Samsung Rumored to Launch First 'Rollable' Foldable Phone Later This Year

[CalfCanuck]

Still a solution looking for a problem to solve.

Exactly. Just handling scrolls in general is a PITA (putting them on a table and having them move - hopefully not rolling off onto the ground, or putting them in a bag to move around). For a significant group of us, we keep the "phone" type device in our pocket. Hence the evolved flat and thin shape, with a hard limit on height and width.

Key takeaway - most users would rather pay for a phone that fits their needs than get a huge one for free.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

This technology always makes for an impressive demo but from the start, all the way back so many years ago when Samsung first started vapor-waring the living daylights out of this concept, I've tried to figure out what problem it's solving. You can't fold or do away with the phone itself so how does being able to bend or roll the screen matter in any way? I mean, if they were able to shrink the phone components down to the size where you could roll or fold the entire phone down in size, then maybe there's a benefit, but this always feels like one of those solutions in search of a problem. I don't understand the fascination with it.

Do you have an iPad? Do you sometimes choose to use iPad for something instead of using your iPhone? Assuming so, why do you do that? Why not use the phone-size screen for EVERYTHING?

Anyone who can rationalize owning BOTH iPhone and iPad should be able to easily see a benefit of getting the best of both in ONE device. Doing better-on-phone things? Use a phone-sized screen. Want more screen RE to do better-on-iPad things? Dynamically expand the phone's screen to have your tablet right there too... in that ONE product that is always with you.

Whether that's folding or rolling or goggles or holograms, I find it incredibly easy to "use case" it. For the short time that I had both a phone and tablet, I found myself using the bigger tablet screen almost all of the time. Just about EVERY app benefits from more screen RE. So obvlously the solution is to have both. What if Apple delivers a way to have both in ONE device?

As in all things, "we" only seem to see no use for something while Apple doesn't offer it. As soon as they roll out their version of it, "use cases" will suddenly be abundant... and that 1% that is not the "99% who don't need..." will magically become an enormous group of buyers... most of ourselves among them.

 

[Wildkraut]

Means we’ll see an iTorah soon?

 

[Macative]

iPadOS is the result of no competition.

Nonsense. iPadOS is exactly what it should be for the type of device it runs on. There is room for improvement always, but improvement does not mean turning it into a Mac.

On second thought I suppose you're right. iPadOS has no competition. Absolutely no one has managed to create a usable tablet OS, as Apple has. They've all tried to shoehorn a desktop OS onto the tablet form factor, and failed miserably.

 

[wigby]

As long as you could pull the scroll out of your pocket and see your notifications, and not have to unroll it, see that it wasn't important, and roll it up again.

There may be an application for this that I'm not seeing - but think about how many people use their phone each day, and take it from their pocket. Now add rolling it up, and unrolling it.

Unrolling it and rolling it back up is the point. People who buy folding and rolling phones want everyone around them to know they are cutting edge consumers. They currently serve no other purpose or customer.

 

[Macalway]

I'm sure Samsung will have perfected this before they release it.

Just kidding

 

[Wildkraut]

Toilet paper

Yeah, and dirty hackers will hack it to always show a brown strip, leading to a infinite ass wiping loop.

 

[Macalway]

Is that a Samsung in your pocket, or are you just glad to see me?

(ok, lame joke)

 

[sunapple]

Honestly I’m probably too lazy to roll my phone open.

 

[inkswamp]

Do you have an iPad? Do you sometimes choose to use iPad for something instead of using your iPhone? Assuming so, why do you do that? Why not use the phone-size screen for EVERYTHING?

Anyone who can rationalize owning BOTH iPhone and iPad should be able to easily see a benefit of getting the best of both in ONE device. Doing better-on-phone things? Use a phone-sized screen. Want more screen RE to do better-on-iPad things? Dynamically expand the phone's screen to have your tablet right there too... in that ONE product that is always with you.

Whether that's folding or rolling or goggles or holograms, I find it incredibly easy to "use case" it. For the short time that I had both a phone and tablet, I found myself using the bigger tablet screen almost all of the time. Just about EVERY app benefits from more screen RE. So obvlously the solution is to have both. What if Apple delivers a way to have both in ONE device?

As in all things, "we" only seem to see no use for something while Apple doesn't offer it. As soon as they roll out their version of it, "use cases" will suddenly be abundant... and that 1% that is not the "99% who don't need..." will magically become an enormous group of buyers... most of ourselves among them.

