With virtual reality on the horizon and set to shake up the technological world, there have been many questions about what will happen to Android smartphones. Will VR glasses usurp handheld devices and render them obsolete? Or will the two platforms rely on each other and become intertwined?

The Android market has previously been boosted massively by other major breakthroughs such as the online casino industry, and VR has the potential to have a similar effect.
Androids Were Previously Boosted By Online Casinos
The Android market blew up in the 2010s, and the rise of the online casino industry is just one testament to the extent of their success and how Androids are primed to work alongside other successful sectors to move forward in their evolution.
Android has become one of the most popular platforms to play casino games, such as the slots at Paddy Power Bingo. That’s because the pick-up-and-play style of titles like Gold Cash Free Spins and Paddy Power Gold Book of Luck is designed for the mobile player who prefers to play in short boosts. Since the Android craze has taken hold across the world, developers have spent more time gearing their offerings toward these devices because they know most players are going to enjoy them in this format.
Androids have continuously evolved over the last decade, and there’s no doubt that they are open to combining with new tech and jumping on hot trends. According to a report from Digital CxO, the VR market should be worth $441.84 billion by 2030. That suggests that Android developers need to learn to integrate the technology. Otherwise, they could run the risk of being overtaken by it.
VR Could be the Next Step in Android Development
There have been efforts to integrate VR with smartphones for some time. Some early examples include Samsung Gear VR, an attachment to the smartphone that transformed it into a VR headset. Now, according to a CNET report, mobile companies are growing more ambitious. Samsung and Google recently formed a partnership to develop a mixed reality offering, designed to compete with the likes of the Apple Vision Pro.
Modern Android phones are much better equipped for the VR transition than the devices that existed back in 2016 when the tech was first expected to explode. Thanks to the high-resolution displays and advanced sensors, it’s now possible to integrate VR within phones. The introduction of 5G technology in Android phones has been a game-changer as well. The high-speed connectivity of 5G is ideal for VR applications, enabling more complex and interactive environments that can be streamed directly to the device without the need for extensive onboard storage.
VR-enabled smartphones are already emerging, and by 2030 the capabilities of handheld devices could be astounding. If Android manages to combine VR in the right way, it will evolve alongside the new technology rather than be replaced by it. These are exciting times for the smartphone industry, which is continuing to go from strength to strength.