Consumer Technology Foldable Phones are Coming

[TwinIon]

The Verge got their hands on a real life folding phone. It looks completely unusable when folded, and it sounds like their android fork is generally unusable anyways, but it is indeed a real phone they will actually sell you that you can fold up. Apparently Samsung's folding phone announcement is imminent, and while I expect it to be better than this, I'm not confident in their ability to make something worthwhile just yet.

 

Still, it's a cool thing that might actually be more plausible than it might seem.

[Mr.Vic20]

[Jason]

I don't get the one in the OP. The entire screen stays on while it's folded?

 

As for Samsung, apparently their debuting theirs tomorrow.

[sblfilms]

I think it’s a neat concept, but it will take a solid implementation to get me excited.

[foosh]

that looks like a complete joke. looks like it can be a decent tablet but a terrible phone. would that even fit in anyone's pocket?

[Nokt]

I guess I just don't see the point.

[Keyser_Soze]

It will get the part of the folded screen smeared with your fingerprints more than a normal phone so when you fold ti back the top half will be all shitty.

[johnny]

dont need a phone that can fold but cool tech i guess 

[Reputator]

That GIF broke my brain.

[Remarkableriots]

This is the type I would want.

[Brian]

It’s closing the wrong way 

[Remarkableriots]

59 minutes ago, ManUtdRedDevils said:

It’s closing the wrong way 

Maybe you can bend it both ways?

[TwinIon]

 

Here's a look at Samsung's folding phone. 

 

It does have a second screen on the other side. So one screen for "phone" mode, and the second folding screen for tablet mode. When unfolded, the display is 7.3".

 

They said they could start mass production in months, but it doesn't seem like they've said if this will be a real product.

[CitizenVectron]

Apparently the thick housing is not final, but is intended to hide the actual appearance of the device. Allegedly the display is 40% thinner than a normal phone (when unfolded).

 

While this first one might be a niche device, I have a feeling that this will become pretty common in a few iterations.

[TwinIon]

It seems that Google is already specifically supporting folding displays in Android. Not that much was required, as Android already had support and design guidelines for what happens when a display's size changes.

[Emblazon]

7.3" isn't large enough to warrant the added bulk. 

[Jason]

2 minutes ago, Emblazon said:

7.3" isn't large enough to warrant the added bulk. 

 

1 hour ago, CitizenVectron said:

Apparently the thick housing is not final, but is intended to hide the actual appearance of the device. Allegedly the display is 40% thinner than a normal phone (when unfolded).

 

[stepee]

I’m interested to see where this goes, but even now it’s cool seeing the tech starting to actually hit production soon!

[Wild]

5 hours ago, CitizenVectron said:

Apparently the thick housing is not final, but is intended to hide the actual appearance of the device. Allegedly the display is 40% thinner than a normal phone (when unfolded).

 

While this first one might be a niche device, I have a feeling that this will become pretty common in a few iterations.

 

Kind of a terrible way to reveal it though. Looks like they want to put a VHS in my pocket.

 

And I don't think I want this now that I have seen it. A small, thin device that fits in my pocket is all I need.

[Reputator]

I can't help but think of long-term durability when seeing this.

 

It's neat but I don't see it sticking.

[Jason]

I like that everyone is poo-pooing the first generation of a totally new form factor. Go figure, it's not actually confirmed that this first iteration will be mass produced, and if it is that it'll be available outside South Korea. 

[legend]

Super super cool tech.

 

 

Not sure I want it for a phone.

[gamer.tv]

2 hours ago, legend said:

Super super cool tech.

 

 

Not sure I want it for a phone.

 

A phone no, but that and a keyboard could be a big change for portable working.  

[TwinIon]

It makes sense to start with smaller displays, but maybe where this makes the most sense is in a tablet.

 

It wouldn't even necessarily need to have a screen on the outside, just the one folding screen that makes the whole device much smaller when put away. If it worked well enough, maybe you could even use the tablet in "laptop mode," half folded open.

[RedSoxFan9]

Yeah, I think this tech will be much better suited for other products like tablets, laptops, portable monitors etc. 

[number305]

49 minutes ago, RedSoxFan9 said:

Yeah, I think this tech will be much better suited for other products like tablets, laptops, portable monitors etc. 

Yeah...

 

One of the things I read is that LG is working on big screen TV's that can be sold rolled up in a box.  That is pretty cool.

[Jason]

3 hours ago, TwinIon said:

It makes sense to start with smaller displays, but maybe where this makes the most sense is in a tablet.

 

This Samsung device opens up to something that's about the size of an iPad Mini. Seems pretty great to me, it would mean you don't even need a separate tablet.

[Bloodporne]

Can't we skip all the bullshit and arrive at where corporations just implant whatever is IN that thing straight into my brain and get to control me for the convenience of me being able to wipe my ass while standing up and jerking off to porn at once?

 

@Jason You're just jealous because you didn't think of it first, pal

[TwinIon]

9 minutes ago, Jason said:

This Samsung device opens up to something that's about the size of an iPad Mini. Seems pretty great to me, it would mean you don't even need a separate tablet.

That's certainly the idea with this first wave of devices. Get a really big phone or small tablet in the body of a normal phone. I think that's potentially cool, but I was thinking about something more in the range of the 12.9" iPad Pro, or even larger. Intel was again showing off their dual screen prototypes recently, and I think that kind of device would be far more interesting with a single, foldable display.

 

The Surface Go has a 3:2 10" screen. If you had a folding screen device that was double that, you'd end up with a 13.8" 4:3 screen, so something a bit larger than the big iPad Pro. I'd be all about that.

[Ghost_MH]

21 hours ago, TwinIon said:

That's certainly the idea with this first wave of devices. Get a really big phone or small tablet in the body of a normal phone. I think that's potentially cool, but I was thinking about something more in the range of the 12.9" iPad Pro, or even larger. Intel was again showing off their dual screen prototypes recently, and I think that kind of device would be far more interesting with a single, foldable display.

 

The Surface Go has a 3:2 10" screen. If you had a folding screen device that was double that, you'd end up with a 13.8" 4:3 screen, so something a bit larger than the big iPad Pro. I'd be all about that.

 

Laptop with two folds creating a widescreen image from a 4:3 body. Hell, bring back IBM's old butterfly keyboard and you could get 17" laptop with a numberpad in a 13" laptop body.