Hands-On With Samsung's New Galaxy Fold

[Marshall73]

[QUOTE="arbi4ever, post: 2782


Yes, they are all working fine on full screen.
I posted google map, waze, microsoft word, and apple webpage and apple music app pic here.
[/QUOTE]

So, even with the wide viewport it displays websites in mobile format.

The fragility of this device makes it as much use as a chocolate teapot.

 

[M3gatron]

I thought the whole point was that it's supposed to be both.

I think he was talking about the fact that most apps will treat the Galaxy Fold like a phone and not like a tablet.
A lot Android apps can adapt to any screen size and resolution. If the app developer doesn't want it's app to run on a larger screen devices its not even avilable for download on anything that doesn't have the classic phone screen size and look.

To me it was wired to read so many comments talking about Android tablets and I simply don't understand their point. From a practical perspective most apps I've seen on the Fold, look and run really well.

 

[sonicrobby]

I really love the concept! Though I can never realistically be happy paying 2k for an android device. I will gladly wait 9 more years until apple releases their version for 3k.

 

[arch1t3cton]

I don’t understand why this product received so much publicity...

 

[robbietop]

"Basically Samsung warns Galaxy Fold owners to use a light touch when interacting with the device, avoid water and dust, avoid excessive pressure, and to keep it away from objects that can be damaged by magnets."

OK! So, treat it like a baby!

 

[realtuner]

Galaxy Fold is a "phone", not a "tablet" and it does not need to run tablet apps! I mean you should check it out and play with it to see how it works, because I really don't understand what you mean by "suddenly become optimized"! I've posted various screenshots of apps in this forum, so I'm not getting your point.

The same way I pay $15 for my Apple Care+, I pay $20 for the Fold for Samsung Care+! Samsung will cover 1st screen replacement with or without insurance for $149 complimentary same day service, but it would cost $250 after with insurance or $600 without insurance. Also, Samsung gives Fold Concierge special service.

Wait, so now you’re claiming the Fold isn’t a phone that unfolds into a tablet, but rather a phone that unfolds into a.....bigger phone? That’s not what Samsung calls it. They specifically say it’s a “phone and tablet in one device”.

I mean, that’s literally the entire point of the larger screen - to use it as a tablet. Except Android is garbage on tablets where all your Apps are blown-up phone Apps.

When Apps are optimized for tablets it means developers specifically modify the user interface to take advantage of the larger screen. They may add items like expanded toolbars or floating menus. Simply stretching the content to fit (like your maps or browser screenshots) does not make them “optimized”.


As to your Samsung Care, a previous poster claimed it was all included. So either they’re wrong about what’s included or you’re paying extra for something you shouldn’t be.

 

[DNichter]

I just can't get over the weird phone screen, small tablet, screen crease, clumsy software, quality issues, and no real value proposition. Why would anyone spend this kind of money on a product that isn't better than anything we have today?

 

[xalea]

I love all the posts in this thread bashing the Fold. In 2-3 years when Apple unveils the exact same thing - slightly improved of course - these same forums will be full of "mind blown" posts. We all know Apple waits for other companies to screw stuff up, then probably uses corporate espionage to get data on the product and improve upon it, marketing it as "new" and "first ever" and "innovative." Give me a break. At least Samsung, Amazon, and others are actually producing new products and not just adding more cameras to the back of a flat piece of glass.

 

[icanhazmac]

It looks like the new Logitech MX Keys... I would like to have a review of it

Mine is due to be delivered today! Stock is evidently an issue as it took forever.

 

[icanhazmac]

What keyboard is that in the background?

Logitech MX Keys

 

[hirsthirst]

I do not want one, but it *is* interesting. I think about the Nokia 9000 Communicator, which looked like it was from the future when it first arrived:

Right now you'd have to be nuts to drop $2K on it, but the third, fourth, fifth generations of this could be great & it'll be fascinating to see how displays develop in non-traditional (flat, static, glass) formats.

 

[Romeo_Nightfall]

Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you have to do it.

how can You do something if not doing it ... seems a bit non logical

 

[Smearbrick]

Someone had to go first. Good to see someone taking a risk. All the complaints coming from the naysayers claiming this to be “useless”, truly lack vision. Good for Samsung! If no one took risks, how would we ever progress? No one is forcing this tech upon you. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it.

 

[timber]

After watching this thing better i wouldn't call it a gimmick.

To me it seems obvious that there is a useful and interesting device wanting to get out of the limitations of current hardware.

