Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
I very much like the idea of a pocketable tablet. This is more of a tech demo than a mature product, but I'm glad companies are moving forward. I'll consider a 3rd generation device.
 
It’s clear from the start that one day such screen will break. Smartphones are becoming disposable commodities.
 
Still not decided on this or the Note 10. Thank the tech gods, for companies like Samsung, for taking tech to the outer limits. Samsung reminds me of a world champion racer like Marc Marquez. Always on the edge, and occasionally binning it, because they're constantly testing the limits. As they saying goes, you ain't trying, if you never crash.
 
  • Like
Reactions: nickgovier
The point seems pretty obvious to me. I wish Apple still had the balls to try stuff like this. I look at the Apple rumor roadmap and I think my Iphone X will be with me for a while longer.
Lol like Apple would take this form seriously. It’s embarrassing. It’s pointless.
 
The Galaxy Fold is a gimmick like the original Note phablet, stylus, OLED, inductive wireless charging, inductive reverse wireless charging, fast charging, rear ultra wide-angle camera, and front wide-angle camera.
 
To me, any design revision that has them adding even more plastic film to the display (instead of getting rid of it altogether) is suspect.

How is that not going to get scratched and beat up, sooner or later? For $2k, that isn’t the kind of materials I would expect to be used for the display surface. Maybe that cling film can be replaced though, who knows.
 



Samsung's foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Fold, is now set to launch in September after being delayed in order for Samsung to make some design changes, Samsung announced today.

The new version of the Galaxy Fold features several design and construction improvements. The top layer, which was mistakenly peeled off by some reviewers, has been tweaked to make it clear that it's part of the display, while additional reinforcements have been added to better protect the display from external particles.

galaxy-fold_kv_device-800x414.png

The full changes Samsung made to the Galaxy Fold are listed below:The company says it has also been working to improve the overall Galaxy Fold user experience, optimizing more apps and services for the foldable interface.

Samsung initially planned to launch the Galaxy Fold this spring, but ended up delaying the launch after several reviewers experienced broken Galaxy Fold devices after just a few days.

Some of the reviewers mistakenly pulled off the top layer of the display as it looked like a plastic screen protector, which led to display damage. Other reviewers had screen failures, while still others saw display damage due to small particles of dust getting in between the layers of the display.

Based on the changes Samsung made to the Galaxy Fold, it sounds like each of the individual issues has been addressed, and hopefully launch versions of the Galaxy Fold will hold up better than the initial review units.

Samsung says that the Galaxy Fold will be made available to consumers starting in September in select markets, with specific launch details to be shared as a launch approaches.

Samsung's Galaxy Fold, which will be one of the first foldable smartphones on the market, will cost $1,980 when it becomes available for purchase.

Article Link: Samsung's Galaxy Fold to Launch in September Following Design Revisions

Who wants to bet, that this foldable technology, is also a step forward and an excuse to start making thicker phones again...
[doublepost=1564030095][/doublepost]
"Following Design Revisions"...you mean, like removing the fold? :confused: I'm not holding my breath that this batch will be any better, given that Huawei was having issues with the technology too. Still just a half-baked idea, imho, that shouldn't have gotten past R&D yet.

Maybe true, but don't forget that nowadays, it's all about "being first", with whatever consequences this may have...
[doublepost=1564030161][/doublepost]
Lol like Apple would take this form seriously. It’s embarrassing. It’s pointless.

I believe they aready have such a similar prototype - I am pretty sure I read it somewhere...
 
To use this in public folded means no privacy, everybody sees what you are doing, and to use this unfolded you are ashamed with that screen to body ratio from the 90
 
Last edited:
Technology is amazing but the price is not. I am curious how many can they sell with that price - $1,980.
 
"Following Design Revisions"...you mean, like removing the fold? :confused: I'm not holding my breath that this batch will be any better, given that Huawei was having issues with the technology too. Still just a half-baked idea, imho, that shouldn't have gotten past R&D yet.

Yes, but for some tech companies being first is very very important. This is all aftermath of a race to be first.
 
Still waiting for someone to give me a legit reason why this is useful.

A big screen is better than a small screen when the user is interacting with the phone, which is why phone screens have gotten bigger over the years (and also why people buy tablets despite already owning phones). On the other hand a big screen is worse than a small screen when it comes to transporting the phone, because in those situations the big screen just means additional bulk.

The current mainstream industry approach to this conundrum is to keep shaving off the bezels and to aim for the all screen phone, i.e. the biggest screen possible within the most compact dimensions. But there are limits to this, because the bezels are almost gone already, yet dimensions allowing comfortable transportation are smaller than those allowing comfortable interaction, so it will always be a compromise.

Foldable screens on the other hands could lead to huge screens that can be stowed away in a compact little package, the best of both worlds. If someone can make this work (very big if), then I believe this would be the first significant smartphone innovation since the first iPhone, and it would constitute a paradigm shift that would make the current form factor obsolete within just a few years.
 
  • Like
Reactions: nickgovier
A big screen is better than a small screen when the user is interacting with the phone, which is why phone screens have gotten bigger over the years (and also why people buy tablets despite already owning phones). On the other hand a big screen is worse than a small screen when it comes to transporting the phone, because in those situations the big screen just means additional bulk.

The current mainstream industry approach to this conundrum is to keep shaving off the bezels and to aim for the all screen phone, i.e. the biggest screen possible within the most compact dimensions. But there are limits to this, because the bezels are almost gone already, yet dimensions allowing comfortable transportation are smaller than those allowing comfortable interaction, so it will always be a compromise.

Foldable screens on the other hands could lead to huge screens that can be stowed away in a compact little package, the best of both worlds. If someone can make this work (very big if), then I believe this would be the first significant smartphone innovation since the first iPhone, and it would constitute a paradigm shift that would make the current form factor obsolete within just a few years.
So, nowadays we have almost 7" normal smartphones, reliable without any mecahnism..why should anybody buy an complicated not reliable foldable, bulk and heavier? just for an extra 0.5" display? and remember the aspect ratio of that when is folded...remember its android...there are developers that dont give a fk about android tablets apps
So no, there is no legit reason for this...only if you are a kid and you are that kind of person that wants to shows in school to show everybody your new toy
 
I wouldn't be shocked if Apple has at least two dozen prototypes of a folding phone similar to this one in their labs. .

I wouldn't be shocked if Apple DOESN'T have any prototypes of a folding phone similar to this one in their labs
 
Such a weird device. The screen is way too narrow with a strange aspect ratio and to tiny to use it as a phone and too small to use it as a tablet.
 
Such a weird device. The screen is way too narrow with a strange aspect ratio and to tiny to use it as a phone and too small to use it as a tablet.
yes too small display for a smartphone use...too small display for a tablet use
 
I don’t know if it’s true, but apparently Apple coincidentally held a design meeting the same day as the fold was revealed. The fold was dismissed by Ive and he spent some time explaining the problems and issues... which later was shown to be spot on!

Can’t remember where I read/heard it, but the story was from an UI designer at Apple.

Whatever the case I would like to believe that Ive and Apple is at this level of product design/development.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.