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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Foldable screens, to me, seem to be a recipe for disaster. Another point of failure.
Flip phones like from Star Trek are awesome though!
I really need to go watch Star Trek. Seems popular here.
I’m personally loving how much Trek is on Lemmy. There’s even a star trek based instance.
Strange New Worlds and Lower Decks. Both amazing! Especially SNW. Absolutely loving this season, I honestly want to go back and rewatch all the current eps as they release.
“His Delta is also a communicator. You just tap it.”
“But flipping it open is the best part.”
Love it so much!!!
Original Recipe is still the best…
A foldable flip phone would be much better than most of the book type foldables that seem to be the trend :)
I definitely understand that there is a market for it, but personally I’m not interested. They’re expensive, vulnerable, and I have no need for a screen like that. The high prices and vulnerability were excusable in the first few generations, but I feel like we should’ve advanced further by now. I wonder how many people really use one.
Seem like one of the shitttiest ideas out there, done just for the sake of novelty. If you’re lucky you’ll get creases and bad touch responsiveness. If you’re not, it is the most obvious point of failure due to mechanical stress. I could perhaps get behind “rollable” screens or the like (no hard crease), if they prove reliable.
Edit: spelling
I’ve been using my Pixel Fold for almost 2 weeks, and I love it. Actually using the new Sync app to write this and it looks beautiful on the inner screen.
I have used the Fold3 since launch (still have it), an iPhone 14 Pro Max, and Galaxy s23U over this past year as well. The iPhone I used for a couple of months and face it to my wife. While I know I’m still in the honeymoon period, I really enjoy using my Pixel Fold.
The Pixel Fold is exactly what I wanted from a folding phone. When closed it’s the perfect size for using it like a regular phone. I really liked the size of the Pixel 6a and iPhone Xs and the PF when closed is similar to those. Obviously, a little heavier and slightly thicker. Once you open it, you have a nice mini tablet for consuming media or running 2 apps together.
My battery life has been great, performance has been stellar, cameras are also fantastic. I wish more apps were optimized for the inner screen like Sync, but even if they’re not I can rotate it or run 2 apps.
I know people worry about durability, for good reason, the Fold3 that I’ve had for almost 2 years has done great so far. I’ve had to get the inner screen protector replaced twice, but other than that it’s still hanging in there.
It will be great when the prices start coming down. I think with Google and Motorola really moving into this class it will help drive the price down. It will be nice when more people have the option of foldables, it’ll force developers to optimize for them.
I’ve been interested in getting a foldable for a long time but I’ve yet to pull the trigger.
Would you mind expanding on how the Pixel Fold and Galaxy Fold3 compare? I had a Pixel 2XL and then switched to a Note20 Ultra when the Pixel started showing its age, and I struggle to see myself going back simply due to OneUI and my SPen. But the Pixel Fold has definitely had me intrigued about going back, I’m just not sure how the Pixel OS compares nowadays, especially with Google’s track-record of not really supporting their own products.
Honestly, the main thing that annoyed me on the Fold3 was the very narrow outer screen. I hated doing just about anything on it so I always felt like I needed to open it up and use the inner screen. I’m not a super multitasker so I would only open up 2 apps at once and even then not very often (you get 2 narrow screened apps). The camera was also a little disappointing even when I first got it 2 years ago. It’s nice having the SPen, but it’s never been a deal breaker for me.
I have enjoyed how OneUI has matured over the years and don’t mind it. They do give you a lot of flexibility. About a year ago I bought a Pixel 6a, it was the first Google phone I had since the Nexus days, and I loved the Pixel software experience.
When the s23U came out I was sick of the Fold3 narrow screen and wanted a better camera, although I really love the Pixel 6a camera, so I ended up changing out my Fold3 for the s23U. Again, I enjoy the OneUI experience.
The Pixel Fold, for me is just about my perfect phone. The Pixel experience is great, cameras are amazing, and the outside is a joy to use. My Fold3 usage was 20/80 outer/inner screen usage. Again, mainly because the outer screen on the Fold3 was just not for me. My Pixel Fold usage is now more like 60/40 because I really enjoy the experience on both screens.
I know people critique Pixel devices, mainly for Tensor issues of overheating, battery, and performance. I haven’t noticed any of these issues on my Pixel File. The Pixel 6a did have kind of bad battery when I first got it but since has been great. I started my Pixel Food with Android 13 and it was good, but I changed to 14 beta and have been on that for over a week. The beta has been great and again, performance and battery have been very good as well.
