Apple and Samsung have maintained a stronghold on the US mobile market for many years. Along with Google, they have defined the standards of what a smartphone should be, influencing advancements in mobile photography, software design, and processing capabilities. Nevertheless, in recent years, they have appeared less innovative, choosing to gradually improve their products rather than breakthrough new advancements. Meanwhile, Chinese tech companies have surged ahead, creating a widening disparity between what is offered to US consumers versus global markets. US smartphone purchasers are missing valuable options.

Apple shares some responsibility for this disparity. Its approach often dictates market trends, and its recent pace has been sluggish. However, with new CEO John Ternus—who has extensive experience in hardware—set to lead from this September’s iPhone 18 rollout, there is hope that the more cautious strategy of Tim Cook regarding iPhone specifications might soon be a thing of the past. Should Ternus escalate the speed of innovation, the broader US market might be compelled to follow suit.

In various respects, US smartphones trail behind their international counterparts, notably in camera quality and battery life. The improvements in battery technology are a recent trend, following years where Chinese smartphones have showcased rapid charging technologies that have yet to see widespread application in the US. Innovations like silicon-carbon batteries allow for larger energy storage in the same space, enhancing performance. Typical smartphones have seen their battery capacity double recently, while slim devices and foldables now frequently outperform standard models in terms of battery life—Honor’s Magic 8 Pro Air is comparable in thickness to Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge but surpasses the S26 Ultra with a superior battery.

Thus far, the trio of Apple, Samsung, and Google has not introduced any models utilizing silicon-carbon batteries, nor have they indicated plans to do so. In stark contrast, numerous Chinese Android manufacturers have already embraced this technology.

The slow uptake in the US may be attributed to concerns about long-term battery life. Silicon-carbon batteries could potentially degrade in capacity more quickly, leading to larger, but not necessarily enduring, batteries. Chinese manufacturers assert they have found methods to mitigate this issue; however, tangible evidence will only emerge as initial silicon-carbon devices age. Furthermore, the requirement of maintaining 80 percent battery capacity after five years under forthcoming EU regulations adds caution for manufacturers who may not want to compromise battery longevity.

When it comes to cameras, the situation is equally concerning. Although Apple, Google, and Samsung have previously set benchmarks in mobile photography, there’s no current clear leader among them. Continual minor updates have resulted in many phones utilizing outdated camera hardware. Samsung has lagged the most, evidenced by its S26 and S26 Plus having hardly progressed from their predecessors, the S22.

In contrast, leading Chinese brands consider camera advancements their competitive edge. Each year, their Ultra flagship models enhance aspects such as resolution, sensor size, and aperture, and these innovations trickle down to more affordable models. Collaborations with companies like Zeiss, Leica, and Hasselblad bring custom lenses, color tuning, and unique design elements to the devices. Furthermore, these advancements extend beyond phones into accessories, like official camera grips featuring shutter buttons and zoom controls, and even telephoto extenders that drastically enhance shooting capabilities.

Of course, enhancements have their drawbacks. Larger sensors and superior lenses require more space, resulting in bulkier cameras that can dominate the rear of modern Ultra smartphones. While they deliver performance, they may lack aesthetic charm. I’ve questioned whether Apple would embrace such large camera setups, though the newly designed camera “plateau” on the iPhone 17 Pro indicates a potential shift in design philosophy.

Additionally, camera components represent a substantial cost, significantly impacting profit margins for each smartphone produced. Tim Cook, known for his practical approach to maximizing profits through gradual upgrades, likely frowns upon initiatives that would reduce the iPhone’s profitability.

I’ve recently begun testing Vivo’s X300 Ultra, a smartphone boasting multiple 200-megapixel camera sensors, a robust 6,600mAh silicon-carbon battery, and compatibility with two external telephoto lenses alongside a grip transforming the phone into a compact camera. Each rear camera is comparable in specs to the primary cameras of leading models from Apple, Samsung, and Google.

As remarkable as the X300 Ultra is, these features are not groundbreaking. Similar attributes appear in recent flagship models from Oppo, Xiaomi, and Huawei, including a 10x telephoto lens that outperforms Samsung’s latest offering, a continuous optical zoom with an adjustable lens, and a camera that switches between two lenses sharing a single sensor. Honor is set to release a phone with a robotic gimbal camera mechanism. The disparity in photographic capabilities is so stark that my experience using last year’s Pixel 10 Pro XL, lauded as one of the top camera phones in the US, left me frustrated by its limitations compared to various Chinese flagships.

