Should You Make the Leap to a Folding Smartphone?
When folding phones first hit shelves in 2018, as noted by Android Central, there was some doubt about their lofty claims. As much as the idea enticed customers, such technology was a monumental leap forward, so we collectively decided it must have come with caveats. While this is certainly true in regards to price, the performance and reliability of the devices have far exceeded early naysayer predictions. Now on their third generation, there’s never been a better time to engage in this new world, but could they be the right systems for you?
What Makes Folding Phones Special?
The most obvious difference a folding system has over a traditional phone is found in its display. By opening like a book, these devices are capable of offering essentially double the screen size of traditional smartphones. This is possible thanks to newly developed flexible display technology, which while not perfect, is still robust enough to last for years of regular use. According to GSM Arena, new models like the Galaxy Z Fold 3 could last for 200,000 folds without being damaged. In real terms, that’s equivalent to 100 folds a day for five years.
Adding to this primary benefit is the improved power that folding systems can boast over standard devices. Thanks to increased internal space and a thicker chassis, folding systems can fit more hardware inside, while also allowing for better cooling. While this also means they’re often more expensive than non-folding phones (the Galaxy Z Fold 3 launched at $1,899 for the 512 GB model), the trade-off in performance could be worth it for the right user.
Would you Benefit from a Change?
While the idea of upgrading to a new and more powerful device is always enticing, we also have to ensure a change will be worth the cost. To this end, the best way to determine if you should make a switch is to look at your patterns of usage, your budget, and how long it’s been since your last upgrade.
If you don’t rely on your phone for much and prefer the smallest size possible, then one of these systems we’ve investigated at Isaiminis might be the right choice. If you have the money to burn and haven’t bought a new phone in years, then the answer might be simple. For everyone else, consider the following uses.
For those who use their mobiles for work purposes, then folding devices could offer some instantly appreciable advantages. Thanks to the increased visual real estate, folding phones offer strong multitasking support, as explained on the official Samsung Galaxy Z website. This convenience extends to easier typing, with larger buttons helping reduce the risk of user error. For writing emails, managing spreadsheets, or almost anything else, folding phones for work will usually be a step up.
Fans of online gaming would similarly see major advantages on folding systems. As we explored in this Isaiminis article, the mobile gaming industry has grown enormously over the last few years and is expected to be worth more than $150 billion by 2028. Since folding phones are powerful, and offer a lot of space, they make perfect fits for players on the go.
Casual entertainment users of mobiles could see major benefits from these devices. Players of Betway Casino Online games like roulette, slots, and blackjack could appreciate game design all the more on the larger displays, and bigger buttons could help with accessibility. Video streaming from services like Hulu would also be more engaging here, again thanks to more space.
People who want to use their mobiles for taking photos, on the other hand, don’t need a folding device to get the most from modern camera technology. As noted here at Isaiminis, many standard smartphones offer top-tier cameras, so a folding system might not be worth the change.
With all these factors in mind, you should have some idea of whether or not a folding device is right for you. Make no mistake, as Counterpoint Research uncovered, folding systems are only going to become more popular, expecting a 10x growth from the 2020 to 2023 period. Far from a flash in the pan, these systems are here to stay, so they’re worth taking seriously.