Folding phones gaining momentum

[FourWheelDrift]

It's not as if Samsung have screwed it up before....oh, hang on.

[Burwood]

HTP99 said:

It astounds me how a company can get it so wrong, what's happened to all of the quality control leading up to the launch!

I can only imagine the ‘cover’ was the fix and it’s all about first to market. I’m sure they’ll ‘fix’ it but still it taints it’s durability perception in the the very least. I don’t see any real tangible benefits. Just ‘look at me’ status. Wait a few years until they design a decent hinge/form factor. This one is just a clunky mess

[HTP99]

Burwood said:

HTP99 said:

It astounds me how a company can get it so wrong, what's happened to all of the quality control leading up to the launch!

I can only imagine the ‘cover’ was the fix and it’s all about first to market. I’m sure they’ll ‘fix’ it but still it taints it’s durability perception in the the very least. I don’t see any real tangible benefits. Just ‘look at me’ status. Wait a few years until they design a decent hinge/form factor. This one is just a clunky mess

An interesting article popped up on my news feed on my phone this morning, regarding this phone, (I can't remember who it was from).

It stated that during testing it was opened and closed 20,000 (think that was the number), with no issue but this was done with a robot with the pressure points and the way it is handled being at exactly the same point every time, whereas with a person doing it, each person would handle the phone slightly differently and open it up slightly differently, thus exerting pressure in slightly different places, also when partially opened, the screen protector is designed to come away from the screen at the centre point to enable the phone to fold properly, however this is where any debris will get in, between the screen and "protector".

All very interesting.

[ajprice]

iFixit blog post on the Fold, they haven't had one themselves, they're commenting on the reviews, videos and photos of it https://ifixit.org/blog/16025/galaxy-fold-failure-...

Edit. They have taken one apart https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Samsung+Galaxy+Fol...

Edited by ajprice on Wednesday 24th April 10:50

[gregs656]

ajprice said:

iFixit blog post on the Fold, they haven't had one themselves, they're commenting on the reviews, videos and photos of it https://ifixit.org/blog/16025/galaxy-fold-failure-...

Edit. They have taken one apart https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Samsung+Galaxy+Fol...

Edited by ajprice on Wednesday 24th April 10:50

Tear down is interesting. Nothing about it seems well resolved. Shame.

[alorotom]

Huawei have gone very quiet on their model too

[FourWheelDrift]

Unless you confirm your pre-order Samsung will cancel your order - https://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-canceling-g...

[HTP99]

One wonders if the "Fold" as it is, will silently (and hopefully for Samsung) dissappear.

[HTP99]

It's all gone a bot quiet on the folding phone front and from what I've heard Huawei have put theirs on hold too.

[Corso Marche]

Yeah, I saw a headline somewhere saying Huawei had put theirs on hold too, no idea if the headline was anyway accurate. Didn't read the piece, and can't remember where it was from.

Lenovo have a new ThinkPad laptop prototype which they've supplied to some tech sites which seems a far better use of folding displays to me.

[ajprice]

Royole Flexpai. A folding phone that's going to ship before Samsung and Huawei. https://youtu.be/ROkXM3csNWY

It's Chinese, there's no Google store, the folding screen is on the outside, the hinge is a bit like a Surface Book laptop/tablet, but covered in textured rubber.

[AlexC1981]

Interesting, too fat for a phone unless you have a handbag to keep it in, but that would make a good tablet. I like that you can position it at 90 degrees to make it stand up and I like the on screen buttons on the spine. The screen being on the outside of the phone eliminate the sharp crease so could make it more durable, though heaven help you if you drop it!

[Burwood]

It’s as thick as a Filofax. Is it April 1st?

[anonymous-user]

I always felt this whole concept was a little strange.

What’s the actual benefit or use of a phone which can fold?

Just a gimmick, surely?

[HTP99]

JonnyJustice said:

I always felt this whole concept was a little strange.

What’s the actual benefit or use of a phone which can fold?

Just a gimmick, surely?

Yep, offering something just for the sake of but when it comes down to it, it is a very flawed product that doesn't really actually offer anything.

I think the folding phone will quietly and quickly die.

[Nerdherder]

I found an ‘old’ iPhone 4 in my tech cabinet yesterday. Perfect size for a smartphone really.
I think that there is an ideal size/formfactor for things you hold with one hand (+ keep in your pocket) and similarly an ideal for things you hold with two hands (..Tablets..). These folding things are neither and thus an instant flop. Perhaps some executives will like them for the novelty factor, bit that is all they have imho. These things are a big waste of R&D and marketing budget if you ask me.

Edited by Nerdherder on Sunday 21st July 07:31

[Burwood]

Nerdherder said:

I found an ‘old’ iPhone 4 in my tech cabinet yesterday. Perfect size for a smartphone really.
I think that there is an ideal size/formfactor for things you hold with one hand (+ keep in your pocket) and similarly an ideal for things you hold with two hands (..Tablets..). These folding things are neither and thus an instant flop. Perhaps some executives will like them for the novelty factor, bit that is all they have imho. These things are a big waste of R&D and marketing budget if you ask me.

Edited by Nerdherder on Sunday 21st July 07:31

Yep. It’s a bit heavy by today’s standards (thick) but agree on the size.

[egomeister]

JonnyJustice said:

I always felt this whole concept was a little strange.

What’s the actual benefit or use of a phone which can fold?

Just a gimmick, surely?

I always quite liked the concept of the Yotaphone with an e-ink display on the back.

[AlexC1981]

JonnyJustice said:

I always felt this whole concept was a little strange.

What’s the actual benefit or use of a phone which can fold?

Just a gimmick, surely?

I think it makes more sense if you consider it as a fold away tablet, which can also be used as a phone.

[Nerdherder]

egomeister said:

JonnyJustice said:

I always felt this whole concept was a little strange.

What’s the actual benefit or use of a phone which can fold?

Just a gimmick, surely?

I always quite liked the concept of the Yotaphone with an e-ink display on the back.

Ah yes e-ink. Still has something magical to it.

I’m still waiting for a good e-ink tablet to appear. I really liked the ReMarkable tablet concept for instance, but infortunately the first generation (I always skip buying a gen1 device) fell flat on its face.