Summary
top Android devices of 2024 .. Slab smartphones no longer experience revolutionary advancements every year; these days, flagships simply receive incremental improvements. Furthermore, despite recent notable improvements in efficiency, the performance of key hardware such as systems-on-a-chip does not increase yearly.
Therefore, it should come as no surprise that market leaders Google and Samsung extended the Android update life of their flagship smartphones to an astonishing seven years. But in a few years, much alone when they reach the end of their useful lives in the early 2030s, how valuable will today’s best phones really be?
A retrospective of 2017
Seven years ago, things were different.
When the Galaxy Note 8 and Xperia XZ1 Compact were released seven years ago, nobody could have envisioned using them for more than a few years. Even in 2022, I held on to my XZ1C since I doubt I would find another one like it. However, after four years, the hardware did begin to suffer under more complicated and demanding applications.
And what a change those years brought. Performance on benchmarks was almost doubled by the top Snapdragon SoCs between 2017 and 2021, and again between 2021 and the present. However, the top processor in 2028 may not be such a dramatic advancement considering the waning performance advances.
The 2021 flagships’ current performance
Even with outdated technology, devices like the Galaxy S21 from 2021 function well, running Android 14 and handling demanding applications without any issues. Even while a flagship from three years ago doesn’t have 2024-level lightning speed, it still outperforms a lot of the best midrange phones available today. Even while code bloat does exist, older devices may continue to function properly thanks to constant operating system updates.
More efficient processors have been available for a few years now. Longer lifespans are the result of lower power consumption, higher usable capacity, and fewer cycles. The largest obstacle to future-proofing smartphones is figuring out when battery deterioration will start to seriously impair user experience.
Battery life and the development of the industry
Why batteries for smartphones can’t be removed
It wasn’t only planned obsolescence that caused changeable battery packs to vanish; it also included kneecapping gadget performance and repairability to compel replacement. Fixed batteries allowed for thinner phones, but removable batteries need additional shielding to avoid harm.
Additionally, users requested more robust gadgets. The Galaxy S5 from Samsung demonstrated that an IP67-rated phone with a detachable battery could be designed. However, the water resistance would not hold if the rubber strip around the rear panel was damaged or aged. Although they are much more durable and dependable, high-precision screws and strong adhesive coatings make it almost difficult for the typical user to change a battery.
How batteries deteriorate and how to prevent it
Batteries have a limited number of cycles—discharges and recharges—before their capacity begins to significantly decline. In addition to cycle count, other harmful factors include overcharging, draining below 40%, exposure to extreme heat, and storing at a high charge.
To keep batteries nominal for as long as feasible, certain tactics are used. For instance, electric cars show as 100% charged even while they utilize grace capacity, leaving uncharged overhead. However, unlike EVs, smartphones utilize the whole cell rather than grace capacity, which is bad for the health of the battery. It’s interesting to note that your smartphone will keep charging even after its battery indicator hits 100%, indicating that it hasn’t reached 100% yet.
In order to control wattage and reduce deterioration, smartphone makers also create charging rate algorithms depending on capacity and temperature. During charging, the Galaxy S24 Ultra only briefly hits its 45W maximum power. Additionally, heat sensors aid in speed regulation, which is important for strict protocols like the 100W SuperVOOC standard of the OnePlus 12.
Adaptive charging, which only reaches 100% when necessary, is a feature of certain phones. Certain implementations use the alarms you set as a guide, but they may also look at your usage habits to figure out when to strive for full on their own. Though my current iPhone and my previous Xperia XZ1C both have it, Pixel Adaptive Charging is a feature that is often overhyped.However, total battery degeneration cannot be avoided. In order to compensate for lower capacity and voltage output, Apple notoriously throttled the performance of older iPhone models. This move sparked criticism since Apple did not reveal it. Even though it wasn’t intended obsolescence, this example shows the issues that arise with aging batteries.
Will detachable batteries ever be a feature of smartphones again?
By 2027, all smartphones will need replacement batteries, according to a significant EU ruling from 2023. Since manufacturers can’t realistically create completely distinct phones for each region, the shift will very probably have an impact on markets around the globe, as is the case with many EU decisions. The regulation states unequivocally that replacing an outdated battery shouldn’t need special equipment or a high level of skill for users.But for the time being, most phones will continue to be assembled like this.
Battery replacements need a professional, unless you’re really tech-savvy. A 2024 flagship’s replacement, which typically costs less than $100, might restore it to almost flawless functioning after five years of barely holding a charge. That’s not much, and it seems promising for the continued viability of phones today.
What mobile device will top Android devices of 2024?
It is difficult to see significant modifications to the slab smartphone of today. Everything from speakers to screens to cameras to sensors to connectivity—and even image processing—performs flawlessly, leaving little opportunity for enhancement beyond small adjustments.
Even the greatest folding phones nowadays have a noticeable crease, despite significant advancements in materials and hinges since the first Galaxy Z Fold’s debacle. Additionally, developers are working to enhance dual-screen capability, making these innovative phones into usable hybrids with outside displays that are app-friendly and inner screens that are ready for multitasking.And then there’s the market for used goods. Another compelling case for extended Android lifespans is the approximately $300 cost of a reconditioned Galaxy Z Flip 4.
Ultimately, the primary factor preventing foldables from being widely used is their cost. It’s encouraging for the future if the typical customer can purchase a refurbished phone for the same price as a new midrange model, while still enjoying flagship-level performance and longer battery life.
AI: The future or just a catchphrase?Machine learning, or AI as it is often called, responds to inputs with speech, image editing, audio transcription, and other functions by using intricate algorithms and assembled datasets. AI capabilities are heavily pushed in Pixel 8 family marketing, and the same is true for Galaxy AI in the Samsung Galaxy S24 series.
Certain AI tools may be implemented on devices long after they are released, and they depend on strong cloud computing resources that can be accessed online. Other AI functions use the technology built within the smartphone to process data quickly and efficiently without significantly draining the battery. On-device AI forward compatibility becomes more difficult for older devices as chip efficiency increases. However, there’s still a chance: Samsung plans to include Instant Slow-Mo with the Galaxy S23, which is a positive justification for continued Android support.
All is not perfect, however. Apple keeps updating the iOS on iPhones that are many years old, but with every update, a growing proportion of older handsets are left out of important functions. Older flagships will eventually fall behind certain software innovations, particularly if those innovations call for the most potent processors or cutting-edge sensors. However, some features are still better than none at all, and it’s critical that Android makers are now in a competitive market with Apple for long-term support.
Google intends to improve the WebView crash resistance of Android 15
