Almost two decades into the iPhone’s takeover, companies seem to be searching for the next form factor that will capture our interest. I’m thinking about a few signs that could predict what’s next:
Augmented Reality is starting to seem unlikely
It’s become a popular opinion that general purpose VR, for anything other than technical usage or entertainment, is wholly unnecessary and unwanted. VR proponents incorrectly assume we want a graphical user interface (UI) everywhere we look. I think they forget that 80% of the time, UI is annoying and confusing. Great for a technician who needs tools at the ready (think photoshop), annoying for the average person trying to find their DMs in Instagram. What replaces UI? I think we can already see that conversational AI is an innately more desirable Interface for general purpose use.
It could be more like “her”
There are already some tombstones in this graveyard - like the instant failure of the Humane AI pin, or that Friend AI necklace that rage-bated New Yorkers. Despite this, evidence shows there is continued development in omnipresent, conversational AI hardware. John Ives, Apple designer, joined forces with Sam Altman for OpenAI’s first hardware project. Maybe this will be the first real contender? While we’re waiting, one nostalgic form-factor seems destined to make a comeback.
Welcome back, clamshell.
With the ability to fold out into a larger screen, foldables may create new room for longer-form content. Apple’s rumored approach is especially interesting: rather than the tall 9:16 format seen in devices from companies like Samsung and Google, Apple is said to be exploring something closer to a passport-sized aspect ratio. If that happens, it raises an interesting question about the future of vertical media. So much of today’s content ecosystem is built around the tall smartphone frame. If clamshell devices shift toward a wider passport format instead, it could subtly reshape how creators compose and distribute content.
