Being the age I am, I’m just old enough to remember flip-phones.
A relatively simple concept that has been on my mind lately for reasons I’ll get to. Widely considered obsolete unless you just want a cheap phone to make calls etc., these phones featured a screen on one side, a keypad on the other, with a hinge joint between the two.
The reason that this device has been dragged back to the front of my brain in recent weeks is because I am reminded of them every time I see this:
To be clear: I’m aware that this foldable iphone is not the first foldable modern smartphone (I know Samsung released them years ago also).
But I’m also left wondering: what is the point? I think I can perfectly understand the use of flip phones as they were when they were popular, but foldable phones I just can’t see the benefit. As far as I can see, these foldable type of phones offer little to no benefit that you couldn’t get from, say a regular iPhone or Samsung phone, in terms of the consumer and how they are used in general life. I get that the hardware/software may be different, but that’s not going to be a factor in most people’s daily lives (you’re not going to care about the type of core, or the screen resolution when you make a phone call, etc.) It seems like it’s more of a gimmick from the companies making them to try and make more sales, but even if that’s the case, the product must have something unique to offer, so what is it about foldable phones that are so unique besides the gimmick of folding?
It’s a full color tablet that fits in your pocket. That comes with huge quality of life improvements displaying PDFs, e-books, comics, spreadsheets, charts, diagrams, videos, etc. Have you ever tried reading a PDF on a phone screen? It sucks.
I’ve had a fold for a couple years now, and I use the inner screen constantly. If you don’t read as much as I do it’s probably just a gimmick, but it’s great for me.
The foldable screen was a game changer for me. Id never had a ebook reader before and now all of the sudden I can read a book at work on my breaks. But also the coolest part is getting into graphic novels and comics for the first time in my life. Life changing.
the coolest part is getting into graphic novels and comics for the first time in my life. Life changing.
Yup, comics suck on a phone screen. I had been looking for a good color e-reader, and all things considered the portability of the fold made the decision pretty easy
Meh, people go on about productivity and whatnot but I don’t think that’s a good thing, if you need to work you use a computer, need to do both? Then use a laptop, people already have no boundaries between work and personal life, foldables are making it worse.
I do work on my phone, desktop, tablet and laptop.
I also do free time and entertainment an all 4 devices
I didn’t say anything about work or productivity. Like it is useful for that, but it’s largely for leisure reading.
You could say the same thing about laptops, of having a desktop PC in your house.
How about be an adult and set some boundaries for yourself instead of pretending that since we have improved technology that you’re “enslaved” or something. “Woe is me, Apple hath made it too difficult to avoid my boss with this big luxurious screen!”
Nah, capitalism did that, sweetie. Your toxic boss did that. But you’re a grown up and you can assert yourself without being rude. Practice in front of the mirror if you have to, okay?
This is middle tech. It is like walking is to speed walking then running. One fold is proof of concept when we get to 3 or 4 folds that’s where the magic happens. People watching a video without headphones out in public on a tiny screen, pretty annoying. We are three folds away from someone unfolding a 32" screen to watch their content anywhere also without headphones.
new folding phone concept it’s one screen but folds out 2 speakers
I don’t understand. Do you not see that the screen doubles in size? It’s like a 2 in 1 phone/tablet. That’s the benefit.
I understand that, and yes I agree that it is a benefit for some people, but for others (myself included) it just isn’t.
As politely as I can, so you do see the point of a folding phone, you just aren’t the market for it. I agree with you that it’s not for me either, but that doesn’t mean they have no point and I recognize the larger screen use case for other people, whatever that means for them.
Absolutely I see your point, I just wondered if there were any other points (ones that might appeal to people who don’t find that particular point appealing), but it doesn’t appear that there is (unless anyone can suggest an alternative to the gimmick). If there is a point, but I don’t see any benefit of that particular point, then to me there is no point. So if there are any other points, I would consider. Idk if I explained my point of view well enough (I did try to explain I considered the folding to be a gimmick in the post above) but that’s it as best I can explain it.
So, then, you’re asking what the point of tablets are? You’ve never wanted to read on a train?
I’m asking: beside the folding space thingy point, what else do the folding phones have in terms of appeal to the consumer (specifically the consumer who doesn’t see any advantage in the space/size points?
Oh! Well there’s also the Green Lantern thing. Have you ever wanted a green spectral pet bird, for example? They do that too, but mostly it’s the size thing.
Have you ever wanted a green spectral pet bird
Erm… no. No, tbh.
My motorola razr 2025 is a flip smart phone, and as a lady, it actually fits in the pockets of all my pants. My old non-flip phone did not fit in my pockets. It is common for ladies pockets (if pants even have them) to be less than 1/2 the size of pockets found in mens pants.
Solid reasoning but it does treat the symptom rather than the cause, so to speak.
I fully agree. However, most people who design women’s clothing will continue to not put functional pockets in them because it does look good. So, I’ll do all I can do is continue to buy from brands that actually have functional pockets. It is exhausting. I cannot tell you how many wonderful pants at a good price I have passed up due to either completely fake pockets or pockets so shallow they are only good for a tube of lip balm. My pocket problems aside, I agree that folding phones are quite gimmicky.
Agreed. I learned all about pockets (or lack thereof) early on when my wife and I were dating. I just wish women could have pockets so it didn’t dictate other parts of life as a result.
