Other Unpopular opinion? I want an “iPhone Fold”

[NeonNights]

CREEEEEEEEASE

Epic eyeroll every time someone parrots the crease. The crease is as overblown as the notch.

The wider screen means your thumb/finger naturally runs along the outer third of the screen and not down the middle like on a narrower slab phone. You rarely come in contact with the crease.

When your iPhone display is off you see all the reflections and smudges but they disappear when the screen is on. Same for foldables. The crease literally disappears with most content on the screen. You'll see the crease from certain angles or when the background is off/black but majority of the time the crease is not noticeable. Completely overblown by those that have little to no experience with foldables.

Lastly, foldables are getting better with every generation and the new teardrop hinge design will eliminate the crease in future foldables.

 

[Fyrus]

A foldable is cool and all… but I’m simply not willing to sacrifice the build-quality for that. No one I know has been able to keep their folding phone in an acceptable state for 2 years.

The concept is great, but it’s clearly still riddled with problems.

It’s also just insane to me that some people have been willing to be used as some kind of beta testers for this concept, while paying >$1000.

 

[macfacts]

Multi tasking support under iOS is so poor, so I understand the hate of a foldable iOS device.

 

[NeonNights]

So, if I understand you correctly, your primary argument for a foldable is that it can display documents in a larger size and that you can have multiple apps windowed on screen at the same time.

Is that about right?

Is there any other argument for a foldable (by you or anyone else) other than this specific use case?

Yep. Plain and simple, Android foldables give you the benefits of a phone and mini tablet in one device, with better multitasking.

Deals and promos make foldables much cheaper than MSRP. If you prefer to carry an iPhone and separate iPad, that still can't properly multitask, and pay more for it then by all means go ahead. iOS, in its current form, is the limiting factor to an Apple foldable. Apple needs to improve the software before any real possibility of an iFold/iPhone Ultra.

 

[AlixSPQR]

Am I the only one hoping Apple releases a fold?

Probably not.
Personally, I can't see Apple release a product with a plastic display, it's not premium enough. And the hinges either make the product thick or the display get broad bezels.
It's just not elegant and sleek enough.

 

[mk313]

Someone seriously explain the purpose of a foldable iPhone.
What can't the current iPhone (or iPad) can't do? That's more of an iOS issue.
Forget the 'fun to experiment' aspect and fanboy answers as no average person will want to pay a high price just to 'play' with the device and to use it show it off to appease their ego.
It sounds like a gimmick and a very expensive toy for those with money to spend.

Now that I work from home, I have no use for one, unless it's (as someone mentioned) sized like the old Motorola Razr's - I'd buy one of those in a heartbeat.

But when I was in the office, I would definitely buy a foldable iPhone. there are some caveats to that & it would have to be up to apple standards; I have a friend with a foldable android & I'm surprised by how heavy & bulky it was. Not saying all Android foldable are bad, but the only one I've seen in person wasn't impressive.

But I would love to have one device to carry to work every day the worked similar to my phone & my iPad. Every day at lunch, I'd head out of the office and do personal stuff on my phone (pay bills, emails, read, watch a movie, whatever) and I carried an iPad just for that. I tried just a phone & portable keyboard & sometimes made that work, but one pocketable, larger screened device would be great.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I’ll give up carrying a mobile phone before I go back to a folding phone. I think we’ve evolved beyond this now and I can’t see the benefit of rehashing that concept.

