Other iPhone Fold - what are your dealbreakers?

[joefrank64k]

I mean, let’s assume that they are. It’s not correct, but let’s just assume that that is the case.
People spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars every year on video games. Almost $1000 on the console they’re going to play those games on. Anywhere from $500 to thousands and thousands of dollars on the television that they’re going to use to play those games.
And they only use that video game console when they’re at home, when they’re not working, or when their time isn’t being occupied by something else. And yet they still spend all that money on those video games.
Same goes for most other hobbies. Go to the gym? You’re spending hundreds of dollars a year on a membership.
Enjoy messing with cars of any type? That’s thousands and thousands of dollars in parts.
Enjoy listening to music? Vinyl LPs are not cheap, you’re looking at on average $60 a pop. The Beatles are putting out a box set in October, over $200 for alternate copies of the same album.
enjoy watching movies? even a digital copy of most movies these days is $25. Or you can sign up for streaming services and again, you’re at least paying hundreds and hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars every year to get access to those streaming services.
Make up and beauty products? Sound equipment? Lawn care?
People spend thousands, and thousands, and thousands of dollars on these activities every single year.


So tell me, why is it so just unfathomable, just absolutely insane, just eye-wateringly ridiculous… To spend money on what the majority of people can agree is likely the most important product of their life. The thing they use to communicate with friends and family, the thing they use to keep up with news and events of the world, their main source of entertainment, the thing that’s pretty much the only way to receive help in an emergency, the thing that’s on their bedside table every single night, and in their pocket every single minute of every single day for the most part.


And I’m not even saying this expensive folding smart phone is for everyone, because it’s not, most people can get by with a significantly more affordable option.
But why is it for this one particular product that people get so up in arms that some people want something a little bit more premium and nice? Where is the outrage when someone spends $1000 for a nice 75 inch OLED TV, instead of sticking with a 32 inch $150 720P thing?

Well said…and, unlike all the things listed, the phone is the one thing you’d go back for if you realized you left the house without it.

 

[walds11]

I have a Fold 8. When folded it feels a bit heavier than my Air. When unfolded it feels super-light, especially when you see the size of the inner screen.

I attribute the difference to the mass being concentrated when folded vs unfolded. Either way it’s not a heavy device, my wife’s 17PM feels like a brick by comparison, haha!!

I really cannot wait for this phone. I’ve been on the iPhone upgrade train every single year since the OG in 2007. It’s been a while since I’ve been this pumped for a new release. It feels a bit like iPhone 4, iPhone 6, iPhone X, and iPhone 11PM all rolled into one, haha!!

Yeah, you’re 💯 right about the difference in how the mass is concentrated when folded versus unfolded.

I never rocked PMs and Pluses; always the regular Pros, etc., so jumping to the Ultra shouldn’t be a big deal. It’s just the added width when folded that may take some getting used to. And as long as it is pocketable, I am in!

 

[Macalway]

But why is it for this one particular product that people get so up in arms that some people want something a little bit more premium and nice? Where is the outrage when someone spends $1000 for a nice 75 inch OLED TV, instead of sticking with a 32 inch $150 720P thing?

They have a point. Thrift is a virtue. They feel superior and perhaps even a bit militant about saving. I admire them with their Ikea and Walmart. I truly wish I could be like that. Having style and expensive stuff makes you a target. People want to take it from you also. I get these emails...

 

[iLuddite]

Via Siri today:

A monthly payment for a base iPhone Ultra (foldable) through the Apple Upgrade program is estimated to be around $70 on a 24-month lease. This estimate is based on the device's rumored $2,000 to $2,500 price point.
Apple Upgrade Program Details
The new Apple Upgrade program, which replaced the traditional iPhone Upgrade Program, functions as a lease rather than an installment loan.

FEATURE	DETAILS
Lease Terms	12 or 24 months for iPhones.
End of Term Options	Upgrade to a new device, return the device, or pay a final purchase fee to keep it.
AppleCare+	Not automatically included; must be added separately.
Carrier Requirements	Requires activation on a postpaid plan with AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon.

The estimated $70 monthly payment is significantly higher than current iPhone 17 Pro models (which start around $31.99/month) due to the premium pricing expected for Apple's first foldable device.

