After a 12 months that concurrently felt for much longer and far shorter than 365 days, we have dragged ourselves throughout the end line to 2023. Rather than bore you with our private new 12 months’s resolutions, we’re as a substitute discussing what we would like tech firms to perform in 2023 to make this subsequent 12 months higher.I beforehand wrote about how 2022 was a irritating 12 months for the tech business, with all types of adverse traits that we wish to see reversed. With a potential 2023 recession on the horizon, there’s each motive to assume this 12 months could have its justifiable share of issues. But we’re additionally excited in regards to the modifications, enhancements, and new gadgets that 2023 will convey.After pooling the entire brains behind Android Central, we have provide you with our 2023 tech wishlist for the way the Android ecosystem ought to develop this 12 months.Shruti Shekar, Managing Editor: Let’s get again to enterprise and take issues extra significantly(Image credit score: Meta)If there’s one factor that I can take away from 2022, it is how firms pushed individuals with dangerous advertising and marketing to purchase costly, lackluster merchandise at a time of a recession, and never caring in regards to the essential issues like their workers. Android Central’s Michael Hicks wrote a improbable article about how irritating it has been to see the tech area deteriorate in a method that we haven’t seen in years earlier than. “Major brands like Amazon, Cisco, HP, Meta, Microsoft, and Twitter have shed tens of thousands of employees in total, mostly citing the need to restructure amidst the recent economic downturn,” he writes. Adding that Meta had the worst of the layoffs. But amidst these layoffs, firms have been shedding cash into ideas (just like the Metaverse) that will or might not be profitable. I’d like for that to alter — a lofty want, I do know. But what I imply by that’s I would love each tech firm on the market to be aware of how essential these ideas are and weigh them towards the individuals who work tirelessly to make them occur. Be smarter about the way you’re investing your cash and be smarter about not firing divisions throughout one of the vital economically troublesome occasions. People do not care about buzzwords or dramatic product launches; they care about how these merchandise are literally helpful to them.Speaking of economically troublesome, I’m additionally actually bored with firms pushing merchandise that aren’t even thrilling and are priced so excessive it could require you to get a mortgage to buy. Let’s get critical about this, individuals don’t care a few cellphone or a smartwatch if it appears to be like precisely the identical because the earlier 12 months ( you, Apple). People don’t care about buzzwords (immersive, AI, Metaverse), and so they certainly don’t care about all the cash you threw right into a superbly and exorbitantly additional media presentation. People care about how these merchandise are ACTUALLY helpful to them. People care in regards to the worth it would convey to them. So can we begin releasing merchandise that truly appear…nicely…new?And on that closing word, I actually need firms to take advertising and marketing significantly. If you need your product to succeed, CARE about your advertising and marketing and to whom you might be advertising and marketing to. That means the language you’re utilizing, the international locations you’re advertising and marketing to, and the way in which it’s offered. It’s not all the time in regards to the influencer who must create a video for TikTok, it’s additionally in regards to the work-from-home mother or dad who has to juggle one million issues. All that to say is, I believe an important factor that I’d prefer to see in 2023 is what’s the actual social goal of those tech firms. What are you doing outdoors of simply promoting merchandise to generate profits, are you advertising and marketing for individuals to really do good on this world, are you being real? What are you able to do extra to make a better affect in our world, once we know our future is all about tech? I care about know-how rather a lot. I dwell it and breathe it, however one factor I for positive have acknowledged is how a lot tech firms don’t learn the room. And I hope that in 2023, we see a extra acutely aware effort in altering that. Jeramy Johnson, Editor-in-Chief: More ‘sus’ in tech(Image credit score: Jerry Hildenbrand / Android Central)No, I’m not attempting to make an Among Us reference three years too late; relatively, I’m speaking about sustainability. While I applaud firms like Amazon, Acer, Google, and Samsung (amongst others) for quickly making sustainability a tentpole characteristic of their advertising and marketing and, extra slowly, their manufacturing, I would like MORE of this in 2023. Devices have to last more with higher repairability in 2023.Don’t simply make extra of your merchandise with sustainable supplies (I imply, sure, do extra of this), however possibly make fewer merchandise (by way of amount and portfolio measurement). Support your merchandise for longer and make them extra repairable and replaceable (kudos to firms like Acer, Samsung, and Framework right here). Take care of your workforce up and down the availability chain. Use much less wasteful packaging.One firm that does a improbable job of that is Fairphone. I’d like to see it convey its round enterprise mannequin to a wider worldwide viewers — particularly (and maybe selfishly), to incorporate North America. I would like to have the ability to apply what I preach and assist firms that basically and actually stroll the stroll in terms of sustainability.Michael Hicks, Senior Editor of VR & health: Samsung, begin caring about health once more(Image credit score: Michael Hicks / Android Central)When I reviewed