 

[realtuner]

Someone had to go first. Good to see someone taking a risk. All the complaints coming from the naysayers claiming this to be “useless”, truly lack vision. Good for Samsung! If no one took risks, how would we ever progress? No one is forcing this tech upon you. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it.

Nothing to do with vision. Companies routinely make products for demonstration purposes to showcase new technology WITHOUT ripping off customers by selling them an unfinished product.

There’s absolutely no need for Samsung to sell this device. They can showcase it at trade shows, get their employees to use them or give them to reviewers telling them that it’s an example of a future product. Samsung gets all the positive publicity for a new product category without the bad press of failures under normal usage. And people will forgive them for any failures because they know it’s currently a concept.


Edited: Samsung previously did this. They’ve been showing off flexible/folding display panels for years. Other companies have also been doing the same (LG with their roll up TV). There was no need to foist this on consumers.

 

[digitalexplr]

Nice "proof of concept" product. But I would not shell out $2k to be a tester.

 

[arbi4ever]

Wait, so now you’re claiming the Fold isn’t a phone that unfolds into a tablet, but rather a phone that unfolds into a.....bigger phone? That’s not what Samsung calls it. They specifically say it’s a “phone and tablet in one device”.

I mean, that’s literally the entire point of the larger screen - to use it as a tablet. Except Android is garbage on tablets where all your Apps are blown-up phone Apps.

When Apps are optimized for tablets it means developers specifically modify the user interface to take advantage of the larger screen. They may add items like expanded toolbars or floating menus. Simply stretching the content to fit (like your maps or browser screenshots) does not make them “optimized”.


As to your Samsung Care, a previous poster claimed it was all included. So either they’re wrong about what’s included or you’re paying extra for something you shouldn’t be.

It's not all included; Samsung only gives 1 screen replacement for $149 only, and after that with the insurance, they charge $249, without insurance, they will charge $600. I know it is pretty expensive, but currently I have 2 other Fold (unlocked version) in my position that ready to sell; so I'm not worry about the cost. I'm kind of covered by selling the other 2. 😉

 

[jedifaka]

Clunky. No one will ever buy it. Motorola throwing junk at a wall to see what sticks!

Honestly, people. Some iterate, others leapfrog. Both have their places and some consumers reward bold ideas. Others are thrilled with an incremented processor number as long as it looks just like the last version.

 

[Mousse]

I don’t understand why this product received so much publicity...

It's because a folding display is a new gee-whiz tech.

Personally, I'm not interested until the technology is ready for prime time. I'll let y'all rich guinea pigs do the beta testing. Remember when Blu-Ray players first hit the market? It cost an arm and a leg, now they're dirt cheap.

 

[Rafterman]

"Basically Samsung warns Galaxy Fold owners to use a light touch when interacting with the device, avoid water and dust, avoid excessive pressure, and to keep it away from objects that can be damaged by magnets."

OK! So, treat it like a baby!

I already do that with all my (expensive) devices.

 

[hirsthirst]

If there's never a v1, then there'll never be a v2, v3 (or v11 Pro).

 

[guerro]

Gimmick. Also, when was there a data breach at MacRumors? Asking because the google password checkup extension says there was a breach.

 

[patent10021]

Sammy didn't invent this tech. So I'm pretty sure Sammy just wanted to come out with something Apple didn't have just to say they were first to market.

 

[chucker23n1]

It's a niche phone as much as any of the iPhone 11's are at their riduculous price points!

You realize the Fold starts at 2.8 times the price as iPhone 11, right?

Some folks here are talking about Android tablets, but Galaxy Fold is NOT running Android tablet OS. It is running Samsung ONE UI which is totally different from tablets.

Right. In that it offers even fewer tablet apps.

Are you seriously arguing with a straight face that Samsung is a contender for a tablet software ecosystem? At $1,999, it better compete quite favorably against an iPad Pro and Surface Pro.

 

[Brandhouse]

You realize the Fold starts at 2.8 times the price as iPhone 11, right?



Right. In that it offers even fewer tablet apps.

Are you seriously arguing with a straight face that Samsung is a contender for a tablet software ecosystem? At $1,999, it better compete quite favorably against an iPad Pro and Surface Pro.

Yeah, well in Oz the 11 Pro is $2,499.00 which is plain crazy and you're right about your comment. Still, doesn't change that it's getting ludicrous that phones are getting overly priced and just plain unaffordable.