Upcoming iPhone 16 Pro Max is rumoured to have 6.9 inch screen. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 has 7.6 inch inner screen. Now, how is the extra 0.7 inches worth all those compromises that foldable phones have? You’re paying top dollar for a device that is compromised in every way for little bit an extra screen real estate. I’m trying be open minded but still it’s hard for me to underatand.
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Other 6.9 vs 7.6 inch screen
- Thread starter Sami13496
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hmm.... If my math is any good, that would be nearly 23% extra screen space with that "fold-a-phone", so more than a "little bit"
Whether that is worth the cost of that foldable, would be for you to decide.
Whether that is worth the cost of that foldable, would be for you to decide.
Dont forget you also have the outer screen also which is 6.3" (Full AMOLED 120hz), which is larger than the 15 Pro just by itself. In terms of Productivity and Media consumption no slab phone can match this, but thank you for being open minded regarding foldables there are a lot of people on MR who are not unfortunately.
Ah yes, the fabled smartphone productivity gurus. I've yet to see one outside of sponsored videos.
What exactly does it mean to be productive on a smartphone?
Media consumption? If you mean video content by any chance, then the almost square aspect ratio of the inner screen is basically useless for that and doesn't provide any advantage compared to a large slab phone.
I'm usually open minded about tech but all this just feels to me like a solution in search of a problem.
But hey, I'm not one to understand why people like carrying bathroom tile equivalent phones on them all day in general nowadays, so what do I know.
Interesting how the Google and Samsung foldable phones use smaller battery capacities than their next model down.
Z Fold 6 screen is far larger. Plus a better comparison is the new Pixel 9 Pro Fold which is 8" unfolded.
A slab phone cannot compare with the screen real estate of a book-style foldable. Whether the current compromises are worth it is an individual matter.
It’s not pretty hard to visualize. Maybe you don’t need to be productive that way but were I live it’s not uncommon to see people using their fold as a mini tablet on the go to read and update spreadsheets. Everything that would be to cramped to do on a 21:9ish aspect ratio benefit a lot more from a bigger squared screen. Linus from LTT also described how I he need to do computer remote control and how the bigger size of the fold is way more comfortable.Ah yes, the fabled smartphone productivity gurus. I've yet to see one outside of sponsored videos.
What exactly does it mean to be productive on a smartphone?
Media consumption? If you mean video content by any chance, then the almost square aspect ratio of the inner screen is basically useless for that and doesn't provide any advantage compared to a large slab phone.
I'm usually open minded about tech but all this just feels to me like a solution in search of a problem.
But hey, I'm not one to understand why people like carrying bathroom tile equivalent phones on them all day in general nowadays, so what do I know.
Also even if the screen is square media will still look bigger than a regular iphone pro max just go see by yourself.
I myself would probably be more interested in a clamp shell design so I don’t have to carry a gigantic 6.9inch iPhone to enjoy this screen size on the go
I do have trouble visualizing just where the optimal solution to a productivity task would be reaching for a foldable phone to do something on a small sub-8" screen with an awkward aspect ratio and no real keyboard available.
How is that something that even remotely competes with proper solutions to work related IT tasks?
In which profession exactly would you regularly and voluntarily put yourself in a position where:
1. you have an IT task that needs doing and,
2. you lack/are far away from the proper tool to perform this task on efficiently (tablet/laptop/desktop PC)
.. just so you can unfold your phone and sort-of do this work task in a pinch, on a less-than-ideal tool?
I am genuinely curious.
Um, no it won't and I've seen it side by side. You get a Pro Max-sized video stream and huge black bars.
Let's do the math and compare the display area:
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 = 4.96" x 5.77" = 28.7 sq. inches
- iPhone 16 Pro Max = 2.89" x 6.26" = 18.1 sq. inches
Please give me at least one concrete real life example what can you do with Fold on car/train/plane/subway that you can’t do with a big regular smartphone like iPhone Plus/ProMax. Or any example of task that you can get done considerably easier with Fold to justify the compromises.
Pixel 9 Pro Fold display is over 32 sq. inches.
Some people really don't understand you can't compare a rectangle to a square.
You might as well ask for examples of why tablets exist.
The split screen allows me to view a spreadsheet while composing an email. It allows me to watch a YouTube video while reading this forum.
So is that some special niche for people who badly manage their work habits and/or workaholics?
If I often anticipate having to do something work related right now, while away from my workplace, which for some inexplicable reason cannot be done on a regular phone, I'll start carrying a tablet or a laptop - both equipped with a proper keyboard..? You know, to do the task properly and 3x faster?
Tablets are in another league compared to foldable phones, not only as far as multitasking capability goes, but accessories - pens, keyboards, cases with stands etc.
Watching a video while reading the forum just sounds like you're not really focusing on either, but hey if a $2000 investment is worth that sort of experience to somebody... who prefers not getting an iPad Mini + way better iPhone instead..