You can spare the "Apple fanboy" thing. I'm not one. I have a long, illustrious love-hate relationship with Apple that prevents me from being a fanboy. But I do appreciate Apple's history enough to know that if they ever do release a foldable screen, it will be done so in a way that actually addresses a concrete problem, not just for Samsung-style hype/headline generation.

My issue wasn't how this technology could be applied but rather what problem it solves. Saying I could unfold a phone screen to tablet size doesn't answer that. I own an iPhone and an iPad, but you're completely ignoring some of the physicality/form factor issues that might make me prefer a pad or a phone and focusing solely on screen size. Unfolding a phone screen to be tablet sized would be weird because it's a tablet screen with a phone attached somewhere awkwardly on the back. That's not an optimal user experience. I use a tablet when I want a bigger screen but what you're describing sounds like a pain. If I'm having a video chat with someone on my iPad, I will often prop up the tablet. How does that work with a phone screen that has been folded out to tablet size?

My issue is that I'm not clear on what actual day-to-day gripe/problem this solves. I don't have a complaint about owning a phone and tablet. I have a small screen with my phone and a larger screen with my tablet. I don't consider owning both to be a problem per se. There's never a time when I'm walking around with my phone and wishing I could transform it into a tablet or vice-versa. So in pointing that out, you haven't really given me a problem (or at least a compelling one) that this solves.

 

[appleCakes]

This would do well wherever marijuana is legal.
Dispensaries would probably sell this too.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

You can spare the "Apple fanboy" thing. I'm not one. I have a long, illustrious love-hate relationship with Apple that prevents me from being a fanboy. But I do appreciate Apple's history enough to know that if they ever do release a foldable screen, it will be done so in a way that actually addresses a concrete problem, not just for Samsung-style hype/headline generation.

My issue wasn't how this technology could be applied but rather what problem it solves. Saying I could unfold a phone screen to tablet size doesn't answer that. I own an iPhone and an iPad, but you're completely ignoring some of the physicality/form factor issues that might make me prefer a pad or a phone and focusing solely on screen size. Unfolding a phone screen to be tablet sized would be weird because it's a tablet screen with a phone attached somewhere awkwardly on the back. That's not an optimal user experience. I use a tablet when I want a bigger screen but what you're describing sounds like a pain. If I'm having a video chat with someone on my iPad, I will often prop up the tablet. How does that work with a phone screen that has been folded out to tablet size?

My issue is that I'm not clear on what actual day-to-day gripe/problem this solves. I don't have a complaint about owning a phone and tablet. I have a small screen with my phone and a larger screen with my tablet. I don't consider owning both to be a problem per se. There's never a time when I'm walking around with my phone and wishing I could transform it into a tablet or vice-versa. So in pointing that out, you haven't really given me a problem (or at least a compelling one) that this solves.

Flip the concept. I use an iPad mini as BOTH my phone (with buds) and tablet. I have NONE of the issues you describe using it both ways. For example, if it needs to be propped up, I prop it up. What do I wish it could do that is automatically in a phone-sized device? Fit in my pocket. If I could fold or roll up an iPad to phone or less size, it becomes big-screen tablet, small-screen phone AND is as portable as a phone... as ONE device.

THAT is the problem these attempts at making a bigger mobile screen able to fold/roll/fit into a pocket solves. How most of us Apple people address that now is by carrying BOTH around... or making do with whichever we happen to have with us. Examples:

• at the airport, a little phone can be handy for getting ready to fly needs in the terminal. On the flight, bigger screen iPad (or MB) is much better for watching a movie than tiny phone screen.
• In my case, phone calls are more convenient in a phone format. However, pretty much everything else- including texting- is better- IMO- on the iPad.
• Taking a picture is generally better on a phone-sized device. Editing that picture is much better on an iPad or bigger screen.
• Etc.

Basically, stack up all situations where- if both are with you- you choose one over the other because it helps you do whatever you want to do better. Now, what if those "this one or that one?" choices could be eliminated because ONE device could cover both bases? That's what's attempting to be accomplished here.

I would love to have phone-like pocket-abilty of my iPad. That means it needs to fold/roll/<something else>. But I don't want that portability enough to embrace owning BOTH devices. The bulk of what I want to do on a mobile is- IMO- simply better on that bigger-than-phone screen. Certainly, there are people who feel the opposite. But again, if ONE device can scratch BOTH itches, both sides can get exactly what they want... with the bonus of having some flexibility to adjust in those rarer instances where they really wish they had their other device with them instead.

I'm convinced Apple will eventually roll out something to address this. Maybe that will be 85" virtual screens inside of ski goggles which also absorb the iPhone too??? Whatever it turns out to be, all of the very passionate arguments against it will evaporate... just at they did when Apple rolled out a phablet, NFC payments, etc. We can't ever seem to see much "use case" while Apple isn't selling whatever it is... but as soon as they do... "use cases" erupt in abundance.