When asked about screen viewing area relative to the 17 Pro Max:

The inner screen of the rumored folding iPhone Ultra is alleged to offer a viewing area that is approximately 56.9% larger than the iPhone 17 Pro Max when compared in landscape orientation. This is due to the Ultra's inner display measuring about 111.5mm tall versus the 71mm height of the 17 Pro Max, while maintaining a similar width.
Display Comparison

FEATURE	IPHONE 17 PRO MAX	IPHONE ULTRA (RUMORED)
Screen Size	6.9-inch	7.8-inch
Aspect Ratio	19.5:9	4:3
Resolution	2868 x 1320	2460 x 2180
Form Factor	Traditional Slab	Book-style Foldable

The wider 4:3 aspect ratio of the unfolded iPhone Ultra is expected to provide a more immersive experience for 16:9 video content and gaming, similar to an iPad mini. When folded, the device is rumored to feature a much smaller 5.3 to 5.5-inch outer display.

 

[indefinite]

1. No telephoto lens
2. Poor 3rd party application support
3. No full 120 Hz display
4. No Magsafe charging
5. Heavier than the iPhone 16PM
6. No 12 MP front camera
7. RAM that is less than 12 GB

 

[SoyMaxV]

No matter what?

😳

What if it's $3k? $4k?

Not a problem

Apple Pencil would be a no go the inner displays of foldables can be scratched with your own finer nail so a pencil isn’t possible unless they solve that issue

Oh I know, I'm just saying I'd love that to be a possibility 🥲

 

[comptr]

No matter what?



What if it's $3k? $4k?

Same here price does not matter I will get the Fold 1TB on day 1. I have been waiting for a long long time for a Folding phone. I have wanted one since Samsung came out with 1 but due to being locked into the ecosystem I had to wait till Apple got one.

 

[alia]

With all that hate pointed towards the Air last year, I am quite happy with my single lens Air camera.

I only do point and shoot like a cheap 110 instamatic camera I used to own because I think the iPhone camera lens are not true photo quality so I never have the need for triple, quadruple lens on a cellphone.

Now if I need real photo quality, I just pull out my Canon DSLR with different lenses that cost more than a folding/ultra iPhone....

100%. If I wasn't turning 50 and just becoming a grumpy old lady that doesn't want to lug a real rig around, I'd be right there with you. I spent $5,800 on my Leica Q in 2018, and it still blows all camera phones out of the water. The Leitzphone at least will at least digitally approximate the light quality of my Q but not contribute to the inevitable backache I will have at the end of each travel day. 😆

 

[Luftkopf]

Having done some reflection lately I've remembered that I used to have a soft spot for novel form factors. I even had that weird Nokia shaped like a leaf, with the keypad down each side of the screen! That doesn't change my mind about folding phones though.

There are two big dealbreakers for me. First up is the cost. There's no way I could justify spending that much money on a phone. Even if it were to cost the same as an iPhone Air though, I still have to much of an issue with the inner screens. Every folding phone I've tried, including the Samsung Fold 8 Ultra, just gives me the ick every time I unfold them. The problem is that no matter how good the inner screens look, they feel soft and cheap like those awful old-school plastic touchscreens. I know they have ultra thin glass in them, and it's the screen protector that is plastic, but the fact remains that whatever materials are in the sandwich that makes up the screen make it feel soft, plasticky, and cheap.

Everything else people complain about is either a non-issue, or an unconfirmed rumour.

 

[Dirk Pieters]

You could travel the world, but instead you choose to have a “collection” of max configurations of devices to sit on your shelf. Many years from now, I wish for you that you look at this collection of devices and think, I am correct, life is truly short, and the money I spent was just. And traveling, seeing new things, having new experiences, and meeting new people wasn’t what I wanted with life. Everyone deserves happiness and I truly wish this for you and your collection.

Who says he doesn’t travel?

Two things can be true at the same time.

 

[samuraiQ]

The mere fact that the app experience resembles that of an iPad when the device is unfolded doesn't particularly appeal to me.
Also, while the screen size certainly increases, it remains an iPhone, so the prospect of using multiple apps simultaneously doesn't really interest me either.

I’m not overly disappointed by the absence of Face ID, MagSafe, or a telephoto camera.
As an iPhone mini owner, however, I am pleased that the device is shorter in height than the mini.

I am very much looking forward to seeing what kind of device Apple unveils at the event the week after next, and how they propose it be used.