All in all, this feels like a solution in search of a problem, which creates a compromised phone experience and a subpar tablet experience in one package - all for that 1 niche scenario out of 50 where it might feel like you've finally found a use case.. while being left with the worse experience the other 49 times 🙃
Many people likely prefer a foldable iPhone rather than iPad mini + iPhone. It's the same scenario we faced in 2007. Who wants to carry an iPod + phone?
Everyone uses dual monitors today. We've learned to pay attention to more than one thing at a time. Same reason why Apple offers picture in picture in iOS.
That's not an equivalent comparison by any means, the iPhone was superior to the iPod the second it was released in every conceivable way.
The folding phones are just worse at being phones and worse at being tablets, when compared to the dedicated tools...
I use a single ultrawide, so I guess I wouldn't know
And just for fun - the human brain is fundamentally not designed to focus on more than 1 task at a time.
When you think you're multitasking, you're really just switching back and forth between tasks inefficiently.
Sure it is. And no iPhone wasn't superior.
iPod had much longer battery life and the hardware buttons were far better for music playback. There will always be some compromises when devices are merged.
I use a single ultrawide, so I guess I wouldn't know
And just for fun - the human brain is fundamentally not designed to focus on more than 1 task at a time.
When you think you're multitasking, you're really just switching back and forth between tasks inefficiently.
I use a 49-inch UW and can effectively multitask. You don't need 100% focus on all tasks.
Well, you are right... they are in a different league. Since foldable phones can be more than just a tablet...
But the iPhone+iPad Mini is the only viable option for Apple folks that desires some foldable fix (because there are users who are interested in a foldable, but not with Android) ... it's the idea of consolidating while not having to charge or carry multiple devices.
Care to elaborate on this? I don't see how users would get a compromised and subpar package in one... maybe in terms of weight and bulkiness. But in those two areas... OEMs are really improving.
Why is it a compromised phone? Focusing on the (arguably primary) 'phone' role:
The battery life is not great. It's thick and heavy to carry around anywhere out and about. Its cameras are poor, as flagship level optics either don't fit the package or the bill. Worse ingress protection than the IP68 industry standard. Questionable long term durability.
Why is it a compromised tablet?
The battery life is not great. The performance isn't on par with tablet standards. The aspect ratio is way too squared for practical content consumption. The screen is still too small for any attempts at multitasking (of the kind that typically can't be done on a phone). The display can easily be scratched by your finger if you're not careful. Stylus support is risky for the same reason. The display feels very cheap when touching it, compared to glass. The crease does one thing reliably - it gets worse the more you use it, increasingly getting in the way of displayed content. Extremely questionable long term durability. The chances of you keeping the thing for 2+ years are likely very slim.
Battery life can be above average (not great), I'd admit that in comparison to a 15PM or 24U... those users will get a better battery life. But in terms of heavy and thick... I don't think that's an area to criticize a foldable. The Fold 6 weight is just as similar to that of a S24U.
And folks focus on camera angle... but I don't think it's as bad as the critics make it out to be. Would I prefer better camera technology in a foldable? Absolutely! But when you look at the OnePlus Open it has some flagship camera technology. While durability is a valid concern, especially when it comes moving parts. I personally haven't had any major concerns with durability in my 3 to 4 years of ownership (Fold 2, 4 and now 6).
What are we judging performances on... benchmarks? And I have no issues when it comes to multitasking... I can see content perfectly fine when viewing multiple apps on screen. And I use the S-Pen daily, no damage screen to report.
I had the Fold 4 on release date (August 2022) ... could have kept it easily for another year (no service support was necessary throughout ownership), decided to upgrade to the Fold 6 because of the design.
The most popular apps in the world are: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, Temu, etc. Not phone dialer.
The primary purpose of a smartphone in 2024 isn't as a phone. Carrier don't sell minutes. They sell data.
The Samsung Fold phones give you the option of two displays, one vertical, and one more squarish. With the iPhone, there's only one option. So it comes down to personal preference whether you need the extra option.
How productive can a folding phone be? Again it's up to how you use it.
Some people just buy that phone just for the bigger display for watching videos if nothing else. Same reason why someone may get the Pro Max over Pro just because the display is bigger. The thing is, Samsung gives you that option. Don't like folding designs, there are normal designs too.
Do not forgot that Samsung Fold also supports the pen, and there's SamsungDex for external desktop mode.
How productive can a folding phone be? Again it's up to how you use it.
Some people just buy that phone just for the bigger display for watching videos if nothing else. Same reason why someone may get the Pro Max over Pro just because the display is bigger. The thing is, Samsung gives you that option. Don't like folding designs, there are normal designs too.
Do not forgot that Samsung Fold also supports the pen, and there's SamsungDex for external desktop mode.