Samsung Unveils New $1,980 Galaxy Fold Smartphone

[EM22]

It really surprised me how bad the screen to body ratio of the front screen is. When I saw the demo at first I thought it was just an app switcher judging by how small it looked on the phone.

 

[iLLUMI]

Woah! That will be close to AUD $3000!!!
I would much prefer to have an iPhone 8/X and an iPad Mini, two separate devices.

Looking forward to seeing what Apple brings us if they foray into foldable phones. I much prefer iOS to Android.

 

[Zaft]

Xiaomi’s prototype looks awesome. The screen is big enough for a phone and a tablet on the go.

 

[samwight]

Galaxy Fold is SICK! It totally put my XS Max to shame, I'm like holding my grandpa's phone.

It puts some phones to shame, but at less than half the thickness and weight, and a 50% larger phone screen, xsmax users will not be hanging their heads, notwithstanding the 2x larger folded screen, which for 2:1 movies is only marginally larger.

 

[DNichter]

I always have a phone with me but not my tablet. So if i own this galaxy fold, i can have a tablet everywhere. Sorry but the ipad will always stay home. Most people are lazy and only use their phone. When this galaxy fold price gets lower next year, the ipad will die.

I would buy this instantly if its around $1000. I dont have extra cash for luxury item so i will have to wait a year or two for it to get to my price point.

So you have a crappy phone and a crappy tablet. Personally I’d rather have a great phone and a great tablet, both optimized for their individual use cases. I guess I’m in the minority though.

 

[trillionaire]

And your point is? I can buy 2000 Coke cans instead.

I think the point was that the price is a bit high for the device you're getting. You convert everything to Coke cans and he converts to gaming hardware; to each his own.

 

[Scarpad]

Samsung does it first...Apple usually does it best

 

[dylanwho]

I see an awful lot of entry points for pocket lint and dust. That’s innovation!

 

[DiamonDecoden]

actually looks really cool!!!!!!!!!!! OMG I am excited for the future! I can't wait to get a phone / tab in 1! wooot!

 

[AppleScruff1]

I think the point was that the price is a bit high for the device you're getting. You convert everything to Coke cans and he converts to gaming hardware; to each his own.

Like prisoners using stamps as currency.

 

[alexandr]

i sincerely hope that this is not the direction in which smartphones are headed in. this is incredibly ugly and inconvenient. it reminds me of the foldable table in business class of an A330.

 

[alexhardaker]

Face scanner for Face Unlock has been present in Samsung Galaxy devices for a long time. Even their mid-range phones have it. Iris scan is several generations old, too. As is fingerprint scan. There are several reasons to have multiple types of security mechanisms. Some people who work with their hands have their fingerprint permanently damaged. Some people may have issues with face unlock, particularly men who change their facial hair. The Iris scan can also be employed separately for the Locked Folder and Files feature. In other words, you can use a pattern or pin for your phone main use, but require an iris scan to access the Locked Folder and Files function, which uses Samsung Knox.

Here's some basic info on Samsung Knox.

https://www.techrepublic.com/article/samsung-knox-the-smart-persons-guide/

There's more out there but it's a lot to read compared to the bite-sized stuff in that article.

I already know this, but thanks for all that information. I know how old each one is, and I know about Knox. I was simply saying you don’t need them all. It’s purely for bragging rights to get one over Apple.

 

[G5isAlive]

And yet, Apple will keep telling people that no-one needs a foldable phone for 2-3 years until they catch up with the technology. Then, they’ll tout it as the next giant leap for mankind, saying something on the lines of “Can't innovate my ass”, while all the Samsung haters will crawl out accusing Samsung of being Apple’s copycat.
.

I must have missed that Apple Press Release. When has Apple EVER commented on a foldable smart phone? Much less tell anyone we didn't need it. Play catch up? Numerous reports indicate they are already working on one, they just didn't feel the need to put out a kludge like Samsung did. Apple is rarely first to market, but often best. Almost everyone agrees its a great idea, just waiting for it to be done right.

That said, I really wish Apple would make a foldable tablet. Not that keen to have to switch to Android, especially since I have invested in a few essential apps that work nicely on iOS but not Android. Then again, I’d Samsung charges 2000 for it on launch, then I’d probably not be able to justify phony the Apple tax. On the upside, I could maybe just buy the new iPad Pro. I hear it can be made to fold with just a wee bit more pressure.

On the surface I agree with your foldable iPad concept, but then practicality sets in. What are the pros? Maybe a bit easier to transport. Definitely acts as its own cover. What are the cons? Definitely hard to engineer something that large, with that much leverage, but still strong enough to be folded and unfolded... and unfolded only so far but no further, have it lock in place so it would not flop around, and be strong. Yeah, thats going to add a lot of weight. And it would be really difficult to make a pad rigid enough to within stand non-intentional bending/but also fold. And where would you put the intelligent keyboard? It could be done, but I think the end result would not be worth the weight gain.

I think the next big thing with iPads are going to be flexible screens that roll up. but time will tell.

