Latest Foldable Smartphones Experiencing Failures and Durability Issues

[SRLMJ23]

I just do not get it, flip phones died a while ago (yes, I know there still some flip phones out there - but not many) and now Samsung not only releases a flip/foldable phone, but one that once again is appearing to have issues right out of the gate. I bet we hear more and more about these phones cracking where it folds.

Another dud from Samsung.

 

[Oculus Mentis]

Folding causes creasing. But rolling doesn't... Hmmm...

 

[tripleburst]

Can we quote you when have purchased a foldable Apple iPhone in the future?

Because, as always, this is exactly what's going to happen: Apple doesn't have it now, so it must be useless technology. Then Apple licenses the technology (and claims that they have "totally invented" it), and all of a sudden everybody buys it and boasts it's the best thing since the invention of sliced bread.

I remember when Apple was publicy laughing at phones bigger than 3.5". Now look at what they sell you. And what you all buy - especially those who back then claimed they never wanted to use a large phone.

I'm going to save this thread for laughs. Some of these posts will not age well.

 

[jaybrown81]

WHOOOOOO ASKED FOR THESE FOLDABLE DEVICES?! Just leave it aloneeee...it'll come out some people will buy and then a year later everyone will get tired of it. SMH

 

[Freida]

and he was right, those tablets are not really good. Instead, companies started doing 7" phones

Jus had flashbacks of Steve saying this about 7” tablets.

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Please do and please save the post because I will never buy folding phone. Even in the era of folding phones in 90s 00s when they were super popular I hated that and never got one. To me the whole concept is flawed from the start - more mechanical moving parts = more failure.
As mentioned here before, in those times the phones actually made sense as they were used in a different way but the market and behavior changed and so bringing nostalgic product is just a bloody stupid idea.
Sure, some people will buy this gimmick and sure the tech will trickle down to something better so overall its good that companies explore this but its not good that they expect the market to go crazy about it (as otherwise why try so hard).
I want to take my phone out and use it. I don't want to unfold it or anything like that. Thats also the reason why I never had the "diary" style cases that you need to open. Just had the idea. Simple as that.
So SURE, bookmark me and lets talk in 5-10 years. Or better, lets have a drink and laugh about it

Can we quote you when have purchased a foldable Apple iPhone in the future?

Because, as always, this is exactly what's going to happen: Apple doesn't have it now, so it must be useless technology. Then Apple licenses the technology (and claims that they have "totally invented" it), and all of a sudden everybody buys it and boasts it's the best thing since the invention of sliced bread.

I remember when Apple was publicy laughing at phones bigger than 3.5". Now look at what they sell you. And what you all buy - especially those who back then claimed they never wanted to use a large phone.

 

[jeyf]

Ten pages and you peeps are still puddleing on this.

 

[SAIRUS]

Most companies: But but we invested tons of R&D on these and we need to see a return on the investment...
(years later after most companies fail)
Apple: Thanks for doing the work for us on not what to do.

That said I do think a folding phone by its use case is more complex state that isn't that useful. You still have to open the device to use it, or you have a display on the front which gives you some information, which could still be 1 screen.

Maybe the use case could be you want to protect the screen in some sort of hostile environment that I don't see as a predominant scenario, but I'll use a folio case then.

 

[HandITOVER]

SMH.

 

[jerryk]

I think people are missing the point of having these foldable or multi-screen phones. It is more screen real estate. And owning a foldable phone only and not a phone and an iPad. IMHO Microsoft is on the right track with the Surface Duo phone and tablet. None of this flexible screens stuff.

Surface Duo 2 – Dual-Screen Mobile Productivity – Microsoft Surface

Open two screens and discover limitless possibilities with Surface Duo 2, now with next-level multitasking, lightning-fast 5G and intelligent three-lens camera.

www.microsoft.com

 

[kaycrystal626]

I hope Apple wouldn't be late in the game.

 

[HandITOVER]

SMH.

 

[jerryk]

The surface Duo is quite bad and took a long time to hit the market.

Won't be on the market until the 2020 holiday season. This is the same timeframe MSFT stated back at the intro in Oct 2019.

 

[cmaier]

I hope Apple wouldn't be late in the game.

I hope they are. Better to wait until (1) it solves an actual problem for people and (2) actually works right.

Remember that Apple is way ahead of the game - thanks to size-classes, if they ever release a foldable device almost all apps will magically optimize themselves to fit the amount of screen currently being shown.

 

[eoblaed]

Because, as always, this is exactly what's going to happen: Apple doesn't have it now, so it must be useless technology. Then Apple licenses the technology (and claims that they have "totally invented" it), and all of a sudden everybody buys it and boasts it's the best thing since the invention of sliced bread.

(please share a case where Apple claimed to have 'totally invented' a technology they licensed)

Back to the more pertinent point, the phrase I highlighted in red. That's putting the cart before the horse a little.

