Phones Folding phones the next frontier

[DeepSix]

I thought the same thing once. And then I actually used one.

I really did consider getting a folding phone. But instead I decided to get a new Galaxy tablet 10FE, 10.9" screen. Recently it was on sale. I take this everywhere just like I do my phone.

Bigger screen, a lot less money (like 25% of the cost), pocketable too, no moving mechanism to worry about it breaking. And the best part is I have two separate screens, so I can run two use cases at once, where you can't do that on phone or not as easily or convenient.

Like I said I'll be interested in a folding phone when they can come up with minimum 16" screens.

I have a few friends who have folding Samsung phones and they've all had problems with it. Mostly from the moving mechanism. Or dust gets inside and damages it.

 

[NeonNights]

I really did consider getting a folding phone. But instead I decided to get a new Galaxy tablet 10FE, 10.9" screen. Recently it was on sale. I take this everywhere just like I do my phone.

Bigger screen, a lot less money (like 25% of the cost), pocketable too, no moving mechanism to worry about it breaking. And the best part is I have two separate screens, so I can run two use cases at once, where you can't do that on phone or not as easily or convenient.

Like I said I'll be interested in a folding phone when they can come up with minimum 16" screens.

I have a few friends who have folding Samsung phones and they've all had problems with it. Mostly from the moving mechanism. Or dust gets inside and damages it.

That's great it works for you but I don't want to carry around a tablet everywhere I go. Just one more thing to forget and leave behind or have stolen. A separate tablet also means either extra data plan or using your phone's mobile hotspot, which means quicker battery drain on the phone.

Nowadays I don't even carry keys and like keeping my pockets light. I am not completely wallet-free yet, but the wallet I have is very slim for just my ID, insurance card, and a couple of credit cards. A foldable phone fits my lifestyle better, affording me the tablet experience without the bulk or hassle of two devices.

 

[scott craft]

I just got Android 16 and OneUI 8 on my Fold 5. I'm pleasantly surprised, I didn't think I would get it before I switched phones.

 

[Ludatyk]

I just got Android 16 and OneUI 8 on my Fold 5. I'm pleasantly surprised, I didn't think I would get it before I switched phones.

Did you trade it in for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold?

And I just received October security monthly update for the Fold 6…

 

[scott craft]

Did you trade it in for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold?

And I just received October security monthly update for the Fold 6…
View attachment 2573130

No I got a Pixel 10 Pro and kept my Fold. I will probably revisit the foldable world in the future.

 

[The Game 161]

the samsung tri fold certainly sounds interesting but given it will likely cost 5k due to import fees and lack of supply

 

[SteveJUAE]

the samsung tri fold certainly sounds interesting but given it will likely cost 5k due to import fees and lack of supply

If its 5k it will be cheaper to fly to South Korea and buy it

I was hoping it was coming out before Xmas

I have decided to re-arrange my Apple products

1) Wont upgrade my IP16P and trade it in when the Ifold comes out
2) Was going to get a gift voucher for my old 16" MBP M2 to put against the Ifold, but MS UK give a cash trade-in of 30% more
3) Not paying for 2 parallels subscriptions anymore, getting rid of the 16" MBP as above and will do the same with my 14" MBP M3 and get a Surface laptop 13" with snapdragon to tied me over until the new snapdragon elite processor comes out in 2026 and get a 2nd 16" laptop with OLED

 

[Ludatyk]

Etcetera? US is a possibility? But if its releasing in early December...have Samsung announced the event for it?

 

[The Game 161]

View attachment 2578748

Etcetera? US is a possibility? But if its releasing in early December...have Samsung announced the event for it?

Think it's because they don't know? Lol

My guess US will get it maybe in 2026 for fold 8 line

 

[NeonNights]

Kind of weird how Samsung is keeping the try-fold in a glass box, not letting anyone handle it (not even corporate employees). With the supposed release date so close, they're treating the tri-fold extremely delicately as if it's too fragile to handle or show off. The design and development should be long done by now yet they give the impression that the phone might not be complete or finalized yet. At least show a working demo with the phone on.

