2024 is shaped up as a pivotal year in consumer technology, reflecting an ever-growing demand for devices that don’t just meet expectations but redefine them. Today’s consumers are no longer satisfied with incremental updates or superficial enhancements; they want innovations that fundamentally change how they interact with technology.
From foldable screens to AI-powered features and gesture-based controls, the push for personalisation, multitasking, and intuitive interfaces is driving a wave of creativity across the industry. With Huawei’s tri-fold smartphone and Apple’s haptic camera button to Google’s Circle to Search, the innovators sitting in the upper echelons of the world of consumer tech aren’t holding back on giving us new ways to interact with our devices. Let’s break down these innovations and see what they bring to the table.
Huawei Mate XT: (un)Folding into the future
Huawei’s Mate XT Ultimate Design is making waves with its tri-fold mechanism, setting a new standard for foldable smartphones. When fully unfolded, it gives you a massive 10.2-inch display that’s perfect for getting work done, editing photos, or binge-watching your favourite shows. It’s a device that’s not just a smartphone but also a tablet and a productivity powerhouse rolled into one.
What makes the tri-fold design so cool is its flexibility. You can keep it folded for the basics, half-open for multitasking, or fully open for an immersive screen experience. Huawei didn’t just stop at making it functional; they made it tough, too, using high-grade materials to handle the extra wear and tear that comes with folding. Performance-wise, the Mate XT is also a beast. It has flagship specs, including a high-end quad-camera system that works seamlessly whether the phone is folded or unfolded. Sure, it comes with a hefty price tag, but this isn’t just a gadget – as many would argue – it’s a glimpse into the future of foldable.
Also Read: Huawei Mate XT launched globally with ‘triple-foldable display’: What is this tech?
Apple’s haptic Camera Button: Click, swipe, shoot
Apple’s iPhone 16 series introduced a small but game-changing feature – a haptic camera button that could forever change how we take pictures on smartphones. This button, tucked on the side of the phone, gives you the tactile feedback of a DSLR camera shutter. It feels incredibly satisfying to press, but it’s not just about how it feels; it’s about what it can do. While physical camera buttons aren’t new – older phones like Sony’s Xperia and Nokia’s Lumia used them for steadier shots – Apple has modernised the concept by combining tactile feedback with advanced functionality.
You can half-press it to lock focus, press it fully to snap a photo, or even hold it down to start recording a video. Swiping on it adjusts exposure, and other gestures unlock even more controls. It’s like having a professional camera experience right in your pocket.
Also Read: With iPhone 16’s camera button, is Apple betting iPhone’s future on photography alone?
What’s even cooler is how the button works with Apple’s Neural Engine. It uses AI to anticipate what you’re trying to do – like automatically switching to the right mode or pulling up helpful suggestions. That said, some users feel there’s a learning curve, especially if you’re used to simpler camera interfaces. But, as it has been regarded by folks across the industry, for photography enthusiasts, this feature is a dream come true and shows that Apple still knows how to mix innovation with practicality.
Google Circle to Search: Draw it, find it
Google’s Circle to Search is one of those features that feels so natural, you wonder why no one thought of it sooner. It lets you circle something on your screen – say, a pair of shoes or a cool gadget in a photo – and instantly pulls up search results related to it. It’s quick, intuitive, and exactly what you’d expect from Google’s search expertise.
The feature is baked right into Android and works seamlessly with Google’s ecosystem. Let’s say you circle a bag in an image – it’ll show you where to buy it, suggest similar styles, and even give sustainability ratings. It can also verify images by checking their metadata, which is pretty handy in today’s age of fake news and manipulated content. Google has also focused on making this feature accessible to everyone. It eliminates the need for typing or digging through menus, making it super user-friendly. Of course, there are concerns about privacy – what happens to all the visual data being processed? Google assures us it’s taking steps to anonymise the data and offers settings to opt-out. While that’s a relief, it’s clear that balancing convenience and privacy is always a tightrope walk.
What do these smartphone innovations mean for us?
These new gadgets and features aren’t just flashy – they’re solving real problems and making tech more useful. As they say, necessity is the mother of invention, and these innovations in smartphone tech are a simple reflection of the audience demand, at least that of the early adopters and “risk takers” of the consumer tech world.
Huawei’s tri-fold Mate XT challenges what we think a smartphone can be, turning it into a do-it-all device. Apple’s haptic camera button proves that sometimes, the best way forward is to bring back the physical feel we’ve been missing in a touchscreen world. And Google’s Circle to Search takes the hassle out of finding information, making the internet feel even more connected to our daily lives.
These innovations are likely to spark trends across the industry. We might see more foldables that borrow from Huawei’s design, new phones adding tactile controls like Apple’s (this is already happening, Oppo, we are looking at you), and more apps integrating gesture-based features like Google’s Circle to Search.
Also Read: Apple Intelligence will not sell iPhones in India: Here’s why
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Satvik Pandey
Satvik Pandey, is a self-professed Steve Jobs (not Apple) fanboy, a science & tech writer, and a sports addict. At Digit, he works as a Deputy Features Editor, and manages the daily functioning of the magazine. He also reviews audio-products (speakers, headphones, soundbars, etc.), smartwatches, projectors, and everything else that he can get his hands on. A media and communications graduate, Satvik is also an avid shutterbug, and when he's not working or gaming, he can be found fiddling with any camera he can get his hands on and helping produce videos – which means he spends an awful amount of time in our studio. His game of choice is Counter-Strike, and he's still attempting to turn pro. He can talk your ear off about the game, and we'd strongly advise you to steer clear of the topic unless you too are a CS junkie. View Full Profile
