Artificial intelligence (AI)
We’re aware of AI through the likes of Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant, but now there are lots of other clever things it can do on our phones. For example, built-in AI cameras know what we’re taking a picture of and where we’re taking it, then adjusts the settings to give you the best possible shot. Clever, right?
One of the phones that does this to great effect is the Huawei Mate 20 Pro, which recognises over 1,000 scenarios.
Augmented reality
From AI to AR. Augmented reality turns our ordinary selves into dancing dogs, fabulous fairies and the like – and there’s a load of phones that now support this new technology.
One example is the Samsung Galaxy S9, which lets you embrace your own unique style and express your personality. You can pick your hair and clothes – and then make your AR-self come alive with a selection of movements and faces! You can even bring your favourite Disney character to life with Disney AR Emoji.
Using your phone to control your home
Smart technology has been around for a while, but 2018 could just be the year things really took off in this area. Just look at the developments. You can control heating and lights in your home from your mobile device. You can also keep an eye on things by logging into cameras placed around your home for ultimate peace of mind.
And of course, there’s the fun stuff too. Things like checking the cameras in your fridge so you can see if you need to pick up milk on your way home. Not exactly life and death stuff, but a little something that means you can have your post-work cuppa – sounds totally worth it to us.
Super security
Our phones have never been more secure, with the introduction of some pretty smart technology.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and iPhone Xs are two examples of phones that now have facial recognition.
That’s in addition to fingerprint unlocking, which makes your purchases safe and secure.
Charging
A phone’s no good without a charger, and we were very excited to see a bona-fide world first in this area – reverse charging. It’s a feature on the Huawei Mate 20 Pro, and allows you to charge another device by placing the Mate 20 Pro up against it. Will this be more widely available in 2019? We’ll have to wait and see.
So, what will next year have in store? One thing’s for sure – it’s bound to be eventful. Let us know below the line what you’d like to see, and as ever, stay tuned to the iD Community blog.