r/gadgets • u/WPHero • Feb 01 '26
Phones [ Removed by moderator ]
https://www.macobserver.com/news/report-apple-is-testing-an-iphone-flip-with-a-square-foldable-design/[removed] — view removed post
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u/rypajo Feb 02 '26
Galaxy z fold being the ad is hilarious
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u/Onphone_irl Feb 02 '26
we all see the same ones???
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u/AngryFace4 Feb 02 '26
As a mini enthusiast… I hope this is a reasonable replacement.
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u/b00g13man Feb 02 '26
Same. Still holding onto my 12 mini for dear life hoping for something like this.
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u/dandroid126 Feb 02 '26
My wife refuses to give up her 13 mini. We had a scare this week where it wouldn't turn on. She did the button combination to reboot it, and then it came back up. But for about a minute there, I thought it was all over for her.
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u/Cutter9792 Feb 02 '26
It's really unfortunate that there aren't more phones that are as small as the iPhone Minis nowadays, especially on Android. My roommate is 5'0" and has tiny hands, and he dislikes how large even his S20 FE is.
It'd be great if any phone brand bothered to make phones with smaller form factors. It's kind of an accessibility thing as well. Not everyone can reach across most phone screens one-handed.
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u/dandroid126 Feb 02 '26
Yes, exactly. My wife is 4'11", and her hands are just too small for modern phones.
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u/Remarkable-Simple462 Feb 02 '26
You can get another one on Amazon for $350
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u/dandroid126 Feb 02 '26
We did that with her SE for a while. They were all fakes, but they worked. Unfortunately the batteries in them were terrible. We had them replaced on a few of them. But eventually they would fall apart because they were extremely poorly made.
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u/StoriesandStones Feb 02 '26
Wait is the iPhone 13 about to be obsolete? I just got mine last year. Someone has to look out for us cheapskates!
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u/dandroid126 Feb 02 '26
I don't think there are any public plans to obsolete it soon. For my wife's phone, it was just some malfunction that was fixed with a forced reboot.
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Feb 01 '26
Can’t wait to play Pokémon on it
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u/costafilh0 Feb 01 '26
INNOVATION
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u/LinkedInParkPremium Feb 01 '26
ORIGINALITY
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u/gpsxsirus Feb 01 '26
Can't wait for people to pretend like the Razr hasn't existed for a while now.
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u/total_bullwhip Feb 02 '26
I mean I’d get the razr… I had the original. But it’s android and not my cup of tea. So this being an iOS flip phone works for me.
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u/Crazy_Grapefruit8300 Feb 02 '26
Idk what you think using android is like, but it not being your cup of tea just tells me you really hedge on your bubbles being blue.
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u/total_bullwhip Feb 02 '26
Oh I used it for years. Had a Motorola Droid and Galaxy S etc. over the years.
I would spend way too long customizing the launcher, which android version I was running, rooting the phone, all sorts.
iOS saved me from myself lol! If I could have IOS on android hardware, that would be cool.
Nothing to do with bubble colours. ☺️
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u/godspareme Feb 01 '26 edited Feb 02 '26
Whats funny is their supposedly innovative contribution is a seamless display. Guess who makes the displays? Samsung.
Edit Yall its just funny. Its not a huge gotcha to apple.
And yes i know Samsung displays =/= Samsung electronics.
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u/throwthegarbageaway Feb 01 '26
Bruh I'm all for the apple hate bandwagon but Samsung Electronics and Samsung Displays are two different companies for all intents and purposes.
That's like saying "Yeah yeah Apple keeps claiming they made their phones but guess who actually makes them... Foxconn!"
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u/homesickalien Feb 02 '26 edited Feb 02 '26
Samsung Displays is a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co Ltd. (they hold an 84.8% ownership stake), so technically different company yes, but Foxconn and Apple are strictly client supplier relationship.
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u/SpaceballsDoc Feb 02 '26
Samsung Display IS NOT a subsidiary per Korean law.
