The Most Overlooked Smartphone Features You Probably Never Use

In today’s world, smartphones are packed with incredible hardware and software features. With every new model, manufacturers introduce innovative functions designed to enhance our lives. But let’s be honest: how many of these features do we actually use? Surprisingly, many powerful tools inside our phones go unnoticed or are rarely tapped into. Today, we’re taking a closer look at some of the least used smartphone features—features you probably have on your phone right now but never bother to explore.

1. The Forgotten IR Blaster

Remember when having an IR blaster on your phone was a big deal? The IR (infrared) blaster allowed you to control TVs, ACs, and other appliances straight from your phone, turning it into a universal remote. It was a genuinely cool feature, especially for tech lovers. You could walk into a room, aim your phone, and change channels without hunting for the remote.

But fast forward to today, and the IR blaster has become a bit of a relic. Why? The rise of smart homes. Now, voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant manage appliances with voice commands. Instead of aiming a phone, you simply say, “Alexa, turn on the TV,” and it’s done. Even though some phones still include IR blasters, very few people actually use them. You might have tried it once, set it up, and then reached for the actual remote the next day because it’s more convenient and offers more complete control.

2. The Low-Resolution Macro and Depth Cameras

Ever noticed the tiny cameras labeled “2MP Macro” or “5MP Depth” on your phone? These cameras are often hyped in marketing materials, promising better portraits or the ability to capture stunning close-up shots of flowers and insects. But let’s be real: how often do we actually use them?

Sure, in the first few days of owning the phone, you might have tried taking extreme close-ups of a leaf or your food for Instagram. But after that initial excitement, the macro camera tends to be forgotten. The same goes for depth cameras—modern phones achieve excellent background blur (bokeh) effects using software alone. Even flagship phones skip dedicated depth sensors because computational photography has advanced so much. For everyday users, these cameras are features we rarely touch.

3. Reverse Wireless Charging: Cool But Impractical

Another fancy feature found in flagship phones is reverse wireless charging. The idea sounds awesome: your phone can charge another device wirelessly. Need to top up your friend’s phone? Just place it on the back of yours.

But in reality, the feature is painfully slow. Charging a pair of earbuds or a smartwatch might be fine in an emergency, but charging another smartphone this way? It’s like watching paint dry. Plus, reverse wireless charging drains your phone’s battery quickly. Most people forget it even exists. Unless you’re showing off to friends or truly stuck without a charger, it’s a feature that stays buried deep in settings, unused.

4. Smart Vibration Patterns You Never Customized

Do you know your phone lets you assign custom vibration patterns to different contacts? Maybe you did when you first set it up. The idea was brilliant: you could tell who was calling even if your phone was on silent in your pocket. Dad’s call could vibrate in one rhythm, your best friend’s in another.

But how many of us still use this? In fact, many people don’t even know the feature exists anymore. It’s hidden deep in settings, and unless you’re very particular about notifications, chances are you never bothered customizing vibration patterns beyond the default.

5. Air Gestures: Wave, But Why?

There was a time when air gestures were advertised as cutting-edge tech. Imagine answering calls or flipping photos just by waving your hand in front of the screen. Samsung and other manufacturers pushed this as a futuristic way to interact with your phone.

In practice, it felt gimmicky. The gestures weren’t always reliable, and in most situations, it was faster and easier to just touch the screen. Most users tried it once or twice for fun and then switched it off. Today, few people even remember their phone supports air gestures.

6. Edge Lighting for Calls: Pretty but Pointless?

If you owned a phone with a curved display, you might have seen edge lighting effects. When a call or notification arrived, the edges of the screen would glow in fancy colors. You could even assign different colors to different contacts.

Sure, it looked cool. But if your phone is face-up or in your hand, you’d see the notification normally anyway. The edge lighting was mostly useful if the phone was lying face down on a table. Plus, only certain phones with curved displays even support this feature. Most people play with it for a few days and then forget about it.

7. The Moon Zoom Obsession

Flagship phones like Samsung’s Galaxy Ultra series come with impressive zoom capabilities. One of the fun demos? Taking a detailed photo of the moon. It’s an incredible showcase of camera power—but it’s also a one-time thrill for most people.

After snapping a few moon photos, the excitement fades. How many times can you photograph the moon before realizing every shot looks similar? For everyday photography, extreme zoom isn’t something most users need frequently. It’s a cool party trick that rarely finds practical use.

8. AR Emojis and Memojis: Cute but Forgotten

AR Emojis and Memojis let you create cartoon avatars of yourself. You can send animated stickers or record fun videos mimicking your expressions. Apple made Memojis popular among iPhone users, and Samsung followed with their own version.

While they’re fun at first, very few people use these features regularly. Once the novelty wears off, AR Emojis sit unused in the app drawer. Unless you’re deep into iMessage culture or love playful chats, this feature likely hasn’t seen action in months.

9. Gesture-Based Shortcuts You Never Mastered

Some Android phones let you perform actions with gesture-based shortcuts. Draw a letter on the locked screen to launch an app. Swipe with three fingers to take a screenshot. Rotate your wrist to open the camera. These gestures were meant to save time.

But let’s be honest: most people forget them. Pressing the power and volume buttons is muscle memory for screenshots. Unlocking the phone and tapping the camera icon feels natural. While gesture shortcuts are useful, they’re not always intuitive enough to stick.

10. NFC: The Tap You Rarely Need

NFC (Near Field Communication) enables tap-based payments, data transfer, and pairing devices. It’s a powerful feature that powers things like Google Pay and Samsung Pay. Yet for many users, it’s rarely used outside specific situations.

If you’re not regularly making mobile payments or using NFC-enabled accessories, you might forget your phone even has NFC. Despite its usefulness, NFC remains underutilized by the average smartphone owner.

Why Do We Ignore These Features?

So why are so many smartphone features underused? There are a few reasons:

1. Overwhelming options: Phones come with dozens of features, making it hard to keep track.
2. Gimmick factor: Some features feel more like marketing tools than everyday necessities.
3. Better alternatives: Voice assistants, touchscreens, and apps often replace hardware-based solutions.
4. Complexity: Features hidden in deep settings menus discourage casual users.

It doesn’t mean these features are useless—they’re simply not essential for most people’s daily routines.

Should You Start Using Them?

If you’ve never explored these features, maybe it’s time to experiment. Your phone might surprise you with capabilities you didn’t realize were helpful. Even so, it’s perfectly okay if they don’t fit your lifestyle. Smartphones are designed to offer choices; it’s up to you to decide which ones matter.

From the IR blaster to air gestures, from macro cameras to reverse wireless charging, these overlooked features represent the hidden side of smartphone technology. They remind us that innovation sometimes outpaces our actual needs. And maybe that’s the beauty of smartphones—they can do more than we expect, even if we don’t always take advantage of it.

What about you? Are there any smartphone features you’ve never used? Let us know in the comments below!