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pier25

Foldables seem like Homer's car to me. It's a worse phone and a worse tablet all in one.

For reference:

https://media.wired.com/photos/593252a1edfced5820d0fa07/3:2/...

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Just like people complaining about "phablets" a decade ago right? "more bulky than a phone, smaller than a tablet"?

Modern phones are all phablets and it sucks but it's the only format they offer. Smaller phones are nicer to hold and nicer to use for everyday tasks. My thumb can actually reach things. At least AI will no doubt reduce the need for pressing buttons.

Manufacturers want phones to be thin so the only way to fit in the battery life is for the whole phone to be larger. In case you didn't notice it's really really difficult to find a side on photo of the iPhone Duo closed. They don't want to show the thickness.

Note that every time a company comes up with a choice between a smaller phone and a larger phone (up to some limit when you get into phablet territory), the larger phone sells in much, much higher numbers. Apple themselves tried the Mini, it sold at best a few percent of how well the regular phones sell.

While you, personally, might prefer smaller phones, and that's a perfectly valid preference, you are very much in the minority.

Keep in mind there may be a significant Pepsi Challenge effect at play here.

The mini had awful battery life and that's why it wasn't liked.

Phablets are still bad, and yes, I am aware that a lot of phones today are just phablets. Everyone uses them, doesn't mean they're not bad.

it pretty explicitly does, it just means you don't like them.

If they are bad, why do people prefer them?

Because they're addicted to online content consumption. See also: sports betting, cigarettes, fast food.

Did the “phablets” take over the world?

The original "phablet" was the Samsung Galaxy Note, considered comically large. At 147mm x 83mm, it's about the same size as the iPhone 18 Pro (150mm x 72mm)

Yes, the note 3 was considered "phablet", and it's much smaller than even ip17 now.

The note 3 was 151.2 x 79.2 x 8.3 mm

The iPhone 17 is 149.6 x 71.5 x 8 mm

So no, the note 3 is bigger than the iPhone 17

But, and this is probably what you meant, the iPhone 17 has a bigger screen. That's because recent phones got rid of the bezels, so they can fit more screen in the same body. That's why they have taller aspect ratios.

Thanks for correction, i mistook with the screen size

100% there’s no “normal size” iPhones anymore

The SE is the closest you can get

SE isn't sold anymore, and just like the Mini most of the NOS found today is actually refurbished.

the iPhone 16e is normal although I concede it's an exception

I mean kinda, yeah. Since that's literally the only kind of smartphone you can get nowadays.

Uh, yes? The first widespread usage of the word "phablet" I can recall was regarding the HTC HD2, which had a whopping 4.3" display and some people were losing their minds saying nobody would want to carry that in their pockets.

I remember the memes when the iPhone 5 came out.

It seems like it would be really useful for a frequent traveler/commuter, to be able to watch something on a flight/bus ride. I would definitely consider it if I were in that demographic

I bought my Steam Deck for a similar imagined use case but I find myself way too aware of the visibility of a larger than average screen to all those around me.

Clamshell phones were essentially the default design 2 decades ago and people have been talking about folding phones ever since, really. Folding is a unique way to overcome the ever present size issues/comments; however, it looks like the manufacturers have taken an alternate approach and used folding to double the size rather than halve it.

Modern foldable phones are, fundamentally, different than clamshell phones like a Motorola razor

the motorola razr is actually quite similar in the old and new variation though?

The purpose of the og razr clamshell was to extend the small device into something that reached both your ear and your mouth; not so much to have an increased screen surface/working space. Now we're trying to fold the phablets into something that still fits in our pockets.

It's barely worse phone, and it's a much better table. My argument for the tablet is that if it was a separate device I would basically never use it because it's inconvenient.

It's bigger and heavier than a phone.

It has a smaller display with a crease[1] and has less battery than a tablet. The screen is even smaller than an iPad mini. IMO that form factor only really works for like a Kindle.

And the screen has a matte finish which is only going to reduce contrast.

[1] https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/1wbx1wo/there_is_a_cr...

You made a generalization about foldables. I don't have an iPhone I have a pixel. The screen is a normal phone screen on the outside. The weight doesn't bother me, it's smaller than my last phone and very slightly thicker which is still very thin, the crease is completely non issue and it's much worse on my phone than the iPhone. Battery is better than my last phone.

Anybody who mentions the crease hasnt used a folding phone in the last 3 years. Come on just try one

> less battery than a tablet

iPad mini battery life ~10-15 hours, iPhone duo 30+ hours so no...

Matte finishes are great for viewing outdoors too...

Apple claims 30+ hours yes but when using a single screen.

Nope, ~31 hours when using the inner screen, ~44 hours when using the external. Either way 30 >15 hours for the iPad mini.

Mmm I have had two foldables .. 3 years daily usage ... and they're great phones and great tablets.

So, ymmv.

theyre actually quite nice, and the added redudancy that you still have a perfectly working phone when one of the screens breaks is great.

the phone-ness is exactly the same, but i dont think anyone actually needs a full tablet, but an unfolded screen is just right for say, reading a diff on the bus.

I was much more impressed by the phone->tablet fold than i was expecting to be.

I had one and I can’t wait to but the iphone fold. I think you’re lacking imagination if you don’t think this is the future

You think foldables will replace phones and tablets?

Certainly not at $2000.

Not right now, but I could see eventually. Apple prices are always a bit higher then regular and this is their flagship, the next versions will reduce this original price.

Or... hear me out...people will just get used to paying more ;-)

Not for everything. There’ll be a more economic version down the road. Foldable phones are a new tech even Samsung is close to 2k so everyone’s testing with high costs.

Why does the future require two hands to operate?

My current iPhone I can hold and use with one thumb - what makes this better than that?

It's foldable. You can either fold it and use it with one thumb, or have a much larger screen depending on your actual needs at the moment.

Like that's the very point of foldables, otherwise they would be a tablet..

In my house, even the iPad hasn't been touched in weeks. I frankly don't see how tablets even have all that much appeal beyond little kids or maybe retail spaces. Don't really understand the utility of a convertible device.

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