Report: Apple is testing foldable iPhones, having the same problems as everyone else::Don't expect these clamshell-style foldables in 2024 or 2025 or maybe ever.

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[–] 113 points 2 years ago (3 children)

Apple already made a folding phone. It was called the iphone 6.

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  • [–] 45 points 2 years ago (12 children)

    Why don't we get back to smaller smartphones like a decadr ago?

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  • [–] 27 points 2 years ago (3 children)

    Same reason you can't buy a new small pickup truck. They don't make them because the mass market isn't there

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  • [–] 12 points 2 years ago*

    If you ignore screen size (which people erroneously use as a metric for phone size, since it's an easily findable and easy to understand number) and instead look at actual phone dimensions, most phones now aren't actually dissimilar. Bezels have shrunk a lot.

    • Galaxy S24, Jan 2024: 147mm x 70.6mm

    • Galaxy S5, Feb 2014: 142mm x 72.5mm

    S24 frontal area = 10,378mm²

    S5 frontal area = 10,153mm²

    The S24 is only 2% larger than its decade-old equivalent. Not something you'd even notice.

    If you include the thickness of the device, then the S24 is actually 4% smaller than its decade old equivalent.

    Now sure, there were smaller phones, especially if you go further back, like an iPhone 3G genuinely would be considered tiny now.

    It's just worth noting that phones aren't actually growing each year anymore like people say they are, and they haven't for a while. Bezels shrinking is a huge change in design for TVs, monitors, laptops, phones.

    People are just hearing things like "6.3 inch screen" and they think "wow, my old phone only had a 4.5 inch screen. This phone must be so much larger!"

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    [–] 44 points 2 years ago (14 children)

    I personally don't care I don't want a foldable phone ( my last job gave me a Flip 3 and it was a terrible experience) I'd rather phone with a removable battery than with a foldable screen.

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  • [–] 7 points 2 years ago

    Removable batteries for sure, but I spent 20 years waiting for the clamshell design to make a comeback and I love my Flip (4). Phones need to fit in pockets and have a decent sized screen.

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  • [–] 5 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Doubt it will ever get back to how it was with how easily they could be removed but there may be steps towards it https://www.euronews.com/green/2023/06/22/new-eu-law-to-force-smartphone-makers-to-build-easily-replaceable-batteries

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    [–] 43 points 2 years ago (8 children)

    I can't wait for Apple to announce in a key note they've revolutionised the phone market again with the world's first folding phone.

    Those apple boys are so talented 😊.

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  • [–] 59 points 2 years ago (4 children)

    Did you say folding phone? Ew

    I think you'll find it's the new iPhone 17 with dynamic flex technology and that Tim Cook will repeatedly say on stage that this has "never been done before".

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    [–] 42 points 2 years ago (16 children)

    Did anyone ask for folding phones?

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  • [–] 43 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    For the love of god, yes. About half the time, I want a phone. The other I want a tablet. A foldable phone similar to the galaxy fold is exactly what I want.

    But I’m locked into the Apple ecosystem for multiple reasons. And no, “just get two devices” isn’t that great an option. I don’t use them at the same time, why not just have them be the same device? Also helps with the fact that I might want to go back and forth between something in both modes.

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  • [–] 10 points 2 years ago

    Well, I just got the S24 Ultra and it's darnn near tablet size. This dwarfs my previous Note. I'm just happy to finally have a flagship Samsung with a flat screen. Rounded screens suck.

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  • [–] 32 points 2 years ago (3 children)
  • [–] 14 points 2 years ago (23 children)

    the problems:

    1. they’re crap
    2. they break easily because they’re crap
    3. they’re expensive and have a high cost of ownership because they’re crap
    4. NOBODY FUCKING WANTS THEM

    so, why is this happening?

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  • [–] 47 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    Personally, I love fold phones. They give me portability and a big screen which are the two things I most want in a phone

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  • [–] 28 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Yeah I totally believe that they break easily and are way too expensive. But that applies to any cutting edge product ever. Assuming the flaws can be engineered out, the fundamental benefit of having a large screen on a small/portable phone is definitely a killer feature.

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  • [–] 14 points 2 years ago

    I've had my fold3 for over 2 years and I absolutely love it. I don't think I can go back to a bar-phone now. Also, even if you really don't like folding phones, why fight creativity? Before this phones were getting so boring and completely lacking innovation. They still are in the non-folding market. Even if you don't like them, choice is never a bad thing.

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    [–] 6 points 2 years ago* (7 children)

    The only improvement I care about is bringing back physical buttons. Touch screens suck ass. I don’t give a fuck about cameras. I don’t give a fuck about folding bullshit. All I want is an interface that doesn’t blow dick. Apple is garbage along with the rest of them. Clueless fucking morons.

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    [–] 4 points 2 years ago (3 children)

    Only folding phone I’ll accept is a Surface Duo type setup. Don’t fold the panel itself, just have a different panel.

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