New smartphone technologies from CES 2023

The Motorola ThinkPhone and the Samsung Galaxy A14 are the famous exceptions to the rule, but remain the only complete new launches. Beyond them, CES offers a glimpse of other smartphones with satellite connectivity, a camera module with optical zoom, a new wireless charging standard and a display that can be folded and pulled.

Qualcomm ensures even more satellite smartphones

Satellite connections in emergencies are the current trend in smartphones. Qualcomm wants to connect even more top Android models to satellites from mid-2023. The new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the X70 modem and a few additional antennas or radio modules are sufficient for the "Snapdragon Satellite" function. In emergencies, the function uses the existing "Garmin Response" system. The emergency function should be free or very inexpensive. Qualcomm can also imagine that there will be a more expensive satellite service for everyday messages.

The manufacturer Bullit, which offers outdoor smartphones under the Motorola brand name, is one step ahead. Its new service "Bullit Satellite Connect" is set to launch in the first quarter of 2023. The modem required for this has been developed together with Mediatek over the past two years. As an independent component, however, it is also compatible with processors from other manufacturers.

The messages are sent via a specially developed messenger. On other smartphones, they appear as text messages with a note that the app needs to be installed in order to reply. Bullit handles the emergency service via Focus Point International with emergency call centres in Florida and South Africa. The emergency function will be free for the first twelve months and then cost USD 4.99 per month. For messages outside of emergencies, you will pay at least USD 4.99 for 30 messages per month. Bullit plans to unveil the first smartphone with the service at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona at the end of February.

Flat telephoto camera module from LG

LG no longer manufactures smartphones itself, but still supplies components for other manufacturers. The subsidiary LG Innotek has presented a camera module for CES 2023 that offers four to nine times optical zoom and is designed to allow flatter camera bumps. The trade fair in Las Vegas should also serve to sell the module to manufacturers. So far, there is no confirmed information on which smartphones will feature LG's camera module. The rumour mill mentions the Sony Xperia 1 V, for example.

Qi2: New wireless charging standard brings MagSafe for Android

Just before the start of CES 2023, the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) has announced the new wireless charging standard Qi2 - pronounced "chee two" - https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230103005082/en. The WPC is still holding back on technical details, but wants to use the standard to ensure greater compatibility in wireless charging. Among other things, Qi2 ensures that MagSafe no longer only works with iPhones, but also with Android devices. Apple has been employed as a member of the WPC. The WPC expects the first smartphones and chargers with Qi2 towards the end of 2023.

A display that can be folded and pulled

Samsung is paving the way with its Flex Hybrid OLED to turn a smartphone into a tablet in just a few simple steps. First, you hold a rather small 4.2-inch display in your hand. After unfolding it, you are already looking at a 10.5-inch touchscreen in 4:3 format. You can then stretch it out until it reaches a 16:10 format and a screen diagonal of 12.4 inches. This looks exciting, but there is still no information on when Samsung expects it to be ready for the market. It remains a concept for now, just like the very similar Fold n'Roll from TCL from April 2021. Or LG's stretchable MicroLED display from November 2022.