Are foldables in fashion now?
Samsung launched its first foldable phone in 2019 and was the only company to seriously pursue the form factor for several years. Those early devices were clunky and more interesting as feats of engineering than things you’d want to carry with you all day, but little by little, foldable hardware improved until Apple was finally able to release the product it wanted. The iPhone Duo is not an island: it relies on many of the same components as other foldable phones, including Samsung displays.
The iPhone Duo may lead to wider foldables (and bigger hands, apparently).
Credit: apple
The iPhone Duo may lead to wider foldables (and bigger hands, apparently).
Credit: apple
Apple’s hype train is unstoppable, so increased interest in foldable products was probably inevitable. Samsung expanded its foldable lineup with the non-Ultra model just in time, likely due to leaks of the Apple device. But the larger form factor isn’t just a gimmick: it solves several annoying problems with foldable phones. The main screen is better for watching videos with less wasted space. It’s also better for reading documents and using unoptimized apps (many of which are in the Play Store) in portrait orientation compared to square folding screens. This is a positive change for foldable phones and we will likely see other OEMs replicate it in the coming months.
Anyway, the folding price is definitely No Cold. It’s hard to justify spending $2,000 on a phone, but at the same time, all devices are getting more expensive. With recent price increases, high-end flat phones from Samsung, Google and Apple are only a few hundred dollars away from their foldable options. Folding prices have also risen little by little, but not to the same extent. Apple even got an unusually competitive price (for a foldable model) of $2,000 for the iPhone Duo. Samsung’s wide folding model is a little cheaper, at $1,900, and has been discounted at some retailers since its launch.
