this post was submitted on 31 Jul 2023
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Previously on Lemmy:

Past Discussions:

Well, as promised, we are talking foldable this week. The excitement is palpable, and it looks like the rest of our mod team have already started the conversation here. Go check it out.

I honestly don't know very much about foldable phones, so I'll let the rest of our (very smart and knowledgeable) mod team handle this one this week. :)

Last thing for future reference at the end of the week, we also have a great thread discussing foldables here too, go check it out if you want more great discussions.

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[–] Oneobi@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

If they can somehow shove in an spen I'd be sold.

Damn spen has me hooked on Samsung. Its such a killer feature that is so underused by the masses.

Only yesterday did it bail me out of a password issue on my Jap PlayStation account via its translation feature. Totally seamless.

But yah, needs internal housing since I choose to not rock a case.

[–] 4onTheFloor@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

They have a certain appeal to them. I'd love to try one out though and see how it appeals to me. Main thing that keeps me from getting one, is that I work in construction. Dust and debris getting inside the screen, then me closing it is just asking for scratches. Would a screen protector even be viable with the crease being in the middle?

Old school flip phones were feasible for situations like mine. But I'm not going back to T9 texting lol.

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[–] Anti_Weeb_Penguin@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

They are terrible, i would never buy one.

[–] Default_Defect@midwest.social 5 points 1 year ago

I like the idea of them, but I've yet to see it implemented in a way that I feel is necessarily helpful.

[–] st33fo@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

I want to try a flip style foldable. Maybe moto or Samsung's (good moto trade in when🙃). It's been a while since I've seen a phone and go damn, that's eye candy. There'll probably be funky quirks no doubt, but a modern flip phone just looks awesome.

[–] You_Are_Breathing@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

I'm using a Samsung Galaxy Fold 4 after my Fold 3's inside screen protector separated. Luckily I bought it through T-Mobile and for an upgrade.

I like wowing people by using it like a regular phone and suddenly opening it up to a small tablet. Some people can't wait to get "the Apple version" but I'll let them wait wait for the future while I enjoy this phone.

I do switch between other Android "slab phones", but I guess I go back to a folding phone because I get to carry a small tablet with me without having a second device.

[–] Chickens@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Love my z fold 4 a year in.

[–] MargotRobbie@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

Anything particular you like about it?

[–] WereCat@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

I would break it in less than a day in my work environment... Metal dust + anti-cut gloves... RIP the screen at least.

[–] knobbysideup@lemm.ee 5 points 1 year ago

There could be some interesting designs, but to take advantage of that the UI would need to adapt, I think.

Today I'd rather have user-replaceable batteries and screens.

[–] bjornp_@lemm.ee 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I like the concept but they're too expensive for me. About €2k for a fold and €1k for a flip is outside my (self-imposed) budget. I don't particularly wish to spend more than about €600.

Once they become more mainstream and affordable, I'll most definitely be checking one out.

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[–] Ninja9p5@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)
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I've been eagerly watching the foldable space ever since the first Razr was announced, but never took the plunge because I felt the tech wasn't there yet. You would pay flagship prices for a fragile phone with bad specs.

Now I think they are finally good enough. My next one will probably be a Razr, I don't trust Samsung.

[–] Furbag@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

I feel like it's a cool bit of tech, but not something I ever asked for in a phone or will ever have a practical use for.

Written on Flip 4.

The compromises hit quite hard. Battery life sucks, screen brightness in sunshine is horrible, and photo quality is not that great (as expected). I still like the toy aspect of it, can lay it anywhere I want, software is also quite good (but definitely not perfect). Fit in pocket (man) is also not perfect (as now key are under it and not next to it). Overall, I still like it, but if I got the money back, I would go back to a normal phone.

[–] 3migo@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

I've been using a Z Fold 4 for about a year, since launch. This is my first foldable, and it'd honestly be difficult for me to go back to a standard slab phone.

I love how multitasking is actually an enjoyable, functional experience on a foldable. I love having a large display for consuming content. The larger internal display really ups the threshold for "Okay, I need a computer for this", since I can load desktop sites and it be usable.

Granted, it isn't perfect. I do still have concerns about durability, despite the fact thaty Fold has taken a few nasty falls and come out unscathed, it is of course still possible to break. For the first time, I have insurance on a phone due to durability.

The outer display is functional, but it's quite narrow. This leads to some apps not loading properly on the outer display, and a bit of a cramped keyboard. You do get used to it, but I'd prefer a larger external display like the wider display of the Pixel Fold.

