Any Hidden Features like the following?
www.benq.com/en-us/knowledge-center/knowledge/usb-c-introduction-what-is-dp-alt-mode.html

Looking for a phone which has most of the lesser known or Hidden features... which many are not aware of...

 

I got a second hand-me-down smart phone when I had a problem with the first one. BIG MISTAKE!!
It seems like every producer of cell phones does their best to make every feature work quite differently than the others. So unless your cousin likes having to relearn EVERY function that is available, my suggestion is to see if they can speak with others who have phones similar to whatever the cousin is considering and see what they like and dislike.

 

I got a second hand-me-down smart phone when I had a problem with the first one. BIG MISTAKE!!
It seems like every producer of cell phones does their best to make every feature work quite differently than the others. So unless your cousin likes having to relearn EVERY function that is available, my suggestion is to see if they can speak with others who have phones similar to whatever the cousin is considering and see what they like and dislike.

He is not into games, not a photo freak. not into social networking sites. He is just a common Indian citizen looking to pump out more juice from whatever he purchase...

 

Approach this the way you would as a competent consultant.

First develop a requirements document using some form of use case methodology. You can read about this online, but you really don't need a high level of formality. You can use a simple user story approach.

Saying what he doesn't need is not going to help very much, instead, write down a narrative of his typical day's use of the phone, e.g.:

MORNING
Wake up to the phone's alarm.
Put on some music.
Check my calendar.
Check my email.

WORK
Message colleagues to exchange files.
Quickly view and edit a document received in email, then send it off to someone else.
Photograph documents for saving as PDFs.

(etc.)

Also try to find edge cases where he does something he otherwise doesn't report—like, say, watching videos or making voice recordings.

Then, using that information make an evaluation in positive space for a phone that matches his requirements. Your enigmatic requirement:

He is just a common Indian citizen looking to pump out more juice from whatever he purchase...

Raises more questions than it answers, including: what would "pumping out more juice" mean to someone who doesn't play games or take photos? What would he be doing to pump the extra juice?

 

He is not into games, not a photo freak. not into social networking sites. He is just a common Indian citizen looking to pump out more juice from whatever he purchase...

The pain points that I have encountered do not include games or social media, or even interne access. Common things like answering calls and making calls, and texts.

 

Why own a space shuttle and only drive it around the corner to church and back on Sundays? A simple flip phone might be all he needs.

 

Someplace in between makes sense. It seems to me that many smartphones are intentionally made too big to fit into a pocket.

 

The pain points that I have encountered do not include games or social media, or even interne access. Common things like answering calls and making calls, and texts.

This seems odd. The UI on smartphones is similar to computers with icons and popups. How is it hard to make/answer calls or send texts? The phone icon takes you to the phone app where you can use contacts or an on-screen keyboard to place a call, and an incoming call invokes a dialogue box that let's you answer or ignore. Messaging parallels this.

What difficulty are you having?

As far as size—I use one of the largest phones on the market and while I do dedicate a pocket I carry very comfortable in my left front.

 

I usually dislike the obscure icons provided instead of clear text!
What is so very difficult about actually READING???? OR, are the icon creators wanting to show-off how creative they are???
Of course, it may also be catering to those who are not fluent in the english language, I suppose.
And the phone icon DOES NOT usually lead to an option of accessing the CONTACTS list, unlike my previous phones.
AND, once again, what is so difficult about clear text???

 

What difficulty are you having?

In common PC keyboard, tapping more than one key so often is a nuisance; in a mobile phone with the added help of a stupid corrector is a nightmare. Essential tremor IS a problem.

 

Hello,

in a mobile phone with the added help of a stupid corrector is a nightmare.

I have switched off the stupid corrector on my phone and tablet.

Bertus

 

In common PC keyboard, tapping more than one key so often is a nuisance; in a mobile phone with the added help of a stupid corrector is a nightmare. Essential tremor IS a problem.

There is a keyboard that works by dragging your finger over the screen without lifting it. That might stabilize it, it's worth a try.

 

I usually dislike the obscure icons provided instead of clear text!
What is so very difficult about actually READING???? OR, are the icon creators wanting to show-off how creative they are???
Of course, it may also be catering to those who are not fluent in the english language, I suppose.
And the phone icon DOES NOT usually lead to an option of accessing the CONTACTS list, unlike my previous phones.
AND, once again, what is so difficult about clear text???

Which OS is your phone running?

 

What bugs me is when the phone knows what I want to say; even when I DON'T want to say that.

Darned auto-correct
Darned auto-fill

Even Siri gets me sometimes.

 

There is a keyboard that works by dragging your finger over the screen without lifting it. That might stabilize it, it's worth a try.

Available in this, Samsung A16 5G?

 

Available in this, Samsung A16 5G?

Look for "swipe" or "gesture" typing in the keyboard settings.

 

If you're looking for a phone packed with lesser-known or hidden features, here are a few standout models that go beyond the basics—with quirks and capabilities like DP Alt Mode, reverse wireless charging, desktop modes, and advanced I/O options:


Phones with Hidden or Pro-Level Features
Samsung Galaxy S Series (e.g., S24 Ultra, S23 Ultra)

• DeX Mode – Turns your phone into a desktop PC via USB-C (DP Alt Mode or wireless).
• USB-C with DisplayPort Alt Mode – Supports video output.
• Samsung Secure Folder – Hidden, encrypted space for apps/files.
• Wireless PowerShare – Reverse wireless charging.
• Pro Video Modes – Full manual video control (frame rate, focus, audio input).

ASUS ROG Phone Series

• Dual USB-C Ports – One side-mounted for better grip while gaming.
• External Monitor Support via USB-C (DP Alt Mode) – Great for gaming or work.
• Advanced Air Triggers – Invisible touch buttons on the frame.
• X Mode – Hardware-level performance boost.

Sony Xperia 1 V / Xperia PRO-I

• USB-C with HDMI Capture (Pro-I) – Use the phone as an external monitor/camera screen.
• Creator Mode – Color-accurate display for photo/video editors.
• Full manual camera control – Like a DSLR UI in your pocket.

Motorola Edge+ / Edge 40 Pro

• Ready For – Similar to Samsung DeX; wirelessly connect to monitors, PCs.
• Desktop UI & External Display via USB-C.
• Shake gestures – Chop for flashlight, twist to launch camera.

Google Pixel Series

• Call Screen with Google Assistant – Auto-filter spam calls.
• Now Playing – Constantly detects and displays music playing around you.
• System-level Recorder App with Auto-Transcription – Surprisingly accurate.

Pro Tip: What to Look For

When hunting for hidden features, prioritize phones with:

• USB-C 3.1+ or Thunderbolt – Needed for DP Alt Mode or HDMI out.
• Advanced Android customizations – Samsung, ASUS, Motorola tend to offer more.
• Multiple OS support (like Linux or desktop modes) – Rare but powerful.
• Developer tools or unlocked bootloaders – For sideloading or advanced controls.

Thanks

 

Any Hidden Features like the following?
www.benq.com/en-us/knowledge-center/knowledge/usb-c-introduction-what-is-dp-alt-mode.html

Looking for a phone which has most of the lesser known or Hidden features... which many are not aware of...

Hi S,
I wanted a small smart phone, and I bought a Zenphone10, because it was suggested by a phone shop salesman, that didn't sell them.
I just found out that it does 'stay on keyboard' texting.
C