I recently wrote an article on why I don't want to buy a foldable smartphone. In it, I expressed all my doubts about this. Immediately after the article was published, my colleagues and I began to discuss its content. In general, everyone agreed with everything said, but for a while we argued anyway. Especially with Ivan Kuznetsov and Alexander Bogdanov. They just didn't know that my goal was not to criticize folding devices as a class. As for the advantages of technology, I would like to speak out separately, so as not to mix everything in one heap. Moreover, something is both a plus and a minus. Now that the controversy has subsided, I'm ready to calmly explain why your next smartphone should be foldable.
Despite the downsides, foldable smartphones have pros.
You can also find the previous article on our website and familiarize yourself with the disadvantages given in it. In short, the main ones are related to the peculiarities of technology and low distribution.
Pros of foldable smartphones
However, once again I want to give credit to the manufacturers who took the courage to try something new. And the fact that such smartphones have appeared is already at least arousing interest. You want to touch them and this is already a breakthrough against the background of what has happened in the last 10 years.
Foldable smartphone screen size
The main advantage of a foldable smartphone is the screen size. Some smartphones are now very small, but they fold into the usual format (Galaxy Z Flip, Motorola RAZR). Others, on the contrary, are folded like ordinary smartphones, but once they unfold, they turn almost into a tablet. These include Huawei Mate Xs and Samsung Galaxy Fold.
I am more interested in the second category, as it gives a large screen. It won't be convenient to watch movies on it because of the square shape of the screen itself, but everything else will work fine for it. You can even open two applications and work with them fully. On a classic smartphone screen, it's still fun.
The Galaxy Z Flip has a smaller screen, but thanks to the shape of the case, you can put it somewhere for taking photos or videos. So-so plus, but even Samsung itself spoke about it.
You can put your smartphone like this. And no tripod needed.
Dimensions of foldable smartphones
The second plus gradually comes out of the first. When we buy a smartphone, we want a big screen, but we don't want to drag our pocket out with a shovel. Only a foldable smartphone will allow you to combine a compact size with a large screen. Let the device be a little thicker than a monoblock analog, but for this it will be an advantageous compromise between the convenience of wearing and using.
According to this indicator, hardly anything can compare with folding smartphones. Considering that they, too, will become thinner, their prospects are brighter. Sooner or later, they can replace the devices we are used to today.
Is it convenient to take pictures on a folding smartphone
I remember how long at the ASUS presentation Zenfone 6 they talked about how the unfolding camera is very good. So you can take a selfie on the main module, and not on the stripped-down front. So the quality will be significantly better. We see a similar picture in the case of foldable smartphones.
Taking a selfie, the user sees himself on this small screen.
For example, by folding the Galaxy Z Flip or Huawei Mate Xs, you can shoot with the main camera and get beautiful pictures. You can even use all cameras, not just one module. You can control the process on an external screen that will face you.
How much does a foldable smartphone cost
In the last article, I talked about the fact that foldable smartphones are very expensive, despite the fact that they are inferior in performance to classic flagships. For example, the Galaxy Z Flip is almost a Galaxy S10e in hardware. But in the future, such universal gadgets will be able to make you refuse to buy a smartphone-tablet bundle. Thus, you will save on the second device. So the difference in price will be significantly less.
How to make your smartphone noticeable
Anyway, a foldable smartphone is still a gimmick. If you walk down the street and “break” your smartphone in half, it will definitely attract attention. If you want to buy something that sets you apart from the crowd, you definitely won't find anything better than a foldable smartphone.
You can do that, or you can 'just buy' a foldable smartphone. Attention is provided in both cases.
Am I ready to buy a foldable smartphone now
I'm not exactly ready to buy a foldable smartphone yet. They are interesting to me as a type of device, but I am not yet ready to switch to such a device completely. At one time at MWC 2019, I was among the journalists who were allowed to be the first to touch Huawei Mate X. To be honest, I was scared to do it. Just bending the smartphone is a very strange feeling.
It looks a bit like breaking neon glowing tubes. The light crunch and elasticity that accompanies it is not a test for the faint of heart. Of course, you will get used to it over time, but it seems to me that you will not believe in the strength of this structure for a long time.
It should be understood that folding screens have been developed for many years, but entered the wide market less than a year ago. But we already have 4 models on free sale. This suggests that the technology will develop further and over time, “clamshells” have every chance of becoming the main smartphones. In the end, not everyone believed in the first iPhone either. Let's see how it goes, but so far I would not buy it, despite the internal interest.