The biggest short coming for foldables is apps. While most apps function just fine, some really don't. Instagram is a great example of one that performs poorly on both the external and internal displays. Some apps have tablet interfaces that launch on the inner display, but most don't. Most apps are just a blown up version of the standard phone interface. There are other weird app quirks like how my bank app will only let me use fingerprint to sign in when it's launched on the external display, not the internal. The app situation I think will get better with time as foldables become more widespread, but it is a frustration for now.

The final shortcoming is the size and weight of these phones. With a case on, the Fold 4 is a pretty substantial phone on your pocket. It's heavy, thick, and the first few weeks with it you'll really notice the size and weight. Foldables are trending thinner and lighter, but more progress needs to be made here.

Anyways, all this to say - I ultimately love my foldable phone and have been very satisfied. It's expensive, but if you have the means and the interest in one, I doubt you'd be disappointed. Just keep the shortcomings in mind.

[–] joel_feila@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

They protect one of their screens, thats nice. And for people that really really nned a very wide screen i can see tyem using it. As for me they are way expensive.

[–] Spellbind8558@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Got myself a Motorola Razr Plus a couple weeks ago after a few years of Pixel 3aXL. Really loving the phone so far. Using the outer screen when taking selfies, changing music while working out/on the go, and sending quick messages is great. Also purchased the two year insurance plan, a first for me but given potential durability concerns a no-brainer.

Was on the fence with Pixel Fold but really liking the smaller form factor of the "flip" style compared to "fold". Also not sure when I'd really use the tablet form.

Great to see more competition in this area. Long-standing companies making foldables like Samsung are going to need to step it up.

[–] zikk_transport2@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

Dreaming of Pixel Fold. AOSP Android is the only Android I will buy.

However, announced price of 1.9k eur (or 2500eur in e-shops) is something I would not spend on a freaking phone. Price has to go down...

[–] buckykat@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 1 year ago

The prospect of a tablet size screen folding up to fit in my pocket is appealing, but the durability and price aren't currently acceptable. I don't understand the appeal of flip type foldables at all.

[–] phamanhvu01@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Quite mixed on the idea of foldable phones.

On one hand, they're pretty cool and I especially the Z Flip/razr format for its nod to the flip phone era and the portability.

On the other, their durability is er...questionable and there's no telling if the screen will last as long as that of traditional smartphone's. Oh and plastic screen means scratch galore, too.

Also good idea with these post mods, I see a lot of high quality comment here! It's starting to feel like the Reddit of old times here, well without the toxicity I suppose.

[–] MargotRobbie@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

We aim for casual but high-quality discussion with a bit of fun here and there. We have a lot of smart people here, and it's my hope that every time somebody reads through one of these threads, they learn something new.

[–] Poob@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 year ago

I'm very interested in the ability to have a large screen when I need it. I am hesitant though. The prices are crazy, which isn't surprising for new tech. I'm also going to wait a bit and let them iron the kinks out before I consider buying one.

I'm also pretty rough on everything I own, so it's going to need to be as tough as a current slate phone before I look at them.

[–] ada@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 1 year ago

As soon as I realised that fold phones existed, I had to own one. My preferred phone is a phablet, but the size makes them non feasible for day to day use. Fold phones solve that problem nicely. I don't think I can go back.

[–] erasebegin@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

I'm all about the side-folders (Z-Fold), the flip folders (Z-Flip) are cool but gimmicky. Never owned one, but probably will one day!

[–] UsernameLost@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 year ago

Don't really see the appeal tbh. More fragile, more expensive, and for what? A bigger phone? I have big hands, and my Pixel 4a is about the max size that's practical for me to use one handed.

I hopped off the "upgrade to a new phone every year or two" train about 6 years ago in favor of buying a cheaper phone outright and going prepaid. I don't see any need to drop $1k+ on a phone, especially for what I view as a gimmick

[–] applejacks@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

Not a fan tbh.

The drawbacks outweigh the benefits for me.

More expensive, more fragile, smaller battery, and I don't really care to have a large screen on me at all times.

[–] Kevnyon@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

I might buy a flip foldable in the future (so either the Samsung flip or the Motorola RAZR) because I like the idea of using my phone less if I can do at least some things on the outside screen + I like the idea of propping the phone up on itself for videos and photos. I really don't need a book type foldable, but the clamshell just has something to it... In the future.

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