Other Foldable phone

[Analog Kid]

Apple isn't going to shank it's iPad and iPhone sales for a foldable that caters to a market segment the size of the iPhone Mini. And in my opinion, that's the size of the crowd that wants foldables.

Yep, this is the reason.

iPhone mini was a disaster, older iphone models, iPhone SE outsold the mini.

Hey now, disaster seems a bit harsh. *pats pocket to console faithful mini*

In truth, most other phone makers would have loved to have iPhone Mini volumes. For Apple, though, it just wasn't doing anything to grow their appeal or value proposition so it got wacked. Poor thing...



If a foldable doesn't bring in new money, or more money from the same customers, then it's just not worth it. Especially if it's not a product they can be proud of. I'm not sure what the future holds for AVP, but whether it succeeds or fails in the market, it's a remarkable product. Phones coming back with scratched plastic screens and pictures of iPhones with creased screens and broken hinges are just bad for the brand.

 

[Bungaree.Chubbins]

I had a chance to try out Samsung’s folding phones again yesterday. Even if I did want a folding phone, they aren’t it. The crease alone is a dealbreaker, as is the awful hinge feeling. They feel so fragile.

Apple has had folding phones in R&D since before anyone put them on the market, but they’ve never released one. I don’t think they will until they’ve had a material breakthrough to eliminate the crease, and dramatically improve the robustness.

 

[Chuckeee]

And even with a cellular BTO, it's still a huge compromise to use that as a "phone."

Have you observed how many people use their phone as a “phone”? It seems very rare to see someone holding a mobile phone up to their ear. People seem to use either wireless headset (e.g; AirPod) or speakers. I don’t think Using a phablet (folding or not) as a “phone” is much of an issue anymore. Not my preference but it seems that is the direction the marketplace is heading

 

[eyoungren]

Have you observed how many people use their phone as a “phone”? It seems very rare to see someone holding a mobile phone up to their ear. People seem to use either wireless headset (e.g; AirPod) or speakers. I don’t think Using a phablet (folding or not) as a “phone” is much of an issue anymore. Not my preference but it seems that is the direction the marketplace is heading

My wife far exceeds me and my two kids for phone calls and phone usage each month. She can easily spend an hour or more talking to her sister. Now, at some point she developed a habit of using headphones (because she watches a lot of YouTube), but I have had to gently remind her that modern headsets have mics and do not require her to speak in to the bottom of her phone.

But that aside, she's a teacher and the nature of her profession requires her to call parents. But school is not an environment where a headset is appropriate (for teachers) so her phone is held to her ear. I still do that, except when I expect a conversation to take some time away from work. Only then, am I using a headset.

I suppose that proves your point generally, I just wanted to mention that there are still people holding their phone to their ears.

 

[Chuckeee]

My wife far exceeds me and my two kids for phone calls and phone usage each month. She can easily spend an hour or more talking to her sister. Now, at some point she developed a habit of using headphones (because she watches a lot of YouTube), but I have had to gently remind her that modern headsets have mics and do not require her to speak in to the bottom of her phone.

But that aside, she's a teacher and the nature of her profession requires her to call parents. But school is not an environment where a headset is appropriate (for teachers) so her phone is held to her ear. I still do that, except when I expect a conversation to take some time away from work. Only then, am I using a headset.

I suppose that proves your point generally, I just wanted to mention that there are still people holding their phone to their ears.

No argument that some people still use a mobile phone by holding it up to their ear. That is the way I use it. But I find myself in a distinct minority.

 

[dcp10]

The OP asked why Apple doesn’t make a foldable phone, the answer likely is that they consider a niche product where sales wouldn’t scale to the to the numbers that Apple is used to for iPhone.

Foldables exist primary due to the fact that smart phones have reached their optimized design so only the smallest of incremental changes are possible. Some manufacturers are addicted to the sweet, sweet dollars regular updates provide so they need something different. That and the ability to point to it as something Apple doesn’t; offer.

I think Apple would want to answer two questions before bringing one to market. 1, What does it do better than the current offerings, and 2. What problems does it solve? Foldables are without a doubt really cool, but that only goes so far in getting people part with close to $2000.

Personally, I don’t see the benefit. I take my 15 Pro out of my pocket and it’s ready to do all functions. I don’t have to take any time to open it, As far as I know none on market can be snapped open with one hand,A two handed phone is a deal breaker for me, Even if I can do everything with the external display I’d find myself asking why I paid such a premium if I’m not going to open it nearly every time I use the phone.

