Robert Triggs/Android Authority
However, I have to be honest: As soon as I finished using the Galaxy Z Fold 4, I put it back into storage. Despite it being the best example of a foldable phone, I still don’t want to use it on a daily basis. I’ve come to the conclusion that, for now, I have no interest in foldable phones. Even when I have one for free, I’d rather not use it, to say the least about actually spending my money on one.
Assuming Pitchfork isn’t out yet, let me explain my reasons.
Foldable phones solve problems that I don’t have
Ryan Haines/Android Authority
Although there are many unique things that foldable phones can do, at their core they allow users to have compact devices that get bigger. In the case of phones with a writing style, such as the Galaxy Z Fold 4, you get a phone that can become a small tablet. With clamshell-style phones, like the Galaxy Z Flip 4, you get a standard-sized phone that folds up much smaller.
This flexibility solves a problem I simply don’t have. My current daily driver is the Google Pixel 7 Pro, and it’s already too big for me. On a typical day, there’s no point where I wish I had a screen larger than the 6.7-inch screen I already have in my pocket. Likewise, despite its size, the Pixel 7 Pro fits nicely in my pocket, which makes the idea of a device that folds in half to be smaller (but thicker) less appealing.
Foldable phones appeal to certain types of people. I am not one of those people.
I understand that there are people who want that flexibility. A business person who is always on the go might love that they can be folded book style to look at spreadsheets. Having more screen space can be a real blessing for them. Video editors, social media producers, and even truckers can also use all that extra space for editing, multiple app layouts, and map apps, respectively. However, I do not belong to any of these categories.
As a writer, any time I feel like I need more screen space, I will inevitably need a full-size physical keyboard. This need can only be met with a laptop or similar product, at least for now.
When I see a foldable clamshell, I see a device that adds an extra step before it becomes the phone I want.
Elsewhere, scalloped-style folds have no purpose in my life. I can see some women really like it because clothes and accessories designed for females often have no pockets or limited carrying space. Social media influencers may love them for their ability to easily support selfies and group photos. Again, I do not belong to any of these categories. When I see a foldable clamshell, I see a device that adds an extra step before it becomes the phone I want.
I can get through all of this if foldable phones are as good as “normal” phones in every other respect. Unfortunately, this is not the case.
There are still a lot of sacrifices with pleats
Chris Carlon/Android Authority
With every new smartphone release, I look for three main things: better battery life, better durability, and lower prices. Foldable phones, by design, forbid all three of those things (at least for now).
The battery will have less space than a foldable battery, thanks to the hinge. A foldable screen will inevitably be less durable than a solid panel of tempered glass. Thanks to all the extra components and R&D investments, foldable phones are more expensive than phones with similar specs and hardware. Barring any revolutionary developments in design, foldable devices will always be inferior to established phones in the areas I care most about.
I’m not willing to sacrifice battery life, durability, and value just to own a foldable phone.
Another thing I would like is for phones to be more compact. I’d like to see the power and components of the Google Pixel 7 Pro shrink into the Pixel 7 chassis. This is my dream phone. I know what you’re thinking: This collapsible clamshell should solve that. However, I don’t want the bulk when the phone is folded. I want this compact design when I use it in its full unfolded state. I also don’t want a phone that’s twice as thick when I fold it. Obviously, I also don’t want to deal with the battery life, durability, and price sacrifices, to say nothing of the Galaxy Z Flip 4’s camera spec shortcomings.
I know the scalloped folds are getting bigger, and the lid screens are getting stronger. OPPO Find N2 Flip Cover Screen is an excellent example. In theory, this should allow me to use most of the phone’s features without having to unlock it. In my experience, this is not the case. Yes, I can quickly check notifications and the time, or even perform simple tasks, like taking a selfie. If I want to do anything else, I will need to disclose it. I can’t imagine writing long text on a clamshell screen. Even doing this on the Galaxy Z Fold 4 cover screen is uncomfortable due to its thickness and heft.
TL; The DR of this is that there are aspects inherent to foldable phones that make me uninterested in them. To earn my money, a foldable device would not only need to overcome these issues, but also offer something more to beat a slate phone. And I still haven’t seen that killer feature either.
Where is this folding “killer” feature?
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
Despite everything I’ve said so far, foldable phones are really useful in certain situations. Using two (or more) apps simultaneously on a foldable screen — especially the Galaxy Z Fold 4’s large inner screen — is far better than anything a slate-style phone can offer. Opening the foldable halfway and mounting it on a table for group selfies is something most conventional phones can’t do without a special case or accessory.
Versatility with games is also much better on foldable devices. Nintendo DS or 3DS emulation is a very obvious advantage that foldables have. The Galaxy Z Fold 4’s large screen gives more room for onscreen controls, and the Galaxy Z Flip 4’s adjustable hinge can make it easier to see your game in sunny environments. And if you’re using a Bluetooth game controller, seeing your game in all its continued glory on Galaxy Z Fold 4’s massive screen might be worth the price of admission alone.
Foldable devices need an iPhone moment.
Despite these advantages, nothing I have listed here is something I cannot reproduce or closely copy using a slate phone. Plus, nothing here is so important or life-altering that I’ll say to myself, “Okay, now I am.” Need Foldable phone.
When I talked about this with my colleagues, the inevitable question was, “Well, what is this killer feature?” Unfortunately, I don’t know. If I did, I’d be working for Samsung and leading their foldable division. I say that jokingly, but in all seriousness, I don’t think Samsung even knows what a killer feature the foldable is. It certainly didn’t get that in any of its marketing. I also have yet to see anything that is a real game changer out in the wild.
Basically, foldable phones need their own iPhone moment. Until then, they’ll just be a fad to me.
Foldable phones aren’t for me, but I’m glad they’re here
Robert Triggs/Android Authority
I like to think of folds in a similar way as I think of experimental cinema. I love that filmmakers are experimenting with new technologies, pushing the medium, and doing things we might have thought impossible just years ago. However, as happy as I am that they did, I generally don’t want to see experimental cinema. It’s hard to find, slow paced, and sometimes downright boring.
Foldable phones sit in the same field for me. I really like having them. If Samsung gets its way, foldable devices could be the future, and the fact that we can get a taste of that future right now is exciting. The imminent release of the Google Pixel Fold will make the category even more interesting. But that doesn’t mean I actually want to own one of these devices.
I’m also very excited about more competition entering this space. The results will be universally good for consumers. We will have more choices, lower prices, and faster innovation. Not only will this make phones better, but it will make them more accessible to people who can’t afford to spend more than $1,000.
I will fully admit that five or ten years from now, I might look at this article and shake my head. Maybe I don’t think about the future enough to understand why folds are so out of the ordinary. Perhaps foldable phones offer something truly visionary that I simply can’t see. But today, I am happy with my old boring phone.
Do you want to buy a foldable phone?
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