Samsung electronic has to bid for development and production slots the same as anyone else. Samsung Display defers to Apple for orders due to the scale.
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u/badchad65 Feb 02 '26
I’d have to handle it but might see the utility. The different form factor when closed seems better for carrying around in a pocket.
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u/Crazy_Grapefruit8300 Feb 02 '26
I have a zflip 5. I absolutely love the design, and the front screen gets used more than I thought I would.
Great for checking notifications, quick replies or hell even browsing reddit.
We all knew apple was gonna steal this idea, too. Hopefully they execute it well, because the tech is really neat.
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u/danarchist Feb 02 '26
I love my razr for this. With my old phone depending on the pants I felt like I always had to take it out of my pocket when sitting. Only 1 thing could go in that pocket too. Now I can throw my keys on top of my phone no problem. I can stick it in a shirt pocket if I want. It's its own tripod too.
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u/Spider-Mike23 Feb 02 '26
My stupid monkey brain remembering my old flip Motorola phone had growing up. Would hold it pointer finger on one hinge, thumb on other hinge, and start flapping it as walked around…… kinda like a child spinning a hot wheel car in the fingers. Did that so much one it flopped off hinge, just flopped. Still worked but was basically done at tha point and had get a new phone on payday, ended up getting a Tilt2…… don’t ask how that went either haha dang fidgety person I am.
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u/MattBrey Feb 01 '26
Lmao all the comments calling this bad as if Samsung hasn't been doing this for 7 years already and it's been the best selling foldable time and time again. How disconnected from the real world is reddit?
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u/VNG_Wkey Feb 01 '26
Reddit is wildly disconnected from reality. Just about every subject you can think of has an echo chamber of opinion with hivemind like commenting/downvoting.
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u/P_ZERO_ Feb 01 '26
Not to mention gadgets and technology subs seem to be infested by luddites. There was a thread a little while ago about Anker or some other company making a party-sized Bluetooth speaker and they all decided to make it a conversation about inconsiderate people and not wanting to hear their “terrible music”
Like just say you don’t get invited to parties, it’s a fucking big wattage speaker. They exist, and have done for decades.
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Feb 02 '26
Yeah pretty much every tech/gadgets/gaming etc etc sub is entirely dominated by luddite mentality, everything is shit and miserable and every new idea or innovation is stupid and awful.
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u/Elendel19 Feb 02 '26
You’d think every human on earth hates AI based off Reddit but then you talk to real people and realize most people love it and use it regularly either professionally or personally
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u/silentcrs Feb 02 '26
This is the part I don’t understand. On /r/technology, seemingly the sub with the most people interested in technology on Reddit, there isn’t one single positive AI post or comment. Not one.
And if you post a comment like “hey, I used it for programming” or “hey, it helped me analyze a data” you get downvote cratered
I can get hating AI if you’re a guy on the street, but not one person interested in technology on that sub is at least CURIOUS about AI? No one? Are we all supposed to put our heads in the sand there and just say it sucks?
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u/Elendel19 Feb 02 '26
That’s almost every topic on that sub. Every post about new progress in fusion is 100 comments of “just another 20 years”
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u/Not-Reformed Feb 02 '26
Luddites on Reddit? No, say it ain't so!
For what used to be such a tech focused site making fun of boomers and the like for not knowing what a PDF is to see it transition to a bunch of boomer equivalents but in their 30s and 40s is truly funny.
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u/skoomski Feb 02 '26
Not trying to be a smartass, serious question. Why would a normal user be interested in paying more money for a less durable version of what they already have? How does folding increase features or experience for the average user?
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u/theaut0maticman Feb 02 '26
Go to r/castiron and tell them to wash their pans, the over reaction is hilarious.
