Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Samsung still hasn’t given us a good reason to buy a foldable phone

theverge.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 21 posts

Re: Samsung still hasn’t given us a good reason to buy a foldable phone

#11

Post by poulsbohemian »

Dedicated Apple user here...I was in a Verizon store a few weeks ago and encountered one of these foldable phones. Was super impressed with the hardware. Really neat to have a device that functioned either as a palm-sized phone or could be folded out for a tablet-like experience. Lots to like! But, for users like myself it's not just about the hardware, it's also about the overall experience. If it isn't iOS and/or fits into our household tech stack, it's a non-starter.

There might be a secondary thing going on here too... I've had multiple tablets over the years. In theory I could use one as my everyday device. In theory I could take one with me in the field daily and it would be useful. In practice though, my current iPad is sitting somewhere collecting dust because a large-screen iPhone is "good enough" for those times I might otherwise pull out the tablet in a business setting, and when I'm doing "real work" I'm on my laptop anyway.

Re: Samsung still hasn’t given us a good reason to buy a foldable phone

#12

Post by bdcravens »

CrimpCity wrote: post #5

Actually I like having a smaller phone in my pocket instead of a brick so I for one will be looking at foldable phones once I am back on the cell phone market.

While I think thinner isn't always the best option, I think the foldables are a bit too thick.

Re: Samsung still hasn’t given us a good reason to buy a foldable phone

#13

Post by nullsmack »

I wish they would stop this. I do not ever want a foldable phone. That's just a part to break in a year or two and force you to buy a whole new phone. I had a sliding phone in the past that broke in normal use and the buttons on one side became impossible to register. It's bad enough that the phones are designed so that you can't easily replace batteries and such now.

Re: Samsung still hasn’t given us a good reason to buy a foldable phone

#14

Post by joshstrange »

poulsbohemian wrote: post #11

Dedicated Apple user here...I was in a Verizon store a few weeks ago and encountered one of these foldable phones. Was super impressed with the hardware. Really neat to have a device that functioned either as a palm-sized phone or could be folded out for a tablet-like experience. Lots to like! But, for users like myself it's not just about the hardware, it's also about the overall experience. If it isn't iOS and/or f…

I agree completely. I used to have an iPad mini nearby but once the phones got bigger I didn't really need it anymore and, like you said, if I'm actually going to do real work I'm moving to my MBP.

Apple has a long history of not necessarily being the first to use a new tech but the first to do it right/well. Of course there are examples of them failing/stumbling (Homepod comes to mind among others) but I'm very much looking forward to their "take" on a folding device. Right now it feels a little gimmicky and there is a potentially that we simply leapfrog that tech and use something better (AR?).

Re: Samsung still hasn’t given us a good reason to buy a foldable phone

#15

Post by cercatrova »

poulsbohemian wrote: post #11

Dedicated Apple user here...I was in a Verizon store a few weeks ago and encountered one of these foldable phones. Was super impressed with the hardware. Really neat to have a device that functioned either as a palm-sized phone or could be folded out for a tablet-like experience. Lots to like! But, for users like myself it's not just about the hardware, it's also about the overall experience. If it isn't iOS and/or f…

Interesting. For me, a device being iOS based is a non-starter, I just can't handle the limitations of the operating system.

Re: Samsung still hasn’t given us a good reason to buy a foldable phone

#16

Post by brokenmachine »

ddingus wrote: post #2

I miss my Note 4. Had lots of sensors, plastic enclosure, removable battery... Great phone, very robust, fast, did not need to be handled delicately. Then they made the enclosures glass. Now I have to handle a phone delicately and with considerable care. It's slippery! Wants to slide and hit the floor! Next move? Get rid of the headphone jack! After that? No SD card. After that? No removable SIM. Now, it folds? None…

Also rounded screens.

Just makes the edges distorted and the screen much easier to scratch.

Re: Samsung still hasn’t given us a good reason to buy a foldable phone

#17

Post by brokenmachine »

mimsee wrote: post #3
ddingus wrote: post #2

I miss my Note 4. Had lots of sensors, plastic enclosure, removable battery... Great phone, very robust, fast, did not need to be handled delicately. Then they made the enclosures glass. Now I have to handle a phone delicately and with considerable care. It's slippery! Wants to slide and hit the floor! Next move? Get rid of the headphone jack! After that? No SD card. After that? No removable SIM. Now, it folds? None…

There's Samsung Xcover Pro. Plastic back, 3.5 headphone jack, SD card, removable battery, dual sim.

I mean, 4Gb ram and IPS screen.

Why can't I pay more and get a flagship with everything? You pay more and get more features missing.

All they sell is flagshits.

Re: Samsung still hasn’t given us a good reason to buy a foldable phone

#18

Post by brokenmachine »

sfjailbird wrote: post #4

Happy with the Flip 3. It is small in the pocket. I can check messages and new emails without unfolding. I can even do NFC payments while it's folded up. Besides that, I can stand it on my desk with the screen towards me, which is very convenient when doing things on a computer and the phone simultaneously (like 2FA authentication). Can't think of any downsides to a standard phone really.

I think the wavy reflections and distortion along the fold would trigger my OCD.

Re: Samsung still hasn’t given us a good reason to buy a foldable phone

#19

Post by ddingus »

brokenmachine wrote: post #16
ddingus wrote: post #2

I miss my Note 4. Had lots of sensors, plastic enclosure, removable battery... Great phone, very robust, fast, did not need to be handled delicately. Then they made the enclosures glass. Now I have to handle a phone delicately and with considerable care. It's slippery! Wants to slide and hit the floor! Next move? Get rid of the headphone jack! After that? No SD card. After that? No removable SIM. Now, it folds? None…

Also rounded screens. Just makes the edges distorted and the screen much easier to scratch.

Yes, though I must say I got used to the edges. Don't really notice.

Scratches and the difficulty of solid cases is made harder. Screen films tend to peel up and collect grime and dirt.

Re: Samsung still hasn’t given us a good reason to buy a foldable phone

#20

Post by brokenmachine »

ddingus wrote: post #19
brokenmachine wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Also rounded screens. Just makes the edges distorted and the screen much easier to scratch.

Yes, though I must say I got used to the edges. Don't really notice. Scratches and the difficulty of solid cases is made harder. Screen films tend to peel up and collect grime and dirt.

I'm mostly used to it too, but it's still worse in every way than a flat screen. Why???
Post reply on HN