Did you feel the buzz around the new iPhone 16E launch? Neither did most people. Gone are the days of overnight lines outside Apple Stores, applause echoing as early adopters unboxed the latest iDevice. These days, iPhone updates feel more like software patches than technological revolutions.

So what happened? Has Apple lost its innovative touch, or is the entire smartphone industry running on fumes?

Despite improvements like foldable displays, better cameras, and premium finishes, smartphones simply don’t excite us like they used to. And maybe that’s okay. Many users now prioritize reliability over novelty. In the words of Steve Jobs, devices should “just work.”

Smartphones have matured. They’re not just phones anymore—they’re mini-computers, cameras, GPS systems, wallets, and more. The real magic lies in the services they support: Uber, Google Pay, Apple Wallet. They don’t just have NFC or GPS; they unlock entire ecosystems.

There are 7.5 billion active smartphones globally. That’s more than enough to raise the question: what could possibly come next? Are we destined to stare at little screens for another hundred years?

What Made Smartphones So Ubiquitous?

To guess what might replace smartphones, it’s essential to understand why they succeeded in the first place. The smartphone’s rise came down to three traits:

1. Functionality consolidation: It absorbed dozens of devices and tools.
2. Always-on presence: It’s with us 24/7.
3. Innovation enabler: It created new industries and habits.

When the iPhone debuted in 2007, it wasn’t just a phone. It was an iPod, a web browser, and a cellular device—all in one sleek package. Over time, it quietly absorbed cameras, alarm clocks, calculators, maps, radios, handheld gaming consoles, and even keys.

Apps turned it into a scanner, a pedometer, a banking terminal, a photo studio, and a shopping mall. Paper maps, boarding passes, cash, physical tickets, even house keys—gone or going.

Its impact wasn’t just in hardware absorption. It also shifted our habits. Bank transfers, food delivery, fitness tracking, social networking—all moved to mobile.

The Power of Being Always On

A big reason for the smartphone’s dominance is that it’s always on, always connected. Unlike landlines or desktops, we never truly put them away. Whether we’re waiting in line or killing time, the smartphone is always our companion.

This always-on nature is what makes smartphones so effective—and so addictive. In contrast, VR headsets like the Apple Vision Pro, while impressive, demand a level of immersion and isolation that doesn’t fit with day-to-day life. You can’t walk down the street in a headset. You can’t wear it while driving or chatting with friends.

Innovation as a Platform

The iPhone didn’t just change what we do—it changed what we could build. Entire industries were born because the smartphone existed: Uber, TikTok, DoorDash, Duolingo. All of them rely on GPS, real-time data, and mobile apps. The smartphone turned into the ultimate innovation platform.

Any device that wants to replace it must not just compete with its features but offer a similar platform for new ideas.

So, What’s Next?

What device can be always with us, absorb other functions, and power new innovations?

Enter: Mixed Reality Smart Glasses (MRSG).

Not to be confused with clunky VR headsets or gimmicky audio glasses, MRSG are sleek, everyday-looking glasses that blend the digital and physical worlds. They project information onto transparent lenses, integrating the real world with digital overlays.

The Case for Smart Glasses

Unlike phones, which make us look down at small screens, smart glasses offer a heads-up experience. No more hunching over; instead, information is available in your field of view. Think navigation directions that appear while you walk. Notifications that float beside your real-world surroundings. Real-time translation or facial recognition.

Technologies being developed for MRSG include:

• Micro-LED or OLED projectors
• Waveguide displays that embed digital images into your line of sight
• Laser projection systems that beam images directly to your retina

Companies like Meta are already prototyping these devices, aiming for glasses that combine power, comfort, and everyday utility.

MRSG won’t be worn 24/7 (at least not initially), but they have the potential to meet the three criteria that smartphones fulfilled so well:

• Absorb multiple functionalities
• Remain passively present and always accessible
• Unlock new services and industries

The Post-Smartphone World

Smartphones were never perfect. They cause eye strain, bad posture, social isolation. Smart glasses could solve these problems while offering even deeper integration with our digital lives.

We might not be there yet, but the writing is on the wall. As display tech improves and use cases expand, MRSG could very well be the next big shift in personal computing.

The smartphone changed the world by pulling dozens of devices into one. Smart glasses might just change it again by pulling that screen off your hand—and into your world.