What I want to see from Android OEMs in 2024

It has been a very nice 12 months for Android telephones; we obtained insane cameras from Xiaomi and Vivo, Google went all-in on AI, OnePlus lastly launched a foldable, and Samsung nonetheless managed to outsell everybody else by having a bigger advertising and marketing price range and availability in just about all nations.With 2024 simply across the nook, there’s quite a bit to be enthusiastic about. We already know a good quantity about key launches just like the OnePlus 12 and Xiaomi 14, and with the Galaxy S24 collection debuting imminently, Q1 2024 goes to be a busy time within the business. Having used nearly all of the telephones launched in 2023, here is what I wish to see from Android manufacturers in 2024.Samsung(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)With the Galaxy S24 collection slated to launch in January, we do not have to attend lengthy to see if Samsung rolls out any significant upgrades or if it is going to be enterprise as common. What I’m extra enthusiastic about is the Galaxy A55; it hasn’t gotten an overhaul in a number of years, and I would like Samsung to introduce up to date digital camera modules and a brand new design subsequent 12 months.While leaked renders counsel Samsung goes to proceed with an analogous design aesthetic, the A55 ought to get barely quicker internals because of the Exynos 1480. It may even supply an AMD-based GPU, and that ought to make issues way more attention-grabbing within the mid-range section. And as I’m making requests, I’d actually prefer to see a greater wide-angle lens on the again of the mid-range Galaxy A collection.But the most important change must be round charging tech; sure, I perceive that Samsung could also be reticent to take action, however the model already affords 45W charging on the S23 Plus and S23 Ultra, and it could possibly simply deliver that over to the remainder of its portfolio. Samsung additionally wants to deal with PWM sensitivity; most producers now supply shows with PWM dimming so that they are simpler on the eyes, however Samsung hasn’t completed a lot on this section — you will not discover any Samsung gadgets in our greatest telephones for PWM sensitivity listing.While Samsung is in a dominant place with its foldables, the {hardware} is nowhere nearly as good as what Chinese producers are doing in the mean time. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 felt like an inferior product to all of the Chinese foldables I used this 12 months, and the one motive it is outselling every little thing else is as a result of the opposite producers haven’t got a foothold in North America. Samsung must do a lot better with its 2024 foldables, and it could possibly begin by including a wider cowl display screen to the Z Fold 6.Google(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)Google leaned closely on AI with the Pixel 8 collection, and to its credit score, it really delivered helpful options that make a distinction — Video Boost and Audio Magic Eraser are my favourite options on the Pixel 8 Pro. I would like Google to go even additional in 2024 with these options and create the final word AI-enabled gadgets. Also, I’d prefer to see a few of these AI options present up on the Pixel 8a in 2024; the mid-range section is the place Google really shines, and I wish to see the model proceed to construct on the Pixel 7a’s strengths.Like Samsung, Google is simply too conservative relating to charging tech, and I’d prefer to see that change in 2024. I’m not saying Google ought to begin providing 100W charging on its gadgets, but when it could possibly handle to go as much as 65W over the USB PD 3.0 normal, that will make the Pixels that rather more alluring.More than anything, Google must kind out availability. Its merchandise are nonetheless restricted to only a dozen nations, and that should change if the model desires to be seen as a critical participant within the {hardware} section. Honestly, I simply need Google to launch the next-gen Pixel Fold in India — is that an excessive amount of to ask?Xiaomi(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)Xiaomi had a stellar 12 months on the again of gadgets just like the Redmi Note 12 Pro and Xiaomi 13 Ultra, and I’m excited to see how the model’s reimagined software program holds up with the Xiaomi 14 collection.For some time, it appeared like Xiaomi would have the ability to measure as much as Samsung in world markets, however that pleasure leveled off this 12 months. While the model continues to do effectively within the price range and mid-range classes, it nonetheless would not fairly have the identical form of cachet within the high-end section as Samsung and Google — and that is regardless of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra having the very best general digital camera package deal you will get at present.The greatest problem with Xiaomi is its lackadaisical angle relating to launching its marquee merchandise exterior China. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra launched globally, however it is just out there in a restricted set of nations, and Xiaomi’s greatest abroad markets missed out on the machine. Unlike Google, Xiaomi has the distribution community to launch its telephones globally, so I’m not likely positive what’s stopping the model from doing so. It additionally must deliver its foldables exterior China if it desires to go up towards Samsung and Honor.OnePlus/OPPO(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)I used to be going to counsel that OnePlus launch its R collection gadgets globally, however the firm has simply confirmed that it’s doing simply that with the OnePlus 12R, so it clearly is aware of what I would like. The transfer makes numerous sense; the OnePlus 11R delivers the very best options of the OnePlus 11 — together with the identical main digital camera — however it’s way more reasonably priced, making it the apparent selection for these trying to maximize worth. I did not perceive why the machine was restricted to India, however I’m glad to see the 12R goes world — it has the makings of a terrific mid-ranger.Obviously, the standout machine of the 12 months needs to be the OnePlus Open, and the producer did a terrific job with the foldable. While I’ll have been a bit harsh in my assessment, OnePlus did a great job finding out the software program points a number of weeks after launch, and the foldable is faultless now.OnePlus will even be trying to proceed its momentum into 2024. The OnePlus 12 is launching globally on January 23, and it’s packing appreciable upgrades — each on the digital camera and charging aspect of issues. I wish to see first rate upgrades with the Nord portfolio as effectively, together with bringing the Nord numbered collection to North America. While the Nord N30 is aimed on the price range section, it has far too many shortcomings, and the Nord 4 ought to get a world launch subsequent 12 months.