Danny Weber
09:22 03-02-2026
© ASUS
Explore how foldable phones, camera modules, under-display tech, and other engineering feats are shaping the smartphone industry. Learn about real-world innovations.
The smartphone market has long been stable, with most models featuring similar screens, cameras, and processors. However, from time to time, production devices—those officially sold in various countries rather than just showcased at exhibitions—incorporate solutions that resemble small engineering experiments. These innovations don't always become mainstream standards immediately, but such discoveries are precisely what drive the industry forward.
The most obvious example of the engineering race in recent years is foldable devices. Their main challenge isn't performance but mechanics: the hinge must withstand years of opening and closing without leaving gaps, turning the body into a dust magnet, or becoming too thick. Samsung, for instance, described the transition to a Flex Hinge design with a "double guide rail" for the Galaxy Z Fold5—an idea that helps the device fold more tightly and makes the mechanism itself more resistant to external impacts. Changes like these rarely look flashy on display, but they are what transform a "prototype from the future" into something you can actually carry every day.
In mobile photography, unique solutions often arise not from the number of cameras but from how they are engineered. For the Huawei Mate 50 Pro, the key feature was a physically adjustable Ultra Aperture diaphragm—the company explicitly mentioned ten levels of opening, allowing the camera's behavior to adapt to the scene: letting in more light in some situations or achieving more controlled depth of field in others.
Vivo took a completely different approach with the X50 Pro, betting on a "micro-gimbal"—a stabilization system where the module compensates for shake not only through software but also via its own construction. Industry media analyzed this solution as an attempt to bring the smartphone closer to a video stabilizer, improving smoothness when shooting in motion.
ASUS went even further with the ZenFone 7, literally turning the camera into a mechanical assembly: the Flip Camera is a motorized block that rotates, making the "main" cameras serve as front-facing ones. ASUS described the module as driven by a stepper motor and enhanced with an angle sensor for more precise positioning. This is a rare case where engineering addresses not only photo quality but also design, allowing the screen to remain free of notches for a selfie camera.
Sometimes engineering isn't about mechanics but a deliberately "excessive" maximum. The Sony Xperia 1 stood out in its time because the company promoted a 4K HDR OLED CinemaWide display with a 21:9 aspect ratio. To some, this seemed like overkill, but as a showcase of Sony's technology, it made sense: the firm has been making screens and cinema equipment for decades, and the smartphone became a way to display that DNA in a pocket-sized format.
An even more telling story is the under-display camera. ZTE branded the Axon 20 5G as the first production smartphone with an under-screen front camera, meaning no hole or notch for selfies. Yes, such solutions typically involve compromises in front-camera quality, but as an engineering milestone, it's significant: the industry is learning to hide sensors so the screen appears seamless.
Not all innovations are visible. Apple, for example, focused on the scenario of "when there's no connection at all" with the Emergency SOS feature. Apple's support documentation describes how compatible iPhone models can connect to a satellite to send emergency messages and transmit critical information if there's no cellular network or Wi-Fi nearby. This isn't about internet speed or gaming; it's about the smartphone becoming a safety net—and such functions often change user habits most profoundly.
Gaming phones also embrace engineering extremes. The ASUS ROG Phone line is known for the company's focus on cooling, allowing active "airflow" through the proprietary AeroActive Cooler module: ASUS explicitly states that the accessory uses a fan and thermoelectric cooling to reduce temperatures under load. This is a niche story, but it honestly addresses a question most smartphones prefer to avoid: "What happens to performance after half an hour of heavy gaming?"
At the opposite end is the Fairphone 5. Here, engineering isn't about records but repairability: the company explains the modular architecture, which avoids glue and uses accessible, replaceable parts so users can maintain the device more easily and cheaply. Against the backdrop of disposable electronics, this looks almost revolutionary: the smartphone is designed as if it's meant to outlast the standard lifespan.
Some of these solutions eventually dissolve into the mass market, while others remain "features for enthusiasts." But the general principle is the same: the most interesting smartphones are remembered not for numbers on a spec sheet but for how engineers rethink the constraints of the body, optics, connectivity, and maintenance. And the next time you hear "all smartphones are the same," just recall the gimbal camera, adjustable aperture, under-display front camera, or modular body—they only seem identical from a distance.