In the wake of a decade in which the form factor of smartphones has not changed much—2019 marks a turning point. From foldable screens to better cameras, we take a look at five unforgettable innovations that happened over the past year
What with handsets equipped with folding or bezel-less screens, or without any visible camera, innovation can now be seen at first glance. It is worth noting that virtually all of these breakthroughs were achieved by Chinese manufacturers.
1. Folding screens
This is obviously the most significant innovation of the year. With great pomp and circumstance, both Samsung and Huawei presented models with revolutionary flexible screens early in the year. The Samsung Galaxy Fold has a screen that opens like a book to offer a diagonal of 7.3 inches, but with a relatively small display of 4.6 inches when folded.
(Related: Why Benjamin Kim and Alex Low Are Obsessed With Their Samsung Galaxy Fold)