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Soft plastic and moving parts are terrible. The wear of it‘s material is something Apple will not implement (this way).
Maybe there will be an alternative to the actual foldable design without it‘s flaws when Apple might release a „foldable“ design.
I think Microsoft was playing around with glass panels that slid into each other... or at least very close to each other, a few years ago. Looked nice...

let me google this for me...


holy fire of water it's currently being produced.
 
1700 for a freaking phone.

1) Phone value gives exponentially diminishing returns after ~500 (when considering the used/old model market), so this is clearly trying to appeal to the "a fool and his money are soon parted" type.

2) What problems does this solve that previous phones struggled with? From my buyer's perspective, none.

3) It cannot be used for Home Office virtual desktops that need Windows or Mac machines.

4) It is yet another missed opportunity to re-introduce a physical keyboard onto a phone.

Show me a phone that can run fully-fledged Windows, or Mac, that can output its video to an ultrawide monitor over USB C and accept a mouse/keyboard off of that docking hub, and you've got something actually worth spending that kind of money on.

I will save my 1700 until that day comes. For now, my 300€ iPhone Xs is doing fine for a phone, and my 900€ laptop is doing fine for a workstation.
 
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You must be fun at parties. 🥰
We aren't at a party though, it's a discussion forum ;)
Do you think I really think it’s because of the name?
Well, you tell me, that is what you wrote. I'm no mind reader. Perhaps if you state what you actually mean opposed to talking in riddles or changing your position when challenged, communication would improve.
 
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Wow. Someone older than me. The starTAC name is familliar, but no, I don't remember it. Had to look it up.
Michael Fisher did a good video on it:

Perfect example of "you had to be there." This thing was HUGE when it was released. It was everywhere. On TV. Celebrities had it. It was given to sports figures. It was basically the Windows 95 on phone releases. Probably the first time a cell phone had a name that people would remember. And paved the way for the RAZR and other phones. But it really got the flip phone craze going.
 
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I don't know what it will take for foldable to take off, but the stars don't seem to have been aligning for them thus far.
Apple to make one. Which they will and then most of the people here who say foldables are dumb and stupid will buy one.

Most people who go from the iPhone to a foldable right now are more likely interested in switching ecosystems as opposed to a form factor.
 
Apple to make one. Which they will and then most of the people here who say foldables are dumb and stupid will buy one.

Most people who go from the iPhone to a foldable right now are more likely interested in switching ecosystems as opposed to a form factor.
I really don't see Apple releasing a folding smartphone at this point, not least after they have already announced the vision pro. That seems to be where the bulk of their attention and resources will be prioritised from next year onwards and this appears to be a conscious bet that Apple is making. That wearables represent the future for them, not foldables.
 
I really don't see Apple releasing a folding smartphone at this point
I do. My prediction is it will come out in 2-3 years. Then it will become the dominant form factor by the end of the decade. Somewhat akin to how the iPhone X was proof-of-concept, and its form became standard by iPhone 12 or so, about 3-4 years later.
 
Apple to make one. Which they will and then most of the people here who say foldables are dumb and stupid will buy one.

Most people who go from the iPhone to a foldable right now are more likely interested in switching ecosystems as opposed to a form factor.

You’ve also got to respect that not everybody is going to change their mind even if Apple brings one out. We didn’t rush out and buy AirPods Max’s just because Apple made them and price dictates popularity along we need.

What is the main reason for a foldable iPhone? So an iPhone can turn into an iPad? Great if you need that, but I have an iPad for a very specific purpose, and that is using it at home. I don’t carry it with me because I never need a big screen when I’m going about my daily business. I hope Apple release a foldable, much like it’s good they will release an AR headset, but don’t assume every Apple customer buys every Apple product, we don’t.
 
What is the main reason for a foldable iPhone? So an iPhone can turn into an iPad? Great if you need that, but I have an iPad for a very specific purpose, and that is using it at home. I don’t carry it with me because I never need a big screen when I’m going about my daily business.
See I'm the exact opposite there. I would like to get a smaller phone than the Pro Max I have now, that then has the option to unfold into something larger, akin to an iPad mini. Best of both worlds. Something smaller overall, but larger when I want it. I've never cared for tablets so I've not bought an iPad (proving my hypocrisy here). It's why I like foldables and think they will become more dominant as time goes on. It's also why I really liked the Kyocera Echo, at least in theory, less so in execution.
 
