This collection of October 2020 mobile trends highlight some of the best and most noteworthy product announcements of the year as well as a number of app-focused innovations. On the hardware side, we've seen Google unveil the new Pixel 4a 5G and the Pixel 5 to the delight of prosumers, while the Sony Xperia 5 II was shown off as one of the best when it comes to photography. The weeks ahead will continue to see brands announce new handsets in anticipation of the holiday season, which could see more consumers than ever upgrading their existing device to a 5G-enabled solution as networks continue to come online around the world.
These October 2020 mobile trends also include a number of robust app ideas such as ones that connect consumers via chat or video methods to help them watch content together when spending increased time apart.
Top 65 Mobile Trends in October
From Top-Tier Flagship Smartphones to Co-Viewing Chat Experiences:
Michael Hemsworth — Oct 25, 2020 — Tech
65
Minimalist Grayscale Smartphone Themes
iOS 14 Icons Transforms App Imagery to be More Simplistic
64
IoT-Connected Bike Lights
The ioLIGHT Was Designed with Urban Commuters in Mind
63
Rural Unstaffed Supermarkets
Lifvs Brings Automated Supermarkets Where They're Needed Most
62
Pop-Up Microcinemas
Oppo Mobile's Cinema in London Lets People Watch Films on Handsets
61
Contactless Body Measurements
3DLOOK Helps Made-to-Measure Companies Collect Body Data Remotely
60
Smartphone-Matching Kickstands
The Spigen U100 Universal Kickstand Folds Up When Not in Use
59
Ergonomic Phone Stands
PUSH Product Design Created STANND to Improve Mobile Interactions
58
Nostalgic 5G Smartphone Designs
The Motorola razr 2 Has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G Processor
57
Redesigned E-Commerce Mobile Apps
The Amazon App for iOS Was Redesigned to Streamline Purchases
56
Self-Diagnostic Skincare Tools
The AI-Powered Digital Beauty Advisor Offers Unique Recommendations
55
Automated Smartphone Gimbals
The OPTREC by Optec Smartphone Photography Mount is Interactive
54
Rugged Enhanced Battery Smartwatches
The HONOR Watch GS Pro Delivers Up to 25 Days of Battery Life
53
Phone-Matching Press-On Nails
PopSockets Nails Perfectly Coordinate with PopGrips
52
Pro-Grade Mobile Game Controllers
The Serafim S1 Smartphone Game Controller is Easy to Use
51
Flexible Tablet-Like Smartphones
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G Smartphone is Thin and Robust
50
Smart Contraceptive Cases
The Emme Smart Case Helps to Track Pills Taken Daily
49
Voice Assistant Phone Grips
TalkSocket Helps Smartphone Users Take a Smart Assistant on the Go
48
Smartphone Video Production Grips
The Shoulderpod G2 Maximizes Capabilities
47
Smartphone-Powered Eyesight Trainers
The 'Eyeye' Eyesight Trainer App Reduce Strain and More
46
Mood-Tracking Journal Apps
The 'Feelyou' Social Mood Tracker Helps with Better Self-Care
45
Coffee-Tracing QR Codes
The Meet the Farmer QR Code Gives Coffee Drinkers Transparency
44
Co-Viewing Chat Experiences
Facebook Messenger Watch Together Lets Users View Together
43
AR Bridal Gowns
David's Bridal and Vertebrae Visualize AR Wedding Dresses
42
Reverse Wireless Charging Smartphones
The Google Pixel 5 Can Charge Up Headphones and More
41
Shifting Display Smartphones
This LG Wing Concept Has a Design That's Ready for Multitasking
40
Virtual 3D Tech Festivals
The 3D Tech Festival Explored the Future of Technology & Fashion
39
Expense-Splitting Finance Apps
The 'Luna' App Helps Users Split Bills, Utilities and More
38
Charitable Virtual Night Runs
Participants Can Raise Meal Donations Through the Ultra Night Run
37
PWYC Burger Promotions
This Burger King Whopper Sandwich Deal Lets Patrons Pay What They Want
36
Multi-Day Battery Gaming Smartphones
The Xiaomi POCO X3 NFC Has a 5,160mAh Battery Pack and More
35
Top-Tier Flagship Smartphones
The Sony Xperia 5 II Packs Plenty of Power for Prosumers
34
Smart Mailbox Sensors
The Ring Mailbox Sensor Shares an Alert When a Mailbox is Opened
33
NFC-Enabled Gin Bottles
The Stin's Limited-Edition Gin Can Be Authenticated by an NFC Chip
32
