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June 12, 2019

What the Future of the iPhone Resembles for 2020

Not many companies have had as much success in designing and delivering smartphones to consumers as Apple. The technology giant celebrated its 11th anniversary of the first iPhone in 2018, and since that time, the mobile device market has changed somewhat drastically. However, Apple has stayed true to its promise to meet consumer demands for marrying design and functionality, even as other competitors have entered the smartphone rat race.

However, over the last two years, Apple has done less than some anticipated when it comes to design innovation. The look of the iconic smartphone has stayed the same, although functionality has shifted toward updated technology and mobile user wants. In the coming years, many anticipate Apple will innovate in more significant ways, based on recently published reports of patents and, as is common in the tech world, a swirl of rumours from technology analysts.

Analyst Predictions for Next-Gen iPhones

One of the most notable changes in recent iPhone history was the shift toward facial recognition for unlocking devices. This was a pivot from users’ familiarity with Touch ID – the technology that used fingerprint imaging to verify one’s identity for phone access. Both are meant to provide greater security for a smartphone, and the data found inside, and innovation in this realm has continued without slowing down.

In 2016, Apple filed a patent for updated Touch ID technology. This may seem like a revert back to the iPhones of two years ago, but the change allows users to place their finger anywhere on the device’s screen to unlock it. As many iPhone users remember, the original Touch ID required lining up a digit on the home screen button to open a device. The updated technology does not bring the home screen button back, preserving the larger display Apple proudly debuted with its latest round of devices. Instead, users have more control in unlocking their phones with touch.

Although the patent was filed nearly three years ago, the new Touch ID technology has yet to find its way into smartphones from Apple. Analysts expect this to be a new feature either in the new round of devices in late 2019, or in updates in 2020.

How it Stacks up to Competitors

According to an expert with Money Pug, a platform used to compare mobile phones, the smartphone market has continued to grow over the last several years. Apple’s products tend to dominate in certain regions, with loyal customers itching for the latest update. However, the price point of iPhones can be a deterrent for many.

Other providers, including Google and Samsung, have taken aim at Apple’s unchanged design of the iPhone in recent years. Each smartphone provider has put its energy and capital into creating devices that are more user-friendly, with features like larger screens, better cameras, and enhanced security. One major device manufacturer already has similar technology to the new Touch ID feature Apple has yet to launch. However, there are limits. Mobile device users can use their fingerprint to unlock the screen, but it still has to be placed in a specific area to work. Apple hopes to dismantle this need with its potential updates in the years to come.

Other Rumoured Enhancements to Come

In addition to the Touch ID shift, experts suggest that Apple’s popular iPhone will undergo other changes in the next few launch cycles of the device. Mashable analysts share that wireless charging will become the norm, partly due to the removal of the cable port at the bottom of the device. With wireless charging comes more wireless features and standard gear, such as AirPods included in the purchase price of a new device.

These changes are likely to be accompanied by 5G capabilities – the mobile technology world’s hope for the future. Faster processing, increased battery life, and over-WiFi-charging may all be in the next iteration or two of Apple’s iPhones, much to the pleasure of loyal customers.

Although rumours are constantly surrounding what Apple may be designing and implementing next, some of the forecasted changes to the iPhone make perfect sense. Consumers want to have more options with their smartphones, as well as the best of the best technology to go with it. The introduction of enhanced Touch ID functionality combined with additional features and mobile network capabilities is anticipated future of Apple and its competitors.





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