I don’t use my smartphone the way companies think I do — and that’s a problem

I used to cringe watching events introducing new smartphones.

I remember the examples and thinking no one uses their device that way, and that companies were making up outlandish scenarios to justify new, fringe features.

It wasn’t until I started attending launches and getting in-person demos that I realized that wasn’t wholly accurate.

I was in a room last year getting a walk-through of some new features. I was being shown new fancy animations for a surf report on the West Coast.

It was a report I’d never have cared about, but on cue, another person in the room mentioned they’d surfed there last weekend, and the waves were amazing.

I just nodded and tried not to let on that I was in shock, but it helped me realize that, for the most part, companies don’t really have our everyday use in mind when designing hardware and software, and it’s worth talking about.

Here’s what deserves more focus.

AI is fine on smartphones, but tone it down

Not everything needs to be linked back to Gemini

I’m not going to mention the company or smartphone in my example, because it’s unfair. It’s also not unique to one manufacturer; they all fall into the trap in one way or another.

I’ve noticed a separation between how I use desktop AI tools and how I use them on my smartphone.

For all the fancy advancements, features like Gemini are more often than not reserved for bar trivia, asking how much an athlete makes, or who was the coach the last time the Seattle Seahawks were in the Super Bowl (Mike Holmgren, if you were wondering).

But even attempts by Google and Samsung to make AI a more practical part of the user experience have fallen short.

Now Brief on Galaxy AI is a mess. Samsung’s tried to make improvements, and I keep going back to see if anything meaningful has changed, but it’s still a glorified weather report with a list of my meetings and a random news story.

I had higher hopes for Google’s Daily Hub, and I still do, but its return is nowhere in sight.

Google has had a better grasp of AI from the beginning, and items like Magic Cue are a step in the right direction, even if they need more polish.

AI needs to take a back seat. I want it to help me in the background, instead of being thrust to the forefront.

Every new phone presentation doesn’t have to start with AI and how it will improve the user experience. Don’t tell me, show me. And no one has done that just yet.

Just once, I’d love something to feel generative. Even a notice that, even though it’s sunny right now, there’s rain forecast for later, so bring an umbrella. I’m not asking for the moon.

Battery life and charging speeds are essential

25W and a lack of silicon-carbon isn’t cutting it anymore

Using the OnePlus 15 and 15R has spoiled me. Never again can I look at smartphone battery life the same way.

Getting flagship-tier performance and nearly three days of use on a single charge is outstanding, and having 80W wired and 50W wireless charging is impressive.

I rarely even bothered to check how much battery I had left, and that’s after hours of turn-by-turn navigation and streaming live sporting events.

If Samsung and Google really want to get my attention in 2026, then stop relying on chipset efficiency improvements to help battery life.

I want larger, silicon-carbon battery cells with speedy charging rates.

Rumors suggest Samsung is finally getting to 60W for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, and that’s a welcome change. But more work has to be done.

It would be fantastic if Google could join in at least a little. Battery life has been solid on my Pixel 10 Pro XL, but it’s nothing compared to what I get on the OnePlus 15.

Upcoming flagships like the Galaxy S26 Ultra and Pixel 11, later this year, should better reflect our real-world usage and deliver significant battery improvements.

Good enough shouldn’t be the standard anymore.

Software is finally moving in the right direction

Material 3 Expressive gives me hope

I’ve been dissatisfied with smartphone software for a while, but Material 3 Expressive helped turn the corner. It’s playful, intuitive, and fun — precisely what Android software was missing.

Samsung’s also done wonders with One UI 8, and I want that trend to continue.

It seems a little too easy for companies to slap AI into their presentations and call it a day.

I still don’t understand how Galaxy AI is meant to improve my Galaxy Z Fold 7 experience, but it was part of the sales pitch.

I don’t need generative surf reports on my home screen. I’d settle for more features like AirDrop compatibility on the Pixel 10 series and Magic Cue doing more.

It’s going to be the smaller changes that add up to a revamped user experience on Android software moving forward.

Material 3 Expressive is the best yet, but I’m hopeful other manufacturers are working to help us use our phones better, not just how they think we should.

Daily use often strays far from what companies focus on

I can’t remember the last time I felt a new feature was so good that it changed how I use my smartphone.

We’re long overdue, and while AI has plenty of promise, the reality has fallen short of expectations.

It’s time for manufacturers to get back to basics and start by recognizing how most people use their smartphones, which would go a long way in fixing the problem.