Alleged Leaked Images of Samsung's Clamshell-Style Galaxy Fold Appear Online

[FlyingDutch]

Still not convinced foldable are really a good idea (they seem to be a solution to an non existent problem), but this one is much more useful than the first Fold joke, in my opinion.

 

[RedTheReader]

I will never understand why would anyone like to make a folding phone today.

This whole folding thing is a desperate attempt to find something new and exciting for the hell of it, isn’t it? who asked for this really

Still not convinced foldable are really a good idea (they seem to be a solution to an non existent problem), but this one is much more useful than the first Fold joke, in my opinion.

I don’t understand this reaction. When Apple announced the TouchBar, I understood why people saw it as something useless that didn’t need to exist. It’s use case wasn’t overtly obvious, to the point where people really had to strain and come up with ways to take advantage of it. For example, they had to use special software like BetterTouchTool to alter it beyond factory capabilities. And even then, most people (myself included) didn’t find it more useful than just regular old function keys.

Point being, I understood that it felt useless and most people didn’t like it. With Foldables, I can of course understand if people don’t personally like it, but I can’t for the life of me understand how some people don’t understand the purpose behind Foldables. Because unlike the TouchBar, their purpose is obvious.

1. Large Foldables like the Galaxy Fold are meant to be iPad minis that can fit in people’s pockets. I’m unsure why people see the number “6.5 inches” and think that the Max sized iPhones are even close to the size of an iPad mini, but rest assured: they’re not.
2. Small Foldables like the Motorola Razr are meant to be regular, large format phone that don’t feel huge in people’s pockets. Can you honestly not remember the last time your phone irritated you while seated? At all?

I understand that not everyone wants either of these capabilities, and that’s fine. I don’t understand how people pretend that they’re so complicated that they can’t possibly comprehend them.

 

[siri_3005]

This whole folding thing is a desperate attempt to find something new and exciting for the hell of it, isn’t it? who asked for this really

Nobody really other than certain business men that are out of touch with modern times and cares more about quantity over quality or it's people that are nostalgic for the "old days" cause "it was a better time".

 

[FlyingDutch]

I did not expect a folder called Microsoft in there!

Also, what exactly is redacted or censored with the blurry bits there? Or is that just that the picture quality is low?

That spot was the one where the Fold had most of the issues, so I think they are somewhat hiding the “solution”.
If this is the case, it could be a “controlled leak”.
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I don’t understand this reaction. When Apple announced the TouchBar, I understood why people saw it as something useless that didn’t need to exist. It’s use case wasn’t overtly obvious, to the point where people really had to strain and come up with ways to take advantage of it. For example, they had to use special software like BetterTouchTool to alter it beyond factory capabilities. And even then, most people (myself included) didn’t find it more useful than just regular old function keys.

Point being, I understood that it felt useless and most people didn’t like it. With Foldables, I can of course understand if people don’t personally like it, but I can’t for the life of me understand how some people don’t understand the purpose behind Foldables. Because unlike the TouchBar, their purpose is obvious.

1. Large Foldables like the Galaxy Fold are meant to be iPad minis that can fit in people’s pockets. I’m unsure why people see the number “6.5 inches” and think that the Max sized iPhones are even close to the size of an iPad mini, but rest assured: they’re not.
2. Small Foldables like the Motorola Razr are meant to be regular, large format phone that don’t feel huge in people’s pockets. Can you honestly not remember the last time your phone irritated you while seated? At all?

I understand that not everyone wants either of these capabilities, and that’s fine. I don’t understand how people pretend that they’re so complicated that they can’t possibly comprehend them.

I can see many cases where Touchbar is useful.
I cant see a single one where a foldable phone is useful.

That’s why.

 

[Bin Cook]

Clamshell makes sense, it's the most reasonable and sensible phone style. A shame Samsung keeps beating Apple to the punch these days.

LOL - I am no Tim lover, but what exactly is the user benefit here? Go from picking your phone up and it unlocking immediately (Face ID still needs improvement BTW) to now having to physically open the device before even starting that process?

Unless the clamshell opens on automatically on touch then this is a step backwards for usability.

 

[DNichter]

Wow. Ugly and pointless. Similar to the last folding phone they came out with. Until a folding phone adds value in any way, nobody will be buying.

 

[FlyingDutch]

I will never understand why would anyone like to make a folding phone today.

I think because they are desperate in find something “new” today, for Marketing reasons.
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Clamshell makes sense, it's the most reasonable and sensible phone style. A shame Samsung keeps beating Apple to the punch these days.

Samsung what ? 😂
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LOL - I am no Tim lover, but what exactly is the user benefit here? Go from picking your phone up and it unlocking immediately (Face ID still needs improvement BTW) to now having to physically open the device before even starting that process?

Unless the clamshell opens on automatically on touch then this is a step backwards for usability.

Not to speak about having a PLASTIC display !
Who really want a plastic screen on a $2000 device ???

 

[RedTheReader]

I can see many cases where Touchbar is useful.
I cant see a single one where a foldable phone is useful.

That’s why.

