I'm still not sure I understand what problem the foldable display purports to solve.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Anyone else considering switching to Galaxy Fold?
- Thread starter cinnabun814
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I'll pass on a $2000 first gen Samsung. I like the concept and if it was a Google product I MIGHT bite.
At least someone is doing something different
At least someone is doing something different
Tablet sized workspace in a smartphone sized package. Seems pretty straightforward to me.
You still haven't said what the problem is though - just like Samsung you jumped straight to the solution. What is the problem?
I get that it's a large screen in a pocketable device. But it's a 7.3" 4:3 (ish) screen. That's not really a tablet sized workspace, it's just a wider phone-size workspace. The times I've been frustrated at my phone screen not being large enough, I've never thought "man I wish this screen was just as tall but wider." I think I would want it larger in both the x and y directions.
I guess the problem could be stated as: making a large screen device fit in a pocket or purse. But that still an imperfect because it again implies a solution "large screen" to an unknown problem. Is there some killer tablet app that is perfect for on-the-go tasks but only works with large screens? I don't know of any...
This is the problem with wanting a $2,000 Samsung device, this one coming out seems to solve some of the Fold's problems. No notch, folds flat.
The problem is, display sizes on phones have basically hit it's ceiling. They have increased the body, and decreased the bezels almost as much as possible, just below the undesirable level.
But users would still like bigger displays while still being pocketable. Most people don't carry their tablets everywhere they go, but the carry their phones.
Even when I had my Nexus 7 (2013) which had a 7 inch display and was pretty damn portable for a tablet. It was still not pocketable and wasn't something I wanted to take everywhere. Having a pocketable phone that folds out into a 7.3 inch display is definitely going in the right direction.
The Galaxy Fold isn't meant to replace a tablet. It's meant to evolve the smartphone into what users are doing. Netflix has stated half of their users also watch video on their phones. I would bet even a larger portion of Youtube users.
This is the problem with wanting a $2,000 Samsung device, this one coming out seems to solve some of the Fold's problems. No notch, folds flat.
Sad that the main display is still too small/narrow. When a folding display phone has a decent sized main display, then I will purchase.
The problem is we want bigger screens, but we have reached the limit of being able to put a very large screen phone in our pocket. It's really not that hard to figure out... Now sure this is first gen and will be rough around the edges but you wait and see how this idea evolves over the next 5 years. You will look back and wonder how you ever used a phone with just a 6" display.
And you an Apple person....Can he be converted? He hasn't turned into a Pod person has he (think invasion of the body snatchers).
Jesus still loves the Sammy people. Just need to pray harder for them poor souls.
I think a lot of folks are going to be shocked when they realize that a 7.3” display isn’t that big.
I'm sure anyone who is seriously considering a galaxy fold will look at one in store before they buy it. I agree 7.3" is not that big.
It's kinda bigger than you're thinking. The aspect ratio looks to be close to 3:2 or something, so it shouldn't actually be far off from an iPad Mini.
I can see the future potential, having a pocketable tablet is awesome.
As others have said, there's no way I'd go for a 1st generation scratch magnet.
If the screen were some special scratch resistant polymer, maybe.
I'd love to have no need for a standalone tablet.
As others have said, there's no way I'd go for a 1st generation scratch magnet.
If the screen were some special scratch resistant polymer, maybe.
I'd love to have no need for a standalone tablet.
It’s a bad smartphone and a subpar tablet. You can buy an iPhone, an iPad, and a bag to tote the iPad around for less than the $2000 you’ll spend on this silly devicf
A bad experience is a bad experience. This is two devices in one package and neither of them look very good.
Not to mention: Android apps are terrible for tablets
He's not wrong, though. Nor is he right. The Samsung Fold is fairly revolutionary, but it's not a refined product. No 1st gen product is. Look to the first two iterations of the iPhone. It wasn't very good. It was amazing at the time given what tech capabilities there was then. I'd look toward the 2nd or 3rd gen of the fold if purchasing. It'll be cheaper then and be better designed.
I have very little faith in competitors coming up with something because the reality is that Samsung is very good at what they do when it comes to screen tech among other things. At its price point, I'd much rather buy an S10+ 1TB model with a new iPad.
Last edited by a moderator:
I completely agree, and it's exactly what I said in my initial post. Would I buy one this year? No way!! In 2 years time once Samsung refine it, hell yeah!
That's what I thought he was referring to, but when I looked at it and the other guy's reply, I'm not sure why he chose to insult him just for stating valid points that even he agreed with. I'd prefer avoid infighting in here. Let the iPhone notchheads do it in the main forums. They'll eat each other alive if it means they're more of a true believer.
Very silly buy on such an unknown device, if anyone interested didn’t wait for reviews.
Despite the returns policy, you’d want to go in fully informed of its shortfalls before trialling it for the 14 days or whatever the return period is.
The Fold reminded me of my old beloved Nokia 9210 Communicator. Would love to own a 2-in-1 phone/tablet so I can just carry one device instead of two.
If the Fold comes with the Note version in the future, I'll bite. Here's hoping Samsung will annouce a "Note Fold" in their next Note event.
Mr
If the Fold comes with the Note version in the future, I'll bite. Here's hoping Samsung will annouce a "Note Fold" in their next Note event.
Mr
My thoughts exactly. The only thing missing in the Fold is the SPen, it will be damn near perfect with the SPen.
In actual fact, I would not be surprised if the Galaxy Note series evolves into Foldables, it makes perfect sense and would truly separate the Note series from the S series and would bring clear differentiation between the lines.
..... Now watch Samsung go and do Foldable S series and Note series devices and continue to confuse people.
I'm honestly intrigued by the Fold. I'd love to be able to carry around an iPad mini tucked in to my front pocket. Even the price doesn't scare me too terribly much if it can replace multiple devices. And Microsoft has committed to special versions of Office to make use of the screen real estate. So presuming they don't drop support instantly, it would a Grand Unification device for me.
There certainly are negatives though...
The small screen to case ratio of the front display is a little odd, and given its narrow aspect ratio, typing on it may be a chore.
It looks to be pretty much impossible to put a case on this thing, so I'd be afraid of dropping a $2000 caseless phone.
A Samsung S-Pen would increase the usefulness 10-fold for me (no pun intended), since I make constant use of either the Apple Pencil on my iPP or the Surface Pen for my Surface Book.
Perhaps I just have fantasies of a single device to rule them all, which of course nothing so far can live up to. But I have dreams of simplifying my life like this.
Maybe we'll see what the Note 10 has to offer.
There certainly are negatives though...
The small screen to case ratio of the front display is a little odd, and given its narrow aspect ratio, typing on it may be a chore.
It looks to be pretty much impossible to put a case on this thing, so I'd be afraid of dropping a $2000 caseless phone.
A Samsung S-Pen would increase the usefulness 10-fold for me (no pun intended), since I make constant use of either the Apple Pencil on my iPP or the Surface Pen for my Surface Book.
Perhaps I just have fantasies of a single device to rule them all, which of course nothing so far can live up to. But I have dreams of simplifying my life like this.
Maybe we'll see what the Note 10 has to offer.