Honestly, it's just that it was what I thought it would be. It was really cool but not something I can justify for $2000. It'll be a game changer for some, but I think I'd rather have a tablet and phone combo. But my interest is peaked. If they can drop the price a little, get 3rd party app makers to write apps that take advantage of the hardware, and improve some durability it'll be amazing. Still, as is, it's already an amazing device. I just don't think it's worth $2k for me personally.
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Phones Samsung Z Fold 2
- Thread starter The Game 161
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Honestly, it's just that it was what I thought it would be. It was really cool but not something I can justify for $2000. It'll be a game changer for some, but I think I'd rather have a tablet and phone combo. But my interest is peaked. If they can drop the price a little, get 3rd party app makers to write apps that take advantage of the hardware, and improve some durability it'll be amazing. Still, as is, it's already an amazing device. I just don't think it's worth $2k for me personally.
Dont think you can unless you use a 3rd party like Nova launcher
I'm torn, if I can use this 2 handed it's absolutely amazing. If I can set it down on a table or prop it up it's amazing. But using it closed all I can think about is my iphone 11 max, maybe it's just a matter of getting used to it. I initially thought the narrowness of it closed would be an advantage, but now I feel that it really needs to be wider. Maybe not as wide as the 11 max, but wider than it is now. I wonder how in the hell did you Fold 1 users ever get by with that tiny screen?!?
OK let me go play with my Galaxy Watch 3 which just got dropped off!
OK let me go play with my Galaxy Watch 3 which just got dropped off!
This reads more as longing for the iPhone experience than disliking the Fold2 itself.
I returned my Fold 2 today.
I'm glad I bought it and gave it a chance (even if it was only for 24 hours). I needed to feel it in my hands and add my apps and see how I really felt about the entire package. I've lusted over a potential folded iPhone for years now and I felt the Fold 2 made enough superior changes to at the very least try it out.
Allow me to list the good and the bad and why I ultimately ended up returning it.
The Good....
The unfolded screen blew my mind. It's unlike anything I have ever experienced. It's like taking the screen of my old iPad Mini, cutting off the bezels, and placing it in my hands. Simply incredible. Blows away anything you will experience on any iPhone anytime soon.
Incredible speakers. Blows my 8 Plus speakers away. I really want better speakers and will probably get the 12 Pro Max in part for this reason.
Overall the hardware feels extremely premium.
The hinge is awesome and a pleasure to open and close.
Having it docked in my car was awesome! Essentially an 8" navigation panel.
Google Assistant was able to play requested songs in Apple Music.
Samsung Browser has a proper dark mode that blacks out white web pages. I wish so badly that iOS would steal this feature.
I never once noticed the crease.
The gestures in Android 10 are very iOS-like and excellent.
The Bad......
The folded screen sucks. It's such a terrible compromise. It's way too narrow. It's terrible to type on. (No I don't want to use Swype.) Everything looks ridiculous on it. I'm sorry but for $2000 this is a lousy and compromised experience. I knew it would be less than ideal. It's even worse in reality.
I hate the volume rocker. Dedicated up and down buttons are so much better. And having it directly above the fingerprint sensor meant I kept hitting it accidentally. Should have placed it higher or on the other side like the iPhone.
It's super heavy. When folded it's really a chore to hold for any long period. And last night as I held the Fold 2 unfolded my hands got tired after a while. They really need to make this thing lighter in the future if possible.
Face unlock is super buggy. Especially outdoors at night.
Didn't like the way Samsung Browser rendered text compared to iOS Safari. I remember feeling this way back in 2014 when I last used an Android device.
The hinge is slippery. I didn't feel comfortable handling this device. Personally I would have needed a case, which only adds bulk and weight to a super heavy device.
You can't use Instagram full screen unfolded. I thought you could with some tweaks in Fold Star, but you can't. It looks terrible and the empty space to the left and right of the app will not even register your touch.
The official Reddit app sucks. You can't change the text size, and I found the default size way too small. I downloaded and demoed every other popular Reddit app and didn't like any of them.
I can't use this thing at the beach. Using a waterproof bag or second phone is a huge compromise.
It's way too expensive. If you love this thing, then maybe you could justify it. But given the flaws I felt it had, and factor in the price, I just don't think it's worth it honestly. But that's just a personal feeling of course. If you get this thing and love everything about it, then maybe you can justify the price tag.
