News

Sixty percent of smartphones will have glass backs by 2020

Prepare for fragile fingerprint magnets

Published

on

What is your phone made of? Until recently, the smartphone market was synonymous with the aluminum market. Everyone loved metal on their phones. Coming from a tacky plastic binge, phones desperately needed the premium vibe that metal exuded. Spearheaded by Apple, makers attached the material to their entire lineups.

As we know now, 2018 popularized an entirely different beast — the glass back. At the time of this writing, the vast majority of smartphone makers already offer a form of glass architecture: Samsung, Apple, Huawei, Xiaomi, Vivo, OnePlus, and OPPO. Pioneered by Samsung’s Galaxy S6, the trend sputtered to life slowly. Now, the glass revolution is well underway.

According to analysts at Counterpoint, the glass smartphone will take over 60 percent of the entire market by 2020. As of 2018, the material pervades only 26 percent of the market. By next year, the number will jump up to 41 percent.

The escalation is a marked surprise. Previously, the trend’s beginnings were only at 7 percent and 13 percent from 2016 to 2017, respectively. In just four years, the material skyrocketed from minority to market domination. By 2018, more than half of smartphones will rock glass backs.

Leading the pack, Apple already uses glass backs for 64 percent of its lineup. Additionally, Samsung, despite pioneering the trend, uses glass for only 36 percent of its lineup. (Although, the brand’s more vertical product structure might have contributed to that.)

Despite the trend’s exponential growth, glass has had its fair share of controversies. Currently, OnePlus 6 users are constantly reporting glass breakages, despite not dropping their phones. Moreover, glass is a notorious fingerprint magnet without a protective case.

Logistically, manufacturing glass backs costs less than metal ones. Theoretically, the material also helps with better connectivity and optimized wireless charging. However, since the trend is still in its early stages, additional developments will have to wait.

Of course, if you want to cash in on this trend, buy yourself a good protective case.

SEE ALSO: Corning promises stronger cover glass with Gorilla Glass 6

News

Dreame enters smartphones with AURORA debut

Modular imaging, AI-native OS, and luxury design lead new “perception-first” push

Published

on

By

DREAME AURORA

Dreame has officially stepped into the smartphone space with the debut of its AURORA lineup in Silicon Valley, positioning itself beyond appliances and into next-generation intelligent devices.

Unveiled on April 29, the new AURORA brand introduces what Dreame calls three core breakthroughs: imaging, communication, and an AI-native operating system — all built around a “human-centric” approach to technology.

A new take on smartphones

At launch, Dreame showcased three key directions under the AURORA lineup.

Leading the charge is the AURORA NEX, a modular imaging flagship designed to unlock more advanced, flexible photography setups. The idea is to move beyond typical camera upgrades and give users more control over how they capture content.

Alongside it is the AURORA LUX, a luxury-focused series that leans into premium materials and craftsmanship. Dreame positions this as “heirloom-grade” tech — less gadget, more statement piece.

Completing the lineup is a new flagship range aimed at balancing performance, design, and everyday usability for high-end users.

Moving past spec wars

Dreame isn’t framing this as another specs race. Instead, it’s calling this shift a “perception revolution.”

The pitch is simple:

  • Better imaging should feel like creating, not just capturing
  • Connectivity should be stable and seamless everywhere
  • AI should be invisible but proactive, not something users have to manage

To get there, Dreame says it’s addressing familiar industry pain points — from camera hardware stacking to inconsistent signal performance and surface-level AI features.

Its solution is a full-stack approach:

  • A dedicated imaging system built with input from professional photographers
  • A “full-time signal” communication system for more stable connectivity
  • An AI-native OS designed to flip the model from users adapting to devices → devices adapting to users

From tools to partners

The bigger ambition here is clear. Dreame wants devices to evolve from passive tools into what it calls “proactive service partners.”

That means:

  • Devices anticipate needs
  • AI operates in the background
  • Hardware and software feel like a single system

It’s a familiar direction across the industry, but Dreame is betting on tighter integration and a stronger design identity to stand out.

A broader ecosystem play

The AURORA launch also signals something bigger: Dreame is expanding fast beyond its roots in home and personal care tech.

From hair tools to now smartphones, the company is building toward a full ecosystem anchored on AI and connected experiences.

Whether that vision lands will depend on execution — especially in a category as competitive as smartphones.

For now, AURORA marks Dreame’s most ambitious move yet, and a clear statement that it wants to compete not just on devices, but on how those devices fit into everyday life.

Continue Reading

Laptops

MacBook Neo already “supply constrained” amid unexpected demand

New purchases are reportedly getting delayed.

Published

on

It’s been a crazy month for Apple fans on a budget. The debuts of the iPhone 17e and the MacBook Neo have brought the classic Apple experience to a wider market. Though the former is a bright spot on its own, the new MacBook Neo is currently breaking the company’s expectations as new orders are already “supply constrained.”

Last week, Tim Cook held an earnings call (via Six Colors) which includes the latest additions to Apple’s lineup. For the affordable iPhone, Cook gave a special shoutout as “the newest addition to what is already the strongest iPhone lineup we’ve ever had.” However, he was much more appreciative for the MacBook Neo’s role in the company’s notebook lineup.

Responding to a query about the new notebook, Cook says that the company “undercalled the level of enthusiasm” generated by the MacBook Neo. He also cited “tremendous enthusiasm” for the device in his main presentation.

Though he didn’t have the numbers to bolster his claims, he did give anecdotal examples of public schools switching over to Apple from Chromebooks and Windows PCs.

Finally, he says that the MacBook Neo is currently “supply constrained,” meaning new purchases will likely come with a delay before delivery.

Outside of the corporate perspective, there has been a lot of excitement for the notebook. Even if it uses the A18 Pro chip, the MacBook Neo promises a powerful notebook experience as is typical of Apple’s more traditional MacBooks. And to top it all off, it starts at only US$ 599, creating one of the most tempting offers for users who want to dip their toes into the Apple ecosystem.

SEE ALSO: MacBook Neo officially arrives at Power Mac Center

Continue Reading

News

Apple reportedly gives up on the Vision Pro

But Apple will continue to sell the current model.

Published

on

When they unveiled the Vision Pro in 2023, Apple touted the wearable as the next big thing after the iPhone. Now, almost three years removed from the launch, the Vision Pro hasn’t really taken over the coveted spot occupied by the iPhone. Apple, according to a report, is allegedly canning the short-lived wearable.

According to MacRumors, Apple has reportedly given up on making the Vision Pro a thing. The team handling the wearable has supposedly been subsumed by other teams within Apple.

If true, the wearable’s end is unfortunate but not surprising. Despite being out for years, the Vision Pro has sold only a little more than half a million units with numerous returns from customers. Most recently, Apple updated the wearable with the M5 chip, but the move hasn’t revitalized the device’s status in Apple’s lineup.

Most of the complaints about the device stem from its exorbitant price or its cumbersome battery pack. Besides costing a whopping US$ 3,499, the Vision Pro is also difficult to move around with, especially because of its total weight and a battery pack that can get in the way.

To be clear, Apple has not officially discontinued the Vision Pro yet. The company continues to sell the version with the M5 chip. Apple can also restart development in the future.

However, the meantime retirement on future development does coincide with the recent restructuring inside the company. Tim Cook recently decided to step down as CEO with John Ternus as his replacement. Canning the Vision Pro might be Ternus’ first step in redefining Apple according to his plans.

SEE ALSO: Apple Vision Pro gets M5 chip upgrade

Continue Reading

Trending