Flagships aren't driving innovation anymore

Flagship smartphones just aren't driving innovation anymore.

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[raghavendraravi]

When Moto and LG made "mods" a thing, most reviewers bashed them for being pricey.

Therefore, early adopters were very low and it later wasn't feasible for OEMs. They ditched that eventually.
Today your Samsung and Apple flagships cost a ton but they're still recommended. Hypocrisy this is.

[ccanthony]

“The market doesn’t need innovation, it needs compromise.”

-Jeff Pu

[creative]

Everybody in the community raving how good is the wide angle camera on the Iphone 11/11 Pro and how it gives completely new perspective while taking pictures.

LG did the whole Wide Angle camera in Spring 2016 with its notorious G5 (modular add-ons)

Guess it really isn't that important to come up with something first

[allchannel]

The main differences are
high megapixel
High refresh rate
Fast charging

[someguy]

Every flagships innovation nowadays is to literally rip your wallet apart.

[adityaanand]

For years LG has been fearlessly innovating in their flagship territory.
*When every OEM was sticking to their guns of manufacturing a completely sealed glass sandwich design, LG brought modular design with the G5.
*Concept of dual cameras on a smartphone(G5)
*Bringing 18:9 aspect ratio with the G6
*Second screen in V20
*Quad DAC
*Boombox speaker(using the empty space inside of a phone to act as a resonance chamber)
*Achieving the rare no camera bump in G8(slightest of detail but appreciated though)
*Crystal sound OLED tech in G8
*Dual screen mod


When a company does innovate these tech Youtubers call it a marketing gimmick. I wonder what is the definition of "INNOVATION" for tech Youtubers.

[atifghafoor]

It's been midrange that's been innovating for the 2 to 3 years

[NehemYah]

Duh. Been the case for years. The mid-range seems to get the cooler features before flagships. Like when I realized more and more mid-range and even BUDGET phones were getting released with 4000 to 5000mah batteries while the flagships were lucky to have 3500mah with their 1440p screens. Somehow the mid-range managed to have random 64mp and up cameras before they decided all the flagships need it.

[Rottypops]

LG: "Am I a joke to you?"
Everyone : "Ya probably"

[pinakde]

The only thing every flagship needs is a guaranteed Software version upgrade for 3-4 years and they'll be back in the game. That's all they need to do to differentiate themselves.

[hossainabeer]

Asus Zenfone 6 broke all grounds by bringin the flip camera

[TimberWulfIsHere]

The popup cam on my 7t pro was definitely a major push forward yet the 8 pro went backward...

[fanecuffy]

LG always been innovating and y'all don't give em recognition or call them gimmicks lol

[hectorandem]

Samsung/LG/Huawei's flagship phones have always had a _ton_ of features - and they still do.
Wasn't Samsung (moreso than others) regularly getting criticised for having _too many_ features back in the TouchWiz days? 🤔

If you're defining "innovation" as having some crazy feature like being bendable (thank LG for that one), modular, foldable, pop-up/rotatable cameras etc, then you're *inherently* tapping into a niche market. To provide such features presents additional manufacturing costs, so anyone buying these types of devices will be on a (relatively) high budget *and* be open to using a more unusual device. Most people don't want to deal with any added risks outside of what they're already used to.

[behemothinferno]

The reason these flagships are no longer pushing innovation is because they don't need to! Their customers keep upgrading to the newest flagship without any consideration as it has become a routine for them. The manufacturers are resting on their laurels because of this fact so it's really us who have killed innovation in the top tier smartphones these days!

[zairrdvordenta]

Don't insult the flagship category.
Our beloved Samsung and apple and huawei are responsible for stagnation.

Phones likr LG V60, ASUS RoG2, RedMagic, Sony Xperia Mk2, Motorola Edge+ try new things and push boundaries but you shun them and now whine that flagships are not innovative anymore.

Samsung gave us high refresh rate display, apple will release iPhone with brand new ios14 and new processor that will crush competitors so I don't know why he's complaining.

Companies are working hard to give you expensive and outrageous camera hardware and its in your wishlist all the time.

Never did I once hear bring back removable battery, headphone jack or even rake consumer feedback and now I'm hearing this.
This is so hypocritical.
Can't complain now since reviewers are the people most responsible for this pointless hole punch and headphone jack removal among other atrocious trends.

[iamthewalrus]

Do we even need innovation in smartphones going forward? My phone takes pictures, plays games, takes notes, etc. What more do we need??!! The topic of smartphone innovation bores me to tears

[aideyp]

It's easier/ safer to introduce innovations in the lower / middle end range and see if it's liked then improve and put it in the higher end range afterwards.
I've gone from a phone which had a single camera with a 4K screen to one with a triple camera, 90hz screen and oled and fast UFS 3.0 storage which costs less than the previous phone at their respective launch price. But they have almost the same footprint in taking up space in my pocket... Sony XZ premium to a Realme X2 Pro.
Now the camera doesn't match the likes of a Pixel, P40 Pro, Oppo X2 Pro or S20, but it is plenty good enough for me.

[RaianNSX]

I usedto switch my every single year but now I have been with the same phone for almost 3 years and I'm not planning on upgrading for another while. Battery is still good, speed is not bad, speakers are loud and the screen is big enough. Love my Pixel 2 XL

[blackbeans]

Well LG G8 did try last year but people just roasted it. 💁