Smartphones move on a notch or two
The fact that the iPhone now comes with a 14 attached to its name tells you something. Smartphones, just like any other maturing technology, are in a constant state of improvement and refinement. Incremental developments end up pushing the products forward over time.
Sometimes these incremental steps are revolutionary; sometimes they’re truly only increments. Take the “Dynamic Island” on the new iPhone 14 Pro. Sure, it can be spun as a kind of breakthrough in user-interface design, but it’s also a band-aid feature, designed to hide the fact that the selfie camera still intrusively sits inside the display, much like the infamous “notch” before it.
Other phone manufacturers are experimenting with workarounds, like mechanical pop-up cameras and under-display lenses. There’s no clear winner yet, but all these different approaches are slowly but surely leading us closer to the ideal solution.
One day, we’ll look back and remember fondly when selfie cameras were something you could see. It’s too early to say what the number on your device will be by then.
What is it? Google
Pixel 6a
How much? From $599 Pros: By about the time you read this, Google’s next flagship device, the Pixel 7, will possibly be available, but if you’re in the market for a mid-range phone, the recently released 6a offers excellent value, with many of the same features as the significantly pricier Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, including the Google Tensor processor, long-life battery performance and a raft of nifty photography improvements.
Cons: A bargain price for last year’s tech, but still last year’s tech. store.google.com
What is it? Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
How much? From $1499
Pros: Remember when mobile phones folded and flipped? Samsung certainly does, and its Fold and Flip models give you the chance to relive the past – only now, the screen itself folds. Unlike the Z Fold, which folds out to become like a small tablet, the cutelooking Z Flip4 looks like half a phone (with a mini external display) that magically flips out to fullsize 6.7in dimensions.
Cons: Fun for sure, but gimmicky. samsung.com/au
What is it? Apple iPhone 14 Pro (pictured) How much? From $1749
Pros: The latest topend iPhones, the 14 Pro and Pro Max, are the first to ditch the iPhone X’s notch. It’s not a massive departure in design, but hopefully the Dynamic Island turns out to be handy software. Arguably, the bigger news is the always-on display and revamped camera optics, aided by the performance improvements afforded by the A16 Bionic chip.
Cons: With great power comes great responsibility. And a great price tag (up to $2769 in fact). apple.com/au