2024: Top Ten Innovative Technologies in the Mobile Phone Industry Practicality Takes Center Stage

2024: Top Ten Innovative Technologies in the Mobile Phone Industry Practicality Takes Center Stage2024 was a banner year for AI hardware innovation. The industry consensus shifted towards "prioritizing applications over parameter count

2024: Top Ten Innovative Technologies in the Mobile Phone Industry Practicality Takes Center Stage

2024 was a banner year for AI hardware innovation. The industry consensus shifted towards "prioritizing applications over parameter count." AI hardware found widespread adoption in smartphones, PCs, home appliances, automobiles, cleaning devices, home furnishings, headphones, cameras, and storage. Simultaneously, AI profoundly reshaped software, with native AI applications becoming prevalent across search engines, input methods, browsers, payment systems, office software, and e-commerce platforms. AI emerged as a "magic wand" for technological innovation, and this is only the beginning. This article, part of Lei Technology's 2024 annual special report, reviews significant technological innovations in the mobile phone industry in 2024, highlighting ten key innovations that showcase the focus on practical application over raw specifications.

The mobile phone industry has moved beyond simply piling on specifications. Increasingly, manufacturers recognize that innovation in functionality and new technologies is more effective than simply boosting specs. Below, we detail some of the most representative innovations and designs in the 2024 mobile phone landscape.

I. Dual-Hinge Tri-Foldable Design: A New Height for Foldable Phones

Representative Product: Huawei MateXT Extraordinary Master

On September 10th, Huawei launched the world's first mass-produced tri-foldable smartphone, the MateXT Extraordinary Master. Its innovative dual-hinge design, combining inward and outward folding, allows for seamless transitions between folded and unfolded states. The inward-folding hinge employs an embedded slide rail structure to reduce the arc of rotation, while the outward-folding hinge uses an embedded design to further minimize its impact on the device's thickness. The hinge utilizes a titanium alloy and complex manufacturing processes to balance lightness, thinness, and strength. Huawei claims it can withstand over a million folds without performance degradation.

The significance of the tri-foldable structure lies in its closer approximation to the aspect ratio of mainstream tablet computers, resulting in significantly smaller top and bottom black bars when viewing standard landscape videos. This leads to better screen utilization and information display efficiency compared to conventional dual-fold models. Although the initial production volume and price of the MateXT were high, and the use cases for the tri-fold form factor still require further exploration, it remains a highly representative technological breakthrough and innovation in the 2024 mobile phone market. Following Huawei, a second brand has announced its intention to develop a tri-foldable phone, making future developments highly anticipated.

II. Mechanical Pop-up Camera: Balancing Large-Sensor Imaging and Thin Profiles

Representative Product: Huawei Pura70 Ultra

The trade-off between a phone's imaging capabilities and its thickness has long been an industry challenge. Larger sensor sizes necessitate thicker lens modules. Most flagship imaging phones, especially those with 1-inch main cameras, tend to have thicker bodies. However, the Huawei Pura70 Ultra offers a different solution.

The Huawei Pura70 Ultra utilizes a retractable lens mechanism. When the camera is activated, the main camera module extends outwards, and retracts when not in use. This employs a rotating extension mechanism, combined with a stepper motor, springs, and gears, allowing for the integration of a 1-inch sensor while reducing the phone's thickness by 1-2mm compared to other flagship imaging phones. It also maintains water and dust resistance.

While "don't add entities without necessity" is a design principle, users are highly sensitive to the thickness of flagship imaging phones. The innovation of the Huawei Pura70 Ultra highlights the importance of optimizing and reducing the thickness of the phone's body. Besides the Huawei Pura70 Ultra, OPPO has also experimented with using a retractable structure for a large-aperture periscope telephoto lens, but hasn't yet implemented it in a mass-produced model.

III. Spectroscopic Sensor: Enabling "True Color" Reproduction in Smartphones for the First Time

Representative Product: Huawei Mate70 Series

The Huawei Mate70 series debuted "Maple Original Color Imaging," whose exceptional color reproduction capabilities renewed interest in spectroscopic sensors. Most digital cameras cannot perfectly replicate the true colors perceived by the human eye. This is due to the difference in spectral response between the RGB three-channel image sensor and the human eye's photoreceptor cells, leading to undersaturation or oversaturation of colors in the original image. Manufacturers typically adjust colors post-processing using the ISP, but the results always differ from human perception.