I still believe in the future of folding phones. Absolutely. I just think we are too early in the game. For me to even consider a future folding device, I'd want it in the $1,500 range, much thinner and lighter, a larger outer screen, and I'd prefer it running iOS. So basically I think I'm just going to wait until the inevitable folding iPhone comes down the road at some point.
If you are interested in this device, I highly recommend you demo it before purchasing. Returning the device at my local AT&T store took forever, and I wasn't going to mail back a $2000 device.
I'm glad I bought it and gave it a chance (even if it was only for 24 hours). I needed to feel it in my hands and add my apps and see how I really felt about the entire package. I've lusted over a potential folded iPhone for years now and I felt the Fold 2 made enough superior changes to at the very least try it out.
Allow me to list the good and the bad and why I ultimately ended up returning it.
The Good....
The unfolded screen blew my mind. It's unlike anything I have ever experienced. It's like taking the screen of my old iPad Mini, cutting off the bezels, and placing it in my hands. Simply incredible. Blows away anything you will experience on any iPhone anytime soon.
Incredible speakers. Blows my 8 Plus speakers away. I really want better speakers and will probably get the 12 Pro Max in part for this reason.
Overall the hardware feels extremely premium.
The hinge is awesome and a pleasure to open and close.
Having it docked in my car was awesome! Essentially an 8" navigation panel.
Google Assistant was able to play requested songs in Apple Music.
Samsung Browser has a proper dark mode that blacks out white web pages. I wish so badly that iOS would steal this feature.
I never once noticed the crease.
The gestures in Android 10 are very iOS-like and excellent.
The Bad......
The folded screen sucks. It's such a terrible compromise. It's way too narrow. It's terrible to type on. (No I don't want to use Swype.) Everything looks ridiculous on it. I'm sorry but for $2000 this is a lousy and compromised experience. I knew it would be less than ideal. It's even worse in reality.
I hate the volume rocker. Dedicated up and down buttons are so much better. And having it directly above the fingerprint sensor meant I kept hitting it accidentally. Should have placed it higher or on the other side like the iPhone.
It's super heavy. When folded it's really a chore to hold for any long period. And last night as I held the Fold 2 unfolded my hands got tired after a while. They really need to make this thing lighter in the future if possible.
Face unlock is super buggy. Especially outdoors at night.
Didn't like the way Samsung Browser rendered text compared to iOS Safari. I remember feeling this way back in 2014 when I last used an Android device.
The hinge is slippery. I didn't feel comfortable handling this device. Personally I would have needed a case, which only adds bulk and weight to a super heavy device.
You can't use Instagram full screen unfolded. I thought you could with some tweaks in Fold Star, but you can't. It looks terrible and the empty space to the left and right of the app will not even register your touch.
The official Reddit app sucks. You can't change the text size, and I found the default size way too small. I downloaded and demoed every other popular Reddit app and didn't like any of them.
I can't use this thing at the beach. Using a waterproof bag or second phone is a huge compromise.
It's way too expensive. If you love this thing, then maybe you could justify it. But given the flaws I felt it had, and factor in the price, I just don't think it's worth it honestly. But that's just a personal feeling of course. If you get this thing and love everything about it, then maybe you can justify the price tag.
I still believe in the future of folding phones. Absolutely. I just think we are too early in the game. For me to even consider a future folding device, I'd want it in the $1,500 range, much thinner and lighter, a larger outer screen, and I'd prefer it running iOS. So basically I think I'm just going to wait until the inevitable folding iPhone comes down the road at some point.
If you are interested in this device, I highly recommend you demo it before purchasing. Returning the device at my local AT&T store took forever, and I wasn't going to mail back a $2000 device.
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Flossy had his Instagram working full screen so it can be done.. I get why people are put off at 2k but its a price that was there going into buying it..
I certainly can't base any decision on keeping based on one day's usage but doing what's best for you is what matters
I certainly can't base any decision on keeping based on one day's usage but doing what's best for you is what matters
I agree, I prefer dedicated up and down buttons, but they can’t put them on the other side because when open they would be covered. Maybe they could do something like have the power button on the front half and the volumes buttons on the back half?
