The first foldable smartphone went on sale back in 2019, the Galaxy Fold. Of course, even before the Fold, similar solutions appeared on the market, including from Sony, but it was with the Fold that we were presented with a phone with a real flexible screen. And all would be fine, but the device was estimated at 160 thousand rubles in Russia, which, of course, is a lot compared to ordinary phones. Of course, the new Z Flip costs 120 thousand, but even this amount is too high for many, including Americans.
People don't want foldable smartphones
The problem is that modern folding devices are too expensive to manufacture due to the complexity of the design. If you look at how the Motorola Razr works, it becomes clear why it is priced at $ 1,500. It is much easier for a manufacturer to produce conventional devices than to suffer at this stage with the design of a foldable phone. A new form factor is always a big investment in designing and testing a device, because it is not completely clear how optimal this or that design will be. In addition, with the arrival of such a form factor, problems arise with dust getting into the hinge, which entails difficulties in its operation and possible failure in the future. That's why foldable phones are so expensive.
82% are not ready to buy a foldable smartphone
According to the latest survey of Americans from PCMag, in which more than 11 thousand people took part, 82% are not yet ready to buy a foldable phone, 16% have not yet decided and only 2% are ready to become the owners of such a device. 27% of people in the 2% of people who agreed to buy a foldable phone are people aged 45-54. And this is quite logical, because, as a rule, these are well-to-do people who can afford a device for that kind of money, this age, in my opinion, is the peak of a person's security.
Age of people who are willing to buy a folding device
Advantages of folding devices
Compactness, large screen, improved performance, modern software and the ability to stand out from the crowd are noted as the main advantages of foldable phones. Meanwhile, many have concerns about some issues. For example, 25% of respondents are worried about the durability of the hinge, 24% believe that the phone's battery will drain faster, 18% think that the screen will not stand up and break at one point, 16% believe that the screen at the place of the fold will eventually come out out of service.
Concerns about folding devices
It is also interesting that 47% of those participating in the survey consider such a form factor to be necessary for the market, and 53%, on the contrary, is completely unnecessary. Thus, we can come to some conclusions.
conclusions
Folding devices are indeed controversial at this stage, even without considering their cost. Only 53% of respondents consider such a form factor useful and necessary for the market, and this is not so much. Most likely, people are simply not used to such phones and are not yet ready to leave their comfort zone.
At the same time, 82% are not ready to buy a foldable phone because it is too expensive. 44% consider a price tag of less than $ 600 to be optimal. And at the same time, even if the price seems adequate to many, I doubt that everyone will run to buy folding devices. Many people simply do not need them. For example, if you take the Galaxy Z Flip, the device when folded has a body thickness of more than 17 millimeters, and here it turns out quite controversial – on the one hand the phone is compact, and on the other, thick. And in this case, it will bulge out of the pocket very much if, for example, jeans are tight around the waist.
In addition, the foldable phone needs to be opened every time you try to interact with it. And now imagine that we will spend 2-3 seconds of time to open the device. For a year of use, we will simply get tired of constantly opening and closing the phone. So, foldable devices also have certain disadvantages, and many will find a really ordinary form factor more convenient.
It is interesting to know what you think about this. Share your opinion in the comments and do not forget to read our news in Yandex Zen.