The Maple Original Color camera in the Huawei Mate70 series accurately records color data missing in traditional CMOS sensors and uses the ISP for post-processing color reproduction, aligning the visual experience with human perception. Huawei demonstrates a deeper understanding of spectroscopic sensors, highlighting the role of auxiliary components in the imaging process. Subsequently, the OPPO Find X8 Ultra also confirmed the integration of a spectral enhancement sensor, indicating market recognition of the potential of auxiliary components and the increasing maturity of integrated hardware and software solutions.

IV. Silicon-Negative Electrode Battery Technology: A Breakthrough in High-Density Batteries

Representative Models: vivo X200 Promini, vivo Y300 Pro, etc.

Smartphones released in 2024 generally feature increased battery capacities, often starting at 6000 mAh and rarely below 5500 mAh. This is largely due to advancements in electrode materials. Traditional lithium-ion battery negative electrodes typically use graphite, while new technologies incorporate small amounts of silicon, which offers a significantly higher theoretical capacity than graphite, providing a new avenue for increasing battery capacity in smartphones.

vivo's "Blue Sea Battery" exemplifies silicon-carbon anode battery technology. Its high energy density is particularly beneficial for smaller and foldable phones. For instance, the vivo X200 Promini packs a 5700 mAh battery into a compact body. Increasing battery capacity is the most direct way to address battery life concerns, and market demand for longer battery life generally surpasses that for fast charging; therefore, silicon-carbon anode battery technology is on the right track.

V. AIOS: Ushering in the "Autonomous Driving" Era for Smartphones

Representative Product: Honor Magic7 Series

AI was the keyword for the 2024 mobile phone industry. Influenced by large AI models, smartphone manufacturers have begun deeply integrating their operating systems with AI. On February 29th, 2024, Meizu launched the 21 PRO, featuring the AIOS concept. Beyond generative capabilities of large AI models, the deep integration of AI into the operating system enables smartphone "autonomous driving," paving the way for a future beyond individual applications.

However, Honor's MagicOS, not Meizu's, was the first to achieve smartphone "autonomous driving." At the Magic7 series launch event, Honor demonstrated ordering 2000 cups of coffee using a single voice command, with the YOYO assistant automating the search, selection, and clicking steps, leaving only the payment confirmation for the user. The user inputs the command, and the AI outputs the result directly, similar to "end-to-end" autonomous driving.

YOYO assistant offers richer functionalities, such as suggestion cards that provide various reminders based on learned user behavior, including alarms for flight schedules and travel suggestions, aiding daily time management. "Autonomous driving" is just one aspect of future mobile operating systems, and YOYO's self-operating capabilities showcase the potential of AIOS.

VI. Native HarmonyOS: The "Third Pole" of Mobile Operating Systems

Representative Models: Huawei Mate70 Series, Huawei Pura70 Series, etc.

Since the demise of Symbian and Windows Phone, the mobile market has lacked a significant third operating system. Android and iOS boast mature software ecosystems and stable market share. However, Huawei's release of HarmonyOS NEXT shocked many.

In October 2024, Huawei officially launched HarmonyOS NEXT, marking a significant turning point for the HarmonyOS operating system. It completely abandoned the Android application ecosystem and AOSP code, embarking on a "native" path. In terms of system architecture and application ecosystem, HarmonyOS NEXT is independent of iOS and Android, establishing itself as a third major operating system. An independent operating system offers several advantages, including specialized optimization, the establishment of its software standards, and more efficient utilization of self-developed hardware.

The design and smoothness of HarmonyOS NEXT are satisfactory, but the brand of "pure-blood HarmonyOS" is not yet fully established. The key lies in its software ecosystem. Currently, the number of applications exceeds 10,000, but this still lags behind the other two operating systems. The Huawei Mate70 series offers both dual-architecture and single-architecture HarmonyOS systems. The development of the software ecosystem is crucial for the success of "pure-blood HarmonyOS."

VII. Mobile Phone Burst Shooting: Capturing High-Quality Moments Instantly

Representative Models: OPPO Find X8 Series, Huawei Pura70 Series, etc.

2024 witnessed significant advancements in mobile phone imaging technology, with clear improvements in hardware and software and AI capabilities enabling features such as ultra-long-range zoom. Beyond image quality, the market demands enhanced shooting experiences, such as burst shooting. Previously, the burst shooting experience on smartphones was subpar due to technological limitations. However, breakthroughs in imaging technology and computing power have made burst shooting a key focus for mobile phone manufacturers.

Following the Magic6 and Pura70 series, more models prioritize burst shooting