"For me, there was only ever one option. The iPhone Fold should have been in Apple's lineup years ago."
Good thing everyone has an opinion, bc this is definitely not a definitive statement. Foldable phones are ridiculously niche and so far kinda goofy. Apple has long been more the kind to hold off on something until they feel they can make a better version. I won't be surprised to see them decide there's no polishing a turd.
And just what kind of case will work with the alleged folding iPhone? I have to assume a pouch case. I have used pouch cases on several iPhones. They are nice but more work to deal with. Knowing how lazy some people are, it’s hard to imagine the general public dealing with the work involved to constantly open and close a folding iPhone AND use a pouch case LOL
Apple’s foldable iPhone will sell better than others, and I’ll wager that it will make foldables more mainstream, why? Because every time I visit a store to try out a foldable, it’s locked in a stiff frame and tethered with a retractable cable. I am unable to fold it or unfold it, and the cable is annoying as hell.
The Apple Store will allow users to handle it and understand its value. I’m sure Apple will not release a product without proper research and a clear use case.
I can’t but think back to the original iPad/iPhone development and release order. Apple initially set out to make a tablet, but then set that aside to release a phone first. Is history repeating itself? Perhaps, and maybe for the same reason. Go where the market is. There’s certainly a market for foldable phones, whether or not some of us fail to see the killer app/use case.
But maybe Apple has finally seen the technology available or to create a folding phone worthy of the Apple brand and quality., I sure hope that’s the case if they go ahead with this venture. And I still think that two screens, with a hinge that protects the mating edges until the last millimeter when it steps out of the way to let the two edges meet, without a visible seam between. Both screens could be inflexible touch gorilla glass, not seam, not bump, not need to flex. Just a very highly precise mechanism, one that Apple could certainly engineer and manufacture.
But that still leaves us with that missing use case.
I have yet to see a foldable phone that wasn't cringe when open and in use. Such awfulness. No amount of Apple shininess will justify the outrageous Apple price for a foldable phone utilizing the current typical technology. Apple will have lost it if they foolishly proceed down this path.
Now I'm really going to step in it, so don't hit me with a rock. The Microsoft Duo had the coolest potential; two glass screens with a hinge. The problem was Microsoft did it, and they did it with Android. It was all so laughably terrible. Consumers cried out for this device to run Windows or resurrected Windows Phone. Nope. And in the way of Microsoft of late, they created a cool device with potential, and then neglected in until it withered and died. I guess Microsoft is good at following through with that.
So imagine a Duo like device, but with the Apple charm of design. Two actual screens side by side that fold together like a small book ever so nicely, running Apple software, and using Apple silicon. The gaming possibilities. Productivity and multitasking possibilities. Could do some slick photo editing. Some nifty group video calls. I wouldn't even mind so much watching a full screen video, but I know Apple can master edge to edge, so I'd probably mentally delete that glitch anyway. I think I'd want this thing.
Now everybody was hot for Microsoft to do a larger two screen device, but it never saw consumer release. Didn't Apple just back burner their folding iPad, maybe a two screen iPad? Microsoft went with the phone version and criminally neglected it to death. If Apple created an iPhone device like this, I'd want it very bad. Way more so than any current iPhone or imaginable iPhone in the current form factor. Not a yucky single screen Android foldable. Yes, I want two screens, Apple tech, silicon, software, and compatibility. Do this Apple. Do this the Apple way.
A coworker has a folding Android phone (I think it’s a Samsung.) It seems nice for the times you have your phone and need something closer to an iPad mini, but there is a very visible bump/crease in the middle where it folds and the screen did seem to be having some issues along the edges. If you’re watching a movie, the aspect ratio doesn’t really work or help you and you end up with a crease down the middle of the image so it’s really no good for that. The form factor also means you can’t have much of a case or a case with a kickstand so in some ways it’s a bit limiting.
For iPads, many of the same limitations apply, only more so. You’re not trying to fit an iPad in your pocket so they don’t have the size constraints that a smart phone has, and iPads are designed to do more work using the entire screen, so having a crease in the middle is even more of an issue.
Overall, from what I’ve seen I’d take a standard smartphone and skip the folding screen and i can’t really see the use for a folding iPad.
This is exactly the issue with folding phones (even iPads for that matter). There's minimal value and far too many tradeoffs. I doubt Apple would ever release something with a crease down the center of the screen. Android users don't care about stuff like that. They'll buy nearly anything if it sounds cool and then act like their product is better because it was first to the market so it's "cutting edge" and Apple is always years behind!
Plus there's only so many folds it can do before it breaks and I wouldn't be surprised if some even broke prematurely.
Yet the rumours are constant and pointing to ever-increasing probability of a release in the relatively short term so I think Apple has decided to sign off on the product.
The notch was a huge trade off for something that wasn't even strictly necessary.
Glass fronts and backs have to be accepted even though there are great alternatives for backs that are far more durable.
Folding phones, by nature, need extra care and that is a trade off. A hinge is a potential point of failure that slab phones don't have. But then slab phones can't double as mini tablets.
Anything mechanical will have a certain amount of actions before they break. Buttons, physical sliders, even ports (insertion/removal).
Modern folding phones are rated for years of use but the target audience at the high end probably renews the device with every hardware upgrade as they have lots of disposable income.