 

[Ludatyk]

Think it's because they don't know? Lol

My guess US will get it maybe in 2026 for fold 8 line

I think releasing in US relies heavily on how well it does in the Asia markets... but it costing 3k is bad mistake (imo).

The design and development should be long done by now yet they give the impression that the phone might not be complete or finalized yet. At least show a working demo with the phone on.

Especially when it's supposedly releasing next month... but mystery is the appeal nowadays, companies don't want the public to know anything until it's announced.

And how is your Fold 6 holding up? I removed my thin Aramid Fibre case recently... decided to go for a skin instead.

 

[NeonNights]

As much as I would like to go caseless or a skin, the scuffs/chips/scratches on my case remind me it's better to be safe than sorry.

The Fold 8 is gearing up to be the no-compromise ultimate phone/foldable. How will they further improve beyond the Fold 8 then? That is why I am still holding out hope for the tri-fold to be released in the US. For me, the Z Fold series was the gateway drug and now I want more.

My Fold 6 is still great and meets all my needs and I still can't let go of the S Pen...just too important to me. That said, I look forward to better aspect ratios with the Fold 8 and tri-fold so that letterbox bars don't dominate so much of the screen with widescreen content. It is a little ridiculous that widescreen content on the S25 Ultra isn't much smaller than on the larger inner screen of the Fold 6.

 

[Ludatyk]

As much as I would like to go caseless or a skin, the scuffs/chips/scratches on my case remind me it's better to be safe than sorry.

Yeah, I have a couple of scuffs on the frame... but I miss the feel of the phone without extra being attached to it.

The Fold 8 is gearing up to be the no-compromise ultimate phone/foldable. How will they further improve beyond the Fold 8 then? That is why I am still holding out hope for the tri-fold to be released in the US. For me, the Z Fold series was the gateway drug and now I want more.

Given how big of an update the Fold 7 was... I think Fold 8 will really be incremental, better ultra-wide or zoom. Maybe support for the S-Pen, but what I'm interested in is this upcoming Snapdragon chip. Once the S26U is released... it would of give us an idea of what to expect with the Fold 8.

My Fold 6 is still great and meets all my needs and I still can't let go of the S Pen...just too important to me. That said, I look forward to better aspect ratios with the Fold 8 and tri-fold so that letterbox bars don't dominate so much of the screen with widescreen content. It is a little ridiculous that widescreen content on the S25 Ultra isn't much smaller than on the larger inner screen of the Fold 6.

Yeah, but when it comes to book-style foldables... it's more so getting a better multitasking experience (imo). Because we get the taskbar (not included on S25U)... which I do quite a bit of app switching from it and the option to have a 3 window layout.

 

[NeonNights]

Anxiously awaiting the supposed December 5th announcement of the Z TriFold. Keeping fingers crossed that it gets a US release. Rumors point to possibly 12.1mm total thickness when closed. If true, that's the same thickness as my current Fold 6!

At least with Samsung's design you can sort of apply a typical front/back case, whereas it's more difficult to fit a case on the Huawei Mate XT.

 

[NeonNights]

Firmware testing indicates US launch in the works for Samsung Z TriFold! 🤞

 

[tmt]

Wow, great thread!
I got the 10 Pro Fold at launch, and I just love it!
Would have been nice having camera sensors on par with the 10 Pro/10 Pro XL, but they still work well.
And the battery life is GREAT

 

[Ludatyk]

Anxiously awaiting the supposed December 5th announcement of the Z TriFold. Keeping fingers crossed that it gets a US release. Rumors point to possibly 12.1mm total thickness when closed. If true, that's the same thickness as my current Fold 6!

You actually interested in this? Over the Fold 8?

Firmware testing indicates US launch in the works for Samsung Z TriFold! 🤞

Yeah, I peeped that already... for 3k? I don't know. Most likely they knock off 1k for trade-ins... we spending around 2k for a phone and large tablet, which isn't that bad.

I'm just not a fan of that design... we get more out of the Mate XT (imo), but we will see what Samsung has planned soon. Maybe they add S-Pen support and that peaks my interest lol.

 

[NeonNights]

You actually interested in this? Over the Fold 8?

