Thin, flat, foldable? The best of the current smartphone trends

2. August 2019 Published by Raphael Doerr

How the price/performance experts at Gigaset set themselves apart from the market

It wasn’t until 2007 that the first mobile device without keys, that could only be used via the touchscreen, came onto the market in the shape of the iPhone. For those who predicted the worst back then, smartphones are now taken completely for granted. But since 2007, a lot has also changed: flat design, ease of use, lots of performance and cameras that far outstrip the camcorders of that time or even many of today’s cameras.

What are all the things people do with their smartphones these days? Make calls, take photos, surf, watch series or films. Even though the display is relatively small, more and more people stream their videos on the go. The good news is, displays are getting bigger! Other smartphone manufacturers are resorting to an old trick. To avoid enlarging the devices unnecessarily, they should be foldable, which sounds a bit like the old clamshell phones. Some manufacturers want to work with two displays: a smaller one on the outside and a larger one inside.

Looking forward, the first manufacturers have marked the territory with their models, but reality currently shows four problems that will only be solved over time. The price is way too high. The dimensions when unfolded turn most of the devices into 4:3 screens, just when so much effort has been put in over years to move toward 16:9 – streaming’s just no fun that way. In addition, the structures of the folding mechanism are currently still too vulnerable and, all in all, the devices come across as thick and bulky.
If all that’s also too fancy (and expensive) for you, Gigaset has a solution that makes sense: The GS280 streaming monster with its large, bright, high-resolution display and battery with staying power makes streaming enjoyable at a fair price.

State-of-the-art camera technology

Cameras in smartphones went through a rapid development. Over the years, the quality of the photos got better and better, and in the meantime, the smartphone often replaces a regular camera on vacation. The latest mobile phone models now have several camera lenses, and some feature wide-angle lenses to ensure really good photos. The new Gigaset GS195 – just launched on the market – is also based on this technology. The software combines the pictures from a 13-MP and a 5-MP chip to create an impressive result that’s great to look at. Our youngest offspring is made in Bocholt, Germany – a high-quality smartphone with an elegant glass back. “Made in Germany” and the first design smartphone from Gigaset.

Artificial intelligence in your trouser pocket

Many manufacturers use the same hardware for their smartphones. In the future, it will mainly be their inner values that set them apart, with artificial intelligence playing a key role. It can improve camera performance, for example, but also the performance of the device as a whole. The current Android 9.0 Pie, for example, enhances stability, energy efficiency and even battery life in the new smartphones from Gigaset through the use of artificial intelligence. And by consistently dispensing with bloatware that slows things down, Gigaset get the best out of the devices by not putting unnecessary strain on the smartphone processor.

The first smartphone operated via the touchscreen came onto the market in 2007. Find out more about smartphone trends …