One of the trends for smartphones in 2025 is the continued integration of AI. The year 2024, like the previous year, was dominated by AI. Smartphones, especially those with Google’s Android, and notebooks have become smarter through generative artificial intelligence. However, the development of AI devices has only just begun. This is evident in the expected trends for the smartphone market.
Smartphone Chips: More Power for On-Device AI
The heart of every smartphone is the processor, also known as the System-on-a-Chip (SoC). This combines various components like the CPU, GPU, and NPU, which are responsible for different computing tasks. In the AI sector, which will be expanded in 2025 for both Android and iOS, the Neural Processing Unit (NPU) plays an important role, especially for tasks that can be performed directly on the device.
New processors from Qualcomm, like the X Elite, and the Mediatek Dimensity 9400 are expected to provide a boost in this area. These SoCs have been tested and benchmarked to be on par with the Apple A18 Pro, which is quite remarkable.
Smartphones Becoming AI Gadgets
Further growth in AI capabilities is expected. Both Apple and Google are expanding their mobile operating systems with additional generative AI features. It is already apparent that with Android 16, a significant portion of the smartphone can be voice-controlled via Gemini. Apple’s iOS 19 is expected to transform Siri into a full-fledged chatbot.
Larger Batteries Without Increasing Size or Weight
Although the new processors, already announced and installed in initial devices in China, are not only faster but also more energy-efficient, AI calculations on devices consume a lot of power. To avoid significantly reducing battery life during AI usage, many manufacturers are opting for larger batteries with silicon-carbon cell chemistry.
The unique aspect of this is the higher energy density compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries, allowing for higher capacity at the same size. Manufacturers like Oppo and Xiaomi have already presented their models for 2025, with batteries growing to 6,000 milliamp-hours despite familiar device sizes. Previously, manufacturers typically installed batteries with up to 5,000 milliamp-hours. Insiders even believe that batteries could grow to 7,000 milliamp-hours in the future.
Other manufacturers are likely to follow this trend, which Honor started with the Magic 6 Pro in early 2024. The positive aspect is that if you use fewer AI functions, you could suddenly have battery life of up to two days with normal usage. Apple is also rumored to use a new cell chemistry in the iPhone 17, which sounds very much like silicon-carbon. However, it is said that the manufacturer will largely produce the new batteries independently. A positive side effect: charging capabilities are also expected to increase. Especially for Apple’s iPhones, which can be charged with less than 30 watts, this would be desirable.
Thinner Smartphones as the Next Trend?
In 2025, we can also expect a trend towards particularly slim smartphones, facilitated by the new battery cell chemistry. Both Apple and Samsung are rumored to introduce especially thin smartphones. Thanks to silicon-carbon batteries, battery life should not be significantly affected. It remains to be seen how much the rest of the equipment will be reduced.
Aside from “slim” phones, manufacturers are also working on shrinking the sometimes massive camera bumps on the back of devices. An example is the Oppo Find X8 Pro. In this high-end smartphone with a quad-camera, the camera bump has already been reduced, thanks in part to a new design of the periscope telephoto camera.
New Standards, Longer Lifespan
Numerous innovations are expected under the hood, giving smartphones new capabilities. We can expect the first devices equipped with the new Bluetooth 6.0 standard in 2025. The successor to Bluetooth 5.4 is expected to make “Find My” solutions for Airtags and similar devices more precise. For digital key solutions for cars or door locks, new functions are possible, such as setting the exact distance at which a lock opens.
A new protection class is also noteworthy: with IP69, you can take your smartphone into the shower without fear, as the devices can withstand even higher water pressure. The IP69 standard suggests that such devices are protected against high-pressure water jets of up to 100 bar.
For smartphone owners and the environment, there is good news starting mid-2025 in the EU: smartphone manufacturers will be required to provide software updates for their devices for five years. Some manufacturers like Samsung and Google are already complying, while others are not yet there.