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Google Plans to Launch $1,700 Foldable Smartphone in June

I have no use for a foldable phone and see it only adding another something to go wrong or break. In the current form factor as others have said they are still way to thick and bulky. Making them thinner would only decrease their durability I would think. All that said I'm sure there are plenty of people who would want or need such a devise. Just Just not for me.

Now...If they made a foldable iPad that could be say 8" normally and unfold to 16" I may go for that!
 
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darngooddesign said:
While you’re not getting two devices, it does save you the cost of a separate small tablet. It also allows you to carry one device instead of two.

If you don’t care about small tablets then the folding design would seem be a gimmick. Similarly, if you don’t care about big phones then the iPhone Pro Max’s large screen would also seem to be a gimmick.
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That's an odd take from the guy you quoted, that you are not getting 2 devices out of a foldable. Clearly you are, a small tablet AND a phone. Certainly there are pluses and minuses to each setup. An iPad mini won't fit into my pocket, but a Fold 4 will have a crease. It's fascinating how a legitimate but acceptable to some consumers negative is blown out to be a "gimmick." For me I would never carry an iPad mini around because I just have nowhere to store it, but I wouldn't call an iPad mini a "gimmick" because of that.
 
ninethirty said:
There are literally dozens of you!
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It's always fascinating to me how the most insulting are typically the dumbest of the batch. Instead of fostering stimulating discussion you just resort to base insults. Estimates of foldable phone sales are projected to be 21.4 million in 2023 and up to 48.1 million by 2027. 2023 numbers are 50% over what they were in 2021, in contrast to an 11% decrease for non foldable phones. "Dozens" indeed...
 
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spinedoc77 said:
It's always fascinating to me how the most insulting are typically the dumbest of the batch. Instead of fostering stimulating discussion you just resort to base insults. Estimates of foldable phone sales are projected to be 21.4 million in 2023 and up to 48.1 million by 2027. 2023 numbers are 50% over what they were in 2021, in contrast to an 11% decrease for non foldable phones. "Dozens" indeed...
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And back in 2014, Google Glass was estimated to have sales of 10 million units in 2018. Oops.

Either way, we're talking a drop in the bucket. Foldables are a solution in search of a problem, and by 2027, this fad will have fizzled out. Bet on it.
 
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Frankly I'd prefer to have a distinct iPad-like touch screen that can be controlled over something like WiFi from a CPU in separate iPhone. Foldable screens seem inherently fragile and doomed to mechanical and electrical failures IMO, and I loathe the crease one sees always in the Samsung foldables. Another alternative would be to use a precision hinge with two normal screens rather than trying to fold and unfold repeatedly a piece of complex electronics.
 
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ninethirty said:
And back in 2014, Google Glass was estimated to have sales of 10 million units in 2018. Oops.

Either way, we're talking a drop in the bucket. Foldables are a solution in search of a problem, and by 2027, this fad will have fizzled out. Bet on it.
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Sure I'll take that bet, although I won't bet against other technology maybe not taking a slice like rollable screens or maybe AR will hit its stride by then. I've always said foldables are a stop gap in the road to shrinkable screens. Sure 48 million is a drop in the bucket compared to non foldable sales, but my intent wasn't to prove foldables are taking over, merely to outline that it's a HELL of a lot more than "dozens."

"Solution in search of a problem" I don't mean to call you out on that, but in general when I see that statement it just smacks of massive ignorance, maybe it's just me but I honestly just don't get how difficult it is to understand that having a larger screen compact to a smaller more portable package is the solution to having to carry around a large screen. The concept is so dirt simple, that's why it's baffling that some just can't fathom the 1st grade physics. Yep my 6-year old has no issues realizing that his iPad mini won't fit into my front pocket, yet here we are. Now if someone doesn't like foldables because of the crease, or concerns about durability (which are overblown anyway but still valid), or other inherent negatives I can totally see and understand the reasons why they would not choose a foldable. It's just this weird inane penchant for some to feel almost insulted that foldables exist that I can't understand.
 
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spinedoc77 said:
Sure I'll take that bet, although I won't bet against other technology maybe not taking a slice like rollable screens or maybe AR will hit its stride by then. I've always said foldables are a stop gap in the road to shrinkable screens. Sure 48 million is a drop in the bucket compared to non foldable sales, but my intent wasn't to prove foldables are taking over, merely to outline that it's a HELL of a lot more than "dozens."

