Top 10 Android predictions for 2021: Market share rises first, then falls; gesture navigation is enhanced

The mobile phone market is still dominated by Android and iOS. They are both improving, but the pace is a bit slow.

After the launch of Apple iOS 14, it has become easier to manage App icons, plug-ins make the interface more convenient and familiar, notifications are no longer so annoying, the map app has improved, the new translation app is approachable, App Clips deserve praise, and users can finally choose the default browser and mail app. As for the shortcomings, only a few third-party apps support new features, such as App Clips, picture-in-picture, and plug-ins; the translation app does not support enough languages; CarKey is not compatible with cars. The iOS interface has not changed much over the years, and the changes brought by iOS 14 are obvious.

Looking at Android 11, it has enhanced security and app privacy features, improved messaging, we can record directly from the Android screen and encode it into multiple formats, it is easier to control smart homes, there are more hardware options, and it supports 5G. Android 11 also has disappointing aspects. For example, compared with iOS, Android 11 has compatibility issues and is not as well coordinated with the desktop and wearable ecosystems. Overall, the changes brought by Android 11 are not that big, but it is indeed more convenient to use after the upgrade.

Another year is almost over. Let's predict next year and see what changes will happen to Android next year.

[[352500]]

Market share first decreased and then increased

With the great success of iPhone 12, Android's market share will drop to 70%, or even lower. This is the first time that Android's share has never been lower than 70%. The popularity of iPhone in the United States will affect Android's global share. But don't worry, the decline in Android's share is only temporary. When Google launches Pixel 6 and Samsung and other companies launch new flagships, Android's share will rise and may even exceed 75%.

Google Pixel 6 will restore Pixel's flagship status

Compared to the Pixel 4, the new Pixel 5 phone has indeed made progress in many areas. But it's a pity that the CPU of the Pixel 5 is mediocre. Google seems to be learning from its mistakes. The reason why it chose a lower-performance CPU is mainly to extend the battery life. When the Pixel 6 is launched next year, it should be a very good flagship phone. Why? Because Google has solved the battery life problem, and by then the Pixel 6 will most likely be equipped with a flagship CPU (perhaps the Snapdragon 775G) and the design will be more exquisite.

5G becomes standard

Many large cities now have 5G networks, and by the end of 2021, some medium and smaller markets will also have 5G. This is not the point we want to make. The point is that by the end of next year, almost all Android devices will support 5G, and the functions of the devices will be more advanced. In the next few years, many Andorid IoT devices will embrace 5G.

Microsoft may buy the rest of Nokia and launch new Android phones

Nokia recently reached a deal with BT, the largest telecom operator in the UK, to provide equipment to it, which is big news. Microsoft has already acquired some of Nokia's business, and it may be interested in acquiring the rest of Nokia. Once Nokia is completely acquired, Microsoft can launch new Android phones and become stronger in the mobile phone market. As shown by Surface Duo, Microsoft is capable of developing Android phones, but the market targeted by Duo is too small. To solve this problem, Microsoft will launch a more standard phone.

Samsung's camera performance surpasses Google Pixel

Samsung's camera performance has been approaching that of the Pixel for some time. Google has stuck with the same sensors for the past few generations of Pixel phones, which were really advanced back then, but are now slowly becoming old-fashioned. When Samsung launches its next generation of devices, its camera performance may surpass that of the Pixel. However, Samsung's lead won't last long, and when the Pixel 6 is launched, Google may once again become the number one Android phone.

[[352501]]

Pixel Watch is born

We've been waiting for a long time and hope that Google will launch a Pixel Watch, and maybe we'll see it in 2021. Wear OS has made significant progress in the past few years, and I hope Google will launch the Pixel Watch as soon as possible to convince Android fans that wearable devices are a necessity. The Pixel Watch may be an elegant and powerful watch with excellent battery life. Maybe Google will launch the Pixel 6 and the Pixel Watch at the same time. If users buy both the watch and the phone, Google can offer a discount, which will attract a lot of users.

Android updates will become smoother

Once upon a time, upgrading Android OS was a nightmare. We are talking about operating system updates here. With Android 12, third-party updates to Android will become smoother. In other words, even if it is not a Pixel phone, other phones can be upgraded to the new system earlier.

Enhancing contact tracing with AI

Android has introduced contact tracing. However, if you want to use this feature, you must install a third-party app. I believe that by the end of 2021, you will no longer need to rely on third-party apps to use the Android contact tracing feature. Not only that, Google may also use AI to enhance the contact tracing function, which will become more effective and smarter.

Enhanced cloud backup user management

If you've used the Android Cloud Backup service, you'll find that it's limited and only works when you buy a new phone or restore your existing phone to factory settings. Don't get me wrong, this feature is great, but the user management capabilities of Android Cloud Backup are too general. For example, if you want to specify a specific directory or app and back it up, or if you want to download specific backup data, can you do it? Yes, but it's difficult. When Android 12 is launched, I believe Google will give users more management rights.

Gesture Navigation Enhancements

Compared with traditional UI navigation, gesture navigation is more effective and more enjoyable. But Android gesture navigation is not perfect. When Google launches Android 12, gesture navigation should improve. We hope that Google will pay attention to app switching gestures by then.