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I still don't buy that these will ever become popular. The screens just look like crap, they really do.... and the fold mark is always visible. How many people want a huge screen that want a low quality screen with a clear deformation going down the middle that is easy to damage?

I don't think I'd ever buy one....
 
Maybe this is where the iPad mini is heading. Not an iPhone since it’s a risky endeavor for the main cash cow, but the iPad mini can be an experiment. Foldable iPad mini for a more compact stowing.
So pocketable but no phone capability?
 
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2 years away? when Samsung has one available today?
Too Late.

you say this like the phone market is already saturated with fantastic folding phones that apple will have to "compete" with. apple's not missing out on anything by taking that long, they're also a niche part of the market and my imagination is that even a great folding phone is going to take over vs the status quo smartphone.

from what ive watched by youtubers such as JRE, folding phones right now make compromises to make their product work. hinges break easily, dirt/sand/etc can get caught in the device. they're really quite infantile in their presentation currently and i imagine even in 2022 they'll still be relatively uninteresting. no one is clamoring for them, but they're a neat concept.

if you still think they're too late, do realize apple just entered the tracker market and sold out almost immediately. a space that tile was *the* household name for.

now tile's ceo is crying and screaming in hysterics within an hour of apple's presentation because his company has refused to innovate and now he gets to watch a new device absolutely cannibalize his market. something he didnt have a problem with when samsung announced their tracker not even say 2 or so weeks before apple's reveal.

sooooo yeah. apple will be iight. if anyone in the "i" ecosystem wants an iFold, it'll sell.

edit: jumping in with an addition on that bit about airtag vs tile. i was given some tiles a few years ago as im notorious with forgetting where my keys / wallet are. they were pretty nice but they tend to have connectivity issues, ive had the thing tell me my wallet cant be found yet it was in the backpack right next to me.

my experience with airtags has been *immediately* superior to tile, majorly so. being pointed to its location, given precise distance, and the play sound responds promptly, apple sided with the consumer and went with generic off anyone's shelf batteries. the *only* thing tile has the upper hand with is the ability to just put a key ring on it, but no one should be surprised apple was unwilling to compromise their design with a keyring hole.

if apple comes in to the foldable phone market with a device that nails it the same way airtag has, they'll have absolutely no problem making it a contender.
 
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I like the idea of a folding/rolling phone but they have lots of issues. If i ever do get one it’ll be after a good few generations. By their very nature the screens need to be soft/flexible and there’s no way i’m using a screen that will get scratched to hell.

also, rolling > folding. I think apple backed the wrong horse here if they are going for folding.

until i see the real thing and go into an Apple store and try it i’ll reserve judgement but i’m not terribly excited for it. I’m quite happy with phones as they are now.
 
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Everyone says they hate it but they will be the first person in line to buy it
Not me. If i ever do get one it’ll be the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th generation. You’d be stupid to buy a completely new designed product on day 1. Of course anything Apple put out there will be people desperate to get it asap but that doesnt mean it’s a good idea.

apple and any other folding phone maker need to do a lot to convince me to buy one. There are lots of flaws in the design. If people really want it then we’ll get there one day but i’ll wait and see.
 
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I like your thinking. This has to be a different product other than an iPhone.

iFold? What I don’t understand is why would Apple want to double the thickness of a device that they spend great deal of effort in making thin unless they play to make this phone 6mm. I am not even bringing up the screen fold issues that these phones will have.
 
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iFold? What I don’t understand is why would Apple want to double the thickness of a device that they spend great deal of effort in making thin unless they play to make this phone 6mm. I am not even bringing up the screen fold issues that these phones will have.
I suppose they could release fruit rollups, in 5 fruity colors
 
No thank you.

Yeah … I’m not biting this one either … I don’t want it.

- too fragile, too many points to break (AppleCare+ will LOOSE a lot of money unless they make this mandatory 3yrs).

Plus it would infringe on sales for iPhone and iPad alike.

Not a good strategy for Apple.

I believe, WatchOS will evolve and mate with AppleView (glasses). Or iOS on iPhone + AppleView.
 
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Why Call Android users Stupid?
Take a look at this chart. Android still has almost 73 percent of the mobile OS Market.


Ahem, ‘stupidly’ is not calling anyone stupid … its just saying their potential comment about the news will sound stupid. Big difference here in perception and comprehension ; regardless of news link/chart or facts of how many Android users vs iOS users there are in the world.
 
If Apple pulls this off, it could really be something.
 
iFold? What I don’t understand is why would Apple want to double the thickness of a device that they spend great deal of effort in making thin unless they play to make this phone 6mm. I am not even bringing up the screen fold issues that these phones will have.

Maybe they won’t double the thickness. “Folding“ is shorthand for “flexible screen.” Could be a roll-out screen or something. But, yeah, double-thickness seems like an unpleasant trade-off.
 
This is probably one of the things, that only Apple can pull off.
I do not see a benefit in the current implementations - but properly
done, that could be a great all-round device.
 
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