All about Bezel-less and Foldable Smart Devices

really makes folding look like outdated crap already

welcome to the future of moore's law corollaries in 2020s

 

I need to see more pictures of it, how is it from the back, I am weird but if there are any "dents" in the back where it seperates it's a no go from me. The concept is cool though.

 

I'm going to be all over the rollables if they pan out. Love my Fold 2 but I'm always ready for the next thing.

 

Outer Folding Phones: It's Time to Stop!

 

The BIGGEST Foldable I've Ever Unboxed...

 

I think this foldable stuff will not have staying power, more so in the bigger devices. I think it's a fad. I don't want a laptop with a touchscreen keyboard etc on it. I don't most people want a phone where one hand operation is not useable. Maybe it's just me, but who knows.

 

I think you're way wrong. I've got a foldable and it's flawed; no question on that. On the other hand I could never go back, ordinary phones are too limited now. The reasons are both business and pleasure: It's so much easier and more satisfying to use when in a web browser. You can run desktop sites which are more fully featured without any difficulty whatsoever and the experience is much better. Typing is better. The keyboard doesn't cover most of the typing box or even all of it as it does in the standard format phone and especially when in widescreen and in a browser. It is much easier to write and edit long documents for this reason. This one is something that will effect everyone differently; some might find they never need to go to the laptop or what have you, most will be like me and you just do more on the phone than you had previously. Then you've got media consumption, obviously better and again it plays out in that not only better in mobile usage but I also find I don't get out my laptop as often because the phone is good enough. Again this will play out differently with different people, some may find the tablet or laptop seldom or never comes out anymore. I've got an 8' tablet that hasn't been used since I picked up the fold, it no longer has a use case. It used to be light media consumption, now the fold does it almost as well and is more convenient. I'll still get out the laptop if I want to say watch Netflix in bed but I don't get it out as often. Then you've got running multi-app. Something I seldom previously did except for one specific use and if you believe the statistics that placed me among the vast majority. With a foldable all of a sudden that becomes much easier. The one specific use was to run text/messaging applications along with Google translator. Now I can do the same with bigger stuff, email applications for example. Before the area simply wasn't big enough to work with easily outside of messaging and I'd take it to the laptop. Now I don't have to anymore. Things like my expense documentation can be done much more easily with a calculator, the application, and photo-copies of receipts all open at once. Speaking of documents they are all easier to deal with on the bigger format, PDFs, excel, word, and so on and again I find I do more on my phone than before and I think most people would. To go back to multi it's much easier to reference an excel doc while writing an email for example. Gaming is something I seldom did on a phone but guess what, all of a sudden on the bigger screen it's become enjoyable.

I could go on but you get the idea. The foldable phone wont replace your laptop in the same way a tablet doesn't but it does go a long way toward replacing a small tablet and if you're like me did replace it. Right now the tech is flawed. My fold for example is fat, heavy, you have to concern yourself with taking care not to damage the screen, and the format itself in terms of closed to open style is off; it should be wider in closed format. Those aren't just personal gripes. The phone is heavy enough that it will do things like swing your jacket around and hit a car door when you get in and out. That weight combined with it's girth is enough to make it so that your options for pockets that can carry it become limited, you really notice it when wearing shorts and the "dang were can I put my phone" question becomes, if you'll excuse the pun, larger. That last complaint about the outer screen needing to be wider; it's just barely wide enough that I don't find it an actual problem, it does not attain unobjectionable. You have to pay attention when typing and even simple apps that don't rely on a lot of space are not very good there. I'd say not terrible is the highest bar the outer screen at it's current width can jump. Despite those problems the good greatly outweighs the bad. Technology will get these things thinner and lighter, the screens will become more durable, those things will in turn make it so that more useful open versus closed ratios are possible. These things are already happening, the rollable phones are reportedly lighter and have better closed sizing. No, I strongly believe that the concept of going from the smaller form to the bigger is absolutely coming. I cant say whether it be foldable, rollable, or some other tech, it is the next thing and everyone will have it.

 

We will see. The screen tech does need to be pushed forward fast however. I think if I were to buy one it would be the duo. I would rather have two seperate screens than a floppy screen.

 

I like the Duo but something to keep in mind is that a folding, rolling, single screen can do exactly what the Duo does but a duo can't do a single large screen. The Duo is not likely to survive in it's current hardware format.

