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I’m interested to see exactly how they define “foldable.” All of the artist depictions seem to show something similar to the Samsung devices that fold in half, but I think other designs could be much more compelling (for example a “scroll” that you can tuck away neatly in a pocket and has no creases, then unravels when quickly and easily)
 
Interesting, the narrower width allows me to have more range vertically with my thumb, easily offsetting the small increase in tallness. It also allows me to have a much better grip on the phone so one handed use feels much more secure than on a regular smartphone. I have zero issue with running apps on the cover screen, they all scale and fit with no issues. It's almost like we are using 2 different devices. But I suppose the taller iPhone Max is a "gimmick" as well, being wider AND taller must really be an issue with vertical reach.

Not from my experience with the Fold 1 and judging from the specs, Fold 1 has a narrower width, shorter height, and thinner folded dimensions so I can only imagine the Fold 2 is worse.

I never said it was comfortable to use the Pro Max (and I've never really started the conversation by comparing against iPhone) with one hand, but the trade off of having a bigger screen makes my overall experience better because I use that screen a 100% of the time.

I don't know how often you use the inner screen over the cover screen, but for me, I don't see myself using the inner screen more than the cover screen. That, to me, makes it a gimmick.

although I still don't understand the 80% figure

80% of the things i do with my phone is negatively affected from the Fold 2's folding experience compared to a traditional Samsung flagship phone. that includes the big things like checking twitter for 5-10 seconds at a time a hundred times a day to small things like taking a picture of a cat once a month. 20% of the things i do with my phone does benefit from the folding experience like watching youtube or switching between a few apps in a session.

I do multitask a lot so find the larger screen useful,

Sure. If you multitask 90% of the time, you'd find this phone useful. I don't, so to me, it's a gimmick.

I suppose I could say 80% more useful than a non folding smartphone, wait that makes them "gimmicks" right?

What? Not really, no.

I don't see why Samsung would pay extra money when the fp button is way more accurate than the current crop of under screen fp readers.

Likely their data shows people want under display fingerprint readers. And ultrasonic scanners are pretty expensive.

But I also agree with your point, why would Samsung bother if they feel their people prefer a side fp reader. But once again a difference of use case scenario. And once again a moot point as Apple doesn't even have a fp reader anymore so I'm assuming iPhones are "gimmicks" as well?

I've never really started this conversation by comparing against the iPhone. That just opens a can of worms.

I'm comparing against their traditional galaxy flagships. And they have in display ultrasonic fp scanners. If a side fp scanner was better, they would have included it in their flagships.

I haven't experienced those issues at all. Android 11 isn't out for the Fold 2 yet (at least not out of beta). No headaches at all, not even a single minor issue with Good Lock.

"If you use Goodlock, you CAN fix the visuals. The issue is, if you view stories, the keyboard sorta gets in the way. So you have to press it once (as if you were going to reply comment to a story) and THEN hit back to get rid of the onscreen keyboard. Then you can view stories as normal."

Source here:

Doesn't seem to work nicely.

I don't disagree that in it's current iteration it isn't ready for everyone, but I still disagree it's a gimmick and nothing you have said has swayed my opinion. It's a remarkable phone that is incredibly useful mainly because it is foldable.

Great. I don't think it was my job to sway your opinion. You simply asked "Why exactly is it a gimmick?" and I gave you my perspective. You don't think it's a gimmick while I definitely think it's a gimmick. That's all.
 
It just seems backwards and a major step back.
To go from the innovation and technologies to be able to strip everything away into its simplest form, with technologies like punch to zoom and scrolling... to then go back to clumsy silly devices that must be folded and and unfolded is the epitome of backwards and gimmicky to me. Especially because of the reality and inherent friction that goes with it. Both physical and in function.
I have no doubt that this form factor is doomed to fail as a mass market consumer option for smartphones. It’s just backwards.
 
Not from my experience with the Fold 1 and judging from the specs, Fold 1 has a narrower width, shorter height, and thinner folded dimensions so I can only imagine the Fold 2 is worse.

I never said it was comfortable to use the Pro Max (and I've never really started the conversation by comparing against iPhone) with one hand, but the trade off of having a bigger screen makes my overall experience better because I use that screen a 100% of the time.

I don't know how often you use the inner screen over the cover screen, but for me, I don't see myself using the inner screen more than the cover screen. That, to me, makes it a gimmick.



80% of the things i do with my phone is negatively affected from the Fold 2's folding experience compared to a traditional Samsung flagship phone. that includes the big things like checking twitter for 5-10 seconds at a time a hundred times a day to small things like taking a picture of a cat once a month. 20% of the things i do with my phone does benefit from the folding experience like watching youtube or switching between a few apps in a session.



