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.
Samsung's 'Try Galaxy' Feature Uses Two iPhones to Demo Z Fold5 Experience
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I agree. While my instinct is to roll my eyes, I could stop and reflect on this question more seriously. What problem does a foldable phone solve? While there may be some valid uses for a larger surface upon which to view content, it seems the cost is a much thicker phone than I need to use for the majority of use in which a larger surface is not necessary. I also have to sacrifice the quality and durability of materials. Unless significant advances in foldable technology occur, foldable phones seem vulnerable to wearing out, cracking, and being worn out from use. I am not opposed to a foldable phone, but I really don't think I have sound reasons to purchase one. If others do, go for it.
Last edited:
I think their fundamental problem is that I've seen it and I don't want it. Samsung should spend more time figuring out what customers do want and how to spark joy in them.
PS - The iPhone also hasn't sparked any joy in me for many years, so this isn't some rabid Apple fan post.
PS - The iPhone also hasn't sparked any joy in me for many years, so this isn't some rabid Apple fan post.
I agree. We’re in the “writer’s block” phase of smartphones. Nothing is really interesting to me.
I'm a big fan of the Apple ecosystem so wouldn't even consider switching. However, I can see a future (5-10 years) where the materials have advanced to the point of these being light and nimble enough to be more practical. Having to unfold the phone to do so many basic things is a lot more cumbersome than people imagine.
If foldables are what people want then why are these fold and flip models so much less popular than the S23 lineup? If Samsung users don't even want it I don't see why most iPhone users would.
I am a big fan of Apple eco, but wanted to try something different. It's ok.
with our new webpage you can experience firsthand who bad your experience can be.
Samsung seems to have launch sales though, the 256 GB Fold 5 would have cost me as much as my 128 GB iPhone 14 Pro Max did. So when Apple adds a couple of hundred bucks to that they will probably be the same MSRP for the same storage size and with the discounts the Fold will probably be cheaper.
I can't not hear this as someone doing an exaggerated impression of a French or German accent: "Ze Fold/Ze Flip".
On a more serious not, I personally can't see the appeal of these. I've seen them in shops and played around with them but ultimately just shrugged and didn't feel like I absolutely needed this. The appeal of a smartphone to me is that I can use it with one hand - which already gets really hard for me even with a 6.1" screen. With a wider screen (or a taller one for that matter) I'd need both hands to use the device and then I'd rather use an actual tablet.
The tech is interesting, though, I have to admit that.
On a more serious not, I personally can't see the appeal of these. I've seen them in shops and played around with them but ultimately just shrugged and didn't feel like I absolutely needed this. The appeal of a smartphone to me is that I can use it with one hand - which already gets really hard for me even with a 6.1" screen. With a wider screen (or a taller one for that matter) I'd need both hands to use the device and then I'd rather use an actual tablet.
The tech is interesting, though, I have to admit that.
Limited space in pants pockets and the need for more screen real estate for multitasking. If Apple solves the crease problem and makes a foldable that turns into an iPad mini size I would buy it in an instant.
Hey Samsung, let me know when your phone is the size of an iPod nano but can unfold to a Pro Max size without any creases. Then I'll join the flip side!
I had one of these for about a year, last years model anyways, and i did love the screen real estate. The crease was barely noticeable as you mention kind of like the notch in the iphone. But I will say the OS on android devices is still hard for me to get used to which is why I changed back to the iphone. If Apple came out with a foldable and their iOS i'd be first in line.
Personally, I'd love to see Apple come out with an iPhone 'Fold'.
More options and form factors doesn't mean you can't just keep on with your iPhone/iPad combo.
It feels like Apple has put all it's eggs in one basket spending a decade in the development of the Vision Pro. I'd rather have seen them try a few out of the box ideas like they use to do (iMac G4).
While some of the early implementations of the Samsung Fold were laughable, they've kept improving and at least pushing the envelope in the mobile phone space.
More options and form factors doesn't mean you can't just keep on with your iPhone/iPad combo.
It feels like Apple has put all it's eggs in one basket spending a decade in the development of the Vision Pro. I'd rather have seen them try a few out of the box ideas like they use to do (iMac G4).
While some of the early implementations of the Samsung Fold were laughable, they've kept improving and at least pushing the envelope in the mobile phone space.
Something about the UI on Samsung phone just looks so cluttered/out-dated(I'm not sure the word), the buttom bar is has hard 90 degree angles, yet the windows are rounded, and touching the bottom bar. Are the icon in bar supposed to be circles or rounded rectangles, it was like they couldn't make up their minds. There are buttons, and icons in there, that don't match, no kind of symmetry between in placement of UI elements, the back (pointing left) button is on the right side, I can't tell what is the menu button and the home button. That is just looking at the bottom bar. The whole UI is just a mess. I'm sure you can "get used to it", but that isn't how a good product should be described. I remember riding in some friends cars in high school and asking if "that" was safe, and they would say, "not sure, but you get used to it' ".
Not everywhere, here trade-ins are terrible but there were many different discounts available. Either way, even when looking at MSRP over here for the same storage size the iPhone 15 Ultra would cost the same or more as the Fold after the price increase since the difference is slim already.
I'm mostly just waiting for tech to solve the durability issues... oh, that and Apple needs to build it. 🐑
I wonder if these things have a book simulation feature that works like this:
You are reading a book in a book app.
You close and open the device and it turns the page to simulate the turning of a real book page. 🥲
You are reading a book in a book app.
You close and open the device and it turns the page to simulate the turning of a real book page. 🥲
In all fairness to Samsung, they usually wait until Apple figures out what customers wants and just copy that. But it turns out that phones are kind of just phones, and there isn't a whole lot more worth doing, so Apple isn't doing anything worth copying.
But you can't deny that it's not adorable when Samsung tries to innovate. It's like watching that grape lady video.