Ideas
Explore the world's #1 largest database of ideas and innovations, with 459,692 inspiring examples.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,236 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 321,366 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Consumer Insights
Uncover major shifts and emerging opportunities with our exclusive PRO research.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,236 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 321,366 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Trend Reports
Get fast, customized trend reports, presentations and deep dives 20x faster than traditional research.
Plans
Get started today with a free consultation, our self-serve tools, or a dedicated program.
Articles & Magazine
Get inspired with our 4,208 innovation strategy articles, keynote, videos and innovation tools.
Innovation Awards
Trend Hunter’s Innovation Strategy Awards recognize the best innovation tactics gathered from our interviews with some of the world's most notable business leaders, authors and change makers.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Innovation Assessment
Enhance your innovation potential with a deeper understanding of your unique innovation archetype and how your organization benchmarks.
FuturistU
Prepare for the years ahead with 100+ lessons, tactics, tools and frameworks with our full learning database.
Innovation Books
Join 20,000,000 people getting better and faster with our New York Times Bestselling books and keynote videos.
Jeremy Gutsche
Ignite your event or virtual event with our CEO, a NY Times Bestselling Author and one of the top innovation keynote speakers.
Our Team of Speakers & Virtual Presenters
Inspire your group with our most popular speakers on innovation, trends, change and futurism.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Custom Masterclasses
Join the world's leading brands who leverage our custom programs to accelerate innovation.
FuturistU 5-Day Program
Become a Futurist with our immersive 5-Day program at Future Festival World Summit.
Online eLearning
Learn the fundamentals of futurism and trends with 100+ online courses about innovation.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Contact
Get in touch to learn more, ask a question or submit a tip.
About Us
Learn more about Trend Hunter and how we accelerate innovation.
Follow-Us
Join our 3,500,000 social media followers, on the cutting edge.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
FAQ
Get answers to common questions about Trend Hunter.
Community
Stay on the cutting-edge with the help of the Trend Hunter community.
Team
Meet the team trusted by hundreds of leading businesses worldwide.
Jobs
Find opportunities to accelerate your career with the #1 Trend Firm.
News
Catch up on noteworthy Trend Hunter news and media mentions.
Join
Build a portfolio and put your trend-spotting abilities to the test.
Advertising
Supercharge your marketing by partnering with Trend Hunter.
Portfolio
Visit your public portfolio and browse your past articles.
Add a Trend
Write up an article and showcase your trend-spotting skills.
My Trends
Edit your articles and see how they stack up on the leaderboards.
Settings
Edit your profile, connect your social media accounts, and more.
Add a trend, customize your dashboard, or track topics.
Future Festival
Innovation Events
Join the world's top innovators at our in person events.
Free Webinars
Learn to innovate through chaos, navigate the new normal and maintain work culture from home.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Search our database of 459,692 cutting edge ideas.

Premium Affordability

Cell phone manufacturers scale back features for emerging markets

Implications - As mobile connectivity becomes less of a luxury and more of a necessity -- especially for those who have limited options for alternate access to the Internet -- a call for scaled-back budget mobiles can be seen. Beyond providing accessibility, this exemplifies a more strategic approach to mobile features, as the definition of "technological necessity" is turned on its head in the digital age.
Workshop Question - How can your brand cater to the growing necessity of tech, and balance that with growing income inequality?
Trend Themes
1. Affordable Smartphones - The demand for affordable smartphones is driving the market for stripped-down budget devices targeted towards consumers in developing markets.
2. Minimalist Features - As seen with the Nokia 230 and Asus Live, minimalist features cater to consumers who seek affordability but still desire a capable smartphone experience.
3. Premium Budget Smartphones - Brands such as Samsung and Meizu are tapping into the demand for affordable premium smartphones, delivering powerful devices at budget prices.
Industry Implications
1. Technology - The technology sector is seeing disruptive innovation opportunities in the form of affordable smartphone devices targeted towards a new customer base.
2. Manufacturing - Manufacturing companies can leverage the demand for affordable smartphones to create new, cheaper models with minimalist features suitable for developing markets.
3. Marketing - Marketing professionals can tap into the growing demand for affordable premium smartphones and develop new strategies to reach an increasingly budget-conscious consumer base.
3.4
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
5 Featured, 44 Examples:
126,395 Total Clicks
Date Range:
Dec 15 — May 16
Trending:
Mild
Consumer Insight Topics:

