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.
What Would You Like to See in a Foldable iPhone?
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I do not want a foldable phone. Foldable phones means more parts that can break and have wear. I'm happy with the iPhone as it is.
Usability is at the top of the list for me. Seeing how things like the Fold works, it's just really cool technology that exists without actually solving any real world problem. It makes the screen larger which is nice, but software / apps don't seem (in the limited time I've played with them) to take advantage of the extra space in a meaningful way, it's all just a wider view. It also makes it far larger in my pocket.
Next on the list would be durability - Apple would need to solve the crease marks, fragile / soft display surfaces and, hinge issues that plague the current foldable devices.
To be completely honest, I can't see Apple making a foldable device with any current generation technology at all, it's just not there yet. Then again, next generation technology will likely aim to reduce the handset completely. In 20 years we'll likely wonder why we walked around with a slab of glass and metal in our pockets...
Next on the list would be durability - Apple would need to solve the crease marks, fragile / soft display surfaces and, hinge issues that plague the current foldable devices.
To be completely honest, I can't see Apple making a foldable device with any current generation technology at all, it's just not there yet. Then again, next generation technology will likely aim to reduce the handset completely. In 20 years we'll likely wonder why we walked around with a slab of glass and metal in our pockets...
Yup. Samsung is what, three generations in, and people still complain of a crease after a few months. I don't think my OCD could handle that.
I'm sure I'd find it cool and useful, but for now, I'll wait until all the bugs are ironed out. Won't even get 1st gen foldable iPhone either.
My biggest issue with foldable phones is the screen durability.
I was impressed with my friends Flip 3 as it felt great in hand and the crease didn't bother me but the soft plastic screen gave me the fear. I don't want a screen that is going to get damaged easily.
Until someone makes folding glass 🤣 I'm probably going to avoid folding phones even if it does have the Apple logo slapped on it and I'm offered the opportunity to pay £2,000+ for it (and still get ads)
I was impressed with my friends Flip 3 as it felt great in hand and the crease didn't bother me but the soft plastic screen gave me the fear. I don't want a screen that is going to get damaged easily.
Until someone makes folding glass 🤣 I'm probably going to avoid folding phones even if it does have the Apple logo slapped on it and I'm offered the opportunity to pay £2,000+ for it (and still get ads)
Folded = iOS
Unfolded = iPadOS
Folded Halfway = MacOS with keyboard/trackpad on the bottom half
😉😂
Agreed, it would be between USD 1999-2499 . huge profit for Apple, I'm surprised apple didn't focus more on this opportunity to sell an even more premium device
I use to feel that way, but then I seen way too examples of foldable phones in recent Asian dramas. Now I like to see what Apple could do with this technology.
Is this going to be the next 120Hz screen drama?
Don't need no 120Hz screen! Pointless gimmick!
*several months later*
OMFG 120Hz screens! *screams in joy*
Don't need no 120Hz screen! Pointless gimmick!
*several months later*
OMFG 120Hz screens! *screams in joy*
Foldable all screen phone is the most ridiculous idea the trend wants to push. There will always be limitations and tradeoffs for very little benefit. I hope Apple never implements this nonsense
It could be like the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2, Oppo Find N or the Samsung Fold 4 as long as it runs iOS, charge $3k for it if you want I don't care just make it. I wouldn't say no to Apple doing some of that innovation they used to do to make the products better of course but to me the above units with iOS is still better than the current iPhones.
Hell it can even implode after 2 years for all I care, just make something I can use in the meantime...
Hell it can even implode after 2 years for all I care, just make something I can use in the meantime...
Last edited:
Two non foldable screens that come together and have no seam showing (would have to be sub-mm precision probably). Like a traveling checkers board.
And I guess in that case it would be like the phones now where glass is on both sides, but both glass sides would have screens.
Actually 🤔 have it exactly like phones now, but when it’s folded open the “back” screen (where the Apple logo and cameras are now) would illuminate and be the second half of a 2x bigger screen.
The bendable screens just aren’t quality enough yet. The flexible display would have to be completely flat and creaseless and unnoticeable when folded out.
And folded phone would need to be about as thick as… ohhhhhhh I don’t knooooooow…. Maybe as thick as the current Pro phones’ CAMERA BULGE????!!!!!!
And I guess in that case it would be like the phones now where glass is on both sides, but both glass sides would have screens.
Actually 🤔 have it exactly like phones now, but when it’s folded open the “back” screen (where the Apple logo and cameras are now) would illuminate and be the second half of a 2x bigger screen.
The bendable screens just aren’t quality enough yet. The flexible display would have to be completely flat and creaseless and unnoticeable when folded out.
And folded phone would need to be about as thick as… ohhhhhhh I don’t knooooooow…. Maybe as thick as the current Pro phones’ CAMERA BULGE????!!!!!!
Attachments
I was against folding phones until I used one. The soft screen is still a deal breaker for me though. Not sure how Apple is going to fix that.
I think once Apple does it then it'll be a mix of people giving it a try and actually liking it and, of course, people defending and praising anything Apple do.
And sideloading, and bringing back the headphone jack (I WILL FIGHT ALL OF YOU ON THIS,) and making them fully waterproof, and making magsafe not a crap gimmick, and increasing the megapixels of the cameras, and adding RCS to iMessage, and adding more web engines besides WebKit, and- (Okay you get the idea)
But yes this brings up a good point, why is Apple so insistent on not giving the Pro iPhones fun colors outside of the annual "hero color?" Do they think people who buy pro iPhones are too serious to want anything expressive? (Aside from the fact I have a Product Red silicone case on my iPhone 13 Pro making the "serious" metal colors redundant so APPLE C'MON LET US HAVE FUN COLORS.)
I can see the applications to foldables, like the Z Flip or Motorola Razr, how it's the old compact flip phones of the early to mid 2000s but as a smart phone so they take up less space in a pocket and the screen is protected from scratches while folded. The problem is they don't [CENSORED] work. They get permanent fold lines after a couple months of use, several have broken out of the box, and are overpriced as all hell for worse performance than phones that are 1/5 the cost.I just don’t find foldable iPhones appealing. It’s too gimmicky