The smartphone industry has witnessed rapid progress over its first decade, with major shifts in design, performance, and software. From the iPhone’s first release in 2007 to the introduction of the iPhone X in 2017, each year brought groundbreaking changes. However, in recent years, we’ve seen these advancements slow down, with manufacturers focusing more on incremental improvements. For example, the iPhone 14, released in 2022, had very similar specs to the iPhone 13, leading many to feel that smartphone hardware innovation had plateaued.
Despite the stagnation, 2025 promises to reignite the hardware race, driven by several emerging technologies. Here’s why we can expect the phone hardware scene to get interesting again:
Three Reasons to Get Excited About Phone Hardware in 2025
1. A Battery Revolution: Silicon Carbon Technology
One of the most promising developments in phone hardware is the rise of silicon carbon batteries. Although the first silicon-based battery phone was introduced by Honor in 2023, its adoption has accelerated rapidly, and by 2025, silicon carbon technology is expected to be more widespread.
What makes silicon carbon batteries stand out? Their higher energy density means that phones equipped with these batteries can store more charge in the same amount of space, leading to longer battery life. As I’ve personally experienced with the Oppo Find X8 Pro, this translates to significantly better performance, with a large flagship offering two-day battery life and a smaller device, such as the iPhone 16, offering all-day battery life. This is a significant improvement over the current lithium-ion batteries and could fundamentally change how we use smartphones.
2. Powerful Performance Boosts: Next-Gen Chipsets
The smartphone chipset battle is heating up again. After several years of stagnation, 2024 saw major improvements in performance, and 2025 is set to continue this trend with even more powerful processors.
Apple’s A18 chip found in the iPhone 16 offers a 30% increase in processing power and a 40% improvement in graphics performance compared to its predecessor, the A16. On the other hand, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite has been dubbed one of the most powerful chipsets to date. In fact, initial benchmarks suggest that it could outperform Apple’s A18 Pro found in the iPhone 16 Pro. With Chinese brands like Xiaomi and Nubia leading the charge on Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered devices, it’s going to be exciting to see how Samsung implements this powerhouse chipset in the upcoming Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Additionally, MediaTek’s Dimensity 9400 chipset has gained attention for its remarkable performance, especially in mid-range and budget smartphones. This competitive market is a win for consumers, who can look forward to even faster, more efficient smartphones across different price points.
3. Advanced Camera Technology: Zoom and Sensor Upgrades
The camera is one of the most important features of modern smartphones, and 2025 could mark a leap forward in both sensor technology and zoom capabilities. Samsung is rumored to be releasing the Galaxy S25 Ultra with a 1-inch camera sensor, which would be a major milestone for flagship phones. Though other brands like Xiaomi and Oppo have produced phones with 1-inch sensors, Samsung’s widespread reach could set a new standard in smartphone photography.
But the excitement doesn’t stop there. The iPhone 17 Pro is rumored to come equipped with a 48MP 5x zoom telephoto camera, a huge upgrade over the 12MP zoom camera in the iPhone 16 Pro. Zoom technology, often overlooked, plays a critical role in the overall smartphone camera experience. Additionally, rumors suggest that Samsung is working on a telephoto lens with a larger aperture to improve low-light performance, particularly for portrait shots.
These advancements in camera hardware will bring higher-quality images, better zoom performance, and enhanced versatility for photographers and casual users alike.
What to Expect in 2025: A New Era for Phone Hardware
Looking ahead, 2025 could be a pivotal year for phone hardware. With innovations in battery technology, performance, and camera hardware, it’s clear that manufacturers are pushing the boundaries of what smartphones can do. From extended battery life thanks to silicon carbon technology to lightning-fast processing power with next-gen chipsets, and game-changing camera technology, we are entering a new era of mobile devices.
Beyond these three advancements, we may also see exciting developments in display technology, sustainability, repairability, and design innovation. As these technologies evolve and are incorporated into future smartphones, we could see a massive leap forward in user experience.
One thing is for sure: phone hardware is about to get interesting again in 2025. As manufacturers race to implement these new technologies, consumers are bound to benefit from faster, more capable, and more versatile smartphones than ever before.