177
submitted 2 years ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

Foldable smartphones have reached their fifth major generation, as heralded by Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Fold 5...

For me it's definitely the durability concerns. I've valued my phone's water and dust resistance since getting an ip67 phone years and years ago. My brother had a flip and a grain of sand in his pocket got under the display; when he closed the phone the display died. And they expect me to pay more for the privilege.

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[-] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

I don't see a point.

[-] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

Nothing at all, I've had two of them =]

[-] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

Woah, which; and why so many

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[-] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

What is the benefit? What improvement does it offer? What is the point of introducing a weakness and simultaneous single point failure in exchange for a phone with a smaller, less durable screen, has a fatter form factor, and makes it more difficult to use to do all the things I actually use my phone for?

Flip phones existed as a way to easily answer and end calls. They went away when touch screens became a more convenient and versatile means of using a device. Nobody talks on the phone anymore. I don't even have my phone app on my home screen.

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[-] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

Exclusively price. I want a Fold very bad but, too much $

[-] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

Owned one, went back to pixel 7 pro afterwards. I liked it a lot and really loved the screen size.

But the screen is really, really fragile and the phone is heavy enough that it's hard to hold when You're surfing for more than an hour.

So I could surf on my phone less... Or I could grab a phone that isn't 450g

[-] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

First, the price point is stupid

Second, I don't trust a folding monitor to last

Third, every other time I've gone to a platform that's different from what 99% of apps are written for, I've felt frustrated because the apps didn't take advantage of that and here I was with support for that but no benefit to me.

[-] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

A device that can inevitably fail as soon a week after purchase, and will likely fail within the first year, is just not for me. Not to mention the price, and poor software support for most apps

[-] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

The purpose of folding a phone is carrying it in a more pocketable form.

I don't need that because I'm a man always with regular pockets which are fine for carrying a Pixel 6 Pro screen.

If I wanted a bigger screen, I would also want a keyboard and a mouse. So you could say that I'm freaking hyped for the upcoming DEX-like desktop mode coming to AOSP. Video-out on a Pixel, fucking finally.

[-] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

I want a screen protector

[-] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

It's also inconvenient. Having to unfold the phone before using is cumbersome and it doesn't fit well in my pockets.

[-] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

Camera. If I'm buying something that expensive, it better have a great camera.

Durability concerns. If a little speck can ruin the screen, then it's not ready to be a daily driver for me.

[-] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

I prefer the standard chocolate bar style it's less likely to break and it fits fine in my hand

[-] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

Since getting a wearable display, screens are no longer a priority.

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[-] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

They can't run GrapheneOS, and I like smaller phones (rocking a p4a). But maybe if Google release a flip-like phone I might be interested.

[-] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago
[-] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

I've had my Galaxy zflip 3 for about 2 years now. Lots of comments here are saying they are too fragile or poorly made but that has not been my experience:

  • the battery is fine
  • the screen hasn't scratched
  • it flips open fine with a one handed flick of the wrist
  • I've dropped it several times without damage
  • it has been used in the rain and snow
  • I've replaced the screen protector once myself due to it peeling at the fold. Having to change screen protectors happens on every phone I've owned due to peeling somewhere
  • I can drop it in my pocket folded without worrying about keys, coins, or whatever else scratching up the screen
  • being able to use the phone as it's own tripod is nice for photos
  • flipping it shut to end phonecalls is satisfying
  • price is about the same as any other new Samsung phone (I got mine close to free trading in a Galaxy s10e)

The new flip 5 looks really nice with the bigger cover screen but I don't plan to upgrade anytime soon since this phone is working well for me.

[-] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

Generally, I love mine, I like reading the paper on mine. No issues with durability, I take mine downhill mountain biking in the PNW, skiing in Canada, the works. The only issue I have with mine is that the made for foldable apps suck ass and you must avoid them like the plague. Who wants a permanent hamburger menu that takes up half the screen permanently while the other half of the screen (which is smaller than a normal phone) is used to display content, messages, and pictures?

Imagine the ribbon at the top of microsoft word taking up 50% of your monitor, lmao.

The high price also has to go. I'd like to see foldables for $750, though I know that's a pipe dream.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

Smart analogy too; I just can't see these replacing regular smart phones until the technology makes them sufficiently thin. Because of this I doubt we will see them lower much in price. I would also want an s pen built into the phone.

