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Oppo shows off new 'waterfall' display that stretches screen around the side
Oppo shows off new 'waterfall' display that stretches screen around the side
Displays that wrap around the edges of modern high-end Android phones have been increasing in popularity since the first Samsung Galaxy Note Edge in 2014. As companies now look to extend the bendable display idea to foldable phones, Chinese smartphone maker Oppo is continuing to stretch out the edges of wraparound screens on more traditional devices.
In a new prototype shared on the company's Facebook and Twitter pages, Oppo on Monday showed off a "waterfall screen" that appears to even further extend the display around the sides of the phone. There are still slight bezels along the top, bottom and sides of the device, but the screen does seem to push the technology further than prior phones.
When looking at the phone on a slight angle with a nonwhite background the side bezels almost disappear.
Taking borderless smartphone innovation to new heights, we're thrilled to give you a first look at 'Waterfall Screen' technology. 🤯
What do you think the screen-to-body ratio is on this prototype? 😏 pic.twitter.com/99AQKh9ZgH
— OPPO (@oppo) July 29, 2019
As one would expect with a prototype, Oppo did not share pricing, release date or even an indication on when the display might go into production. A brand that is not widely sold in the US, Oppo has in the past shared some manufacturing and components with its subsidiary OnePlus, which does sell phones in the US. It is, however, unclear if Oppo will be sharing the new display tech with its subbrand.
Oppo did not immediately respond to a request for comment. OnePlus declined to comment.
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Oppo Reno 4 Pro hands-on: Flagship features on a midrange phone
Oppo Reno 4 Pro hands-on: Flagship features on a midrange phone
Midrange phones have developed a reputation for being boring over the past few years. They often come with overused features and unmemorable names. But Chinese phone-maker Oppo's new Reno 4 Pro is chipping away at that narrative. The Reno 4 Pro, which launched in India in July, is technically a midrange phone, but it's packed with features typically found in more fancy flagships. It has a curved 90Hz display, ultrafast charging and a set of stereo speakers. But because it is a midrange phone after all, it does make some sacrifices. The biggest thing missing is 5G capability which, if you're planning on keeping the Reno 4 Pro for a few years, you'll want your next phone to have. Oppo says that's because it wants the phone to "better fit" the countries it'll be released in.
The Chinese version of the Reno 4 Pro, which does have 5G capabilities, starts for 3,799 yuan or approximately $540 ( £410 or AU$750). In India, it starts at 34,990 rupees, which converts to roughly $470. Pricing for markets outside Asia haven't been released yet, but expect costs to trend higher in Western countries. After India, the Reno 4 Pro is slated for launch in other parts of Asia as well as select European countries, but will not hit shelves in the US. For the full list of specs, scroll down to see our chart at the bottom.
The Reno 4 Pro comes in two colors: starry night and silky white (pictured).
Oppo
A 4,000-mAh battery with ultrafast charging
Oppo has a fixation with ultrafast battery charging, a fixation that's driven it to develop some of the fastest charging technology in the business. (Its 125-watt charger can apparently juice up phones within 20 minutes.) And it's increasingly taking this tech, which was typically reserved for higher-end or flagship handsets, to its midrange phones.
The device comes with 65-watt fast charging, known as "SuperVOOC 2.0," which promises to revitalize its dead 4,000-mAh battery in 36 minutes. For comparison, a standard Apple iPhone charger is 5 watts. I tested it twice and both times it filled up to 99% within that time frame. That isn't 100%, but it's close enough and it's a welcome feature on any phone, especially a midtier one. You can also find this charging tech on the Oppo's super premium flagship, the Find X2 Pro, but that'll set you back more than $1,300.
In addition to the speedy charging, Oppo says its power-saving modes are more efficient. When you turn on "Super Power Saving Mode," you'll be able to chat on WhatsApp for 90 minutes or make calls for 77 minutes with just 5% of battery, according to Oppo. Meanwhile, the company says that its Super Night Time Standby uses up only 2% over eight hours overnight. I'll have to test this out myself to determine whether these claims check out.