 

I think the current folding, rolling single screens are terrible. The technology is not even close yet.

 

It stinks that it ever went the opposite direction. Smaller sucks for phone and for computers. Small is for children. It's nice to see people pulling their heads out.

 

The TWO New Folding Apple iPhones...


Apple's 2 new iPhone designs will change everything | Creative Bloq

 

Will change everything? It's not as if it's something new, they're talking about a 22 release at which point you'll be looking at Samsungs 3rd iteration of both style folders and Moto will have it's 3rd clamshell out. Then you've got LG getting their rollable out this spring, Oppo and others also reputed to be out in 21 with rollers. Change everything my buttocks. Although they'll say such and the vast mindless herd will think it's true, got to give them that, they know their sheep.

 

LG Rollable - FIRST LOOK


LG Rollable Display Phone & LG thinQ First Look

 

Nice tech. I really thought my eyes were failing.

 

That's awesome, but I don't like the swipe the side to activate. a button would be better, since you grab your phone, it slips a bit and it turns into the big phone. Great idea, poor execution.

 

We will see if there any changes when it is available. When is it due out?

 

I think "2021" is the firmest estimate officially given, but there have been reports stating March. Unfortunately, future phones are uncertain at this point since LG is considering selling off its smartphone business.

https://www.phonearena.com/lg-rollable-phone-release-date-price-features-news
https://www.google.com/amp/s/9to5google.com/2021/01/22/lg-smartphone-market-exit-report/amp/

It's a shame they didn't pay greater attention to long-term software support (fixes & updates). On the audio front, they kept the headphone jack alive and included Quad DACs as well as microphone arrays with a dedicated concert mode to avoid clipping in loud environments. Those are important features to some enthusiasts.

 

Very few people know what a DAC is and in a world filled with crappy MP3s and similarly poor streaming quality you have to figure high fidelity has been kicked to the curb by the majority of buyers. That would have been a nice differentiator though if they went kitchen sink, ala Samsung.They certainly failed at the fundementals: Didn't establish a firm identity, cut off the phone guys when they blocked rooting, tried to sell what they wanted to sell instead of what people wanted to buy. These are all self explanatory but to quickly cover them in order... There is no phone I highly identify with LG the way I do the Note with Samsung, iPhone with Apple, Pixel with Google, etc. You could go on there but they simply didn't build a brand, an identity. Phone guys made OnePlus. Everyone knows someone who is deeply into something, doesn't matter what. When that guy/girl says something you listen. It was this that turned OnePlus into a major brand; all those phone nerds spreading the love. Well... That and a lot of money. The last point is so common it's cliche yet corporations keep doing it: They decide "X" is what they have to sell, want to sell, and you should want to buy it. Doesn't work that way, just ask Blockbuster, Kodak, etc. You gotta make what people want to buy.

For all that it's not certain yet although it does look grim. It would be sad to lose another player in the space.

 

I DO! ha ha. I don't really care about audio quality on my phone since I don't have a full blown stereo in my vehicles anymore. I do however care very much about audio on my stereo systems in my home.

 

The LG roller has officially been "paused." In other news rumor has the Google folder now more likely as they are reported to be sourcing panels from Samsung. I'll be all over a Pixel folder should it come. Samsung gives you a ton of trash features in the GUI and software set, but, few really good features that make your life easier. Google on the other hand only gives you a handful of features but they're all genuinely useful. They put it out there I'm kicking the Fold 2 to the curb.

 

It's an interesting time for foldables. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is rumoured to feature S Pen support, which makes sense given there's no Note this year, but more importantly, it would indicate a more scratch-resistant display. Corning also happens to be developing "ultra-thin bendable glass". A Pixel foldable with a Samsung display might not get damaged by a fingernail very easily.

I agree with you that a foldable running Google's own take of Android for the format sounds preferable, even though S Pen support is tantalising in its own right. For me to seriously consider a Pixel foldable, it would have to borrow its main and periscope camera from the Pixel 6 Pro. I think I'm unfortunately asking too much, considering how difficult a time OEMs are already having keeping the price of their foldables palatable. We may not have to wait too much longer to find out more, given a reference to a device codenamed "Passport" was found in the Android 12 beta.

 

In regards to passport I saw that, been keeping a close watch on it and other foldable/rolling devices. I always liked the pen with my Notes and it's certainly a factor to consider. I agree with pretty much all of that across the board.

