Technology

I can actually see the value in a trifold like the one pictured. In your pocket it’s a phone. When you unfold it, it’s an iPad. You’re consolidating devices.

That said, I’m not a fan of folding lcd screen tech used today. It creases. I’d rather see three separate bezel-less screens that magnetically join to make a larger surface.

Not many people get it until they get one. I got a fold 3 when it came out and have just upgraded to a fold 6 because i just couldn't go back. Its a better form factor for a mobile computing device. Its a phone thats also a small tablet! I gave my old one to my wife who was always averse to getting a fold and she has told me multiple times since then that its her favourite phone shes ever had.

It is pretty useful and convenient if your use case suits it but I don't think that fits the majority of people. For me my Fold 6 replaced my Kindle and Surface. It's nice to able to open it up to read ebooks and manga since opened up, it's pretty much the dimensions of a typical book. Also makes things a lot easier when I need to remote into a PC or SSH into stuff and is a really convenient sketch pad for ideas.

It's also really neat that it's not ridiculously wide like every other phone out there nowadays since I have small hands.

My Fold 3 lasted 3 years with no issues until I traded it in so I think they're fairly well built.

In this case with the trifold, I personally think it's way too big but I'm someone who's never seen the point of tablets that were larger than 7 inches anyways. Always preferred a laptop at those sizes.

I've used a Z Fold 4 for two years now and it's been the best phone I've ever had. Desktop versions of websites, on my phone, without feeling cramped. Two apps side by side, both roughly the size of a usual phone screen. Huge screen for retro emulation using a Bluetooth controller. All with still having a small screen for one handed use and more traditional scrolling.

Games like Hearthstone, Gwent, Chess, Baldur's Gate Enhanced Edition, Roller Coaster Tycoon Classic, feel way more playable.

At this point, using any other device feels limited and cramped in ways that a big screen doesn't.

My only complaint has been price, and I only got mine because my company paid for it

It's really not bad, especially for reading, especially if your eyes aren't what they used to be.

Phone companies, listen to me, BUILT-IN KICKSTAND

All the things that used to break phones got fixed, mobile OS changes got smaller and smaller, designed obsolescence required something that would get people to buy a new phone every 18 months. So here's a hinge. Here's TWO hinges!

I didn't get it either til I came across a Galaxy Fold demo unit at the mall.
It's light, the expanded screen gives you lots of extra screen real estate without feeling too big or unwieldy, and when folded up you get a normal aspect ratio, at a thickness that's comparable to other phones.

I never really felt like a tablet would be useful for me, filling the "gap" between a laptop and a phone with essentially a 'bigger phone' I'd have to charge and carry always seemed silly: I'd rather just keep using my phone instead.
But when you merge both devices into one, it works. It really is a 'bigger phone', with the benefit of being able to choose when you want to use the extra screen real estate without having to swap devices.

As someone who often tries to juggle multiple tasks on a phone*, I want one.
Shame they're so expensive where I live. Looking at the used market, even the folds multiple generations behind are still too expensive.

*Side note: Stock Android's split screen implementation is shit.
The floating windows Xiaomi and other OEMs have is light-years ahead, Google should be ashamed.

More screen space in a smaller portable form is of tremendous use to some people - until projectors come of age at least.

When the page doesn't fit on the phone, it's really stupid to zoom and scroll around to get stuff done.

I control my qBittorrent with a web interface and it's way easier with a bigger screen. I don't have to go grab the laptop, I can unfold the screen that's already in my hand

Phones have honestly flat lined. Back in 2011 me and my buddy were heavily into phones upgrading what felt like every few months to try the latest and greatest new features. Nowadays you get a marginally bigger optimized battery, upgraded camera, and a mildly upgraded screen, however you pay significantly more. The only people I know who upgrade on schedule are iPhone users. I'm upgrading every 5-7 years now and my next phones probably gonna be whatever I can get cheap enough

Companies don't make as much money when it's repairable. Washers and dryers used to last 20-25 years with a few repairs here and there. But companies weren't making any money, so they started making unrepairable junk instead.

Exactly my feeling when everyone was jumping into touch screens.

(I was able to type SMS in my pocket, using one hand, while walking. Sure, it took a 100 meters a sentence but it worked.)

Anyway, a smartphone comes with many other differences, mostly advantages. This is another leap of quality for gaming, watching movies, filling government forms on old websites, etc.

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.... In other news, tree elderly cops were run over today while tying their shoes! The CDC suggests banning shoe lace ads unless they are about guns. The republican Senate has put forward the new constitutional ammunition amendment law that includes this and the deportation of anyone who isn't a white guy. Women disagree entirely!....