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Somebody put out a rumor and created a 3D mock-up... could this mean that Apple could potentially consider possibly releasing a device at some point in the future? That‘s really some solid forecasting there.
 
Nuts. The last thing I want is a foldable phone. One more place it can break ($1000 phone). But more Apple silicon is innovative -I expect this from Apple and will pay for it. A foldable screen is a gimmick for dumb kids.

signed a 76 year old engineer and Apple long time fan “boy”

Nuts. Remind me to never risk using something you "engineered", lol. =) Proud "dumb kid" owner of a Fold 2 here, I can't even begin to describe how useful it's been for me in both my work and personal life. Of course it's not for everyone, and the current state of foldables is in a sort of beta stage. But there are other technologies which may work better such as rollable screens and such, and technology does advance and improve (yes even for engineers).

I've always been confused by posts like these which throw out the baby with the bathwater with no foresight whatsoever to see an evolving market which, like any other market, has hiccups and makes mistakes. It's easy enough to say "foldables in their current state are too fragile" or "personally I don't have a need for a foldable phone", and I can 110% respect statements like that. But the ones who just throw the entire paradigm out the window with seemingly no thought really irk me.
 
The idea of foldable phones is nice, but the implementation hasn’t been great. There are trade offs that will be hard to solve (thickness, screen scratches, crease, etc.). I think most people see the implementations and aren’t impressed, and they assume the problems cannot be solved (we’ll have to wait and see).

Then you look at what Apple is supposedly doing with AR glasses, and one has to wonder if that isn’t a better solution to the “bigger screen” problem.

See, this is a reasonable and well thought out response to foldable screens. I may not necessarily agree, but at least it's not "Me no like foldables, foldables never good"

I do agree, AR glasses are going to be an extremely interesting paradigm in the near future. We do have a long way to go and I don't think having a full smartphone interface on AR glasses is feasible just yet, certainly not in a package that will be ubiquitous and everyone will wear. I think complaints like creases and durability will be similarly apparent (but different of course) with the AR paradigm for a long time as well.

Finally, personally I feel a BIG part of the issues is that everyone refers to these as foldable phones. There are other form factors such as rollable phones which may provide better functionality, or they may not, but the point is that not everything is or will be "folding". Some of you have to back up a bit and open your eyes to see that the paradigm is not about "folding" screens, it's about carrying around a larger screen that wouldn't fit into your pocket, but then being able to make it smaller so it does fit into your pocket.
 
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Give it to me. Right now.

Apple does not mess around releasing products that use technology previously used by companies in a completely improper way. Anyone remember Palm’s CEO’s quote about Apple smartphone rumors?

November 20th, 2006: “‘We’ve learned and struggled for a few years here figuring out how to make a decent phone,’ he said. ‘PC guys are not going to just figure this out. They’re not going to just walk in.’”

Apple isn’t just “walk[ing] in” with a foldable-display phone. They saw Samsung’s meltdown as clearly as we all did. The ONLY time they’ll put one out is when it’s truly ready for the masses to use, even if it doesn’t have certain features we’d like—those are the features they add over generations. The first iPhone didn’t have 3G; it took four years to have a front-facing camera.

Everything takes time. An Apple Pencil-compatible device that can go from being 12 Pro Max-sized to iPad mini-sized with a simple fold, and allow people to keep a true creative canvas in their pocket (or pocketbook) at all times, would be incredible. I have high hopes.
 
As someone who can spend hours of the day reading news, browsing web, looking at images in detail, etc on my iPhone (12), I can appreciate the value of a quick fold to double screen real estate, get larger type (presbyopia is encroaching), and take over some of the tasks of my 11" iPad that I never seem to bother packing with me.
It's ALWAYS been an exciting possibility, but fraught with challenges, as Samsung's first attempt quickly proved right. The hinge and screen flex introduce long term wear issues that will never suit everyone. But naysayers with their flip phones weren't ready to jump on larger smartphones with a glass face early on either. Apple does have an admirable way of taking an existing concept with issues and making it practical (perfection is a never ending path). The iPadOS developments, and the pencil (hopefully more compact and integrated into body) make this an alluring prospect for me. At the right price...
 
