A new standard design for Android smart phones is coming this Spring. Features include
1. Fast, energy efficient quad core processor
… In 2012, most smart phones, including iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S 3, employed a dual core processor.
… The new processors are up to twice as fast on benchmark tests, yet they use about the same amount of battery power
… Most often, the new phones use Qualcomm Krait processors
2. Five inch LCD display
… Last year's best phones used 4.5 - 4.8 inch LCD displays
… The new phones are just fractionally larger than last year's models
3. Full HD display (1920x1080 pixels)
… 2012's best phones used 1280x720 or x800 displays
… The new 1080 display has more than double the number of pixels
… Pixel density is ~440 ppi (compare with iPhone 5 326 ppi)
4. 2 GB RAM
… Many 2012 phones came with 1 GB RAM
5. 2500 mAh (or greater) battery
… 2012 phones used 1800 - 2100 mAh batteries
6. Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) is the operating system most commonly used with the new design.
Samsung, Sony, LG, ASUS, HTC, and Oppo all have phones in the pipeline that use this new design. These phones will reach the USA market in the next three months.
Huawei, ZTE, and a number of less familiar Chinese companies have announced new models with similar specifications. Exception: They use slower processors from Chinese manufacturers such as Rockchip.
Questions:
Will we be able to tell the difference between displays with 440 ppi and 325 ppi in typical situations? If not, why bother with a Full HD display on a smart phone?
Will the quad core processors make a difference to the user in typical, day-to-day use? What new features, if any, will the more powerful processors enable? Better translation of spoken languages, perhaps?
The bigger screen means twice as many pixels to manage. Will this affect battery life enough to notice? Battery life may be the Achilles Heel of this generation of phones.
Apple is expected to announce an upgrade to the iPhone 5 this June. A faster processor is almost a certainty. Will Apple increase the iPhone's screen size (currently 4 inches), or stick with a more compact, pocket-friendly design?
Prices for the new phones will be $700 to $900 without contract, or $200 to $300 when bundled with a two year cell phone carrier contract. Last year's models (such as the Samsung Galaxy S 3) will continue, but at lower price points.
We could see some real bargains this summer as retailers discount last Fall's best models to make room for the new smart phone designs.
1. Fast, energy efficient quad core processor
… In 2012, most smart phones, including iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S 3, employed a dual core processor.
… The new processors are up to twice as fast on benchmark tests, yet they use about the same amount of battery power
… Most often, the new phones use Qualcomm Krait processors
2. Five inch LCD display
… Last year's best phones used 4.5 - 4.8 inch LCD displays
… The new phones are just fractionally larger than last year's models
3. Full HD display (1920x1080 pixels)
… 2012's best phones used 1280x720 or x800 displays
… The new 1080 display has more than double the number of pixels
… Pixel density is ~440 ppi (compare with iPhone 5 326 ppi)
4. 2 GB RAM
… Many 2012 phones came with 1 GB RAM
5. 2500 mAh (or greater) battery
… 2012 phones used 1800 - 2100 mAh batteries
6. Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) is the operating system most commonly used with the new design.
Samsung, Sony, LG, ASUS, HTC, and Oppo all have phones in the pipeline that use this new design. These phones will reach the USA market in the next three months.
Huawei, ZTE, and a number of less familiar Chinese companies have announced new models with similar specifications. Exception: They use slower processors from Chinese manufacturers such as Rockchip.
Questions:
Will we be able to tell the difference between displays with 440 ppi and 325 ppi in typical situations? If not, why bother with a Full HD display on a smart phone?
Will the quad core processors make a difference to the user in typical, day-to-day use? What new features, if any, will the more powerful processors enable? Better translation of spoken languages, perhaps?
The bigger screen means twice as many pixels to manage. Will this affect battery life enough to notice? Battery life may be the Achilles Heel of this generation of phones.
Apple is expected to announce an upgrade to the iPhone 5 this June. A faster processor is almost a certainty. Will Apple increase the iPhone's screen size (currently 4 inches), or stick with a more compact, pocket-friendly design?
Prices for the new phones will be $700 to $900 without contract, or $200 to $300 when bundled with a two year cell phone carrier contract. Last year's models (such as the Samsung Galaxy S 3) will continue, but at lower price points.
We could see some real bargains this summer as retailers discount last Fall's best models to make room for the new smart phone designs.
