vukasika

While this phone is attractive, it is also trying to distract you from the fundamental problem with an Android OS phone, which is that the tablet app experience is garbage. On a phablet the issues was not as noticeable because I think most of us considered the additional screen real estate a reasonable trade off for a phone that perhaps couldn't quite fit in your pocket. I am of the opinion that the reason Android phone use grew was a combination of Google literally giving them away & the fact that the additional screen size of the phablets did not created a noticeable change in the app experience.  Fast forward to today, while all of us are wondering who's going to make a the first phone that unfolds into a tablet.  Samsung & Huawei unveil 2 phones that unfold & transform from small chunky phones into phablets, which is exactly what no one asked for. Samsung bragged that Google helped them develop the apps that optimized the larger screen.  LoL what they meant to say was the square screen.  Why did they do this? Because Google knows that Android phablet that expands into a full sized tablet is DoA.  Even Google Pixel doesn't use Android OS. Now maybe an Android phone that unfolds and is running Chrome on the bigger screen can work but that's a different story & this doesn't seem to be likely as Google tinkers with the idea of a brand new OS.  The same problem need solved though, large screen apps of quality would need to be created as very few actually exist now. 

Apple on the other had is well positioned for a phone that unfolds into a tablet for 2 reasons. First, the Apple focus on thin phones.  We've all wondered why the Apple obsession with skinny phones.  Well maybe because 2 very thin sides of a folded phone would avoid the chunky appearance of a future foldable iPhone.  We all know Apple has a thing for aesthetics and an Apple foldable is not going to look like a iBrick when folded close. Second, the Apple tablet experience is great.  iOS actually takes advantage of the additional screen real estate to give us a better app experience.  I don't see any other provider who can reproduce an experience that takes advantage of the additional space to make something happen. Perhaps Microsoft will one day delivery on an ARM-base full version of Windows on a "micro-tablet" format but this just seems unlikely to happen anytime soon.  Microsofts committed to mobile platform self-inflicted harm is legendary at this point.  Anyone who says that are developing a phone for Windows should probably be put on suicide watch at this point.

Add to this madness the price point.  It's as if Apple said "we will charge $1500 for a phablet" and the Android response was "hold my beer."  This is complete and utter madness at this point.  A $2000 phone better be able to connect to a screen, mouse & keyboard and run full desktop class OS, at least in my opinion. I think the $2000+ phone category has 1 cycle in it just like the $10,000 Apple watch category. Phone makers seem to have forgotten that then pushed the issue of new phones every year but this is no longer a sustainable cycle.  I got an XS Max last year because on of my kids finally needed a replacement for him damaged 7 so I gave my 7s+.  All of the sane people I know are only buying phones to replace damaged ones that are no longer under covered under warranties. 

All that said I can think of one glaring reason Apple doesn't want to make the foldable phone that people seem to want.  The golden rule of Tim Cook's Apple, Thou Shall NOT Compromise Profit. A phone that could replace the need to buy a phone & a tablet is an anathema of the current business model dominating Apple. This is the same reason why you will NEVER see an Apple equivalent of the Surface Book. By that I mean a device that is MacOS when the connected but iOS when you disconnect the screen (so not gonna happen).  Apple will only engage in innovation when the threat of profitable tanking from stagnation outweighs the benefit of bleeding the consumers pockets for every possible dime.  Don't get me wrong, this in not a SJW rant, but Apple doesn't seem to lean forward into R&D any more, it just fine tunes the advances of others these days. I find it odd that most Apple folks don't even notice that any more.  I suppose that's just one more example of the bubbles we live in these days.

As always, just my $.02 on the topic. Everyone have a great day.
#Vuk

$2000 for a phone is steep, yes.  But lets but honest, I dropped $1500 for a loaded Xs Max.  Add my AppleCare on there and its close.  I have dropped $2000 on worse things so I'm not good complain about the price though I acknowledge it is a hefty price. In truth though, I'm going to rock both my Xs Max and my 3rd Gen 12.9 for a few years before I even thing about replacing them because the pricing on phones & tablets has become comical.

That said here's the real problem I don't see much commentary on, ANDROID TABLET APP EXPERIENCE SUCKS!!!!!  

Dropping 2 grand for a foldable pocket tablet is one thing but when most of the apps boil down to being blown up larger versions of the phone app, this crosses the line into stupid.  Until the tablet experience with Android gets better, this is basically a flip phone for the elderly or the visually impaired.

This is why we have laws against frivolous lawsuits and people hate lawyers.  I hope Apple wins and gets a judgement against this troll for all legal fees.

At th risk of getting flamed. I don't think Windows is finished with the mobile world just finished with the Windows Mobile platform. Processors are getting smaller and smaller.  Full blown Windows running on ARMs. Screens thinner and flexible. Hell, think about how beast the current iPad Pro is right now. Its only a matter of time before one of those amazing concept photos of a trifold slate that goes from being a phone to a decent size table becomes a reality.  I think Microsoft is taking a step back from a floundering platform to get prepped for the next wave.Time will tell, but I think competition in the mobile tech marketplace is good for all of us.

If memory serves, didn't Android beat Apple to the 4G market space as well?  I know there was to me a significant difference in performance between 3G & 4G, but I don't really hear anyone complaining about how slow their phones access data any longer.  I'm not saying that 5G isn't going to be awesome just that 1st to market isn't necessary a good thing.  Does anyone even remember Sprint WiMax 4G network?