Digital Artist Livestreams
The Amazon Music App Now Has Streaming Features Through Twitch
31
In-App Food Delivery Advertising
Uber Eats Created a New In-App Advertising Tool for Restaurants
30
Search Engine Styling Apps
UNIQLO's StyleHint App Helps Users Discover New Styles and Tips
29
Eco Restaurant-Rating Apps
JYBE Shares Reviews & Ratings on Businesses with Eco-Friendly Packaging
28
Affordable Triple Lens Smartphones
Samsung's Galaxy A11 Boasts Impressive Photography Capabilities
27
Smartphone Backup Hard Drives
The iDiskk MFi Certified External Hard Drive is for iOS Devices
26
Mobile Ordering Features
Google Users Can Now Order from Panera by Searching 'Panera near Me'
25
Affordable 5G Smartphones
The Google Pixel 4a 5G Has a Crisp Edge-to-Edge Display
24
Customer-Loyalty QSR Launches
Starbucks Rewards Members with its New Star Days Promotion
23
Next-Gen Night Photography Smartphones
The Nokia 2.4 Captures Photos with Incredible Detail
22
Haute Hidden Camera Smartphones
The ZTE Axon 20 5G Smartphone Has a Near Bezel-Free Design
21
AI-Powered Navigation Apps
Google Maps Collaborated with DeepMind AI to Improve Eta Times
20
Curated Audio News Platforms
Google Created a Personalized Audio News Too Named 'Your News Update'
19
Location-Based Socialization Apps
The 'Fyrabend' App Lets Users Find Others to Hang Out With
18
Swiveling Screen Smartphones
The LG WING Smartphone Allows for Enhanced Multitasking
17
Pandemic-Friendly Navigation Platforms
Google Maps Added Pandemic Statistics to Its Platform
16
Voice Assistant Sports Information
Google Assistant Users Can Now Access Baseball Information
15
In-App Voting Games
Houseparty Joined Forces with When We All Vote to Encourage Voting in November
14
App-Based Fantasy Adventures
'Marble Knights' is Available Through the Apple Arcade
13
Mobile Rewards App Promotions
WaBa Grill is Gifting Free Meals in Return for Joining Its App
12
AI-Powered Mobile Reading Tools
Adobe's Liquid Mode Makes It Easier to Read Mobile PDF Files
11
Short-Form Video Expansions
YouTube Shorts Allow Users to Film and Edit Clips Via Mobile
10
At-Home Tailgate Deliveries
This 7-Eleven Pizza Promotion Helps Fans "Homegate"
9
Upgraded Audio-Guided Exercise Apps
The Auro App Now Includes New Running Features and More Music
8
Cajun Cuisine Reward Apps
Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux Now Offers a Loyalty Program and App
7
Convenient Smartphone Trade-Ins
Google Allows Consumers to Trade in Their Old Phones for Credit
6
Convenient Mobile App Recommendations
Android 11 Update Includes App Suggestions on Home Screens
5
Rideshare App Transit Information
Lyft's Transit Feature Allows Users to Compare Routes and Prices
4
AI-Powered Flood Forecasting
Google Created a Flood Forecasting System Covering All of India
3
Affordable Recycled Smartphone Expansions
Google's Pixel 4a is Now Available to Canadian Consumers
2
Intent-Based Operating Systems
Android 11 Provides Users with Better Ways to Communicate
1
Kid-Friendly App Store Updates
Google Play Now Includes a 'Kids' Tab and 'Teacher Approved' Badges
Related Ideas
Premium Retro Mobile Phones
Nokia Presents the Nokia 150 and Nokia 130 as 'Dumb Phones'
Value-Conscious Low-Cost Smartphones
The itel S23+ Offers the Latest Features for Less
Futuristic Racer Smartphones
The Infinix NOTE 40 Series Racing Edition Honors Race Technology
Textual Quick Charge Smartphones
The Vivo Y100 4G Has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 Processor
Flagship Photography Smartphones
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Series Has Five Options in All
Accessible Flagship-Inspired Smartphones
The Infinix Zero 30 4G Has the Helio G99 and 45W Charging
Accessible Industrial Smartphones
The Nothing Phone (2a) Features the MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro
Folding Fashion-Forward Smartphones
The Honor Magic V3 Comes in Four Designer Color Options
Ring Light-Accented Smartphones
The OPPO F27 5G Has a 6.67-Inch OLED Screen and More
User-Repairable Smartphones
Google is Making its Pixel Devices Easier to Repair by End Users
Posh Pill-Shaped Smartphones