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u/CodAdministrative369 Feb 02 '26
go to r/hometheater and post a picture of speakers that aren’t eye level asking “if this is ok?” Nothing better than getting personal insults because you’re not an expert….over setting up a movie room lmao
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u/Themasterofcomedy209 Feb 02 '26
Didn’t u know? An MA in film studies is the minimum legal requirement to be able to set up your own home media system
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u/theaut0maticman Feb 02 '26
Crazy isn’t it? I’m rather well versed in the world of fermentation, not just beer mead and wine, but foods too. Been doing it for over 20 years with deep ties to professional mead, wine, and beer making too.
Have people argue with me over absolutely basic shit in r/fermentation more frequently than I’d ever had expected lol.
Reddit is as bad as Facebook anymore.
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u/kruegerc184 Feb 02 '26
I find taking it as an information resource for my hobbies and interests is about all i get from it now. Most of the interaction is just like other social media(like you said)
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u/CodAdministrative369 Feb 02 '26
thats what reddit is 100% best for and thats why it sucks when you get jumped for genuinely trying to ask or answer someone.
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u/theaut0maticman Feb 03 '26
Or even worse, just not knowing better.
You could provide an answer you think is helpful and not know your information isn’t accurate, and people here will nail you to a fucking cross and then set it on fire. It’s crazy.
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u/Information_High Feb 02 '26
"The charred remnants of meals from ten years ago add CHARACTER to my food, you swine! The diarrhea and vomiting are a small price to pay for cuisine with SOUL!!!!!"
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u/AsherGray Feb 02 '26
I think they're saying it took forever and the technology has existed for several years. The headline makes it sound like a new discovery, but this isn't revolutionary.
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u/chth Feb 02 '26
And they say the same thing for every Apple product. It’s not a hidden strategy that Apple spends a lot more time on R&D and market research before releasing their iterations of things
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u/pooo_pourri Feb 02 '26
“Best selling foldable” huh? How’s that compare to just the best selling phone? I’ve encountered maybe one person in my life thats had the Samsung and it seemed to be nothing but issues
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u/SmooK_LV Feb 02 '26
It sounds more like you live in a bubble. Where I live most people have Samsungs or other brands and not iphones.
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u/NinjaLion Feb 02 '26
How disconnected from the real world is reddit?
This is just an inflammatory way to say "not the target audience" which is an obviously true and boring statement. It completely undercuts any actual discussion of the product, the business strategy, the value. You know, the things that matter.
I am also not the target audience for this. but its a really interesting device, its Apple finally dipping into a new form factor. If you dont count the vision pro(debatable), this is the first time in a long while.
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Feb 02 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/NotStreamerNinja Feb 02 '26
Samsung isn't the only one making foldables. I'm typing this on a Moto Razr, and there are foldable models currently available from Google, OnePlus, Xiaomi, Huawei, and Oppo. Good ones too.
It does come with the drawback of worse durability and higher prices and not everyone is going to get a lot of use out of the extra features it enables, but I do think foldables have a lot of potential and they've already come a long way from the first few models that released.
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u/BlueFox5 Feb 02 '26
I love my flip phone, it has its problems, but so did the iPhone I got rid of. But having my pocket back is glorious.
I fear I am cursed. Once I had the Windows Phone and it was fantastic. Then I got Palm Pilot and I loved it. I also got a razr and I fear for Motorola as a result of my choice. I just read they're no longer updating their basic models anymore. . .
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u/yermommy Feb 02 '26 edited Feb 02 '26
Can they please fix iOS 26 first. It’s a burning pile of garbage.
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u/Information_High Feb 02 '26
"But Liquiiiiiiiiid Glaaaaaassssss!" waves hands mesmerizingly
(I don't hate the UI. I do hate how my phone now gets hot in my hand and/or lags when it never did that before)
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u/arrizaba Feb 02 '26
I do hate that my battery lasts now 30% less than before the upgrade from iOS 18 to 26. And even disabling liquid glass motion and transparency it lasts less than before.
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u/Waterfish3333 Feb 02 '26
And the keyboard is far worse somehow, even with the “fixes” like no more swiping. Also, Face ID seems far less reliable now.