Oppo's Reno 4 Pro comes with a speedy 90Hz display.
Oppo
The Reno 4 Pro has a 90Hz curved display
The 6.5-inch Reno 4 Pro has a gently curved AMOLED display outfitted into an impressively compact and slim phone. It's one of the lightest and slimmest phones I've used in a while, weighing just 161 grams and measuring only 7.7mm thick despite the presence of a large battery under its hood. For comparison, Samsung's pocketable Galaxy S20 is 164 grams and 7.9mm.
Speaking of the display, it features speedy refresh rates of up to 90Hz. Most phones have a 60Hz display, which means the screen refreshes 60 times a second. A faster screen like the one on the Reno 4 Pro makes animations look smoother, text and images more crisp and offers a generally smooth and immersive experience.
The Reno 4 Pro's quad camera system is headlined by a 48-megapixel main shooter.
Oppo/Screenshot by Sareena Dayaram/CNET
The Reno 4 Pro has a total of 5 cameras
The Reno 4 Pro made it easy to take crisp and vibrant photos. Low light imaging was impressive too. But I'm looking forward to trying the Reno 4 Pro camera system in more depth, including its "Smart Slow Motion feature which can capture 1080p video at a super slow 480fps.
The Reno 4 Pro has four cameras on its rear. The main camera has a 48-megapixel lens, which uses Sony's IMX 586 sensor. It's accompanied by an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera, a two-megapixel macro camera and mono camera. On the phone's front, you'll find a selfie camera that can take 32-megapixel photos, which is a step down on paper from the Reno 3 Pro that set itself apart with its 40-megapixel selfie photos.
Taken using Reno Pro's ultra-wide mode much in low-light conditions.
Sareena Dayaram/CNET
Taken using Reno 4 Pro's camera on default settings after sunset.
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Bezel-less Oppo R7 leaks on Chinese social media
Bezel-less Oppo R7 leaks on Chinese social media
Caught on video: Oppo's upcoming bezel-less R7. Screenshot by Aloysius Low/CNET
Chinese smartphone maker Oppo appears to be doing some magic with the design of its upcoming Oppo R7 phone, if this leaked video appears to be true.
The Android-powered handset alleged comes with almost non-existent bezels, with the large screen taking up the entire sides of the device, as you can see from the screen capture above.
The magic apparently lies in some visual trickery (which Oppo has filed a patent for) where the sides of the screen diffract the light to make it seem that the display extends all the way to the edge.
While the Sharp Aquos Crystal turned heads with its edge-to-edge display, Oppo's R7 looks even more convincing, since the Crystal still has a bit of an edge, while the R7 looks like it doesn't.
Other leaked specs of the R7 include a octa-core MediaTek processor, 4G support and a 20.7-megapixel rear camera. The phone's also rumored to be as slim as the Oppo R5 at just 4.85mm thick.
CNET has reached out to Oppo for more information. In the meantime, check out the video below. Note that it may not play for you as the video is hosted on a Chinese site that appears to have region locks for some countries.
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Oppo's fanciest phone yet may get a 'microscope' macro camera, leaker says
Oppo's fanciest phone yet may get a 'microscope' macro camera, leaker says
After Oppo announced the imminent arrival of its next-gen Find X flagship line in early December, new leaks are shedding more light on what the Chinese company's fanciest phone could look like when it's launched early next year.
According a Twitter post this week by noted leaker Evan Blass, Oppo will launch a trio of phones as part of the Find X3 (unofficial name) line. The highest-end phone, likely named the Find X3 Pro, will get a 6.7-inch screen with a dynamic frame rate that maxes out at 120Hz, Blass says, as well as a 4,500-mAh dual cell battery that'll support 65W wired charging and wireless charging of up to 30W.
Read more: Find X2 Pro review: A solid ultra-premium Android phone not made by Samsung
But perhaps the most interesting part of the Blass' leak pertains to the device's camera module. The Find X3 Pro is expected to sport four rear cameras made up of a 13-megapixel telephoto shooter, and two 50-megapixel lenses for standard and ultra-wide shots that will both use Sony's IMX 766 sensor. A 3-megapixel macro camera armed with 25x zoom and a ring of lights will likely be the standout camera feature that Blass is expecting Oppo to showcase in Oppo's marketing campaigns. Other features leaked by Blass include the Find X3 Pro's weight of 190 grams.