The Nokia Infinity Pro Concept Has an Elegant Form and Function
AI Web3 Smartphones
Up Mobile Redefines the Mobile Experience with Integrated AI & Blockchain Tech
Intuitive AI Smartphone Models
The Rabbit R2 Smartphone Concept by Shreyansh Onial is Next-Gen
Rotating Button Panel Smartphones
The Conceptual 'PHONE ONE' by Wayne Lu Adapts to Usage Needs
Color-Infused Glass Smartphones
The Apple iPhone iPhone 15 and 15 Plus Have a 48MP Main Camera
Slim Precision Smartphone Models
The Honor X8b Has a 108MP Main Camera Lens
Durable Color-Accurate Smartphones
The Oppo F27 Pro+ Displays a Billion Colors and More
Flagship Quad-Curved Smartphones
The OnePlus 13 Has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
Durable 5G Business Smartphones
The ThinkPhone 25 Will Be Backed by Updates Through 2029
Millennium-Inspired Cellphones
These New Nokia Phones are Nostalgic with Modern Features
Flagship Gaming Smartphones
The POCO F4 GT is a Gaming-Focused Phone with Mechanical Triggers
GenAI Flip Phone Campaigns
Motorola's Styled with Moto Features AI-Generated Virtual Models
Long Battery-Life Smartphones
Motorola's 'Moto G Power 5G' is a Budget-Friendly Smartphone
Triple Foldable Smartphones
Huawei's Mate XT Ultimate Design Folds Into itself Three Times
Triple-Folding Smartphones
The Huawei Mate XT Has an LTPO OLED Screen That Works in Three Modes
Micro-Curved Finish Smartphones
The Xiaomi 15 Pro Has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
Affordable Mobile Gaming Phones
Tecno Mobile's Pova 6 Pro has an Outspoken Gaming-Inspired Design
Folding AI-Enabled Smartphones
The TECNO Phantom V Fold2 is Slim, Lightweight and Productive
Refined Mobile Gamer Smartphones
The ASUS ROG Phone 8 Shows Off a Premium Design at CES 2024
Folding High-Power Smartphone Models
The Huawei Mate X5 Comes in Five Color Options
Artistic Impressionist Smartphones
The Nubia Z70 Ultra is the Brand's Latest Flagship
5g-Enabled Retail Showcases
Singtel is Surpassing Consumer Expectations with 5G Retail
High-Power Charging Smartphones
The Realme GT5 Has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Processor
Pocket Computer Smartphone Concepts
This iPhone 16S Concept Reimagines the Aesthetic of the Device
Curved OLED Smartphone Models
The New Motorola Edge Shows Off a New Endless Edge Display
Upcoming Flagship Smartphones
Samsung's S24 Lineup Features Qualcomm's 8 Gen 3 SoC
Chromatic Entry-Level Smartphones
The Tecno Spark 20C Comes in Three Color Options
Featherlight Feature-Rich Smartphones
The HONOR X50i+ Comes in Four Color Options
High-Performance Smartphone Ranges
The Samsung Galaxy A15 and A25 Come in Several Configurations
Crimson-Tonal Foldable Phones
OnePlus Shares the Open Apex Edition in a Crimson Shadow Colorway
Gaming-Ready Smartphone Models
The Infinix GT 10 Pro Has the MediaTek Dimensity 8050 Processor
Professional Quad-Lens Smartphones
The OnePlus Ace 3 Runs ColorOS 14 and Has 100W Fast Charging
Retractable Camera Lens Smartphones
The HUAWEI Pura 70 Ultra Captures Stunning Images and More
Futuristic Rollable Smartphones
TECNO Mobile's 'Phantom Ultimate' Expands by Rolling Out
Camera-Centric Chinese Smartphones
Vivo's 'X100 Pro' Offers Best-In-Class Photography Specs
Refined Minimalist Smartphones
The Sharp AQUOS R9 Features On-Device Generative AI
Value-Conscious Tech Products
The Samsung Galaxy FE Series is Flagship-Inspired Yet Accessible
Social Media News Updates
Meta's Threads Update Features a 'Trending Now' Feed for Relevant News
Sleek Smartphone Stylus
The Moto G Stylus 5G Features Upgraded Sensitivity and Software
Artwork-Covered Smartphone Models
The TECNO CAMON 20 X Mr Doodle Edition Has a Whimsical Finish
Chromatic Mid-Range Smartphone Models
The vivo Y36i Has a 6.56-Inch HD+ LCD Screen and More
Retro-Futuristic Cellphone Designs
The Conceptual Noka 7610 5G by AndroidLeo Merges Aesthetics
Monochromatic Anti-Tracking Smartphones
The Punkt MC20 Runs the Apostrophy OS
Tri-Folding Smartphone Concepts
The TECNO Phantom Ultimate 2 Imagines the Foldable Phone Future
Fashion-Forward Flip Smartphones
The Huawei nova Flip Comes in Four Finish Options
