Yea, book style foldables (even though they still have the thickness, complexity and price tag) at least offer far more usefulness being able to deliver a near-tablet size screen when needed and a somewhat regular smartphone when not
These flip phones are nothing but a nostalgia cash grab IMO
I will add as someone who just got the z flip 6 as my first foldable, the biggest thing I'm enjoying and that the people around me are noticing, is that I don't get "drug" into excess screen time just from looking at a notification. I'm more likely to dismiss it or deal with it quickly from the cover screen, or make a more conscious decision to open the phone up to engage, if that makes any sense.
I don't think it's recency bias or just trying to justify the purchase, and it's probably fair to call it a really expensive solution to a self control problem, but it has changed the way I use my phone in a more significant manner. I also enjoy the form factor in the pocket, and for the security for NFC payment/taps, but that stuffs been covered plenty of places.
I bought a wallet case so its only as big as a wallet. Now I only have one object in my pockets instead of 2. Without the case its pretty slim folded up.
You misunderstood. It's not practical for YOU. It's practical for Samsung who constantly needs a new gimmick to continue to hike the price of flagship devices higher.
? Just because it's not practical for everyone doesn't mean it's "just a gimmick".
Modern smartphones are freaking gigantic. Women's pants pockets are comically tiny. Modern smartphones physically would not fit in the majority of my pants. I bought a Z Flip so I could fit a modern phone in my pants and not be forced to carry around a purse.
The length is important for women's pants pockets, not necessarily the thickness. It is practical for me. No, it's not practical for everyone.
I agree that modern smartphones are too big, but that's what the vast majority of the options are nowadays. I don't know if you can call it a "gimmick" anymore if literally all of them are like that. It's getting harder and harder to find a reasonably sized phone. But believe me, if I didn't have a folding phone, I'd be looking out for small phones like the Zen phone.