It’s frustrating to see smartphone manufacturers chase trends that seem to add little value to the overall experience. Whether it’s impractical design choices or features no one really asked for, some of these trends just need to disappear for good.
1
Shoving AI Everywhere
AI might be the biggest focus in smartphone trends for 2025, but to be honest, I’m not too impressed. In fact, I believe AI is actually hindering smartphone innovation rather than pushing it forward. The Samsung Galaxy S25 series is a prime example of this issue. The entire lineup feels underwhelming, and the main reason is that there’s barely anything that differentiates the S25 from the previous S24, apart from a handful of AI features that have been added on top. It’s disappointing to see such minimal progress when it comes to actual hardware or meaningful improvements.
The same sentiment applies to iPhones, and I was thoroughly disappointed with Apple Intelligence. While some features, like Magic Eraser, are undeniably useful, the majority of AI-driven additions feel like nothing more than gimmicks. As a power user, I find myself rarely using these features, and even when I look at non-tech-savvy users like my parents, I’ve never seen them take advantage of these capabilities, either. This makes me question—who exactly are these features being designed for?
I definitely want to see advancements in generative AI continue, but not if it means compromising on other important aspects of smartphones, particularly hardware improvements.
2
Bigger and Bigger Screen Sizes
Even though I have relatively large hands, I still find big phones uncomfortable to use—especially when trying to reach the top of the screen. Despite this, most manufacturers continue pushing for bigger and bigger displays, particularly in flagship phones. This makes it difficult to find a high-end compact phone.
One of my favorite Android phones in 2022 was the ASUS Zenfone 10 because it was one of the few smaller devices offering top-tier specs. However, its successor, the ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra, completely shifted gears. Instead of sticking to the compact 5.9-inch display, it has a massive 6.9-inch screen, which is a drastic change from what made the Zenfone 10 so appealing in the first place.
Although Google and Apple still offer Pro-level phones with 6.3-inch displays, I’d consider that more of a medium-sized phone than a truly small one. I still find myself wishing Apple would bring back the iPhone Mini series in some form.
3
Glass Backs
Glass backs on smartphones have never really appealed to me. They break much more easily while also adding unnecessary weight to the phone. While I would love to see the return of metal backs, they could interfere with wireless charging, making them less practical. That’s why I believe plastic is the next best option.
Recycled plastic backs could be much easier to replace and, with the right finish, can feel just as premium as other materials. Since plastic is also significantly lighter, it also feels much better in the hand. I’d really like to see a more sustainable version of plastic being widely adopted across all price ranges.
4
Multiple Rear Cameras with Little Practical Use
Manufacturers often rely on a marketing tactic that misleads customers into believing that more camera lenses automatically mean a better camera system overall. However, this isn’t always true, especially in the lower mid-tier phone segment. Many of these devices pack four lenses into a phone, yet none of them perform well at their intended purpose.
Personally, I would much rather have one excellent camera that takes amazing photos and does its job exceptionally well than multiple mediocre cameras that fail to deliver quality in any aspect. This is an area where I think Apple gets it right. Its mid-range phones typically feature two high-quality cameras rather than trying to cut corners by adding extra, subpar lenses just to inflate the lens count. After all, let’s be honest—no one is excited to use a poorly implemented 2MP macro lens or an ultra-wide camera that struggles to capture enough light to produce decent photos.
5
Thinner Bezels
This might be an unpopular opinion, but I don’t see the need for thinner bezels on phones without a practical reason. Most phones already look great with a decently sized bezel, especially if you use dark mode on an OLED display. In that case, the bezel blends easily with the screen, making it hardly noticeable.
There’s a reason Samsung stopped making phones like the Galaxy S7 Edge and why many phones are returning to flat displays instead of curved ones. Curved screens often lead to accidental touches, add to the cost, and make screen replacements more complex and expensive. This trend of pushing for thinner and thinner bezels with every new phone release makes me wonder if we’re heading back to curved displays all over again—something that didn’t work out so well the first time around.
