How the heck did phones become so boring? Looking at you, Apple and Samsung — but at least there’s hope on the horizon

I’ve been covering the world of smartphones for more than a decade, and in that time, I’ve seen a somewhat depressing trend: phones have gone from innovative and exciting with each generation to rather iterative and predictable. Now, as we approach the expected launch of the Samsung Galaxy S26, I’m harbouring the thought that phones are boring.

Sure, the iPhone 17 Pro brought in a different camera and cooling design, but in a lot of ways, it’s hardly a big change from what’s come several generations before it. And while I celebrate the 120Hz ProMotion display in the iPhone 17, it felt like the least Apple could do.

Outside of the Galaxy TriFold – which I do feel needs to be celebrated for its innovation, although perhaps not for its predicted cost and practicality – Samsung’s Galaxy S-series phones have gone ...