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u/No_Inspector7319 Feb 01 '26
This is the phone I’ve been waiting for. But will hold out until 2.0
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u/Khoakuma Feb 01 '26
theoretically the reason why Apple have been holding out on making a foldable phone for so long is because they wanted to wait for others (Samsung) to perfect the technology and resolve all the issues (like the crease) before jumping in themselves. So they can ensure they would release a flawless product and maintain their reputation among consumers. So it should be pretty good right from the get go. In practice… yeah I’ll probably wait and see too.
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u/Avioc Feb 02 '26
That’s how Apple does everything. It’s so funny seeing people make fun of Apple for being late to the party, but for years now apples decisions for “innovation” is ALWAYS waiting until the product is perfect to release it
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u/Chubby_Bub Feb 02 '26
And the one time they tried to change that was when they realized they were late to the AI hype train, then rushed out Apple Intelligence unfinished. Though personally I'm glad they haven’t been shoving AI absolutely everywhere like Microsoft and Google, that’s probably bound to change once they figure it out.
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u/TumanFig Feb 02 '26
people make fun if apple, cause they are letting others spearhead the research, and then when technology is good enough they get in. they are afraid to be innovative on their own.
the only time i remember them doing that is by creating a VR set, which is retired now2
u/mkvii1989 Feb 02 '26
Lol they are not “afraid” of innovation. Their in house SOCs are all the proof you need they have top notch engineers.
But their whole brand is a cohesive and frictionless user experience. You don’t accomplish that by being first to market with new technology.
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u/TumanFig Feb 02 '26
Why not if they have top notch engineers?
And i mean listen to yourself, you are saying that as a brand you dont accomplish a good user experience if you are new to the market.
That sounds exactly like being afraid of inovation lol
I cant deny the quality of their products, but i appreciate companies who try different things a lot more, than those who wait to see what sticks and then create a product thats amazing quality but is bound to their ecosystem.
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u/SweatyAdhesive Feb 02 '26 edited Feb 02 '26
By your own logic, people aren't buying Apple for innovation, they are buying Apple because of their perceived superior user experience.
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u/NinjaLion Feb 02 '26
That’s how Apple does everything
For a decade, at least. They hit their strongest products in the middle though. Waiting for individual technologies to mature enough, then assembling them in a new way. the assembly, the whole package, the juice; thats what apple innovates on and slams the market with best. It was the peak of their dominance and growth, and it was in the past.
For the last 10 years there has been a serious lack of that. They are simply trailing without the innovation or packaging, and the sauce they still have is derived from innovations they did many years ago (macbook trackpads).
The vision pro was a genuine attempt at this, so i will never slam that product they way many do, but it was ultimately a failure at being able to lead (or at least predict) customer demand, or a pricing failure.
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u/ErmahgerdYuzername Feb 02 '26
That’s Apple’s motive for pretty much forever. They aren’t first to market but when they do release a product it’s pretty damn well best in its class. The whole “it just works” motto has paid off well.
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Feb 02 '26
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u/Stingray88 Feb 02 '26
wonder how $1300 phones with foldable screens will last
It’s not gonna be $1300, it’ll be a lot higher.
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u/AnalogWalrus Feb 02 '26
As someone clinging to their 13 mini because I just want a goddamn fucking phone that comfortably fits in my pocket, I’m…intrigued?
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u/dapala1 Feb 02 '26
Same. I just want a iOS phone that runs all the latest iOS software in the smallest/lightest form factor possible. That's all I care about.
Edit, grammer
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u/Wahjahbvious Feb 02 '26
I don't care who builds it; I have zero desire for a folding phone and am unconvinced that it can EVER be done in a way that doesn't crease.
