Samsung's 'Try Galaxy' Feature Uses Two iPhones to Demo Z Fold5 Experience

[dwaite]

You bring up many valid points. That said, there's no reason that apps can't be adjusted to take advantage of the extra screen space (wouldn't be the first time, and certainly wouldn't be the last either).

I say the same thing about app developers when I use my iPad.

There are many use cases where extra screen space would be very helpful. When I think about the apps I use most - Maps, Mail, Messages, GoodNotes, Banktivity, Gaia GPS, Photos, Anybox, Calendar - all of them would benefit from the extra screen real estate. Multi-tasking would also be a lot nicer on a bigger/wider screen. You could have two full-size apps side by side.

The way I look at it - a folding phone sells the potential of a convergence computing device. I might be able to have a single portable device to replace a phone, a tablet, heck maybe a laptop.

But there are a _ton_ of trade-offs there. It's not clear how you have either 'state' be as good as say a dedicated phone or a dedicated tablet. Usually both forms are significantly worse. And there's not really been any clear compelling cases for it outside of comparisons to those form factors.

So once flip phones no longer have a cool factor, I'm really curious whether convergence wins out over the experiences two dedicated devices provide, or if people lose interest because if they want a larger screen they always have their tablet/chromebook/laptop/desktop/whatever. Maybe it does win out simply because it is a way to fit more screen real estate into a pocket - although that means we'll might start seeing tri-folders and quad-folders ;-)

 

[darngooddesign]

...or if people lose interest because if they want a larger screen they always have their tablet/ chromebook/ laptop/ desktop/ whatever. Maybe it does win out simply because it is a way to fit more screen real estate into a pocket - although that means we'll might start seeing tri-folders and quad-folders ;-)

I think thats the point. Foldables appeal to those who don't tend to bring their separate, larger screen device with them everywhere.

 

[HazeAndHahmahneez]

When you say "we" to whom are you referring? Unless you are personally involved in producing Apple commercials or part of their executive corporate structure then you might be a bit too personally invested in your phone.


Also, (I'm aiming for a Mean Girls movie quote when I say): Stop trying to make smoogle happen. It's never going to happen. 😉

We the collective. It’s a loose term nothing too serious haha

As for smoogle, Haha well I like it, so I’m stickin with it.

 

[Zachari]

You still don't get it. When you fold large screen it becomes small.

woah thanks for spelling it out for me /s

 

[Sevendaymelee]

It would not be an iPhone and iPad in one. At best it would be an iPhone and iPad Mini cut off at the knees in one. No one would use a folding iPhone instead of an iPad. A folding iPhone would be closer to a square screen, which is nothing like the iPad.

If the wanted to (iPhone and iPad in one), they could do it. And if they didn't do it, people would be wondering why. Also, as I said, sales would really plummet for their tablet. Most people just would not see a point in owning an iPad.

 

[JamesHolden]

If the wanted to (iPhone and iPad in one), they could do it. And if they didn't do it, people would be wondering why. Also, as I said, sales would really plummet for their tablet. Most people just would not see a point in owning an iPad.

How does doubling the iPhone screen width equal an iPad? Like I said, at best it's a Mini with 1/3 of the screen cut off. That's hardly an alternative to an iPad.

 

[votdfak]

Where's the innovation of foldable phones, apart from the engineering aspect? Does it bring any real value to the user?

For sure... multitasking

 

[cookedart]

What problem do foldable phones solve? Serious question.

I figured this was self-evident, but apparently not.

Having an iPad Mini-style form factor that actually fits in a pocket, with phone style cameras (which are generally better than tablet cameras).

Lots of people buy the iPhone Pro Max series (or the Galaxy Ultra series) to have the largest possible screen that's still pocketable. I would argue the Z Fold is even better at being a "large phone."

A few other advantages to the Z Fold:
- Unlike most Tablets, the Z Fold actually has waterproofing. This is a fairly large screen for a iPX8 device.
- Larger screens like on the Z Fold are more multitasking-friendly. iOS phones themselves cannot split screen apps and even if they could, the aspect ratio is less useful for running multiple apps at once. The Z fold can run two apps side-by-side with a fairly standard aspect ratio.
- The Z Fold series can take selfie shots with the main camera array, while using the outer screen to be able to frame your shot. This form factor is also used on the Pixel Fold, which has a neat translate feature that shows one language on the inner screen, and another translated language on the outer screen. Developers can use both screen simulataneously for specific use-cases.
- The Z Fold has pen input. The latest cases on the Z Fold 5 integrate the S-Pen in a fairly seamless way, which means you can have a large sketch area and have a pen conveniently with you at all times. Again, this is in a pocketable form factor that the iPad Mini cannot match, as its much easier to bring this device with you everywhere you go.

 

[cookedart]

Not only that, you'll get free updates for a full 6 months!

Does it come with the free Android fragmentation?

This is a fairly tired and outdated argument.

Most Samsung flagships nowadays get 4 years of major android version updates, and 5 years of security updates. They are among the best Android developers in releasing new versions of Android in a timely manner (usually only takes 3 months for them to introduce their own One UI-based version). One more thing to note, Samsung has done a very good job of adding additional software features to the older Z Folds that are introduced in the latest models. Credit where its due!

Also one last point about Android fragmentation in general - while its true its still an issue, most of Android is compartmentalized in a way that can be updated independantly from the OS updates itself. For instance, iOS requires you update the entire OS to get a new version of WebKit/Safari - whereas WebView and Chrome on Android is updated independantly on the Play Store. This honestly makes the latest version of Android feel a lot less necessary than iOS.

 

[DeepIn2U]

Too many words. You should work on writing with brevity.

Folding phones are a solution looking for a problem. It's a marketing gimmick, and every single unit has a crease going down the screen. It's classically bad design that has no place for discussion or acknolwedgement on an apple forum.

Thank you for helping me learn a new word, sincerely.

Just cause of the crease doesn't mean it's not solving a problem.

1. a pocketable phone with a small outer screen and when needed/wanted a larger screen for more data manipulation and displayed.
- e.g. use case multiple cells in Excel - this has always been painful for iPhones. Also a more desktop like Excel application (still limited in add-ins, however Samsung Dex solves that).

Soon when 1-120hz LTPO screens are used on both ends lower power consumption for displaying and interacting with notifications most of the day. iOS still uses the entire screen when you begin to reply to the notification, why?

Lots of problems most people are not seeing are resolved. For those who know.