Sure. If you multitask 90% of the time, you'd find this phone useful. I don't, so to me, it's a gimmick.



What? Not really, no.



Likely their data shows people want under display fingerprint readers. And ultrasonic scanners are pretty expensive.



I've never really started this conversation by comparing against the iPhone. That just opens a can of worms.

I'm comparing against their traditional galaxy flagships. And they have in display ultrasonic fp scanners. If a side fp scanner was better, they would have included it in their flagships.



"If you use Goodlock, you CAN fix the visuals. The issue is, if you view stories, the keyboard sorta gets in the way. So you have to press it once (as if you were going to reply comment to a story) and THEN hit back to get rid of the onscreen keyboard. Then you can view stories as normal."

Source here:

Doesn't seem to work nicely.



Great. I don't think it was my job to sway your opinion. You simply asked "Why exactly is it a gimmick?" and I gave you my perspective. You don't think it's a gimmick while I definitely think it's a gimmick. That's all.


farewellwilliams, I'm just not understanding the points you're making. Everything you say is based on YOUR perception and possible use case but you ignore any other person who would have a different experience or use. Your arguments are like this to me. A Honda Accord does everything a car needs to do and does it well so no other car needs to exist.

My opinion is, technology always moves ahead. You may not like where it goes, but it's going. And the beauty of it is, if you don't like it, you don't have to buy it.
 
Apple will do one, that folds twice, reducing the thing to one forth...
 


Two prototype foldable iPhones have passed internal tests for durability, according to Taiwanese website Economic Daily News.

foldable-iPhone-concept-feature.jpg


Tests of an Apple-designed folding hinge system for two different iPhones were reportedly recently completed at the Foxconn factory in Shenzhen, China.

The first foldable iPhone to undergo testing is said to be a dual-screen model, which is likely the same dual-display prototype rumored by Jon Prosser in June 2020. Prosser explained at the time that this model used two separate display panels connected by a hinge. Though the prototype ‌iPhone‌ features two separate displays connected by a hinge, Prosser claimed that the panels look "fairly continuous and seamless." It is also of note that Apple has patented a device with two separate displays that can be brought together to create a single foldable device with a hinge, which sounds strikingly similar to the rumored dual-screen Apple foldable.

The second prototype to have undergone testing is reportedly a clamshell foldable, much like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip or Lenovo's Moto RAZR. The UDN report claims that this clamshell model is set to use a flexible Samsung OLED display. Previous reports have also said that Apple ordered a "large number" of Samsung foldable mobile phone display samples for testing purposes earlier in 2020.

It is unclear if the two devices to have been tested had different hinge systems. The test units are purported to be shells with very limited internals rather than fully-working devices. This is because the main purpose of the testing was to assess the durability of the Apple-designed hinge system. The report states that now the testing has concluded, Apple is expected to evaluate which of the two foldable models to proceed with, and only one will be carried forwards into continued development.

The findings of this report also appear to have been mirrored by sources speaking to Jon Prosser. Prosser explained in a recent Front Page Tech video that there were two prototype foldable iPhones in testing, including one with two display panels and one clamshell with a single flexible OLED display. Prosser's sources also said that these units have passed durability testing and are now being evaluated by Apple.

A report from November 2020 stated that Apple had sent foldable iPhones to Foxconn to test the folding bearings with over 100,000 opening and closing tests, which appears to be analogous to the newly-concluded run of testing. Given the consistency of rumors surrounding foldable iPhones from multiple sources, particularly related to testing, they may be more credible.

UDN predicts that a foldable iPhone will not emerge until late 2022 or 2023 at the earliest. Apple has filed for a large number of patents relating to a foldable iPhone dating back to 2016, and it seems highly likely that work on a foldable iPhone is progressing.

Article Link: Two Foldable iPhone Prototypes Reportedly Pass Internal Durability Tests
It aligns with their new business model about making the product life shorter to make people buy devices more often. Makes sense.
 
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It aligns with their new business model about making the product life shorter to make people buy devices more often. Makes sense.
Is that why iPhones are being supported twice as long as android phones, software-wise?

Everything Apple is doing points to them moving on from selling iPhones, to selling to people with iPhones. I don't know about you, but if a company tried to sell me something that broke down easily, I am most certainly not going to buy again from them.
 
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Well, no need to worry just yet -The iPhone 12 design is still getting two more iterations.

The earliest we’ll see a foldable iPhone will be 2023.

That is unless Apple breaks the usual three year product cycle for the iPhone due to low sales of the 12 or 13.
 
