoming mainstream
According to a recent report by IBEF, gaming is the fastest growing industry in India which has witnessed a growth of 40% in 2019- 2022. It generated US$1.5 billion in net revenue during that period and is expected to exceed US$5 billion. by 2025. Furthermore, the Indian gaming industry surpassed the US market with over 300 million user base.
We are already seeing a rapid increase in the number of smartphones focused on performance as our main criterion. We already see brands targeting the Gen-Z to showcase their high-performance features that are great for gaming (battery, storage and charging) while providing excellent optics. Building technologies to enhance the gaming experience will be one of the top trends we can expect this year.
Large and slim battery supported by anywhere charging
Customers require a 5G capable smartphone with a large screen and a huge battery to support the high performance for smooth usage. However, with smartphones becoming a fashion accessory, manufacturers are constantly trying to invent means to increase the size of the battery without making the phone look bulky.
Additionally, customers are looking for faster and safer charging options for their smartphones. To comply with this requirement, many brands have released a lot of fast-charging features that can charge the smartphone instantly. Last year, Oppo introduced a new era of secure flash charging technology to help customers enjoy optimal battery life for longer periods. Wireless charging is also becoming a new trend as these chargers are very convenient for the customers as they are extremely easy to use and help in charging the smartphone faster. This will be one of the trends we expect to see more of in the coming months.
Advancement in camera segment
A significant increase in digital penetration, social media and impactful content has suddenly shifted all the attention to smartphone cameras. Excellent optics is the primary reason why people prefer one smartphone over another. And we expect the smartphone camera industry to take either of two paths. Path 1, the megapixel bandwagon. Path 2, Union on Hardware and Algorithms. The focus will be on both rear and front shooters while we can expect innovations in domains such as stabilization, sensors, AI, zoom and how the camera is hidden in a smartphone. So, if we have one device-solution for every need, the camera should naturally be as powerful as possible.
sustainable tech
Based on a recent report by Deloitte Global, smartphones will generate 146 million tons of CO2 in 2022, and while this accounts for less than 0.5% of global emissions, analysts believe it can be reduced. So now, many brands have started reusing and recycling the materials for their smartphones and made the production more energy efficient. In addition, brands are strengthening the smartphone to limit damages and minimize unintended replacements. Samsung started a new trend in 2020 to provide three years of OS updates and four years of security patches for its smartphones, followed by other brands. This commitment from brands enables older smartphones to function well, have better process flow and consume less energy. Consumers are increasingly opting for refurbished smartphones over new ones, thereby reducing e-waste and this trend of durable smartphones is likely to increase in the coming years.
Today, brands rely on consistent, high-quality content to connect with their target audiences and educate them about their offerings as content absorption on social media platforms has increased over time. At Amazon India we realized that customers are looking up to us to help them make the right buying decision. Continuing our focus on making the shopping experience easier for customers, we launched the ‘Buying Guide on Amazon’ and soon created several avenues like Amazon Mobile Insider – a section dedicated to content around mobile phones. Is. We at MiniTV are also offering unboxing videos and detailed page videos that highlight the key features of the product in a simple way for the customers. Additionally, we have observed that customers on Amazon.in are opting for more mid-range and premium smartphones with better build quality and specifications as they spend more time on their smartphones (work from home, video calls, OTT content or play online games). continue to spend time. We have seen customers gravitate towards smartphones that are ideal for multitasking and can also manage work, entertainment and day-to-day use cases.
However, the technology segment is something where everything is constantly evolving and improving every day. Let’s see what happens next on the innovation front in this area. But whatever the future trends, Amazon.in will always be the one-stop destination for customers to meet all their smartphone needs.
By Nishant Sardana, Director – Mobile Phones and Television, Amazon India