According to industry experts, Samsung, Google, OnePlus are ruining foldable phones with these blatant mistakes.
Three years ago, when the Galaxy Z Fold 3 foldable phone was launched, the public was not satisfied with its bulky design, sky-high price and its benefits. After three years, with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 6, experts still do not appreciate the foldable smartphone segment.
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Foldable phones still have a long way to go, and the reason isn't just the challenges that come with foldable design, but also the choices phone makers like Samsung , Google, and OnePlus make when... manufacturing them.
Foldable screen smartphone without glass back
This is one of the most blatant mistakes when it comes to making foldable phones—the glass back. This design is really bad for foldable phones, which are already fragile and expensive.
On top of that, glass is significantly heavier than plastic, which is why synthetic leather backs like the one on the OnePlus Open are a great solution for foldable phone designs. They don’t show fingerprints, are lighter, and are more comfortable to hold. Plus, they feel premium without adding unnecessary weight.
Lighter is better than thinner
Foldable phones are already heavy because of the hinge and the secondary screen and everything else… So when using the phone for long periods of time (especially when used as a tablet), that weight becomes noticeable. For example, when the user is lying down in bed.
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Many people would choose a lighter foldable phone like the Galaxy Z Fold 6 over the thinner Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The phone also feels much more comfortable in your pocket.
Of course, the ideal solution is for companies to make foldable phones thinner and lighter like the Honor Magic V3.
Foldable screen phones need Silicon-carbon batteries
One of the biggest issues with foldable phones has always been their size. With their large size, they allow for a large battery.
Silicon-carbon (Si/C) batteries have significantly higher energy density in a thinner form factor. They are also the perfect battery candidate for foldable phones, which need to be thinner, lighter, and last longer on a single charge.
Cutting-edge design deserves cutting-edge hardware, and if Samsung, Google, and OnePlus can't deliver that, they can at least deliver an all-day battery.
Why are foldable phones still... expensive?
Obviously, innovation is expensive, but foldable phones have been around for years and are no longer a niche product. Yet most of them still cost over £1,000. Are we trying to make them cheaper?
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Foldable phones will still cost about the same as high-end Macs. At this rate, foldable phones will remain a luxury product rather than a mainstream product, and that’s not good news for the industry or for people who want foldable phones.
In short, it's time to bring the price of foldable phones down. If Samsung and Google really think foldable phones are the future, they need to make them more accessible to more people.