Innovation thrives in the art of balance.

2024 marks a pivotal year for AI hardware innovation.

'Focus on applications, not just parameters' has become an industry mantra. On one hand, hardware is piling on AI capabilities, leading to an explosion of AI-infused products across mobile phones, PCs, home appliances, automobiles, cleaning devices, home furnishings, headphones, cameras, storage, and more. On the other hand, AI is profoundly transforming software, with native AI applications like Wenxiaoyan and Doubao gaining popularity, while search engines, input methods, browsers, payment systems, office software, and e-commerce platforms are being reimagined by AI.

AI serves as the 'magic wand' of technological innovation, and this is merely the beginning.

In December, we launch the 'Lei Tech·Annual' special series, featuring 'Focus on 2024' to systematically review notable companies, products, technologies, and figures in the tech industry this year, and 'Outlook 2025' to preview promising products and technologies for the upcoming year. This series pays tribute to innovation, documents the times, and inspires the future.

Stay tuned for more.

This year has been pivotal for the mobile phone market, with new devices introducing myriad design elements, bringing a breath of fresh air. In recent years, designs from various companies have increasingly converged, with standardized Snapdragon/Dimensity chips, similar supply chain technologies for screens and sensors, and even monotonous rear cover designs, losing the diversity and uniqueness of previous years.

Fortunately, in 2024, manufacturers finally recognized that monotonous designs bore consumers and extended phone replacement cycles. Only through innovation could they recapture market attention.

(Image source: Huawei official)

Yet, upon reflection, not all new designs deserve praise. Many seem created merely for the sake of design and innovation.

The 'New but Useless' Mobile Innovations of 2024

1. Bulky Camera Modules

Since manufacturers began emphasizing photography, camera modules have grown larger, multiplied, and protruded from phone surfaces. They now appear 'bumpy,' disrupting the phone's back integration and reducing overall grip.

Take the vivo X200 Pro mini I bought. While it boasts a flagship-level camera module in a compact body, every time I hold it, my fingers get 'bumped' by the module, making it uncomfortable regardless of how I hold the phone.

(Image source: vivo official)

It's not surprising that flagship models emphasize powerful imaging. However, even some lower-end or entry-level phones sport large, thick camera modules. It seems the more exaggerated the module, the better the imaging performance. In reality, while strong imaging modules can't be small, large ones don't necessarily perform better.

2. The Most Redundant Dedicated Camera Button Ever

Early this year, rumors circulated that the iPhone 16 series would add a dedicated camera button. Design-wise, this seemed convenient, potentially becoming a new trend with Apple's smooth animations and underlying logic. However, as seen in Lei Tech's tests, the camera button on the iPhone 16 series was deemed 'redundant.' Some 'Apple fans' accused Lei Tech of bias, but after users received their iPhone 16s, the button received overwhelmingly negative reviews, with many not using, not knowing how to use, or unable to use it properly.

(Image source: Lei Tech production)

Coincidentally, another domestic manufacturer launched a phone with a dedicated camera button, which I often forgot about during shooting.

Manufacturers' intentions are noble; a dedicated camera button can enhance mobile photography's professionalism and personalization. However, they rarely consider the button's operational logic, often adding it on a whim without subsequent optimization.

The dedicated camera button is one of my least favorite new designs this year. Its redundancy surpasses that of 3D-Touch, unnecessarily adding hundreds of dollars in costs for users.

3. Satellite Calls Most People Will Never Use

Many readers might criticize here, but bear with me. Satellite calls are indeed a good technology, helping users escape danger in extreme situations. They're now a must-have for flagship phones from Huawei, Xiaomi, vivo, OPPO, and Honor. However, I believe 90% of users lead predictable lives, rarely engaging in outdoor activities, let alone visiting remote locations without cellular signals.

(Image source: Honor official)

Moreover, satellite calls aren't cheap. Taking the early OPPO Find X7 Ultra Satellite Communication Edition as an example, it had a 500 yuan price difference from the regular version (same configuration). I believe most consumers wouldn't spend an extra 500 yuan for this single feature.

OPPO's approach of giving consumers a choice is relatively sensible. Xiaomi, Honor, and vivo's top models all come with satellite call functionality, increasing prices by several hundred yuan compared to previous generations. This resembles product bundling, hard for many consumers to accept.

In my opinion, satellite calls have their uses but are ultimately niche, requiring monthly subscriptions. Manufacturers can learn from OPPO by listing products with satellite call functionality as a separate version, letting consumers with this need choose.

4. Flashy 2K Screens: Higher Parameters Aren't Always Better

The 2K screens here don't refer to flagship-level panels but outdated ones with no advantages beyond high resolution. Before 1.5K screens, the difference between 2K and 1080P was visible. However, with 1.5K screens emerging, 2K's advantage has waned.

Comparing intuitive data, traditional 2K screens (6.7 inches) generally have an equivalent PPI of around 410, while 1.5K screens using new technologies have an equivalent PPI of around 370. The difference seems significant, but remember that the retina screen standard is 324 PPI. Simply put, as long as a screen's equivalent PPI exceeds 324, it's hard to distinguish between 1.5K and 2K resolutions with the naked eye.

(Image source: Xiaomi official)

Apart from slightly lower equivalent PPI, 1.5K screens excel in eye protection, light-emitting panels, power consumption, and more.

Some might argue that phones priced at seven or eight thousand yuan aren't flagships without 2K screens. However, remember top-tier products like the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Huawei Mate 70 Pro+ come with 1.5K screens, and no one doubts their display quality.

It can be argued that many 1.5K screens today are of higher quality than low-end 2K screens.

Of course, this isn't dismissing all 2K screens. For example, the Xiaomi 15 Pro, released this year, significantly reduces 2K screen power consumption and optimizes the display effect. What I dislike are products that forcibly adopt outdated, low-end 2K screens for marketing, compromising users' experience for hype, a combination not worth promoting.

Is It That Manufacturers Don't Want to Innovate, or Is Innovation Too Difficult?

The current mobile phone market feels somewhat dull.

As mentioned, manufacturers are far less innovative than a decade or two ago. The market isn't as vibrant and diverse. Notable manufacturers can be counted on two hands, occupying most market share. While competition is fierce, a stable state has formed, with manufacturers preferring minor adjustments to proven models over risky, potentially disruptive innovations. For giants, significant changes carry risks.

(Image source: Lei Tech production)

For example, if Xiaomi were to add multiple adjustable shooting parameter dials or touch buttons to the back of the upcoming Xiaomi 15 Ultra for an ultimate imaging experience, it would indeed be a significant design and interaction innovation, potentially attracting photography enthusiasts but deterring many users. Manufacturers must balance diverse demands in innovations, seeking a delicate balance, which is challenging.

Features like imaging, fast charging, and battery life, classified as 'micro-innovations,' appeal to some users. However, for the industry's next breakthrough, disruptive technologies must emerge. Perhaps soon, with manufacturers' dedication, disruptive technologies will explode, reviving mobile innovation and bringing back a flourishing, competitive mobile landscape.

Source: Lei Tech