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The Next Big Thing Isn't Another iPhone

I’ve not let on in any of my posts so far, but I am a big tech fan. I own pretty much every piece of technology you can think of, and I also regularly follow technology blogs and tech YouTube channels. (My favorites include MKBHD, TechnoBuffalo, and The Verge. Check them out!)

Just earlier today, Apple sent out invites for their next keynote event where they will most likely unveil the next iPhone. The most daunting prediction is that the next iPhone will do away with the 3.5mm headphone jack, and a lot of people have mixed (read: negative) feelings about that.

I’m not here to give my own opinion on that specific rumor (partially because I don’t have one). More so, people have been critical that Apple has not been innovative with their product lines recently, especially when compared to other companies like Samsung. But the underlying idea behind this criticism is that people are expecting the next big thing to be another iPhone.

Well… it won’t be. And here’s why.

This post isn’t actually about iPhones. Or smartphones. Or really technology at all. The iPhone is just a good example because it did create a revolution, and people are expecting it to continue to revolutionize our world.

In his now-legendary keynote address, Steve Jobs introduced the original iPhone in a unique way. Prior to its unveiling, he announced that Apple would be sharing “a widescreen iPod with touch controls, a revolutionary mobile product, and a breakthrough Internet communications device”. This was a brilliant move because it was catering to what people already knew and cared about.

Unless you’re super into microchips, you don’t care about technology.
You care about what you can do with the technology.

Jobs did the same thing when he announced the original iPod. He didn’t announce it as a compact device with X amount of storage that can read MP3 files. He announced it as “1000 songs in your pocket.”

The iPhone (and every other smartphone these days) is a platform for lots of things people like to do. In 2007, Jobs focused on the phone, iPod, and Internet pieces of the phone. Today, he might focus more on taking pictures, social media, and watching your favorite videos.

The next big thing will be a new platform for people to continue to do the things they love.

Unfortunately, I have no idea what this will be. Some people think it will be virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR). I’m currently skeptical about that, but things could change. The next big thing may not be technological in nature at all. We’ll have to wait and see. If a company knew what the next big thing would be, no doubt they would be on top of that immediately.


Don’t get me wrong, smartphones are still an excellent platform, and I expect them to stick around for a long while.

But if you’re expecting a revolution... you’re looking in the wrong place.
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