Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
We have already achieved the final form of the celular phone. We have the final form of the laptop, the final form of the desktop computer, final form of a book, etc. There are always a few variants but foldable phones add little for most users except novelty. They will not become dominant because we already have the right form factor for a phone.
 
The other day - a friend of mine pulled out a galaxy fold and I was surprised how much I liked the device. I am looking forward to the day that Apple releases a foldable phone and hope that they don't gimp it because they are worried about it cannibalizing the iPad Mini.
 
Better to wait and do things right with updated technology, than to beta test the technology like Samsung.
I'm not a fan of foldable devices, but I'm sure 2024 technology will be much better than what we had this year.
That’s true, because Apple would be using Samsung’s components anyway. Just with ProMotion LTPO OLED on the iPhone 13 Pros. Samsung had the early revisions on the S20 Ultra and the finalized version on the S21 Ultra, and then Apple made their bulk order for their 13 Pros. The flagship Galaxy phones are basically Samsung’s product demos for their big component purchasers like Apple… :D
 
The Fold 3 has sold 1 million units since release. Apple sells about 40 million a quarter. How is this a must have? So far foldable phones are an extremely niche device. Apple would get roasted if it releases a product that only sold that much.

For example the iPhone minis sold at least 6x that and are widely considered flops.
 
The other day - a friend of mine pulled out a galaxy fold and I was surprised how much I liked the device. I am looking forward to the day that Apple releases a foldable phone and hope that they don't gimp it because they are worried about it cannibalizing the iPad Mini.
It seemed interesting to me until I started to interact with the display, and it felt as if I was touching a plastic display similar to the ones used in the first PocketPCs from beginning of this century.
 
I can just see the iPhone forums then:

  1. My screen has a crease in it that won’t go away
  2. Is your hinge loose?
  3. Do you use your iFold naked?
  4. Do you use a screen protector on your iFold?
  5. The iFold is too big in my pocket
  6. The iFold is too hard to hold one handed
  7. Poll: Do you use your iFold one handed?
  8. Poll: Are folding iPhones the future?
  9. Etc
  10. Etc
 
The Fold 3 has sold 1 million units since release. Apple sells about 40 million a quarter. How is this a must have? So far foldable phones are an extremely niche device. Apple would get roasted if it releases a product that only sold that much.

For example the iPhone minis sold at least 6x that and are widely considered flops.

You can't compare the two, Dozens of vendors make Android phones, so every model is only a slice of the pie. But for people who want iOS, the entire pie belongs to Apple. Not a fair comparison.
 
I can just see the iPhone forums then:

  1. My screen has a crease in it that won’t go away
  2. Is your hinge loose?
  3. Do you use your iFold naked?
  4. Do you use a screen protector on your iFold?
  5. The iFold is too big in my pocket
  6. The iFold is too hard to hold one handed
  7. Poll: Do you use your iFold one handed?
  8. Poll: Are folding iPhones the future?
  9. Etc
  10. Etc
9. You are unfolding it wrong.
10. How to unfold with one hand.
11. Fastest man alive to unfold it.
12. iFold snapped my fingers.
13. iFold bit my lips.
14. Help, I'm a lefty!
15. Ouch! I put it in my pocket and it bit my Wee....!
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Shirasaki
The part that folds can be round and contain Apple Pencil. A folding Apple device, an iPhone Max...Pro, should have the option to use Apple Pencil.

The folding iPhone Max could have 6 cameras.
 
The part that folds can be round and contain Apple Pencil. A folding Apple device, an iPhone Max...Pro, should have the option to use Apple Pencil.

The folding iPhone Max could have 6 cameras.
And a uranium battery to power all those extra cameras and displays.

I can see this is the reinvention of the clamshell for touch phones.
 
So somewhere in 2023 apple will copy off of Samsung. Ok! Thanks for the heads up. Moving on...
 
It isn’t a must have for me. I’d rather have the miraculous thinner phone with same battery life that has excellent human factors built in. It’s one reason why I don’t like phablets, they are generally poor on the human factor elements.
 
There is no way that the laws of physics will be overcome in the next 3-5 years so that Apple could release a foldable iPhone with an actual rigid, strong, scratch resistant glass screen. The potential for unhappy customers (due to screen and hinge damage) is just too great for Apple to offer a foldable iPhone.

And couple that with the fact that the reason for a foldable to exist isn’t exactly a must-have for the majority of people. I don’t need or want a device that is twice is thick so that it can offer a screen that can grow to be twice as wide, and I know I’m not alone.

People on tech forums may think otherwise, but as we know tech followers don’t represent the tens to hundreds of millions of yearly iPhone buyers.
 
  • Like
Reactions: beach bum
I mean, I'm not particularly enthused about folding phones or the loss of a glass screen to accommodate the fold. But I will say that I would consider one as a replacement to the iPhone mini model -- and this would be arriving just about when I'd be ready to replacement iPhone 13 mini. It'll probably weigh more than I'd like, but if it can actually be used one-handed and fit in pockets, unlike the current 6.1" and larger iPhones, I'll be happy enough.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bobcomer
That’s true, because Apple would be using Samsung’s components anyway. Just with ProMotion LTPO OLED on the iPhone 13 Pros. Samsung had the early revisions on the S20 Ultra and the finalized version on the S21 Ultra, and then Apple made their bulk order for their 13 Pros. The flagship Galaxy phones are basically Samsung’s product demos for their big component purchasers like Apple… :D

What's LTPO?
Because I have a normal iPhone 13 and the OLED looks mighty fine.
I thought colour quality wise the displays in the 13 and 13pro were pretty much the same, other than promotion.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.