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folding makes sense for an iPad, not an iPhone.

if I can fold my 19" iPad XL into an iPad mini, that would be amazing.

So essentially you’re shrinking down a larger iPad into a smaller iPad.... but still makes it very cumbersome and definitely not ‘pocket friendly’ to carry, isn’t the point of a folding display to enlarge, followed by truncating? I don’t see how iPad would be any more convenient in terms of carrying. The Purpose of the foldable iPhone display, is where it’s convenient enough for every day use, enlarging where necessary when needed, but not to the point where it’s still not practical if it’s too large. Isn’t that the purpose of the whole foldable concept. What you’re inferring, it’s not mutually exclusive between a foldable smart phone and ‘foldable iPad’, when iPad was always intended to be a device in a larger form. What you’re comparing is not mutually exclusive and definitely not the clear intent.
 
Yes! foldable's will be everywhere in the next 5-10 years, Apple would be stupid to ignore this.

The current range of foldable phones had my attention now you have my interest.
 
No - please don’t! Besides the quality issues, the plastic surface of those foldable screens just feels cheap to the touch.
 
Yes! foldable's will be everywhere in the next 5-10 years, Apple would be stupid to ignore this.
I expect foldable screens to be a dead-end. Too many compromises (longevity/quality, thickness) for too little benefits. I rather expect the next generation of screens to be AR/VR ones in glasses (perhaps later even lenses). At least for the 5-10 years time horizon you mention.
 
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It's a flexible screen. That doesn't mean it's for a folding phone/phablet.
It could be for some curved display, something that isn't uniformly flat.
I really doubt this is Apple saying "folding phone boys? Hold my beer".
 
iPhone that turns into an iPad? Yeah right😂. Just as big chance as we’ll get a touchscreen MacBook Pro. It will never happen. They like their iPad sales. This would destroy those sales. Perhaps a foldable iPad that might be the thing in the future but not a foldable phone I doubt that.
 
I get a kick out of the group of people who are so enamored with the current folding screen phones. Mainly because they're accepting of a plastic surfaced screen that every manufacturer moved away from more than 10 years ago, for reasons that none of the current groupies of folding phones seem to recognize.

And before anyone answers back that Samsung has glass screens, I understand they're including a super thin layer of glass underneath a plastic layer, which is still going to be effected by usage, much like the crappy screens of old used to have. I remember the first generation Compaq iPaq that I had and how in less than a year, the screen had wear marks that made it mostly useless. And back then, I certainly wasn't using it even a fraction of the time we spend on our devices today, because it couldn't do what devices can now.

Do people really think that these thin plastic and sort-of glass covered devices are going to survive for a year of use, let alone two or three years? Then add in the fact that the devices aren't water or dust proof either and you're left having to baby something that still won't survive a year of daily use that you've paid $1300-$2000 for - that seems to me to be poor decision making.

If I forget for a moment the plastic covered screen issues, the other thing that I think is not right about Samsung's foldables is that they're made with two sections that are effectively the same thickness. It might feel natural when unfolded, since it's more similar in thickness to a typical slab phone or tablet, but folded it's twice as thick, which then makes it less pocketable.

I think devices like the Razor, especially the original cell phone, was that the flip section was much thinner than the base section, keeping the total thickness down when folded. Moto is somewhat replicating that with their new folding screen Razor, which definitely looks better as a folded device than any others on the market.

Why isn't Samsung working on a similar form factor where one half of the device is just screen, in order to keep it super thin? Then make the main unit slightly thicker in order to house the additional battery needed to power 2 or 3 screens. This way, the folded device would be more pocketable in its folded form.

But again, the biggest issue is how to deal with the short life plastic screen. If you can't get past that, then it doesn't matter how well the rest of the device is designed.
 
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I expect foldable screens to be a dead-end. Too many compromises (longevity/quality, thickness) for too little benefits. I rather expect the next generation of screens to be AR/VR ones in glasses (perhaps later even lenses). At least for the 5-10 years time horizon you mention.
I'd wager that's exactly what Apple is working to fix. They've seen the issues of the current gen, they aren't working to release a phone that's similar to what we already have.
 
It is bizarre that anyone would be angry over having more options and approaches available to them. I mean, there are all sorts of products out there I don't want to buy, but I'm glad they exist. Why? Because having a broader array of options means it is more likely the one that suits me best will exist.

Even if tech is being developed by a company I prefer not to buy from, their R&D has the potential of benefiting me, and does me no harm whatsoever. People should be more loyal to themselves and less loyal to some corporation. Demanding fewer options to prove your corporate loyalty is just sad.
Reactions to this are pretty bewildering to me. I don't see what harm R&D does whatsoever.
 
I will laugh so hard if this happens. So many fanbois on MacRumors flaming Samsung for their foldable phones, and still do so on this thread. But if Apple does bring it out, they will all change their tune, even if it is a broken failure like the butterfly keyboard (some fanbois are still in denial about butterfly).
 
So essentially you’re shrinking down a larger iPad into a smaller iPad.... but still makes it very cumbersome and definitely not ‘pocket friendly’ to carry, isn’t the point of a folding display to enlarge, followed by truncating? I don’t see how iPad would be any more convenient in terms of carrying. The Purpose of the foldable iPhone display, is where it’s convenient enough for every day use, enlarging where necessary when needed, but not to the point where it’s still not practical if it’s too large. Isn’t that the purpose of the whole foldable concept. What you’re inferring, it’s not mutually exclusive between a foldable smart phone and ‘foldable iPad’, when iPad was always intended to be a device in a larger form. What you’re comparing is not mutually exclusive and definitely not the clear intent.

