Article for context:https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/12/23870522/iphone-15-pro-max-thread-smartphones (Ik that I am talking about multiple companies when I refer to android companies but many singular companies make more innovations in the phone space compared to apple)
I’d argue that all phone innovation has been pretty stagnant or even regressive lately. I think the only feature that’s been released by anyone lately that I’ve wanted my phone to have has been the magnet on the back to make mounts and wireless chargers less complicated. How it took these companies that long to put a magnet back there is beyond me. Then Apple “innovated” by removing the headphone jack so they could make more money selling wireless headphones after they bought Beats and for who knows what reason, all of the android phone makers eventually followed. I can see the use of a foldable screen, but I’m not buying one until it doesn’t add a permanent crease down the middle of my unfolded screen. If someone releases a privacy focused phone that’s not tied to Google with four years of guaranteed, timely updates, has a big enough screen with no notch, headphone jack, and magnet on the back they can have my money.
I could argue several reasons to avoid a folding phone. The crease isn’t one of them. Yes, I feel it while swiping across the screen, but it’s so unnoticeable while using the phone, it’s a non-issue.
- Fold owner
Mind elaborating on those reasons? I’m also a Fold owner and I love it more than any other phone I’ve ever owned. If there are cons that I’m missing, I’d like to know before I go buy another one of these in a year or two.
The Internal screen is fragile. It’s softer than finger nails, so need to be careful about it. The screen protector doesn’t last a year in most cases. The hinge can get debris in it that will start causing problems. It’s narrow, but it’s definitely a thick phone. It’s heavy too. Software is a hit or miss on what can handle the screen basically changing size and shape on it.
That being said, I can’t go back to using a normal phone. The large display is just too good to give up.
Lol these are all just hallmarks of Samsung well established reputation of quality, it is the shittiest company in that regard. They are innovative though!
Honestly, between my work phone which is a Pixel 6 Pro, and my Fold, Samsung is superior in both hardware and software.
I can see that for sure
I didn’t realize that. All the display models I’ve seen have been off and it’s very prevalent. I’d also question the durability of the hinge (but I guess it’s not much different than a flip phone) and how the OS is set up to handle it.
Oh for sure, turn off the display and the crease is right there. Now turn it back on, sure I can spot it still, but I’m looking for it. Start watching a YouTube video or use apps, you will forget it’s even there.
Nobody put anything on the back because of wireless charging.
The wireless magsafe charging works fine though.
As long as you avoid the charging coil, you’re fine. Magsafe is literally just Qi charging + magnetic ring.
Yup, I don’t know why it took them so long to add magnets.
Essentials Phone was a promising innovator. Wireless USB magnetic interface on back. They released a 360 camera and a digital anolog jack…then then bankrupcy
Why would I want a folding phone? I want my phone to be as rigid as possible.
Hiding the front cameras is the only real innovation I guess, but Oneplus managed it in 2019 with the 7 Pro so it’s not exactly a recent innovation.
Cause having a tablet in your pocket is awesome and comes in useful regularly
Being able to use your phone with multiple screen sizes and formats depending on what you’re doing.
Also: being able to put the phone at 90degs and use it as either a camera or flash light stand.
I’m carrying a tablet everywhere I go because I edit a lot of photos. A folding phone would save 400 grams in my sling
Ah maybe that makes sense in your use case then, yes. Personally I need a physical keyboard and a full feature OS so a laptop is unavoidable.
Why would I want a folding phone? I want my phone to be as rigid as possible.
Well, if rigidity is what’s holding you back, there are some devices out there that won’t disappoint . The prices are quite high though, but they’ve come a long way from their first iteration…
Oh it’s far from the only thing. I also prefer smaller and cheaper phones.
I own an iPhone 13 mini and love the form factor. I still remember when this phone would’ve been considered big.
Folding phones would make sense if I could fold/unfold them twice and get 4x the space with same aspect ratio, transforming a phone into a tablet. Otherwise it’s just a gimmick and waste of money. I know some people might praise these for multi-tasking but I can’t see myself doing two things at the same time on a freakin’ phone (maybe except reading a book in foreign language and using a dictionary at the same time which is what I do often) and I would rather grab a laptop for that.
I got a good deal on a Fold 4 and it’s been great. It’s literally a tablet in your pocket and with multi-window it’s about as capable as a PC for most tasks. Having such a large screen and 2-3 apps open at once is great whenever you’re trying to get anything done.
Before the Fold though, I also had the Oneplus 7 Pro and I think that phone still looks more modern than anything else I see out there today because of the uninterrupted notch-less display. If they didn’t give it up for a hole-punch on the 8 I would have probably stuck with them.
Screen real estate? Also see here.
I think he was pretty spot on, but didn’t touch on one of the most important issues. You have to be careful with the inner screen. Keep the nail tappers away, watch how you press to fold the phone, etc.
God I miss that phone so much. Was forced to upgrade when Sprint and T-Mobile merged. Been using a pixel since and it just isn’t the same.
My phone feels loved. And is still, unlike all apple devices my family’s used, fully functional and not in need of replacement.
Sent from my OnePlus 7 Pro
It’s only 4 years old. There are still plenty of people using 7 year old iphones
That said, the 7 Pro was cool and I loved it, till I realized I couldn’t use my bank app is I wanted a custom rom so I just gave it to my mom and got an iPhone because if I can’t tinker, I don’t want a platform that needs tinkering to get it just right lol
Oh, I don’t disagree that people can use their iPhones for a long time. (I used to be an iPhone user, too, but prefer android.) I was just comparing my family’s use (all are iPhone users - some rabidly so) and they’re constantly talking to me about issues with battery, charging, what have you, and seem to get a new phone every two years at minimum.