 

[Aneres11]

No one wants one until Apple makes one then it’ll be amazing. Standard for MR

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

No one wants one until Apple makes one then it’ll be amazing. Standard for MR

People said the same thing about an Apple smart speaker, yet the HomePod is torn apart here pretty much daily.
People said the same thing about a bigger iPhone, that the people who thought the galaxy note was hilarious would be jumping all over themselves to get a 5+ inch iPhone, but frequently these forms break down into Mini phone fans arguing why Apple should care about them over profits.
This idea that Apple could release anything done on the android side first, and Apple fans will immediately take to it is just ridiculous, and has been proven untrue several times.
I’d argue an Apple foldable (with all the current design flaws of foldable’s) would be met with even more scrutiny, simply by the fact that it’s an Apple product.
If those internal plastic screens start breaking for Apple, it’s not a small issue. It’s a scandal. Just like the iPhone 4 antenna, just like the iPhone 6 bending, just like the butterfly keyboard.
And if it comes out at an unreasonable price, people will not buy it, just like the original HomePod.
So again, this idea that Apple could release anything done on the other side that people don’t like and immediately make them like it is stupid.
If that were the case, you’d see Apple be a lot more experimental when it comes to their devices, and they just simply are not.

 

[Aneres11]

People said the same thing about an Apple smart speaker, yet the HomePod is torn apart here pretty much daily.
People said the same thing about a bigger iPhone, that the people who thought the galaxy note was hilarious would be jumping all over themselves to get a 5+ inch iPhone, but frequently these forms break down into Mini phone fans arguing why Apple should care about them over profits.
This idea that Apple could release anything done on the android side first, and Apple fans will immediately take two it is just ridiculous, and has been proven untrue several times.
I’d argue an Apple foldable (with all the current design flaws of foldable’s) would be met with even more scrutiny, simply by the fact that it’s an Apple product.
If those internal plastic screens start breaking for Apple, it’s not a small issue. It’s a scandal. Just like the iPhone 4 antenna, just like the iPhone 6 bending, just like the butterfly keyboard.
And if it comes out at an unreasonable price, people will not buy it, just like the original HomePod.
So again, this idea that Apple could release anything done on the other side that people don’t like and immediately make them like it is stupid.
If that were the case, you’d see Apple be a lot more experimental when it comes to their devices, and they just simply are not.

Couldn’t disagree more.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Couldn’t disagree more.

Your lack of explanation says otherwise.

 

[toobravetosave]

Gonna be amazing when these gimmick naysayers switch to foldables are gods gift to man after apple finally makes one.

 

[MrMojo1]

Can an ipad fit in your pants pocket?

The iPad mini can fit into a side pocket of cargo pants.

 

[eyoungren]

Yep. Plain and simple, Android foldables give you the benefits of a phone and mini tablet in one device, with better multitasking.

Thanks, that is what I thought. The benefits of a phone and mini tablet, but an in-between device that is neither an actual phone, nor an actual tablet.

If you prefer to carry an iPhone and separate iPad, that still can't properly multitask, and pay more for it then by all means go ahead. iOS, in its current form, is the limiting factor to an Apple foldable

Well, I have multiple phones and one tablet.

But I sit in front of some large displays for about 16-18 hours a day. I really have no need to carry my phone and my iPad out. Even when I was not working from home I had no need for that. Work has always had computers with large displays to use since I got started in my profession (1999).

 

[eyoungren]

But I would love to have one device to carry to work every day the worked similar to my phone & my iPad. Every day at lunch, I'd head out of the office and do personal stuff on my phone (pay bills, emails, read, watch a movie, whatever) and I carried an iPad just for that. I tried just a phone & portable keyboard & sometimes made that work, but one pocketable, larger screened device would be great.

I guess I have just been fortunate. I work in graphic design, and my career has largely been in newspapers. With the exception of my first job every newspaper I have worked for has been small weekly papers where the production/composing staff was either me alone or me with one other person. The majority of these companies had less than 25 employees. By the time the business I worked at last was sold, there were less than 15 employees left.

At every one of these jobs I had the luxury of using work computers for whatever I wanted. And the luxury of modifying those computers to better suit my tastes/workflow. As long as the work got done, no one cared. I even had computers of my own brought in and doing things. Some of the other hardware at work was mine.

This is primarily why I got so into laptops. I could bring them to work and use them on the network when I wanted to. And since I was at work all day, a laptop was just fine. I had plenty of space.