Earlier this month, Oppo announced that its upcoming flagship line (which it stopped short of naming) will pack Qualcomm's brand new Snapdragon 888 chipset when it launches in the first quarter of 2021. The Find X3 series is the follow-up to the lauded Find X2 family launched internationally in the first quarter of this year for well over $1,000.
Read more:Not just Huawei: Your guide to China's biggest and best smartphone makers set on world domination
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Oppo debuts world's first 5.5-inch Quad HD Find 7
Oppo debuts world's first 5.5-inch Quad HD Find 7
Allen Wu, Oppo's vice president domestic (China) division, takes the stage to introduce the new handset. Aloysius Low/CNET
BEIJING, China -- Priced at a reasonable $599, Oppo's latest Find 7 has just made its debut in China, and is the first to sport a 5.5-inch Quad HD display. QHD, not to be confused with qHD (960x540 pixels), has a resolution of 2,560x1,440 pixels, which is more than four times as many pixels as you'll find on 720p TVs.
If you're interested in the numbers, that's 538 pixels per inch (PPI), and you'll never have to worry about fuzzy fonts anymore. Apart from a super-sharp screen, the Find 7 comes packing a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor clocked at 2.5GHz, 3GB RAM and 32GB of onboard storage.
Other specs include a 3,000mAh battery, a 13-megapixel camera with dual-LED flash. The Find 7 will support a wide range of LTE bands and should work in most countries, including China, Mexico and the U.S. The smartphone runs a custom firmware called ColorOS, which is based on Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean).
The specs alone of the Find 7 are likely overkill for the average user, so Oppo will be offering a Full HD version (1,920x1,080 pixels) but it has less storage (16GB), a slightly slower quad-core processor (2.3GHz) and a 2,800mAh battery instead. Also announced at the event was a fitness band called O-Band, which tracks your sleep patterns as well.
The Find 7 and Find 7a will be available globally in mid-April and will retail for $599 and $499 respectively.
Oppo's 125w Flash Charge fully fills a phone battery in 20 minutes
Oppo's 125w Flash Charge fully fills a phone battery in 20 minutes
Oppo is a hugely popular phone maker in China, but it's far from well known in the US. A sister company to OnePlus, Oppo is hoping to change that with a stream of futuristic features, which it announces with the same amount of hoopla usually attached to the unveiling of a new phone. Last year, it was an in-screen selfie camera, and now Oppo is moving on to battery life,
On Wednesday, the company announced its new 125w Fast Charge, which it said can charge a 4,000mAh battery up to 41% in just five minutes and 100% in 20 minutes. (Most flagship phones have batteries sized from 3,000mAh, like the iPhone 11 Pro, to 5,000mAh, like Samsung's Galaxy S20 Ultra.) Oppo also revealed AirVOOC, a 65w wireless charger that it said can fully revitalize a battery in 30 minutes.
The advent of 5G, which promises blazing-fast download speeds, puts phone makers in something of a bind. The tech will add a further drain on battery lives that are already sucked by music, gaming and video streaming, but it's difficult to cram bigger batteries into phones without making the devices too big, thick or weighty. The solution, as Oppo sees it, is to keep the same battery size but improve battery charging.
Oppo's family of fast chargers.
Oppo
Oppo isn't the only one. Apple's fast charge powers an iPhone up to 50% in around 30 minutes, while Samsung earlier this year introduced its 45w Super Charge 2.0. However, it's Chinese brands that have led the... charge. Oppo had been the industry leader throughout most of last year, offering 65w charging that fully powered a device in a half hour. Xiaomi in November introduced Super Charge Turbo, 100w charging that it claimed could get a 4,000mAh battery from flat to 100% in 17 minutes. With 125w Flash Charge, Oppo hopes to reclaim its No. 1 spot.