See, this is a reasonable and well thought out response to foldable screens. I may not necessarily agree, but at least it's not "Me no like foldables, foldables never good"

I do agree, AR glasses are going to be an extremely interesting paradigm in the near future. We do have a long way to go and I don't think having a full smartphone interface on AR glasses is feasible just yet, certainly not in a package that will be ubiquitous and everyone will wear. I think complaints like creases and durability will be similarly apparent (but different of course) with the AR paradigm for a long time as well.

biggest issue with AR glasses will likely be size/battery life, at least at first. I’ve seen some very nice demos where people have used AR to add virtual second and third monitors to their mac. Very cool. But to do that you are wearing giant space goggles :) Hopefully apple has a plan to make these things eventually look more or less like regular glasses (which I already wear :)

The other potential problem is interactivity - there’s nothing to “touch” when the display is virtual. Waving your hands around in the air may be functional, but it’s obviously less good than an actual screen you can physically interact with.
 
As someone who can spend hours of the day reading news, browsing web, looking at images in detail, etc on my iPhone (12), I can appreciate the value of a quick fold to double screen real estate, get larger type (presbyopia is encroaching), and take over some of the tasks of my 11" iPad that I never seem to bother packing with me.
It's ALWAYS been an exciting possibility, but fraught with challenges, as Samsung's first attempt quickly proved right. The hinge and screen flex introduce long term wear issues that will never suit everyone. But naysayers with their flip phones weren't ready to jump on larger smartphones with a glass face early on either. Apple does have an admirable way of taking an existing concept with issues and making it practical (perfection is a never ending path). The iPadOS developments, and the pencil (hopefully more compact and integrated into body) make this an alluring prospect for me. At the right price...
I really hope they don't come out with a folding anything.
 
I’m sure they would implement it well, but I have never understood the appeal of a foldable phone. Just seems to introduce structural weaknesses for benefits I don’t just see. What am I missing?
The ostensible appeal is this: a device that takes up as much room in your pants pocket as a phone, but unfolds to show as much screen estate as a tablet.

Of course, as you mention, this holy grail may not be possible to accomplish for mechanical reasons.
 
biggest issue with AR glasses will likely be size/battery life, at least at first. I’ve seen some very nice demos where people have used AR to add virtual second and third monitors to their mac. Very cool. But to do that you are wearing giant space goggles :) Hopefully apple has a plan to make these things eventually look more or less like regular glasses (which I already wear :)

The other potential problem is interactivity - there’s nothing to “touch” when the display is virtual. Waving your hands around in the air may be functional, but it’s obviously less good than an actual screen you can physically interact with.

Keep in mind that AR is not necessarily the same thing as having a screen in front of you. We don't really know where Apple's (or anyone else's) AR glasses will land, but on the very little I've seen of patents and the rumors it seems this is being designed as more of a companion device, not a replacement for a smartphone. I say that with very little authority, just my personal guesses. But I do see Apple as a company which is extremely smart in how they make consumers believe they need multiple devices and that's a big part of what makes me doubt they will invent and market this as a smartphone replacement.

With that said, for glasses (not AR glasses) to become a smartphone replacement will be a much larger step than AR glasses which simply provide overlays over the world. Of course it's also feasible to envision that the entire smartphone concept will simply not exist anymore and AR glasses will provide the same type of information we get from our smartphones, but that's a pretty huge paradigm change and still doesn't address necessarily how we get information, for example how do you translate a webpage or wall of text to AR other than having a screen?

And even then, as you note there are going to be foibles which we will all complain over. Size, battery life, interaction, etc., complaints which will be different in mechanics but similar in scope to today's folding phones. If anything I have a feeling those complaints will actually be much worse because it's such a huge paradigm shift.
 
Nuts. The last thing I want is a foldable phone. One more place it can break ($1000 phone). But more Apple silicon is innovative -I expect this from Apple and will pay for it. A foldable screen is a gimmick for dumb kids.

signed a 76 year old engineer and Apple long time fan “boy”
👴 If we're going to brag about being old, then, unfortunately, I'm compelled to join in. I'm well into my 37th year of purchasing Apple gear. From the Apple IIc, the first-gen Mac, Apple Newton PDA, the first Intel MacBook Pro, and four MacPro's —some of which I still have. I vividly recall being harassed by my co-workers for using a toy and not a real computer. I vaguely remember paying $349 for a one-megabyte memory module. No doubt, there may be at least one forum member sharpshooter to correct my memory, and that's okay.

