Nostalgia for Tiny Phones Revived After Sony and Nothing Unveil Playful Credit Card-Sized Prototypes
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Small, compact phones were very popular in the 2000s but gave way to larger phones to accommodate more features. Some people still love the idea of tiny, ultra-portable phones.
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In April 2022, Sony and Nothing released April Fools' Day prototypes for credit card-sized phones dubbed the "Xperia 5 V micro" and "Phone (2a) Micro". Many people loved the idea unironically.
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Pros of a tiny phone include exceptional portability and minimalism. Cons include limited functionality, short battery life, lack of durability, and ergonomic issues.
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Deutsche Telekom proposed an AI-powered, app-free "T-Phone" to address plateauing innovation in smartphones. AI could theoretically enable complex tasks on miniature devices.
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Technical obstacles like editing photos or using maps on a tiny screen still need solutions. But if solved, AI could make tiny phones highly capable while fitting in any pocket.