Oppo phones don't sell with US carriers, but you won't need an Oppo phone to take advantage of Flash Charge. Any Android phone that supports 125w charging can take advantage of Oppo's Flash Charge. The bad news? No phone currently supports 125w charging. Oppo didn't reveal a new flagship to go along with the futuristic tech.
This was the same routine with the aforementioned in-screen selfie camera, which so far has only been seen on prototype Oppo devices. The company's most recent flagship is the X2 Pro, a phone for those who want a luxe Android device not made by Samsung.
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Oppo's new foldable phone may have solved the crease problem
Oppo's new foldable phone may have solved the crease problem
There's a new foldable phone in town: The Oppo Find N. After teasing its new foldable last week, the Chinese electronics-maker launched its latest Find N foldable phone on Wednesday, during the second day of its "Inno Day" event.
The new phone, which will be sold only in China starting on Dec. 23, is a little smaller than rival foldable devices like Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold line. The Find N has a similar design to the Z Fold, but sports a 5.49-inch outer display and a 7.1-inch inner screen. Samsung's phone, by contrast, has a 6.2-inch screen on the front and a 7.6-inch display when opened.
The front screen on the Oppo Find N.
Eli Blumenthal/CNET
Similar to classic clamshell phones, the Find N has a wider 18:9 aspect ratio that makes it more natural to use as a regular phone when closed. Samsung, meanwhile, has a more narrow front display on its Z Fold line.
Like the Z Fold, there are five cameras on the Find N. Both the inside and front screens have 32-megapixel hole-punch cameras for selfies and video chats, while the rear adds three additional sensors: a 50-megapixel main camera, a 16-megapixel ultrawide lens and a 13-megapixel telephoto.
The rear cameras on the Oppo Find N.
Eli Blumenthal/CNET
A Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor and 12GB of RAM power the device, which is running Oppo's ColorOS 12, based on Android 11. As you'd expect, Oppo's fast wireless and wired charging are here, with the Find N supporting the company's 33-watt SuperVOOC Flash Charge for wired charging and 15-watt AirVOOC for wireless charging (as well as regular Qi wireless chargers). There is also 10-watt reverse wireless charging, so it can charge other devices wirelessly.
The company says that using the SuperVOOC wired charging, the phone and its 4,500-mAh battery can go from dead to 55% in 30 minutes and to 100% in 70 minutes.
Although the Find N isn't IP68-rated for water- and dust-resistance, Oppo says that it "does go through rigorous water-resistance and durability testing to ensure the device can easily cope with things like sweat, moisture and light drizzle that are regularly encountered in everyday usage scenarios."
It's hard to find a crease on the Find N.
Eli Blumenthal/CNET
Oppo's first foldable isn't as notable for its design as it is for its comparatively premium feel. The hinge on the Find N takes advantage of what Oppo calls a "water-drop" design, allowing for the phone to more evenly fold closed. This means that not only is there no wedge or gap when the screen is folded, but there's also a much less noticeable crease when you use the inside display.
Oppo, citing testing lab TUV, says the Find N has a crease that's "up to 80% less noticeable" than other foldable devices. I've briefly used the Find N and the statement did seem to hold true. Compared to the Z Flip 3 and Z Fold 2, the crease on the Find N isn't just harder to see, regardless of angle, it's also harder to discern by touch.
When I drag my fingers across the 7.1-inch display, it feels like a regular tablet. Like Samsung's recent foldables, the display incorporates a layer of ultrathin glass for added durability.
Oppo's ColorOS software, however, means the overall experience -- at least outside of China -- is far from perfect.
The closed Find N is thicker than a deck of playing cards.
Eli Blumenthal/CNET
As this is a China-only product, the Find N lacks Google services, including the Play Store. I had some issues but was eventually able to get a Play Store APK to install. I could even download some apps, but a few had issues properly displaying or taking advantage of Oppo's enhancements for multitasking. Some, like ESPN, wouldn't open in the Find N's split-screen mode.
In an interview with journalists, Pete Lau, the OnePlus founder who's now Oppo's chief product officer, says the lack of third-party app support for foldable devices is part of the reason why Oppo is focusing solely on China for the release of this device.
