Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Samsung Debuts New 'Galaxy Z Flip' Foldable Smartphone, Priced at $1,380
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
From my calculations, if you open and close this phone approx. 15 times a day, every day, the fold mechanism in the screen will last around 35 years ( or 17 years ). Not bad.
I recall that was the number Samsung gave for the original Galaxy Fold, but that number had been achieved in a Clean Room.
Hopefully this time they tested in an environment not hermetically sealed.
I don't want this, and don't see much point.
However, I applaud 100% the fact such a device/design is for sale for those who would like it.
YEARS ago, there were many many different interesting designs of phones which appealed to all tastes.
Pretty much since the iPhone, phones have all become boring? slabs of glass.
Hence I'm so glad to have some choice and something different, irrespective of my preferences.
However, I applaud 100% the fact such a device/design is for sale for those who would like it.
YEARS ago, there were many many different interesting designs of phones which appealed to all tastes.
Pretty much since the iPhone, phones have all become boring? slabs of glass.
Hence I'm so glad to have some choice and something different, irrespective of my preferences.
Trends come and go. IMO we're about to splinter away from the current trend of focusing on giant screens and Hubble telescope time cameras. New trend will be to return to smartphones with cameras instead of DSLR cameras disguised as smartphones. Not everyone has need to share pictures of everything they do or shoot movies for Youtube and Instagram.
Really? A Makeup compact? I wonder if Apple makes anything that folds shut and has a display in the upper half that would be a more apt comparison on, you know, an Apple-focused technology site.
I mean...I’m liking that companies are trying out new things, but I think we’re pretty set with the modern smartphone design for the near future. I think the next step will probably be augmented reality glasses. Not a form factor change in something you hold
I know it's irrational, but there's something oddly satisfying about being able to slam a phone shut with a satisfying thud. Kinda like the addictive magnetic click on an AirPods case, except you can use it as punctuation when you're ending a call. Flip-slam-bye!
My guess is Apple is a target audience for this. I.e. Samsung wants to show Apple what is possible in a future iPhone so that they can supply the flexible glass. Apple reportedly has been waiting for foldable glass to become viable. Remember Samsung won’t sell a lot of this specific model (the S20 line is their main line). Apple tends to make a smaller number of larger volume devices. So they really can’t be “first” with something experimental like this.
[automerge]1581453505[/automerge]
It does look like a makeup compact, and with the available colors, it seems that women are a target audience. Folding to put into a purse could be an advantage (not scratching the screen, etc.).
While it is not for me as I simply need a phone that makes calls and receives texts for 90% of my use; the comment in TFA:
Samsung called it a stylish smartphone designed for trendsetters and people who want to stand out.
makes it clear that they are targeting people who will pay $1400 for the newest shiny no matter how well it works; simply to show off the new shiny.
[automerge]1581453654[/automerge]
It's not targeted at people who care about specs.
[automerge]1581453703[/automerge]
Maybe, but at least you feel real Dick Tracy like...
A lot of guys don't know that pants made for women have ridiculously shallow pockets. I wonder if these kinds of phones would be a good solution for that.
I don’t want a foldable phone but if I did, it would be this in an iPhone. I like this form factor way more than the galaxy fold.
I'm sure you'll see the point when Apple makes one.
[automerge]1581457203[/automerge]
People here are knocking it because it doesn't have an Apple on it... very typical every time a samsung product is featured here.... All of the criticism and skepticism turns in to awe and praise once Apple comes out with their iteration.... To be fair this is an Apple forum and I'm sure the same thing happens in Samsung forums in the reverse.
15 times a day? That number suggests someone only opening the phone once an hour during the day, which given most people's penchant (maybe even need) to look at their phones every few minutes, is likely far too low a number.
I'd venture to say that the number is more like once every 5 minutes, for 16 hours a day. But even at such an extreme, it only adds up to 70,080 times a year. Given the continual improvements this folding phone will likely see over the next 12-18 months, most people will only need it to survive for 2 years max before they upgrade to whatever new device is available.
My daily average of ‘pickups’ as reported br Screentime to be above 100. If that were to be translated into unfolding the phone (which probably will be a lower number as one will leave the phone unfolded on a table some of the time) the hinge would last somewhat less than 2000 days or five to six years.
