Huawei Unveils $2,600 Foldable 'Mate X' Smartphone to Rival Samsung's Galaxy Fold

[pl1984]

Oh did you hold one in person? If so I apologize.

Nope, just like you I don't have any real world experience with it. Unlike you I'm not reaching conclusions based on a poor quality video.

If the screen has enough “waviness” to it to reflect light in different directions enough to notice it instantly and clearly on camera, you WILL see that distortion when the device is 2 ft from your face. The human eye is INCREDIBLY perceptive and you WILL notice (and probably feel) the screen distortion.

Wait a minute! What's this "If", you mean you don't know? Surely you wouldn't be reaching conclusions without full knowledge.

Man, The same people on here defending this distortion are probably the same ones complaining the iPhone XR screen sucks because it misses being 1080 by like 8 lines of resolution and therefore the screen is total trash because they can see the resolution difference.

Who's defending it? I'm merely asking you to demonstrate there is any.

 

[mattster16]

It's new technology so it's expected to be pricey. Just as the original iPhone was. As for not understanding the fascination I'm sure you said the same thing about large screen phone yet that's all Apple produces these days. Just because you don't see the fascination (if you want to call it that) doesn't mean there isn't benefit to it.

I mean, the original iPhone was a lot cheaper than the current flagship models... just saying.

 

[mac4good84]

Yeah, no thanks. And yeah that crease is laughingly bad. And $2,600? No thank you, have a pleasant evening and goodnight...

 

[pl1984]

I mean, the original iPhone was a lot cheaper than the current flagship models... just saying.

OK, your point being?

 

[Rogifan]

How many people need or want a tablet in their pocket? Seems like a very niche use case. But everyone is drooling over these products because smart phones are mature now and people are bored with them.

 

[pl1984]

How many people need or want a tablet in their pocket? Seems like a very niche use case. But everyone is drooling over these products because smart phones are mature now and people are bored with them.

I imagine this type of thing would be welcome to those who would otherwise choose a comparable sized tablet. It's a device that, folded, is the size of a smart phone and then can be turned into a tablet if desired. I'm sure you'll understand once Apple releases such a product

 

[mattster16]

Wait a minute! What's this "If", you mean you don't know? Surely you wouldn't be reaching conclusions without full knowledge.

Oh no! You got me! You’re so clever!!

The screen has enough “waviness” to it to reflect light in different directions enough to notice it instantly and clearly on camera. This means you WILL see that distortion when the device is 2ft from your face.

There I fixed it for you since you’re apparently incapable of using context to interpret written intent.

 

[PickUrPoison]

I haven't written one word in defense of it.

Oh please. Your post that I replied to said:

I didn't notice any distortion when looking at it head on.

OP: The display is distorted.

You: No it’s not.

Me: Stop defending the crappy display on this Huawei phone. Huawei should be ashamed to charge $2,600 for a display that looks that bad.

 

[john123]

I’m not so naive to what goes on in the tech world. I tend to choose Apple products because they give me the best overall combination of performance, security, privacy, ecosystem, apps, and support, but I certainly consider my options when it comes to purchases. I think that people excited are more excited about the potential for such devices opposed to the devices just released. I can see the potential, but I don’t believe we are there yet from a hardware and software perspective. These devices prove that. As you mentioned, the majority of people aren’t going to be buying these prototypes. Tech sites have been quick to point out the same exact problems that I have described.

I didn't call you naive.

I can say that there's a large contingent of people out there who care about early adoption and aren't as rigid about perfect implementation.

Tech sites are charged with pointing out pros and cons. That means the flaws will get plenty of coverage. That doesn't make them deal breakers. It would also be faulty reasoning to infer something about these features from sales data some time down the road, too — although I know that people on here will be quick to do so, as always.

I can also say that what's good for the goose is good for the gander, and if you want to talk about quality implementation, there's been enough things about Apple products particularly in recent years that should make you upset if you're a longtime Apple customer.

I for one will reserve judgment until I see them in person myself. Just as all the Apple loyalists instructed everyone to do when it came to the notch a year and a half ago. Like I said...goose and gander.

 

[pl1984]

Oh know! You got me! You’re so clever!!!