I tried that. There was only one other aspect ratio and it did not make the app full screen when unfolded.
It does for me after I select Instagram and choose "Full Screen". There were 2 aspect ratios and a full screen option to choose from.
Not sure what I did wrong. Had Fold Star open. Saw only two choices for aspect ratio. The one it was running and another. Selected the other. Only made it smaller.
Regardless if I could get it to work somehow fullscreen, I wasn't going to keep it. But I'm glad if others can get it to work.
I'm okay with Instagram. The visual quality is still the same, and it's still shows bigger than any other phone.
& also thin out the whole device so that it’s still comfortable to hold with one hand.
This seems like the big strength. It’s very iPad-esque.
Ugh. Hopefully developers adapt quickly.
This is surprising to read. What about YouTube & Messaging (with having keyboard on the lower half)?
So is outdoor use hindered? That doesn’t sound good.
This is what I wanted to know - is it comfortable in your typical outgoing pants? Jeans?
Gorilla Glass Victus scratches as easily as 5 according to Jerry Rig Everything ?
Is there a reason why you’re not using in ear buds for calls etc? I haven’t answered my phone in a ’traditional’ way since 2017, when I got my first AirPods. Now with Noise Cancellation built into new models, they’re in my ears all day.
Yeah they really seem to have caught up to IOS, at least in form. Not sure how smooth they are, but from footage, they’ve made decent progress.
Yeah, this was obvious eh. It’s still an awkward/impractical design, especially when the aim is to send ‘quick’ messages/emails on that front screen.
I’m not a fan of heavy phones. I’d give up that ‘premium’ feel for a more durable & lighter plastic back.
I understand this can vary among users, but I hope this isn’t a widespread issue. Once you use a reliable (& secure) face unlock, you can’t go back to anything sluggish.
When Apple do this, you know it’ll appeal to the masses, with less compromises & tinkering needed to get software working to it fullest.
It’s still early days for the Fold. They’ve refined it well, but at its core, it’s still a design that needs tweaking for me.
Btw, appreciate the input from the owners above. Really insightful ??
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I just considered the front screen on my Fold V1 as the best notification AOD display available LOL and of course for dialing/calls mainly
I wear reading glasses and the Fold larger inner screen means every time I get a message etc I do not have to don my specs that alone justifies the few $100 more over other top tier premium smart phones let alone all the other bonuses and functionality of the Folds
I don't find any issues on my Fold V1 maybe they changed something on V2 ?
If I recall correctly it was only the menu buttons and wallpapers etc that you could change individually the main icon sets/app draw were the same/synch
Finally finished fully setting up the Fold 2.
I would say that 99% of all the apps I use, play very well with the folding screen. If some of the apps happen to be stretched out, I can't tell the difference, cause everything looks damn good like it was meant to fit.
I would say that 99% of all the apps I use, play very well with the folding screen. If some of the apps happen to be stretched out, I can't tell the difference, cause everything looks damn good like it was meant to fit.
I think it's common to see iPhone users visit these parts to tell us how excited they are for a non apple product, then buy it (or at least, say the bought it), then say they returned it. Not saying anyone in this thread fits that scenario, because as you say, doing what's best for yourself is what matters. What that best is, is another story.
I thought you were considering giving the Tab S7+ a go? What changed your mind?
It was a combination of using the Fold 2 and the reviews I watched for the Tab s7+. Both made me realize that Android just doesn't have good enough tablet support for me. While I prefer the hardware and software on android, I don't want the headache of apps that don't take advantage of it.
Honestly I don't think the apps not built for bigger screen is that big a deal. The apps on my tab s7 there's only a small which aren't
Will take time for developers to get all apps but so far it appears they are fine for most apps and not a reason not to get it to me.. Twitter is the only app I use on my tab s7 plus which is poorly optimised but even then if you use thee apps in spilt screen or pop up window the app quality is no issue
Will take time for developers to get all apps but so far it appears they are fine for most apps and not a reason not to get it to me.. Twitter is the only app I use on my tab s7 plus which is poorly optimised but even then if you use thee apps in spilt screen or pop up window the app quality is no issue
Saw something on reddit that if you do it on the main display when you close it you are able to get the same info just obviously smaller...not sure how true that is though.