"Solution in search of a problem" I don't mean to call you out on that, but in general when I see that statement it just smacks of massive ignorance, maybe it's just me but I honestly just don't get how difficult it is to understand that having a larger screen compact to a smaller more portable package is the solution to having to carry around a large screen. The concept is so dirt simple, that's why it's baffling that some just can't fathom the 1st grade physics. Yep my 6-year old has no issues realizing that his iPad mini won't fit into my front pocket, yet here we are. Now if someone doesn't like foldables because of the crease, or concerns about durability (which are overblown anyway but still valid), or other inherent negatives I can totally see and understand the reasons why they would not choose a foldable. It's just this weird inane penchant for some to feel almost insulted that foldables exist that I can't understand.
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I'll give you an example of another concept that people thought was dead simple and made great sense, and never came to be.

Phonebloks. What a fantastic idea! Why buy a new phone every year when you can just buy a new modem chip, or a better display and just snap it on to your phone? I knew the moment I saw it that it was DOA. It's too complex, it's going to make thicker uglier looking phones and it brings about the problem of drivers, incompatibility, and fractured devices/software sets. Supporting something like this is going to be a logistical nightmare, and for what benefit really?

I feel quite confident in saying that people don't want to put a large and chunky phone into their pocket just so they can unfold it and have a subpar tablet experience still. A mobile phone is absolutely perfect for riding the bus/train, and being connected when not sitting infant of a more substantial device, like a full sized iPad, or a desktop computer. On top of this, yeah, the crease. It's gross. My wife's sister came to visit recently and had a fold. I'd never actually played with one in person so I checked it out. Gross crease, thick phone, zero interest.

I don't feel insulted that foldable phones exist, I just roll my eyes at them the same way I did with Google Glass.
 
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HobeSoundDarryl said:
Bring 'em on! A pocketable, bigger screen does solve a problem that some have.

Hopefully, Apple is working on some way to deliver bigger-screen iPhones (or is that foldable/rollable iPads?) so that BOTH the many benefits of a larger screen that is also "pocketable" become an option for those interested Apple-or-bust fans.

Personally, I opt to use iPad Mini 6 to also cover phone/texting needs (buds with mic and VOIP app) and the ONE thing it lacks- IMO- is easy pocketability.
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OLED is bendable right? I'd love a tablet/phone with an old timey scroll format. I want my future phone to look something like this...
hqdefault.jpg

Keep it in the rolled up format for making and answering calls. Unscroll to watch movies or play games.
 
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blazerunner said:
What google needs to do is bend the truth like Apple and convince people they invented the folding phone. Do that, and everyone will attribute the technology to Google and create false dominance.

Apple convinced everyone they invented the smartphone and multi-touch. They did neither.

At 7:06 he lies about it. Bill Buxton did it many years prior to Apple.

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Man, you have no idea how awful multi-touch displays were before iPhone. It was jittery and nothing like a fluid momentum scrolling. You’re taking the present for granted that’s all.
 
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I do sales for AT&T. The fold and flip are very cool concepts. The problem is, people don't purchase insurance for these devices, and yet, they break more than any other phone on the market.

Until these phones become durable, they're duds.
 
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I still have my Surface Duo 1st Gen. And while it's a nice piece of hardware (hinge and form factor is really something) It collects dust in my drawer now and I used it only as an e-book reader up until the end (still do occasionaly). The uniqueness wore off pretty quick and the negatives really started to wear on me. I found myself always reaching for my slab phone instead. The camera system was horrid and the main reason I had to ditch it as my daily. Lasted 2 weeks in that role before it became a "mess around" media consumption, e-book reader device for me. It was also my last Android phone. Can't say I'm even remotely interested in an anything foldable now. The one positive is I only paid $408.00 new for it when Woot was blowing them out (AT&T locked). If I paid what they were asking new? Yikes.
 
spinedoc77 said:
It's always fascinating to me how the most insulting are typically the dumbest of the batch. Instead of fostering stimulating discussion you just resort to base insults. Estimates of foldable phone sales are projected to be 21.4 million in 2023 and up to 48.1 million by 2027. 2023 numbers are 50% over what they were in 2021, in contrast to an 11% decrease for non foldable phones. "Dozens" indeed...
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Which reinforces the argument that folding phones are more of a niche category (think the S6’s curved edge display) than a revolutionary new form factor (like the Note’s larger display).