Oh yes, indeedily-doodily! First off, I can have the TriFold sooner than the Fold8. The TriFold, at worst, will still be thinner than my previous Fold 4, yet provide a larger tablet experience. Even now, I wish I had a larger inner screen on the Fold 6 (which the Fold 7 and Fold 8 will improve upon, but nothing like the TriFold).

As long as the TriFold has decent battery life to get me through the day and supports S Pen then it's almost an instant-buy for me. And I much prefer the TriFold design over the Mate XT that exposes the bare screen and hinge too much -- but I guess that's what insurance is for.

As for the $3K price, I'm just glad it isn't $3500. Back in 2020 I paid $1400 for a 1TB iPhone 12 Pro Max that I held for only a year, followed by a 1TB iPhone 13 Pro for also a year. With Black Friday deals you can now score a Fold 7 for what I paid for the iPhone 12PM. So relatively speaking, if I hold onto the TriFold for even just 2 years then $3K isn't as absurd as it seems, especially with early promos and trade-in deals. So yes, I am seriously interested in the TriFold. In the current phone space it's gonna be either the TriFold for me, followed by the Fold 8, or nothing else. While I am glad Apple will enter the fold-space, the rumored size and aspect ratios are a dealbreaker for me.

Another hypothetical is a year from now when the Fold 8 is released. The TriFold will be about 8-9 months old and probably discounted. I'd rather buy the TriFold upon release, but I'm just saying someone would have a difficult decision between a new Fold 8 and discounted TriFold in front of them.

 

[Ludatyk]

Oh yes, indeedily-doodily! First off, I can have the TriFold sooner than the Fold8. The TriFold, at worst, will still be thinner than my previous Fold 4, yet provide a larger tablet experience. Even now, I wish I had a larger inner screen on the Fold 6 (which the Fold 7 and Fold 8 will improve upon, but nothing like the TriFold).

I have a 13" iPad Pro... to provide a larger tablet experience, so maybe that's where my perspective differs from yours.

Because I get a Mini tablet experience with the Fold and when I want something bigger, that's where the iPad comes into the picture. Plus I like the idea of having a different experience to fall back on... Android (One UI) and iPadOS.

As long as the TriFold has decent battery life to get me through the day and supports S Pen then it's almost an instant-buy for me. And I much prefer the TriFold design over the Mate XT that exposes the bare screen and hinge too much -- but I guess that's what insurance is for.

I'm glad you mention insurance... because that would of been my response about the bare screen being exposed, as I said in a different thread.

As for the $3K price, I'm just glad it isn't $3500. Back in 2020 I paid $1400 for a 1TB iPhone 12 Pro Max that I held for only a year, followed by a 1TB iPhone 13 Pro for also a year. With Black Friday deals you can now score a Fold 7 for what I paid for the iPhone 12PM. So relatively speaking, if I hold onto the TriFold for even just 2 years then $3K isn't as absurd as it seems, especially with early promos and trade-in deals. So yes, I seriously am interested in the TriFold. In the current phone space it's gonna be either the TriFold for me, followed by the Fold 8, or nothing else.

Well, hopefully you get your hands on the TriFold... to share your experiences with it. I plan on waiting it out for the Fold 8.

Another hypothetical is a year from now when the Fold 8 is released. The TriFold will be about 8-9 months old and probably discounted. I'd rather buy the TriFold upon release, but I'm just saying someone would have a difficult decision between a new Fold 8 and discounted TriFold in front of them.

That's a good point... Fold 8 vs discounted TriFold will be tough decision for potential buyers.

 

[NeonNights]

I have a 13" iPad Pro... to provide a larger tablet experience, so maybe that's where my perspective differs from yours.

That's cool. I ditched my 12.9" M1 iPad Pro shortly after getting the Fold 4. I just didn't like the weight of the big Pro. I briefly had the smaller 11" M2 iPad Pro too but it felt redundant, and the Fold 4 screen quality put the 11" iPad Pro to shame (especially black levels). I would rather just carry one device in the TriFold.

 

[Ludatyk]

That's cool. I ditched my 12.9" M1 iPad Pro shortly after getting the Fold 4. I just didn't like the weight of the big Pro.

Yeah, I had the 12.9 M1 iPad... but with the M4 13 model there is a substantial difference in weight.