It's also how I came to be so into multiple displays and multiple computers. Plenty of space at work, I wanted to emulate that at home. When you have five or six computers and many displays all around you in the spaces you are all the time, there really is no need for phones/tablets to do things those computers can do better.

In my new job I was issued a MBP and told it was mine to use for work and whatever I wanted. This company is in the golf industry (we design scorecards and yardage books) and we have about 10 people total (maybe a smidgen more).

I asked about any 'laptop policy'. The boss looked at me like I had sprouted a second head and the response was 'Well, just don't fill it up with porn.' That's the laptop policy, that's it.

So, even when I was not working from home, but at the office, I still did what you did, "personal stuff on my phone (pay bills, emails, read, watch a movie, whatever)" on work computers.

And this is why I've only ever needed a phone, and that just for use as a phone.

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

If Apple makes a fold, then great for you OP. Go get one.

As long as Apple does not decide that all iPhones from that point on will be foldable, then you can have yours and I can continue to have my non-foldable model iPhone too.

OP, you want a 'fun convenience'. I want my tool to continue to work as it does now. Calls, texts, light email/web browsing when out. I consume my media on larger screens.

Now, below is my viewpoint from around 3:45am to about 8:30pm. 16 to 18 hours a day.

View attachment 2201125

You tell me - do I need a foldable phone?

I REALLY don't think I do.

What you need is a life if that’s 16-18hrs of your day

 

[eyoungren]

What you need is a life if that’s 16-18hrs of your day

I have a life. 8 of those 16-18 hours are work (I work from home). The rest is by choice. I have a KVM switch so am able to easily swap my displays between my work Mac and my MacPro.

Since my dad brought home a computer in 1980 I have been on computers every chance I get. That doesn't mean I don't get out or do other things (particularly with family), but generally in front of a computer is where you'll find me.

It's just my life isn't the kind a lot of other people are interested in. But I am not and never have been interested in sports, partying, bars, clubs or anything that has me interacting with a bunch of people I don't know.

Both my wife and I are loners that managed to find each other and we like what we have.

 

[JM]

We have today two new products for you.

A brand new iPhone.

And a brand new iPad.

A brand new iPhone.

A brand new iPad.

Are you getting it yet?

 

[NeonNights]

Thanks, that is what I thought. The benefits of a phone and mini tablet, but an in-between device that is neither an actual phone, nor an actual tablet.

I've heard this before and it never made sense. Why would it neither be an actual phone or tablet? It is literally a hybrid device of both. It has the same phone OS as other Android slab phones, so it literally is a phone, and doubles as a full-featured mini Android tablet.

Just to be clear, I'm not making this an Android vs iOS argument, it's just Apple doesn't have a foldable to compare with. I love MacOS and our household has iPhones, iPads (M1 Air and Pro 12.9), Apple Watch, AirPods Pro, Mac Mini, Mac Studio, so we are big Apple fans. For me, my past iPhones always felt basic and restrictive. The features of my Fold 4 allow me to enjoy content more comfortably, as well as be more productive when needed.

Well, I have multiple phones and one tablet.

But I sit in front of some large displays for about 16-18 hours a day. I really have no need to carry my phone and my iPad out. Even when I was not working from home I had no need for that. Work has always had computers with large displays to use since I got started in my profession (1999).

I work from home now and use multiple displays for work. If needed, I can connect in my 43" desk monitor too. Even with easy access to bigger screens there are times at home I simply prefer to unfold my phone and do something instead of reaching for my 12.9 iPad or taking my Mac out of sleep. It's just another option I can have. If I'm away from home it's easier to stay productive on the larger screen without the hassle of carrying a large tablet. There is also added benefit for leisure too. When on the couch I'm more apt to unfold the phone and enjoy some reading or YouTube instead of grabbing my heavy iPad 12.9. The convenience and versatility is just unmatched in a foldable that fits in my pocket just as well as my previous iPhones (12 Pro Max/13 Pro).