I wish they’d bring back slider phones with physical keyboards. Pre-smartphone days I used to have a phone (I don’t remember what it was) that was a full touch screen with a physical home and back button on the front and then you flipped it sideways and the back slid down and there was an entire physical keyboard for easy typing/texting. I’m not interested in a folding smartphone, but if they released a slider with an actual keyboard I’d buy it in a heartbeat. I loved that phone and I loved being able to type on the screen with a digital keyboard for quick stuff or flip the keyboard out and use actual keys when I wanted to type a novel of a text message.
My first smartphone was a Samsung Epic 4G. I still miss the keyboard sometimes…
That’s exactly what I want as a smartphone. I don’t want a huge screen or fancy features, give me a little touch screen, a good camera, a physical keyboard, and an actual home button and I’d be so happy.
They can squeeze out higher profit margins if they don’t have to make a physical model variation for each country/language. Think of the shareholders!
They don’t have to sell multiple variations because they don’t have to sell worldwide
Bigger screen, smaller pocket size.
They also break easier so you have to buy more phones.
Screen is always protected though and those screens were very easy to scratch.
They can be damaged by dirt getting in the hinge. Iirc, the Pixel fold is the least at risk at an IP68 rating, but other brands tend to be IP4X (the first number is how resistant to particles)
If a piece of sand gets caught in the hinge it can permanently cause the screen to bubble out.
For the record, I’ve had a Samsung Z Fold the past 2 years without much issue besides the cases and protectors always falling apart within a year. And I’m going to switch to a Pixel Fold soon for Graphene OS
I’m gonna throw a big asterisk here though. I bought my current pixel 9 pro fold in 2024 and it didn’t break until today, when I was opening it. I saw nothing to indicate why it happened.
I have dropped it enough to be amazed it’s late this long.
I saw nothing to indicate why it happened.
That alone is a giant red flag to me. I just don’t like the idea of adding complexity where it isn’t necessary but I understand that is a choice some people make.
Eh its luxury tech, you dont need one. Whilegenerally phones areborong tech I am pro niche products and trying things
Novelty.
I often switch to my tablet for reading something on a bigger screen
If I wouldn’t have a tablet, a folding phone would be able to provide the bigger screen.
Well, if you’re my friend’s kid, the point is to make it super easy to accidentally shatter the screen when you close it.
Your poor friend lol
Yeah, I felt super bad cuz she had her own flip and it was a year or two old at that point, but her kid closed it on a small bit of something and that was enough, apparently.
Definitely doesn’t make me want a foldable phone, I’m too damned forgetful and would absolutely fuck up my phone like that.
The functionality of a tablet with the portability of a phone. Seems straightforward and practical to me idk
I’d rather have a phone that flips down to the size of a pocket watch. I can’t ever imagine wanting my phone to be even bigger but still less useful than a tablet but there must be a market for it I guess.
Depends how they fold. Flip folds just give you a nice small phone for pockets, second screen.
I think it’s probably the bigger screen size and an attempt to boost sales by offering something different because there’s not much to really motivate the regular person to buy a new phone unless theirs is just old and needs a refresh. Now that I say that it makes me think there might be a big market someday for refurbished older phones because they don’t have fucking AI in everything.
Fits in my pocket
First off, hardly anyone under 50 uses a phone for calling any longer. It’s now a portable computer. I want a device in my pocket with a small footprint most of the time, but when I need a big screen for getting work done, I no longer need to carry around a tablet too. I can just unfold my phone and see a spreadsheet. Or take notes with a stylus. Or make some doodles. Or share a video with my wife or parents more easily that they can actually see.
So, it’s one device that has multiple functions in different forms. It also means I no longer need to have a ~$1200 phone and a ~$900 iPad mini, I can get both in a single $2000 device.
There are some companies making flip phones for the disconnected folks, if your primary need is a phone, go for it. The commodore one actually looks pretty cool.
hardly anyone under 50 uses a phone for calling any longer
WTF…what are those assholes screaming into their phones held 90 degrees to their mouths doing?
Ok, you got me. I forgot about those dorks.
Also, the people who use voice to text at full volume out in public. What the hell. Just type.
They think holding the phone like that is smart. All those PhD eengineers were stupid to put the mic and speakers 90 degrees off.
Pretty sweeping generalization of what people use smartphones for, lol. Gotta love the “nobody but old people” take.
Maybe they meant only children want a device where the largest stress point is the middle of the screen.
Nerd crumudgeons can’t imagine an extrovert who use voice regularly.
It’s funny, in my whole friend group (early 40’s) we all exclusively text in some form. When one of us calls, it’s an emergency. Except for one of us. He insists on calling. And we make fun of him, to his face. But he can’t get over it. Maybe you’re that person in your group. And that’s ok, just like this device - different strokes for different folks.
Ah, so you assume that your friend group = everyone under 50, and you’re an ass to the one person who doesn’t conform to your made up rules.
Wow. Go touch grass. I can’t see wasting my time discussing all the people in the world I interact with that are different than your myopic view.
Man, you should take a step back and calm down. Not everyone on the internet is as confrontational as you seem to be, speaking of myopic differences.
Have a fantastic life!
Flips are awesome, folds (opens on a vertical joint) are ass