Yes, there are possibly millions of people using them today, it is what it is, and Apple is any less innovative simply because they made a business decision not to go down this route.
 
Abazigal said:
Which reinforces the argument that folding phones are more of a niche category (think the S6’s curved edge display) than a revolutionary new form factor (like the Note’s larger display).

Yes, there are possibly millions of people using them today, it is what it is, and Apple is any less innovative simply because they made a business decision not to go down this route.
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No argument there, but that wasn't the point I was making.
 
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Dark_Omen said:
I do sales for AT&T. The fold and flip are very cool concepts. The problem is, people don't purchase insurance for these devices, and yet, they break more than any other phone on the market.

Until these phones become durable, they're duds.
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I'd be curious to see actual data backing that up, as far as I know there is no epidemic of Fold devices breaking. Personally I think it's just exaggeration, the Folds are really robust and have the added advantage of having the inner screen protected when closed. Certainly no phone is perfect and I would expect any piece of technology so intricate to have failures, but an epidemic? Please. Anecdotally, if we are going that route, I've had 3 iPhone claims in the past 3-4 years, but 0 Fold claims using it over 3 generations.
 
I bought wifey the flip for her birthday. She enjoys it.

Is it a novelty? Probably; but I got it on promotion and it cost me the same as the s22 would've; so basically i got half a generation newer for the same cost; plus the novelty of it folding.

She's able to fit it into her tiny pockets, and a couple of her tiny handbags so that's an added plus too.
 
Another Z Fold 4 owner here. Immensely prefer it over my previous iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 13 Pro. I use the multitasking/multiwindow features everyday and my iPad Pro has been collecting more dust. I still love my M1 MacBook Air and plan to replace it in a few months with either a MBP 14 or upcoming MBA 15.

I love MacOS but iOS/iPadOS just wasn't doing it for me. No durability issues with my Z Fold 4 so far after 8 months. It does garner a fair amount of attention from strangers. Most are blown away by the flexibility of having a smaller front screen and larger internal display. A couple people have struck up conversations with me to learn more about the Z Fold 4 from a "real user". The camera isn't top notch but is easily better than my wife's iPhone 13 Mini and daughter's iPhone 12 (non-Pro). I'd say camera quality is a toss-up between my previous iPhone 13 Pro and Z Fold 4, with neither being significantly better than the other...well, the iPhone 13 Pro was probably better in low light. Overall though, I'm not missing the previous iPhone 12PM/13P cameras. Of course, the newer iPhone 14 and S23 Ultra flagship phones have better cameras.

At this point I'm not switching back to an iPhone until Apple releases a foldable with actual multitasking support. I don't see myself going back to a standard phone format from any brand. The crease is literally a non-issue and blends into the background during normal use. Notches and camera cut-outs are more noticeable than the crease but, for those non-owners still bothered by the crease, the next-gen teardrop hinge designs will eliminate the crease and reduce the thickness when closed. Even with a screen protector and case the Z Fold 4 weighs only a single ounce more than my iPhone 12 Pro Max w/screen protector and case, but the Z Fold 4 balances the weight better. The 12PM was more prone to tip out of my hand than the Z Fold 4.
 
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ninethirty said:
Don't hold your breath.
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If Apple makes a foldable then great, if never I'm also fine with that. I'm not in any hurry to jump back into iOS and foldables are not as gimmicky as you say. Foldables are a great hybrid form factor for entertainment and productivity.
 
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spinedoc77 said:
I'd be curious to see actual data backing that up, as far as I know there is no epidemic of Fold devices breaking. Personally I think it's just exaggeration, the Folds are really robust and have the added advantage of having the inner screen protected when closed. Certainly no phone is perfect and I would expect any piece of technology so intricate to have failures, but an epidemic? Please. Anecdotally, if we are going that route, I've had 3 iPhone claims in the past 3-4 years, but 0 Fold claims using it over 3 generations.
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My personal experience. We rarely sell the Folds and Flips, yet, they're the phone I see customers come in with the most insurance claims/inquires because the screen broke.

We probably sell 1 of these flips and folds for every 50 iPhone and yet, the fold and flip replacements are 60% of our customer's insurance claims.
 
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