Smartphones have seen many revolutionary technologies over the last few years, transforming how we use, interact with, and secure our phones. So, let’s take a look at some of the features in development that you should look out for in the future.
RNG Chips

Source: Pixabay
Random number generators (RNGs) have long since been used in a wide range of applications, particularly in statistical research and entertainment settings. In fact, players of slots online at Paddy Power might recognise RNGs as the key technology behind their favourite slot games. Put simply, RNGs digitally mimic the element of luck you’d get by spinning the reels, deciding which symbols will land where, at what time. This allows online casino platforms to ensure their games are fair, authentic, and immersive.
When more sensitive data is involved, such as in encryption, quantum RNGs (QRNGs) add an additional layer of security, as they use unpredictable particles rather than an algorithm to determine their random numbers. Whilst QRNGs were traditionally large and complex operations, they have now been downsized into compact chips. These QRNG chips can be installed in smartphones to provide extra security over users’ personal data that we typically store in our phones. With this in mind, QRNG chips could be revolutionary for the security of our smartphones.
Photonic Crystal Displays
Traditionally, smartphones use a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display. Whilst both displays are capable of showing a good range of saturated colours, they can struggle when transitioning between different lighting. Unlike LCD and OLED, photonic crystal displays are backlit by an external light source. The displays are made up of nanostructures that can adapt to the lighting of the surrounding environment, modifying the amount of light that is emitted from the screen.
Thanks to its composition, photonic crystal displays can even be utilised in foldable and flexible smartphones, something that Samsung established as far back as 2013, establishing the company’s dominance in the foldable market. Whilst the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 was the best-selling foldable smartphone in 2023, and Samsung the biggest player in the global market, the competition is starting to narrow the gap. There’s no wonder, then, that Apple and Google have invested a lot into the research of photonic crystal displays, something which could be a staple of smartphones in the future.
Smart Cameras

Source: Pixabay
Smart elements are already being integrated into smartphone’s image editing capabilities thanks to the innovators at Google. The Magic Editor is a generative AI photo editing tool which was launched as an inbuilt feature of the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. This features a Best Take Tool that recognises faces across a burst of photos, and edits the best shots together to create an amalgamation of the photos taken. It also has a Magic Eraser that can remove unwanted faces from the background automatically.
However, the next iterations of this technology is predicted to go one step further, with the features integrated into the camera itself rather than a separate image editor. Many smartphone giants are reportedly looking into AI-driven software that can allow cameras to automatically remove unwanted backgrounds and utilise deep search identification.
As you can see, there are a wide range of innovations that continue to revolutionise smartphones as we know them – but this is only the beginning. All that is left to do is to sit back and see how these technologies continue to develop in the future.
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