Textured Quad-Camera Smartphones
This iPhone 17 Concept by Mohamed Mahdy Has an Industrial Form
Feature-Rich Jewel-Like Smartphones
The HONOR 90 Smartphone Has a 200MP Main Camera Lens
Sustainable Future-Proof Smartphones
The Fairphone 5 is Backed By a Five-Year Warranty and More
Adaptable AI-Enabled Smartphones
The Conceptual Play T 1 Foldable Phone is ChatGPT-Connected
Fan-Designed Glowing Smartphones
Nothing Introduces the Phone (2a) Plus Community Edition
Durable Folding Flagship Smartphones
The Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 Has an 8.02-Inch Foldable AMOLED
Flagship Professional Camera Smartphones
The Honor X50 Pro Has the Matrix AI Vision Camera
Micro-Sized Smartphone Models
The NanoPhone Has Dual-SIM, 4G LTE and WiFi Capabilities
Flipping Multi-Display Smartphones
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 Puts the Flex Window in Focus
Powerful Professional Flagship Smartphones
The Huawei Mate60 Pro+ Has a 5,000mAh Battery
Social Media-Free Flip Phones
The HMD Barbie Phone Fuses Nostalgic Style with Digital Wellness
Angular Flagship Smartphone Models
The Xiaomi 14 and 14 Pro Have the Latest Qualcomm Processor
Low-Cost Telecom Smartphones
The T-Mobile REVVL 6x Smartphones Have 5G Connectivity and More
Dual-Display Smartphone Concepts
The Conceptual iPhone Vision by Antonio De Rosa is Robust
Refreshing Smartphone Finishes
The Google Pixel Mint Finish Readies the Device for Springtime
360-Degree Antenna Smartphones
The iQOO Neo9 Comes in Two Models with Wet Hand Control
Flipping High-Power Smartphones
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 is Slimmer, Tougher and Lighter
Paper-Like Display Smartphones
The TCL 50 NxtPaper and 50 Pro NxtPaper are Easy on the Eyes
Flagship Quad-Sensor Smartphones
The OnePlus 12 Has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Processor
Ultra-Affordable Smartphone Models
The Tecno Pop 9 Features the MediaTek Helio G50
Rugged Mobile Device Collections
These Samsung Tactical Edition Products are Pro-Grade
Game Console-Inspired Phones
Nothing Announced the Phone (2a) Special Edition with a Unique Design
Flip Phone-Inspired Smartphones
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 Retro is Limited-Edition
Low-Budget Smartphone Models
The Moto G Play 2024 Will Launch for Just $150
Pro-Approved Smartphone Lenses
The Latest Moment T-Series Mobile Lenses Elevate Photography
Ocular Support Smartphones
The TCL 40 NXTPAPER is a CES 2024 Innovation Optimized for Human Eyes
Mousse-Hued Smartphones
Pantone x Motorola Decked Devices Out in the 2025 Color of the Year
Midrange AI Productivity Smartphones
The Google Pixel 8a is Powered by the Tensor G3 Processor
Embossed Branding Smartphones
The Huawei nova 12 Series Smartphones Will Come in Three Models
Quantum Security Smartphones
The Huawei Mate 60 Pro is Being Upgraded by China Telecom
Painting-Inspired Premium Phones
The Realme 13 Pro is the Latest Flagship from the Chinese Brand
35mm Camera Lens Smartphones
The nubia Z50S Pro Puts a Premium Camera Layout in the Spotlight
Minimalist Anti-Tracking 5G Smartphones
The Punkt. MCO2 5G Secure Phone Offers Total Control
Futureproofed Mid-Range Smartphones
OnePlus Unveiled the Nord 3 5G, a Powerful Budget Phone
Sleek Satellite Calling Smartphones
The Huawei Mate 60 Features the Kirin 900 Processor
Curvaceous Color-Changing Smartphones
The vivo V29e Has an Elegant, Dual-Tone Color Design
Next-Gen Display Smartphones
The TCL 50 Series Smartphones Come in Three Models
Foldable Flagship Smartphone Models
The OnePlus Open Prioritizes Mobile Productivity
Silicone-Covered Leather-Like Smartphones
The Tecno Camon 30 Premier Has Gorilla Glass 5 and More
Theater-Quality Audio Tablets
The Lenovo Tab M10 5G Has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695
Debut Finnish Mobile Phones
HMD Global, Formerly part of Nokia, Announced the 'HMD Pulse+' Android
Longevity-Focused Budget Smartphones
The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE Has Recycled Materials and More
Pro-Grade Selfie Smartphones
The Infinix Zero 30 5G Has a 50MP Selfie Lens for 4K Videos
Designer Productivity Smartphones