 

[jnngr]

I’ve read many different conversations and such with many users who don’t care about a potential “iPhone fold” or straight out think it’s a bad idea.

Meanwhile, I’m here, with an iPhone 14 pro ready to say “my next phone has to be a fold, apple or otherwise”. That said, I’m happy with the apple ecosystem which makes this difficult.

The reason why I want a fold is for the “fun convenience” of having fun tech without needing to have to carry two devices (I’d be ok with an iPad mini size)

Now, OS wise - I have an iPad that I never use because to me it’s still a glorified iOS device. Sure it has improved on multitasking and such, at the end of the day, it can’t replace my MacBook which is what I’d need to justify using it - this is my personal experience, others use it religiously and that’s great for them.

That said, a larger screen can be useful for very specific takes on the go, so having an “iPhone / iPad mini” would be nice, but again, the thought of having to carry two devices is not appealing.

Am I the only one hoping Apple releases a fold?

Yes.

 

[The Game 161]

Apple should certainly bring a foldable to market but I’m not convinced they will. Not in a phone form anyway. Maybe as tablet that makes more sense if I had to guess

supply would be a massive issue and why I feel they don’t have one

 

[eyoungren]

I've heard this before and it never made sense. Why would it neither be an actual phone or tablet? It is literally a hybrid device of both. It has the same phone OS as other Android slab phones, so it literally is a phone, and doubles as a full-featured mini Android tablet.

I made the analogy earlier, but it's worth repeating…

A crescent wrench has all the properties of a box wrench. It's adjustable to any size and means you don't have to have a wide range of box wrenches.

But if you need to turn a bolt would you reach for a box wrench of the correct size or a crescent wrench?

Having worked with crescent wrenches, even good quality ones, I will choose the box wrench of exact size every time. A crescent wrench is a wrench, but it is not specific.

A foldable is a jack of all trades and while capable of being both a phone and a tablet, it is master of neither of those things.

I think you probably will disagree, but that's my take on it.

Just to be clear, I'm not making this an Android vs iOS argument, it's just Apple doesn't have a foldable to compare with. I love MacOS and our household has iPhones, iPads (M1 Air and Pro 12.9), Apple Watch, AirPods Pro, Mac Mini, Mac Studio, so we are big Apple fans. For me, my past iPhones always felt basic and restrictive. The features of my Fold 4 allow me to enjoy content more comfortably, as well as be more productive when needed.

I have no problem with this. I own both Android and iPhone. I'm typing this on a 2009 Mac Pro and around me are Macs from the Intel and PowerPC era. And one Intel Thinkpad running Windows 7.

My Pixel 3a XL is a great phone, although limited to Android 12.

I work from home now and use multiple disays for work. If needed, I can connect in my 43" desk monitor too. Even with easy access to bigger screens there are times at home I simply prefer to unfold my phone and do something instead of reaching for my 12.9 iPad or taking my Mac out of sleep. It's just another option I can have. If I'm away from home it's easier to stay productive on the larger screen without the hassle of carrying a large tablet. There is also added benefit for leisure too. When on the couch I'm more apt to unfold the phone and enjoy some reading or YouTube instead of grabbing my heavy iPad 12.9. The convenience and versatility is just unmatched in a foldable that fits in my pocket just as well as my previous iPhones.

The majority of the time I have my hands on my keyboard and my mouse. It's just easier to use the Mac for something. I haven't moved on to making/receiving calls on the Mac yet so my phone is still used for that purpose. But having to take my hands off the keyboard and mouse to reach over and grab my phone is annoying sometimes. My iPad is primarily used at night in bed because my wife banned laptops in the bedroom a very long time ago.

If I had another spot to sit in the front room (other spots are occupied by family members) I'd be using a laptop. Computers are just what I'm used to and even small laptops have larger screens than the largest phone or smallest tablet.

As far as leaving the house, I get out once or twice a day to drop family off or pick them up. The most I am ever waiting is about half an hour to 45 minutes and I am neither doing work nor being productive. My 11 Pro Max and the larger phones I had before that is just fine for reading the Apple News or Google News app.