 

[MayaUser]

For the fold not to have magsafe is an issue...since the new Q7 has two spots only for Qi magsafe devices

 

[klky]

Lack of Face ID is a deal breaker for me. I really don't like Touch ID.

By nature of its folding design, it will still have a visible crease even if it's the best in class. Not sure I can deal with that. I'll be happy to be proven wrong and still very interested to see how Apple tackles this.

I also reckon the folding and unfolding will get old pretty fast.

 

[shady16]

For the fold not to have magsafe is an issue...since the new Q7 has two spots only for Qi magsafe devices

This is only an issue if you plan on going caseless. There will undoubtedly be plenty of cases available that include MagSafe support.

 

[starlabjump]

The real comparison is as follows:


iPhone 18 + iPad mini (OLED) vs. iPhone Ultra


There are four key factors to consider:

1. Price: iPhone 18 + iPad mini wins
2. Apple Pencil support: iPhone 18 + iPad mini wins
3. Functionality of the iPhone Ultra’s inner display: Still unclear at this point
4. Portability: iPhone Ultra wins

So, at this point, the biggest question is #3. We need to see how Apple will take advantage of the larger inner display and whether it will offer functionality comparable to an iPad.

 

[AppleForeverandEver]

Without FaceID, it is a fail for me! I am not going back to TouchID!

 

[darthbane2k]

This is only an issue if you plan on going caseless. There will undoubtedly be plenty of cases available that include MagSafe support.

MagSafe charging isn’t just about the magnet.

 

[uacd]

I simply don’t need it and love to keep every device for its own task. An iPad is for reading or consuming content, iPhone - for communication, MacBook - same as iPad + desktop apps, Casio watches - to see what time it is now.

I don’t like when I have an iPhone which unfolds into iPad Mini. Why do I need that? It will have same mobile apps and all issues regular smartphones have.

The only good thing in it (and Fold 8, respectively) is that they have two square displays, and it is like a blessing these days when every smartphone is made to be tall and ultra wide which is a big dealbreaker for me, I hate wide and ultra wide screens and prefer something close to 4:3 or even 1:1

 

[B_mark_R]

The real comparison is as follows:


iPhone 18 + iPad mini (OLED) vs. iPhone Ultra


There are four key factors to consider:

1. Price: iPhone 18 + iPad mini wins
2. Apple Pencil support: iPhone 18 + iPad mini wins
3. Functionality of the iPhone Ultra’s inner display: Still unclear at this point
4. Portability: iPhone Ultra wins

So, at this point, the biggest question is #3. We need to see how Apple will take advantage of the larger inner display and whether it will offer functionality comparable to an iPad.

I like to view the folding iphone through the lens of the first gen iphone. A flip phone and laptop was a superior experience but that didnt last long. We aren’t buying into what the folding phones are right now but what they will mature into.

Im not a fan of folding devices as they lack the durability i desire, but i do see them as game changing and will unlock a next generation user experience.

 

[CaféPicasso]

The dealbreaker for me? That it's foldable. Not the shortcomings that might come with it but the pure fact that you can fold it.
BUT I'm super curious about this new apple device and can't wait to see it in person!

 

[joshwithachance]

While the lack of MagSage, FaceID and telephoto lens is definitely disappointing, the real dealbreaker for me is that it’s rumored to be the heaviest iPhone yet. Which will be even more apparent when compared to the Pro Max due to how compact it is.

The Galaxy Fold8 works BECAUSE it’s only 201g (even lighter than the smaller 17 Pro).

 

[Sifko36]

I might be an outlier but I actually prefer a heavier phone.
Telephoto lens is the hardest pill for me to swallow followed by a close 2nd of TouchID

 

[dontwalkhand]

The fact the phone will fold.
If there’s a crease on the screen.
If the screen is plastic.

 

[CharlesShaw]

The dealbreaker for me? That it's foldable. Not the shortcomings that might come with it but the pure fact that you can fold it.
BUT I'm super curious about this new apple device and can't wait to see it in person!

Well said.

Even if a truly foldable version of Ceramic Shield existed with all the desirable attributes and magical sci-fi-like bendable performance, we'd still have a device that functions like the sort of over-engineered items of questionable value one sees in web ads designed to appeal to men of a certain age. 😉

 

[ricketysquire]

I just want a compact phone without AI and new software releases every year. Just make something that will last, easy to replace the battery and isnt made of glass all around. Can someone just make another iPhone 3GS?