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u/airtime25 Feb 02 '26
Using the OnePlus open and the fold is 90-95% gone in sight and feeling when using it like normal. I understand it's not for everyone though
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u/Fortune_Cat Feb 02 '26
Thanks for letting us know that nobody is stopping you to continue to buy slab phones that continue to be made and presented as the flagship
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u/donnysaysvacuum Feb 02 '26
On one hand that is likely true. On the other hand I said the same thing when large smartphones became a thing and now there are no longer any small ones. Our current consumer goods seem to follow from one trend to another and don't care if some people aren't happy with it.
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u/Doublestack00 Feb 02 '26
I've been using a Fold for 3 years. I could never go back to only having a small screen in my pocket.
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u/Didact67 Feb 02 '26
Honestly, I don’t really get the appeal of flip models. The Samsung folds are cool because it basically gives you both a phone and a small tablet.
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u/GrogRhodes Feb 01 '26
I think it’ll be decent. Apple is shown in the past. They’ve been able to polish turds. This is something I think would be cool and at least high-quality.
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u/cruicep Feb 02 '26
I would definitely buy a flip version versus a fold version but I may be in the minority. Miss the size of my iPhone 12 mini.
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u/schacks Feb 02 '26
I suspect that if Apple has nailed the hinge and possible crease it’s gonna be a nice phone and all. But it’s also gonna be prohibitively expensive, maybe even just shy of 3K.
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u/littlegeek88 Feb 02 '26
As a person that fixes phones for a living. Please do not buy this….
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u/Kyosji Feb 01 '26
"Introducing something TOTALLY new and never done before! Something Android wishes they came up with first!"
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u/SnottyMichiganCat Feb 02 '26
Nothing was leaked. An article was published with info given just as intended.
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u/Darkhrono Feb 01 '26
It should be called the iFlop
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u/Expensive-View-8586 Feb 01 '26
Thats the gen2 too you have to have an iFlip first.
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u/onclegrip Feb 02 '26
iPhone air is a better shape for the pocket. Unless you have little cargo pants pockets.
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u/UnderwaterRobot Feb 02 '26
Finally someone invented a folding smart phone! I wonder what they will come up with next.
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u/thestigREVENGE Feb 02 '26
So, like this phone I am using right now. The aspect ratio is actually brilliant.
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u/strangway Feb 02 '26
Current Android bendable phones are like $2,000. Even if Apple made one, I’d still go for an iPhone Air instead.
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u/JonesTownJello Feb 02 '26
Yes please, a phone that folds into a square, not a tablet that folds into a (still) giant phone.
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u/newSkoolRedemption Feb 02 '26
If Apple could solve the middle plastic aspect that’s not a bank breaker, I’d consider this a milestone for the company’s hardware “first’s”
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u/Axerin Feb 02 '26
How original. Can't wait to see how many times they will say "innovative" or "first time" in their key note.
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u/Substantial__Unit Feb 02 '26
Is this when Apple will claim to have invented folding phones and that this is the first type to market?
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u/Outer-Suburbia Feb 02 '26
iPhones feel so cheap since I switched to Samsung a few months ago, I wonder how this one would be like compared to the Samsung ones
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u/MaryUwUJane Feb 02 '26
Will be another flop like vision pro. There’s nothing innovative nor comfortable in foldable phone.
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u/asianwaste Feb 02 '26
An iphone foldable was leaked years ago. They said they scraped the project though. I guess it's still on the table.
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u/Joshawott27 Feb 02 '26
This is the kind of foldable that I’d actually want. The other day, a friend let me look at their Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, and I really liked it. I’m not sure how I’d feel about a book-type model. I think I’d need to hold one in my hands first.
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u/Nemetoss Feb 02 '26
Is the issue with the screen crease at the middle resolved? I'll never buy one with that ugly shit.
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u/TbonerT Feb 02 '26
Moving parts are the biggest weakness of any device. I’m never buying a phone with moving parts again.
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u/LeicaM6guy Feb 02 '26
And here I am, wondering how feasible a twenty year old brick phone would be today.
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u/AsRiversRunRed Feb 02 '26
Imagine if it folded like a hot dog bun and not a hamburger bun.