What Does 5G Mean for Smartphones Now?

Head of Vivo Communication Research Institute Qin Fei

 

Times have indeed changed and with the recent release of 5G bands this year, what does it mean for the smartphone industry? In a recent article written by the Head of Vivo Communication Research Institute Qin Fei, he mentioned several things that would probably happen in the next few years as the ownership of smartphones will eventually reach up to 50 percent this 2020 (despite pandemic fears) and a huge 70% come 2025. He also said that the way we look at smartphones now will change with the arrival of 5G. People will be accessing the internet more on these handsets, so the need for a better and faster connection is not far behind. 5G connections can also improve and increase the consumption of content.  The higher speeds mean we would get quality videos, more immersive gaming experiences. It can also be used for health applications, building smart cities and even make automated transport a possibility if implemented well.

Vivo sees that the smartphone will become a central device which will enable users to utilize it for information and services. They also earmarked how Southeast Asia gets about 93% of its traffic from smartphones and about 63% on desktops, which would mean there’s a huge market in these channels and will need handsets that can do functions that would help that happen. This also means smartphone manufacturers need to rethink and re-imagine their approach and design.

Change with 5G

It will change the way we do things, especially the development of smart devices. Since it is 5G, its capacity to carry even bigger data can make tons of things possible and not just remain with switches. This could also change core elements of smartphones. This may hasten manufacturers to dish out even bigger screens, curved or bendable ones, or maybe make it super light in the next 5 or 10 years. Vivo has even changed some of their displays recently, putting the actual camera on the screen instead of the notches they did in the past. In the future, improvement in the processors and memory while remaining in small factor can make phones carry even more powerful cameras which can take better photos and videos which could rival even the human eye.

The future is AI

Change will happen on how the smartphone displays, sound and touch. In the near future, it will have the most change among other features of phones. It will get input and interface all done via hand gestures, audio commands and multi touch. AI also will get to benefit those who would want to utilize smartphone features as it becomes a primordial part of changing settings, optimizing hardware for gaming functions or even in taking photos. Vivo already started sharing the technology with engineers via mentorship, international conferences and collaborations, so they could change their approach and use this new band in applications that could take the smartphone game in different levels.

These are exciting times as there will be huge changes in the coming years. Change will also be abrupt, and challenges in the technology will be identified fast. 5G has come a long way since its inception in 2016, and growth will happen as standards get developed. Developers, phone manufacturers and users will be part of this, and Vivo has been there to support and realize it.