"If the apps that users use most in their daily life are not well adapted on a foldable, then a foldable will not be delivering the value that it should be delivering," Lau says. In China, he adds, Oppo is contacting individual developers to optimize their apps for the new design. "And that's really a big, heavy workload."
OnePlus and Oppo are two sub-brands (among many) owned by Chinese conglomerate BBK Electronics.
The issue of proper app support isn't unique to Oppo or the Find N. It's something that both Samsung and Google have been working to address.
Google, in particular, has been working to better optimize Android for foldable devices and most recently announced plans to release Android 12L early next year. The search giant says this update is designed for foldable phones and tablets, it should include improvements that make it easier to multitask and use apps on larger screens.
Lau says that while Oppo is in touch with Google about creating general guidelines for how Android operates on "different aspect ratios," his company is not working with the search giant on optimizing Android specifically for the Find N.
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Oppo's fanciest phone yet may get a 'microscope' macro camera, leaker says
Oppo's fanciest phone yet may get a 'microscope' macro camera, leaker says
After Oppo announced the imminent arrival of its next-gen Find X flagship line in early December, new leaks are shedding more light on what the Chinese company's fanciest phone could look like when it's launched early next year.
According a Twitter post this week by noted leaker Evan Blass, Oppo will launch a trio of phones as part of the Find X3 (unofficial name) line. The highest-end phone, likely named the Find X3 Pro, will get a 6.7-inch screen with a dynamic frame rate that maxes out at 120Hz, Blass says, as well as a 4,500-mAh dual cell battery that'll support 65W wired charging and wireless charging of up to 30W.
Read more: Find X2 Pro review: A solid ultra-premium Android phone not made by Samsung
But perhaps the most interesting part of the Blass' leak pertains to the device's camera module. The Find X3 Pro is expected to sport four rear cameras made up of a 13-megapixel telephoto shooter, and two 50-megapixel lenses for standard and ultra-wide shots that will both use Sony's IMX 766 sensor. A 3-megapixel macro camera armed with 25x zoom and a ring of lights will likely be the standout camera feature that Blass is expecting Oppo to showcase in Oppo's marketing campaigns. Other features leaked by Blass include the Find X3 Pro's weight of 190 grams.
Earlier this month, Oppo announced that its upcoming flagship line (which it stopped short of naming) will pack Qualcomm's brand new Snapdragon 888 chipset when it launches in the first quarter of 2021. The Find X3 series is the follow-up to the lauded Find X2 family launched internationally in the first quarter of this year for well over $1,000.
Read more:Not just Huawei: Your guide to China's biggest and best smartphone makers set on world domination
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iPhone, Galaxy S, Pixel: How smartphones evolved to dominate your life
iPhone, Galaxy S, Pixel: How smartphones evolved to dominate your life
This story is part of The 2010s: A Decade in Review, a series on the memes, people, products, movies and so much more that have influenced the 2010s.
Steve Jobs' pitch for the original iPhone in 2007 as a phone, music player and internet communicator was a landmark moment in the tech world. It crystalized the iPhone's almost mythic reputation from the start -- remember the nickname, the Jesus phone? -- and helped usher in the idea that smartphones could be chic. But looking back, those three capabilities barely scratched the surface of what we can do with the modern smartphone.
What can you do with one now? Everything.
"We never imagined how a decade later iPhone would become such an essential part of our lives, from streaming TV shows and playing games, to finding directions when traveling, to managing health and fitness, to opening garages in smart homes, to sharing beautiful memories with stunning photos and videos," Phil Schiller, head of marketing for Apple, said in an email.
As CNET explores the impact of various technologies over the past decade, none has changed our lives as dramatically as the smartphone. When the original iPhone launched, and the first Android phone, the G1, followed in 2008, they were still the stuff of gadget enthusiasts with loads of disposable income. Even 10 years ago, at the launch of the Motorola Droid -- the first Android phone to enjoy mass appeal, thanks to a massive marketing blitz by Verizon Wireless -- we were just getting started with the potential that came with smartphones and mobile applications.