And similar to the Galaxy Fold... I carry mine without a case, there's the Magic Keyboard. But technically that's not really a case and then I have a TineOwl Stand.... that I alternate between the two.

I briefly had the smaller 11" M2 iPad Pro too but it felt redundant, and the Fold 4 screen quality put the 11" iPad Pro to shame (especially black levels). I would rather just carry one device in the TriFold.

I carry both the iPad and Fold (use a mini backpack)... enjoy having an Android phone and the iPad keeps me connected to the Apple Ecosystem. I don’t ever see myself abandoning this combination… seems unorthodox, but works so well for me.

 

[tbayrgs]

Yeah, I had the 12.9 M1 iPad... but with the M4 13 model there is a substantial difference in weight.

And similar to the Galaxy Fold... I carry mine without a case, there's the Magic Keyboard. But technically that's not really a case and then I have a TineOwl Stand.... that I alternate between the two.


I carry both the iPad and Fold (use a mini backpack)... enjoy having an Android phone and the iPad keeps me connected to the Apple Ecosystem. I don’t ever see myself abandoning this combination… seems unorthodox, but works so well for me.

Not typical but not unorthodox either. You want the best experience for your chosen devices and you’re getting that with arguably the best foldable phone (or at least it was when you bought it) and easily the best large tablet. Switch your Fold 6 for my Pixel 10 Pro Fold and we have the same setup. 😜

 

[The Game 161]

Oh yes, indeedily-doodily! First off, I can have the TriFold sooner than the Fold8. The TriFold, at worst, will still be thinner than my previous Fold 4, yet provide a larger tablet experience. Even now, I wish I had a larger inner screen on the Fold 6 (which the Fold 7 and Fold 8 will improve upon, but nothing like the TriFold).

As long as the TriFold has decent battery life to get me through the day and supports S Pen then it's almost an instant-buy for me. And I much prefer the TriFold design over the Mate XT that exposes the bare screen and hinge too much -- but I guess that's what insurance is for.

As for the $3K price, I'm just glad it isn't $3500. Back in 2020 I paid $1400 for a 1TB iPhone 12 Pro Max that I held for only a year, followed by a 1TB iPhone 13 Pro for also a year. With Black Friday deals you can now score a Fold 7 for what I paid for the iPhone 12PM. So relatively speaking, if I hold onto the TriFold for even just 2 years then $3K isn't as absurd as it seems, especially with early promos and trade-in deals. So yes, I am seriously interested in the TriFold. In the current phone space it's gonna be either the TriFold for me, followed by the Fold 8, or nothing else. While I am glad Apple will enter the fold-space, the rumored size and aspect ratios are a dealbreaker for me.

Another hypothetical is a year from now when the Fold 8 is released. The TriFold will be about 8-9 months old and probably discounted. I'd rather buy the TriFold upon release, but I'm just saying someone would have a difficult decision between a new Fold 8 and discounted TriFold in front of them.

US prices will be more then 3500

Currently supply is only looking at 30-50k units. If it comes to US I don’t think it will be until sometime in 2026

It till be roughly 3500 UK pounds so could see it being 4K in dollars

I think it’s great tech but tough to see wheee the cost can be justified and when people would use this bigger display. Might as well carry a £300 iPad around if you need a bigger display but each to their own really. People buy what they see value in

 

[Ludatyk]

Received November security update for the Fold 6.

Not typical but not unorthodox either. You want the best experience for your chosen devices and you’re getting that with arguably the best foldable phone (or at least it was when you bought it) and easily the best large tablet. Switch your Fold 6 for my Pixel 10 Pro Fold and we have the same setup. 😜

And how do you go about carrying your iPad? Or keep it at home?

 

[tbayrgs]

And how do you go about carrying your iPad? Or keep it at home?

My iPad is basically my daily computer. I own a MBP and have a desktop in my office but most of my daily tasks that require more than my phone are done using it. It lives in a magic keyboard most of the time but I’ll often take it off the keyboard to use as a tablet around the house.

I also have this magnetic stand from Lululook that I often drop it onto if I’m cooking in the kitchen or want to go hands free without the keyboard and watch some content or have it next to either of my computers. When I leave the house it’s almost always in the magic keyboard.