Other Foldable phone

[Nebula29]

Wonder why, with all of the forward thinking innovation, Apple is so far behind (years actually) in the production of a phone like the Galaxy Z. Were I not such an Apple addict, and like the integration of my devices, I would seriously think of switching. Nothing like this from Apple until 2026!

 

[snipr125]

Absolutely agree with you Nebula. Apple have taken their sweet time with foldables, probably because of durability issues and crease in the screen. The durability issue has pretty much been ironed out now, but the crease remains but if you look at the One Plus Open the crease is also slowly disappearing. Honestly as soon as Apple announces their version of the Z Flip it will be a day 1 purchase for me (Hopefully next year according to some rumours).

 

[eyoungren]

Is Apple behind?

Or is Apple deliberately not releasing a foldable?

I neither want nor care about foldables so I don't see Apple as being 'behind'. But I suppose that those who want one might think this. Possibly that's easier to accept than Apple deliberately not releasing a foldable.

 

[now i see it]

Google just came out with a new folding phone. It looks great on paper. Buy one of those.

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

I would argue anything Apple creates has to be pretty spot on from the public’s standpoint as they are often heavily criticized. IMO the Vision Pro was a commercial bust whether it was supposed to be that way or not but adding a foldable that will no doubt have lots of issues or up to Apple’s standards would just be another PR nightmare. Additionally, Apple doesn’t seem to be on the cannibalism train anymore just look at ALL the overlapping and redundant products they currently have so why create a foldable that will eat into iPad sales? Would be neat but no doubt the costs would be around $2K and fragile with the current display tech we’re seeing.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Absolutely agree with you Nebula. Apple have taken their sweet time with foldables, probably because of durability issues and crease in the screen. The durability issue has pretty much been ironed out now, but the crease remains but if you look at the One Plus Open the crease is also slowly disappearing. Honestly as soon as Apple announces their version of the Z Flip it will be a day 1 purchase for me (Hopefully next year according to some rumours).

Ironed out? Watch Jerryrigeverythings latest review on the new Samsung Fold6. You can leave permanent marks on the screen with your fingernail! Imagine someone getting a little too aggressive with an S-pen. Plus water resistance is minimal and dust causes serious problems with the hinge mechanism. I suppose it's been improved over each iteration, but there's still a lot that needs to be addressed..

 

[Neofox]

Ironed out? Watch Jerryrigeverythings latest review on the new Samsung Fold6. You can leave permanent marks on the screen with your fingernail! Imagine someone getting a little too aggressive with an S-pen. Plus water resistance is minimal and dust causes serious problems with the hinge mechanism. I suppose it's been improved over each iteration, but there's still a lot that needs to be addressed..

He also bended in half the iPad Pro. Does that mean the iPad is not a very good device?
Yes the Fold6 is not perfect but it's still definitely a very great phone and I would love Apple doing a similar one. It may not be for everyone but it will probably be for me.

 

[JPack]

Apple has a habit of over engineering products a bit. They’re probably more demanding as well in terms of features and reliability.

Apple likely bet more and prioritized Vision Pro than a foldable for a big splash. Not sure if that played out though.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

He also bended in half the iPad Pro. Does that mean the iPad is not a very good device?
Yes the Fold6 is not perfect but it's still definitely a very great phone and I would love Apple doing a similar one. It may not be for everyone but it will probably be for me.

What does bending an iPad in half have to do with folding devices ironing out most of the durability issues? I pointed out that the durability issues haven't been ironed out, they've improved but far from ironed out... Bending an iPad in half isn't a durability issue, it's abuse.

 

[Neofox]

What does bending an iPad in half have to do with folding devices ironing out most of the durability issues? I pointed out that the durability issues haven't been ironed out, they've improved but far from ironed out... Bending an iPad in half isn't a durability issue, it's abuse.

You can leave permanent marks on the screen with your fingernail!

If you actually use the phone normally, it doesn't happen. Check even the demo phones at the store, good luck finding permanent mark on the screen. it's not durability issues, it's just abuse.

dust causes serious problems with the hinge mechanism.

throwing on the phone very fine dirt/sand and opening/closing the hinge back and forth is not a normal scenario either. If you think that the iPad bending is not a durability issue, then it's not either. It's just abuse. And btw it didn't caused "serious problems" but a slight grinding noise which usually goes away once the sand finds its way out.

The Fold 6 actually gained some official dust resistance certification for once, so it should be even bette than the precedent phone were.


The point is, yes Fold phone are usually a bit more fragile than slab phone by there nature, but if Zack is able to destroy it, doesn't mean it has durability issues. And I'm pretty sure that Apple is well aware of that and engineer something that there normal consumer will not brake easily, like they did for their ultra thin iPads.

 

[TechnoMonk]

Best way to find out is experience it. Try a foldable phone and see if it is for you or worth speculating. If you like it, enjoy the device.

 

[257Loner]

Is Apple behind?

Or is Apple deliberately not releasing a foldable?

I neither want nor care about foldables so I don't see Apple as being 'behind'. But I suppose that those who want one might think this. Possibly that's easier to accept than Apple deliberately not releasing a foldable.

Oh, you definitely care about foldables. That's why you visited this thread to tell us you don't care about them. I, on the other hand, am at the very least dishonest when I say I don't care about foldables, because why else would I be here? But you, eyoungren, I trust to be a very honest person, which means you must admit you care about them!

