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> only interesting to hardcore tech enthusiasts I think that the HN crowd is exactly that and I doubt many would want this phone. Foldable phones are just flas

> only interesting to hardcore tech enthusiasts I think that the HN crowd is exactly that and I doubt many would want this phone. Foldable phones are just flashy status symbols at this point without much use. I guess the actual target market is affluent people who want to show off, who want to have "something different", and who will not actually use the added screen space.

daeken 2y ago
I want a trifold (albeit not this one). I switched to foldables with the Z Fold 3 and never looked back; I've upgraded each generation since, because they make my life substantially better. While I still spend a lot of time at my computer for dev work, I have some chronic issues that limit the hours I can manage; to me, my foldable is essentially a disability aid. I wrote an entire novella on my foldable (only the editing was done on a computer), done countless meetings while splitting the screen for a doc review, etc. It has genuinely changed my quality of life and I'm thankfully in a position that the cost isn't an issue.
automatic6131 2y ago
>Foldable phones are just flashy status symbols at this point without much use I have a foldable phone, and the killer use case is watching videos (YouTube, Netflix) on the go, at the breakfast table, on a plane or train. And better gaming (e.g. I played XCom Enemy Within a couple of years ago, blew my mind. A full PC game from my teenage years, in the palm of my hand). The game was so much more usable in the unfolded state with a pen/stylus. The third great use case is filming myself lifting weights from anywhere flat e.g. a bench. Without use of a tripod or the waterbottle leaning trick (which requires a mostly full bottle, and a high friction surface and the angle is never right). Also, for the first time since I was a teenager, strangers will actually ask you about it. It's rare enough that people are even interested in phones anymore. This is definitely YMMV But I can assure you, it's no status symbol, unless identifying yourself as a tech nerd with slightly too much disposable income is a status you want. Which is what I am, but who aspires to this?
- prmoustache 2y ago
  > I have a foldable phone, and the killer use case is watching videos (YouTube, Netflix) on the go, at the breakfast table, on a plane or train. I do that on a non foldable phone. Could the screen be bigger? Yes. Do I need it to be bigger? Not as much as I need a durable phone.
  - automatic6131 2y ago
    Perfectly reasonable trade off, that. And for most people. In its current iteration, foldable phones are a niche product but I believe that niche is bigger than current market penetration.
  - daeken 2y ago
    I genuinely don't understand the durability concerns with foldables. I've been daily driving the Z Fold 3-6 and the only failure I've had was a software issue on the 4 that broke WiFi. Nearly 4 years of heavy daily use, countless drops, and the weak point has only been with software.
    - aothms 2y ago
      Well there's this https://www.reddit.com/r/samsunggalaxy/comments/10f0x0n/z_flip_4_shuts_down_completely_when_folded/ https://www.reddit.com/r/samsunggalaxy/comments/10f0x0n/z_fl... which I'm also affected by. I've ducktaped the backside to prevent my muscle memory from constantly folding it. Nearly two years old; not big deal for me, but still.
      - daeken 2y ago
        Ouch, that's a brutal issue -- thanks for letting me know! I'm glad the Folds haven't been affected, given that having this thing open in my pocket is just not doable haha
gloxkiqcza 2y ago
It also depends on the lifestyle a lot. For many people ruggedness is a high priority. That’s why today's phones tend to have a metal chassis all around and protruding curved edge screens have basically gone away. Typical current smartphone form factor can be used in any conditions without worrying too much about it. Foldables of today can only be used worry free by non-outdoorsy urban people doing white collar jobs (I don’t mean any offense here, the same applies to eg a Porsche 911).
linhns 2y ago
Looking at the replies to this comment, I'd not say tech enthusiasts are going to be into these foldables, only those that want something that can be an iPhone, an iPad and possibly a laptop combined into one without being good at any of them. I still stick with my iPhone SE 2 as it doesn't fall out of my pocket.

daeken 2y ago

I want a trifold (albeit not this one). I switched to foldables with the Z Fold 3 and never looked back; I've upgraded each generation since, because they make my life substantially better. While I still spend a lot of time at my computer for dev work, I have some chronic issues that limit the hours I can manage; to me, my foldable is essentially a disability aid. I wrote an entire novella on my foldable (only the editing was done on a computer), done countless meetings while splitting the screen for a doc review, etc. It has genuinely changed my quality of life and I'm thankfully in a position that the cost isn't an issue.

automatic6131 2y ago

>Foldable phones are just flashy status symbols at this point without much use I have a foldable phone, and the killer use case is watching videos (YouTube, Netflix) on the go, at the breakfast table, on a plane or train. And better gaming (e.g. I played XCom Enemy Within a couple of years ago, blew my mind. A full PC game from my teenage years, in the palm of my hand). The game was so much more usable in the unfolded state with a pen/stylus. The third great use case is filming myself lifting weights from anywhere flat e.g. a bench. Without use of a tripod or the waterbottle leaning trick (which requires a mostly full bottle, and a high friction surface and the angle is never right). Also, for the first time since I was a teenager, strangers will actually ask you about it. It's rare enough that people are even interested in phones anymore. This is definitely YMMV But I can assure you, it's no status symbol, unless identifying yourself as a tech nerd with slightly too much disposable income is a status you want. Which is what I am, but who aspires to this?

prmoustache 2y ago
> I have a foldable phone, and the killer use case is watching videos (YouTube, Netflix) on the go, at the breakfast table, on a plane or train. I do that on a non foldable phone. Could the screen be bigger? Yes. Do I need it to be bigger? Not as much as I need a durable phone.
- automatic6131 2y ago
  Perfectly reasonable trade off, that. And for most people. In its current iteration, foldable phones are a niche product but I believe that niche is bigger than current market penetration.
- daeken 2y ago
  I genuinely don't understand the durability concerns with foldables. I've been daily driving the Z Fold 3-6 and the only failure I've had was a software issue on the 4 that broke WiFi. Nearly 4 years of heavy daily use, countless drops, and the weak point has only been with software.
  - aothms 2y ago
    Well there's this https://www.reddit.com/r/samsunggalaxy/comments/10f0x0n/z_flip_4_shuts_down_completely_when_folded/ https://www.reddit.com/r/samsunggalaxy/comments/10f0x0n/z_fl... which I'm also affected by. I've ducktaped the backside to prevent my muscle memory from constantly folding it. Nearly two years old; not big deal for me, but still.
    - daeken 2y ago
      Ouch, that's a brutal issue -- thanks for letting me know! I'm glad the Folds haven't been affected, given that having this thing open in my pocket is just not doable haha

gloxkiqcza 2y ago

It also depends on the lifestyle a lot. For many people ruggedness is a high priority. That’s why today's phones tend to have a metal chassis all around and protruding curved edge screens have basically gone away. Typical current smartphone form factor can be used in any conditions without worrying too much about it. Foldables of today can only be used worry free by non-outdoorsy urban people doing white collar jobs (I don’t mean any offense here, the same applies to eg a Porsche 911).

linhns 2y ago

Looking at the replies to this comment, I'd not say tech enthusiasts are going to be into these foldables, only those that want something that can be an iPhone, an iPad and possibly a laptop combined into one without being good at any of them. I still stick with my iPhone SE 2 as it doesn't fall out of my pocket.