Foldable phones are coming

[editor]

Liking it more

 

[skyscraper101]

Flip phones are still HUGE in the US!

I suspect the flip phone nostalgia will be stronger on that side of the pond. Even though I had a Razr for a while, I could never properly get into it. The slimmer Krzr K1 was a lot nicer, design wise.

Europe was much more about the 'candybar' Nokia's back in the day.

 

[skyscraper101]

Marques Brownlee likes it, with the expected caveats.

 

[cybershot]

Not quite sure this is the design we were holding out for, good first effort though I suppose.

Samsung aired a Galaxy Z Flip commercial before it even announced the phone

Samsung just couldn’t wait for the real thing

www.theverge.com

 

[editor]

They're getting there...

The Galaxy Z Flip feels like a regular smartphone—and that's exactly why it's amazing

Samsung is clearly making progress on foldables

www.androidpolice.com

 

[skyscraper101]

They're getting there...

The Galaxy Z Flip feels like a regular smartphone—and that's exactly why it's amazing

Samsung is clearly making progress on foldables

www.androidpolice.com

I love this. It’s is a great leap ahead. I also love that they’re not just focusing on making regular size phones tablet size but also going the other way with pocketable flip phones.

 

[pesh]

I had a play with the Razor one a few days ago, it's very cool tech but opening and closing it and operating it all felt a bit awkward.

 

[Badgers]

 

[editor]

Ooh, another one

 

[8ball]

Ooh, another one

What an ingenious way of solving the "borked screen" problem!

 

[kabbes]

It’s the principle the Nintendo DS was built on (not just the hinge, but the ethos he discusses) 16 years ago. And very successful that was too

 

[Marty1]

Can’t wait till Apple release their folding iPhone - perfect excuse to keep hiking their prices into the stratosphere.

 

[Saul Goodman]

Can’t wait till Apple release their folding iPhone - perfect excuse to keep hiking their prices into the stratosphere.

They already released one, the iPhone 6, although it wasn't designed to be foldable.

 

[platinumsage]

Seems very niche to me. A folding phone is inherently less convenient than a normal one, so there has to be some serious upside to compensate. Playing candy crush while on a video call isn't going to be enough of an incentive for most people, especially when iOS14 is going to allow multiple apps on one screen.

 

[skyscraper101]

A folding phone is inherently less convenient than a normal one

Based on what? The whole idea is that folding phones makes larger screens more portable and therefore more convenient.

 

[platinumsage]

Based on what? The whole idea is that folding makes larger screens more portable and therefore more convenient.

Folding and unfolding. Like paper OS maps.

 

[skyscraper101]

Folding and unfolding. Like paper OS maps.

I think many people wouldn't see it that way. Look at all the people who already put their non folding phones in folding cases as it is.

Even if it was less convenient, the upside is being able to pocket a lot more screen so it just gives people more options. Non folding phones will still be the main thing for a while yet.

 

[BigTom]

Folding and unfolding. Like paper OS maps.

Lots of people loved flip phones for their smaller size before smartphones existed. I'm sure plenty of people will value half sized smartphones, or phone sized tablets.

 

[editor]

Folding and unfolding. Like paper OS maps.

You don't have to unfold them to use the phone, but I suspect a lot of people will enjoy the option of being to double their screen size when needed.

 

[platinumsage]

You don't have to unfold them to use the phone, but I suspect a lot of people will enjoy the option of being to double their screen size when needed.

Will they enjoy the hefty price tags though?

I think folding phones will be like 3D cinema, pushed by manufacturers but met with a broad lack of enthusiasm except for a few dedicated fans.

 

[platinumsage]

Lots of people loved flip phones for their smaller size before smartphones existed. I'm sure plenty of people will value half sized smartphones, or phone sized tablets.

If we get a half-sized smartphone i.e. less than three inches square, I might be interested. Pretty sure we won't though.

 

[editor]

Will they enjoy the hefty price tags though?

I think folding phones will be like 3D cinema, pushed by manufacturers but met with a broad lack of enthusiasm except for a few dedicated fans.

Some people seem to have no problem shelling out vast sums of money for phone (see: iPhone) and the price of folding phones will, of course, come down rapidly.

 

[BigTom]

If we get a half-sized smartphone i.e. less than three inches square, I might be interested. Pretty sure we won't though.

iirc lip phones were really, really popular in the US. First gen are all smartphone sized folded I think but I reckon there'll be enough demand for phones like you want for them to be produced in a generation or three. Lots depends on how much it costs though and how low they can the price point though, as to whether there'll be enough actual demand to get those smaller phones produced.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Some people seem to have no problem shelling out vast sums of money for phone (see: iPhone) and the price of folding phones will, of course, come down rapidly.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2, smashing Apple out of the water with an £1800 price tag...

 

[editor]

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2, smashing Apple out of the water with an £1800 price tag...

Hardly comparable with any current Apple products though, is it?

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Hardly comparable with any current Apple products though, is it?

No, nearly twice the price.

 

[kabbes]

Buy two iPhones and stick them together with sellotape

 

[skyscraper101]

It’s a ridic price but good to see they’re pushing on the the concept.

 

[Saul Goodman]

It’s a ridic price

Agreed

but good to see they’re pushing on the the concept.

 

[editor]

Buy two iPhones and stick them together with sellotape

And then it would cost more than the Samsung! Case proven.