Edited*
More on point, *in my personal discussions, foldable-screen phones seem to be growing in popularity* and I expect that when Apple decides on which design to copy, it will likely be the best built and most expensive. My favorite is the flip-phone designs that add a functional benefit of portability and easy to pocket.

I wouldn't call young kids dumb, just naïve, inexperienced, and hungry to learn. I enjoyed teaching kids about the Mac when my co-worker and I were responsible for maintaining 500+ iMacs in a school district.
Now back to listening to my 60's soft rock as I pop my morning barrage of 💊's.
Regards,
Peace-Love-Dope-Right-On-Solid, and Heavy.✌️
 
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👴 If we're going to brag about being old, then, unfortunately, I'm compelled to join in. I'm well into my 37th year of purchasing Apple gear. From the Apple IIc, the first-gen Mac, Apple Newton PDA, the first Intel MacBook Pro, and four MacPro's —some of which I still have. I vividly recall being harassed by my co-workers for using a toy and not a real computer. I vaguely remember paying $349 for a one-megabyte memory module.

More on point, I agree that foldable-screen phones have become quite popular, and I have no doubt that when Apple decides on which design to copy, it will likely be the best built and most expensive.

I wouldn't call young kids dumb, just naïve, inexperienced, and hungry to learn. I enjoyed teaching kids about the Mac when my co-worker and I were responsible for maintaining 500+ iMacs in a school district.
Now back to listening to my 60's soft rock as I pop my morning barrage of 💊's.
Regards,
Peace-Love-Dope-Right-On-Solid, and Heavy.✌️

But have foldable-screen phones actually become quite popular? I haven’t seen any sales estimates that make me think so.
 
I’m sure they would implement it well, but I have never understood the appeal of a foldable phone. Just seems to introduce structural weaknesses for benefits I don’t just see. What am I missing?
I would love to have a phone with a screen area that can shrink and grow.

Why have a phone and a tablet? Why have a wide phone just to talk to someone?
 
Apple always a few years behind...
they are yes but when they do release one it will likely be better optimised than current foldables due to controlling both hardware and software. only downside on current foldables is not everything is optimised for the different displays
 
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I'm not sold on a folding phone. I'm sure if Apple does it it will be done right but a folding screen just seems too fragile to me. I'd love to see Apple Pencil support on an iPhone though...
 
But have foldable-screen phones actually become quite popular? I haven’t seen any sales estimates that make me think so.
Well, that didn't take long. I did not take time to craft my words with such precision, so I guess you're the first forum sharpshooter —congrats! OK, boys and girls; popular in the sense that most everyone I've spoken with likes the concert and thinks it's cool: no numbers, stats, or the like. This forum, for me, is for enjoyment and to learn. For some, it's a contest of wits.
 
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I’m sure they would implement it well, but I have never understood the appeal of a foldable phone. Just seems to introduce structural weaknesses for benefits I don’t just see. What am I missing?

Structurally they are actually quite durable. There is a youtube review where they tried to force it past being fully open, even with all the guy's strength he could not get it to break or bend. There are many videos also on folding durability where they test the screen folding literally hundreds of thousands of times. The Fold 2 screen is also much more durable than the Fold 1 in regard to things like particles and scratching, although of course it's still less durable than today's gorilla glass. Personally I took off the inner screen protector and I've been abusing mine for months and there is not a single mark on the screen.

You guys really have to do your research. Sure there are drawbacks, the screen isn't as tough as gorilla glass and there is no waterproofing with today's iteration. But the whole durability thing is really blown out of proportion.
 
Well, that didn't take long. I did not take time to craft my words with such precision, so I guess you're the first forum sharpshooter —congrats! OK, boys and girls; popular in the sense that most everyone I've spoken with likes the concert and thinks it's cool

So, none of them have bought one?

: no numbers, stats, or the like. This forum, for me, is for enjoyment and to learn. For some, it's a contest of wits.

OK, sure, but "does mild interest in a concept translate into sales of an execution of that concept" is an interesting question.
 
So, none of them have bought one?



OK, sure, but "does mild interest in a concept translate into sales of an execution of that concept" is an interesting question.
Sorry, but I have to laugh. The seriousness of critique without consideration to the spirit of a post is sometimes baffling. Nevertheless, I went back and specifically addressed and edited my pithy three-line paragraph for those first-year law students and linguists. Heaven help me if a misspelled word or a grammatical error is discovered.
 
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