the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, I discovered it spectacular as an Android watch…not a lot as a health watch. When it launched the Galaxy Watch Active 2 in 2019, its options and software program had been fairly cutting-edge for a mainstream watch. Then it spent the subsequent few years focusing extra on well being options, letting Apple and Google take the lead for informal health tech.Samsung Health is a stable basis to construct upon, now that Google has turned its focus to Fitbit Premium, to the detriment of Google Fit. I’m not asking Samsung to make an equal to Apple Fitness+, but it surely does want extra sturdy exercise monitoring instruments for cyclists, runners, and gymnasts. Apple has customized exercises with dynamic pacing monitoring, plus the flexibility to race towards previous map routes — all issues Samsung ought to have the ability to pull off.Samsung wants to enhance its software program as a substitute of specializing in {hardware} for the Galaxy Watch 6.I’m additionally ready for Samsung and Apple to provide us the equal of Garmin Body Battery or Fitbit Daily Readiness. They’ve put in a lot effort making correct sleep monitoring figuring out how nicely you slept and the way a lot power you could have. The subsequent step is to inform customers their present power stage primarily based on sleep and health knowledge, then alter day by day step and exercise targets accordingly. But maybe that is asking for an excessive amount of.Samsung has reached the breaking level for what number of well being sensors it might squeeze right into a watch, and it hasn’t even activated its Galaxy Watch 5 temperature sensor but. By the time the Galaxy Watch 6 arrives with Wear OS 4, I need to see precise software program development, as a substitute of specializing in {hardware} enhancements alone to promote extra watches. Google will not assist because it needs to promote Fitbit subscriptions, so it is as much as Samsung to do the job itself.Namerah Saud Fatmi, Editor of Accessories: Universal equipment for wearables (fairly please!)(Image credit score: Michael Hicks / Android Central)We’ve had the privilege to witness a number of pretty wearables make their debut this 12 months. Samsung unveiled the sensible Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro duo, in all of its overpowered Wear OS 3 glory. Google joined within the enjoyable with the Pixel Watch and varied Fitbit trackers. Let’s additionally not neglect about all the brand new goodies from Fossil, Mobvoi, Garmin, and Amazfit in 2022.As a lady with dainty wrists, I used to be significantly overjoyed with the petite (and cute) Pixel Watch — although most folk weren’t happy with the singular measurement choice in any respect. Nevertheless, there’s no disputing that the overwhelming majority of Android smartwatches launched this 12 months had been huge hits.Proprietary bands and chargers make the wearable market way more difficult than it must be!What’s irritating is that each one these improbable smartwatches and health trackers have exceedingly poor assist in terms of equipment. Watch bands are normally each expensive and proprietary, and the smartwatch charging state of affairs is horribly convoluted. We’ve obtained propriety chargers that differ per model, generally even per mannequin! *scoffs in disgust* Between distinctive pin connectors, horrible third-party choices, and costly new-fangled chargers, the smartwatch world is in absolute turmoil. Wishing for common accent assist for wearables might sound like a pipe dream at this level. Still, it’s primary on the checklist of issues that I need to see in 2023.Andrew Myrick, Senior Editor of Chromebooks, Wearables, and Tablets: Pixel Fold or nothing(Image credit score: HowtoiSolve)It may appear odd that my largest want for 2023 is for the Pixel Fold to return to fruition, on condition that my areas of experience are largely elsewhere. But very similar to our Phones Editor, Nick Sutrich, I’m nonetheless infatuated (learn: obsessed) with foldable telephones. In the remainder of the world, Samsung’s competitors is heating up, however these of us right here within the States don’t get to expertise many options to the Galaxy Z Fold 4. While I’d like to see the likes of the Oppo Find N2 or Xiaomi MIX Fold 2 made obtainable, we’d have a greater probability of seeing a snowball in hell. We might import them, however it could be much more costly than paying retail worth for the Fold 4. Then, we’d have to leap via a bunch of hoops in hopes of getting the Play Store to work correctly, and might need to cope with some compromises. A foldable cellphone with the identical digital camera energy and prowess because the Pixel 7, paired with the spectacular Tensor G2, is a dream that I don’t need to surrender.So as a substitute of praying for one thing that can by no means occur, I’ve set my sights on Google. The Pixel Fold has been rumored for fairly some time, and it appears as if the cellphone will lastly come to fruition sooner or later in 2023. Ever since I obtained my arms on the Galaxy Z Fold 2, I’ve questioned what a foldable cellphone expertise could be like if Google had been on the helm. I’m already anticipating compromises, primarily as a result of Samsung’s been bettering the software program on foldable telephones on a constant foundation, whereas that is Google’s first try. But having the identical digital camera energy and prowess because the Pixel 7 in a foldable cellphone, paired with the spectacular Tensor G2, is a dream that I don’t need to surrender. I’m prepared to concede that the expertise may not be as much as snuff, however Google’s current work to enhance the pill expertise for Android apps could be sufficient to bridge the hole and make it among the finest Android telephones of 2023.Oh, and as a bonus, it could be very nice if Google made the Pixel Fold