Smartphones can perform as well as traditional PCs, and they're even more user-friendly for those who previously struggled with computers. However, smartphone innovation doesn't stop at phones alone. Their design evolution has also influenced our desktops and laptops.

Here are features introduced by smartphones that have enhanced the PC experience compared to how things used to be.

7 Access Apps from a Single Trusted Source

Prior to smartphones, most people were used to scouring the internet for apps to download. You would usually go directly to an app's website to grab an installer. This worked fine for popular apps but wasn’t ideal for lesser-known ones trying to reach users.

There was no centralized authority ensuring the safety of such software. While downloading Steam from its official site felt trustworthy, finding a similar-looking installer elsewhere could expose you to viruses or other security threats.

Technically speaking, Linux distributions already had centralized software sources called package repositories. That was one reason I really appreciated Ubuntu when I first started using Linux.

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Posts 34 Still, it was smartphones that ultimately made this approach the standard way we now expect to find apps. Today, app stores are integrated into Windows, Macs, and Chromebooks alike.

6 One-Click App Installation

Previously, clicking to download an app didn't actually give you the program itself. You downloaded an installer instead, which required going through multiple setup screens before files were copied to the right folders.

Now, clicking install in an app store shows a short progress bar, and then the full app appears in your launcher. The same installation process still occurs behind the scenes, but it's mostly hidden, and there's no risk of accidentally installing a malware-infected toolbar in your browser.

5 Many Accessories Are Now Integrated

In the past, buying a desktop PC meant purchasing many components separately. Keyboards, mice, webcams, and microphones often weren't included. If you wanted a stylus, you needed a separate drawing tablet. Well, desktops remain like that—but they’re not the only choice anymore.

Phones come with all these features built-in. These compact devices include high-quality cameras, excellent mics, and sometimes even a stylus, like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.

As a result, people can start engaging in creative work without researching and buying extra accessories.

Phones have gone even further by including sensors like compasses, GPS, gyroscopes, and more. Some models, like Google's latest Pixels, even attempt to function as thermometers.

4 Touchscreens Have Become Standard

Not long ago, being able to control a screen with your fingers was considered unusual. You might encounter them in businesses, but rarely in homes. Today, touchscreens are everywhere. Just watch young children interact with a screen—you'll quickly realize that touch has become second nature. It's also a very intuitive and accessible way to operate a device.

A touchscreen isn't always the best input method, but on laptops and handheld gaming devices, having one is often beneficial.

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Posts 3 Mobile-Inspired Software Is Simpler to Learn --------------------------------------------------

Phones have smaller screens than desktops, so they can't display as much information at once. Because of this, mobile interfaces need to show fewer buttons and labels. Despite that, people still want to do plenty with their phones. As a result, apps have grown more powerful while maintaining simple interfaces. This makes software easier to learn and use compared to complex desktop applications.

This isn't about being unable to handle complex software. I understand the desktop version of Slack perfectly well, but the mobile app presents the same information in a way that feels much easier to navigate.

This kind of design isn't exclusive to mobile. Part of why I'm still fond of Linux is how much I appreciate the GNOME desktop environment, which draws inspiration from mobile design with its simplicity.

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Posts 22 2 System Updates Are Less Disruptive ------------------------------------------------

People have learned to dread updates thanks to Microsoft Windows. But it's not the only operating system guilty of causing issues—software updates in general can break things or introduce bugs.

However, phone updates tend to be far less disruptive than desktop ones. Installing updates on a phone rarely costs you an hour or two of productivity. Often, they happen overnight since phones are seldom turned off completely. While bugs can occur, it’s rare for an update to brick a phone unless you're tinkering with a custom ROM.

1 Prices Have Decreased

While flagship phones are increasingly expensive, budget phones are cheaper than ever—even outperforming similarly priced PCs. CMF phones, for instance, feel faster than some low-cost Windows PCs or Chromebooks. Honestly, it's amazing how much computing power fits inside such small devices.

You can purchase a capable pocket computer—which is essentially what modern smartphones are—for about the cost of a week’s groceries. That simply wasn’t possible with computers a few decades ago.

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Posts 21 ---

Smartphones are associated with several societal problems. People are constantly distracted. Anyone can record your actions or words and instantly post them online. Mobile games have taken over the industry and arguably degraded it in the process.

But none of that diminishes the engineering achievements represented by our phones, nor does it negate the positive impact they've had on software design trends.

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