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Pixel 11 Pro Fold feels like the end of an era

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Re: Pixel 11 Pro Fold feels like the end of an era

#141

Post by Orphis »

user43928 wrote: post #117
princevegeta89 wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Folding phones aren't going away; they're becoming more mainstream. The initial versions of folding phones that came out five or six years ago had issues and some aspects that weren't addressed. But we are literally in the sixth or seventh generation of folding phones, and Samsung has basically perfected them. If you think the durability is bad, think again, because they are very, very durable. I use a Z Fold 6, and…

I can believe this for Samsung, but Google's hardware is as crappy as one would expect. I had a Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and within half a year it developed some issue probably related to the sensor that tells it which screen should be turned on, and the screen would randomly stay black. At least Google replaced it with the newer generation model for free, which I then sold.

And mine is almost 2 years old and in great condition. It's hard to know what is responsible in those cases, a manufacturing defect or a rough user. And knowing what I've seen people do with their non-foldable phone, I'm not sure who to trust.

Re: Pixel 11 Pro Fold feels like the end of an era

#142

Post by user43928 »

ShinyLeftPad wrote: post #123
Archer6621 wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That might explain my naivety here, I've never really gotten into using tablets for anything.

I am a tablet user but crease is a non starter. However I know people who like foldables in different ways, like financial stuff, they don't care

For most, if not all users, the crease is not something one notices during regular use. You just forget it's there when you look at content.

That said, with the Pixel's enormous crease you feel it if you touch the middle of the screen.

Re: Pixel 11 Pro Fold feels like the end of an era

#143

Post by Orphis »

Archer6621 wrote: post #103

The crease makes it look cheap and fragile, like with many of the foldable phones. I'm curious what people need the huge screens for on phones? Is it mostly for watching videos?

Turns into a small tablet which is great for reading, for impromptu client demos, and for playing some games like puzzles.

It also enables multitasking by having applications side by side which can be very useful on a phone too.

You don't have to use it all the time, but it's nice when you need it.

Re: Pixel 11 Pro Fold feels like the end of an era

#144

Post by rock_artist »

mrheosuper wrote: post #113
harrouet wrote: post #104

I remain an irreductible fan of the one-hand theory, and therefore stick with an iPhone 13 mini. I might be late at the folding-phone revolution. Alas it seems we won't see any such phone that fits in a pant's pocket and that can be operated single-handedly. I am afraid that the 13 mini is the last of its kind. Yet many reports of people dropping their gigantic phones. Maybe that's a business model after all.

Samsung is testing the water with their new passport-size fold phone. Looklike enough people demanded for smaller size phone. Granted it is still considerably bigger than ip13mini, but it's step in right diretion

It's funny that at some point we'll have completely different tech and all those screens would look like old tech :)

Anyway, I have fiddled with it few times in stores.

* It feels nice form factor for holding. but the folded 'passport' screen still feels it's not yet caught by websites or apps.

* The claims are Apple is suspected of doing this form-factor (and as a display manufacturer I guess Samsung could sniff it...), meaning Samsung tried to be first. like the Galaxy Edge.

I guess the discussion over the form factor would be more valuable in a year or so after Apple drops their product. If enough actors has similar form factor, I'd expect designers to caught up with it.

Re: Pixel 11 Pro Fold feels like the end of an era

#145

Post by haburka »

hakimg wrote: post #135
eahm wrote: post #133

I think everyone lost their damn mind, possibly during Covid. New iPhones used to be $199 and when they went to $299 the decision was seriously questionable. Now they cost like a used car, everyone buys $1000+ iPhones without batting an eye, insane. This one is $2000, I wouldn't get it if I had a billion on principle.

The original iPhone cost $500 and adjusting for inflation that is about $800 today. I don't remember phones costing $300 since before the smart phone era. Even Walkman phones cost $500 in the early 2000's.

You do know the modern smartphone is the most technologically advanced consumer good that has ever existed? Like at no point in history has there ever been something so small, complex and intricate in the hands of so many people. The new iPhone is going to be very expensive - it’s a luxury item and marketed like that.

They can definitely make phones for $300 and you can buy a smartphone that is more powerful than the original iPhone for $50. It probably will be a bit slow running modern apps but it may possibly still be workable for a while.

Re: Pixel 11 Pro Fold feels like the end of an era

#146

Post by Orphis »

belinder wrote: post #8

I drop my phone a lot, I have a great case for it so not a scratch after 6 years. I am interested in getting the foldable but apparently the cases don't protect the hinge or let dirt get in? Anyone have experience with this? Maybe I'm not the right audience, too clumsy

I think the clumsiness can be improved. I always make a conscious effort when I grab my phone or put it away, so that is is always secure. No "I thought it slid into my pocket but apparently it was still outside it and then dropped". I would grab my phone with both hands in a lot of situations that are risky etc.

It's a bunch of small habits to change, then you may be ready for a fragile foldable. Until then, yes, probably not the target audience!

Re: Pixel 11 Pro Fold feels like the end of an era

#147

Post by Orphis »

forestrywat wrote: post #98

I cannot understand how people can tolerate the crease. It's so visible on every foldable. And it's simply not acceptable to my eyes.

It's not that noticeable when you use the device. It will depend on your ambient lights usually and how you hold it. It's a lot easier to see when someone else is holding the phone too, so if that was your reference, you may want to use them a bit more first.

Re: Pixel 11 Pro Fold feels like the end of an era

#148

Post by Orphis »

microtonal wrote: post #27
uberman wrote: post #3

like all folding phones it is just too expensive for me to justify.

For me the biggest issue, frequently hearing and reading about broken inner screens, is that it makes the screen a consumable, which socks.

You mostly hear about the bad ones. Mine has been doing great for almost 2 years now. I use it in a clean environment, I'm very careful and not clumsy, so that helps.

Re: Pixel 11 Pro Fold feels like the end of an era

#149

Post by chrismatheson »

harrouet wrote: post #104

I remain an irreductible fan of the one-hand theory, and therefore stick with an iPhone 13 mini. I might be late at the folding-phone revolution. Alas it seems we won't see any such phone that fits in a pant's pocket and that can be operated single-handedly. I am afraid that the 13 mini is the last of its kind. Yet many reports of people dropping their gigantic phones. Maybe that's a business model after all.

> I am afraid that the 13 mini is the last of its kind.

Yeah, I thought mine was great but just wasn't up to the job of running the latest & greatest. Ive switch to an iPhone Air. It was a reluctant switch and I would go back in a heartbeat if Apple released a smaller form factor with the latest internals.

Re: Pixel 11 Pro Fold feels like the end of an era

#150

Post by toasty228 »

oblio wrote: post #77
toasty228 wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's feels like 3d TVs and AR headsets, they're trying to find a new customer base to milk but it just isn't here

> Global foldable smartphone shipments have grown from roughly 2.8 million units in 2020 to an anticipated 20–25 million units in 2026. Foldables will slowly become the standard phones, probably over a decade or so.

20 million is a rounding error, 1.3 to 1.5 billion smartphones are sold per year every year since 2013.

I was in the heart of the VR revolution in 2015, they were predicting 150b+ market by 2020, it barely reached 20b... In 2025...

They're always hyping their new gadgets but at the end of the day people are just not buying these in any meaningful amount. They love to take the past 6 months performance and draw a straight line from there.

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