The idea is to fit a 19" device (which doesn't fit in many bags since they typically accommodate 15"/17" laptops) into your bag. A 19" tablet allows for more productivity but it's not portable at all unless you can fold it.

You're not going to be using an unfolded phone screen more than it is when it's folded. You likely unfold for viewing or typing e-mail. Otherwise it stays unfolded. The unfolded experience is hindered since the folded edge is much thicker than the other side, so left handed users have trouble using their thumbs (MKBHD commented on this in his podcast) on the Galaxy Fold 2. Plus you're carrying extra weight. Plus there's a crease in the middle when unfolded, so the unfolded experience isn't perfect.

A folding phone makes your 30% usage of a phone (viewing videos, doing email) better at the cost of the 70% usage (like quickly checking messages, making calls, checking social feeds, etc...). It doesn't make sense. Whereas, a folding tablet makes 90% of usage of a tablet better (long sessions) vs the 10% usage (quick interactions). No one takes out their iPad to check notifications and puts it back into the bag. They take out their iPad to do something for longer than 10 minutes.

Samsung and Fold customers don't realize this. That's the problem. It just gives a great demo.
 
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The closest I ever got to a foldable phone was when I thought i would be a good idea to get one of those wallet type cases, you know the ones with a flap that covers the face. After just one outing with the thing I watented to destroy that thing. Just a really stupid idea to have to flap something open to use it. There simply is no good reason for it. Its a stupid idea.
Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Yes it’s just a stupid gimmick.
 
I get a kick out of the group of people who are so enamored with the current folding screen phones. Mainly because they're accepting of a plastic surfaced screen that every manufacturer moved away from more than 10 years ago, for reasons that none of the current groupies of folding phones seem to recognize.

And before anyone answers back that Samsung has glass screens, I understand they're including a super thin layer of glass underneath a plastic layer, which is still going to be effected by usage, much like the crappy screens of old used to have. I remember the first generation Compaq iPaq that I had and how in less than a year, the screen had wear marks that made it mostly useless. And back then, I certainly wasn't using it even a fraction of the time we spend on our devices today, because it couldn't do what devices can now.

Do people really think that these thin plastic and sort-of glass covered devices are going to survive for a year of use, let alone two or three years? Then add in the fact that the devices aren't water or dust proof either and you're left having to baby something that still won't survive a year of daily use that you've paid $1300-$2000 for - that seems to me to be poor decision making.

If I forget for a moment the plastic covered screen issues, the other thing that I think is not right about Samsung's foldables is that they're made with two sections that are effectively the same thickness. It might feel natural when unfolded, since it's more similar in thickness to a typical slab phone or tablet, but folded it's twice as thick, which then makes it less pocketable.

I think devices like the Razor, especially the original cell phone, was that the flip section was much thinner than the base section, keeping the total thickness down when folded. Moto is somewhat replicating that with their new folding screen Razor, which definitely looks better as a folded device than any others on the market.

Why isn't Samsung working on a similar form factor where one half of the device is just screen, in order to keep it super thin? Then make the main unit slightly thicker in order to house the additional battery needed to power 2 or 3 screens. This way, the folded device would be more pocketable in its folded form.

But again, the biggest issue is how to deal with the short life plastic screen. If you can't get past that, then it doesn't matter how well the rest of the device is designed.
Why would the glass layer be underneath the plastic one? I think you are confused.
 
It's a flexible screen. That doesn't mean it's for a folding phone/phablet.
It could be for some curved display, something that isn't uniformly flat.
I really doubt this is Apple saying "folding phone boys? Hold my beer".
Curved screens do not need to be flexible. Flexible means that it can fold.
 
what a strange relationship aapl and sung have with each other
cant live with em cant live without em
 
What would Apple do without Samsung’s innovation?

Release the same phone again, with a spec bump, new colour and a recycled feature picked from a hat filled with come-and-gone features of the past (hello IR blaster, new in 2023), with either a price increase or decrease of $50, and it'll still sell like hotcakes anyway.
 
Why would the glass layer be underneath the plastic one? I think you are confused.

I am pretty sure that the glass, because it is so thin and fragile, has to be covered by a thin layer of plastic. It’s why people comment that it still feels like plastic - because it is. If you try removing the outer layer, the glass will break, so they likely added it more to be able to say they’ve got a glass screen. That being said, I’m not sure they’re promoting the glass on the latest iteration of foldables, not that I’m following them that closely to notice.
 
I get a kick out of the group of people who are so enamored with the current folding screen phones. Mainly because they're accepting of a plastic surfaced screen that every manufacturer moved away from more than 10 years ago, for reasons that none of the current groupies of folding phones seem to recognize.

Everyone understands the nature of the screens involved. Every choice is a compromise. Some people find the options opened up by a folding phone are worth the downsides of a less durable screen. You are willing to miss out on those options because there is more value to you in a more durable screen. I do understand why you would want your preferences to be available to you, but why so much anger over other people having access to products they enjoy?

Even if we don't care about other people, the more options that are available in general, the more likely we are to find something we really like. Plus, products you don't like now can still lead to products that you will love but can't forsee.
 
Release the same phone again, with a spec bump, new colour and a recycled feature picked from a hat filled with come-and-gone features of the past (hello IR blaster, new in 2023), with either a price increase or decrease of $50, and it'll still sell like hotcakes anyway.
When was the last time any decent Samsung phone sold like hot cakes? 🤣

I don’t think bringing back IR blaster is going to help them much.

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