Foldable Smartphone - a breakthrough innovation or a flop one?
- 01 Mar, 2021
Introduction
2019 was a stellar year for the foldable phone, and we saw some stunning smartphones appear –like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2, and the Huawei Mate X. After years of speculations, rumors, and leaks, the tech is finally with us.
The foldable smartphones were supposed to win the smartphone industry, but so far it has flopped. Launched as novel introductions to break boundaries in mobile innovation, foldable phones promised portability with displays that opened up to the size of tablets yet when closed could still perform most functions of a smartphone.
Evolution of Mobile Phones
The smartphones have largely retained the same shape over the years to serve as a mobile communication device. While their performance has improved dramatically over the years, the design has remained limited to a comparatively smaller screen, leading many to need a second and larger unit, the tablet to enhance their experience. The Samsung Galaxy Fold is the first device of its kind to combine the characteristics and functionality of both, offering users the comfort of a smartphone with a tablet's display and capabilities.
This is how it works: the 4.6-inch cover display is the size of a regular smartphone, suitable for one-handed use and phone calls, while the unfolded 7.3-inch main display offers a complete, cinema-grade immersive view, much like a tablet. However, the latest models offer improved functionality and the best of both worlds.
But part of the drawback for foldable phones is the price. The advent of the pandemic and already high smartphone prices are pushing people to delay upgrades, the sticky foldable smartphone prices have discouraged all but the most ardent early adopters. Most consumers have never seen or held a foldable phone. We know the longer we play with the phone, the more positive the result but the inability to handle the new devices in-person at stores meant few got the chance to see the appeal.
Pros of Foldable Smartphones
To have a comprehensible concept of the technology, here are some pros of foldable smartphones.
- Multitasking: With the advent of foldable phones, you are in for something extra than just a smartphone. It facilitates multitasking with the screen size.
- Single-Camera Setup: Camera is one of the most crucial aspects to be looked at. Your foldable phone makes the process easier since it permits a single sensor to function in the front as well as the rear camera. Users can snap a selfie or a usual picture dependent on the side they choose to fold their smartphones in.
- Space for Hardware: With the increase in size, the room for hardware such as bigger batteries and powerful processors increases. For example, with the Galaxy Fold, you get a device with dual batteries and 6 cameras, enabling extended usage as well as added flexibility. This is only possible because the device has the space to accommodate such modules.
- Huge Display: Foldable smartphones allow you to use a bigger screen for watching and doing the things you want to in a handy manner. The Huawei Mate X and its close contender Samsung Galaxy Fold offer you an 8- inch and 7.3-inch screen respectively.
Foldable Smartphones: Leading Brands
Samsung has a strong hold and represents around three-fifth of the upcoming foldable market. The other two strong opponents are Huawei and Motorola. The best foldable phone you can purchase currently is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2, which revises a the mistakes in the original Fold introduced in 2019. All the more significantly, Samsung has introduced upgrades to perform multiple tasks that builds the argument for getting a foldable telephone — you truly can accomplish more with a bigger display. Another major foldable phone is the Motorola Razr 5G. Lastly, foldable smartphones in 2021 are introduced by some leading brands such as Samsung Galaxy Z flip, Huawei Mate X, LG Wing, and LG G8X.
Is it worth buying in 2021 or we need to wait more?
When the device makers were expecting an increase in sales, the coronavirus pandemic hit and stripped away early enthusiasm. Buyers were stuck at home and didn’t need a multifunctional gadget on-the-go, while lockdowns closed many retail shops where buyers could be wooed by the flashy phones.
But with signs of gradual recovery, fans of book-reading, movie-watching, and gaming are looking for a large-screen experience. While the first foldable phones had their share of stumbles, the devices that came out recently have come closer to achieving the combination of versatility and portability promised by foldable designs. And there are still more phones on their way.
It is too early to tell whether foldable phones will succeed but the concept certainly is attractive. If you are looking for that versatility and an immersive experience via a device which allows you to use a big screen and takes up less space in the pocket, you can certainly pick a foldable smartphone for yourself. But if you don’t wish to spend this kind of money, the technology will probably become cheaper and more robust in the coming years for you to use this technology.