well it doesnt appel to me.. so your logic fails instantly. i personaly dont care for big screen. im more then happy with 4inch.
and my prediction is, foldeble screen will fail.
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Google 'Pixel Fold' Delayed Yet Again as Apple Eyes 2025 for Foldable iPhone
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and my prediction is, foldeble screen will fail.
thv
macrumors regular
I got my mom's old Razr in the fifth grade and had that until I was old enough to get her old iPhone, no desire to go back to flipping something open whether there is a screen or not. The kind that folds into a square is just pointless for me - as a woman I rarely pocket my phone, I've never wanted it to turn into a square. As for the Samsung that has a slim screen that folds into a tablet, the cover screen is awkwardly small and if you open it you're typing on an weird sized tablet, which also isn't the fastest. I'm happy with having a phone I like and a tablet I like. Any slight crease in the center of my tablet would drive me crazy. Maybe an Apple design would fix the issues I see with the current ones, but idk. To each their own, but it doesn't seem that revolutionary to me. There's obviously some level of market but it being a simple proposition doesn't mean it has mass appeal & will be a huge success where the majority of us are using foldable phones. This is speaking as someone with a pro max too - the people around me don't even desire the max sized iPhone, so no it does not appeal to everyone, that's just silly
Morgenland
macrumors 68000
A makeup case is foldable and has a mirror, that's reasonable, but even in the ladies' world it takes some attention to hold. But you don't use that when you're driving a car, for example. A phone is something else, Apple has developed that equally well in terms of concept.
Let Google produce nonsense there as usual, Apple will not do it, no matter what MacRumors tells here.
Let Google produce nonsense there as usual, Apple will not do it, no matter what MacRumors tells here.
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That too not made by Apple? Blasphemy. However, once Apple starts making a foldable, it will be the best thing since sliced bread and the most essential thing in the world. We have seen this play out many times.
jamface
macrumors 6502
Cliché in search of an article about folding phones.
Anyway, the ‘problem’ is really how can Apple make more money? This folding phone thing is basically still just a phone, so seems fairly in keeping with what people love spending money on, don’t you think?
A solution in search of a problem would be something like a beach towel with a built-in 3D printer, or a watch.
You should not use your phone while driving anyway...
Agreed, and some will even think Apple invented foldables 😛
Doesn't appeal to me so the logic is false.....well world does not revolve around individuals and we all know that smaller phones are not selling very well.
swm
macrumors 6502a
look, manufacturers worked for multiple years to eliminate moving parts. even the home button - which got probably the most wear end tear in every device. if something needs to move, it will wear. this is exponentially true for this telescopic mechanism: let's just forget about the biggest culprit, the screen, and focus on the easy thing.
- the slides, rollers that require reliable "lubrication"
- dust, cloth fibres, random junk must be kept away from the moving parts otherwise those will clog (and you put your phone into your bag/pocket)
- fluids must be kept away, and yes, good bye water resistance (and dust resistance too)
- miniature servos are not rated for such frequent positioning, or special ones need to be developed which drives up cost
- the weight and internal space taken up by this elaborate mechanism
- when extended, the structural integrity of the device is gone
- i hate drop tests, but a device like this would score the lowest (this time legitimately)
- a wrong move, and you wreck the gears for good
so, looks good, but not a great plan
Apple foldable is still far away. Good to see more entrants in the foldable space.
No, I don't think, it's in keeping with that people love spending money on. People love spending money on really well thought iPhones. Not fads.
Phones work perfectly fine as it is now. There isn't some glaring problem begging to be solved. If anything, peoples desires for bigger screens has been hilarious to watch in usability and people struggle to use a single hand to reach UI at upper levels of the device.
I've asked many people about this and nobody has ever said "Man, I just wish my iPhone could turn into the size of my iPad, and be as thick as a brick in my pocket."
It's understandable why people are interested in folding screens though. It's a new idea. We haven't been able to fold a screen before. Ok, cool, so, should we use a folding screen in a phone? I don't know, what problem does it solve? Oh right, it isn't solving any problems.
FelixDerKater
macrumors 68040
But here is the counter argument that I see thst even better than the though process against getting the iPad way back when.
In your pocket you have a device the size of the iPhone thaf can expand to the size of the iPad. You effective could remove needing an iPad because the phone can handle it all and give you the screen space when needed of an iPad.
Why you you carry a phone that can get to the size of an iPad and and iPad at the same time?
Hell the iPad is already killing the need for people to carry a laptop with them for a things. A foldable iPhone could efficiently reduce the need to carry anything more than your phone for most things.
I very much need a phone in my life.
I very much need my iPad in certain situations, and because of the limitations of the iPad, I very much need a laptop in my life.
I would accept an iPhone that can turn into a full featured/powered iPad ONLY if it doesn't get any thicker than an iPhone or an iPad is now. If the best that can be done is an iPhone that turns into an iPad mini, but turns into a brick in my pocket, then no thanks. No no no no no.
Oh you and me both on the tickness limitations. I can accept it a foldable phone being a little thicker and heavier and by that roughly the side of my iPhone with its otterbox commuter case on it. The current phones ceaseless are just to small and thin for me. Either way get an foldable iPhone to thst size and I would be sold. For phone usage it is well phone size but for times I can sit and watch something or read say a book give me my larger screen and no need to carry a 2nd device.
