Folding phones gaining momentum

Folding phones gaining momentum

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Discussion

Burwood

Original Poster:

18,709 posts

245 months

Friday 9th November 2018
quotequote all
Samsung claiming mass production in 3 months. Apple and others, not to be outdone......

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wBQmaySQB84


HTP99

22,443 posts

139 months

Friday 9th November 2018
quotequote all
Mmm, I have been following this with a bit of interest, I'm not sure about them, it seems it is trying something for the sake of it as phones in general seem to have hit a plateau with development, I guess though the next big thing needs to be found and a foldable phone potentially could be it.

Any foldable is going to be pretty thick and bulky though, I would have thought; at least 1st gen versions.

Burwood

Original Poster:

18,709 posts

245 months

Friday 9th November 2018
quotequote all
The physical size having reached its practical limit yet demand for greater real-estate (smile) still growing. I also agree with your comment. Existing form factor now ‘old’ and a switch up needed to differentiate. I doubt Apple would release a bulky phone. It must be slim. Granted that Samsung thing looked hideous

The Mad Monk

10,474 posts

116 months

Friday 9th November 2018
quotequote all
Burwood said:
Samsung claiming mass production in 3 months. Apple and others, not to be outdone......

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wBQmaySQB84
Can't understand what he is saying.

WyrleyD

1,883 posts

147 months

Friday 9th November 2018
quotequote all
There's the "slider" that's being introduced by Xiaomi with the Mi Mix 3 to do away with the maddening notch on the top of the screen. Initially the Xiaomi MI Mix 3 will be available through Three after reaching a distribution agreement with them.

My next 'phone was going to be either a physical dual-sim iPhone Xr (only available in Hong Kong) or the Xiaomi dual-sim and it's looking more like that one as it's going to be easier to acquire as I don't know when I'll next be in Hong Kong to get the iPhone.

RTB

8,273 posts

257 months

Friday 9th November 2018
quotequote all
Burwood said:
The physical size having reached its practical limit yet demand for greater real-estate (smile) still growing. I also agree with your comment. Existing form factor now ‘old’ and a switch up needed to differentiate. I doubt Apple would release a bulky phone. It must be slim. Granted that Samsung thing looked hideous
The samsung unit wasn't the finished product. It was built to showcase the technology. The styling was hidden.

sgrimshaw

7,311 posts

249 months

Friday 9th November 2018
quotequote all
The Mad Monk said:
Burwood said:
Samsung claiming mass production in 3 months. Apple and others, not to be outdone......

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wBQmaySQB84
Can't understand what he is saying.
Perhaps something less technical would suit you better wink

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcSH-OY5DLU

PaulD86

1,651 posts

125 months

Friday 9th November 2018
quotequote all
They will get there with these and one day a tablet and phone probably will be able to be one and the same but for now my biggest concern is the battery. My phone has just about enough oomph for a days heavy use but the biggest power drain is the screen. So a folding phone will need to be thicker and then as it has a bigger screen will need ever more power and so need to be even thicker still surely. By the 3rd or 4th gen I'm sure they'll be worth having.

NDA

21,490 posts

224 months

Friday 9th November 2018
quotequote all
I am struggling to see the benefit of a foldable screen.

Yes, bigger screen area (obviously), yes, potentially bridging the smartphone/laptop gap.... but really?

Will users want to have to open a phone to use it? Most users want something that's immediately ready to go in their pocket, no case... instant.

I am clearly wrong as better minds than mine have identified the market wants such a thing.

Burwood

Original Poster:

18,709 posts

245 months

Friday 9th November 2018
quotequote all
You won’t open it to use the phone, any feature for that matter.

The Mad Monk

10,474 posts

116 months

Friday 9th November 2018
quotequote all
sgrimshaw said:
The Mad Monk said:
Burwood said:
Samsung claiming mass production in 3 months. Apple and others, not to be outdone......

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wBQmaySQB84
Can't understand what he is saying.
Perhaps something less technical would suit you better wink

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcSH-OY5DLU
Oh! The pain!