appropriate with the identical USI stylus we’re anticipating to see launched alongside the Pixel Tablet.Derrek Lee, News Editor: Wear OS coming into its personal(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)It’s been an attention-grabbing couple of years for Wear OS. Samsung was the one participant with a Wear OS 3 look ahead to almost a 12 months, and at the same time as we finish 2022, there are solely three different OEMs with Wear OS 3 smartwatches, and two of them are powered by good however getting older chipsets. But there are some good indicators that we’re gearing up for the primary actually thrilling 12 months for Wear OS smartwatches.I’d like to see extra smartphone OEMs like Motorola and OnePlus soar again into the ring with Wear OS.I talked about this earlier than, however Qualcomm’s Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 chipset appears like one thing to essentially stay up for. It’s a massively improved chip over the Snapdragon Wear 4100+, promising higher efficiency and extra low-power modes to Wear OS watches. Don’t get me incorrect, Wear OS 3 runs nicely on the present Snapdragon chip, but it surely feels a step behind the Galaxy Watch operating Samsung’s Exynos W920.We had been anticipating to see a smartwatch with the brand new chip earlier than the tip of the 12 months, but it surely didn’t materialize. That means 2023 ought to hopefully be the 12 months once we see the primary examples of what Wear OS 3 is basically able to on smartwatches not bearing Samsung’s identify or chips. It’s an opportunity for Qualcomm to show that it’s taking this as significantly as Google seems to be.What I’d like to see is extra smartphone OEMs leaping again into the ring. Motorola launched a number of smartwatches in 2022, however none used Wear OS, and OnePlus additionally prevented Wear OS with its wearables. Given that these two firms have a presence within the U.S. market, having Wear OS counterparts would actually increase visibility and present how the OS can actually complement their particular person smartphone experiences.In Motorola’s case, I’d love for the corporate to take its smartphone technique and apply it to Wear OS. That means giving us high-value, low-cost smartwatches that don’t value an arm and a leg, making it simple for anybody to choose one up. In OnePlus’ case, the corporate might customise Wear OS to match OxygenOS.Also, LG might not be within the smartphone market, however the firm remains to be making tablets. Having produced a number of the finest Wear OS watches prior to now, I’d like to see LG make a comeback in some form or type.Nicholas Sutrich, Senior Content Producer: 2023 would be the finest 12 months ever for VR(Image credit score: Michael Hicks / Android Central)I really like my Meta Quest 2. I even love the Quest Pro although it’s terribly overpriced, and I’m extremely proud of the progress Meta has single-handedly made within the VR market. If it weren’t for the Quest, VR would nonetheless be a distinct segment section of the bigger gaming market.But we’d like competitors. Stat.John Carmack — whose fame stretches a long time due to his legendary coding work on video games like Doom, Quake, and Wolfenstein, to call a number of — simply left Meta after working with the Oculus crew for almost a full decade. He truly joined Oculus in 2013, a full 12 months earlier than Meta acquired the corporate, and finally spun out Quest headsets in 2018.Carmack’s departure indicators some doubtlessly massive modifications at Meta, but it surely’s unlikely that his departure will truly change an entire lot regardless of his strongly worded letter of resignation. After all, he did beforehand step down from his extra senior function as Oculus CTO in 2019 when he turned the consulting CTO.I’m hoping 2023 would be the 12 months Meta lastly will get some actual competitors within the standalone VR area.It’s clear that each one is just not good at Meta HQ. Given the relatively public nature of Carmack’s complaints prior to now — and even not too long ago — the corporate appears to be like prefer it must work on making its software program and R&D divisions considerably extra environment friendly as evidenced by the truth that the Quest 2 simply obtained a efficiency improve in a single day with only a software program change. I’ve obtained little doubt that Carmack’s departure will no less than be a wake-up name for senior management at Meta.More than that, although, I’m hoping that 2023 would be the 12 months Meta lastly will get some actual competitors within the standalone area. While the PS VR2 launches in simply two brief months, that costly headset nonetheless requires an costly (and hard-to-find) PS5 to function.I’m hoping HTC will actually ship once they announce a correct Quest competitor at CES this 12 months, one thing the corporate teased simply final week. HTC’s prior standalone headsets have proven actual promise and the corporate’s Netflix-like Viveport service delivers spectacular worth, but it surely’s been coy about releasing these headsets within the U.S. to compete immediately with Meta till now.Pico simply launched the Pico 4 again in October and is gifting away a whopping six free video games with the headset while you purchase one earlier than January 10. Pico is yet one more firm that has made stable headsets prior to now however isn’t committing to a U.S. launch simply but.Even if each of these hopes don’t pan out, we’re no less than getting the Meta Quest 3 close to the tip of 2023. Current rumors recommend that the brand new chipset that can energy Meta’s subsequent consumer-grade headset will probably be 100% extra highly effective than what’s discovered within the Quest 2, an essential step for getting standalone VR headsets nearer to the constancy provided by PC VR or PS VR headsets.It’s all very thrilling, to say the least!