A specialized report indicated that the rapid progress witnessed by the smartphone industry prompted companies producing Android devices to dispense with some features that were of great importance, despite the practical advantages they provided to users.
At the forefront of these features are the removable batteries, which enable the user to change the battery with ease without resorting to maintenance centers. This was followed by the headphone jack (3.5 mm), which was eliminated in favor of wireless headphones, forcing users to rely on converter connections or Bluetooth technology.
The list also included an external memory card slot (MicroSD), as companies preferred to increase internal storage capacities at higher prices. In addition, the notification light (LED) that gave the user a visual notification about messages he did not see without having to open the screen, and finally the infrared sensor (IR Blaster) that used to turn the phone into a remote control for home appliances, disappeared.
The report confirms that abandoning these features comes in the context of companies’ attempts to provide thinner and more water-resistant designs, as well as to increase sales of accessories and additional attachments.
