This week’s excitement in the tech world centers around a significant collaboration between Jony Ive and Sam Altman. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, recently revealed that OpenAI is acquiring a hardware startup led by the acclaimed designer Jony Ive, known for his work on the iPhone, Apple Watch, and MacBook’s butterfly keyboard. Their venture aims to develop a range of innovative, AI-powered devices, which Altman suggests could rival our existing laptops and smartphones.
In a recent video, he hinted at having tested a prototype, describing it as an exceptionally captivating piece of technology. While caution is warranted when getting excited about unreleased products, the pairing of Ive and Altman may well represent a transformative moment in consumer electronics. On another note, die-hard fans of small smartphones may be facing their last chance.
The iPhone 13 mini represented the last major flagship in this category, sporting a compact 5.4-inch display. Despite its undeniable convenience, the model struggled in sales, constituting a mere 3% of iPhone 13 series sales. Though some enthusiasts yearn for the return of small phones, their consistently poor sales raises questions about their future viability.
New phones with larger screens but substantial batteries may not cater to fans of compact devices. Should improvements in battery life still fail to boost sales, the demand for small phones may finally silence. Finally, the anticipated price hikes in smartphones have sparked debate among consumers and industry watchers alike.
Manufacturers, including Nothing, are modifying their portfolios, with the Phone (3) coming in at a significantly higher price but aimed at the premium market. It is rumored that Apple may also raise prices for the iPhone 17 series for the first time in eight years. However, an inflation-adjusted comparison shows that today’s models may actually offer better value than past iterations.
Criticism directed toward smartphone manufacturers might be better focused on issues like software support and repairability, rather than just price increases.