Monday, August 16, 2021

Foldable smartphones: Is it for you?

Foldable smartphones have become one of the hottest gadgets in the market with the release of the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G and the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G. After seeing thing the things it can do, as well as new features that make it better than the predecessors, it’s easy to want one. But are these kinds of devices suited for you?

Before foldable smartphones, we had foldable feature phones. These devices with clamshell form factors usually feature a screen and a keyboard that fold into each other. The primary purpose is to keep the device more compact when not in use.

The same concept applies to today’s foldable smartphones. Instead of a keyboard, it utilizes a bigger screen and folds into a smaller one when not in use to make it more compact.

You want an all-in-one device

Smartphones nowadays have 6-inch screens. Any bigger and it basically becomes a tablet. Users who need a phone can easily get a smartphone, but those who want something with a bigger screen have tablets as the next option.

Not everyone, though, wants to carry two devices all the time. Foldable smartphones. like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G solves this problem by providing users the flexibility of having a smartphone and a tablet at the same time. If you want a regular smartphone, just use it folded. Need a tablet? Just unfold it. It even comes with a stylus to complete the effect.

You’re fine with a small tablet

Yes, foldable smartphones can become tablets, but don’t expect them to compete with dedicated tablets with a 10-inch screen size. What the Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G can offer at most is 7.6-inches. It’s great for web browsing, viewing photos, watching videos, viewing and signing documents, and gaming. But if you’re craving something bigger for creative work, then this might not be for you, unless you have a big budget for a separate tablet.

You’re okay with a bulky device

Folding designs are effective in reducing the footprint of a device. However, it does not make it thinner or more pocketable. Using the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G again as an example, it measures 6.4mm thick when unfolded, then more than doubles it up to 16mm at its thickest point. You can still put it in your jeans pocket, but you’ll have to deal with that huge bulge.

You’re not a clumsy individual

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 – JerryRigEverything

Foldable smartphones have more moving parts compared to traditional smartphones. So, if you’re the type who frequently drops phones, there’s a bigger chance you’ll mess something up. Although newer foldable smartphones have sturdier builds (and have better protective cases for it), it’s still not drop-proof. Make sure you don’t drop it in case you’re still convinced about getting one.

You’re an early adopter of foldables

Although foldable smartphones have been around for a while now, the technology is still relatively young and yet to become mainstream. If you’re the type who wants to experience the latest in smartphone design and want a smartphone that can do more, a foldable smartphone is an exciting tech to jump into right now.

You have the budget

Foldable smartphones are still niche products. They pack more hardware and come with new features. And that’s also the reason why they’re expensive. The most expensive foldable smartphone in the Philippines still belongs to the Huawei Mate Xs 5G (Kirin 990 5G, 8GB + 512GB) for PHP 139,999. Let’s say you’re going for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G, the most affordable model you can get is the 256GB model for PHP 87,990.

With that budget, you can buy a powerful smartphone and a tablet separately, which is one of the options you have. Then again, you want an all-in-one device. And to have the convenience, you need to pay up for the tech.

So, are foldable smartphones for you? If you agree to most of the points above, then a foldable smartphone will fit you just right. It will change the way you interact with mobile devices and gain more respect towards the engineering behind them. This could be the future of smartphones after all.

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