A Smartphone is a mobile phone that also has Internet access, and computing capabilities, enabling voice communication, app usage, satellite navigation, and multimedia management.
Smartphones have a touch-screen interface, which means that users interact with the device through touch gestures such as tapping, swiping, and pinching on the screen, instead of using physical buttons or a keyboard.
The mobile operating system endows the device with many advanced computing features.
Smartphone operating systems
The most prevalent smartphone operating systems globally are Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS, with Huawei’s HarmonyOS also gaining significance, especially in the Chinese market.
These systems enable smartphone owners to:
- Use broadband, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and near-field communication (NFC).
- Browse the Internet.
- Send and receive emails.
- Download and upload files, with increased emphasis on cloud-based storage and sharing.
- Take high-resolution photographs and record high-definition videos.
- Play advanced computer games.
- Stream music and watch movies.
- Stay in touch with friends and family through text, voice, and video messaging, including on various social media platforms.
- Keep address and contact lists, calendars, to-do lists, notes, and integrate digital assistants for reminders.”
Users can also install a huge selection of applications (apps). From news gathering to finance management, apps keep users informed, productive, entertained, and organized.
New devices every year
Every year spawns new models of smartphones with more power and storage. In addition, more and more apps come on the market.
Today, people use smartphones to shop, book holidays, stream live content, connect, control their homes, and even monitor their health.
The devices are essential survival tools of modern times. It is hard to imagine life without them.
Smartphone usage has been steadily rising in recent years.
According to research by Statista, the global number of smartphone users is expected to grow by 1.8 billion – an increase of about 42.62 percent – between 2024 and 2029.
This means that after fifteen consecutive years of growth, the number of users could reach 6.1 billion by 2029, marking a new peak.
Evolution of the smartphone
Mobile phones and personal organizers
Smartphones evolved from the convergence of two devices: the cell phone and the personal organizer. In the 1990s, the two devices were separate and consumers tended to own one or the other.
Cameras
Over that decade, competition among networks drove down the cost of cell phones and calls. By the close of the 20th century, teenagers were using them. The addition of a camera meant that they could text their friends and attach a photo. Also, the addition of a music player meant that they did not need a separate portable stereo.
PDAs
In the meantime, business people were increasing their use of personal digital assistants (PDAs) such as the Palm Pilot and the Psion Organizer. PDAs allowed users to access their calendars, work on spreadsheets and documents, and use other applications on the move. Some could also synchronize their PDAs with their desktop computers.
The first device to embody telephone and PDA features was the Simon Personal Communicator from IBM.
Launched in 1994, the Simon predates the use of the term smartphone. It was years ahead of its time. Not only did it work as a phone, it also provided email, calendar, contacts, calculator, notepads, and fax services.
ARM and 3G
It was the convergence of the ARM microprocessor and the 3G mobile network that spurred the smartphone revolution.
ARM microprocessors made it possible for a small device to run a lot of computing power on little energy. Acorn Computers launched the first chip for the mass market in 1985.
The advent of 3G allowed networks to send data at much higher rates. This opened the door to sending and receiving video and multimedia. With the arrival of 4G in 2012 and of 5G, the data-carrying capacity continues to grow.
In addition, developers have added features such as touch screens and navigation with the Global Positioning System (GPS).
The case for smartphone recycling
The increasing use of smartphones is putting a strain on Earth’s resources. Researchers at the University of Plymouth in the United Kingdom demonstrated this by analyzing the chemical make-up of the devices. They blended phones to dust and carried out an analysis of the dissolved results.
The team found that, among other substances, a smartphone contains 33 grams (g) of iron, 13 g of silicon, and 7 g of chromium.
They also found smaller quantities of silver (90 milligrams or mg) and gold (36 mg), and other critical elements, including:
- 900 mg of tungsten.
- 160 mg of neodymium.
- 70 mg of cobalt and molybdenum
- 30 mg of praseodymium.
The results show that to make just one smartphone it is necessary to mine 10-15 kilograms (kg) of ore. Of this ore, some 7 kg is high-grade gold, 1 kg of copper, 750 kg of tungsten, and 200 g of nickel.
The researchers carried out the experiment to highlight the rare elements that each phone contains and to promote greater recycling. Some of the elements, such as tungsten and cobalt, come from conflict zones in Africa.
Manufacturers are increasingly focusing on sustainable production methods and the use of recycled materials to mitigate the environmental impact of smartphone manufacturing.