The smartphone market is huge, worth in the region of $478bn each year. So it’s no wonder that every new round of releases sees more technological innovation and design choices from manufacturers.
Some of this year’s new phones have already been released, some others are expected, and consumers have more choice now than ever before. Each release looks to cater for a particular consumer, be it a camera user, an all-rounder, or maybe those looking for dual-purpose phone and tablet flexibility.
Whatever your niche, these are the four releases likely to get people digging into their pockets this year.
1. Motorola G8
The specifications for the new Motorola phone were leaked at the beginning of the year, making sure we know exactly what to expect from the G8.
It’s going to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 chipset, which is paired with Adreno 610 GPU, meaning it is well prepared to handle graphic-intense tasks such as AR. The camera, an integral part of any smartphone, looks impressive also; it’s a 16MP base with a 2MP macro lens, 8MP ultra-wide lens, and for you selfie fans, an 8MP front-facing camera too.
2. iPhone SE2
Apple always seems to be one step ahead of its rivals when it comes to smartphone design, and 2020 sees them take another bold step in terms of design. They previously used the complex multilayer PCBs, but are switching to substrate-like PCBs (SLPs) which are likely to become more common in the PCB market. Apple’s usage of SLP technology in the iPhone 8 and X is set to revolutionize the substrate and PCB markets.
What does that mean to you, the end-user? It almost certainly means more power and speed. The usage of SLPs gives around 130 percent of the area of the logic board in the iPhone 8 Plus, making this latest phone more than capable of handling emerging technologies such as AR, 5G, and the Internet of Things (IoT).
3. Samsung Galaxy S20
Samsung is delivering a triple threat with their new models the Galaxy S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra. All eyes will be on the Ultra, a chunky handset which is weighing in at 220 grams.
The standard and S20+ are smaller though, making this one of the big players in 2020. It’s going to be 5G ready and boasts a generous DDR5 RAM and UFS storage and 120Hz refresh rate displays. The camera is also going to pack a real punch, with 8K video recording and an exciting ‘Single Take’ feature that picks out the best still shots and video footage from your recording.
4. Huawei Mate Xs
Huawei is very much the new kid on the block in terms of smartphone technology. Still, its rapid expansion in a number of markets is a testament to the innovations in their technology, not least in the ‘foldable’ Mate Xs.
The new Mate Xs has much the same design as its predecessor, the Mate X, with the option to fold out into a tablet or have it as a smartphone. The Xs has an upgraded camera though, as well as more robust hinges, as it looks to carve a niche for itself in the early part of the year.
It is exciting times for smartphone fans with some of latest models really pushing the boundaries of technology. Of course, it also pays to know that many models are not pushing any boundaries such as the Alcatel A30, which we gave one star. If you are looking for a new model this year we hope the above list will help.
Abdul Wahab 
Bethany Wilson 
