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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

#191

Post by fg137 »

indymike wrote: post #189
rf15 wrote: post #25

> trapped in a shape everyone else seems to be moving on from. Really not sure if we were ever there. Foldable phones still feel like a novelty that is expensive and fragile, among other tradeoffs. Also moving on to what, exactly? The regular slate form factor is what people buy, and have been for years at this point.

> Foldable phones still feel like a novelty that is expensive and fragile, among other tradeoffs. I've had a Moto Razr Pro for three years now. No signs of wearing out and it's taken quite a bit of abuse. The only tradeoff is probably water resistance and the crease in the screen (which you get used to but is a trade-off). The positive: same size a a wallet when folded, outer screen makes checking notifications fast,…

> it's taken quite a bit of abuse

I guess you are not nearly as bad at handling phones like I do -- sometimes I drop the phone three times a day.

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

#192

Post by shawabawa3 »

whywhywhywhy wrote: post #170
rf15 wrote: post #25

> trapped in a shape everyone else seems to be moving on from. Really not sure if we were ever there. Foldable phones still feel like a novelty that is expensive and fragile, among other tradeoffs. Also moving on to what, exactly? The regular slate form factor is what people buy, and have been for years at this point.

This article is extremely poorly written and has the assumption we all very deep in folding phone lore and can read the writers mind. I think there's some new folding phone aspect ratio ("passport sized"?) that's more popular but the article never really explains which one they're talking about. Don't think it means moving away from folding in general.

Also this line is very weird:

> That’s enough to mean the 11 Pro Fold still feels like a smart purchase right now, but I’m worried it won’t do for long.

How long are these phone's purchasable windows? like 12 months max?

So it's still a "smart purchase" now, despite being out of date? So maybe it's not out of date yet? But will be soon, like literally every other phone?

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

#193

Post by nelsonic »

usui wrote: post #186
mettamage wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm a fan of the iPhone Mini as well. It turns out though, I'm a bigger fan of USB-C.

You don't have to choose one over the other https://obsoless.com/products/iph0n3-usb-c-protection-case

Very cool lightning->USB-C case. Does the internal lightning connector last well or does it die after a few months?

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

#194

Post by kotaKat »

weavie wrote: post #154
rootsudo wrote: post #40

Who is paying $1900 for not an iPhone? $1900? Wow wth

I think a lot of people pay their phones off with a contract over several years. Signing up for a new phone contract, you start looking at a $600 phone. Thats $25 a month plus $15 for your calls and data, so $40 a month. Then you see the next phone next to it thats only $1200, it's so much better, and you're only paying $65 a month for it. And then they flash this one in front of you, only $67 a month (just ignore th…

I wish we'd go back to subsidized 2-year contracts with one lower price upfront for the phone, the 2 year contract all-in price per month, and then walk away satisfied or walk off paying the $3-400 ETF.

Instead carriers played a funny game to uncouple the phone from the now month-to-month service contract (so they can keep changing the fees, prices, and plans on you with no recourse) but then couple the contract to terms of a 0% APR finance agreement that becomes immediately due in full when you cancel the month-to-month service agreement.

And now we're about to go to charging interest on those finance plans... because the phones are getting more expensive and carriers are starting to realize there's a lot of risk letting a family's worth of 4-6 phones upwards of a $10,000 transaction out the door in a single blink of an eye.

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

#195

Post by chocochunks »

indymike wrote: post #189
rf15 wrote: post #25

> trapped in a shape everyone else seems to be moving on from. Really not sure if we were ever there. Foldable phones still feel like a novelty that is expensive and fragile, among other tradeoffs. Also moving on to what, exactly? The regular slate form factor is what people buy, and have been for years at this point.

> Foldable phones still feel like a novelty that is expensive and fragile, among other tradeoffs. I've had a Moto Razr Pro for three years now. No signs of wearing out and it's taken quite a bit of abuse. The only tradeoff is probably water resistance and the crease in the screen (which you get used to but is a trade-off). The positive: same size a a wallet when folded, outer screen makes checking notifications fast,…

I had a Razr 2023. My inner screen's touch layer died out of the blue after ~1 year and a few months which essentially broke the phone (it has a very small and limited outer screen). It was otherwise pristine too, no visible damage or anything. From what I read it's not that uncommon either. Still gambled on a Samsung Flip because I like the form factor but I am worried about durability. I'm generally pretty gentle with devices and never had a screen break or anything of that nature.

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

#196

Post by Infinitesimus »

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

I have one and love it. In the early foldable days (7 or so years ago), manufacturers tried that form factor and eventually abandoned it because of other compromises.

Even MS tried with the surface duo but the device sucked in other ways. Now is a good time to revisit with advances in battery, thinness and heat management. I'd bet that's why Apple is finally doing it too to remain relevant in the massive Asian markets. Nailing the software makes it a fantastic device

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

#197

Post by jeroenhd »

fg137 wrote: post #190
rf15 wrote: post #25

> trapped in a shape everyone else seems to be moving on from. Really not sure if we were ever there. Foldable phones still feel like a novelty that is expensive and fragile, among other tradeoffs. Also moving on to what, exactly? The regular slate form factor is what people buy, and have been for years at this point.

It's the Verge. They want you to think everyone is following the trend, when most of the world don't care about foldable phones at all.

I think there are plenty of people like me who would like to try one, but don't feel like spending multiple months of rent on the privilege of doing so.

I'm holding off for the coming while with the current RAM prices keeping phones incredibly expensive, but in five or six years when my current phone goes EOL I hope to see affordable options.

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

#198

Post by ifwinterco »

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 used to think I preferred a smaller phone until I upgrade from an SE3 to an iPhone 17.

It’s not even that much bigger, less than the screen size suggests because of the end-to-end screen and taller aspect ratio. And that extra screen area is extremely useful.

Would be nice if it was smaller in my pocket, but it’s already not an issue to carry

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

#199

Post by ghotli »

drunkonvinyl wrote: post #188

With Graphene and Termux, I use my Fold 10 as a cyberdeck with a foldable BT keyboard. It’s amazing how focused that experience can be. More portable than a MacBook Air. I didn’t look at it as a phone getting bigger, but a laptop getting smaller.

What foldable BT keyboard do you use? Last time I tried something like this that was the weakest link with what was available on the market at the time.

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

#200

Post by macNchz »

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 broke my 12 Mini, replaced it with a 17, then went so far as to return the 17 and buy a used 13 Mini.

It was totally annoying to me to not be able to operate the phone with one hand without feeling like I was about to drop it. I kept the 17 for most of the return window thinking I’d get used to it, but I just kept finding more situations where it bothered me. Battery life on the mini is not amazing, but a slim magsafe powerbank makes it largely a non-issue.

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