Apple can operate from a position of strength and do not need to chase every fad. Reports have said they’re focused on a foldable Pad which makes much more sense. A form factor similar to to a MacBook with the ability to open to something like a 22” screen seems like a better proposition to be successful IMO

This is of course just my own opinion. Many may disagree and a foldable phone fills a need for them. It's fantastic we have options to meet so many peoples needs

 

[RSmith2023]

Wonder why, with all of the forward thinking innovation, Apple is so far behind (years actually) in the production of a phone like the Galaxy Z. Were I not such an Apple addict, and like the integration of my devices, I would seriously think of switching. Nothing like this from Apple until 2026!

Honestly, I think foldable phones (like EV batteries) area long ways off from being ready.

I have had every version of both the Fold & Flip phones from Samsung since their 1st release (device testing at work) and they simply aren't worth it to me. Yes, the Fold will get you a larger screen but it's twice as thick when closed, unbelievably heavy and the place where the screen folds, although better than the initial releases, still leaves much to be desired.

Still a long way off in my book. Apple should leave this "niche" area alone. They will waste untold amounts of development resources and capital, only to deliver a product relatively few will embrace. Folding phones are a money pit right now.

 

[RSmith2023]

Also the new Pixel Pro Fold:

Never buy into the marketing photos. While the Pixel Fold is a bit thinner than the Samsung Z-Fold, it still suffers that crease in the middle that only gets more pronounced as you use it over time.

 

[Bungaree.Chubbins]

Apple has been working with folding screens since 2016:

LG Said to Supply Apple With Foldable Displays for Future iPhones

LG's display division is developing and will start mass-producing foldable displays for smartphones in 2018, and supply them to Apple, Google,...

www.macrumors.com

Clearly they aren't satisfied with the end results, or they would have released something over the last 8 years!

 

[seek3r]

throwing on the phone very fine dirt/sand and opening/closing the hinge back and forth is not a normal scenario either.

You neither live near a beach nor spend much time outside I guess?

 

[seek3r]

Apple has been working with folding screens since 2016:

LG Said to Supply Apple With Foldable Displays for Future iPhones

LG's display division is developing and will start mass-producing foldable displays for smartphones in 2018, and supply them to Apple, Google,...

www.macrumors.com

Clearly they aren't satisfied with the end results, or they would have released something over the last 8 years!

Apple tends to wait to enter markets until they have something that meets a very high level of refinement over current options. Doesnt always mean that it’s successful but that’s what they do. They’ll release a foldable when they, uh, iron out the kinks

 

[blairh]

Wonder why, with all of the forward thinking innovation, Apple is so far behind (years actually) in the production of a phone like the Galaxy Z. Were I not such an Apple addict, and like the integration of my devices, I would seriously think of switching. Nothing like this from Apple until 2026!

Too many concessions still. (No dust protection, the crease, sensitive inner screens.)

I believe we will see folding iPhones in 2026. At that point hopefully the flaws I mentioned will be gone.

 

[Neofox]

What money?

Apple isn't going to shank it's iPad and iPhone sales for a foldable that caters to a market segment the size of the iPhone Mini. And in my opinion, that's the size of the crowd that wants foldables.

You're all very vocal about what you want, so is the group who wants a new iPhone Mini. But that has not apparently translated into enough sales for Apple.

Except that if you look at the phone market you will see that for everyone « small phones » don’t sell. You will have an extremely hard time finding a phone less than 6".
But foldable do. And the market share grows every year, especially in the Chinese market that apple is having a hard time right now.

And I don’t worry about the foldable phone eating into iPad sell. Apple is well known to make sure the iPad doesn’t eat MacBook shares for example.

 

[Neofox]

I think Apple would want to answer two questions before bringing one to market. 1, What does it do better than the current offerings, and 2. What problems does it solve? Foldables are without a doubt really cool, but that only goes so far in getting people part with close to $2000

I’m curious about what would be the answers to those questions about the Vision Pro

 

[AlexESP]

Apple want you to spend $1200 on an iPhone 15 Pro and a further $800 on an iPad Pro. This gives them double the market for accessory upsell.

From a business point of view it makes no sense for them to even build a foldable iPhone nor one that can output a desktop to a display.

