Have We Reached Peak Smartphone?
Uncanny Valley | WIRED2 Helmi 2023

Have We Reached Peak Smartphone?

Phones have been pretty boring for a long time. Don’t get us wrong—phones are still amazing little devices! It just feels like we haven’t seen any truly innovative phone designs or new standout features in a long while. This year’s phone looks and works a lot like last year’s phone. Your phone looks and works a lot like my phone. Have phones actually plateaued, leveled off, or chilled out? Is their transition from fetish object to commodity complete?

The perfectly fine boringness of phones gets thrown into focus every time a new handset is launched into the world. This week, we saw the debut of the newest Samsung Galaxy devices. WIRED staff writer (and our podcast's producer) Boone Ashworth joins us to talk about those new phones, and phones in general, and how breathtaking and bland they all are, all at once.

Show Notes

Read our roundup of everything Samsung announced at Galaxy Unpacked 2023, including three new Galaxy phones and five new laptops. If you want to preorder a Galaxy device, we have some buying advice for you. Last year’s model is also just great. Read Lauren’s story about safely buying a used phone.

Recommendations

Boone recommends Barbarian, which you can watch on HBO Max or rent elsewhere. Mike recommends Sichuan Gold hot sauce from Fly By Jing. Lauren recommends the HBO documentary Navalny.

Boone Ashworth can be found on Twitter @BooneAshworth. Lauren Goode is @LaurenGoode. Michael Calore is @snackfight. Bling the main hotline at @GadgetLab. Our theme music is by Solar Keys.

Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Jaksot(432)

BIG INTV: San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie: ‘We Are a City on the Rise’

BIG INTV: San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie: ‘We Are a City on the Rise’

Since taking office, San Francisco’s mayor has been on a quest to revitalize the city and increase public safety. He’s also kept the National Guard out—with a little help from some very powerful frien...

9 Joulu 202531min

WIRED Roundup: DOGE Isn’t Dead, Facebook Dating Is Real, Amazon AI Releases

WIRED Roundup: DOGE Isn’t Dead, Facebook Dating Is Real, Amazon AI Releases

In today’s episode, Zoë is joined by WIRED’s Leah Feiger to discuss five stories you need to know about this week — from how Amazon is trying to catch up in the AI race, to why Facebook Dating is more...

5 Joulu 202525min

What Happens When Your Coworkers Are AI Agents

What Happens When Your Coworkers Are AI Agents

This year, AI agents have been at the forefront of tech companies' ambitions. OpenAI’s Sam Altman has often talked about a possible billion-dollar company being spun up with just one human and an army...

4 Joulu 202536min

BIG INTV: Melinda French Gates on Secrets: ‘Live a Truthful Life, Then You Don’t Have Any’

BIG INTV: Melinda French Gates on Secrets: ‘Live a Truthful Life, Then You Don’t Have Any’

On this week’s episode of The Big Interview podcast, the philanthropist sits down with Katie to offer her insights on billionaire donors, kids on phones, and the importance of women’s healthcare.Join ...

2 Joulu 202546min

WIRED Roundup: Epstein Files Fallout, NVIDIA Earnings, Gemini 3 Release

WIRED Roundup: Epstein Files Fallout, NVIDIA Earnings, Gemini 3 Release

In today’s episode, Zoë is joined by WIRED’s Max Zeff to discuss five stories you need to know about this week — from the political fallout after the release of the Epstein files, to why two young mor...

21 Marras 202523min

Can Tech Get Rid of Bad Trips?

Can Tech Get Rid of Bad Trips?

Whether it's teenagers reviving the Benadryl TikTok challenge or people signing up for an out of body experience program previously used by the CIA, some of us are chasing unconventional trips. Bad tr...

20 Marras 202527min

BIG INTV: Joe Weisenthal Has Predictions About How the AI Bubble Will Burst

BIG INTV: Joe Weisenthal Has Predictions About How the AI Bubble Will Burst

Right now much of the US economy rests on AI’s future. In fact, Odd Lots cohost Joe Weisenthal says the rest of the economy that isn't tech or AI related is creaking along. He breaks down for Katie wh...

18 Marras 202541min

WIRED Roundup: AI Romantic Affairs; Google Sues Text Scammers; DHS’s Privacy Breach

WIRED Roundup: AI Romantic Affairs; Google Sues Text Scammers; DHS’s Privacy Breach

In today’s episode, Zoë is joined by WIRED’s Brian Barrett to discuss five stories you need to know about this week — from how AI affairs can now be grounds for divorce, to why Google is suing one of ...

14 Marras 202523min