 

[alex4748]

Is Apple behind?

Or is Apple deliberately not releasing a foldable?

I neither want nor care about foldables so I don't see Apple as being 'behind'. But I suppose that those who want one might think this. Possibly that's easier to accept than Apple deliberately not releasing a foldable.

The only reason I would want one is to get a bigger screen size but with a much smaller footprint (or pocket-print, rather).

I have been using the various SE models over the last 8 years purely because they actually fit in my pocket. The current SE is pretty much the limit for me in terms of size - anything bigger and it would annoy me (unless it could be folded). I would like a bigger screen size, but not at the expense of being annoyingly big.

I can't see any other reason that someone would want a folding phone.

 

[Sami13496]

Wonder why, with all of the forward thinking innovation, Apple is so far behind (years actually) in the production of a phone like the Galaxy Z. Were I not such an Apple addict, and like the integration of my devices, I would seriously think of switching. Nothing like this from Apple until 2026!

Let’s say Samsung would release a duck that you can wear on your head. Apple wouldn’t release similar product. Same with foldable phone. I actually respect Apple for not jumping on the gimmick train just for profits.

 

[ForkHandles]

One of the difficulties of folding phones is aesthetics.

For various reasons rectangles are more pleasing to the eye than squares, in fact the Golden Ratio gives us the best proportion of width to height. A4 paper etc. That’s why we perceive iPhone to be slightly long and thin.

So how do you get a foldable that is please in a closed state, and pleasing when opened?

By pleasing I mean having two really useful spaces.

That’s why they’re a no for me. If useful in a closed state, they will be squarish and clunky when open. If squarish when closed then I’d have to open it to get any use out of it, in that case you’ve got an extra step before you start.

 

[Elusi]

Has the durability issue really been ironed out, though? Whenever I spot them in the wild they seem to be in rough shape around the crease.

 

[snipr125]

Let’s say Samsung would release a duck that you can wear on your head. Apple wouldn’t release similar product. Same with foldable phone. I actually respect Apple for not jumping on the gimmick train just for profits.

It’s not just Samsung though is it, every other tech company has released their own version. Apple is the last one yet to do so, but they will very soon whether people like foldables or not.

 

[eyoungren]

Apple is the last one yet to do so, but they will very soon whether people like foldables or not.

Why will Apple release their own duck? Just because everyone else is doing it?

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

It’s not just Samsung though is it, every other tech company has released their own version. Apple is the last one yet to do so, but they will very soon whether people like foldables or not.

And just like when Apple clung to 3.5" and then 4" as "perfect screen sizes" before going phablet too, as soon as Apple rolls out their Fold, "we" will suddenly see many use cases and plenty of problems solved by the Apple solution. "We" just can't see any of that- or pretend "we" can't- while Apple has no Fold for sale. Again, see pre-phablet sentiment (keyword "Abominations") and then the rain of "shut up and take my money" and "how did we ever get by with those 'puny' screens?" that hit upon launch. What's in your pocket now?

Same story every time. NFC before ApplePay: "gimmick", "my plastic already works just fine everywhere", etc. Post Apple Pay: calls to boycott stores that won't let people pay with Apple Pay.

I suspect an Apple Fold that basically delivers BOTH an iPhone and small iPad in ONE device (to carry) instead of 2 will be a huge success for Apple. Why? Just about all apps are better on a bigger screen... but pocket-ability is a great benefit too. Evidence: people carrying both an iPhone and an iPad now when both run all of the same apps. If one device can scratch both itches, that's a lot less to carry and a lot more (utility) to pocket.

Personally, I opt for bigger screen > pocket-ability by using ONLY a cellular iPad Mini with Buds & VOIP app to double as my "phone" too. The one BIG thing I wish it had that iPhone has is pocket-ability. If it could fold/roll down, I'd see it as a perfect mobile device.

 

[HouseLannister]

Apple is so far behind (years actually) in the production of a phone like the Galaxy Z

Apple is also so far behind in production of a driverless car, a search engine, a robotic servant, space shuttles, cordless drills, shelf-stable milk, etc.

Until they enter the market, they are not behind.

 

[Nhwhazup]

I don’t think the foldable phones have been that big of a hit. I have not ever even seen one. None of my Android friends were interested in them.

 

[naturalguy]

Apple will definitely release one but they always take their time and usually pull off a more polished product. I do want one and am tempted by the new Pixel Fold, if you’ve used one that big inner screen real estate is really nice to have. I’ve played with both the first Pixel Fold and Galaxy Z fold 6 and they are really nice.

 

[snipr125]

Why will Apple release their own duck? Just because everyone else is doing it?

Its Apple and we all know they only release perfected and polished products so it wont be a duck for sure.

 

[klasma]

Wonder why, with all of the forward thinking innovation, Apple is so far behind (years actually) in the production of a phone like the Galaxy Z. Were I not such an Apple addict, and like the integration of my devices, I would seriously think of switching. Nothing like this from Apple until 2026!

Also the new Pixel Pro Fold:

 

[Sami13496]

It’s not just Samsung though is it, every other tech company has released their own version. Apple is the last one yet to do so, but they will very soon whether people like foldables or not.

The concept is good. But the design of all current models is basically a design of tradeoffs without real additional value. Apple will betray themselves if they go with similar design. Apple is about real use cases and best user experience. They need to come up with something really different if they want to make non-gimmicky foldable.