A foldable iPhone would be nothing like an iPad Pro competitor. The resulting surface area (when using a Max sized iPhone) would be close* to an iPad mini.

 

[bushman4]

If Apple was going to put out a foldable or flip we would have seen it already
Unfortunately the problem seems to be the glass Samsung is on its 6th version and you can still see the bend
Huwaie just put out a double foldable in China let’s see how good that one is

 

[Ctrlos]

A foldable iPhone would be nothing like an iPad Pro competitor. The resulting surface area (when using a Max sized iPhone) would be close* to an iPad mini.

But they’d still rather sell you two devices

 

[seek3r]

But they’d still rather sell you two devices

Eh, the price they’ll likely sell their first foldable is likely to be as much as a candybar phone + ipad mini so I’m not so sure in this case

 

[Ctrlos]

Eh, the price they’ll likely sell their first foldable is likely to be as much as a candybar phone + ipad mini so I’m not so sure in this case

The point is that Apple won’t release a foldable because they’d rather sell you two devices with double the upsell and accessory opportunities.

 

[Jumpthesnark]

Wonder why, with all of the forward thinking innovation, Apple is so far behind (years actually) in the production of a phone like the Galaxy Z. Were I not such an Apple addict, and like the integration of my devices, I would seriously think of switching. Nothing like this from Apple until 2026!

The entire premise of this thread is that Apple is "behind" by not having a foldable iPhone.

The ability to fold isn't a required next step in phone evolution that Apple is missing the boat on. It's a feature that some phones have and others (most others) don't. As Apple tries to design and market their devices by focusing on other features (quality of software and hardware, integration with other devices, materials used, etc.) we often see them skip the gimmicks that other manufacturers use to attract attention to their devices. Like folding, coming with a stylus, dual selfie cameras, etc. Apple doesn't do those either.

 

[fw85]

The entire premise of this thread is that Apple is "behind" by not having a foldable iPhone.

The ability to fold isn't a required next step in phone evolution that Apple is missing the boat on. It's a feature that some phones have and others (most others) don't. As Apple tries to design and market their devices by focusing on other features (quality of software and hardware, integration with other devices, materials used, etc.) we often see them skip the gimmicks that other manufacturers use to attract attention to their devices. Like folding, coming with a stylus, dual selfie cameras, etc. Apple doesn't do those either.

Folding phones - brought and predominantly marketed to us by... the very people that tried real hard to convince us that 3D TVs were the definite future not long ago 🙃

 

[snipr125]

The entire premise of this thread is that Apple is "behind" by not having a foldable iPhone.

The ability to fold isn't a required next step in phone evolution that Apple is missing the boat on. It's a feature that some phones have and others (most others) don't. As Apple tries to design and market their devices by focusing on other features (quality of software and hardware, integration with other devices, materials used, etc.) we often see them skip the gimmicks that other manufacturers use to attract attention to their devices. Like folding, coming with a stylus, dual selfie cameras, etc. Apple doesn't do those either.

I think the OP is also referring to 'innovation' and how the other tech companies are at least trying to innovate smartphone design beyond the obsolete candy bar we have had for decades. Apple appear to be playing it safe by milking the slab design and by extension this can be seen as 'boring' by the tech industry and potentially even Investors. Whether foldables is the answer is subjective of course, but there is no question that foldables offer greater productivity and media consumption solutions, and can actually utilise the immense power these new SoCs currently have than the candy bar design.

 

[toobravetosave]

apple doesnt take risks or innovate

once they can basically purchase the mature tech from samsung they will “design” the apple foldable

 

[kc9hzn]

You neither live near a beach nor spend much time outside I guess?

Not to mention that pocket grit’s a thing!

 

[Jumpthesnark]

I think the OP is also referring to 'innovation' and how the other tech companies are at least trying to innovate smartphone design beyond the obsolete candy bar we have had for decades. Apple appear to be playing it safe by milking the slab design and by extension this can be seen as 'boring' by the tech industry and potentially even Investors. Whether foldables is the answer is subjective of course, but there is no question that foldables offer greater productivity and media consumption solutions, and can actually utilise the immense power these new SoCs currently have than the candy bar design.

If the iPhone form factor is "obsolete," then it seems odd that all phone manufacturers are still using it. I guess consumers like "obsolete" design, when it's simple and it works.