I can see why that might appeal to Apple. Especially as they might be losing high income users through not having a competing offering.
As for the crease, even the first foldable phones (with more visible creases) it was a non-issue. They were hardly noticeable in use. Very similar to the situation with the notch.
I have to disagree with you on pretty much very point.
The notch was hardly a huge tradeoff and it gave increased security combined with convenience. I suppose you could say those weren't strictly necessary but the majority would disagree with you. I have touchID on my laptop and iPad and FaceID on my phone and FaceID is orders of magnitude better. As for the tradeoff - it uses real estate on the screen that was essentially unused anyway so it really wasn't much of a tradeoff. It's a matter of perspective, but essentially it allowed use of the 'ears' on either side of the camera to extend the screen up.
Many iPhone users keep their phones for years. I'm in that camp. I have an iPhone 12 Pro that's 5 years old and still working perfectly. That's part of the reason I buy iPhones - because they're well made and last several years. I'd rather buy a quality product less frequently than continually replace cheap crap. Any mechanical feature of a device needs to be sturdy enough to last the life of the phone. Especially with a folding phone, if the hinge or screen wear out before the rest of the phone you've essentially compromised the lifespan of the device.
I can also say from personal experience, the crease is most definitely an issue and is clearly noticeable. It may be an acceptable compromise to some people for the novelty of a folding device but to dismiss it as insignificant is simply attempting to rationalize a design deficiency.
The notch wasn't an issue for me at all but in design terms it was huge because it was an always there, always visible aspect and, unlike competitors, Apple offered no way to hide it.
Just like a crease on a folding phone but with one big difference. You normally never even see it until you tilt the phone to an unnatural angle to force it into view.
All mechanical parts are stress tested to different ratings and while most get through the lifespan of a phone without issue, some will fail prematurely.
That is the same with folding phones which also have to deal with the hinge mechanism. Hovever, the minimum hinge rating is 100 folds a day for five years. Some are rated for far more. There is no design deficiency but they do need more looking after than slab phones. That is very much part of the purchase decision.
As is buying a slab phone with glass fronts and backs and using them without a case.
Ratings are just ratings though. Like IP ratings. There are no guarantees involved.
Like I said above, given prices for the 'creme de la creme' folding phones, I doubt longevity is an issue as many who buy them will probably upgrade to the next best thing when it's available. People with a lot of disposable income as opposed to your average buyers.
That is a market that Apple would love to have access to, especially as it might be losing sales to competitors because it does not offer a competing product.
And in China, where Apple is having a very tough time, that situation is at risk of getting worse because there is a mature ultra premium market that is being catered to with compelling products, not least the MatePad Fold.
Comments
Good thing everyone has an opinion, bc this is definitely not a definitive statement. Foldable phones are ridiculously niche and so far kinda goofy. Apple has long been more the kind to hold off on something until they feel they can make a better version. I won't be surprised to see them decide there's no polishing a turd.
Now I'm really going to step in it, so don't hit me with a rock. The Microsoft Duo had the coolest potential; two glass screens with a hinge. The problem was Microsoft did it, and they did it with Android. It was all so laughably terrible. Consumers cried out for this device to run Windows or resurrected Windows Phone. Nope. And in the way of Microsoft of late, they created a cool device with potential, and then neglected in until it withered and died. I guess Microsoft is good at following through with that.
So imagine a Duo like device, but with the Apple charm of design. Two actual screens side by side that fold together like a small book ever so nicely, running Apple software, and using Apple silicon. The gaming possibilities. Productivity and multitasking possibilities. Could do some slick photo editing. Some nifty group video calls. I wouldn't even mind so much watching a full screen video, but I know Apple can master edge to edge, so I'd probably mentally delete that glitch anyway. I think I'd want this thing.
Now everybody was hot for Microsoft to do a larger two screen device, but it never saw consumer release. Didn't Apple just back burner their folding iPad, maybe a two screen iPad? Microsoft went with the phone version and criminally neglected it to death. If Apple created an iPhone device like this, I'd want it very bad. Way more so than any current iPhone or imaginable iPhone in the current form factor. Not a yucky single screen Android foldable. Yes, I want two screens, Apple tech, silicon, software, and compatibility. Do this Apple. Do this the Apple way.
Just like a crease on a folding phone but with one big difference. You normally never even see it until you tilt the phone to an unnatural angle to force it into view.
All mechanical parts are stress tested to different ratings and while most get through the lifespan of a phone without issue, some will fail prematurely.
That is the same with folding phones which also have to deal with the hinge mechanism. Hovever, the minimum hinge rating is 100 folds a day for five years. Some are rated for far more. There is no design deficiency but they do need more looking after than slab phones. That is very much part of the purchase decision.
As is buying a slab phone with glass fronts and backs and using them without a case.
Ratings are just ratings though. Like IP ratings. There are no guarantees involved.
Like I said above, given prices for the 'creme de la creme' folding phones, I doubt longevity is an issue as many who buy them will probably upgrade to the next best thing when it's available. People with a lot of disposable income as opposed to your average buyers.
That is a market that Apple would love to have access to, especially as it might be losing sales to competitors because it does not offer a competing product.
And in China, where Apple is having a very tough time, that situation is at risk of getting worse because there is a mature ultra premium market that is being catered to with compelling products, not least the MatePad Fold.