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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Bring back physical keyboards!
Yes, that would be great
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.
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.
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
Why the f would I want an unblockable front camera though, I hate that idea
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…
I didn’t say folding phones are a gimmick, I said they’re fragile and bad value propositions.
