Smartphone architecture
At the architectural level, there are three key features a smartphone must provide to gain wide acceptance: small size (except for the display), long battery life, and very high processing performance upon demand. Obviously, the requirements for long battery life and high processing power are in conflict and must be balanced to achieve an optimal design.
The requirement for small size is generally approached by starting with a screen size (in terms of height and width) large enough to render high-quality video and function as a user-input device (especially as a keyboard), yet small enough to be easily carried in a pocket or purse. To keep the overall device size small in terms of total volume, it must be as thin as possible.
In the quest for thinness, the mechanical design must provide sufficient structural strength to support the screen and resist damage from routine handling, drops on the floor, and other physical assaults, while simultaneously providing...