The COVID-19 epidemic has anchored the globe for over two years. The virus wreaked havoc on various industries, including technology and telecommunications, but it hasn’t slowed their progress.
Granted, the epidemic has created several delays, but technology continues to advance at a breakneck pace. Foldable phones are getting more popular, Samsung has demonstrated new display and chip technologies, smartphones and laptops are becoming more powerful than ever, and Pakistan’s technological economy is booming.
However, as 2021 draws to a close, it’s time to look ahead to the following year. In 2022, what can we expect to see? How much will technology advance in the coming year?
Let’s get down to business.
Pakistan’s Technological Development
In the past, Pakistan’s IT industry has lagged behind the rest of the globe. Pakistan has been reluctant to adopt modern technologies compared to other emerging countries. However, Pakistan’s digital environment has exploded in the last year in unprecedented ways.
Pakistani companies have raised more money in the last five years than in the prior five years combined. Smartphone behemoths like Oppo, Samsung, and Xiaomi have begun local production, and we now make our smartphone chips as well. Elon Musk’s satellite-based internet provider, Starlink, recently met with PTA officials to discuss a possible official launch in Pakistan.
Smartphones are clearly on their way to becoming less expensive and more widely available in Pakistan. In 2022, our country will also have high-speed internet, and IT businesses will thrive. Although 5G infrastructure will expand in the coming year, the next-generation cellular internet will not be available until 2023. PTA predicts a 5G debut in 2023, but we won’t know for sure until Pakistan’s 5G infrastructure improves.
Smartphones
Every year, the hardware of smartphones is improved. Features first seen on flagship phones found their way to more cheap phones the following year. This is nothing new, and it will continue in 2022. High refresh rates, large batteries, AI cameras, and powerful CPUs are currently the standard, and they will continue to do so next year.
But, in 2022, what new technologies can we expect?
In 2022, the market for foldable phones, for example, will continue to increase. More than four brands have already released foldable cellphones, and the growing competition will force manufacturers to develop their products even more. In 2021, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 became one of the best-selling Samsung phones, and this trend is expected to continue the following year.
We will see design and hardware enhancements, notably on Samsung devices, as is customary. Foldable phones will not yet replace ordinary smartphones, but by 2022, they will be far more widespread.
Furthermore, next year will witness the maturation of under-display camera technology and more ultrasonic fingerprint sensors. Compact cellphones are also making a comeback, and if firms continue to work on them, the trend may resurface.
Rollable display technology has recently gained popularity, and it’s feasible that we’ll see a phone using this technology in 2022.
Laptops
The laptop market is nearly identical to the smartphone market. We see the same devices with a few minor hardware updates every year. Apple’s MacBook appears precisely the same as it did years ago, and other firms continue to imitate its design.
Apple has begun creating its CPUs for MacBooks, the M1 series, a positive move. These processors outperform their Intel equivalents by a wide margin, forcing Apple’s competitors to fire on all cylinders.
Companies like Samsung and Qualcomm have begun creating their own robust laptop CPUs, and the increasing competition will only benefit customers by lowering prices and improving performance.
Multi-screen laptops and laptops with folding displays are other fascinating breakthroughs to look forward to. This year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Lenovo and Dell unveiled their next-generation laptop screens, quickly followed by variants from other businesses.
With multiple/flexible displays, these laptops enhance multitasking and mobility, and we expect to learn more about them at the next CES, which is just around the horizon.
Gaming
The gambling industry is now experiencing a downturn. The worldwide chip scarcity isn’t going away anytime soon, which is terrible news for gamers who can’t get their hands on gaming consoles or graphics cards for their computers.
The supply of semiconductor chips is vastly outstripped by demand. This has resulted in a severe shortage of hardware, to the point that consoles and PC components are either out of stock or unreasonably pricey. The only way to obtain them is to be either lucky or wealthy enough to disregard the current exorbitant pricing.
The best strategy right now is to keep your current gaming equipment, especially if you’re a passionate player. Intel and Nvidia, among other hardware companies, have forecast that the worldwide chip scarcity will last until 2022 and disappear in 2023. Without a doubt, there is still time to save money for better gear.
Despite the doom and gloom, there is a ray of optimism in the form of Intel’s line of graphics cards for PCs, which will be released early next year, and Nvidia’s next generation of RTX 4000 series graphics cards, which will be released later in 2022.
On a more positive note, God of War: Ragnarok, Elden Ring, Dying Light 2, Hellblade II, Forespoken, and dozens of more games will be released in 2022.
TVs
When it comes to televisions, there isn’t much to discuss. CES 2022 is just around the way, and we anticipate seeing numerous industry titans there, but display technology will only witness modest advancements.
Mini LED technology, which has lately gained popularity, will have improved brightness and power efficiency, OLEDs will get better heat management to minimize burn-ins, and more gaming-related features will be available.
More brands are anticipated to release their own Mini LED TVs, and increasing competition leads to lower pricing. Furthermore, the quality of these displays is likely to improve at a quicker rate. Who knows, maybe Mini LED TVs may be inexpensive enough for Pakistanis this year.
Smart TVs are also becoming more popular in Pakistan. Many people now have them, but more manufacturers are likely to debut them in 2022, soon dominating the smart TV industry. More homes are anticipated to have one by the end of 2022, becoming more affordable.
On the other hand, LG has something more spectacular planned for this year. The Korean startup previously teased the StandbyME, a battery-powered TV with wheels. It even includes a touchscreen, so you can take it off the stand and use it as a giant tablet.
We’ll learn more about this at CES 2022, and we’re confident that other firms will unveil their revolutionary televisions. Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait until CES 2022, which starts in the first week of January 2022.
What do you anticipate the state of the IT sector will be in 2022? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