 

[Johns12]

Did anyone has seen them in the wild yet? As in ever?

Yes I have. Not often. The first time, I was at a restaurant and the young woman at the table next to me had a large phone. I wouldn't have known it was a Zflip until she closed it and put it in her pocket book. Until that, I just thought it was a big phone.

 

[4jasontv]

Do you have an iPad? Do you sometimes choose to use iPad for something instead of using your iPhone? Assuming so, why do you do that? Why not use the phone-size screen for EVERYTHING?

Anyone who can rationalize owning BOTH iPhone and iPad should be able to easily see a benefit of getting the best of both in ONE device. Doing better-on-phone things? Use a phone-sized screen. Want more screen RE to do better-on-iPad things? Dynamically expand the phone's screen to have your tablet right there too... in that ONE product that is always with you.

Whether that's folding or rolling or goggles or holograms, I find it incredibly easy to "use case" it. For the short time that I had both a phone and tablet, I found myself using the bigger tablet screen almost all of the time. Just about EVERY app benefits from more screen RE. So obvlously the solution is to have both. What if Apple delivers a way to have both in ONE device?

As in all things, "we" only seem to see no use for something while Apple doesn't offer it. As soon as they roll out their version of it, "use cases" will suddenly be abundant... and that 1% that is not the "99% who don't need..." will magically become an enormous group of buyers... most of ourselves among them.

I own both a screwdriver and a saw, but that has not made me more interested in a Swiss Army knife.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I own a screwdriver with interchangeable tips and a big set of the other kind that are single purpose. Interchangeable tips screwdriver gets enormous use. Other kind almost doesn't get used anymore at all. That flexibility is a total win with that screwdriver- IMO.

 

[GhostRaider]

I will say though... the times we live in. Foldable screens!

 

[appleCakes]

The next model will be rollable, foldable, lickable.

That's when "I'm In!"

Magnet will do.

 

[tridley68]

Belly laugh!

 

[PsykX]

I will let them surprise me, but it's the kind of innovation that I really could not care less about.
Maybe it's just that I didn't see it.

 

[bobcomer]

This rollable concept seems to have more commercial legs than the foldable phones, which are thick, heavy and besides the Z Flip and the Motorola Startac look like a solution searching for a problem.

I love my Galaxy Z Flip3, and have had a lot of people that see me with it ask about it. People just wanting it to take up less space in their pocket or purse.

 

[cicalinarrot]

Many great uses for rollable displays like:
- reading the US constitution
- killing flies
- drawing a treasure map (or download it from some pirate source of course)
- message in a bottle
- pretend telescope

 

[jimbobb24]

The notch itself doesn’t bother me but we need a new design from Apple. Can’t be using same old design over and over.

The computer has not changed in general appearance in 20 years. This is it…the phone is in its final form. It’s like complaining about books. Sure occasionally there will be some weird book but 99% look like books. And 99% of computers look like computers and 99% of phones will look like an iPhone.

 

[SDJim]

This makes way more sense to me than foldable devices.

 

[saudor]

Nonsense. iPadOS is exactly what it should be for the type of device it runs on. There is room for improvement always, but improvement does not mean turning it into a Mac.

On second thought I suppose you're right. iPadOS has no competition. Absolutely no one has managed to create a usable tablet OS, as Apple has. They've all tried to shoehorn a desktop OS onto the tablet form factor, and failed miserably.

I’m 100% against turning iPadOS into macOS. We have macs for that. That’s the equivalent of slapping a wall of text from a word document into a PowerPoint and calling it a PowerPoint presentation.

But that doesnt mean iPadOS wont see benefits from some ideas on the desktop/laptop transferred to the tablet. For example, a small swap file could improve the user experience. Inactive parts of memory could get swapped to disk instead of reloading it from scratch when say a bigger tab is loaded into safari. With iPad Pro and 8gb ram, this is less of an issue but I still have cases where I’m typing in a forum, check few other pages to look things up, come back and the tab reloads, clearing everything I’ve written so far. Multi tasking is also pretty clunky. Issues like this are minor on their own but they start adding up.

 

[Jamie0003]

So….you’re asking a question to something that you don’t know the answer to and then yet you’re answering your own question by telling Samsung to ‘fix it’? Which basically means you don’t know what you’re talking about then reference Samsungs foldables.

And no, they’re not a ‘POS’.

Reviews would suggest otherwise? Do you like a giant crease in your phone?