What to expect in 2018
In today’s world, a smartphone is almost a religion. Smartphones are more loved than spouses. They are more adored than Bibles and Qurans. And the Apples and Samsungs of this world are in fierce battles for the ubiquitous smartphone dollar.
2017 will go down as a very exciting year. Here on Computer Crosstalk, we got submerged in mobile talk. I am worried; we have, most probably, caught the virus.
While Samsung debuted infinity, bezel-less display on Galaxy S8 back in March 2017, Apple doused the fire with the all-glass construction iPhone X in October. That surely made Galaxy S8 a bit trashy in terms of aesthetics, and Samsung is, most probably, not amused.
Apple provoked Samsung’s design instincts and the ante has been upped. Apple is rummoured to be chasing an April 2018 launch of Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus. This is expected to coincide with 2018 Mobile World Congress.
The new smartphone is expected to be all-transparent skyblue-glass construction. The more powerful Qualcomm 845 Smartdragon chip will propel S9.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8’s dual-camera feature will migrate to Galaxy S9.
You will recall that Apple first launched an iPhone X without the stunning all-glass construction casing with bezels and called it iPhone 8. When iPhone X appeared in November 2017, we realized that Apple had, for reason, skipped the number 9 in its iPhone nomenclature. Looks like the company had something in its wraps; iPhone 9, coming up in October 2018.
The problem with iPhone X is the S1, 000 splashy price tag. The issue with iPhone 8 is the lack of espresso aesthetics. Apple requires something to bridge the gap; a damsel with a less ornamented price tag. To achieve this, so is rummoured, Apple will move from stainless steel to aluminum covered in glass to bring down the price. Apple may offer a couple of sizes in this design to make it affordable to those in the lower income bracket.
Nokia’s 2018 upcoming smartphone is Nokia 9. A premium metal curved gadget with waterproofing capabilities, Nokia 9 is expected to come out earlier in 2018 having missed the December 2017 launch date. Nokia wants to revive the once mega name after Microsoft failed to take Lumia as high as Samsung and Apple brands. The born-again Nokia will run Android software.
Sony is one company that churns out new phones as often as ladies change their wardrobe. Having recently announced Xperia XZ1, XZ1 Compact and XA1, Sonny is at it again. This time around with Xperia XZ2 with a 5.48-Inch Bezel-less display with full HD resolution powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 chip and twin rear 12-megapixel cameras and a hot 15-megapixel selfie camera.
You should expect this sooner than April’s Barcelona Mobile World Congress, most probably in the late afternoon of February 2018. And forget not that Sony is still the king of the camera jungle.
With all this rumour buzz, one thing is loud enough, iPhone X pushed the envelope and no company is sitting on its laurels. Design Departments are busy with prototypes of new phones to trounce iPhone X’s looks and price.
If you have disposable income enough to enable you to change your handset every six months, welcome to the new smartphone world.
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