Any work I do for my employer is done at home because the Mac they issued me is connected to two large displays and sits in clamshell mode all the time. Quite frankly, except to make up work hours, my employer does not own my time and you will never find me doing work outside the house (or outside the office when I was working in an office).

That's my time.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

The iPad mini can fit into a side pocket of cargo pants.

Has anybody worn those since the year 2000 though?

 

[eyoungren]

Has anybody worn those since the year 2000 though?

Yes.

In 2015 or so I found Dickies at Walmart as well. That brand replaced my Faded Glory cargo pants. I have about seven or eight pairs now. Great pants.

I also have Dickies cargo shorts, about four pairs. The black denim is ridiculously hard to find though unfortunately. I only have one pair of those.

BTW, two phones in these pants/shorts is easy.

 

[Stevenyo]

Actually, I'd love to see Apple produce a phone that can fold - I used to love the old 'clam phones' - but, I would also love to see - and this is possibly an equally unpopular opinion - a smaller phone, a far smaller phone, from Apple.

Personally, I loathe these modern monstrosities; I loved the size, convenience, and elegance of the old clam phones, and the only iPhone I have is the old iPhone SE, which is just about small enough to appeal to me.

I'm with you on this. Personally, I just want a smartwatch that can function a bit better as a standalone device and I'd give up a phone altogether. Even a device 2x the size of a watch ultra, but that can run a web browser and standalone music/video streaming apps. I guess it'd need a small camera since apparently cameras are the killer app of phones these days. In a pinch, I'd even still accept something the size of the original-iPhone 4s size, but I never expected 15 years ago that phones would grow rather than shrink!

As for foldable/convertable devices, I'm still the insane person who wants to combine the laptop into a convertible tablet and then do away with the iPad in my life. Add a rotating hinge and touchscreen to the Mac, plus the ability to use a Watch without a phone and I'd be happy with a MacBook and watch as my only two devices. Even if the MacBook had to run iPadOS only when in convertible mode or some thing dumb like that.

Of course, the real answer might just be an AR headset. In theory that replaces the display of all four of my devices, plus my TV and external desktop monitors. One set of glasses that lets me do anything from watch a gigantic IMAX movie to edit video on a three monitor setup to check the time or see who just texted me all from one device. implemented properly, I could use any stick and any surface for note taking/drawing and have the designs saved. a team could turn any wall into a collaborative whiteboard. Basically, while I severely doubt the first Apple headset will be the game changer, I do think all of the current stress and confusion over device form factor will fade away in the next 5-10 years as we move to just wearing super smart glasses regularly.

There's a potential for a properly done headset to decimate the smartphone, laptop, tablet, smartwatch, computer monitor, TV, movie theater and more industries by creating a single display solution that beats all of them. Why put a screen on TV on the wall when you can just tell your glasses to treat the wall opposite your couch as a TV? Why hunch over to use a laptop screen when you can tell your glasses to put a 32" monitor at eye level above your portable trackpad/keyboard/compute module? Why have a watch when you can tell your glasses to display the time, even to display the time on a watch face on your wrist when your wrist is in view? The list is infinite.

Someday, AR glasses could even largely replace fashion and architecture, tell the network to style you with a fancy gown and you can wear dirty sweats but get envious second glances and compliments all night. Why spend money on building architectural/design features in real life when you can tell the network to display impossible architecture to everyone who looks at your basic pole barn? Again, I expect the first draft of the AR headset to be pretty crap, but I really do think putting displays into glasses is the long term form factor answer. Winning in the AR space could eventually make a company into the authors/gatekeepers of our collective reality. Not saying this is a good thing, it's actually terrifying when carried towards the farther ends, but in the medium term, I doubt anyone is going to be arguing over foldable screens or tiny phones in 2028, we'll wear glasses and carry compute pebbles and have whatever display we want wherever we want it.