Our smart people are now almost entering the 20th year of smartphones being marketed. Devices that were once purchased to make phone calls, send short texts and be MP3 players have now transformed into high-powered computers that provide information from the internet quickly and a portable video game console.
This also means that for almost 20 years, there has been a “specification war” between manufacturers to give their devices a difference compared to those produced by competitors. Cameras are getting bigger, processors are getting more powerful, batteries are getting faster and at the same time prices are getting higher. This is certainly happening due to the shortage of chips resulting in the price of RAM and storage increasing sharply.
So it is predicted that this year for the first time in a generation, we will see no more specification wars because this year the uniqueness of devices does not lie in the specifications on paper but rather in the software and added value which has not been a priority for manufacturers.
This is a refreshing scenario because finally the reuse of old components or designs no longer has a bad connotation. This is done to ensure that the price of 2026 devices does not increase too drastically to make people revolt.
WHY SOFTWARE IS MORE IMPORTANT
First of all, we need to realize that the specification war is no longer as significant or relevant as it has been for the past 5 years. No longer are manufacturers racing to offer devices with the largest screens, cameras and RAM. It is as if there is a gentlemen's agreement that 6.9″ 120HZ OLED is sufficient, 12GB of RAM is more than enough and a 200MP sensor is the pinnacle of logical size used in smartphones.
The real difference between devices now is the software and the ecosystem. Software needs to be optimized because increasing the processor only increases heat and affects battery life. Long-term software support is also a bet as Samsung has done.
Since 2024, support for 7 Android version updates and 7 years of security patches has been standard on the Galaxy S, Galaxy Z and Galaxy Tab S series. On the other hand, the support on the Galaxy A series is no less great, namely 6+6 years which is not given to other mid-range Android devices.
With RAM and storage chip prices expected to stabilize only after 2028, Galaxy S24 owners, for example, don't have to worry about their devices being supported by Samsung until 2031. Samsung's strength is not only good long-term update support but they are also faster than Google in providing security patches.
In a world where digital identity verification and banking can all be done using a phone, frequent and fast security patches can be categorized as a necessity, especially with the increase in online fraud cases.
AUTO BLOCK ANTI SCAMMER
Samsung doesn't advertise this feature widely, but the feature of blocking APK side-installation outside of the Play Store and Galaxy Store side-installation may have saved thousands of Galaxy users from falling victim to malicious apps. The Auto Blocker feature was introduced with the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Flip6 and is enabled by default.
All side-installations of apps such as those downloaded using WhatsApp by scammers will be blocked. Only truly expert Samsung users can turn off Auto Blocker. Scammers target those who are not very tech-savvy, as Auto Blocker ensures they are protected without realizing it. The Auto Blocker feature is now available on all Samsung devices running at least One UI 6.1.1.
AI IS NOT JUST A GIMMICK
We’ve entered the 3rd year of ChatGPT (SC) where the use of artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a gimmick or an experiment but is starting to change the landscape of work. The use of AI in workflows has become commonplace and in certain situations is necessary to increase productivity.
In a market now filled with various AI models, devices that offer it built-in, fully integrated and working behind the scenes without you even realizing it will have an advantage. Last year, Samsung introduced Now Brief, which provides a summary of important information in a local hub.
This year, there have been rumors that an AI agent feature will be introduced. This is not really surprising after Google Personal Intelligence was announced last month. Personal Intelligence collects information from emails, search history, photos uploaded to Photos, YouTube views and activity history in Gemini to become a truly intelligent virtual assistant.
For example, you can ask it to suggest a vacation spot, and it will take into account your previous trips and vacations, while also providing new suggestions. When asked about the size of car tires to buy, it uses image information to figure out the type of personal vehicle before providing the most accurate recommendation.
The once passive virtual personal assistant is finally entering an era of more responsive and intelligent people like Tony Stark’s Jarvis. Fantasy is getting closer to becoming reality.