Abazigal
Contributor
For one, the galaxy fold is still smaller than even the smallest ipad. There is no way you are getting an iPhone sized device that can unfold to an 11” iPad. I think people tend to over exaggerate the size of the folding phone when it is unfolded and compare it to larger tablets when the size discrepancy is actually way larger.
So to answer your question, a folding iphone likely still wouldn’t remove the need for an ipad anytime soon.
jav6454
macrumors Core
Agreed. If foldable phones were a thing, the first foldable Samsung phone (which flipped terribly) would have been a success (even if it had issues with the screen).
I don't get what's the idea with having a thick flip-phone.
To be fair that phone had issues. It was thick, poor screen and no software for it and it was super expensive
At least now it is more in android to account for it.
If a folding phone is done right is could be promising. I think in folding mode no heavier or thicker than my iPhone in the otter box commuter case and then at least double side unfolded could work.
It might make the phone big enough to read an ebook on as the current iPhone sucks for that. The screen is just not big enough for it but like hell for my phone do I want it bif enough for thst for the phone job. It for those edge case where more screen size would be great but it still works as a phone the rest of the time.
400% compared to what thought? Foldable phones still don't crack the top 10 mobile devices.
They are not a hit, and they probably never will be either.
Power of Galaxy Z: Foldable smartphones account 12 per cent of Samsung Electronics' US sales - Foldable in fashion
Since Samsung Electronics released Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3, its foldable phone sales significantly increased in the US. Foldable in fashion
"Although foldables did not capture a significant share of the market with 7.1 million devices shipped in 2021, they made up a third of the premium ($1,000+) Android market. So, it will not be long before foldables, just like 5G, become a signature and expected feature of the premium Android market," said Nabila Popal, research director with IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker. "While the importance of foldable is no longer in question to any brand that wants a share of the premium Android space....."
Worldwide Market for Foldable Phones Forecast to Reach 27.6 million Units with a Market Value of $29 Billion in 2025, According to IDC
IDC examines consumer markets by devices, applications, networks, and services to provide complete solutions for succeeding in these expanding markets.
www.idc.com
Explore the Global Foldable Phone Market — Analysis of Key Trends, Regional Growth, Top Players, and a 10-Year Forecast from 2026 to 2036
The Foldable Phone Market worth USD 17.0 billion by 2026-end is growing at a CAGR of 26.2% to reach USD 174.6 billion by 2036. Samsung, Huawei, Motorola (Lenovo), and Oppo are the major companies operating in this market.
jav6454
macrumors Core
Explore the Global Foldable Phone Market — Analysis of Key Trends, Regional Growth, Top Players, and a 10-Year Forecast from 2026 to 2036
The Foldable Phone Market worth USD 17.0 billion by 2026-end is growing at a CAGR of 26.2% to reach USD 174.6 billion by 2036. Samsung, Huawei, Motorola (Lenovo), and Oppo are the major companies operating in this market.
The global foldable phone market size is projected to surpass US$ 6.8 Bn in 2021. Between 2021 and 2031, the market is expected to exhibit CAGR of 25.2%.
The U.S. is expected to account for over 79.5% of market share in North America in 2021. The presence of various smartphone companies in North America is resulting in easy availability of smartphones at a lower price.
Foldable smartphone market to exceed 30 million units in 2024: Canalys
The foldable segment grew 148 per cent year on year despite high price tags, while the overall smartphone market only grew 7 per cent.
indianexpress.com
Foldable smartphone market to exceed 30 million units in 2024: Canalys
The foldable segment grew 148 per cent year on year despite high price tags, while the overall smartphone market only grew 7 per cent.
These are stuff that can be easily Googled (or Binged, if that is your preference)
Abazigal
Contributor
Explore the Global Foldable Phone Market — Analysis of Key Trends, Regional Growth, Top Players, and a 10-Year Forecast from 2026 to 2036
The Foldable Phone Market worth USD 17.0 billion by 2026-end is growing at a CAGR of 26.2% to reach USD 174.6 billion by 2036. Samsung, Huawei, Motorola (Lenovo), and Oppo are the major companies operating in this market.www.futuremarketinsights.com
The global foldable phone market size is projected to surpass US$ 6.8 Bn in 2021. Between 2021 and 2031, the market is expected to exhibit CAGR of 25.2%.
The U.S. is expected to account for over 79.5% of market share in North America in 2021. The presence of various smartphone companies in North America is resulting in easy availability of smartphones at a lower price.
Foldable smartphone market to exceed 30 million units in 2024: Canalys
The foldable segment grew 148 per cent year on year despite high price tags, while the overall smartphone market only grew 7 per cent.
Foldable smartphone market to exceed 30 million units in 2024: Canalys
The foldable segment grew 148 per cent year on year despite high price tags, while the overall smartphone market only grew 7 per cent.
These are stuff that can be easily Googled (or Binged, if that is your preference)
It’s easy to report growth when you are starting from a small base. I believe that foldable phones are more of a niche product category (more like the Samsung curved displays) rather than the next big thing in phone design (ie: it’s not the next Note).
The advantage of foldable screens, however, is that the foldable screen is protected. It is more necessarily more delicate since it moves and therefore is either very thin pliable glass (called UTG) or plastic. The rollables don't extend nearly as much as a foldable and the screen is fully exposed at all times.
Its also possible to apply a screen protector to a foldable device, where a rollable would be much more difficult to do.
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Except the z Fold does essentially match the screen size of an iPad mini (the older generation mini 5). Which I believe is, in fact, an iPad.