OnePlus 6 user says hello from LineageOS
Bring back physical keyboards!
yes please. I need that actual tacticle feedback, not just a stupid vibration whenever I touch something.
Yes, that would be great
My dream phone is iPhone hardware with ability to run whatever OS you want like Raspberry Pi.
This is all I want. I’ll settle for an iPhone when apple fully complies with EU regulations. Once they officially allow third party app stores I’ll be interested, and at that point I wouldn’t know the difference between the two
I would still want Android phones experimenting with strange features and would honestly take a device I could modify to add on those features but then I guess it can be coded like an accessory
Iphone does have some cool, closed garden things, eg, airtags.
Yes. Android has alternatives, none of which are nearly as good as airtags.
Defending a product by trying to upsell with accessories has got to be the most Apple thing
I’d think of defending its accessories as things like; lightning/USB-C to 3.5mm jacks… which android phones also have.
At this point, airtags are all but a product unto themselves, except that you need an iphone to use them. But they are an incredibly cool product, which I can’t use because I am not in the apple ecosystem (and haven’t been since shortly after Steve Jobs kicked the can).
I could also point out that including LIDAR in their phones is cool, and has opened up new features and functions within various apps. You could also say that Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via satellite are “Killer Features” too.
But with all that said, attacking people over their opinions is very much a fanboy thing to do.
Okay, in all honesty I’m not trying to be hostile, but I get why it seems like I am. You may want to rethink the “product unto themselves except that you need” sentence. That’s straight not how language works.
You should rethink how the “hostile” thing works, because that’s not how interpersonal relations work.
the frick? Why does a phone have LIDAR!?
I believe it was originally to do with focus, and applying “Shallow depth of field” effects, aka blurry backgrounds.
But now you can get cool features like, being able to scan things with your phone (for say 3d printing), but it’s far more accurate than anything else on the market.
Tile was around for years before “airtags”
Yes, but tile doesnt work on the mesh network of iPhones everywhere. If I lose my wallet on the bus, I can find that bus or the person who stole my wallet thanks to other people owning Apple phones reporting it to mine over the internet.
Tile has a mesh network, it just isn’t as big as Apples. It also isn’t enabled by default: you have to mark your tile as “lost” – which sidesteps the stalking issues airtags have.
Honestly, I doubted this, and looked it up.
Why do you think in only a few years AirTags have become so ubiquitous, while tile has had nearly a decade on them, and are so barely known?
That’s pretty easy, because they’re marketed by apple and support is built into all ios devices.
Whereas Tile is a third party company and had to hoist their network onto iphones.
It’s a common pattern in big tech and part of why it’s near impossible for any independent company to get anywhere in the industry
Android literally came out with a universal air tag system. Works the same as air tags, but you can go with any brand you want.
Plus the fact there’s more Android devices out there, it’s more useful.
And they backported the tracking feature in Google services, so old devices that don’t get updates anymore will be able to use the new system.
Really? Because the only ones I’ve seen have been based on the “Tile” system.
At last check: Requires everyone to have the system on the phone and turned on (Opt in vs opt out), and don’t have user replaceable batteries (manufactured ewaste).
And your implied claim that Android is an open system and lets any developers in while Apple do not is also false, for example: https://www.momax.net/en-us/products/br5
Yes, they announced it at Google IO. They also added the ability for your phone to automatically notify you if an air tag is following you.
https://www.androidauthority.com/android-find-my-device-network-upgrade-3323214/
Here’s one of the many products that you can buy, that automatically work with the new Android tracker system.
They aren’t out yet (so there’s no word on if they’re good or not), but pebblebee is making trackers that are rechargeable.
Not quite “user replaceable batteries”, but in my opinion it’s a better execution better than a purely disposable device – so long as the battery life isn’t garbage.
The chipolo has a replaceable battery.
oh yah when you put it like that, hidden underscreen cameras seems scary
Hidden as in you can’t see it, not hidden as in you don’t know it’s there. Everyone knows phones have front cameras. And if someone could get access to that, they could watch you just as easily through a not hidden front camera…
The obsession boring people have with thinking that someone is going to hack their webcam and record some sort of salacious content of them is astoundingly broad. To the point that very mundane people have web cam covers for their laptops or the little piece of post-it note taped over. Like people, no one gives enough of a shit about you that they will hack your camera and even if they did what are you doing that you care so much? If the answer is nothing then you are the last person that needs to worry about someone hacking a fucking webcam.
/rant
Why?
Why the f would I want an unblockable front camera though, I hate that idea
It’s “hidden” behind the screen, meaning there’s to hole or cutout in the screen for the front camera. It’s not perfect and you can still see where the camera is.
Folding phones are flimsy bits of plastic-screened crap that are just as expensive as two separate, better phone and tablet. And many apps barely work anyway.
Glyph interface is a pointless gimmick.
Under-screen cameras produce terrible images.
There are lots of reasons to hate Apple, but none of these are.
I mean I’m on my fold 5 right now while watching a YouTube video and responding to messages at the same time… doesn’t feel like a gimmack to me. In fact I kind of feel like it’s going to be hard to ever go back to a single form factor phone.
Tbh you can do that on a regular phone using a popup player on YouTube (I recommend NewPipe).
Now the true reason to be excited for fold phones is DS and 3DS emulation 🧐
Kind of, yeah. But the foldable gives a tablet experience that you just fold and put in your pocket. It’s epic.
Very true about 3DS…
Not to mention my wife’s flip cost less than my s23 uktra, and probably less than the s23 plus. It needs a new screen protector, but its held up against open and closed drops, including on concrete
The Flips also have a worse display, camera system, build quality, battery life, and just everything than either of those alternate Samsung phones.
Sure, Jan.
I didn’t say folding phones are a gimmick, I said they’re fragile and bad value propositions.
These weren’t presented as reasons to hate Apple.
