Smartphone release

A smartphone is a mobile phone with advanced features that combine elements of personal computer operating systems for third-party application development and include touch screens, cellular, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Protected Access, Global Positioning System (GPS) mobile navigation, video and single-frame picture cameras, speech recognition, voice recording, music players, downloadable content like musical ringtones and games, and 1seg mobile television. Some smartphones also have an integrated sensor for augmented reality applications.

As the smartphone market matures, new features and form factors continue to appear. The most recent trends are toward folding phones and a focus on artificial intelligence.

Foldable Phones

Several manufacturers have introduced foldable smartphones this year, and more are expected to follow. These foldable devices have large, high-resolution displays that double as both the front and back of the phone when closed. They’re designed to be thinner, lighter and more durable than clamshell or flip phones.

Smartphones with larger displays are also becoming more common, and some offer curved screens for better viewing angles. Some feature a liquid-crystal or organic light-emitting diode display that’s integrated with a pressure-sensitive digitizer for use with a stylus.

The most important factor in deciding which smartphone to buy is the type of software that you want to run. Two of the most popular platforms in the world are Android and iOS, with each offering a wide range of third-party apps. But Apple’s tightly controlled ecosystem can feel stifling to some users, while Android’s open-source nature makes it a tweaker’s paradise.