Android

Folding phones.

I was so skeptical at first, and even now it seems most people still are. It's a complete game changer though. There's almost nothing I can't do on my phone anymore, due to the multitasking and the larger screen. I can comfortably use desktop websites when necessary for banking etc. I have watched many dozens of movies and tv shows on it. It's just nicer for reading and browsing the web, and makes your phone feel so much more powerful to have the tablet form factor. I've actually been travelling for over a month with no laptop, just my Fold and a Steam deck.

I'm also appreciating having what is essentially a 5G-connected tablet where in the past I've always dismissed the LTE-connected ipads as a gimmick. It's hard to justify paying extra for the device and then a monthly fee, but now that I have it I can definitely see the appeal of a tablet that just works anywhere you go. Except since it folds you can put it in your pocket too.

The pixel pinch phone body for the Google assistant. Boy how I want that feature badly when I was using OnePlus 3T. It felt like one of those double tap at the back of iphone little niche thing.

I really like since it give the user different kind of input to interact with the phone quickly. We have the double tap and holding for power button, double tap the top of the screen, the screenshot combo button and etc. Same like the interface for controlling your wireless earbud.

The pain for installation/maintenance/replacement for that input must be a nightmare though.

Democracy in the US.

The internet

Probably the Quick View Window case on the LG G-series phones. The overview on notifications was great and allowed answering calls without opening the flap while protecting most of the screen. Also the reduced visible screen space did not blast you with light when checking time in the middle of the night.

Idk if this counts as i dont really involve myself in a lot of discussion, but MAN do i miss two button navigation. it may still be present in some other Android distros but on Graphene an update removed it for me a while ago.

Hardware navegation buttons.

My old Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 had magnetic sensors in it that would shut off the screen. How it worked is you would put a case on it with a cover that would fold over the screen, and the cover had magnets in it that would activate the sensors and turn off the screen when you closed it.

Anyway, it got old and unreliable and I had to replace it. The new ones don't have that feature.

My old LG phones had power and volume controls on the back, rather than the side. Great for picking up the phone with either hand, and it was easier to mount in a phone holder (no buttons to accidentally mash).