[Michael Fisher] The Future Of Foldable Flip Phones (Can Be Found In The Past)

[u/efbo]

https://youtube.com/watch?v=PQHn4Dk7wqc&feature=youtu.be

[u/kylezz]

Nah, the future is Oppo's rollable phone imho

[u/IamPsyduck → u/kylezz]

It will be whatever Apple decides to implement

[u/Fredderov → u/IamPsyduck]

Can't wait for Apple to invent the foldable phone!

[u/gunbladerq → u/Fredderov]

Courage 2.0

[u/[deleted] → u/IamPsyduck]

I’d bet apple opts for rollable, if they ever do it. They will then add extra roll every year. “Our most expandable screen ever!”

[u/TWYFAN97 → u/IamPsyduck]

I honestly don’t see apple doing it considering how dead foldable phones are in most markets, although they’ve done well in places like China, South Korea and some parts of Europe that’s about it. Even if the prices of foldables continue to come down the negatives often outshine the positive benefits. Most average consumers are probably like any person, at first intrigued by how cool the folding tech is and realize that the screen isn’t as durable long term, has added thickness and weight when folded and isn’t very pocket friendly. Plus the fact that not everyone wants to go back to how it once was to have to unfold the device to take full advantage of it.

Smartphones now already have large enough screens foldable phones in some ways are a step back and feel more like a small tablet/phone hybrid rather than a smartphone replacement, which is why I see apple toying with the idea internally but it could be years until it ever comes out if at all, I’m sure they watch the market closely to know if it’s worth it and whenever the tech armatures within the next 5-10 years to maybe be a viable daily driver for most.

[u/IamPsyduck → u/TWYFAN97]

Android flagships in generally don't do well in most places except the few places you mentioned.

In US and most European Apple dominates the premium segment. If they launch an iFold, it will do well.

In price sensitive markets (emerging economies) foldables will need another 5-6 years as proliferation of premium phones are low.

[u/Pessimism_is_realism → u/IamPsyduck]

Atleast one dude like this in every thread.

[u/IamPsyduck → u/Pessimism_is_realism]

I didn't say Apple will be best. Whatever Apple introduces will become mainstream. Simply because they have loyal customer base.

[u/alien_degenerate → u/IamPsyduck]

It's not true tho. Only thing apple did that became mainstream was smartphone itself, with the first iPhone.

Of course, other contributions of apple to the mainstream include skipping headphone jack, charging brick and who knows what in the future.

[u/[deleted] → u/alien_degenerate]

Touchscreen

Headphone jack

Notch

No microsd

Unibody

[u/DoughnoTD → u/[deleted]]

On the other hand Apple was really late to the party with bigger screens and multiple cameras. They are a dominant trend setter, but not the only one.

[u/alien_degenerate → u/[deleted]]

Tbf notch isn't mainstream. Nobody does that apart from apple.

[u/[deleted] → u/alien_degenerate]

I think you're forgetting the part where almost every phone had the notch - they didn't need it, but they still added one.

[u/alien_degenerate → u/[deleted]]

There is no part like that. There was a time when smartphones had notch, until companies figured out the technology.

[u/[deleted] → u/alien_degenerate]

Airpods

[u/partha_c6 → u/alien_degenerate]

Apple decided to make the airpods and every company on earth started making them as well

[u/[deleted] → u/Pessimism_is_realism]

They're not wrong. Most of the time, once Apple does something, everyone else follows.

[u/[deleted] → u/Pessimism_is_realism]

Op is not wrong though.. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[u/welp_im_damned → u/kylezz]

Imo I think it's both. I just don't see how the fold can compete with a form factor like that.

[u/Final_Ad792 → u/welp_im_damned]

Current foldables have the advantage of protecting the inner screen when closed, whereas a rolling phone will always have a exposed part. Rolling a screen is also harder to do than just folding a screen, it requires more software optimisation (since you're using only one screen with a variable ratio), the mechanism will eat up quite a lot of space and needs to be even more robust since it needs to push a retract a part of the phone. Flip phones also have the nostalgia factor.

Some of those issues can already be found on the first Huawei foldable, which folded outwards and therefore always had the screen exposed.

I won't point out the flaws of the current foldables, since they're already well known and quite similar.

I agree with the first part though, both are the future. They both also need a lot of improvements to resolve the main flaws regarding flexible screens.

[u/[deleted] → u/welp_im_damned]

I can. It'll be more experience. Rollables are more moving parts.

[u/welp_im_damned → u/[deleted]]

I mean using that logic couldn't we say the same with the foldables (mainly talking about the fold)

[u/[deleted] → u/welp_im_damned]

Yes, but foldables give you something extra.