I still use the Pixel 4 for work and something that stands out is that it doesn't perceptually seem slower than the fold; if anything it feels smoother. It has features that I miss every day on my fold but the reverse doesn't apply. For me the fold is all about the screen, that mini tablet you can put in your pocket capability is it's killer feature. Once a Pixel can perform the same trick I've pretty much made up my mind that I'm going there.

 

I'm getting the note 10 plus for work until I see what evolves with the duo 2. I was going to get the 10 lite but for the difference in cost the plus is a no brainer.

 

Got to try the z flip 3. Terrible implementation of a good idea. you can feel the crease in the screen when using it. No thanks.

 

IT was that bad? What about the Fold 3?

 

Yeah, it was not nice swiping around the screen and feeling this divot in the screen. The fold I am guessing would be similar, however, they never had one to try. Only the flip. The duo is a MUCH better implementation of the form factor. I am also unsure if the motorola has the same divot feel to it's screen in the razr or not as well.

 

Did I miss any recent fold3 and flip3 discussions?

 

I tried the Fold 3 yesterday. It has the same terrible divot in the screen as the flip. Again, pisspoor implementation of a good idea. Thank God we have the surface duo 2 coming out soon! Done the way foldables should be done. The fold is too skinny when folded, a terrible bump in the screen when opened and meh styling. The duo 2 in contrast is great when fold for one screen use, dual screens are much better since using the single screen for video on the fold knocks out a good chunk because of the wrong form factor. So, when watching content on the duo you get almost as much actual viewing area on one screen as you do with the opened Fold. Add in the awesome thinness of the Duo, the much better design of the duo, I would spend more money on the duo than the fold. I have not seen a razr in the wild yet so I cannot comment on their folding screen and if there is a bump in that one too.

 

I don't get why they can't just do two full screens that are separate and just a hinge in the middle between the two separate screens, no need to actually fold any screen. Being able to fold it protects both screens. But I guess the thickness factor would come in there, still it probably wouldn't be much thicker than some peoples phone cases are.

 

Thats exactly what the duo is. and it's about as thin as a galaxy note 20 when it's folded.

 

Oh sorry guess I was just musing rather than investigating first.

 

I kind of figured you did miss it. that's why I brought it to your attention. The duo 2 is coming later this month and will have everything that was missing from the first duo. A great camera setup, SD888 chip, 8gb of ram, NFC and wireless charging as standard and a larger battery. The S/D/2 will be the best foldable device available, and for the foreseeable future as well.

 

Just as an addition. the duo running two apps at once on two different screens is a game changer in many ways. For me, I can have navigation and music both on screen at once, I can have note taking and building plans etc. on the two screens. I have gps coordinates to find a location and my camera control panels on the second screen ready to shoot. I can have a list of shots and my drone camera all in front of me at once to take all necessary footage quicker. The usage of the dual app setup is limitless in implementaion.

 

Would be really cool, when the prices filter down, so 5+ years from now lol
Not a fan of the annoying paid advertising right in the script either, just test phones, but alas this is all for pay in some way, no matter where it comes from. Oh and no drop test?

 

I have the fold 2, hardly ever touch the fold. You also learn to hold the phone so that you never see it. It's not something you try to do, it just happens, and quickly. To go back to the fold as you use a modern smartphone you work mostly with gestures and taps on various points on the screen. As you hold the fold the swipes never run into the fold, and the taps, even when they are on the fold, aren't annoying to most users. I'm not talking about people who tried the phone in the store, I'm talking about people who actually own the phone. Go look at the OG fold, fold 2, and fold 3 pages over at XDA and note the number of complaints in that regard, it's next to nothing.

You folks can say what you want about folding phones and I don't doubt you know what you like but I'm here to tell you owning one and fiddling with one in the store are two different things. Once accustomed to it, most will not want to go back. Ever. This is absolutely no chance I would buy an ordinary phone again. Way too limiting. The Samsung setup is not perfect, not saying that at all, folders have fundamental issues which are described above. Own one of them and the screen wins out over all of it. Once you get used to having that real estate the old rectangle seems absurdly anachronistic.

I'm really hoping Goog is going to release the much rumored Pixel Fold. I'll buy that sucker the second pre orders open up; I really miss having root.