(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)Things had been slightly completely different with OPPO this 12 months, with the model exiting a number of world markets. It additionally did not launch its greatest telephone of the 12 months — the Find X6 Pro — exterior China, and that is a letdown, contemplating how good the cameras are on the machine. It would not seem like OPPO will change its technique going into 2024, and the Find X7 might be restricted to its residence nation. In world areas, the model is as an alternative specializing in its foldables and the mid-range Reno portfolio.For 2024, I wish to see a OnePlus flip telephone that is primarily based on the Find N3 Flip. It ought to be comparatively simple to realize because the Find N3 Flip already has all of the requisite components — an alert slider, ColorOS, legacy OxygenOS options, and a beautiful design. Launching the machine below the OnePlus label permits OPPO entry to a considerably wider viewers, and it could possibly go up towards Samsung in North America.Honor(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)Honestly, I did not suppose Honor would do nearly as good a job with foldables; the Magic V2 is among the greatest telephones I used this 12 months, and numerous that’s right down to the unbelievably skinny design. Honor can also be doing numerous good issues within the mid-range section, and the Honor 90 is a terrific telephone with a beautiful design.While I’ve no points with Honor’s {hardware}, the software program wants an overhaul — MagicOS 7.1 nonetheless feels too just like EMUI, and a cleaner design with much less bloatware would go a good distance in making Honor’s telephones stand out.My greatest supply of frustration with Honor is that it takes too lengthy to launch its gadgets. I wrote in regards to the Magic V2 three months in the past, and when Honor launched the machine at IFA, I assumed gross sales would kick off instantly. But that wasn’t the case, and the machine is now slated to be out there in Q1 2024, and that is simply too late — Honor actually must do higher on this space in 2024.ASUS(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)I’ve been bugging ASUS for the final two years to launch a bigger model of the Zenfone. The Zenfone 10 is the very best small Android telephone you will get, with ASUS someway managing to cram all of the options you may discover in a flagship right into a small chassis.While ASUS says it will not launch a bigger mannequin within the Zenfone collection, the upcoming ROG Phone 8 may simply be that machine; leaks level to a design that is way more mainstream, and that ought to permit the machine to cater to a wider viewers. I like what ASUS is doing with its telephone technique, and the one factor I’d just like the model to vary is to make its telephones out there in additional nations — I really feel like that is a standard chorus with most manufacturers.Vivo(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)Just like Xiaomi, Vivo had a great 12 months. It rolled out thrilling digital camera tech on gadgets just like the X90 Pro, cleaned up its software program efforts, and continued its momentum in key markets. Its 2024 flagship, the X100 Pro, is already promoting in a number of areas (assessment out very quickly), and it could simply be among the best digital camera packages that we’ll see subsequent 12 months.The one factor Vivo wants to vary is its launch schedule. The model nonetheless tends to flood the market with new merchandise which are barely completely different from their predecessors. The V27 collection launched again in March, and in lower than six months, Vivo debuted the V29 and V29 Pro, with the one distinction being elevated storage, a brand new wide-angle lens, and slight tweaks to charging tech.Nothing(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)Nothing had a great 12 months on the again of the Phone (2), and the model made good on its promise of delivering software program updates quicker. While I did not speak as a lot in regards to the machine (I’ve obtained a long-term assessment coming quickly), it’s a first rate general choice — in case you just like the design.Looking ahead to 2024, Nothing must give attention to the imaging aspect of issues. While the Phone (2) has a greater digital camera than its predecessor, it nonetheless would not measure as much as the very best telephones on this class, and that must be addressed. And whereas Nothing OS 2.0 has a singular design (very like the telephone), it additionally has loads of bugs, and I’m ready to see if these are lastly addressed with the Android 14 replace.Motorola(Image credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)Motorola had a better-than-expected 12 months because of the launch of some quite compelling telephones. The Motorola Edge Plus (2023) gave us a correct telephone to compete with the highest Pixel and Galaxy gadgets, the Razr Plus is a spectacular flip telephone with the very best cowl display screen implementation we have seen, and the Moto G Stylus 5G (2023) is maybe among the best bang-for-your-buck midrange telephones in North America. And that is simply speaking {hardware}; Motorola has additionally upped its software program recreation a bit with higher replace guarantees for its flagship telephones.Sure, Motorola could have been voted as essentially the most improved Android model of 2023, however there are nonetheless methods the corporate can enhance going into 2024. Software is an enormous a part of that, and the corporate has began this annoying behavior with its midrange gadgets the place it would set up annoying ad-like bloatware that is tougher than it ought to be to do away with. And whereas Motorola’s software program promise has improved with flagship gadgets, it nonetheless falls behind with its cheaper telephones, which is a disgrace when Samsung’s improve promise extends throughout its lineup.Motorola additionally needs to be a lot faster and extra communicative relating to its main replace plans. Companies akin to Samsung, Xiaomi, Nothing, and even Sony have all began rolling out Android 14, whereas Motorola has been radio-silent on the matter. What’s the purpose of providing higher software program guarantees once we’re ready longer than everybody else to get these promised updates?