I realize everyone has different wants and needs but I guess I’m conditioned to not need a “larger” screen from a phone. I have iPads and computers when I need that. Then I look at the fact that a foldable is essentially twice as thick. If they go with a “tall” form factor (like Galaxy Fold) the thickness would make it even harder to stash in pockets. If they go with a short-when-folded (like the render), there are other problems like the need to unfold in order to do anything other than maybe answering a call. I just don’t see the appeal.
After using pixel fold phones and Samsung’s folding phones for a while, the appeal is pretty obvious for phones that are horizontal folding phones
- Way better ergonomics typing, reading, and taking pictures (even with complimentary use of spatial computing hardware like XReal glasses)
- Dramatically minimizes the need to buy an iPad mini or bring your iPad Pro with you
- For Apple can justify Mx silicon, iPad app support, and Apple pencil support to an iPhone product essentially making the foldable an iPad Mini Pro.
When I use my iPhone 16 Pro Max as ny daily personal phone, I can’t help but to feel it’s extremely archaic to use in comparison to the ergonomic gains of such devices; I keep thinking: “If only Apple created a foldable phone that expands to be mini tablet sized ; it would eliminate the need for me to ever think about iPad mini which is always inadequate for me having a iPad Pro”.
Typing, reading, and taking photos with a back panel the subjects can see in real-time how they look is invaluable for times or situations I can’t bring my DSLR.
I’d be tremendously disappointed if they go the Razer flip route as the sole option in their foldable phones line-up; that’s more appropriate for iPhone SE class of users vs their iPhone Pro audience.
A new foldable that’s a tier above the iPhone Pro makes the most sense.
It will ultimately be more expensive (absolutely zero way around that) with the trade-offs worth it for the target audience of the iPhone with Apple merely having more profit margins and a tier that served better as a base of upcoming tech features maybe available to mainstream devices gen or so later…
Early adopters and intended long-term target audiences of the devices such as creative professionals can more immediately have such phones available to them at launch as it won’t be viable and be scoffed by mainstream audiences.
Win-win if you ask me