Related Examples

Compact VR Headsets
Compact VR Headsets
The SmartVR by Dodocase is Cheaper and Chicer than Google Cardboard
Chat-Based Travel Assistants
Chat-Based Travel Assistants
'Go Hero' Helps Travelers Outsource Hotel and Activity Bookings
Folding Smartphone Tablets
Folding Smartphone Tablets
Samsung Sets a Date to Release a Hybrid "Smartlet" Device for Next Year
Universal Touchscreen Remotes
Universal Touchscreen Remotes
The Ray Remote Can Control a Variety of Multimedia Devices
Smartphone-Mending Kits
Smartphone-Mending Kits
This 17-Piece Smartphone Repair Kit Helps You Save Money On Phone Repairs
Self-Scanning Shopping Apps
Self-Scanning Shopping Apps
QueueHop Lets You Skip the Line With Smartphone Self-Service Checkout
Genetics-Revealing Apps
Genetics-Revealing Apps
myGenome Makes Your Full Genome Sequencing Available via Your Smartphone
Ergonomic Smartphone Camera Grips
Ergonomic Smartphone Camera Grips
The Pictar Camera Grip Gives iPhone Users the Control of a DSLR
Phone-Charging Lamps
Phone-Charging Lamps
The Candela Uses Natural Energy to Provide Light and Charge Smartphones
Inductive Charging Cases
Inductive Charging Cases
The New Mophie Case Has Wireless Battery Charging for Samsung Devices
Curved-Screen Smartphones
Curved-Screen Smartphones
The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Features a Curved Glass Back
Camera-Focused Smartphones
Camera-Focused Smartphones
The LG X Cam is Targeted Towards Camera-Obsessed Smartphone Users
Earthquake-Detecting Apps
Earthquake-Detecting Apps
The 'MyShake' App Enables Earthquake Detection from a Smartphone
Reactive Bendable Smartphone
Reactive Bendable Smartphone
The 'ReFlex' Packs an OLED Display with Intuitive Features
Affordable VR Smartphone Headsets
Affordable VR Smartphone Headsets
The DSCVR Headset Enables Smartphone Virtual Reality with Ease
Keyless Bluetooth Locks
Keyless Bluetooth Locks
The Locksmart Offers a Wireless Way to Keep Personal Belongings Safe
3D Mapping Apps
3D Mapping Apps
The StreetTrax Lets Consumers Virtually Visit Locations Via a Smartphone
Travel Checklist Apps
Travel Checklist Apps
Nepal-Based Startup Thingsle Creates a Curated List of Travel To Dos
Always-On Smartphone Cases
Always-On Smartphone Cases
The LG G5 Quick Phone Cover is Touch-Enabled
Honorable Chinese Smartphones
Honorable Chinese Smartphones
The Huawei Honor 5X Offers High-End Features At a Competitive Price
Virtual Reality Studios
Virtual Reality Studios
Samsung is Opening a VR Studio in New York City
Collapsible VR Headsets
Collapsible VR Headsets
The 'Pocket VR' with CandyShell Grip Made Its Debut at CES 2016
Image-Stabilizing Smartphones
Image-Stabilizing Smartphones
The Samsung Galaxy A 2016 Phones Feature Improved Cameras
Wireless Charging Add-Ons
Wireless Charging Add-Ons
The iClever Qi Wireless Charging Receiver Upgrades Devices in a Snap
Buoyant Waterproof Phones
Buoyant Waterproof Phones
The 'Comet' Device Boasts Floating Capabilities When Submerged in Water
Thumbdrive Computers
Thumbdrive Computers
The Asus QM1-B002 Packs a Punch in Miniature-Size Housing
Pocket-Sized Computers
Pocket-Sized Computers
This PC-On-a-Stick is a Tiny Computer You Can Take On the Go
Personalized Smartwatch Faces
Personalized Smartwatch Faces
The Asus ZenWatch 2 Lets Users Display Photos on Their Smartwatches
Paper-Thin Tablets
Paper-Thin Tablets
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 Takes Lightness to New Extremes
play_circle_filled Unbreakable Futuristic Phones
Unbreakable Futuristic Phones
This Phone is Encrypted, Waterproof and Safe From Hacking
Stimulating Baby Phones
Stimulating Baby Phones
The VTech Touch and Swipe is a Smartphone For Babies and Toddlers
Eco-Friendly Modular Phones
Eco-Friendly Modular Phones
This Sustainable Smartphone is Made From Ethically Sourced Materials
Creative Photography Challenges
Creative Photography Challenges
The #SWOCS Challenge Gives You the Chance to Win An ASUS Zenfone 2
Ruggedly Protective Smartphones
Ruggedly Protective Smartphones
The Samsung Galaxy S6 Active Features Quality Specs and Ruggedness
All-In-One Monitors
All-In-One Monitors
The Asus Zen AiO Features Slick Tapered Edges and Great Specs
Surround Sound Tablets
Surround Sound Tablets
The ASUS ZenPad Tablet Features Surround Sound Technology
Complete USB-Sized Computers
Complete USB-Sized Computers
The Google and ASUS Chromebit Turns Monitors into Working Computers
Neon Phone Chargers
Neon Phone Chargers
Nokia DT-903 is a Flashy Charger that Glows Bright Colors
Fingerprint-Free Smartphones
Fingerprint-Free Smartphones
The ZenFone 2 Was Unleashed At CES 2015
Budget-Friendly Internet Phones
Budget-Friendly Internet Phones
The $29 Nokia 2015 Was Introduced At CES 2015
Handbag-Inspired Tablets
Handbag-Inspired Tablets
The Asus Memo Pad 7's Design is Inspired by Women's Clutch Handbags
Budget-Friendly Smartphones
Budget-Friendly Smartphones
The Nokia Lumia 350 is the Cheapest Windows Phone Ever Made
Multiple Device-Supporting Docks
Multiple Device-Supporting Docks
The EverDock Will Charge Whatever Device Model You Choose
play_circle_filled Low-Cost Multifunctional Smartphones
Low-Cost Multifunctional Smartphones
The Nokia 220 is unveiled at the 2014 Mobile World Congress