A smartphone is a mobile phone that incorporates advanced computing functionality, including web browsing, multimedia playback, digital photography, telephony, GPS mapping and tracking, personal digital assistant (PDA) capabilities, Bluetooth and other wireless connectivity, and social networking. Smartphones feature metal-oxide-semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) chips, a touchscreen display, a keyboard or keypad for data entry, an accelerometer, barometer, gyroscope, magnetic sensor, and often support for various wireless communication protocols. Some smartphones also include an audio output jack, and support for expansion via removable storage cards.
Early smartphones were marketed towards business users, attempting to bridge the functionality of standalone PDA devices with cellular telephony and limited data connectivity. They were limited by their bulky form, short battery life, slow analog cellular networks, and immature mobile data services, but these problems were resolved with the exponentially increasing miniaturization of metal-oxide-semiconductor transistors (Moore’s law), improved lithium-ion batteries, the availability of high-speed digital mobile data networks, and mature mobile software platforms that enabled mobile apps to run independently of the device operating system.
As the largest smartphone maker, Samsung will likely continue to refine its flagship Galaxy S lineup and experiment with foldables in 2025-2026. Meanwhile, OnePlus will focus on building high-spec phones for lower prices and expand its global reach, and Oppo could launch a rollable or flip foldable phone to appeal to millennials and others seeking more flexible handsets. Rugged phones will quietly integrate modern connectivity (5G, satellite) into super-tough frames that aren’t about fashion, but for certain industries and adventures, they can be literal lifesavers.