The Oppo K11 Has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 782G Processor
Star-Studded Phone Campaigns
T-Mobile's Ad Features Snoop Dogg, Kai Cenat, and Patrick Mahomes
AI-Enhanced Foldable Smartphones
TECNO Introduces the PHANTOM V Flip 2 with New Features
Paper-Like Display Smartphones
These New TCL Smartphones Prioritize Eye Comfort
Premium Night Camera Smartphones
Xiaomi Unveiled the 14T and 14T Pro as its Latest Flagships
Science Fiction Smartphone Models
The TECNO Pova 5 Has a MediaTek Helio G99 Processor
High-Performance Entry-Level Smartphones
The vivo V30 Lite Has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695
Textured Clamshell Flip Smartphones
The TECNO PHANTOM V Flip 5G Has a Circular Exterior Display
Peach-Hued Smartphones
Pantone x Motorola Created Devices in the 2024 Color of the Year
AI Photography Smartphones
The OSCAL Tiger 13 Blends High-Speed 5G with AI-Enhanced Features
Pro-Grade AI Smartphone Models
The Apple iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are Built for AI
Paid Online Platform Experiences
The New YouTube Premium Features Elevate the Experience
Transforming Productivity Smartphones
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 Has a 7.6-Inch Display
Accessible Folding Smartphone Models
The nubia Flip 5G Showed Off a Snappy Aesthetic at MWC 2024
Advanced Camera-Inspired Smartphones
The Apple iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro Plus Have the A18 Chip
Eye-Tracking Interface Smartphones
The Honor Magic 6 Will Feature the Magic Capsule Technology
High-Performance Smartphone Ranges
The iQOO Neo10 and Neo10 Pro Have 6.78-Inch LTO AMOLED Screens
Feature-Rich Budget-Conscious Smartphones
The Honor X6a Has the Smooth Eye-Comfort Display
Human-Centric AI Smartphones
The HONOR Magic6 Pro Packs a 180MP Telephoto Lens
Modular Mobile Phones
The HMD Fusion Features Swappable Components with Different Features
Transparent LED-Accented Smartphones
The Nothing Phone (2) Has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
Large-Screen AI Phones
Google Released the Pixel 9 Pro XL with Impressive Camera Specs
Metallic Unibody Smartphones
The OnePlus Nord 4 Comes in Three Metal-Matching Colors
Sporty Smartphone Partnerhips
Vivo Unveiled Its V30 Series Smartphones at UEFA EURO 2024™
Gamer-Centric Mobile Phones
The ROG Phone 9 is Designed to Offer a Lag-Free Experience
Refined Elegance Flip Smartphones
The OPPO Find N3 Flip Has an Elegant and Intuitive Design
Distraction-Free Flip Phones
Consumer Cellular Unveils its 'Shot on Flip Phone' Campaign
AI-Enabled Smartphones
Google's Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro Use a Custom Tensor Chip for AI Apps
AI-Enhanced Smartphone Series
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Series Offers New Experiences with Galaxy AI
Power-Packed Smartphone Models
The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus Boasts an Updated Processor
Solution-Oriented Holiday Ads
Orange’s Holiday Ad Brings Families Together Over Smartphones
Stabilized Performance Smartphones
The Asus Zenfone 10 Comes in Five Color Options
Foldable Oversized Display Smartphones
The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Has an Eight-Inch Main Display
Fast-Charging Wide-Screen Smartphones
OnePlus Unveils a Look at the Upcoming Nord 3 Phone
Media Release Monitoring Apps
The 'Upcoming' App Helps Users Track Favorite Media and Explore
Colorful Slab Performance Smartphones
Google Introduces its New Pixel 9 Smartphone Series
Expansive Display Android Smartphones
The Honor Play 50 Plus Comes in an Array of Colors
Smartphone Game Feature Expansions
Apple's iPhone Event Announced its Upcoming Game Launches
Masterful Photography Smartphones
The Sony Xperia 5 V Features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
AI-Powered Mobile Device Processors
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 Keeps Up with Pro Users
External Photo-Taking Features
Google Unveils a New Child-Focused Feature for Photo Taking
Premium Camera-Intact Smartphones
The Xperia 5 V Phone is Designed with a 52-Megapixel Sensor