The tech industry is an ever-changing, and ever-evolving one, and in 2021, the second year affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, what we now call the new normal, began taking shape. As a result, smartphones, wearables and even televisions saw common trends in new features and additions.
Elements like NFC on phones, or good webcams on laptops became more important than ever and tech areas where the pre-COVID world would have compromised, now became deal-breaking components. Here are some of the top COVID-induced trends we saw in products in 2021.
Cameras and picture quality
Camera quality on phones has been a big deal for over a decade, but cameras on laptops and tablets usually got by as long as they took care of the basics. That changed in 2020 and continued in 2021 when Zoom, Google Meet, and Teams became the new way of conducting meetings for a large part of the world’s workforce.
The biggest tech disappointments of 2021
In 2021, this continued and devices like the Paytm Sound box now had successors like the Sound box 2.0 which added SIM support, multiple language support and a screen. Paytm Smart POS, on the other hand, allowed smartphones to be turned into machines that accepted credit/debit card payments.
Meanwhile, features like NFC, which had been around for years now found new meaning with contactless payments gaining momentum. Once a flagship feature, NFC too started being seen on more affordable devices like the OnePlus Nord CE and the Samsung Galaxy M series phones.
Faster WiFi, more data Throughout 2020
A lot of people got used to working at home, and the backbone of remote workplaces was reliable Wi-Fi and cellular data connections. In 2021, we started seeing bigger data plans by telecom providers, now with added benefits like bundled OTT subscriptions. Data rollover became something customers began demanding, and work-from-home data booster plans continued to exist. Also, with more people inside the house, TVs, tablets, smartphones and even consoles, all now connected to the same Wi-Fi network, we also started seeing interest develop around mesh Wi-Fi networks which enabled a more reliable connectivity experience for bigger apartments and bungalows.
Gaming and streaming services
Gaming has become a big deal since 2020, and in 2021 remained one of the more popular forms of at-home entertainment for many. For many friends, a couple of daily rounds of PUBG Mobile or other multiplayer games like Among Us also became the newer way to socialize.
This led to more phones becoming gaming-oriented like the Poco F3 GT which had gaming triggers. We also saw a lot of brands launch gaming-related accessories like the Realme Triggers or the OnePlus Triggers, in addition to a number of other audio accessories
Apple also announced a neat Sharply feature for FaceTime that allowed iOS users to share their streaming with those they were FaceTiming, bringing the experience as close to watching a movie together as possible. Movies also got digital releases as cinemas were shut, while services like BookStore came up renting and buying services for the digital distribution of movies. Platforms like Voot also licensed more sports, now streaming European football leagues like La Liga (the Spanish league) and Ligue 1 (the French league). As we head into 2022, the pandemic will continue as even after mass vaccinations, the new Omicron variant of the virus now poses a serious threat. Our dependence on tech products will only grow in 2022 and hopefully technological innovations will continue into the new year.
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