Nowadays we take for granted that we have a virtual supercomputer in our pockets. Our iPhones and Android handsets let us hail a car right to our location, draw from a library of hundreds of thousands of television shows and movies stored online, or livestream our silly antics to millions across the world. You can shoot down cartoonish avatars of your friends in Fortnite. They've literally been revolutionary, with secure messaging apps playing a role in the Arab Spring movement in the early 2010s and the Hong Kong protests against China playing out today.
Think about it: What's the one thing you can't leave your home without? Chances are, it's your smartphone. It's become such a critical part of our lives that we're starting to question whether we're spending too much time on them. Tech giants like Apple and Google have even introduced ways to tell you how much time you're spending on your phone -- with apps found on the phone.
"It's astonishing how quickly we've gone from being astonished to having an always-connected supercomputer in our pockets to somewhat resenting having a supercomputer in our pockets," said Avi Greengart, an analyst at research firm Techsponential.
No matter where you stand on the spectrum of smartphone dependence, it's undeniable the staggering impact they've had on society, culture and how we live our lives.
"A lot has changed since 1.0," Stephanie Cuthbertson, director of Android, said during her Google I/O keynote speech in May. "Smartphones have evolved from an early vision to this integral tool in our lives, and they are incredibly helpful."
Clumsy to coveted
Smartphones had been around for years before iPhones and Android handsets became the default mobile devices of choice. The white-collar crowd happily tapped on the physical keys of their BlackBerrys. Old-school gadget enthusiasts would've proudly shown off their Palm Treos or their "Pocket PC" phones (with a stripped-down version of Windows jammed behind a smaller screen). Never mind that these devices required a precise stylus to navigate.
With the original iPhone, Steve Jobs and Apple changed how we interact with the world.
Getty Images
In 2007, Jobs and the iPhone changed the meaning of a smartphone, making a touchscreen device intuitive -- and fun -- to use, thanks in large part to the full browser experience and tricks like pinch to zoom. It's the only phone that I could pull out at a bar and legitimately impress women with. (That still wasn't enough help.)
In July of 2008, Apple introduced its App Store, opening it up to third-party apps. Google would follow with the G1 smartphone (also known as the HTC Dream) and its own app store a few months later. The G1 catered more toward gadget enthusiasts and lacked the mass appeal of the iPhone, but it was no less influential as the launchpad for Android.
Today, there are more than 2.5 billion active Android devices out there, making Google's OS the most dominant platform in the world.
"Today, everyone has a smartphone, and that's amazing," said Peter Chou, co-founder and former CEO of HTC, which built the G1, who stood on stage with Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page when the device was unveiled.
But it wasn't until the debut of the original Droid, which next month celebrates its 10th anniversary, that Android catapulted into the mainstream, thanks in part to a huge marketing campaign from partners Google, Verizon and Motorola.
Upping the ante even further, Samsung jumped into Android in 2010 with a willingness to build up its Galaxy S franchise by way of an even more impressive marketing push, which created the two-horse dynamic we see today (Apple vs. Samsung, Apple's iOS vs. Google's Android).
"It's exciting to reflect on 10 years ago launching the first Galaxy S smartphone," said Drew Blackard, head of product management for Samsung Electronics America. "Over the past decade, we've introduced a number of industry-leading innovations that have given our consumers a better mobile experience and changed the way we think about smartphones."
From fart apps to limitless videos
The explosion of smartphone demand wasn't driven just by increasingly advanced, and bigger, hardware. The handset's Swiss Army knife utility came from the sheer number of programs available to us. It took Apple's App Store and the Google Play Store about eight years each to surpass 2 million apps, from standbys such as Instagram and Angry Birds to obscure apps for bird watching.
It's easy to forget that the early experimental days included fart apps that raked in $10,000 a day or useless virtual lighter apps. At that point Android, which initially didn't have the same oversight that Apple gave iOS, was a real Wild Wild West, with tons of junk apps.
You'd never be able to watch all that's available on video streaming sites, even if you stared at your phone all day.
