Five features we need to see on the iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and Pixel next year

The year 2017 has been a golden year for smartphones. From the incredible design of the Samsung Galaxy S8 to the complete overhaul of the iPhone X, buyers were spoiled for choice.

But that does not mean smartphones are perfect just yet, there are still a fair few features missing. Here are the five features we want to see on the next wave of smartphones:

1. The battery

Why is it year after year there are changes made to the screen, processor etc. but nothing for the battery? Best case scenario you get an extra hour - which you'll likely barely even notice. It is time for smartphones to start making some strides with tangible improvements to the battery.

If phones need to be a bit thicker, so be it. No one enjoys having their phone go flat at 6.15pm because you decided to play a game on the bus home. People will sacrifice design for a longer-lasting battery.

It's easy to just boost the capacity, but I think consumers are due a substantial upgrade in the technology of the battery. How? No idea. But if you can dedicate engineers to making your face the poo emoji, I'm willing to bet you can spare some research effort for battery life.

2. Give us more storage

Next year will be 2018, so stop making us delete apps and photos to make more room. It was good to see Apple scrap the 32GB model, but even 64GB is questionable now. Instead of making storage sizes big enough just for 2018, make them the right size for the next 10. Break the mould, why not just take the plunge and make 256GB the standard?

It would even pay for companies to follow Google's lead and offer unlimited storage for photos and videos. Sure Apple and Samsung will miss out on a quick pound from cloud storage, but imagine how easy it will be to lock users in when their entire photo albums are on your servers.

Not many people are going to switch phones when every picture they've ever taken will take two weeks to move across.

3. Unleash the camera

There are very few features more important on a smartphone than the camera. Remember when Apple included a paltry 2 megapixel sensor in the first iPhone? Seems like an eternity ago.

The camera is the way of the future for smartphones. Users have even swallowed the bitter pill of having a lens bump on the rear because of how important it has become. So in an open plea to Apple, Samsung, Google and everyone else: wow us with a camera.

I use a Pixel 2 XL, and the main reason I won't look back towards an iPhone is the superior camera features. Trust me, whoever comes out with the camera to beat in 2018 - and beyond - will rule the marketplace.

4. Unbreakable design

Everyone is sick to death of dropping their phones only to hear the glass shattering. It is a heart-sinking moment when you know you will have to dish out hundreds of pounds, at least. It is time to get a redesign that actually keeps the phone safe.

Just to be clear, no one is asking Apple or Samsung to release an entirely stainless-steel phone that weighs a tonne. All we want is to survive the occasional drop. How can you do this? If I knew, I'd be working for them.

But I'd be willing to bet any company that markets a drop-proof phone - that has not sacrificed every other feature under the sun - will sell like hotcakes.

5. Better, not bigger

Take note from the iPhone X, it managed to squeeze the best iPhone ever made into a smaller body than the Plus models. That is a pretty great effort. So many companies are now focusing on giving phones bigger screens, but we have hit a point of diminishing returns.

Instead of turning all phones into smaller iPads, why not focus on creating the perfect smart device for one hand? Sure you can make do with a 6-inch display and learn to use both hands, but imagine having all the features without a stretch of fingers.

You do not need to make phones any bigger, focus instead on making them better.