Remember when there was no Android or iPhone on the market, and most phone models looked the same? We mean Nokia 3310 times when each screen had buttons right below it. Well, it didn’t take very long when users got bored with the same device concept. Mobile device manufacturers began to change their products visual and functional appearance. Some appeared on the market with a slide-out keyboard, and others became foldable, like women’s make-up mirrors with an additional external screen. But that’s not all, because later there were also side-folding models and when it seemed that everyone had seen everything. But the final surprise was the Samsung P400 transformer with a screen that can be turned to the other side and fits back to the body. There are more examples, but you probably already understand what question we are getting at. Does fashion repeat itself? It seems so, as we once again became familiar with foldable and rollable phones.
How long did it took for a changes to begin
10 years for smartphone users was enough to switch from smaller to larger screens in the same rectangular body. Through all that time, only the housing dimensions and internal components have changed. And depending on the price, devices included better or worse technical specification components, which purpose was and is always the same. When consumers began to mutter “another ordinary-looking smartphone”, it was a clear indication for manufacturers to make radical changes.
The phone market is ruthless, and there is only one rule: “Be first to be the smartest.” And going through unpaved paths is always a big challenge. It’s the same with new technology, which needs to be well-crafted and work reliably as all the casual components in the phone. That’s where all kinds of experiments began to take part. Most of them are doomed right from the start due to a concept that did not catch on among users. Others simply did not become as popular as the manufacturer expected. We have a few examples that we have already introduced: LG Wing with rotatable screen and roll-out screen OPPO X model.
Doubtful elements of cost
It goes without saying that it costs a lot of money to develop a new technology that can be safely launched into mass production. And here we come to another no less important criterion – the price of the new smartphone for the end user.
Anyone who’s interested in new mobile devices already knows all the basics about foldable and rollable phones. In this category pricing starts from ~1500$ if we talk about foldable devices. However, there’s also a cheaper class called flippable smartphones, where prices starts at ~1100$.
Tech enthusiast will say “Shut up and take my money! I can finally convert my display to a bigger one thanks to foldable and rollable phones.”
Being as crazy about phones as we are, we admit that you can hardly argue with this fact. However, there are facts each advanced user or tech enthusiast should be familiar with and we’ll try to explain them in a way that everyone will understand there’s basically no point to pay four-figure sums for.
3 most important things to notice
- Technological specifications.
Have you compared technical specfications of casual design mobile device with a fold or flip style smartphone? If not, it might be worth it. Only then it’ll become clear that a smartphone like the Galaxy S22 Ultra is ~500$ cheaper than the Galaxy Fold 4. And if you are aiming for the technical specification advantage, such as a better camera with more zoom, or a longer-lasting and significantly faster-charging battery, these should be sufficient indicators. - Practicality.
Apart from those moments when you will be able to walk in front of your friends or colleagues by unfolding your screen to a bigger one, think about how often you will unfold it.
If you are gaming a lot, then foldable display innovation will serve you well and really make you happy. But if you are a business-minded and busy father, you’lll probably only use the external main screen 80% of the time and open the inside main display only before going to bed for a more convenient scrolling experience.
By the way, have you ever tried carrying it in your pocket? It should fit well or feel so comfortable after a while. Foldable devices weigh 40 grams more and with these dimensions, it feels like you just squeeze 2 phones into the pocket. - Price.
We have already mentioned that you can save almost half a thousand $ just by not succumbing to the advertising provocation, which aims to push expensive technology to the market in every possible way. But if this is not an indicator, then remember that a friend with a casual-looking Galaxy S22 Ultra will take better quality photos, which he will later send you so that you can compare how better those photo looks on your folding screen.
So what do you suggest?
Don’t be a victim of advertising, wait and watch how trends establish themself.
At least those who think a little more broadly understand that the technological development of mobile devices has been at a standstill for a decade. During that time, we only improved the same functionality – a longer-lasting battery, a photo camera that captures a better photos, and a screen that has higher resolution and more Hz. Besides, now the budget class phones are getting close to flagship devices in terms of their capabilities. Even if we compare them to foldable and rollable phones.
Keep in mind that in the very near future, we won’t be carrying any phone either in our pockets or in our hands. Have you heard about e-SIM? Well, you won’t even have to put that piece of plastic with a chip anywhere inside the device.
Smart watches are taking over more and more functions from phones. The latest smart watches already comes with e-SIM feature. Everything seems to be fine, but there are several inconveniences. Using smartwatch you cannot browse the internet because of extremely small display and there is no privacy in conversations when sound goes through the speaker.
The OPPO company already has an answer how to increase screen size using rollable display.. And it is obvious that rollable display technology has more potential than unfoldable. Earbuds which became more like ear accessories that lets ambient sound pass through, are already the answer to the question how we can maintain the privacy of conversations without having a smartphone.
What’s your ideas about future of folding and fliiping displays?
Share your insights in the comments.