Murph7355

37,651 posts

255 months

Friday 9th November 2018
quotequote all
Solution for a problem that doesn't exist.

They should be chucking all their efforts at at battery tech and ensuring their software doesn't start ruining the devices after a couple of years (I appear to be being plagued with the Samsung pink line syndrome).

I very much like their products (have been using them since ditching iPhones at the Galaxy S4 stage). I'd like them to last a fair bit longer without the batteries conking out or other aspects becoming obsolete in short order. I don't need a folding screen that makes the thing twice as thick as it needs to be.

Burwood

Original Poster:

18,709 posts

245 months

Friday 9th November 2018
quotequote all
Murph7355 said:
Solution for a problem that doesn't exist.

They should be chucking all their efforts at at battery tech and ensuring their software doesn't start ruining the devices after a couple of years (I appear to be being plagued with the Samsung pink line syndrome).

I very much like their products (have been using them since ditching iPhones at the Galaxy S4 stage). I'd like them to last a fair bit longer without the batteries conking out or other aspects becoming obsolete in short order. I don't need a folding screen that makes the thing twice as thick as it needs to be.
I’m sure they’ll still produce the current form factor Murph. Ive noticed a lot of people watching sport on their phones. I can see folibles being very popular with them. I carry my phone in a bag with all my other necessities. Glasses, water, hand sanitizer smile

devnull

3,746 posts

156 months

Friday 9th November 2018
quotequote all
I guess the idea of a folding phone is that we are closer advancing to your phone being your “everything” device. Where you currrently might move from phone to tablet where you want a bigger screen, why not have the convenience of the phone unfolding to become the bigger screen.

Certainly from a business / productivity perspective I can see this being hugely useful. Where your day to day workflow is just email and web, why bother with a laptop when you can board the train, unfold into big screen mode, add a keyboard and get on with your emails.

None of this will be useful anytime soon though. Samsung are just the first big name to make that step, and undoubtedly when it is released, it will be relatively good hardware running utterly terrible Samsung software with little to no third-party adoption.

bloomen

6,857 posts

158 months

Friday 9th November 2018
quotequote all
Murph7355 said:
Solution for a problem that doesn't exist..
It would be massively useful to me at least. A properly executed one would remove the need for several devices.

Hoofy

76,253 posts

281 months

Friday 9th November 2018
quotequote all
Looks good to me. Even at that size/thickness I'd have one if the price were right.

I don't mind a small screen for quick stuff. Then going to the big screen for writing emails or arguing on Facebook.

Burwood

Original Poster:

18,709 posts

245 months

Friday 9th November 2018
quotequote all
Hoofy said:
Looks good to me. Even at that size/thickness I'd have one if the price were right.

I don't mind a small screen for quick stuff. Then going to the big screen for writing emails or arguing on Facebook.
No question they will be very expensive. Top spec iPads now almost £2k. Expect £1,500

Hoofy

76,253 posts

281 months

Friday 9th November 2018
quotequote all
Burwood said:
Hoofy said:
Looks good to me. Even at that size/thickness I'd have one if the price were right.

I don't mind a small screen for quick stuff. Then going to the big screen for writing emails or arguing on Facebook.
No question they will be very expensive. Top spec iPads now almost £2k. Expect £1,500
Unsurprising, I suppose. I'll let the "early adopters" suck up the cost and pick one up in 10 years' time then. It's not that important for me to have one.

Bullitt Five-Oh

876 posts

66 months

Friday 9th November 2018
quotequote all
Murph7355 said:
Solution for a problem that doesn't exist.
Like the removal of headphone jack... yet this folding thing might make sense if they get it right. I look forward to the finished product (although it will no doubt run the naff TouchWiz which is like an incurable STI).

Joey Ramone

2,150 posts

124 months

Friday 9th November 2018
quotequote all
bloomen said:
It would be massively useful to me at least. A properly executed one would remove the need for several devices.
Why invent something that renders your other products obsolete or unnecessary?