The screen has enough “waviness” to it to reflect light in different directions enough to notice it instantly and clearly on camera. This means you WILL see that distortion when the device is 2ft from your face.

There I fixed it for you since you’re apparently incapable of using context to interpret written intent.

Yet despite this I didn't see any distortion when looking at it straight on. How do you explain that?
[doublepost=1551054153][/doublepost]

Oh please. Your post that I replied to said:



OP: The display is distorted.

You: No it’s not.

Me: Stop defending the crappy display on this Huawei phone. Huawei should be ashamed to charge $2,600 for a display that looks that bad.

Saying "I didn't notice any distortion when looking at it head on." is not a defense of the product.

 

[Heineken]

My pocket won't hold a tablet.

So inconvenient.

 

[mattster16]

OK, your point being?

Not trying to make any combative point. Just pointing out how iPhones have actually gotten MORE expensive over time, despite the base technologies being less and less new.

 

[Kabeyun]

If you want evidence that Steve Jobs’ spirit is still alive and well in Cupertino, look no further than Apple not making these ridiculous devices, at least nowhere near yet. It’s one thing to explore bendable displays (which imo are not ready for prime time) and entirely another to charge two thousand six hundred dollars for one of these things and unleash it on the public.

The only thing I’m impressed with is that Leica made the camera. And even then...FORTY megapixels?! Just nuts.

 

[pl1984]

Not trying to make any combative point. Just pointing out how iPhones have actually gotten MORE expensive over time, despite the base technologies being less and less new.

At the time of its release did the original iPhone cost more or less than other phones?

 

[Apple_Robert]

Do you even gain anything with that weird aspect ratio over let’s say an XS Max while watching movies?

Outside of playing checkers or some other board game with a friend, I don't see the ratio being very practical. I will gladly cling to my XS Max over this kind of flash in the pan junk.

 

[DevNull0]

This is a sign of panic, the technology to produce foldable smartphones has still not come down to an affordable price, but to not be outdone by Apple and to get in first these two companies have decided to release it too early, get the product out no matter the cost and then work on the OS, for now just hack something together with the current OS, something Apple would never do.

Yep. Apple would never do that. Coming up on 6 years since the debacle that is the iTrashCan Pro came out with no sign of a new pro mac on horizon. And that debacle was after a delay of 5 years (with a minor spec bump at 3 years) to the previous pro machine. So 11 years since a real mac pro release and 6 years since anything.

You're right, good on Apple for not rushing out incremental products based on actual currently available tech as they wait on pie on the sky.

Except that of course every new product has low sales as the market adapts. Look at the original watch sales, original iPhone sales. Even iPod which was a major hit sold about 25,000 units of the original model and sales reached 600,000 by third generation. It took 3 years to sell 10 million and 6 years to sell 100 million.

These $2000 folding phones will not sell well, but they will establish a market. Apple used to get it, now they don't. This is innovation. Apple is a dinosaur living on past glory and emojis.

When the time is right and a clear direction can be seen then Apple will release the worlds first affordable and practical easy to use with a OS design around a foldable screen to market, and will become the gold standard to follow.

ROFL. Where have you been the past 7 years? This is not the Apple that exists anymore. Apple is living in the past, and it's only a matter of time until they get disrupted like blackberry and nokia. This folding phone concept may or may not be what does it, but it's going to happen. Enjoy your emojiPod PRO -- with extra watch bands.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

I think we were first told these were coming 15 years ago. Nice to finally see it on the market.

 

[mattster16]

Yet despite this I didn't see any distortion when looking at it straight on. How do you explain that?

Sure. The reason is because while reflected light will be visible on camera, the optical distortion cause by the bending in the display will be harder to perceive on video at a distance. This is something you’d need a closer high resolution photo or the naked eye to see. It would also be easier or harder to perceive depending on the content being displayed. A background like the one shown would make it harder. Geometric shapes would make the optical distortion much more obvious.

 

[PickUrPoison]

Saying "I didn't notice any distortion when looking at it head on." is not a defense of the product.

Yes, it is. You think you’re being clever by adding the qualifier “when looking at it head on”. OP didn’t complain it was distorted when viewed head on, you added that in an attempt to defend the distortion OP was complaining about.

