The Android 10 hardware revolution
Well, that’s the end of an era. Since the arrival of version 1.5 ten years ago, Android has managed to capture child-like enthusiasm for each new release with a new scrummy confectionary codename. But, presumably not finding anything decent beginning with ‘Q’ (quinces have always been under-rated – and yes, they’re a fruit), Google has given us a much more grown-up ‘Android 10’. While there’s been plenty of talk about new dark themes and other new features, like gesture navigation, we’re taking a look at the new OS from a hardware perspective – and what you’ll see coming in your next phone.
BREAKING THE SPEED LIMIT
One of the ‘slow burn’ changes coming to Android phones isn’t exactly the result of Android 10, but looks like coinciding rather nicely – and that’s high-speed display panels. Since day-dot, phone screens of all persuasions (like many PC screens) have had a standard 60Hz refresh rate. However, over the course of the last 18 months or so, what first started as a trickle has become a steady hum of news from vendors all threatening to launch phones with new high-speed display panels. Gaming brand Razer got the game rolling in 2017 with its Razer Phone, packing in a 5.7-inch Sharp IGZO LCD panel refreshing at a default
