Over the past three decades, we have witnessed massive shifts in the design of cellular devices. In 1992, Mitsubishi Electrics launched the first touch-screen device – which was a far cry from the touchscreen smartphones we know and love today. The IBM Simon was rectangular in shape with a large touchscreen and circular earpiece – a design that was quite bulky and utilitarian.
But since then, the design of smartphones has evolved into what they are today – large, sleek and thin devices, where the touchscreen takes up 99.9 percent of the screen and are packed with state-of-the-art features and streamlined for impressive performance. According to a study conducted by the Daily Mail , many users ranked the device’s aesthetics as their number one selling point.
The study highlighted that colour, physical design, and, most importantly, the smartphone’s shape greatly influenced the purchasing decision. Why? Because smartphones, which have become a daily accessory, have also become synonymous with creative expression. These devices play a role in how people perceive others through its physical aesthetics.
Between 2023 and 2024, global technology brand HONOR became a trailblazer in the smartphone industry, leading the pack with its AI-packed HONOR 90 Series and flagship Magic Series – becoming the fastest-growing smartphone brand in South Africa in 2023. As a brand at the forefront of innovative ideas, HONOR also emphasises the designs of the devices it creates, appealing.