It is true Apple doesn't have it now. It is also true it is useless technology ... for now. But the reason Apple doesn't have it now is not because they think nobody would want a foldable phone, but rather because folding phones are so problematic right now, there is no way Apple would put something out, yet, like Samsung has. Just some of the problems with the best foldable tech out there:

• Visible creasing
• De-lamination of the display layers
• Touch responsiveness/accuracy in the foldable region
• Screen-on-screen abrasion (when unit is folded)
• Artifacts/pixel issues in foldable region

These phones are already showing problems, and they're barely even out. So, yes, today it is useless technology.

Folding phones may be viable, eventually. But in a world where we're used to a seamless, edge to edge (ish) display of hard glass and all the benefits that confers, trying to market a flimsy, breakable device with no end of visual problems is so clearly the wrong move ... and that's why Apple doesn't have it now. Someday, if those problems get solved, Apple may move into that market, but not before then.

So, to reword that phrase above: Today, it's useless technology, and because of that, Apple doesn't have it in their devices.

 

[loopi77]

For me, these devices are a solution for a problem that doesn‘t exists. All i read about them is, that they are only creating problems. Maybe in some years new materials exist, that can make real foldable devices or displays possible, but currently this is - in my opinion - only trying to make a square of a circle just for the sake of making a square of a circle without any real reason or benefit.

 

[epox999]

The only feature I want in a future phone is longer battery life, give me a smartphone battery that lasts 1 week, that's a killer app.

 

[H2SO4]

So many companies trying to be first to make a worthwhile foldable, and yet it remains a solution in search of a problem.

What a shortsighted post. Foldable glass will not be limited to phones. It’s good that someone is trying it.
tell you what actually lets never try anything in case it fails.

 

[JBGoode]

A lot of parrots in this thread who probably think their line is original. Here’s something for ya:
In 2007 people were in love with their Blackberries with physical keyboards and then along came the iPhone—- a solution to a problem that didn’t exist. Every new iteration is a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist because absolutely no one needs a faster processor or better camera every year. Your homes are probably full of solutions to problems that don’t exist. It’s called evolution/moving forward. Some things work out and some may not.


Also a lot of people who apparently missed it when the benefits of folding tech were clearly explained by those who don’t feel the need to bash something that they are personally not interested in. I suggest actually reading through a thread before commenting, but that’s just me.

I wouldn’t buy one in its infancy but I definitely want a big screen phone that folds in half at some point in my future. Not only would it be more pocketable but when done right the screen would be protected from pocket debris and other mishaps when not being used. I‘m glad we have Samsung and Motorola to show Apple how not to do it.

 

[PestoBalsamic]

Sad. That's really the only thing to say here.

I think about the poor developers who work on things like this that are already known to be a failure before they start.
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What a shortsighted post.

It is not shortsighted to dismiss stupid ideas without trying them.

 

[macduke]

Samsung already have a phone that folds into a tablet. Any foldable phone that Apple brings out will have screens that have been developed and perfected by Samsung or another company.

Yeah, and it was the least durable of them all and a massive failure.

Apple works on engineering the materials and mechanisms. That's going to be key for these folding displays. Even the Samsung displays in the iPhone are rated better than the ones in Samsung phones because Apple does little tweaks to them.

 

[cmaier]

A lot of parrots in this thread who probably think their line is original. Here’s something for ya:
In 2007 people were in love with their Blackberries with physical keyboards and then along came the iPhone—- a solution to a problem that didn’t exist.

As everyone who watched the keynote presentation knows, the problems solved by iPhone were immediately apparent.

 

[carrrrrlos]

Love this, and how Moto and Samsung have the “courage” to venture out and release these.

 

[Neodym]

Lol, I’ve never heard this ridiculous bs line of nonsense excuse for the failure of consumer 3D before!
Is this the new hubris those foolish enough to throw money at this fad are now espousing? Wow. How sad & embarrassingly cringe-worthy.
For those interested in a less fantasy-driven take on the situation; 3D televisions failed because the tech was TERRIBLE.

Seems I hit a nerve there 😄 Working for a studio, by chance?

If you bothered to actually _read_ my post before surrendering to your bite-reflex, you’d know that I wrote that the tech could have been better - and surely most problems would have been solvable over time. That’s almost always the case when trying something new (though one could argue that that wasn‘t the first attempt at 3D TV, however with different tech).

But I won’t discuss with you anymore, until you learned some manners and basic behaviour rules in an online discussion. Good luck in life with your attitude!

 

[Michael Scrip]

Are we facing a case where "a very small percentage" of foldable phones got broken?

Probably.

But the #1 viewed Galaxy Z Flip review video on Youtube is a guy stabbing it with a knife...

So the public perception is "it's terrible and unreliable!"

Thanks Jerry

 

[JBGoode]

As everyone who watched the keynote presentation knows, the problems solved by iPhone were immediately apparent.

99% of people that bought the first iPhone had no idea they wanted or needed this device and would have happily typed away on their Blackberry forever had Apple not released it. I think my point is clear.