Well, as promised, we are talking foldable this week. The excitement is palpable, and it looks like the rest of our mod team have already started the conversation here. Go check it out.
I honestly don’t know very much about foldable phones, so I’ll let the rest of our (very smart and knowledgeable) mod team handle this one this week. :)
Last thing for future reference at the end of the week, we also have a great thread discussing foldables here too, go check it out if you want more great discussions.
I definitely understand that there is a market for it, but personally I’m not interested. They’re expensive, vulnerable, and I have no need for a screen like that. The high prices and vulnerability were excusable in the first few generations, but I feel like we should’ve advanced further by now. I wonder how many people really use one.
I think they’re a neat concept, but I’m also a device repair tech and they definitely seem to be more prone to damage. Had someone bring in a Z Flip 4 with the “glass” flaking away in the crease, have had people come in with snapped hinges or battery swelling popping one of the screens. The tech doesn’t seem to be quite there yet imo.
Just remembered one cool thing about the Nintendo DS. Thanks to its dual screens and the stylus there were lots of “games” that made it serve as an electronic Japanese dictionary and Kanji learning tool and many Japanese learners used it for that exact purpose (I bought mine just for Kirby Canvas Curse though 🙃):
There were also lots of games exploiting that setting and they offered unique gameplays that you couldn’t find on other hardware.
What would be really cool is if we had a similar software offering on Android that exploits the foldable nature of those phones in a similar way to the Nintendo DS, that would definitely win me over.
I’d say for the same reason you’d prefer a writing tablet on your lap or on your desk while the screen is in front of you, and it’d feel more like an electronic dictionary:
Had a Z Fold 4 for a couple of months now and i dont ever want to go back. It feels great in the hand when closed and it is awesome to have a much larger screen available at any time. Crease isnt very noticable on it
My husband has a zfold. Same feedback after a few months, but recently the screen has finally started having issues at the crease. He’s extremely careful with it, so this is definitely a phone thing and not just a use thing.
It’s probably something he’s already checked, but the screen protector ends up coming off inside the crease after a while. Have had to replace mine and my wife’s twice so far, but it’s an easy fix.
Had one since launch, first foldable. Zero issues with the interior screen/crease. People need to remember you’ll hear about the issues, you won’t hear about people just enjoying their device normally.
I disagree with people who say the inside screen is useless. For one, I use it to share pics with family because it’s easier for multiple people to view. I also use it for watching videos, it’s quite nice.
I am also a remote sys admin. I use the inside screen for RDP/ssh sessions to remote machines for quick weekend maintenance. I will never go back.
Google’s Pixel Fold is pretty much what I’d like to see in a folding phone, whereas Samsung’s extremely tall aspect ratio is a bit too thin for one-handed use.
Other competitors have figured out the formula for something that works well open and closed, so for the Fold type devices I’d like to see Samsung improve on the design and squish it a little, especially because it is so thick when folded.
Flip-style devices on the other hand, those are immediately cool. If the Z Flip had similar cameras to the S23, I would have considered holding out for one. The battery life on the S23 is what won me over.
I did say I will make fun of the Surface Duo 2 last week, but I don’t want to be too mean about it, so… it doesn’t have the crease problem, but I still don’t know who would even want to buy such a phone.
For my Fold4 Samsung will cover replacement of the inner screen almost for free. That said, I’ve had mine since the release and there’s been zero issues with it. My device is used daily as a primary driver and only thing I carry with me on travels. Laptop sits at home.
I felt the same but my wife got one over a year back and so far the only issue has been needing to replace the screen protector where it loses adhesion and starts to create a “bubble” towards the center of the device.
Bigger issue for me is that - unfolded - it’s a bit harder to protect with bumpers, and my experience with mechanical “clamshell” anything tends towards that part going over time
Do you really need a screen protector if the main screen is only ever exposed when you’re actively using it? I’d thought the main point of screen protectors is to prevent scratching against pocket fabric or keys, or accidental drops. Foldables also seem pretty fragile that dropping it is a game over regardless of a screen protector.
The screen protector is mainly there because the inner-screen is either plastic or Ultra Thin Glass™, which makes the inner-screen extremely brittle, despite it being almost always covered.
My wife and I have had the Z-Fold3’s for a while now. Both of us have dropped it many times while open and folded. So far, there are no issues except for the screen protector adhesive one mentioned above.
My son(2.5) threw my wife’s across the room(hard flooring), and the phone was totally fine. In my experience, they’re not as fragile as most people think.
I can’t remember the last time I had that specific use-case though. So maybe it is great for that, and for you, but editing photos on the go is not worth another $1000 on top of the $1000 I spend on a non-folding phone.
Never used a foldable phone. Looks cool, but too bad its not dust resistant and the curved display is very weak against scratches. A hinge in a phone just further shorten it’s lifespan. I wouldn’t use them until it’s not only water-resistant, but also dust proof, and the hinge better outlast the lifespan of the rest of the phone. Considering the high price and also comes with so much drawbacks, they aren’t for the average person. It’s a rich person’s toy.
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I definitely understand that there is a market for it, but personally I’m not interested. They’re expensive, vulnerable, and I have no need for a screen like that. The high prices and vulnerability were excusable in the first few generations, but I feel like we should’ve advanced further by now. I wonder how many people really use one.
I think they’ll be remembered a bit like 3D televisions in a few years… an interesting diversion, that ultimately went nowhere.