Sean Hollister/CNET
That's a far cry from the utility of apps today. You pretty much can't get lost, thanks to Google Maps. Protestors use secure messaging platforms like Signal and WhatsApp to coordinate demonstrations. Uber and Lyft mean you're never stuck without a ride -- even a helicopter ride. Apps like Life360 or Disaster Alert can literally save your life.
Entertainment buffs, meanwhile, would need several lifetimes to watch the countless hours of programming found on apps from Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and HBO Go, among others -- with new options such as Apple TV Plus and Disney Plus emerging all the time.
Societal changes
When Samsung unveiled the original Galaxy Note in 2011, the then-gargantuan 5.3-inch display provided rich fodder for endless mockery. Remember, the first iPhone had a 3.5-inch display.
Today, the original Note seems quaint in its diminutive stature. Samsung's latest, the Galaxy Note 10, rocks a 6.8-inch display, while the iPhone 11 Pro Max features a 6.5-inch display.
Nowadays, smartphones are almost too large to hold in one hand.
Juan Garzon/CNET
"The desire for more screen in your hand has exceeded the grasp of your hand," Greengart said.
When the world was transitioning to all-touchscreen phones, there was a constant debate about whether people could let go of buttons. Back in 2009, handset makers were still experimenting with different ways to cram QWERTY keyboards onto handsets, said Gartner analyst Tuong Nguyen. The G1, for instance, had a slide-out physical keyboard.
Many of us can now blind touch-type on a display by memory.
Smartphones are also notable for what they've destroyed as much as what they've enabled. Those little supercomputers have left a wake of failed businesses over the years.
When was the last time you saw a point-and-shoot digital camera? Google Maps rendered GPS navigation systems irrelevant, and when I want to feel really old, I tell younger reporters about a time when I used physical (paper) Thomas Guide maps to get from one assignment to another. Apple's iPod and other MP3 players, Cisco's Flip video cameras and even voice recorders have virtually disappeared.
Outside of luxury fashion statements, wristwatches became a novelty until companies like Apple brought back the trend by offering smartwatches. They work by connecting to -- what else? -- your smartphone.
Rise of China
The smartphone revolution was radical enough that it destroyed an older generation of handset stalwarts. Nokia and BlackBerry were the kings of the mobile device -- and now neither of those companies makes phones, having licensed out their names to upstarts eager to make the most of once viable brands. US phone pioneer Motorola is owned by Chinese consumer electronics giant Lenovo.
Microsoft, which dominates PCs with its Windows software, couldn't make Windows Phone work. HTC, the maker of the G1, has virtually disappeared from the scene.
Some of the most interesting phones are coming out of Chinese companies -- like Huawei, with its foldable Mate X.
Juan Garzon / CNET
While Samsung remains the king of the hill for smartphones and Apple remains the most profitable player, much of the action in the smartphone world is now coming out of China. Huawei, embroiled in controversial claims by the US that it's a security risk, is the world's second-largest smartphone maker, and that's without selling any phones in America. TCL, a Chinese company best known for budget televisions, has the rights to make phones using the BlackBerry brand.
Many features, like the addition of multiple cameras, a pop-up camera or the use of slimmer bezels, emerged from companies like Huawei or smaller Chinese players such as Xiaomi, Oppo or OnePlus.
The inevitable backlash
The days when we'd get giddy over each new Android or iPhone release are gone. And though innovation is still on the horizon with the rise of 5G and foldable phones like the Galaxy Fold, enthusiasm has given way to a more critical look at how these tiny slabs of metal and glass have really affected our lives.
That little buzz or chime creates an almost Pavlovian need to check your phone, a phenomenon dubbed FOMO, or fear of missing out. It has critics worried that the generation raised on smartphones will be too glued to their screens to operate in the real world. After all, older generations are already hooked on their phones.
"We all seem more preoccupied with what comes out of those little screens than what is going on around us," said Carolina Milanesi, an analyst at Creative Strategies.