 

[kis]

That's not entirely a valid comparison. My maxed out iPad Pro 11 replaces a laptop for approximately the same price. My XS was like $1300.

So if you bought the Fold that only starts at $1980, you'd still have to buy a laptop.

Then you very likely don’t do much with your laptop anyway. I do have 12” 2018 iPad Pro and honestly can’t get any serious work done on it. I still use a laptop next to the iPad, so your point is moot.

 

[MyopicPaideia]

Isn't the iPad 4:3 aspect ratio?

This Galaxy Fold unfolded is 4.2:3... so that's pretty close to the iPad aspect ratio.

16:10, however, wouldn't be very similar to the iPad.

Hey, you seem to be right there. Looked really square, but it actually isn’t....
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I must have missed that Apple Press Release. When has Apple EVER commented on a foldable smart phone? Much less tell anyone we didn't need it. Play catch up? Numerous reports indicate they are already working on one, they just didn't feel the need to put out a kludge like Samsung did. Apple is rarely first to market, but often best. Almost everyone agrees its a great idea, just waiting for it to be done right.



On the surface I agree with your foldable iPad concept, but then practicality sets in. What are the pros? Maybe a bit easier to transport. Definitely acts as its own cover. What are the cons? Definitely hard to engineer something that large, with that much leverage, but still strong enough to be folded and unfolded... and unfolded only so far but no further, have it lock in place so it would not flop around, and be strong. Yeah, thats going to add a lot of weight. And it would be really difficult to make a pad rigid enough to within stand non-intentional bending/but also fold. And where would you put the intelligent keyboard? It could be done, but I think the end result would not be worth the weight gain.

I think the next big thing with iPads are going to be flexible screens that roll up. but time will tell.

Roll up screens is interesting but isn’t it even harder to do a stable flat screen with a retractable roll out screen? Maybe something like those snap bracelets that you slap on your wrist and they wrap around it...

 

[dona83]

Woot, the bezel is back.

 

[richinaus]

Maybe the point is moving tech forward rather than stagnating. Someone has got to do it and that someone isn't Apple at the moment.

When was it Apple?

 

[jgdeschamps]

I already know this, but thanks for all that information. I know how old each one is, and I know about Knox. I was simply saying you don’t need them all. It’s purely for bragging rights to get one over Apple.

Not really. My Huawei phone also has those features (except iris scan) and the extra security mechanisms to access the locked app screen are handy for when my daughter asks for my phone to play video games or take pics, and I don't want her installing apps or changing my wallpaper. It's something iOS in my iPhone SE doesn't have and works great for when you momentarily lend your phone to someone.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

Then you very likely don’t do much with your laptop anyway. I do have 12” 2018 iPad Pro and honestly can’t get any serious work done on it. I still use a laptop next to the iPad, so your point is moot.

Or you're using your laptop wrong.

 

[rumagent]

Too expensive and too bulky, but give it a couple of iterations, lower the price and it will be fantastic.

 

[bobob]

Was there any description of how the Fold stays open in tablet mode? Does it snap into place so that it doesn't fold up when pushing on the center of the touchscreen? Is there a release button to fold it back up?

This new Engadget article is one of the first to actually discuss the folding mechanism.

 

[AppleScruff1]

This new Engadget article is one of the first to actually discuss the folding mechanism.

So it’s similar to a laptop when it’s folded, the front edge is thinner than the hinge side, and it slopes toward the front.

 

[DNichter]

This new Engadget article is one of the first to actually discuss the folding mechanism.

Thanks for this. Looks even worse than I originally thought. A lot of this phone doesn't seem very well thought out. It's pretty obvious that Samsung decided that they just didn't care about bringing a new device to market that actually solves any problems or is better than what we have today - they just want to be first, like always.
[doublepost=1550777459][/doublepost]

So it’s similar to a laptop when it’s folded, the front edge is thinner than the hinge side, and it slopes toward the front.

I've never seen a laptop with a gap when closed.

 

[G5isAlive]

Roll up screens is interesting but isn’t it even harder to do a stable flat screen with a retractable roll out screen? Maybe something like those snap bracelets that you slap on your wrist and they wrap around it...

Yes, making a stable flat screen from something that rolls up is both inherently more difficult than unfolding. But the beauty is no one expects a roll up to be perfectly flat, and if there is stress put on it, it rolls up, and you simply unroll it again. Contrast this to the iPad Pro, where if its not laser sharp flat people complain like its the end of the world. Its a matter of expectations? If I roll something out, I expect it to roll back up if I am not careful.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Thanks for this. Looks even worse than I originally thought. A lot of this phone doesn't seem very well thought out. It's pretty obvious that Samsung decided that they just didn't care about bringing a new device to market that actually solves any problems or is better than what we have today - they just want to be first, like always.
[doublepost=1550777459][/doublepost]

I've never seen a laptop with a gap when closed.

I didn’t articulate clearly. I meant the sloped part. It’s sloped and has a gap when closed. Have to see it and handle it to see it’s annoying.