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I think Microsoft was playing around with glass panels that slid into each other... or at least very close to each other, a few years ago. Looked nice...

let me google this for me...


holy fire of water it's currently being produced.

The Surface Duo is a better alternative to soft plastic screens, which wear and look bad at some point.
But it still has the hinge moving part and the screens are not seamless together.

I guess Apple might solve this the Apple way. I can imagine an iPhone Pro/Ultra (?) which bundles with new "Apple glasses" (like the Rayban glasses :cool:) which magnify the monolithic iPhone's screen to e.g. 2x and trick the eyes with additional info-items outside the screen in visible sight.

Would sell another Apple item 🤑 and push VR glasses to the masses.

:cool:
 
See I'm the exact opposite there. I would like to get a smaller phone than the Pro Max I have now, that then has the option to unfold into something larger, akin to an iPad mini. Best of both worlds. Something smaller overall, but larger when I want it. I've never cared for tablets so I've not bought an iPad (proving my hypocrisy here). It's why I like foldables and think they will become more dominant as time goes on. It's also why I really liked the Kyocera Echo, at least in theory, less so in execution.

I don’t have any need for that sort of device and want a solid phone that has the least risk of breaking as I drop my iPhone a lot. I can’t think of a single time where I’ve wished I had a folding iPhone during the day and as long as Apple continue to offer solid single piece iPhones, that will be my phone of choice. If foldables become the norm, i’ll avoid them as long as possible. Phones are already becoming ridiculously expensive and introducing moving parts is a recipe for funding the scam that is AppleCare IMO. Not for me.
 
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The day Apple releases their own folding iPhone...

marzbarz: OMG! Placing my order for one right now.
I was going to post the same thing, though it would of been that stupid Futurama "shut up and take my money" meme. This site is always the same, some people cannot bring themselves to like anything other than an Apple product.
 
Not sure where you got that idea from. Noobdy said maintain the same size. I said not too thick.
How much would you accept? Let’s say 50% thicker than the current iPhones would be OK (which is pretty bulky). For that they would already have to shave off 25% of the current thickness. That’s a lot. If they could do that, they‘d do it now. And imagine the camera bump. :)
 
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I was going to post the same thing, though it would of been that stupid Futurama "shut up and take my money" meme. This site is always the same, some people cannot bring themselves to like anything other than an Apple product.
Are you sure that it’s the same people that have complained previously? Chances are that you are only assuming that.
Also, one of Apple‘s strong points is correcting significant flaws of prior products of the same category, making them viable for the first time.
 
Oh, OnePlus, on of these brands that seem to have enrolled in the trendy school of 'Unethical Excellence.' Why on earth wouldn't I rush to embrace one of the devices of a company that has this impressive ability to turn scandals into their daily workout routine? The country in which they created their company ? The practices they are surrounded with and the laws they are tied to ?

But if you're feeling adventurous and want to explore their rather colorful history, here's a link to an article that documents their escapades.

Read more here: https://www.howtogeek.com/340174/its-time-to-stop-buying-phones-from-oneplus/

The other companies you ask ? ;)
 
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Would love to effectively replace my iPhone and iPad with a foldable. One less device to carry, charge, keep in sync and ultimately replace. But then again I’m a minimalist.

This is perfect to unfold when used in the car for navigation. Or on an airplane/public transport for watching movies, or note-taking in a meeting, and so on.

I think this is a great concept, but I doubt we’ll see anything like this from Apple in a long time. They don’t appear to like the idea of letting consumers do more with less - I.e. no 2-in-1 laptops/tablet, no iMac that can double as an external screen, no iPad that can run macOS, et.c.

I‘m sure this is great for shareholders like myself, but I do think Apple is falling behind by sticking to their old principles. Le’s hope I’m wrong and the rumored iPhone/iPad foldable comes to market soon.
 
