Global foldable smartphone shipments increased by just 2.9% YoY in 2024, and shipments are expected to decline by about 4% YoY in 2025.
Foldable Smartphone Market to See its First Decline in 2025 Before Robust Comeback in 2026
the problem with my NORMAL smartphone is it is TOO MUCH SCREEN. the bezels are so narrow i cant even grip it like a normal object without triggering touches on the screen sides. all buttons have been stripped off for over a decade now and you cannot hold it from the back without glueing an object on the back of your case. i can only reach 50% of my samsung phone screen with my thumb while holding it with one hand, making it a two handed device most of the time already. why in THE WORLD would i want my phone screen BIGGER?? honestly, why? the only thing I can think of is long commutes on a bus? but you can bring tablets... 🤷♂️
Because the front screen on my pixel fold is actually smaller
I think the idea is that for one, the front screen can be smaller and more easily used because the main screen is bigger. On the other hand, the main screen is bigger, allowing it to act as a tablet without having to carry a second device. On top of all that, it still fits in your pocket.
I've never seen the point of a folding phone other than as a gimmick you show off to your friends.
The flip style ones are pretty useless other than getting a preview on the main cameras.
The fold style, especially a trifold, seems pretty useful, and lets you basically carry around a decent size tablet in your pocket.
I definitely wouldn't call it a gimmick, although the price and durability tradeoffs are nowhere near worth it for 99% of people.
As someone who had a Samsung Flip3, I miss how easy it was to carry it around. It didn't feel like a brick that I had to take out of my pocket every time I needed to check my notifications. It was also surprisingly durable. Price is the main downside of these phones.
There's a fair chance I'll buy another one in the future if I have enough money when switching phones.
When you need to read a Wikipedia table but it's way too big for the phone screen without scrolling sideways or zooming so far you can't read it
just like the curved screen gimmick, newer models have abandoned it largely, because the cost of fixxing one that is prone to breaking, plus screen protectors have a hard time cover the curved areas.
Linus tech tips did an Android 30 day challenge trying to convert apple users and one of them said the foldable phone was nice because it actually fit in their pockets and belongings. Eventually they still stuck with their iphone because they're too dependent on the ecosystem though.
Mr Mobile talked about this in his review of Oppo's Find N5.
Essentially, while the product is great and folding phones are finding more utility, the price is still prohibitively high.
I upgraded to a Pixel 9 a few months ago because I specifically wanted to run GrapheneOS. I did considered a Pixel Fold, but really couldn't justify the extra cost. Maybe next time though...
I've had a folding Samsung for the past year and it's really great. The hardware and software do need time to mature (in fact, the phone is nearly useless in "folded" mode without third-party apps), but at this point I don't think I could go back.
What makes you say the phone is useless in folded mode? I had the Fold 3 and 6 and I never really found the front screen to be an issue. If anything, I found it more usable than regular slab phones because of how narrow it is, it makes one handed usage so easy.
I think their cost is a huge barrier to entry for most people.
I'm interested in getting a foldable eventually, but I think it's still too soon and too costly.
Having 2 phones is much better in every use case, IMO.
