2019 was a mixed bag in terms of technology trends. On one hand, the consumers finally started really worrying about their data and big tech made some big promises to safeguard it, on the other, deepfakes went mainstream and are surprisingly each to create, becoming an even bigger cause of concern in the era of fake news and misinformation campaigns. 5G and foldable smartphones also generated a lot of buzz this year but both technologies are yet to reach the masses. Cloud gaming, streaming wars, TikTok, virtual assistants, and electric cars were some of other tech trends in 2019. So, here's a quick look at the 10 best and worst tech trends of this year.
1. Foldable smartphones
After years of rumours, leaks, and company promises, foldable phones finally became a reality in 2019. Samsung[1] and Huawei[2] were two of the mainstream smartphone makers to unveil the first foldable smartphones. Despite their expected arrival in the first half of the year, both phones were delayed over quality concerns. While Samsung's Galaxy Fold[3] saga was much more public and got widespread attention, Huawei quietly postponed the launch of Mate X[4] to work out the kinks.
The most exciting foldable smartphone of the year came from Motorola. Dubbed simply as Motorola Razr[5], the phone took design cues from its eponymous feature phone predecessor lineup that had arrived in 2004. Motorola Razr (2019) sports a clamshell design that seems to be getting a better reception but given it is yet to reach the hands of reviewers and consumers, a lot remains to be seen.
Samsung, Huawei, and Lenovo-owned Motorola[6] aren't the only smartphone makers working on foldable smartphones though....