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Eagerly waiting to see the foldable from Apple. The device should definitely have a 48MP main camera if it is not going to have a zoom lens as then it can be used for crop zoom. Disappointing though when the Samsung Fold has a zoom lens today.
I'd prefer a single rear camera without a bump version though.
 
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What about when taking into account the thickness of squeezing both an iPhone 16 Pro Max, and a bifold wallet, into the same front jeans pocket?
I think what they were trying to point out is that a folding iPhone could fit in less space than a bifold wallet, which seems plausible. If you're trying to carry your phone and your wallet in the same pocket, that's on you. (I carry my phone in a front pocket and my wallet in a back pocket - nothing goes in the same pocket as the phone, both so they can't hurt the phone, and so that I can get it out quickly.)
 
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Well, the ipad pro+keyboard goes for the price of a macbook air + ipad, yet it can't replace the macbook. So the bar is rather low, just add pencil support, and it will be good.

An iPad Pro + keyboard is still lighter than an MacBook (at least an 11") also it adds a touch screen. And for most usecases it actually can replace a MacBook.

But a foldable iPhone doesn't do anything a normal iPhone can't and isn't more usable than an iPad. Basically it's a worse iPad mini that folds into a phone.
 
Basically it's a worse iPad mini that folds into a phone.
Until the rumored device is announced, we won't know how the OS utilizes the two screen sizes. Since we can't use the current cellular iPad mini as a standalone iPhone, I think the folding device would be better than a mini in that regard, at least, assuming the unfolded screen offers the other functions of the iPad mini.
 
Until the rumored device is announced, we won't know how the OS utilizes the two screen sizes. Since we can't use the current cellular iPad mini as a standalone iPhone, I think the folding device would be better than a mini in that regard, at least, assuming the unfolded screen offers the other functions of the iPad mini.

It's going to be running iPadOS, here's why: iPad apps already have resizable windows with even better support coming in iPadOS 26. iOS doesn't have resizable windows.

Also the phone app is coming to iPadOS 26.. I can see them adding cellular calling to iPad in iPadOS 27. (any cellular model)
 
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It's going to be running iPadOS
If you're right, I do hope it gets better scaling than the iPad mini. I adored the body size of the mini, but went back to the 11" because no amount of text size tinkering could resolve my issue with tiny interface elements or having different sized text than expected. The 11" is perfect without any changes. My iPhone mini is perfect (for me) with Display Zoom.
I can see them adding cellular calling to iPad in iPadOS 27. (any cellular model)
I can't, but I think it would be popular with a select group who either never leave home, or never leave home without a backpack or messenger bag.
 
Scaling is already better on iPadOS 26 (I've been testing it on my Mini) and this also added the phone app. However the Phone app still requires an iPhone. This - to me at least - feels abitrary on cellular iPad models. And I do think that Apple is going to add the options to call with an iPad and there have even been rumors of Apple adding cellular options to MacBooks as well.
 
I think what they were trying to point out is that a folding iPhone could fit in less space than a bifold wallet, which seems plausible. If you're trying to carry your phone and your wallet in the same pocket, that's on you. (I carry my phone in a front pocket and my wallet in a back pocket - nothing goes in the same pocket as the phone, both so they can't hurt the phone, and so that I can get it out quickly.)
With all the cards in my wallet, it's grown too thick for me to sit on comfortably, though that's partly due to my bad habit of keeping a few cards in it that I don't use often.

Also, years ago I carried my wallet in my right rear pocket, until one day while on a bus, while standing in one of the lower steps to the bus's side exit door, apparently a pickpocket sitting in the seat to the right of the door reached in and snatched my wallet, since I know I had it there when I stood up to go to the door, but I didn't have it there after I got off the bus.

I remember the old guy, maybe a longtime professional pickpocket, had a pleasant expression on his face as he leaned slightly forward, seemingly glancing at my rear, but maybe he was happy to see my wallet so available, reachable at arm's length.
 
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Scaling is already better on iPadOS 26 (I've been testing it on my Mini) and this also added the phone app. However the Phone app still requires an iPhone. This - to me at least - feels abitrary on cellular iPad models. And I do think that Apple is going to add the options to call with an iPad and there have even been rumors of Apple adding cellular options to MacBooks as well.
This whole issue could be resolved if the carriers would allow more than one mobile device to use the same carrier plan, without having to route calls through another device. When Apple released the first iPhones, they successfully pushed through big changes in how things are done in the cellphone business, so maybe they can help make this happen too, but it seems if getting the carriers to allow this were possible, it would have been done by now. But maybe Apple also has their own reasons for not wanting this.
 
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But a foldable iPhone doesn't do anything a normal iPhone can't and isn't more usable than an iPad. Basically it's a worse iPad mini that folds into a phone.
What a foldable iPhone would do that a normal iPhone can't do, is to give the user more screen real estate. I'd like that. A bigger iPhone screen via folding doesn't really have to compete very much with an iPad mini to still be useful, and my guess is that this is what Apple is hoping.
 
