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Hands-On With Google's Pixel Fold Smartphone
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I’ve never owned one, but I check them out in stores all the time. Why have I never owned one? Because I have zero desire to own an Android phone, plus when I’ve checked them out they look fragile and gimmicky. I don’t like the OS and the build quality, so I’m very satisfied with iPhones and iOS. I use an iPad Air 4 for my consumption needs and I like that it doesn’t fold. If Apple ever releases a foldable iPhone I’m sure it will be very nice for those that are interested, but I won’t be buying one.
I’m not sure how well any of this will work going forward. Moronic EU bureaucrats appear to think that they should be the arbiters of product design for private companies. Now that they’ve mandated USB C compatability, they’re looking at requiring user swappable batteries.
When this tech finally matures, it's going to be great to have an iPhone and an iPad in the same device.
I would recommend getting your hands on a Pixel Fold demo unit at least. I think you will change your mind about them being fragile, at the very least. Not trying to sway you of course. Also, when was the last time you used an Android phone for a significant amount of time?
When was the last time you used an Google or Samsung Android phone for any significant amount of time? Android 12 and 13 have been more stable than iOS was on my 12 PM. iOS has gone downhill significantly over the past 3-4 years. 4 or 5+ years ago, Android was unusable garbage. Times have changed.
I looked at a smaller phone in the Spectrum (cable) store some time back. It was a display model so it had obviously been flexed many times, simulating months of usage. The fold line was pretty obvious. OTOH, if I really wanted the folding feature I could easily live with it.
Based on the video it is not that much thicker if at ll thicker than say the iPhone in a thicker case like the otterbox commuter case.
For me personally I find the iPhone no case a little 2 thin to use hence why I toss mine into a case so quickly.
Now for me my biggest issue with the foldable phone is more I would be so worried about breaking them as there is no way to easily protect them.
Foldable... nope, I still can't see a good reason why a tablet device should have foldable screen.
Android... nope... not even considering that.
Android... nope... not even considering that.
The current iPhone and iPad are very much rollable too... mine has rolled off the couch many times.😄
Phone insurance. Really, they're not that breakable, I don't even buy insurance for them.
I purchased one and absolutely loved it but Android Auto is what absolutely killed it for me. Now if Android 14 fixes this issue I would be so happy. Essentially when using YT Music or Music when choosing an artist it only shuffles songs from that artist, it doesn't show you the albums of that artist like on CarPlay. It also only allowed me to choose artists up to the letter Q I believe it was but everything after that was grayed out even though in the app on the phone it showed artists all the way to Z. It was even worse with albums, it only let me choose up to letter F. I tested this all while parked. I really don't understand Google sometimes.
Everyone in here complaining about the cost being too high.
Apple is the reason that phones cost $1,000+ nowadays.
When Apple launches their own foldable, it’s going to be priced similarly and everyone that’s upset* right now, will be standing in line for it.
Apple is the reason that phones cost $1,000+ nowadays.
When Apple launches their own foldable, it’s going to be priced similarly and everyone that’s upset* right now, will be standing in line for it.
Dude! Stop bragging about your cool phone! Just kidding.
I used to want Apple to make their own foldable, but instead of re-explaining myself, I'll just repost this:
We have very different opinions on Android Auto, I love it, but I don't use it to listen to music, so that's probably why. CarPlay was just too unstable for me, and not as many functions.
Haha, my bad! Honestly though, the screen breaks are a very small number of the overall phones that ship. Things happen and I agree there is progress to be made. However, they are far more durable now than they were a few years ago, so that is a plus!Dude! Stop bragging about your cool phone! Just kidding.
I used to want Apple to make their own foldable, but instead of re-explaining myself, I'll just repost this:
Wait what? Seems like not much phone use for a long work day. I would think you’d use the phone more as someone interested in this. Not a criticism just seems like an odd number.
Bold statement.
I agree with the sentiment but just like the first generation iPhone I expect hardware issues that still need to be worked out. I don’t trust Google with hardware. I don’t want to trust Google with anything. Most recently I was burned by Google Domains. I don’t trust their attention span nor their control over their hardware partners’ quality control. It’s just experience.
I get it and Apple continues to baffle me with some of their decisions and lack of attention to iPhone features in particular. Android phones are better phones but the unreliability of all the providers including and especially Google continues to concern me. I would like to see Apple nail something like this, but just like the Vision Pro I think the hardware is only barely there right now.
Let’s see the Scroll from Earth: Final Conflict. Now that’s a form factor.
I can get 7 to 8 hours of screen time if I have a power user type of day, but that's few and far between. That's not with any crazy battery saver settings or anything either. I got around 6.5 to 7 hours of screen time using my Z Fold 4. I typically use my phone between 1.5 and 2 hours a day during the week. Longer on the weekends depending on what I have going on. The Steve Jobs statement is bold and not something I ever use lightly. You really have to hold one to understand. Demo units suck for this because they are always tethered down, but it's better than not taking it for a spin at all. I am also not a fan of Google, but my experience with their phones has been good thus far. I have a Pixel 7 as a backup as well. The iPhone is a great phone, don't get me wrong. I just think it would be nice for people to have a foldable option from Apple.
I wouldn’t say it’s happiness. I would say it’s productivity and the ecosystem providing further levels of productivity along with much faster SoCs which equate to better business. I probably make $150k extra per year thanks to my iPhone. Now if I got used to Android it may cut into that some, but I can type and navigate about 4x faster on iOS. It just works better.
Really? You enjoy the crease in the screen? I can’t stand using a screen protector. I can’t imagine using a current foldable phone. Now, once Apple improves it and it truly feels like glass without a crease, sure! Glad to have the ability to have an iPad in my pocket. Especially with the iPadOS advantages over Android on tablets. Most foldables don’t seem to display properly when I have tried them in the stores. Any random app and it’s like it doesn’t know what to do.
What about cases / protectors? The only people I see using a "naked" smartphone are fictitious people on drama series on Max and Apple TV+. In the real world we drop these things and have accidents. I'm curious to see case options that protect without getting in the way of the new era of usability.
Th
The crease doesn't bother me at all. It disappears when viewing the inner display. Kind of like how the notch on an iPhone disappears. I'd prefer there to be no crease of course, but it being some sort of eyesore is something overblown by people who don't own and use foldables. I also remove the inner screen protector so it is actually ultra thin glass I am touching. Never had a scratch on the inner screen yet and I've now owned 3 foldables and 1 flip.