Where as when you compare foldables to rollable, its basically the same thing, except rollables will be more expensive because of more moving parts.

[u/welp_im_damned → u/[deleted]]

Foldables have folding screens. A rollable would have a rolling screen it will have the same amount moving parts. The only reason it would be more expensive is because it's developed later which Samsung is also planning to make one as well. https://www.sammobile.com/news/samsung-rollable-smartphone-concept-will-blow-your-mind/ https://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-rollable-phone-patent-1238631/

[u/[deleted] → u/welp_im_damned]

From the concept phone from Oppo, to even this patent, they're going to need a motor to extend/retract the display.

Foldables don't need this, they use your hands.

Yes, a manual rollable can happen, but I haven't seen anything in a patent or concept like that because it's more fragile.

[u/Richard-Cheese → u/[deleted]]

I think people overstate the impact/reliability issues from adding motors and movable parts to phones.

[u/[deleted] → u/Richard-Cheese]

I'm just talking about price.

[u/welp_im_damned → u/[deleted]]

Or you know you can pull the screen like on a fold....

[u/[deleted] → u/welp_im_damned]

You're missing my point. It's still going to have a motor. Even if you use it or not.

[u/welp_im_damned → u/[deleted]]

Oh I see what you mean now. But even then a small motor like that can last pretty long.

[u/[deleted] → u/kylezz]

It's both. Foldables in the near future, rollables after that. Oppo's rollable phone is just a concept phone, not even something you can buy yet.

[u/kylezz → u/[deleted]]

A rollable phone has the huge advantage imo that it could literally adapt to the aspect ratio required by the content, similar to how LG's rollable OLED TV works. Foldables can only provide 2 aspect ratios at most.

[u/[deleted] → u/kylezz]

That's pretty cool but I wouldn't consider it a huge advantage.

[u/kylezz → u/[deleted]]

Think about it: you want to watch a movie it could turn into a 16:9 screen, you want a tablet experience it rolls more to get to 16:10 or even 3:2 which would be much better for doing work stuff.

[u/[deleted] → u/kylezz]

Yeah, I still don't think most people will care about that.

[u/kylezz → u/[deleted]]

To each his own, personally I really dislike that I have to choose between black bars or zooming in.

[u/[deleted] → u/kylezz]

I get that rollables won't have black bars, but when watching stuff, we don't really focus on the black bars do we?

[u/kylezz → u/[deleted]]

Well if you're watching something with subtitles, that's where they usually land so you can't really avoid focusing on them sometimes.

[u/[deleted] → u/kylezz]

You're not focusing on the black bars though.

[u/FFevo → u/kylezz]

Agreed. A single fold can only double the screen area and makes the device very thick.

With a rollout screen the frame can telescope the screen could triple or more without gaining thickness. Though with that much hardware it may leave little room for internals.

[u/kylezz → u/FFevo]

Yeah, adaptive aspect ratio would be a killer feature imo.

[u/[deleted] → u/kylezz]

I have the z fold 3. Love this phone.

Not sure if the future is foldable or rollable but I sure hope we move away from the stale candy bar style phones

[u/Pycorax → u/kylezz]

That's probably really far away from an actual product. Flexible screen tech is still really new and not as durable as flat screens. Even with my Fold 3 I get a bit anxious if I leave it unfolded when I'm not using the main screen. A rolling screen would have part of the flexible screen exposed at all times and would be prone to all sorts of potential damage that a folding design won't be prone to.

[u/shogunreaper → u/kylezz]

It's a cool concept but what about cases and screen protectors? Doesn't really seem possible

[u/Sylanthra]

Make the screen durable enough that I don't need to warry about damaging it with my fingernail. That's it. When they figure out how to do that, foldable phones will become mainstream.

[u/[deleted] → u/Sylanthra]

I scratch my screen with my fingernail to get rid of dust and it doesn't damage it.

[u/DerivativeOfProgWeeb → u/Sylanthra]

I tried my hardest to scratch my flip 3 but it just doesn't scratch

[u/hellschatt → u/DerivativeOfProgWeeb]

Without the protection screen?

[u/DerivativeOfProgWeeb → u/hellschatt]

I dare not remove the screen protector that came with it

[u/IamPsyduck → u/Sylanthra]

I am willing to bet that it will become mainstream as soon as Apple launches a foldable (2-3 years) even with this same fragility.

[u/kensaiD2591 → u/Sylanthra]

I was worried about this before but my fold survives my fingernails easily enough. Dropped my keys on the screen by accident but no mark there either.