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I wonder how expensive the AppleCare+ will be to cover the screen(s).
It won't cover it.
They will show the screen bending in their promo in all ways and scenario's but it will be classed as user abuse until a law suit comes out because millions are finding their screens breaking for the same reason :)

Much like how Apple show off the iPhone being showered with water food and floods of high pressure water in their adverts and yet won't cover any damage due to water.

:)
 
Personal opinion, foldables don’t seem to be better at anything than a smartphone or a tablet. It makes for cool demo, but it seems like a mediocre tablet and phone combo.
You will be proven wrong during the next years.
It’s always the same. First, many people are like “AirPods” look like q tips a year later it’s a common view.
“Paying 1k for a smartphone? Never!”
No it’s not even the highest end.
 
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I personally think foldable phones are the stupidest things, but hey! Choice!
My prediction though, if Apple releases such a device, it will BOMB. Just like every other ridiculous gimmicky foldable phone that has been released.
I hate the idea of them as well, but if it can be done well and there is a legit market then it is not a gimmick. There's no reason for Apple not to look into it.
 
You will be proven wrong during the next years.
It’s always the same. First, many people are like “AirPods” look like q tips a year later it’s a common view.
“Paying 1k for a smartphone? Never!”
No it’s not even the highest end.
Maybe it’ll have a niche user base. But it will never be apple’s most popular iPhone. iPhone 11 and XR were the most popular iPhones in their respective years. Even iPhone 8 outsold the iPhone X. And it’s hard to tell now because we’re still in the early adopter phase, but I’m sure the cheaper iPhone 12 will outsell the iPhone 12 Pro.

The only route I see Apple going that will lead to a hit foldable is if they go the Z Flip or Razr route

1609604887696.jpeg


1609604904906.jpeg
 
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The only route I see Apple going that will lead to a hit foldable is if they go the Z Flip or Razr route


View attachment 1705455

God that Razr is horrible. My friend just got one and it squeals horribly when you open or close it. The screen is plastic and you can feel the creases in the middle.

Sometimes I appreciate that Apple take their sweet time. :)
 
God that Razr is horrible. My friend just got one and it squeals horribly when you open or close it. The screen is plastic and you can feel the creases in the middle.

Sometimes I appreciate that Apple take their sweet time. :)
I’m just talking about the concept, I’m sure apple’s build quality will be better lol
 
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If you think Apple will use a folding screen, which I'm not sure they will.
How are Apple's screens going to less susceptible from creasing, when they are using Samsung's screens?
 
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It's not the same thing. I'm saying this as someone who initially had no intention of buying a Fold 2 because I thought it would have a plastic screen like phones 10 years ago. It's truly a glass screen, and once you remove the screen protector it feels really close to a glass screen. Not 100% as it still has the inner screen protector, but pretty darn close. I've been using mine with a naked screen for a few months now and I have very little worry about damaging it, at least as much worrying as I would if I had a non folding phone. If anything, since the inner screens are folded shut when not in use, I worry less about them. You really have to own and use one to get the feel of it.

Plus the technology is advancing. Last year the Fold's screen was more delicate, next year it will be thick enough for S pen use. Even Corning is working on folding Gorilla Glass.
Hey Doc, Happy New Year to you and the family. Clearly Samsung has made improvements to both the screen itself and the hinge mechanism, but there will be limitations to just how far you can go in getting a rigid element like glass to bend. When you go ultra-thin for the flexibility, you increase fragility, which is where they’re at now with the micro-glass layer they’re using. The other issue that will always be a problem is that glass will never be able to be creased so that it folds like a piece of paper.

The fold will need to be a radius that forces the two halves of the screen apart from the hinge to the outer point where they meet. And although your experience with the screen of the Fold surviving your use, when you get into the millions of units that Apple sells, the potential for consumer issues would be too problematic for iPhone use, imho. I still think the two (or more) glass screens being used to create a rigid foldable would eliminate these issues. You’d have to trade the wrinkle of spine that you have now, for a thin line where the two pieces of glass meet, but I’m not sure that is actually a negative. You would still need to have some separation between the glass panels when folded, so that dust or sand doesn’t scratch or crack the glass when folded together, but it would be an equal separation compared to the teardrop that a folded glass panel has.
 



Some posters seem to be limited in their thinking about what a foldable iPhone could look like. Not everything needs to look like a Fold and have a crease.

Manufacturers like Oppo are innovating.
 
Christ the negativity on here is extreme even by macrumours standards.

Maybe give Apple a chance to see what it can do first before passing judgment? If they release a product and its crap then you can moan.
 
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I'm putting my bet on Apple going for the clamshell design to appeal to the youth and woman. More of a fashion piece of tech that doesn't impact ipad or "phablet" sales.

BA9883A6-F481-4F0A-A82B-13504FB1DAA2.jpeg
 
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