Apple already made a folding phone. It was called the iphone 6.
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My boomerang lasted many years though, I’ll give it that.
I just upgraded from the 6 Plus to the 12 Max like a year ago.
I know Lemmy hates Apple, but I love iOS. Probably because I started on it. My son almost has me convinced though. I might let him pick my next phone and put LineageOS on it.
Why don't we get back to smaller smartphones like a decadr ago?
Same reason you can't buy a new small pickup truck. They don't make them because the mass market isn't there
Cmon! If I promise to put truck nuts on it and drive aggressively will you let me get the small one?
Because they don't sell.
If you ignore screen size (which people erroneously use as a metric for phone size, since it's an easily findable and easy to understand number) and instead look at actual phone dimensions, most phones now aren't actually dissimilar. Bezels have shrunk a lot.
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Galaxy S24, Jan 2024: 147mm x 70.6mm
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Galaxy S5, Feb 2014: 142mm x 72.5mm
S24 frontal area = 10,378mm²
S5 frontal area = 10,153mm²
The S24 is only 2% larger than its decade-old equivalent. Not something you'd even notice.
If you include the thickness of the device, then the S24 is actually 4% smaller than its decade old equivalent.
Now sure, there were smaller phones, especially if you go further back, like an iPhone 3G genuinely would be considered tiny now.
It's just worth noting that phones aren't actually growing each year anymore like people say they are, and they haven't for a while. Bezels shrinking is a huge change in design for TVs, monitors, laptops, phones.
People are just hearing things like "6.3 inch screen" and they think "wow, my old phone only had a 4.5 inch screen. This phone must be so much larger!"
I would really like to upgrade my 12 mini to an newer Mini model if they ever made one!
I personally don't care I don't want a foldable phone ( my last job gave me a Flip 3 and it was a terrible experience) I'd rather phone with a removable battery than with a foldable screen.
Removable batteries for sure, but I spent 20 years waiting for the clamshell design to make a comeback and I love my Flip (4). Phones need to fit in pockets and have a decent sized screen.
I can't speak for the flip, but the fold 4 is fantastic. I can't imagine going back to a slab
Doubt it will ever get back to how it was with how easily they could be removed but there may be steps towards it https://www.euronews.com/green/2023/06/22/new-eu-law-to-force-smartphone-makers-to-build-easily-replaceable-batteries
You can replace the battery easily on fairphone 5
I can't wait for Apple to announce in a key note they've revolutionised the phone market again with the world's first folding phone.
Those apple boys are so talented 😊.
Did you say folding phone? Ew
I think you'll find it's the new iPhone 17 with dynamic flex technology and that Tim Cook will repeatedly say on stage that this has "never been done before".
But what apple specific non standard proprietary shit will they implement that you will have to buy from them for 10 times the price that competitors offer the equivalent. This is the interesting question.
The case for one - do you want a case without Dynamic Flex ©®™ compatibility like some commoner?
I would have previous said a folding lightning cable connector, but the EU have saved me the bother.
They actually was first with folding smartphone though, remember iPhone 6 bending drama
Did anyone ask for folding phones?
For the love of god, yes. About half the time, I want a phone. The other I want a tablet. A foldable phone similar to the galaxy fold is exactly what I want.
But I’m locked into the Apple ecosystem for multiple reasons. And no, “just get two devices” isn’t that great an option. I don’t use them at the same time, why not just have them be the same device? Also helps with the fact that I might want to go back and forth between something in both modes.
Well, I just got the S24 Ultra and it's darnn near tablet size. This dwarfs my previous Note. I'm just happy to finally have a flagship Samsung with a flat screen. Rounded screens suck.
Sales suggest, "Yes."
Steve, it was fucking Steve wasn't it?
No, Steve died
That selfish prick! I hope I missed his funeral.
I live in Korea and I see the Samsung foldable phones in the hands of like every 5th person, so yeah I'd say they sell
Samsung is up to Fold 5, so at least someone keeps buying them. Though they are also up to Flip 5, a concept so dumb I honestly won't believe anyone wants or uses one, so who knows.
Yes! Phones with small screens are not useful. Phones which don't fit in pockets are not useful. Flip phones solve the problem and I've been wanting one for twenty years.
Yes. I have the fold 3 and will ask for another foldable when the time to upgrade comes.
the problems:
- they’re crap
- they break easily because they’re crap
- they’re expensive and have a high cost of ownership because they’re crap
- NOBODY FUCKING WANTS THEM
so, why is this happening?
Personally, I love fold phones. They give me portability and a big screen which are the two things I most want in a phone
Yeah I totally believe that they break easily and are way too expensive. But that applies to any cutting edge product ever. Assuming the flaws can be engineered out, the fundamental benefit of having a large screen on a small/portable phone is definitely a killer feature.
I broke most of my previous phones in a variety of ways. The more expensive, the easier they broke. I can't make a phone last. I'm afraid to even look at a foldable.
Um... I started with a Fold 2 and currently on a fold 5. Maybe YOU don't want them, but it's hardly nobody.
Shit on Apple for a lot of things, but if they put out a foldable it’s not likely to be crap hardware. Just overpriced with an annoying OS.
I've had my fold3 for over 2 years and I absolutely love it. I don't think I can go back to a bar-phone now. Also, even if you really don't like folding phones, why fight creativity? Before this phones were getting so boring and completely lacking innovation. They still are in the non-folding market. Even if you don't like them, choice is never a bad thing.
Hard disagree, fold 4 gang.
The only improvement I care about is bringing back physical buttons. Touch screens suck ass. I don’t give a fuck about cameras. I don’t give a fuck about folding bullshit. All I want is an interface that doesn’t blow dick. Apple is garbage along with the rest of them. Clueless fucking morons.