What a foldable iPhone would do that a normal iPhone can't do, is to give the user more screen real estate. I'd like that. A bigger iPhone screen via folding doesn't really have to compete very much with an iPad mini to still be useful, and my guess is that this is what Apple is hoping.

But how would the software side handle this? Run two iPhone apps side by side or stretch them? iOS can't do that without a major redesign. iPadOS can. They could also make an FoldOS (like VisionOS) which would combines iOS and iPadOS, but that would still be mostly iPadOS with phone capabilities.

Also there are already multiple Android tablets that can be used as a smartphone.
 
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Who said the outer display can't be fully functional?
Outer display has no much use. I already have Apple Watch with the screen of comparable size.
But flip iPhone is more usable than foldable phone, since it's single had opeartion
 
But how would the software side handle this? Run two iPhone apps side by side or stretch them? iOS can't do that without a major redesign. iPadOS can. They could also make an FoldOS (like VisionOS) which would combines iOS and iPadOS, but that would still be mostly iPadOS with phone capabilities.

Also there are already multiple Android tablets that can be used as a smartphone.
We'll find out once it's released, is the only way to know for sure. But I doubt if the extra screen space will be occupied only by running two apps side by side, nor by just stretching apps to fill the screen, so it seems it'll run either a new version of iOS rewritten to allow variable screen sizes, or it'll run some variation of iPadOS. Or, as you say, maybe a merging of the two.

As with Android tablets that can be used as a smartphone, I think Apple should allow all iPads with 4G/5G circuitry (and 3G?), plus a data plan, to be used as smartphones. They can already do everything else a smartphone can do (web browsing, reading email, streaming, etc.), without needing an iPhone nearby, but for some reason(s) they can't make phone calls and do SMS/MMM texting. I think Apple is missing the boat on this.
 
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And this will finally make aspect ratio be good on foldable after years of difficult form factors.

Basically iPad mini than folds will be so good.
 
For almost 8 inch screen, ipados would be better for this device than ios. Also, pen must be supported. It is basically a ipad mini phone. By the way, ipados 26 added a phone app in a timely fashion.
I’m sure it will have its own OS title. Be a missed chance to not have Apple Pencil support.
 
Outer display has no much use. I already have Apple Watch with the screen of comparable size.
But flip iPhone is more usable than foldable phone, since it's single had opeartion
I think your expectation of the outer screen of the iPhone fold may be wildly different from what everyone else is expecting - there are numerous reports of the outer screen of the foldable iPhone being in the vicinity of 5½ inches, roughly equivalent to the screen on an iPhone 8 Plus, or iPhone 13 mini. Plenty big enough to get lots of things done without unfolding it. I don't know what watch you have that you think has a 5½" screen on it. The Apple Watch Ultra's screen is under 2".
 
With all the cards in my wallet, it's grown too thick for me to sit on comfortably, though that's partly due to my bad habit of keeping a few cards in it that I don't use often.
Fair enough.

Whichever pocket you carry it in, I suggest you look into what cards you really need to carry, and then consider a thinner wallet. I pared down what I carry quite a while back, and use a wallet like this. They're ridiculously thin, nearly indestructible, and that style holds the cards very securely in inwards-facing pockets. They have other styles, and there are other companies making similar wallets, too (not an ad, I've just had really good experiences with their products). Going from a 3/4" thick (or more) wallet to a 3/8" (or less) thick wallet with fewer cards, was a significant upgrade - feels nicer in my pocket, easier to take out, easier to grab exactly what I want out of it without rummaging around.
 
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An iPad Pro + keyboard is still lighter than an MacBook (at least an 11") also it adds a touch screen. And for most usecases it actually can replace a MacBook.

But a foldable iPhone doesn't do anything a normal iPhone can't and isn't more usable than an iPad. Basically it's a worse iPad mini that folds into a phone.
Depends on pencil support. An iphone can't do these crucial things: read a pdf or watch a movie without your eyes bleeding. With pencil it can take over notetaking too.
 
Depends on what you mean by foldable. The smaller flip type phones are actually quite popular in Asia.
Still, a very small percentage, no?

Not for me, but certainly greater than one percent. The price will be something.
Yeah, I’m seeing 1-2%, but no desire to buy something that has a plastic screen and no demonstrated longevity, especially for the price of these things.

Difficult to answer before establishing the 1% of what.

Global smartphones market?
USA smartphones market?
Global portable computing market (a vague category which contains phones, tablets, laptops)?
And even if it was 1% of the phone market now, it doesn't mean that it couldn't expand the share in the coming years.
It could erode some of the tablets market, for those who want a small tablet and don't need a full-size powerful one, and don't want to carry around 2 devices (it could kill the iPad mini)
I couldn’t care less about the USA. But yeah, I was talking about global. And this was about phones, not tablets.

According to ChatGPT, the global sales of flip screens is less than 2%, with predictions to increase to less than 5% by 2028. So I guess it’s not insignificant in terms of $’s, but still niche.

In an airport? About 25% based on what I see when I fly.

80% of people have never flown, so that stacks up with that less than 2% claim from ChatGPT then.
 
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