The very companies that serve up these time-sucking gadgets are working on apps and tweaks to their operating systems to minimize the amount of time you need to spend on the devices. Through its Screen Time feature, Apple's iOS 13 lets you control access to apps, and allows parents to manage their kids' activities better too.
In November, Google launched a Digital Wellbeing tool to offer many of the same kinds of controls. Part of Google's presentation at its I/O developer conference in May was focused on being smarter and quicker about addressing your needs.
"Looking ahead, we see another big wave of innovation to make them even more helpful," Cuthbertson said.
We've come a long way from simply making phone calls, playing music and browsing the internet.
Originally published Oct. 21, 5 a.m. PT. Update, 3 p.m. PT: Adds background.
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Mobile companies hosting MWC-like events in Barcelona dropping out
Mobile companies hosting MWC-like events in Barcelona dropping out
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After the coronavirus canceled Mobile World Congress 2020, many attendees still held out hope for something to take place in Barcelona, Spain. Some companies already had executives in Europe, and many others had nonrefundable travel plans. But on Thursday, the possibility for a sort of "shadow show" seemed highly unlikely.
Oppo and Xiaomi said they'd reschedule their phone launches, originally slated for MWC. They'd earlier been mulling plans to proceed with their events in Barcelona, even though the official conference won't take place. Huawei, the world's second-biggest phone maker, hasn't yet made a decision about its event, scheduled for Feb. 23. A Huawei spokesperson said the company should know more Friday.
"Oppo respects and understands GSMA's decision to cancel the MWC Barcelona 2020 event," the Chinese handset maker said in a statement. "After serious consideration, we have also decided to reschedule the OPPO Find X2 Global Launch Event, originally scheduled on 22nd February." Oppo plans to hold the event for its newest flagship 5G phone sometime in March.
"After much consideration, Xiaomi has postponed its Mi 10 launch event -- originally scheduled for Feb. 23 in Barcelona," the company said. "We apologize for any inconvenience and will absolutely share the updated timing and location once confirmed."
Annual show MWC brings together companies from across the world, with many using the weeklong trade show as the place to introduce their newest smartphones. This year was expected to feature new 5G phones from nearly every major Android vendor, as well as updates about the networks running the new superfast connectivity. Though 5G became a reality last year, this year is when it could go mainstream.
MWC is key to the mobile industry for two big reasons: It's where vendors get attention for their newest devices, and it's where companies hammer out deals behind the scenes. That includes getting carriers to agree to offer devices from smaller players that don't go by the name of Apple or Samsung. This year's MWC was officially slated to run from Feb. 24 to 27, with press meetings starting as early as Feb. 21.
On Wednesday, though, GSMA called off the entire conference. The show's organizer said the coronavirus and its associated disease, COVID-19, had made it "impossible" for the show to proceed.
The new coronavirus was discovered in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December. As of Thursday, the strain had infected more than 60,000 people and claimed more than 1,300 lives. It's spread beyond China's borders to places like the US, Japan and Australia. Authorities around the world have been limiting travel and enforcing quarantines to guard against the spread.
MWC's cancellation disrupts launches -- and dealmaking -- for more than 2,000 companies that planned to attend the show. For most, it will mean holding their own events or simply putting out press releases to unveil their newest gadgets. Many could delay their product launches altogether while they figure out what to do. Ultimately, we may all have to wait longer to hear about, and buy, the latest gadgets. And the implications of fewer behind-the-scenes meetings aren't yet known. Because all major mobile companies attend MWC (except for Apple), partnerships are often struck at the show.
As of Wednesday, some companies, particularly the Chinese mobile vendors were considering proceeding with their already planned Barcelona events. GSMA had required Chinese attendees to quarantine executives outside China for two weeks ahead of the show. Huawei and Oppo, among others, had already stationed their China-based teams in Europe to make sure they were healthy ahead of MWC.
Now it appears most will hold events on their own.
"The cancellation of MWC, due to coronavirus, will present a range of short and medium term challenges to the smartphone industry this year, and could have far reaching consequences moving forward," Futuresource analyst Stephen Mears said. "The smartphone industry in particular, having contracted for the last two sequential years, was in dire need of a win."
