Device Advice – 2019, a year in review (part one)
Welcome to part one of a very special edition of our ‘Device Advice’ blog, where we have taken a look back at some of the key smartphone launches during the first half of 2019.
This has been a year of rocky sales for smartphones, with shipment volumes for the first quarter of 2019 falling 6.6% on-year after a 4.9% year-over-year decline in the last quarter of 2018 (according to the International Data Corporation).
In response, manufacturers chose to tackle the global slow down with brand new, often expensive, foldable mobiles and 5G enabled devices, sporting the latest technologies, designs, and ergonomics.
We take a look at some of the leading devices released to the market in 2019.
Samsung Galaxy Fold
A true hybrid phone that marked 10 years of the Galaxy line, this revolutionary device features two screens with rounded corners; one, an external facing 4.6-inch HD+ Super AMOLED display, and the other, an internal 7.3-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED Infinity Flex display. Interestingly, Samsung chose to use a sophisticated hinge system under the screens to allow users to fold and unfold the device naturally and easily. In addition, app continuity allows users to access apps with the outer display, and then pick up the same application inside, as soon as the fold is reopened.
The release of the device was an apparent move from Samsung to shake up the future of smartphones, particularly after a stagnant market place in late-2018 led to a reduction in sales.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and 10 Plus
Announced to eager fans back in August, the Galaxy 10 (and 10 Plus) were the first in the Note line to receive a full all-screen display with HDR 10+ technology that adapts its brightness to the environment it is being used in. This partnered with its hyper-fast 7nm processor and 12GB of RAM (for the Note 10 Plus, 8GB on the 10), and the device is capable of anything, including high-quality streaming on the go.
For business users, barriers have been broken down between mobile and laptop, thanks to the manufacturer’s upgrade to Samsung DeX. This means that users can now reply to messages or run mobile apps directly on their Mac or Windows PC through one single cable, making life easier for those working across multiple devices. In addition to a super-fast charging capability, and the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 (and 10 Plus) presents itself as a viable and valuable device for users on-the-go all day.
iPhone 11, 11 Pro and Pro Max
It wouldn’t be September without an iPhone launch, and this year we saw the launch of the iPhone 11 as well as Apple’s first-ever Pro iPhone range, the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max. The iPhone 11 was released in a range of colours, and features Apple’s brand new A13 Bionic Chip, the fastest CPU and GPU ever in a smartphone.
Following in the footsteps of Huawei and Samsung with a Pro range, Apple’s new suite of devices was launched to market as ‘the most advanced and detailed iPhone offering yet’ with three-lens ‘pro’ camera systems, a 12-megapixel telephoto lens and stunning OLED displays. Also featuring the A13 Bionic Chip, the Pro range promised users a bump in battery life, pleasing many Apple advocates all the world over.
Stay tuned to the Adam Phones blog for part two of our special ‘Device Advice’ blog, where we will recap the smartphone releases between late September and December 2019. Make sure to keep in touch with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
