What niche phone features would appeal to you?

I went through my late teens as the initial smart phone boom was happening. I had a Motorola q that could get TV channels and had a keyboard. I had the enV that flipped open. And many androids/blackberries that I loved for their unique form factor and functionality.

I have never balked at spending money on a phone and for a long time i felt locked into generic flagship devices. With the debut of folding screens I feel like my appetite for unique devices rekindled. I think the power of android lies in its diversity of implementation.

So what features and functionalities would you choose over the next flagship release?

AbsurdityAccelerator,

I want a Galaxy Fold style phone, but the external screen is eInk. Have it set to always show the book I am reading. This will let me read in bite sized pieces.

breakerfall,

Modular everything. I really wanted Project Ara to come to market.

riskable,
@riskable@kbin.social avatar

OMG great question! I want:

  • Laser range finder/"tape" measure
  • Thermal camera
  • Air quality sensor
  • Radiation detector/Geiger counter
  • Multimeter capabilities
  • IR LED (so I can use it as a remote)
  • Ultrasound capabilities
  • Peltier so I can put a drink on my phone to chill it down 👍

An unlocked bootloader and a normal Linux distribution where I have root!

Jojo-Mcfrost572,
@Jojo-Mcfrost572@kbin.social avatar

Phone upgrades.
Battery.. Non lithuim. Flexible and new. []
Flexible screen. Wrist strap or just flexible. []
Fitness/health capabilities. []
Usb 3.1 reversible.. Proper specs [x]
Wireless charging. Using new WiFi microwave to charge phone without mat. Wattup []
Better nfc/Google pay [x]
Smaller screen oled,s than 5.5 []
Better speakers none conduction or ceramic
Encryption []
Bezelless. Screen to screen hole cut out. 2018 []
Solar panel in screen. Sapphire glass. Smudge and germ

This list was created a few years ago.

Some things have been implemented but not all.

HidingCat,

Really would love a dedicated camera button that acts as a soft shutter release. Or a button in that position that's programmable.

lemmy,

I miss my keyboards

Astigma,
@Astigma@feddit.uk avatar

I miss the IR blaster. Being able to control my TV and other set-top boxes was amazing. Now that functionality has been replaced by each manufacturer having their own control app that needs an internet connection and all your information. Bring back the IR blaster!

ElectroVagrant,

I was looking into smaller form factor phones awhile back, and an interesting feature I noticed some of them had was a programmable button.

I don’t know that programmable buttons on phones are that niche, but it’s certainly not common either so far as I’m aware, so this super simple feature would be wicked imo. I’d also really like if more phones just stole Motorola’s gesture interactions (e.g. quick twist for camera, firm double-shake for flashlight, etc.).

Also, uh…Speaking of small form factor phones, I don’t know if that counts as a feature, but it’s one detail I’d like to see come back, or flip phones with separate screens (clunky, sure, but better than the screen eventually creasing imo).

greyscale,
@greyscale@lemmy.sdf.org avatar

Keyboard. I want a damn keyboard. I’m a blackberry refugee hiding out on a unihertz titan/titan slim

fraenki,
@fraenki@feddit.de avatar

Foldable display - They are still way too expensive!

Metal case - I just loved the heavy Samsung Omnia 7 metal case. It made it unbreakable and grippy!

HouseMouse,

The debut of the Google Pixel Fold got me interested in foldables. If Google is joining the game then android hopefully will become better optimized for foldable screens.

Lilium,

It’s the rear fingerprint reader for me, I use the pulldown action constantly. That and stereo front-facing speakers.

StarLuigi,
@StarLuigi@lemmy.blahaj.zone avatar

I loved the IR Blaster on my old Galaxy S4, was really fun to mess with the TV's in public places with it sometimes and was also pretty useful at home as well!

mcherm,
@mcherm@lemmy.world avatar

A swappable battery. I could buy a few batteries and never be out of power. I could replace the battery on an older phone without pretty much having to replace the phone itself.

MargotRobbie,
@MargotRobbie@lemmy.world avatar

Something interesting. Like 2 USB-C ports, also a nice hard plastic back, since they are so hard to find now.

Astigma,
@Astigma@feddit.uk avatar

Oh boy do I have the phone for you Margot. Check out the ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate. It has a USB-C port on the bottom as you’d expect but also one on the side for when you’re holding the phone horizontally but still want to charge.

  • All
  • Subscribed
  • Moderated
  • Favorites
  • •
  • random
  • [email protected]
  • uselessserver093
  • Food
  • aaaaaaacccccccce
  • test
  • CafeMeta
  • testmag
  • MUD
  • RhythmGameZone
  • RSS
  • dabs
  • oklahoma
  • feritale
  • KamenRider
  • Ask_kbincafe
  • TheResearchGuardian
  • KbinCafe
  • Socialism
  • SuperSentai
  • All magazines
    •