Do you see distortion when it’s not viewed head on? I do. And that’s why it looks like a crappy display. It looks like it’s a prototype, not something worth $2,600. Huawei should be ashamed to charge $2,600 for a display with a visible crease.

 

[Heineken]

No, you're offering speculation based off of a short video. Let's take the crease...you've concluded the product is junk because of it. Yet you have no experience with it to see if it causes any issues (not sure I would even classify it as a crease but I understand what you're referring to). It may look bad in the video but the question is: Does it cause any problems? Is there any distortion because of it? Is it less bright in that area of the screen? Does touch not work as well? Can you answer any of these questions? No, all you can do is say: There's a "crease" and therefore conclude it's junk.

Powers of deduction left you apparently.

 

[DNichter]

I didn't call you naive.

I can say that there's a large contingent of people out there who care about early adoption and aren't as rigid about perfect implementation.

Tech sites are charged with pointing out pros and cons. That means the flaws will get plenty of coverage. That doesn't make them deal breakers. It would also be faulty reasoning to infer something about these features from sales data some time down the road, too — although I know that people on here will be quick to do so, as always.

I can also say that what's good for the goose is good for the gander, and if you want to talk about quality implementation, there's been enough things about Apple products particularly in recent years that should make you upset if you're a longtime Apple customer.

I for one will reserve judgment until I see them in person myself. Just as all the Apple loyalists instructed everyone to do when it came to the notch a year and a half ago. Like I said...goose and gander.

I know you didn’t, I was just saying that I am aware of the tech world around me. That’s fair if people want to be excited, I am just more so a believer in waiting until a product is ready to bring to market, where it can really add value. The issues I’ve described may not be deal breakers to some, but they are deal breakers to me and many others who wouldn’t buy a compromised product. I have seen some instances of bad quality with Apple as of late, mainly around manufacturing issues or software bugs, but I consider those much different than some of the decisions I see with these foldable devices. These are inherent design decisions that show they aren’t ready for prime time. Personally I haven’t experienced these same issues with my Apple products, so I can see that they weren’t simply bad design or implementation choices. I am sure we can both see the difference there. We’ll see how these turn out in the real world, but I still stand by my initial points that these are devices with too many compromises and not enough benefits.

 

[Glideslope]

Huawei’s shadiness really puts me off their devices. One day, they may supply all of the essential infrastructure for wireless technologies, but until that day comes, I will continue to avoid their tech.

You’re not alone. Huawei is a front for Chinese Spyware. They make the NSA look like Kindergarten Cops.

 

[craig1410]

If/when Apple come out with a folding screen, we will be able to determine two things:

1. Folding screens are useful. (You know Apple have evaluated prototypes already right?)

2. Folding screens can be executed without terrible compromises such as wrinkly screens, image quality issues around the crease and horrendous cost! (and probably questionable long term reliability)

For me, the complexity and other downsides of this technology, as it stands today, is not balanced by any significant upsides. Two 6.x” screens does not create an iPad size 12.x” screen. In fact, it is closer to an iPad mini 8” size which is not enough of a step up from a phone screen to be a useful tablet. I’d far rather have an uncompromised, high quality LCD or OLED display behind FLAT glass than go back to a plastic display technology reminiscent of resistive touch screens.

I feel sorry for anyone who buys one of these early products. The user experience will be terrible, both through hardware and software, and the cost is eye-watering at this stage. This may be “invention” but I advise waiting for significant “innovation” before investing...

 

[pl1984]

Sure. The reason is because while reflected light will be visible on camera, the optical distortion cause by the bending in the display will be harder to perceive on video at a distance. This is something you’d need a closer high resolution photo or the naked eye to see. It would also be easier or harder to perceive depending on the content being displayed. A background like the one shown would make it harder. Geometric shapes would make the optical distortion much more obvious.

Based on your conclusion about this device it would be reasonable for me to assume you've seen a "closer high resolution photo" or you've seen it with your own eyes?

 

[alphaod]

Huawei’s shadiness really puts me off their devices. One day, they may supply all of the essential infrastructure for wireless technologies, but until that day comes, I will continue to avoid their tech.

What shadiness. I used to work for Cisco and we did all sorts of questionable contracts for different governments, will you avoid Cisco infrastructure?