You can’t see a single case where an iPad mini sized screen is easier to make use of than an iPhone Max sized screen?

Really?

 

[siri_3005]

Wow. Ugly and pointless. Similar to the last folding phone they came out with. Until a folding phone adds value in any way, nobody will be buying.

I don't see them having real value unless they have a feature that beats other current smartphones out of the water.

 

[RogerWilco]

Clamshell makes sense, it's the most reasonable and sensible phone style. A shame Samsung keeps beating Apple to the punch these days.

Only if it springs open by itself, otherwise it’s a PITA to use. And what’s with that square shape? The only shape worse for a hand-held device would be round — oh wait — Apple once tried that with a mouse...

 

[scsjason]

I love this concept, I'm almost tempted by the new Motorola Razr. This samsung phone looks pretty ugly.

If only apple would get their act together and make something this innovative instead of the dull procession of freakishly large fondle slabs.

 

[waquzy]

Clamshell makes sense, it's the most reasonable and sensible phone style. A shame Samsung keeps beating Apple to the punch these days.

But the reality is, the folding phones will be irrelevant until Apple comes out with one.

 

[vemac575]

DAMN! I would have never expected I'd think this was really cool.

 

[superiska123]

To be honest, I don't get the point of foldables. Fact is, they need to be nearly twice as thick as regular phones just so they could fold — this doesn't make them more portable at all. I'd much rather carry a smaller phone and just use a tablet when I need/want to use a bigger screen.

 

[MarkAtl]

I agree from a mechanical point of view. I'd find it very hard to trust that a folding screen would last very long.

However, it doesn't work from a usability POV. The UI of Android, iOS and - most importantly - all current Apps is a single, large, continuous screen that you can easily swipe the full length/width of for scrolling, gestures etc.

Imagine (say) scrolling and zooming a map, or a "long" web page spread over two small-ish screens separated by a bezel. Nuh-uh.

With a "Nintendo DS"-style setup, in the absence of App support, most of the time you'd be using it as a small display screen and a "soft" keyboard - and I'm not sure that would work well in this form-factor with two screens that would be a lot smaller than the typical modern phone.

It might work better in the "original" Galaxy Fold format - i.e. 2 full-sized modern phone screens so you could have two side-by-side apps or - in landscape mode - one full-sized screen + a tablet-sized keyboard.

My point is if they could do an edge to edge display and have a nearly seamless join between the hinged segments there should be little to no tactile issue and little to no visual gap. No bezel.

 

[Lalatoon]

I think its ugly for some reason.. maybe Im not used to seeing that kind of size when folded.

The only advantage about this Samsung design is a small footprint in your pocket. Other than that I guess there is no other benefits.

I agree from a mechanical point of view. I'd find it very hard to trust that a folding screen would last very long.

However, it doesn't work from a usability POV. The UI of Android, iOS and - most importantly - all current Apps is a single, large, continuous screen that you can easily swipe the full length/width of for scrolling, gestures etc.

Imagine (say) scrolling and zooming a map, or a "long" web page spread over two small-ish screens separated by a bezel. Nuh-uh.

With a "Nintendo DS"-style setup, in the absence of App support, most of the time you'd be using it as a small display screen and a "soft" keyboard - and I'm not sure that would work well in this form-factor with two screens that would be a lot smaller than the typical modern phone.

It might work better in the "original" Galaxy Fold format - i.e. 2 full-sized modern phone screens so you could have two side-by-side apps or - in landscape mode - one full-sized screen + a tablet-sized keyboard.

Microsoft had the right design goals for a product like this in a 2009 tech demo, but we are still far, far away.

I like the Microsoft Surface Duo better than this or Galaxy Fold. Google already has support for foldables in Android 10 (API 29) so it wont be hard to create a more productive apps with foldables or dual screen devices.

Building apps for foldables | Android Developers

developer.android.com

 

[deckard666]

I have a current iPhone 7 the moment pick it up I can read the screen for notifications etc - Can you imagine doing that via unfolding clamshell design for the current 25 pickups a day or my nephews 47

 

[Spacetime Anomaly]

In the future, when they make them wafer thin, folding out into much larger devices, they might be on to something. Right now you are expected to put a two-phone-thick brick in your pocket and pay a premium for it.

Maybe later.

 

[realtuner]

Another massive failure in the making.

 

[scsjason]

I have a current iPhone 7 the moment pick it up I can read the screen for notifications etc - Can you imagine doing that via unfolding clamshell design for the current 25 pickups a day or my nephews 47

The Razr has a small second screen that's visible when folded to view notifications without opening it.

 

[realtuner]

Meanwhile at Apple...

View attachment 883708

 

[DrJR]

I will never understand why would anyone like to make a folding phone today.

I agree. The whole thing is a weird obsession.

 

[FlyingDutch]

But the reality is, the folding phones will be irrelevant until Apple comes out with one.

IF Apple comes out with one, I would say.

 

[DrJR]

View attachment 883712

Apparently you haven't used either. This couldn't be more wrong.

 

[mattopotamus]

Personally, I like this style of folding phones better. I have a lot of gym shorts with a small zipper pocket that these would fit in.