I hope that helps some. I really can’t wait until foldables become a more viable option for more people. It’s such a great experience.
As a woman with tiny pockets I’m considering switching from my (already small) S22 to a Flip-type foldable phone just to not have my phone poke into my hip bone every time I sit down.
It seems like phones just gets bigger and bigger every year…
well flip phones solve some of those issues, because you can partially use them closed, and they are smaller in the pocket. Folds are bigger though
I miss the day when the Galaxy Note series was considered big and gets desiginated as a phablet, now pretty much every phone is a phablet. And small phones are next to impossible to find nowadays.
same here, but the tech is just too new. the screen cracks, the apps don’t use the whole screen all the time, etc. at least, that’s according to a friend who’s been using a foldable phone for a long time now
I use a Fold 4. I am autistic.
I went into it assuming I would hate the crease. But decided the upsides outweighed that potential downside. But over a year in now and I don’t even hate the crease. Honestly the thing I find the most annoying would also be on most other phones; Fold 4 has an underscreen camera with lower pixel density in front of it. Bothers the shit out of me. I’ve taken to having a floating button for screenshots/video and place that button directly over the camera circle. So instead of whatever is in my game looking stupid and annoying in that spot, I can just pretend the icon for the camera button has a weird design.
The upside for me is having access to a nearly 4:3 aspect ratio. I do alot of emulation of older games, so it’s nice to have them be full screen again. Also the charging speed is pretty nice, can have the phone completely full from empty in just under an hour at max charging speed. Which means the 25% to 75% time is just nuts. Can plug it in and not get bored just from watching the percentage tick up. Lol.
I don’t really have much use for it in folded bar form though, using it like an actual phone is of course better in that shape, but I didn’t buy this phone because of how often I make or receive traditional phone calls. So it’s mostly just a fast, useful tablet that I can fold up and put in my pocket. Honestly if there was a version without the outside screen, I would probably get that one. The only thing I use the outside screen for is to hang up at the end of a call. And I’m sure there is an alternate option for that. Could just have a tiny little info screen that had hang-up and speaker buttons. But yeah, if the outside screen isn’t costing much to include, then whatever, I could take it or leave it.
I have the hand strap case directly from Samsung, I definitely recommend it. It’s got adhesive strips that stick to the phone, designed to be put on once and never removed. It doesn’t need to be cleaned under. Basically as minimal as possible while having the grip to the phone necessary to trust that strap with your $2000 phones life. Although I didn’t quite pay that much, I always look for an open box deal. I got it 40% off.
But yeah, the crease isn’t really annoying at all. At it’s worst, when looking at the phone from an uncentered angle, it is visibly darker along each side of the crease, but looking at it straight on, which you generally would be doing, you can’t even tell it’s there. You have to touch it to notice it, but it’s smooth enough that it doesn’t affect playing games or anything.
I was worried it was gonna be much worse when thinking about it before I got hands on. So when my sister got a used fold 3, I borrowed it for a couple hours to play some specific games I wanted to try out. And I wasn’t worried anymore about spending so much for a fold 4.
The weight was an issue originally, took about 2 weeks to get used to it, and then about a month later I got the strap case and it would have solved it anyway. It’s lighter than a hand-held gaming console, and I’m sure a few of us used to hold those for hours when we weren’t as strong as we are now. The original issue was mostly when trying to hold it one-handed from one side of it. Or gripping accross the phone in folded out mode. I have decently big hands, smaller hands would have made it more than a 2 week issue. But yeah, if my hands were smaller, the problem would have remained until I got the strap case, then you hold the phone from it’s center of weight and your hand is in a comfortable position while doing so. Or I just tuck one finger tip into the strap and two more on the outside of the strap and hold the phone from one side still. Comfortable and distributing the phones weight more evenly.
I don’t trust it not to break.
Also they’re wildly expensive.
I felt the same but my wife got one over a year back and so far the only issue has been needing to replace the screen protector where it loses adhesion and starts to create a “bubble” towards the center of the device.
Bigger issue for me is that - unfolded - it’s a bit harder to protect with bumpers, and my experience with mechanical “clamshell” anything tends towards that part going over time
Do you really need a screen protector if the main screen is only ever exposed when you’re actively using it? I’d thought the main point of screen protectors is to prevent scratching against pocket fabric or keys, or accidental drops. Foldables also seem pretty fragile that dropping it is a game over regardless of a screen protector.