[-] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

Paying more for a less durable device is not what I prefer to do.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

I love my Fold 3. Only real complaints are how many apps are not built to support the front screen's thinness. It was the most expensive phone I've ever purchased even at 50% off used (around $900), but for the amount of hours I use it, it seems justified. For maps, photos, and reading, the inner screens are awesome. I mostly use the outer because most things do not need the full size. Can't imagine it without the outer screen. Durability not an issue so far, whether that's waterproofness, sand in the fold, or the crease.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

Well I have one already, I don't need another one

[-] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

I mean they cost at least a grand.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

Mix of cost and it doesn't actually benefit me at all. I buy a cheap phone and it does everything it needs to, i don't need to add a 0 to the cost to get no actual benefit for me.

Probably makes more sense for people that actually use their phones for work or something.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

I've had the Fold 2 for about 3 years now and it works like a charm. No issues with battery or folding issues. I would never go back to a non-folding phone.

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[-] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

I actually used to have one, but even though I was very careful with it, the screen kept breaking from normal everyday use. Eventually, my phone insurance decided they'd no longer cover this type of phone due to it being too fragile, so I went back to using a regular phone.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

I have a foldable and I hate my foldable. I am literally counting down the days until I can get rid of it.

In the beginning, it was fine but I didn't use the tablet mode as much as I thought I would. It was mostly just videos and manga. Then the hinge started to get dust or debris under it and wouldn't open all the way. This has slowly gotten worse and worse and I don't even want to open it even if I have a good use case now.

The outer screen is too thin but it does make it easy to hold and type one-handed at least.

The device is also bulky obviously which is fine but with a case, it's about an inch thick which is a bit unwieldy.

The battery life is awful, even without using the main screen. I usually have to charge once a day and overnight.

I just miss my Note. Nice big wide screen, comfortable to hold. Massive battery. Nice stylus. :(

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[-] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

My Fold 2 held up 2.5 years but the screen is starting to develop cracks at the hinge.
Still works, but I can see the cracks growing weekly, only a matter of time until they're too visible.
Replacing the screen is just too expensive, together with a new battery I'd look at the price of a new decent normal phone.

The huge screen is nice every once in a while, but I don't do enough with my phone to justify the price.
Was a neat experience of the "future", but the next phone is going to be a normal smartphone. Better battery life, will do the job just fine, lasts longer and cheaper.

No hard feeling towards foldables either, I knew they were expensive.
Also no surprise that folding something 10.000 times (conservative 10x a day for 1000 days) isn't going to last forever.
Maybe they'll find some magical solution for that, but I don't think they will anytime soon.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

Of course durability is the main issue here but now that you have mentioned it the water resistance too.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

Maybe battery life, and I don't want to give up my headphone jack and memory card slot. :(

Cost isn't a real concern for me; Samsung has very aggressieve discount pricing where I am, I could get a Z Fold 4 with the same RAM/memory for about 10% more than the S23 Ultra, so I effectively see it as a freebie small tablet with an expensive phone.

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[-] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

The flips smaller size is awesome, but I think that positive is offset by the annoyance of having to open the phone the every time.

The fold I could see myself buying in a later gen. Once the hinge and screen are through a few more iterations I think I'll buy one. The huge screen is just so nice. But folded up it shouldn't be much heavier, larger, thicker than a normal phone, I already think modern phones are way too big as it is.

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[-] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

I hated the idea until I bought a Fold4. I'm always careful with my electronics, even so, I've dropped it several times on accident and had zero issues. I can't imagine going back to a slab phone, the flexibility of the extra screen real estate is something I use so often that it really would be a significant disruption to my everyday to go back to a slab.

Reliability is a reasonable concern, but the benefits far outweigh the potential risks for me. If you're breaking phones all the time, they probably aren't a good fit for you. I don't bring my phone to beach so maybe I'm more careful than the average user - regardless, I guess that's why I have a smartwatch.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

I typically buy last generation refurbished. I was able to get the Samsung Galaxy s22 Ultra for sub $800. The last generation Fold is still over $1000. I need the cool-factor to calm down so the old ones are cheaper.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

I'm a fan of small phones and as such been waiting for the fold-tech to lead to smaller devices.

Therefore the Razr+ (40 Ultra) and the Flip5 are the first phones to raise my interest since I got my Pixel 5.

I really like the way Moto implemented the external Display but the Flip seems to win in almost any other category.

After reading/watching a lot of reviews I came to the conclusion that (for now) I'll still be better off with a Galaxy S23. Maybe next year...

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this post was submitted on 06 Aug 2023
177 points (89.3% liked)

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