However, this issue extends beyond Ultra models, and it includes elements beyond just batteries and cameras. The Honor 600 offers better specifications than the iPhone 17 at a lower price, featuring a 200-megapixel, 1/1.4-inch main camera, a 7,000mAh battery, and the utmost IP69K dust and water-resistance rating — surpassing the iPhone in all aspects. Poco’s X8 Pro Max retails from $469, equipped with a 9,000mAh battery and 100W charging, alongside the same outstanding IP69K rating. Spend slightly more on the company’s $769 F8 Ultra and enjoy stereo speakers and a subwoofer from Bose. Innovative features, such as RGB lighting, liquid cooling, color-shifting designs, and dual screens on the rear, have all been created, but few have made it widely to the US market due to skepticism towards Chinese technology and resistance from US carriers.

The US smartphone landscape is primarily dominated by two players: Apple and Samsung. While Google’s Pixel makes headlines now and then, it still holds a marginal market share. Motorola performs well selling lower-end models, but given rumors that OnePlus may cease US operations, choices for consumers may soon diminish. You may not be inclined toward phones with RGB lighting or built-in subwoofers; I certainly am not. Yet, there are buyers out there wanting such options, which are unavailable in the US.

However, hardware is not the sole consideration. Apple has thrived for years despite being outperformed in specifications, relying on product design, seamless software integration, and an easy-to-navigate ecosystem to compensate. Google has similar strengths with its Pixel devices, and Samsung’s One UI is the version of Android most familiar to US consumers. Previously, software was a significant drawback for Chinese smartphone manufacturers; nonetheless, as they have upgraded their hardware, they have also made strides in enhancing the user experience of their versions of Android, often mirroring Apple’s design ethos.

Currently, I favor Oppo’s ColorOS over Samsung’s One UI, noting that its multitasking capabilities make it superior for foldable devices. Brands are gradually minimizing bloatware, refining interfaces, and optimizing performance. Although challenges remain, progress is at an all-time high.

When combined with contentious updates like Liquid Glass or the redesign of the iPhone 17 Pro, it is evident that US brands cannot depend on UI advantages indefinitely. As the specification divide widens, the situation becomes more problematic. My fiancé switched to Android after a decade with iPhones, enticed by the superior camera capabilities of Vivo’s flagship. That was years ago, and while Vivo’s camera technology has considerably improved since, Apple’s camera systems remain largely unchanged.

There’s potential for Apple to return to a mindset of innovation, and should this occur, it’s likely that Samsung and Google will follow closely behind. Despite mixed opinions about it, the iPhone Air was a significant shift in Apple’s mobile offerings. This could serve as a pilot project ahead of Ternus’ anticipated launch of the first foldable iPhone later this year, especially given that foldable devices are now waterproof, dust resistant, and almost crease-free. Reports from Bloomberg suggest he was “a champion” of the MacBook Neo, a more budget-friendly laptop that recently received critical acclaim and strong sales. Not every initiative has been successful; one Bloomberg profile described him as “a driving force” behind the MacBook Touch Bar, and later the butterfly keyboard. However, even missteps indicate a leader open to innovation, corrections, and progress.

That said, there’s no assurance that Ternus will spearhead a revitalization of the iPhone’s innovative spirit. He is known for pushing engineering limits, yet also maintains a “Cookian approach to cost management.” In a challenging economic climate marked by rising component prices, it will be tough to justify investing in cutting-edge technology while still ensuring profitability for Apple. Moreover, presently Apple commands the largest global smartphone market share, with only Samsung competitively capable of challenging that position shortly. Xiaomi remains in third, holding merely two-thirds of Apple’s stake. Coupling that with potential regulatory challenges posed by silicon-carbon batteries and the risk that larger camera components may disrupt the sleek aesthetic of the iPhone, my confidence in Ternus leading the iPhone into a specifications competition soon is limited.

Regardless of which direction Ternus leans when he begins his tenure in October, the repercussions of his choices will extend beyond Apple’s boundaries, influencing the hardware teams at Google and Samsung. If Apple resumes its push into advanced smartphone hardware, it will benefit all consumers—especially smartphone users in the US.

Windows users will now have the flexibility to avoid automatic updates while engaged in gaming or during a busy schedule. Microsoft is introducing sought-after modifications to Windows Update for those on its Dev and Experimental Windows Insider channels, featuring the option to postpone updates indefinitely for up to 35 days at once.

Last month, Microsoft unveiled various forthcoming alterations to enhance Windows 11 and tackle some of the frequent user grievances regarding the system. The central focus of the company’s intended updates was making updates less intrusive. In a blog entry released on Friday, Microsoft stated that you can “extend the pause end date as many times as necessary” and that there are “no restrictions” on how many times you can revert to another 35-day period. If the updates are not re-paused at the end of the 35-day duration, they will proceed as normal.

The modifications to Windows Update will also feature more precise titles for driver updates, indicating the relevant device class, like display, audio, or battery.

Moreover, Windows 11 will consistently provide options within the power menu to restart or shut down without triggering updates, in addition to the ability to bypass updates when setting up a new Windows device. Microsoft is also working on “standardizing the update experience” by consolidating updates to minimize the frequency of reboots. Instead, “updates will download in the background, then will wait for a synchronized installation and restart.”