My wife and I have had the Z-Fold3’s for a while now. Both of us have dropped it many times while open and folded. So far, there are no issues except for the screen protector adhesive one mentioned above.
My son(2.5) threw my wife’s across the room(hard flooring), and the phone was totally fine. In my experience, they’re not as fragile as most people think.
Well my wife did drop something on the phone once when it was open and I’m pretty sure the protector saved it :-)
The screen protector is mainly there because the inner-screen is either plastic or Ultra Thin Glass™, which makes the inner-screen extremely brittle, despite it being almost always covered.
For my Fold4 Samsung will cover replacement of the inner screen almost for free. That said, I’ve had mine since the release and there’s been zero issues with it. My device is used daily as a primary driver and only thing I carry with me on travels. Laptop sits at home.
Had a Z Fold 4 for a couple of months now and i dont ever want to go back. It feels great in the hand when closed and it is awesome to have a much larger screen available at any time. Crease isnt very noticable on it
My husband has a zfold. Same feedback after a few months, but recently the screen has finally started having issues at the crease. He’s extremely careful with it, so this is definitely a phone thing and not just a use thing.
It’s probably something he’s already checked, but the screen protector ends up coming off inside the crease after a while. Have had to replace mine and my wife’s twice so far, but it’s an easy fix.
Oh good to know. There’s truly no telling if he checked that, so I will :p
Had one since launch, first foldable. Zero issues with the interior screen/crease. People need to remember you’ll hear about the issues, you won’t hear about people just enjoying their device normally.
I disagree with people who say the inside screen is useless. For one, I use it to share pics with family because it’s easier for multiple people to view. I also use it for watching videos, it’s quite nice.
I am also a remote sys admin. I use the inside screen for RDP/ssh sessions to remote machines for quick weekend maintenance. I will never go back.
Had the Razr 5g, got it new for $600 through a T-Mobile offer. Loved the OS, very similar to pixels. Loved how small it was in my pocket. It became super easy to use daily but… On month 9 a line appeared on my display, that night my phones battery died and upon reboot whole inside screen was messed up. The phone other wise looks pristine, and I have a case that protects it. I never dropped it either. Their one year warranty conveniently does not cover the screen and repair was $950 through Motorola. After arguing the did issue a discount and the phone would cost $750 to repair…when you could get a brand new one on their site for $600 at the time. Ridiculous.
Never buying Motorola again. Might try the Samsung flip in a few years once the tech is solid and affordable.
Their one year warranty conveniently does not cover the screen
If you are in the EU, that’s illegal.
Adding that to my reasons to move list.
I’ll be furious if that happens to my phone someday. F
Love the idea. The durability vs price ratio has not yet put this tech into an actually realistic space yet. Too much money for something too easy to break.
I kind of want one just to see what it’s like. But for the same price I could buy both a good tablet and a phone, so it’s not really worth it.
Oh, yes, I’d love to try one on someone else’s dime. Meanwhile, I’ll just give the tech a few more years to become more robust.
Fantastic if you need a computer in your pocket. Terrible for everything else
Manufacturers are being forced to make their phones last longer with sensible things like replaceable batteries, so they’re coming up with fresh designed obsolescence by adding things that will wear and tear to keep everyone spending $1-2k every couple of years.
My first thought exactly when I read the question. It’s just another point of failure for the phone, using people’s nostalgia for something that never was that great anyway
foldables are really cool but pretty fragile
My friend had a foldable and it died simply from opening and closing it too much. Not dirt, dust or water damage it just broke because the folding part of the screen wore out.
I saw somewhere that there’s a space in the middle of some foldables that causes the phone to completely break if a spec of dust gets caught in it
I think they’ll be remembered a bit like 3D televisions in a few years… an interesting diversion, that ultimately went nowhere.
I’ve gotten used to holding onto my phones longer and skipping several phone releases at a time (Nexus 6 > Pixel 2 XL > Pixel 6 XL) and I don’t really feel like I can continue to do that with a foldable based on the durability questions from the main screen. The prospect of a smaller device in my pocket is the big factor in wanting one and every time a new flip device comes out I find myself doing the same research hoping there is a magic bullet that solves the screen durability or de-lamination issues.