They don’t appear to like the idea of letting consumers do more with less - I.e. no 2-in-1 laptops/tablet, no iMac that can double as an external screen, no iPad that can run macOS, et.c.
Apple is about allowing each form factor to be the best version of itself. ie: the smartphone is the best smartphone, the tablet is the best tablet, the laptop is the best laptop etc. Strip away anything and everything deemed superfluous to the essence of each form factor (which is why you don't have folding phones, touchscreen laptops or tablets running desktop software), no compromises by having to accommodate additional design considerations.
 
I will bite.

Apple users were wrong. Once.
They weren’t wrong about a minor detail, they were wrong about the literal form-factor, and they will be wrong about this form-factor as well. Now that’s not to say that once Apple releases one, and Apple wont release a transformable whether its folding or sliding until screen durability issues have been solved to the point that AppleCare+ will still be profitable, everyone is going to buy one, but Apple users will accept the form-factor as a valid option just like fans of the iPhone Mini accept the ProMax as a valid option even though they wouldn’t buy it.

Some people were also wrong about iPads being useless because they were just large iPhones.
 
I remember how 3.5" was the perfect size for a phone, and anything bigger was bad. But then when the iPhone 5 came out, 4" was the perfect size for a phone, and anything bigger was bad.
I remember that when iPhone users said that, they were comparing the iPhone against larger phones like the Galaxy Note so it was never 3.5” is better than 4” until he iPhone was 4”. They weren’t wrong mind you as the iPhone Mini, which is only a quarter inch taller than the 5, has superior one handed use than even the iPhone 15 but people have accepted the tradeoffs, and ProMax fans have accepted two-handed use, because larger phones are superior for browsing, internet tasks, video watching, games, etc.

Just like how specs never matter on smartphones unless iPhone has the best specs, then specs are critically important.
Specs still aren’t critically important because you can get flagship android phones with more RAM, similarly powerful CPUs, and better cameras (arguably the spec most people care about) than even the ProMax. So then and now the experience matters more than raw specs.
 
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We read yesterday how Apple's relationship with China was a likely factor in the cancellation of Jon Stewart's show. I'm not sure anymore how buying Apple instead of OnePlus is really making much of a difference.



I'm 55, and very intrigued by this phone. The fragility of the internal screen is far less important when you consider it is encased in a clamshell when not in use. 100% of the damage on my iPhones (3, 4s, 6, Xr, 13) has been a result of contact with something else in my pocket. I suspect this is true for most people who haven't dropped their phones or gotten them wet.
I remember using a Compaq iPaq back when they first came out and they had a plastic coated screen, made for touch and stylus input. Loved using it for a couple of months, then the screen started taking on indents and scratches and ultimately became unusable. I would say that just because a folding device closes the internal screen it’s not sealing it from dust, sand, or other detritus from getting in there, nor is it going to do anything for just normal touch damage. The ultra thin glass is not like the slab glass you find on non-folding devices.
 
It's been what? 3-4 years since Samsung started trying to make folding smartphones a thing?
5 years. It doesn't sell as well as an iPhone yet, but it's definitely a thing. Now just about every manufacturer makes folding phones except for Apple.
 
Apple is about allowing each form factor to be the best version of itself. ie: the smartphone is the best smartphone, the tablet is the best tablet, the laptop is the best laptop etc. Strip away anything and everything deemed superfluous to the essence of each form factor (which is why you don't have folding phones, touchscreen laptops or tablets running desktop software), no compromises by having to accommodate additional design considerations.

No, todays Apple is about marketing and packaging. They aren’t trying to make the best of anything, they are trying to make the most profitable in each category and making something ”best” would get in the way of that. Why do you think barely anything new have come up in the last years? There are plenty of new things they could do that would benefit consumers it‘s just that the technology is still too expensive and would eat into their huge margins.

Apple spent loads of money convincing people that they “wait until they can do it right” when in fact they wait until they can do it cheap enough, at least when it comes to their high volume products. We didn’t have to wait ages to get 120 Hz iPhones because Apple was the only manufacturer that couldn’t figure out how to fit it in the phones, they just had to wait until even $250 phones could afford to have them included before it made sense to their margins.
 
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