I think they’re a neat concept, but I’m also a device repair tech and they definitely seem to be more prone to damage. Had someone bring in a Z Flip 4 with the “glass” flaking away in the crease, have had people come in with snapped hinges or battery swelling popping one of the screens. The tech doesn’t seem to be quite there yet imo.
There could be some interesting designs, but to take advantage of that the UI would need to adapt, I think.
Today I’d rather have user-replaceable batteries and screens.
I really like the idea of of a flip smartphone, but I’m too careless with my phone to have a plastic screen instead of a glass one
Just remembered one cool thing about the Nintendo DS. Thanks to its dual screens and the stylus there were lots of “games” that made it serve as an electronic Japanese dictionary and Kanji learning tool and many Japanese learners used it for that exact purpose (I bought mine just for Kirby Canvas Curse though 🙃):
There were also lots of games exploiting that setting and they offered unique gameplays that you couldn’t find on other hardware.
What would be really cool is if we had a similar software offering on Android that exploits the foldable nature of those phones in a similar way to the Nintendo DS, that would definitely win me over.
But, what would you need a foldable phone for that purpouse? You can do the same with a regular phone in portrait mode.
I’d say for the same reason you’d prefer a writing tablet on your lap or on your desk while the screen is in front of you, and it’d feel more like an electronic dictionary:
If it doesn’t make a neat noise when I flip it open like a Star Trek communicator I’m not interested.
I’m interested but am waiting to let the technology mature some more, and let the price come down.
Bah. I just want one of these.
Had a Z Fold 4 for a couple of months now and i dont ever want to go back. It feels great in the hand when closed and it is awesome to have a much larger screen available at any time. Crease isnt very noticable on it
My husband has a zfold. Same feedback after a few months, but recently the screen has finally started having issues at the crease. He’s extremely careful with it, so this is definitely a phone thing and not just a use thing.
It’s probably something he’s already checked, but the screen protector ends up coming off inside the crease after a while. Have had to replace mine and my wife’s twice so far, but it’s an easy fix.
Oh good to know. There’s truly no telling if he checked that, so I will :p
Had one since launch, first foldable. Zero issues with the interior screen/crease. People need to remember you’ll hear about the issues, you won’t hear about people just enjoying their device normally.
I disagree with people who say the inside screen is useless. For one, I use it to share pics with family because it’s easier for multiple people to view. I also use it for watching videos, it’s quite nice.
I am also a remote sys admin. I use the inside screen for RDP/ssh sessions to remote machines for quick weekend maintenance. I will never go back.
Google’s Pixel Fold is pretty much what I’d like to see in a folding phone, whereas Samsung’s extremely tall aspect ratio is a bit too thin for one-handed use.
Other competitors have figured out the formula for something that works well open and closed, so for the Fold type devices I’d like to see Samsung improve on the design and squish it a little, especially because it is so thick when folded.
Flip-style devices on the other hand, those are immediately cool. If the Z Flip had similar cameras to the S23, I would have considered holding out for one. The battery life on the S23 is what won me over.
I did say I will make fun of the Surface Duo 2 last week, but I don’t want to be too mean about it, so… it doesn’t have the crease problem, but I still don’t know who would even want to buy such a phone.
I don’t trust it not to break.
Also they’re wildly expensive.
For my Fold4 Samsung will cover replacement of the inner screen almost for free. That said, I’ve had mine since the release and there’s been zero issues with it. My device is used daily as a primary driver and only thing I carry with me on travels. Laptop sits at home.
I felt the same but my wife got one over a year back and so far the only issue has been needing to replace the screen protector where it loses adhesion and starts to create a “bubble” towards the center of the device.
Bigger issue for me is that - unfolded - it’s a bit harder to protect with bumpers, and my experience with mechanical “clamshell” anything tends towards that part going over time
Do you really need a screen protector if the main screen is only ever exposed when you’re actively using it? I’d thought the main point of screen protectors is to prevent scratching against pocket fabric or keys, or accidental drops. Foldables also seem pretty fragile that dropping it is a game over regardless of a screen protector.
The screen protector is mainly there because the inner-screen is either plastic or Ultra Thin Glass™, which makes the inner-screen extremely brittle, despite it being almost always covered.
Well my wife did drop something on the phone once when it was open and I’m pretty sure the protector saved it :-)
My wife and I have had the Z-Fold3’s for a while now. Both of us have dropped it many times while open and folded. So far, there are no issues except for the screen protector adhesive one mentioned above.
My son(2.5) threw my wife’s across the room(hard flooring), and the phone was totally fine. In my experience, they’re not as fragile as most people think.
I think it’s one of the dumbest new “features” I’ve seen on a phone since… I actually can’t remember anything worse right now.
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I can’t remember the last time I had that specific use-case though. So maybe it is great for that, and for you, but editing photos on the go is not worth another $1000 on top of the $1000 I spend on a non-folding phone.
Maybe not worth it for you, and that’s fine!
Notch?
Never used a foldable phone. Looks cool, but too bad its not dust resistant and the curved display is very weak against scratches. A hinge in a phone just further shorten it’s lifespan. I wouldn’t use them until it’s not only water-resistant, but also dust proof, and the hinge better outlast the lifespan of the rest of the phone. Considering the high price and also comes with so much drawbacks, they aren’t for the average person. It’s a rich person’s toy.