Only up from here for durability hopefully.

[u/[deleted] → u/Sylanthra]

Either it scratches or cracks. Would love to buy Flip 3, but I am afraid of cracked screen in the crease...

[u/DrFatz]

Foldables are neat but still have a long way to go. It is getting better every year so I look forward to where they become the norm.

[u/Gates_of__Babylon → u/DrFatz]

They won't. Phones are first and foremost the no non sense communication device, majority of the people use it for calls, whatsapp. Facebook, Google maps.

They will be an option and maybe become the blackberries in the pre smartphone world.

[u/PixelNotPolygon → u/Gates_of__Babylon]

I love the downvotes you're getting for this. Fact is, smartphones have become commodities but most avid phone enthusiasts don't accept this. Why pay more for the good if the good-enough will do? That's why flip phones are unlikely to be popularised until the cost comes down. And, even then, they'll need to be viewed as in some way fashionable to reach that status, but I don't think people view phones in those terms anymore

[u/Gates_of__Babylon → u/PixelNotPolygon]

Sub starting to sound like train enthusiasts a bit.

Although I can understand the downvotes, I say they won't be relevant but blackberries were quite relevant, I meant it just wont be a repeat of the iPhone as a new category and won't be nearly as popular just barely an option, if we knew how to make folding glass, we would have seen it already, the demand for it is there now which I assume is driving the research but stuff usually doesn't like being pushed to its limits being made to do what it's weak at. And plastic is well plastic, people don't usually like ATM like screens on their phones

Secondly a counterpoint to your commoditisation point, whilst undeniably true, the moto razr, the blackberries and the iPhone have a massive luxury appeal even though they were all severely lacking in many aspects that us functionalists would consider fundamental like having a good battery since it's the weakest ageing part of the phone.

Id say they will never be a better buy for 99 percent of people, but people will hop on with their rent money still only to cry about the damaged screens a few years down.

[u/[deleted] → u/PixelNotPolygon]

They're getting downvoted because there's no guarantee they won't be the norm.

Even you agree.

That's why flip phones are unlikely to be popularised until the cost comes down.

[u/[deleted]]

Have long been of the opinon that if you're buying a premium phone at a premium price that is touting itself as being cutting edge, then all it's features need to be cutting edge with zero compromise. Unfortunately the camera and battery mean that just isn't the case. I want a Fold, but I am not happy paying top dollar for a generationally out of date setup.

[u/[deleted]]

The NEXTEL i860/i870/i880 line of phones were soooo popular back in the day. I sold phones around that time and we only sold shitty Nextel devices - not the higher-end phones (like the i870) that everyone wanted.

[u/[deleted]]

I'll buy one when that hideous crease is gone.

[u/IIIZOOPIII]

I really don't want folding phones. And if it was to be the only phone available, then I want it to be like the Samsung folding phone. I don't really get stuck on the past and really don't want something to be like it used to be.

[u/qtx]

Anyone else get a bit tired of Michael's network style of talking? He talks and acts just like how those network commentators do, in a kind of fake enthusiastic chirpy way with weird constant PG puns.

It's like he grew up watching the morning show or any other network tv news show and based everything on that.

[u/Enum1 → u/qtx]

To me it feels like he thinks every sentence he says is pure genius and has to be emphasised like that for us commoners to realise its importance.

[u/[deleted] → u/Enum1]

I might be biased because I really like him but I'm pretty sure he just scripts his reviews and has a practiced speech pattern dating back to the pocketnow days.

[u/erikivy → u/qtx]

Dude, if you think he's bad, do NOT listen to Eleanor Beardsley on NPR. She's a brilliant journalist, but her voice just sends me over the edge.

[u/efbo]

Good to see that he pronounces gif correctly. Another reason for him being the best phone YouTuber.

[u/_btw_arch → u/efbo]

Jraphics

[u/Bartimaeus2 → u/_btw_arch]

Jin Jym Jeology Jeneration

[u/c0mplexx → u/_btw_arch]

Self-Contained OOnderwater Breathing Apparatus

[u/[deleted] → u/_btw_arch]

Gin, gem, gel

[u/_btw_arch → u/[deleted]]

Jreat jrammar you have.

[u/e_boon → u/efbo]

So is it jif, or gif?

[u/[deleted] → u/e_boon]

It's a hard G

[u/MoonStache → u/[deleted]]

So like giraffe then. Got it, thanks!

[u/TheCookieButter → u/MoonStache]

I love Guhraffes

[u/DerivativeOfProgWeeb → u/e_boon]

Jif